Zhao Yan immediately went to find Zhou Bai, thinking he would know where Jiang Jingfeng lived. On the way, however, Zhou Bai blocked him, explaining that his deputy team leader was still unconscious at the research institute, all because of the little troublemaker at Zhao Yan’s home.
Zhao Yan and Wu You went to the research institute and saw Jiang Jingfeng lying on a hospital bed. All his body functions were normal according to the tests, yet no one could explain why he had not woken up.
Zhao Yan was drenched in sweat, his anxiety and panic mounting. Where could Huan Huan have gone? The base was so large—what if she wandered out and was targeted or captured?
Wu You suggested that she had likely gone out to play with his sister since the two got along well, and advised Zhao Yan not to worry. They could ask her when she returned home.
But Zhao Yan could not wait. The thought of Le Huan potentially in danger set his heart ablaze. Yet his search was aimless; he had no clue where to start looking.
“Maybe Miss Yu got lost… or maybe she’s already home.” Wu You knew it was unlikely, but Zhao Yan clearly needed some reassurance, otherwise he might break down entirely.
Zhao Yan considered that possibility. Le Huan was often careless. He decided to wait half an hour at home; if she still hadn’t returned, he would mobilize the base to search for her.
He went home, and Wu You poured him a glass of water.
Zhao Yan paced the house anxiously. He felt he could not just sit and wait. As he prepared to head out again, the phone rang.
Wu You picked it up and put it on speaker.
“Hello? Who is this?”
“Wu You? Are you at my house? Is Zhao Yan there with you?”
It was Le Huan.
Zhao Yan dashed over and snatched the phone. “Where have you been?!”
Panic, worry, and anger surged through him, leaving his voice uncontrolled.
Le Huan’s voice on the other end was even louder.
“You’re yelling at me?! Zhao Yan, try yelling at me one more time!”
She was furious. Zhao Yan, that idiot, had gone overboard.
Aunt Xiong, sensing something was wrong, took the phone.
“Xiao Yan, it’s Aunt Xiong. Le Huan is at my house, yes, with Wu Lü. You all come over, and tonight I’ll cook and we can have a little gathering.”
After hanging up, Le Huan was still fuming, feeling Zhao Yan didn’t love her—how dare he shout at her so soon after lunch! Clearly, the lesson he received then hadn’t been enough.
Le Huan was scolding Zhao Yan to herself with Wu Lü when a knock at the door sounded.
“So soon?” Wu Lü was genuinely shocked. He must have run incredibly fast to arrive so quickly.
“Hmph, finally here. I’ll teach him a lesson first!” Le Huan clenched her fists, determined to hit Zhao Yan to vent her anger.
When she opened the door and saw Zhao Yan, she froze.
Zhao Yan was panting heavily. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair soaked with sweat. Redness and a haze surrounded his eyes, and his body trembled slightly, emanating a sense of broken desolation.
Le Huan’s anger dissipated at the sight of him. Just as she opened her mouth, Zhao Yan pulled her into his arms, holding her as if he wanted to fuse with her completely.
“How could you do this to me…” Zhao Yan’s voice was choked with emotion.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t I leave you a note?” Le Huan, seeing him like this, felt unusually flustered.
“A note… you left a note?”
At that moment, Wu You came up from behind, holding the note, panting heavily.
“My goodness, I am exhausted! Team Leader, you ran too fast—I didn’t even have time to tell you. Under your coffee table, there’s a note left by Miss Yu.”
It had been a small misunderstanding, but Zhao Yan still felt a lingering fear.
“I told you not to go out alone! Do you know how dangerous it is for a girl outside? You scared me half to death!”
Le Huan smirked slightly, teasing him.
“Zhao Yan, you have the nerve to lecture me? Why do other girls always carry handguns for protection, but you never told me about one?”
“Don’t think I don’t know your little schemes—wanting me to go out only with you, right?”
“I’m telling you, you can’t keep me locked at home. If you won’t give me a gun, just watch me manage!”
Zhao Yan was silent under her relentless barrage.
“Huan Huan, it’s not that I don’t want to give you a handgun, it’s that you don’t know how to use it. Those things are dangerous; the recoil is strong. If it misfires, I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
“Then teach me! I can’t go out defenseless.”
Zhao Yan glanced at her and spoke calmly, “Considering you knocked that big guy Jiang Jingfeng out cold, I think that was more effective than a handgun.”
This left Le Huan momentarily silent.
“66, you hit him way too hard. He’s still out cold—how am I supposed to explain that?”
66 knew he was at fault and said nothing.
Zhao Yan, ignoring Le Huan’s hesitation, entered the house and sat on the sofa.
Wu You and Wu Lü, the sibling pair, watched the scene unfold. On the sofa, a small orange kitten clumsily crawled toward Zhao Yan.
Wu You asked, “This kitten seems close to the Team Leader. Did Gangzi raise it?”
“No, it’s my cat. I picked it up a few days ago.” Le Huan had already become lively again.
“It’s cute. Have you named it?”
“Cute, yes, and low-maintenance. It takes my surname—Xiao Qiang.”
“…”
“Ah… haha, quite distinctive.” Wu Lü chuckled. It was the first time he had been at a loss for words, thanks to his younger brother’s chatter.
Wu You noticed that in the past two days, his sister had become more cheerful while playing with Le Huan. Since their parents had passed, she had been cold and serious. He felt relieved.
As they chatted, Xiong Gang arrived with Chen Youyu and Wang Ni. The small room filled quickly, and Aunt Xiong laid out a large meal to welcome them.
Night fell, and steam rose from the freshly cooked dishes, filling the room with the warm, lively atmosphere of a family gathering.
Aunt Xiong brought out her homemade grape wine—sweet and strong. Zhao Yan didn’t stop Le Huan from drinking but reminded her to limit her intake; otherwise, she might get a headache from being drunk.
Le Huan pretended to agree, but when Zhao Yan wasn’t looking, she slyly sipped one glass after another. Soon her cheeks flushed red, like a little apple.
By the time Zhao Yan noticed, Le Huan was already tipsy, sitting quietly and dazed.
Zhao Yan leaned down. “Huan Huan, are you uncomfortable? Should we go home?”
Le Huan’s mind was slow, and she didn’t understand the question fully. She frowned and said nothing.
“Huan Huan’s drunk. Let’s head back.”
Zhao Yan draped his large coat over her shoulders, carried Zhao Xiaoqiang in a bag, and Le Huan, though still dazed, trusted him enough to stand and walk with him.
Before leaving, Zhao Yan asked Aunt Xiong how to make a hangover soup. Once he had the instructions, he took Le Huan home.
Once outside, Le Huan froze.
“What’s wrong? Do you need me to carry you?”
Le Huan shook her head slightly and whispered, “Carry me.”