“I have something to ask her. Do you have her contact information?”
“No… Wen Yao keeps to herself. We’re not that close.”
“Thanks.”
Xing Yu hung up and dialed another number.
“You’re looking for Wen Yao? I’m not close with her.”
“Wen Yao? She doesn’t fit in at all. She never attends any gatherings.”
“The class group chat? She left after graduation and never added anyone.”
Xing Yu went through almost all the numbers on his list. Without exception, no one had Wen Yao’s contact information.
In their eyes, Wen Yao was withdrawn, unsociable, and always alone.
It was as if she had deliberately kept her distance from these classmates—otherwise, how could so many people not have her contact?
Xing Yu put down his phone and rubbed his temples. Just then, another call came in.
He subconsciously thought it was one of Wen Yao’s classmates. But when he looked at the caller ID, it was “Mom.”
He answered with a hint of disappointment. “Mom.”
“Come home for dinner tonight. Your father has something to discuss with you.”
“Mm, got it.”
Ruan Qingtong sighed. “Your grandfather is getting old now. He just wants to hold his great-grandchild. Besides, you’re not young anymore.”
“Mom, I understand. We’ll talk when I get back.”
“Alright, come home early tonight.”
Xing Yu put down his phone, picked up the cigarette pack on the table, and took one out, placing it between his lips. He reached into his pocket for a lighter.
His gaze fell on it—it had been used for over five years. The four corners were visibly worn, and even the brand logo had been rubbed away beyond recognition.
He flicked it a few times, but no flame appeared.
It had been used too long and dropped too many times—it was long broken.
He wasn’t in a hurry. After trying a few more times, he finally lit the cigarette.
He took a drag, let the smoke swirl in his mouth, then exhaled.
Did she go abroad?
He had never heard her mention any plans to leave the country before.
That evening, when Xing Yu returned home, it was still not dark.
In the living room, Xing Shurong and Xing Jingyun were chatting.
Grandfather’s hair had already turned completely white, and his spirit was no longer what it had been five years ago.
When they noticed him enter, their gazes turned toward him.
“Grandpa, Dad.”
Xing Yu walked over and sat on the sofa.
Xing Shurong looked at his grandson. Compared to his son, the grandson resembled him more.
He himself had been a soldier. His grandson had enlisted twice, earning first-class, second-class, and third-class merits multiple times—something he felt extremely proud of.
“After coming back, not quite used to it, right?”
“A little.” Xing Yu had grown used to the sound of military bugles. Not hearing them after returning felt strange.
Xing Shurong smiled. “That’s normal. You’ll get used to it after a while.”
Xing Jingyun set down his teacup. “Now that you’re back, it’s time to settle down. My suggestion is that you go to a branch company first to gain some experience. Do you understand?”
Although Xing Yu studied finance and economics, and also minored in business management and computer science, he had no work experience.
Working at a branch company would allow him to apply what he had learned and accumulate experience.
“Mm. Once I finish handling what I have on hand, I’ll go.”
Xing Jingyun knew his son’s interests weren’t in the company. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly decided to join the army during university, and even reenlisted again before graduation.
Still, he was relieved that his son agreed to join the company.
“That’s good. I’m looking forward to your performance at the branch.”
Ruan Qingtong came down the spiral staircase. Seeing Xing Yu on the sofa, she walked over with a smile.
“My son is back.”
Xing Yu looked up. “Mom.”
“I didn’t expect you to come back so early today.” She sat beside her husband and looked at him again. “A friend’s daughter is coming back next month. I’ve seen her photos—she’s very beautiful. When she returns, you two should meet.”
Xing Yu paused for a moment, then responded softly, “Mm.”
The housekeeper came in to ask, “Madam, shall we serve dinner now?”
Ruan Qingtong replied, “Yes, let’s eat.”
After dinner, Xing Yu returned to his room upstairs. He took out a cigarette and was about to light it when there was a knock on the door.
“Brother, it’s me.”
Xing Yu: “Come in.”
Qin Chao pushed the door open and walked in. After closing it, he went over to the desk.
Xing Yu held a lighter, flicking it several times before finally lighting his cigarette.
Qin Chao casually took a cigarette from the pack and reached for Xing Yu’s lighter. “Let me borrow your lighter.”
Xing Yu withdrew his hand, causing Qin Chao to grab at nothing. He opened the drawer, took out a brand-new lighter, and tossed it to him. “Use this.”
Qin Chao caught it, but his gaze lingered on the lighter in Xing Yu’s hand. “Bro, that lighter of yours is practically wrecked. You’re still using it?”
“I’m used to it.” Xing Yu slipped the lighter into his pocket, leaned back against his chair, and looked at Qin Chao with a hint of laziness. “What do you want?”
