Leng Haoyun was getting impatient. âAre you going to agree or not? Iâve already told you before our engagement that either party can call it quits at any point in time. Do you want me to say it again?â
An Huilin looked at Leng Haoyunâs impassive face. There really is nothing worse than apathy. But why donât I want to give up even when heâs this cruel?
If she agrees to the cancellation, it is unlikely that she will ever get a second chance.
She contemplated for a moment before answering. âI need some time to think this over. Itâs not that I donât agree, but we had already invited so many guests to the banquet. Iâll meet you back here in this study a week later to let you know!â
Leng Haoyun looked at her pointedly before nodding.
An Huilin then turned to leave. Once out of the study, her tears were unstoppable.
â¦â¦
The car was heading to Ceng Hanyuâs villa.
Leng Xiyao suddenly asked, âGuan Zixuan, you seem to be very free these days. Donât you have any work?â
Guan Zixuan looked at her through the rearview mirror as he drove.
âIâm a celebrity, but Iâm human too. Iâve been so working hard in order to let the audience enjoy high quality dramas, movies and programmes. You have absolutely no conscience. How can you make such comments.â
âSo why donât you have any work recently?â Leng Xiyao pressed on.
Guan Zixuan answered dismissively as he tried to show this lady how hard he had actually been working. âOf course I should take a good rest after the shoot in C City. Iâve also asked my manager to either postpone or cancel any other jobs for the next few days!â
âMy, oh my. Throwing your weight around huh. A top-tier actor!â
Sarcasm was evident in Leng Xiyaoâs words. This made Guan Zixuan floor the accelerator on purpose, causing Leng Xiyao to be thrown back against the seat by inertia.
She admonished him, âTop actor Mr. Guan, do you have a death wish? Speeding up so suddenly like that. Donât you know that Suqing is pregnant?â
Being reminded of this, Guan Zixuan slowed down.
He said, âI wouldnât have done that if you werenât being so sarcastic!â
Leng Xiyao rolled her eyes before turning to him again, craftiness in her eyes.
âIâll ask you something serious, Guan Zixuan. What were you shooting this time?â
Guan Zixuan thought it was a genuine question and that she was merely asking out of curiosity.
âThe title of the drama is - Shall I Compare You to a Spring Day.â
Leng Xiyao started chuckling.
âIt should be called - Shall I Sleep With You on a Spring Day!â
Mo Suqing was initially enjoying their banter, but Leng Xiyaoâs sudden comment made her facepalm.
Heavens, I donât know this person. Why is she so dirty-minded! I canât take it!
Losing his grip on the steering wheel, Guan Zixuan lost control of the car a little when he heard the comment.
Leng Xiyao continued, âWhatâs wrong? No need to force yourself to drive if youâre not good at it. The journey would be super smooth if I were driving!â
Guan Zixuan stared at her with gritted teeth.
âYouâre all talk. Do you even have a license?â
Leng Xiyao answered in mock surprise, âGuan Zixuan, I thought you were extremely knowledgeable! Top actor Mr. Guan shouldâve already known that Iâm a very experienced driver!â
Guan Zixuan was left speechless.?Miss Experienced Driver, please stop torturing me. Also, being knowledgeable has absolutely nothing to do with knowing how experienced you are.
Anyone can tell that youâre the reckless kind! You score an absolute win!
âOne more word and Suqing and I will walk instead. You can go look for Ceng Hanyu on your own!â
Leng Xiyao instantly put on an act of being a sweet lady. âDonât! Guan Zixuan, I wonât joke around anymore, okay?â
Guan Zixuan snorted, âYou sure you were just joking?â
Leng Xiyao pursed her lips and kept quiet. This man is so boring. I was just kidding! Everyone knows that I like to joke around!
Mo Suqing then spoke, âZixuan, for the show - Shall I Compare You to a Spring Day, is Mo Sulian a part of the crew too?â
âShe is! But sheâs the bad apple. She doesnât perform well even though sheâs been cast as the second female lead. The director was exasperated. They might even have to cut out her scenes when the show airs and edit it to make her look like a passer-by!â
Guan Zixuan got pretty worked up.
Leng Xiyao said, âThe passer-by would probably be Mo Sulian!â
Guan Zixuan took a deep breath to calm himself before speaking.
âLeng Xiyao, even if you donât talk, no one would think youâre mute. Also, you totally missed my point. Why do you focus on things that people donât normally focus on?â
âMaybe itâs because Iâm not normal, and Iâm very unusual!â
âI think youâre unusually insane!â Guan Zixuan retorted.
Afraid that they would start tearing at each other any moment now, Mo Suqing held onto Leng Xiyao.
âZixuan, how did Mo Sulian get cast if her acting chops are so bad? I heard there were also quite a few famous actors cast for that drama, and theyâre all top-tier!â
Guan Zixuan wondered if he should tell her the truth.
