Chapter 12: National Day Holiday

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“Godfather, my passport is ready.”
With the National Day holiday approaching, Fang Lian began planning a trip with Yan Xuan.
“Xiao Lian, I might not be going abroad after all.”
“Not going abroad?”
“Sorry, Xiao Lian, I know you’ve been preparing for days for nothing.”
“It’s okay, Godfather.”
Fang Lian didn’t press for reasons, only pondering quietly.
If Godfather isn’t going abroad to see Godmother, could it mean he’s truly let go?
The thought eased her, and she asked, “Then how will you spend the holiday, Godfather? Do you need me to prepare anything for you?”
Yan Xuan shook his head. “I might go out of town. You don’t need to stick by my side during the break. Just keep the car for me.”
Yesterday, Mi Xiaoyue told Yan Xuan she wouldn’t be returning home for National Day. Though she didn’t say where she’d go afterward, Yan Xuan had a good guess.
Since the high school dormitory closes during the holiday, Mi Xiaoyue was probably planning to stay in an internet café. Likely not for the first time either.
So Yan Xuan planned to accompany her, partly to ensure her safety, and partly to use the holiday to find out why Mi Xiaoyue was considered a “purple epic.”
“All right, Godfather...”
Fang Lian remained obedient and sensible, never prying into matters Yan Xuan preferred to keep private.
Though Godfather couldn’t accompany her, it was better than him going alone to see Godmother.

———

On the first day of the National Day holiday, Mi Xiaoyue arrived at the internet café as usual and handed her ID to the front desk. “Brother Wang, please.”
“Xiaoyue, not going home for the holiday again?”
The café owner, Wang Chuan, was in his forties and one of the few “acquaintances” Mi Xiaoyue had.
He treated regulars like Mi Xiaoyue well, often reserving private rooms for her, giving discounts on internet fees, and occasionally offering drinks.
“There’s still a single room available. You can go in.”
As Mi Xiaoyue turned to leave, someone behind her handed over an ID.
“Boss, open a double room for us.”
“Brother Yan?”
Yan Xuan’s sudden appearance caught Mi Xiaoyue off guard. She turned around, surprised, her large almond-shaped eyes flickering beneath her messy bangs.
Wang Chuan didn’t immediately take the ID but waited silently for Mi Xiaoyue’s response.
Though Mi Xiaoyue usually looked disheveled, Wang Chuan had scanned her ID countless times and knew she was quite pretty. He saw Yan Xuan’s sudden arrival as some troublemaker trying to cause mischief—there were plenty of such small-time ruffians in the internet café.

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If Mi Xiaoyue asked for help, Wang Chuan would intervene to drive the troublemakers away as a good deed. But if she willingly accepted them, he wouldn’t bother getting involved.
She wasn’t his daughter; if some man ruined her or got her pregnant, it wouldn’t concern him one bit.
“Brother Wang, is there still a double room available?”
Only when Mi Xiaoyue spoke did Wang Chuan take Yan Xuan’s ID, nodding to signal they could go in.
After they left, Wang Chuan sighed and muttered a prayer for Mi Xiaoyue’s future.
Inside the room, Mi Xiaoyue was about to log into the game when Yan Xuan grabbed her school uniform collar and pulled her up.
“Lock the screen and AFK for now. Come with me for a walk.”
“Eh...”
Before she could protest, Yan Xuan pushed the door open and walked out. She hurried after him with short legs.
Wang Chuan glanced curiously after them, watching Yan Xuan open a Bentley and get in, clicking his tongue.
“Hey, he’s loaded.”
In the car, Yan Xuan fastened his seatbelt and looked back to see Mi Xiaoyue sitting in the back. He waved her forward. “Come sit up front. I’ll need the back seat for things later.”
Mi Xiaoyue nodded silently and shifted from the back to the passenger seat. Stray strands of hair brushed against Yan Xuan’s nose, making him itch.
“Tie your hair up.”
Yan Xuan opened the central armrest and handed her a dark purple hairband.
“Thanks, Brother Yan...”
Mi Xiaoyue didn’t think about why there was a woman’s hairband in Yan Xuan’s car, obediently tying her hair into a ponytail.
She was unskilled at hair care, and loose strands framed her face, which the sunset light softened, adding a hazy charm to her youthful features.
“Brother Yan, why did you come to find me?”
Yan Xuan had been staring, entranced, and only snapped back when she spoke.
“I want to make some investments in your county. I’m looking for a local to show me around. We’ve got some fate here, just think of it as helping me out.”
Whether the excuse was real or not didn’t matter; what mattered was if Mi Xiaoyue believed it.
She did—there was no reason not to. Her guard was low, and she didn’t suspect Yan Xuan had any ulterior motives.
“Brother Yan, I’m not really a local. I might not be much help.”
“Not local?”
“I’m from a township called XX. I only came to the county for high school. Usually, I’m either at the internet café or school, hardly ever outside.”
“Then why don’t you go home for the holiday?”
“I’m afraid my parents will hit me.”

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“Why?”
“Why would parents hit their kids? Especially someone like me who skips school every day to surf the internet and has terrible grades. Getting beaten is to be expected.”
Mi Xiaoyue’s tone held no complaint; in her values, no matter how much her foster parents hit her, it was only right.
Yan Xuan pressed on, “Do your parents hit you often?”
Mi Xiaoyue didn’t answer directly. After a long silence, she shook her head.
“No.”
“Do you hate them?”
“Of course not!”
Her voice was resolute, contrasting with her earlier hesitation.
“If it weren’t for my parents, I’d probably have frozen to death on the roadside. How could I hate them?”
Yan Xuan felt a pang of discomfort. Passing by the police station, he even considered taking Mi Xiaoyue there to report her situation.
In the end, he suppressed the impulse and parked outside a hotpot restaurant.
“Let’s eat something first.”
Mi Xiaoyue gently tugged at Yan Xuan’s sleeve, embarrassed. “Brother Yan, this hotpot place is expensive. I’m afraid I don’t have enough money...”
No matter how little money she had, she never pretended to be wealthy.
Yan Xuan looked puzzled. “Did I say you had to pay?”
“Brother Yan, didn’t we agree last time? This one’s on me.”
Mi Xiaoyue scratched her head awkwardly. “How about the Shaxian snack next door? Their chicken drumsticks are delicious!”
“Alright, that works.”
Yan Xuan didn’t want to embarrass the girl but then frowned, remembering, “By the way, didn’t I transfer you over two thousand for coaching fees recently? You don’t even have money for hotpot?”
“My sister had her birthday yesterday. I gave her a red envelope.”
“How much?”
“1,888. She said she wanted to treat her classmates to a gathering...”
Before Mi Xiaoyue finished, laughter and cheers erupted inside the hotpot restaurant, someone leading a chorus:
“Come on! Let’s all wish Xiao Mao...
Happy Birthday!!!”