Chapter 173: Arriving in Jiangcheng

Chapter 173

A Family's Home.

An Ying sat quietly at the dining table, head bowed, as usual not saying much.

Her older brothers and sisters were all more favored by their father... They sat in front, closer to him, and were always the ones eagerly speaking up to please him.

Today should be no different...

But suddenly her father's voice rang out: "An Ying, come here, sit over here."

An Ying looked up in confusion, but obediently went over and sat down.

Her father patted her head with unusual affection and said, "You've done very well."

"She... did something?" An Ying's siblings turned to stare at her in unison.

"An Ying finally has her own little circle of friends she gets along with at school. Making friends was never a difficult thing, you just have to try, and you can do it well."

President An said, putting a waffle on An Ying's plate.

"Oh really? That is good. I remember An Ying used to be so afraid at every party..."

"And she could never make any friends."

"Even if she got into other circles because of Dad's status, no one paid attention to her..."

"Is it because she's grown up now? Finally figured it out?"

"It must be Dad's good parenting."

An Ying's siblings chattered away.

An Ying said nothing. She wasn't stupid; she knew they were mocking her.

Not every family is wonderful.

Their family had too many children, all competing for their father's attention...

"Give your friend a call today," President An spoke up. "It's winter break, you need to keep in touch with friends regularly to maintain relationships. Otherwise, someone else will take your place."

"Mm." An Ying lowered her head and responded.

"Or inviting her over to play is good too. That shows your relationship is special."

An Ying remained silent.

Why was she always so inconspicuous? Why did she prefer to be quiet and unassuming?

It was because every time she heard her father giving her such advice, it made her feel sick.

In the past, seeing her so silent and wooden, her father would frown and walk away.

But today, her father showed no expression.

After breakfast ended, An Ying ran outside and nervously grabbed her phone. Should she call? She should. But she wouldn't invite Li Xiaoya here...

This place wasn't good at all.

She wouldn't like it.

I should go to her place instead.

An Ying carefully dialed the number.

"Hello, this is An Ying. Are you... free today? I was wondering if I could come over to play."

It was one thing for an old man like him to be stuck in old memories, but how could a child be unable to move on as well?

He must help her find her mother's belongings properly.

"Go ahead then." Old Mr. Zhang knew his own physical limits well enough not to cause trouble. "I'll stay at the uncle's place, you keep in constant contact with me."

"Don't worry, I'll be by Little Duck's side the whole time," Sheng Yuxiao interjected.

Qin Sui added: "We will."

Old Mr. Zhang couldn't help but smile. Children were so interesting...

And so they parted ways briefly at the airport.

The man looked back at Li Xiaoya a couple more times. What was this child's background?

But since even Old Mr. Zhang had accompanied her here... He immediately committed her appearance to memory.

Worried that the reception in Jiang City might not be up to par, he even personally called the Golden Osmanthus Hotel.

After receiving the call, the Golden Osmanthus Hotel staff were a bit dazed: "How did such a big order fall into our laps?"

After their boss's failed investment, they no longer had the means to renovate the hotel. Its former glory quickly faded...

"What's the matter, Manager?"

"Everyone get moving! We have important guests coming from Jin City!"

"Where are the greeters? Keep standing at your posts..."

Just as Li Jiang had described.

When the car arrived at the hotel entrance, the doormen eagerly came forward, opening car doors, carrying luggage, helping to park.

Their mouths were full of bilingual welcoming phrases.

A red carpet was laid out on the ground, though it was a bit worn.

Li Xiaoya stepped onto it, closing her eyes slightly. She held Sheng Yuxiao's hand in her left and Qin Sui's in her right, walking forward step by step, just as her mother had walked this path years ago.

How happy she felt.

Although this was where she had met Li Jiang... back then, when her mother rushed here to meet her father, she must have been so happy!

"This little girl is quite strange, she likes to touch everything..." a server remarked.

"Who are you calling strange?" Sheng Yuxiao, holding his phone in one hand, turned his head with an icy gaze.

The server shuddered: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have commented on the guests."

Only then did Sheng Yuxiao continue his phone call.

After finishing, he returned to Li Xiaoya's side.

"Got an address. Although we're not sure which specific sanatorium they stayed at back then, we know who Little Duck's grandmother remarried," Sheng Yuxiao said.

"Did Secretary Wang find this out?" Li Xiaoya asked curiously.

"Yes."

Li Xiaoya nodded thoughtfully.

Sheng Yuxiao placed his phone on the table, allowing Qin Sui to see the address clearly as well.

"Little Duck's grandmother remarried a chairman of a business association, but this chairman has also passed away. If we can't get in the front door..."

"Then please ask Grandpa Zhang to take charge."