âWhatâs wrong? Zixuan, stop acting all shy and awkward!â
Guan Zixuan coughed at this.
âSuqing, you really want to know?â
âYes!â Mo Suqing nodded fervently. She knew deep down that Ye Zhongjue must have had something to do with it, but no matter what he did, she trusted him.
âOkay!â Guan Zixuan glanced at her before continuing. âShe said Ye Zhongjue was her backer. They were photographed together a few times before, but Ye Zhongjue didnât comment on those. Lin Ran also called up a few entertainment companies to extend his greetings, so everyone naturally believed Mo Sulian.â
Mo Suqing nodded and remained silent.
Ever since Ye Zhongjueâs identity was blown, she knew her father and Mo Sulian would pester Ye Zhongjue if she did not lend a helping hand. She could fully understand Ye Zhongjueâs actions.
Ceng Hanyu was already waiting outside when they arrived at his villa.
On the way to the An family home, Leng Xiyaoâs nerves got the better of her. She held onto Mo Suqingâs hand anxiously.
She would ask from time to time, âCeng Hanyu, are we there yet?â
Ceng Hanyu answered, âA while more!â
She asked again shortly after, âCeng Hanyu, is it very rude of me that I forgot to bring a present?â
Ceng Hanyu took her hands in his to reassure her. âDonât worry about that. The fact that youâre able to visit is the greatest present for Grandpa An.â
Mo Suqing could see the cold sweat on Leng Xiyaoâs forehead as she lowered her head. She spoke gently, âItâll be okay, Yao. Iâm here with you. Also, thatâs your grandfather, the closest relative you have. Heâll definitely love you, so you donât have to worry so much.â
Just as Mo Suqing finished, Leng Xiyao looked at Ceng Hanyu again. âI played a prank on him and pointed him in the opposite direction. Will he be very angry with me and hate me for it?â
Ceng Hanyu looked at her in resignation. âYao, youâre overthinking it. Grandpa loves you! Why would he hate you?!â
Seeing Leng Xiyao cowering in fear put Guan Zixuan in such a good mood that he actually started humming. He would have sung loudly if he could.
Mo Suqing did not know what to say.?The two of them must be arch-enemies, attacking each other on sight.
The current Leng Xiyao was too nervous to pay any attention to Guan Zixuan.
When they finally arrived at the An family home, Leng Xiyao was so nervous that her palms were sweating.
Actually, why am I this nervous? Iâve been to many events and Iâve seen so much. This is nothing. Isnât this just visiting my own grandfather?
However, she just could not help but feel restless and uneasy.
An Zhenguo walked out just as they alighted from the car. His tears instantly fell as he saw Leng Xiyao.
His legs trembled as he wanted to go to her.
Mo Suqing supported Leng Xiyao and they steadily made their way towards An Zhenguo.
Guan Zixuan looked at the scene unfolding before him, realizing that Leng Xiyao had all the emotions a normal person would have. She would also feel scared, agitated and worried. If she knew what just went through his mind, she might literally strangle him.
Ceng Hanyu stepped forward to support An Zhenguo as he walked.
An Zhenguo finally stopped in front of Leng Xiyao. He was so emotional that he spoke with a slight stutter.
âItâs been twenty-odd years, but Iâve finally found you. Anne, my granddaughter!â
Old Man An held onto Leng Xiyaoâs arm, and hot tears welled up in her eyes. She had imagined this playing out many times, but it was never this emotional.
A wave of emotion overwhelmed her. She felt conflicted, happy, emotional and uneasy all at the same time. No one else would know exactly how she felt at this moment.
Leng Xiyao had prepared herself for this reunion, and the first thing Leng Xiyao said made An Zhenguo weep.
âGrandpa, Iâm sorry!â
She sniffed as her tears fell.
An Zhenguo hugged her. âAnne, silly girl. Why are you saying sorry? Youâve had such a hard time. Itâs Grandpaâs fault for not being able to find you sooner!â
The tear-stricken Leng Xiyao pouted as she tried to awkwardly explain herself. âI gave you the wrong direction on purpose, I didnât know...â
An Zhenguo patted her on the shoulder to comfort her. âSilly girl, Grandpa knows you didnât do it on purpose. You wouldnât do that if you knew I was your grandfather. Is that your friend over there? Let him come in!â
Leng Xiyao stared at Guan Zixuan. He was pretty sarcastic towards her after they picked Ceng Hanyu up.
Thus, she said, âDonât mind him, Grandpa. Heâs just a driver!â
[1] The literal phrase is âold driverâ and can be used to mean someone with a wealth of experience. Leng Xiyao was trying to be punny in her response to the question of whether she has a license.