“Isn’t your birthday the day after tomorrow? They want to celebrate it for you—and welcome you back,” Qin Chao said, taking a drag of his cigarette. His eyes landed on a photo on the desk from their freshman military training days. “Time really flies. I miss those days—when you were our instructor.”
At his words, Xing Yu looked at the photo. His gaze settled on a figure in the third row on the left.
Her thick, straight bangs covered her delicate brows and eyes.
After a month of military training, her skin was still that fair.
Under the camouflage uniform, her body was even fairer.
Just thinking about it stirred a reaction in him.
Xing Yu took a sharp drag of his cigarette. The strong nicotine flooded his senses before he slowly exhaled. “No need for a birthday celebration. I’ve been busy lately.”
The smile on Qin Chao’s face disappeared. “Bro, you haven’t even started working yet. Busy with what?”
Xing Yu’s gaze returned to the figure in the photo. He had been searching for days, yet there was no trace of her—as if she had vanished from the world.
“Personal matters.”
By the time Wen Yao returned to Kyoto, it was already dark. After leaving the station, she took a bus straight to Huating Residential Complex.
Xinxin had just finished dinner and carried a small stool to the balcony. After placing it down, she climbed onto it by holding onto the window and leaned forward to look outside the complex.
Seeing this, Yu Qian hurried over and scooped her up. “Xinxin, that’s very dangerous, you know?”
Xinxin wrapped her arms around Yu Qian’s neck. “Grandma Yu, when is Mommy coming to pick me up?”
Yu Qian could tell she missed her mother. “Soon. Your mom is already on the way.”
Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
Xinxin struggled to get down. “Mommy is here to pick me up!”
After Yu Qian set her down, Xinxin ran toward the door on her short little legs, standing on tiptoe to open it—but she couldn’t reach the handle.
Yu Qian walked over with a smile and opened the door for her.
The moment Xinxin saw Wen Yao outside, she happily threw herself into her arms. “Mommy!”
While she had been back in her hometown, Wen Yao had missed her daughter the most. She held her close and looked at Yu Qian. “Professor Yu, thank you for taking care of her these past two days.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Old Zhang and I feel the house is too quiet every weekend. With Xinxin around, it’s so much livelier. If you’re busy, just bring her over—we both like her very much,” Yu Qian said, her gaze constantly drifting toward the child in Wen Yao’s arms. The more she looked, the more she liked her.
Wen Yao knew that Professor Yu’s son had gone abroad to study and settled overseas after getting married, rarely coming back.
Having a child at home did bring much more joy.
“Oh right, Xing Yu came by yesterday morning. He was asking about you. It’s obvious he’s looking for you. Are you sure you don’t want to contact him?”
Wen Yao had heard Xing Yu’s name several times over the past few days, yet she still couldn’t remain calm. Every time she heard it, her heart would tremble uncontrollably.
“Professor Yu, there’s nothing left to say between us. We’ve been broken up for many years, and I don’t want him disturbing my peaceful life.”
Yu Qian could tell that Wen Yao wanted absolutely nothing to do with Xing Yu.
“I understand. By the way, a friend of mine has a son who’s a teacher. He’s six years older than you—thirty-two this year. I’ve met him; he’s decent in both character and appearance. How about I arrange for you to meet?”
Wen Yao looked at Xinxin in her arms. Recently, the child had been asking about her father. She nodded. “Alright, Professor Yu. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Okay, I’ll arrange it.”
As soon as Wen Yao returned to her rented apartment, she received a call from the traffic police department.
“Hello, is this Ms. Wen Yao?”
“Yes, it is. What’s the matter?”
“Please come to the traffic police station.”
Though confused, Wen Yao still took her daughter with her and went.
When she arrived, she learned it was about the electric scooter accident from the previous day.
The traffic police had already found the hit-and-run rider.
It had taken them a long time to locate Wen Yao, which was why she was only notified today.
The injury on her leg was worse than yesterday—bruised and swollen. She even limped slightly when walking.
After mediation, the scooter owner compensated Wen Yao with 2,000 yuan and was fined.
Looking at the money in her hand, Wen Yao couldn’t help but marvel at how efficient the traffic police were nowadays.
Last time, her colleague had also been hit by a scooter, but the driver was never found, and the matter was dropped.
Wen Yao put the money away and carried her daughter out of the station—only to see Xing Yu stepping out of a car.
She hadn’t expected to run into him here.
Instinctively, she held her daughter tighter, burying the child’s face into her neck as she lowered her head and walked forward.
“Captain Lu, the matter has already been handled. She’s the victim who was hit.”