“Old Han, I heard you are moving again, “Han Qian heard his nosy neighbour saying this when he was standing on the porch of his house.
The Han family was living in a very humble neighbourhood ever since Han Zixin was transferred here a few months back. The house was nice and suitable to their needs and so the pair of grandchild and grandfather.
When Han Zixin joined the police academy and was later posted, his grandfather decided to follow his grandson and then quit travelling abroad to live a thrilling life. The old man had to say that living with Han Zixin all the years was so full of thrill that he no longer wanted the same. Since they were going back to their home city, he decided to move back to his old villa and live in his old age there in peace.
Maybe, he would pretend to get a heart attack and call his older grandson home too and live with him. His good for nothing son left Han Nanxian alone when he found a woman who looked just like his dead wife and was enjoying life with her. Good for all!
Seriously, Han Qian had never been more relieved. The obsession that his son had with Han Nanxian was shifted to the new woman who just looked like his son’s late wife. At least, his grandsons could leave their life in peace now.
“Oh yeah, my grandson got promoted again, “Han Qian sighed as if he didn’t want the same. “I ask my grandson not to work so hard. We have to move so many times.”
The face of the nosy woman turned dark. How dare she talk behind his grandson’s back and call him names? He would rub his amazing grandson’s success on their faces and make them eat their words.
“Congratulations, ” The woman said and went back to her room. She looked so sour that if she didn’t go away from there, she would have done something.
“Master, were you arguing with Mrs He again?” The caretaker asked.
“What do you mean by arguing?” Han Qian retorted. “My grandson rejected her daughter’s offer to date and then she began badmouthing him, calling him a thug and whatnot!”
“But you just called him a thug, ” The caretaker reminded him.
“He is my grandson. I can say anything, ” The old man harrumphed and went to his room to call his old rivals to praise his grandsons again.
…..
“You look more sad than the rejected boy, “Han Nanxian commented as he looked at Jiang Yao’s crestfallen face. She was trying to play cupid but
“He is not rejected, “Jiang Yao said. “He didn’t even confess. Baby Xiu has yet to reject him.”
“He has no chance with her, “Han Nanxian said as a matter of fact. “One day, she will meet the boy who is made for her and you will realise what I’m trying to say.”
“As if the boy will fall from the sky, “Jiang Yao replied with a scoff. “She doesn’t like polished and sophisticated guys like a normal girl. What does she even want?”
Han Nanxian just shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea about it too.
“Could it be that she is into bad boys?” Jiang Yao asked him. Then, she heaved out a sigh and mumbled, “She is a lawyer. How can she like bad boys?”
“Why are you worrying so much about her?” Han Nanxian questioned. “Shouldn’t you worry about yourself?”
“Partner, I would have asked you out but you are on the long list of off-limits guys, ” Jiang Yao winked.
“Thank god, ” Han Nanxian mumbled. “By the way, who else is on the off-limits list?”
“Her brothers and all male friends, ” Jiang Yao sighed. “And you know all the Asian guys in the vicinity are her friends.”
“Have you told your family that you are coming home?” Li Sicheng asked An Xiulan.
“Not yet, ” An Xiulan sighed. “I’m thinking of giving them a surprise. My dad’s birthday is this week. I think it’s perfect timing to go back home.”
“Will you be okay there?” Li Sicheng asked. “Song Xueyun is settled in Shanghai. Gu Shangyan in Europe. Han Zixin in the south. Will you be able to settle in there?”
An Xiulan smiled. “Yan Ge returned home. I heard it from my younger brother. Xueyun and I are besties even though we are far away, we are still as tight as ever. And I still have Yue’r and Lu Xuan in An City. I will be fine.”
“What about Han Zixin?” Li Sicheng asked.
“What about him?” An Xiulan blinked at him. “Mr Police Officer is always busy. We don’t talk that often. The last time we talked was… I don’t even remember it.”
“I never thought you guys will grow apart, ” Li Sicheng said in a small voice.
“We didn’t. We just have our own lives, ” An Xiulan replied. “He is a police officer. We just don’t have anything to say to each other. Xueyun and I talk for hours on the phone because we talk about our work life but I and Zixin can’t do the same because he is always on classified missions. We didn’t grow apart. We just have a very different life. It’s not easy for us to meet each other halfway. We grew up, Classmate.”
Later that night, An Xiulan was staring at the picture of a young man in a SWAT uniform walking ahead, his team following him. His gaze was not on the camera but rather on the way. A black mask was covering his face; only his sharp whiskey-coloured eyes were visible.
She saved the picture on her laptop and clicked on the print option. As the picture was printed with the headline saying Special Team saved students and teachers from terrorists. She glued the picture on the scrapbook that contained many similar pictures.
“Baby Xiu, why are you still awake?” Jiang Yao asked.
An Xiulan immediately hid the scrapbook under her pillow. “I’m off to bed, Yaoyao. Good night.”