After Gu Yan’s birthday passed, kindergarten life was soon coming to an end.
On July 1st, Yun Su and Fang Minghui’s family attended the kindergarten graduation ceremony together.
Gu Zhou’s work had already wrapped up several days earlier, but in order to let Gu Yan finish kindergarten, he had stayed a few extra days in Dongping County.
As soon as the graduation ceremony ended, they took Gu Yan and left Dongping for An City.
Yun Su also booked a ticket on the same flight.
She returned to the rental apartment and went to An City together with Gu Yan.
On the plane, Fang Minghui and Yun Su sat on either side of Gu Yan.
Gu Yan sat in the middle, his little face tightly tense.
This was his first time leaving his hometown to go so far away, and possibly he might never return.
He would be starting a new life in another city.
Seeing his uneasy expression, Yun Su felt her heart tighten.
She softly comforted him, “Xiao Yan, go to sleep for a while. We’ll be there soon.”
Fang Minghui also brought a blanket over and covered Gu Yan with it.
Gu Yan nodded and obediently closed his eyes.
They arrived in An City at four in the afternoon.
As soon as they left the airport, Gu Zhou’s driver was already waiting outside.
Fang Minghui said to Yun Su, “Xiao Su, come have dinner at our place tonight. I’ve already asked the maid to prepare everything. This is Xiao Yan’s first time in a new city, he’ll definitely feel uneasy.”
Gu Zhou also added, “Yes, you should stay with him tonight.”
Yun Su did not refuse and followed them into the car.
The Gu residence.
It was a riverside villa in the city center, simple in style yet luxurious in its understatement.
Once inside, Fang Minghui led Gu Yan upstairs to see his room.
Before they had even returned, the room had already been prepared.
Now that he was home, Gu Yan could move in immediately.
The room design was clean and bright, mainly using youthful and lively colors. There was a large bookshelf, a study desk, and decorative wall stickers that gave it a playful, childlike atmosphere.
From this room alone, it was clear how much thought Fang Minghui and Gu Zhou had put into him.
The household maid also knew a young master would be joining the family. The refrigerator was already stocked with children’s food, and tonight’s dishes were prepared according to Gu Yan’s preferences.
Gu Yan had never been cared for so carefully before. Looking at everything, he felt slightly dazed.
Was this going to be his home in the future?
No more being beaten, no more going hungry.
This was the family Sister had found for him, and he would have parents now too.
Yun Su saw him standing there motionless.
Why wasn’t he curious about his new home?
The maid called them to dinner.
Yun Su took Gu Yan to the dining room and helped him into a specially designed child seat.
Once everyone was seated and the dishes were served, the meal began.
The housekeeper, Aunt Wang, said happily, “From now on, Madam will have a little young master to keep her company. This home is going to be lively!”
Fang Minghui, full of joy, immediately handed Aunt Wang a red envelope.
The meal was warm and lively.
After dinner, it was time for Yun Su to leave the Gu residence.
They had agreed beforehand that Gu Yan would stay here on his own tonight.
This was the first time in two months that he would be spending a night away from Yun Su.
Yun Su had assumed that Gu Yan and his adoptive parents were already close enough that he would not cling to her as much as before.
But when she was about to leave, even though Gu Yan said nothing, his gaze was impossible to ignore.
Fang Minghui noticed as well and said, “Why don’t you stay tonight, Xiao Su? There’s a guest room already prepared.”
Yun Su refused. She could not let Gu Yan keep relying on her like this.
If she stayed today, what about tomorrow?
She would eventually have to leave. It was better not to start this habit at all.
Letting Gu Yan begin his life in the Gu family properly from today was the right choice.
Steeling her heart, she said to Gu Yan, “Xiao Yan, Sister is leaving.”
Gu Yan did not cry or make a fuss like he had at the police station before. He simply pressed his lips together and nodded slightly.
After leaving the Gu residence, Yun Su checked into a hotel.
After showering, she lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.
By her calculation, she had been here for more than two months.
More precisely, she only had seventeen days left until she could return.
In these seventeen days, she planned to stay in An City and help Gu Yan adapt properly.
Once his life here stabilized, her mission would be complete.
Thinking this, she felt a wave of emotion.
She had once thought Gu Yan would be the one unable to let go of her.
But now, she realized she was the one who could not quite let go of him.
At first, Gu Yan was just a mission target.
But after taking care of him for so long, how could there be no feelings involved?
She rolled over, burying her face in the blanket, forcing herself to stop thinking.
The next morning, Yun Su woke up early.
Changing cities always came with some adjustment, especially when her mind was still on Gu Yan.
She wondered how he had slept last night. Had he been used to the bed? Had he cried under the blanket again?
But no matter how worried she was, she could not rush over so early in the morning.
That would be too much.
She really was becoming like an overprotective mother.
She forced herself to stop worrying.
After breakfast at the hotel, she went out to explore.
An City was a bustling metropolis, with towering buildings and streets like a spiderweb, filled with flowing traffic.
There were many famous tourist attractions, enough to keep someone busy for days.
She thought she would take Gu Yan to visit them all during these remaining days.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Fang Minghui.
She quickly answered, “Hello, Mrs. Gu?”
But the voice on the other end was Gu Yan’s.
“Sister, it’s me.”
She was slightly surprised.
“Xiao Yan, why is it you? Did you sleep well last night?”
There was a soft “mm” from the other end. “I slept pretty well.”
His voice was slightly hoarse, and she was not sure if he was telling the truth.
But calling her this early in the morning told her everything.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
“Then why did you call me Sister?”
“…Nothing.”
“Xiao Yan, a boy needs to learn to be independent.”
“I understand, I’ll go eat breakfast.”
His voice turned a little dull.
“After you finish breakfast, Sister will come find you and take you out to play.”
“Okay!” His voice instantly brightened again, no longer hoarse at all.