Meanwhile.
Just as Sheng Yuxiao's plane landed in Princeton, he received a call from Xu Ji.
"Although you helped Xiao Ya buy me a bag of calcium tablets and played a trick on your uncle, I'll still kindly tell you... her grandfather might not make it through these few days."
Sheng Yuxiao's grip on the plane's body tightened: "What happened?"
"I just saw the news that Rong Xing has been extradited back to China. Rong Xing was on the Gui Family's board of directors and the one who bribed the nun. First Wei Lin, then him, and the others..."
"Will be scared," Sheng Yuxiao finished.
"Yes. His son has already managed to intimidate these people, they've crawled out of the abyss, and his daughter has largely regained her sanity... I think the last breath keeping him alive is about to fade."
After Xu Ji finished speaking in a calm tone, he asked: "Where are you now?"
"Princeton, about to attend an admission interview."
"Oh, well, go ahead with that first. He probably won't pass away within two days..."
Sheng Yuxiao said: "It's not urgent."
Then he hung up and walked back.
The bodyguard accompanying him was startled: "Young Master Sheng?"
When Sheng Yuxiao landed again, he received another call from Xu Ji.
"Some bad news... two more board members from the Gui Family have died. There are rumors saying it's internal housecleaning. Wei Wenjuan has gone on a killing spree."
"In their circle, they handle things in the old way, and housecleaning always has its source... I suspect the old man really isn't doing well."
After Xu Ji finished speaking unhurriedly, he asked: "So are you coming back?"
"I just arrived at Jin City Airport."
"...Ah." Xu Ji muttered, realizing that when he said "not urgent," he meant the admission interview wasn't urgent.
Sheng Yuxiao quickly hung up on Xu Ji and called Xiao Ya.
This was how he became the second outsider, besides Wei Xuanming's old friend, to appear at the scene.
"Xiao Ya." He walked over, travel-worn.
The young master Sheng was still as awkward as ever at comforting people.
He just crouched down and hugged her.
"Don't cry," he said.
Xiao Ya was slightly confused and asked in a soft voice: "Sheng Yuxiao, why are you here?" Then she shook her head: "I'm not crying."
Sheng Yuxiao opened his mouth, then changed what he was going to say: "Then don't hold it in either."
"I'm not holding anything in. Grandfather was happy, he told me so. Now he's reunited with Mom, and Mom has Dad again."
Sheng Yuxiao didn't know what to say, he just stroked her hair.
Old Li listened from the side, stunned, and couldn't help but force an ugly smile. So she wasn't suppressing her emotions after all.
This little girl... she truly understood her grandfather.
He also felt that his old friend must be happy...
*
He wanted to comfort Xiao Ya, but after speaking for a while, he realized these words didn't seem very comforting at all.
Books say that usually by telling stories of one's own more tragic experiences, you can make others feel better.
But with Qin Sui's life and personality, what more tragic experiences could he have?
Qin Sui was suddenly at a loss.
However, Xiao Ya slowly spoke up: "Was it because your grandfather was very old when he passed away, and had no worries left? If that's the case, it's okay not to cry. In the countryside, they call this a 'happy funeral.'"
Xiao Ya said: "You're not sick."
Qin Sui was stunned, lowered his head, and for some reason, wanted to smile.
It was a genuine, uncontrollable smile.
He didn't know how to comfort her.
In the end, she ended up comforting him instead.
Xu Ji, sitting in the front, abruptly interjected: "Xiao Ya, you're a natural antidote."
Xiao Ya was puzzled.
But Xu Ji had no intention of explaining.
He thought to himself, the more "poisonous" the person, the more effective your "medicine" is.
*
The news of Xiao Ya's grandfather's passing gradually became widely known.
Zhou Xiaoshu and An Ying didn't know exactly who her grandfather was, but they were still afraid she would be sad and upset, wanting to stay by Xiao Ya's side all the time.
Even when Mu Bai heard about it, he came personally with a stern face to deliver some things.
"The fifth grader has come to pay tribute again!" The classmates were quite happy.
Mu Bai had just walked out and hadn't gone far when he heard these words, almost tripping in anger.
How long would he have to maintain this awful image? Mu Bai didn't know. Perhaps when he grew bigger and could beat that little girl!
...
Xiao Ya's life thus entered a long period of tranquility... it seemed like nothing could trouble her anymore.
In the blink of an eye, a semester passed.
Aliali: 6744813cc4f3f33ac44271f6
Sheng Yuxiao was going abroad for school, Qin Sui was also going abroad, and so was Ning Heng... suddenly only Xu Ruying was left, as she had already finished her studies abroad.
"Now doesn't that mean I get Xiao Ya all to myself?" Xu Ruying was overjoyed.
Xu Ji poured cold water on her excitement: "What do you mean all to yourself? Sheng Yuxiao might come back once a week."
Xu Ruying was shocked: "Is he sick? Coming back once a week?"
Xu Ji lowered his head to continue reading financial reports: "It's only because there are entry restrictions, otherwise even Ke Muning would want to come once a month."
Xu Ruying's mouth twitched, leaving her speechless.
After the new semester started, Sheng Yuxiao did indeed fly back to China as Xu Ji had said, continuing for more than half a year.
However, after that half year, Sheng Yuxiao stopped coming back, and they didn't see each other for several months.
Xu Ruying was worried that Xiao Ya would feel disappointed, so while helping her with homework, she chattered: "Foreign universities, they're really not for normal people, the better the school, the busier you are. Sheng Yuxiao must be incredibly busy."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but mutter: "His birthday is coming up soon, surely he won't spend it abroad?"