He Came Home Early……But the Person He Wanted Was Gone

Xie Zhaozhou had never seen Ning Shixue cry before.

His eyes were red-rimmed, tears falling silently, tracing down his cheeks.
His pale cheeks also flushed red.

Even though this night was colder than the depths of winter in Yan City, it seemed like he could hear the sound of ice and snow melting.

Ning Shixue felt very embarrassed.
But he couldn’t control it.
Thinking about how embarrassing it was only made the tears fall faster.
He sniffled quietly and raised his hand to wipe his tears.

The bandage on his hand got wet.

“Don’t wipe with that,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, lowering his eyes and cupping his face almost gently.
His thumb wiped away the dampness at the corner of his eye.

Ning Shixue’s nose tip was red from the cold.
His eyes were full of moisture.
The corners of his eyes were wet and red.
With just a few flutters of his eyelashes, tears streamed down his pale cheeks again.

He wanted to avoid Xie Zhaozhou’s hand, but when he looked up, a gust of cold air hit him.
He couldn’t help letting out a small, tearful hiccup.

Ning Shixue: “…”

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

Ning Shixue was stunned for a moment, then his face instantly flushed bright red.
The tips of his ears reddened to the point of bleeding.
He pressed his forehead against Xie Zhaozhou’s chest, too embarrassed to lift his head.
Tears splashed down.

Xie Zhaozhou had originally tried to hold back, but he really couldn’t help it.
He let out a low laugh above Ning Shixue’s head.
Ning Shixue could almost feel his chest vibrating as he suppressed his laughter.

Ning Shixue: “…”

Suddenly felt like killing someone.

But before he could get angry out of embarrassment, Xie Zhaozhou had already unzipped his down jacket.
He wrapped Ning Shixue in it, hugging him close, and walked him towards the car.

Ning Shixue’s face burned as he struggled.
“I can walk by myself.”

But Xie Zhaozhou refused to let go.
He even tightened his arm around Ning Shixue’s waist, pulling him closer.
Xie Zhaozhou was already more than half a head taller than him.
Ning Shixue’s feet almost left the ground.

“…What are you doing,”
Ning Shixue said, his face red.
He had to raise his hand and put it around Xie Zhaozhou’s neck.
He nervously looked around.
“What if someone sees?”

Even though it was late at night now, with even few cars passing by.

“What if someone does see?”
Xie Zhaozhou put him down.
His narrow, dark eyes curved.
His tone was drawn out, a bit suggestive.
“Is dating against the law?”

Ning Shixue was stunned for a moment.
When he realized, he was instantly embarrassed.
He blurted out in rebuttal,
“I’m not dating you.”

Xie Zhaozhou wasn’t annoyed at all.
He raised his hand and tidied Ning Shixue’s scarf.
As if coaxing him, he slowly agreed,
“Mm. It’s me dating you.”

“…”

Was there any difference?

Ning Shixue rubbed his burning cheeks.
He simply couldn’t out-flirt him.
He lowered his head and pressed his lips together.
But he was still holding that cookie tin in his hand.
He couldn’t stay angry at Xie Zhaozhou.

Wrapped in Xie Zhaozhou’s down jacket, he didn’t find it annoying.
His fingertips curled slightly as he reached out and grabbed Xie Zhaozhou’s sweater.

It was too cold outside.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t delay any longer.
He held him close and got in the car.

It was so cold in the northern city.
After the snow stopped, the stars at night were even brighter.
Ning Shixue pressed his face against the car window.

His beautiful eyes were also sparkling.

Xie Zhaozhou’s heart suddenly softened.
He raised his hand and ruffled his hair.
Ning Shixue slapped his hand away.

Xie Zhaozhou grabbed that hand again and forcibly held it in his palm.
Ning Shixue’s cold fingertips were rubbed warm.

Only when he had to drive did Xie Zhaozhou let go.

When they got back, He Lin still wasn’t asleep.
Xie Zhaozhou had messaged him.
He had Xie Zhaozhou come pick up the kid.
Otherwise, when Xie Yaoyao opened his eyes and didn’t see Ning Shixue, he would definitely cry again.

He Lin was up late writing a script.
He had a movie to shoot in the second half of the year, but there was a problem.
The script needed revisions.

He brought Xie Yaoyao out and couldn’t help teasing,
“Back from eloping?”

Ning Shixue: “…”

Ning Shixue’s eyes were still red from crying outside.
He had actually developed some immunity to Xie Zhaozhou’s flirtatiousness.
But being teased by He Lin made the tips of his ears redden too.
He hid a little behind Xie Zhaozhou.

Xie Zhaozhou’s gaze was cold as he glanced at He Lin.
He took Xie Yaoyao.

Ning Shixue was too thin-skinned.
He Lin didn’t say any more, not wanting to seem like he was bullying him.

It was already very late.
Ning Shixue and the others went back to sleep.

The production team was still discussing what to do about Ji Qing.
They didn’t care if Ji Qing lived or died.
They wanted to distance themselves from him as much as possible.
But Ji Xiao was still with their program team.

The matter had been fermenting for almost three days now.
They had long missed the best public relations time.
But Ji Qing still hadn’t responded.

Many endorsements were gradually terminating their contracts with him.

Especially since fans had always known he had a child.
He had also endorsed many infant and toddler brands.
The child abuse had a bad impact.
Several companies had even started lawsuits against him.

His agent couldn’t protect him anymore.
He had even been severely reprimanded by the company’s top executives.
They had also proposed to terminate his contract.

Seeing Ji Qing completely ruined, but he hadn’t hurt Ji Xiao that badly.
No one could keep the child and not return him to Ji Qing.

The director was completely stressed.

No matter what he did now, he would get criticized.
If he gave the child back to Ji Qing, the focus of criticism would definitely point at the program team.
They would question what they should do if Ji Qing privately abused Ji Xiao again.

But not giving him back was also impossible.
Even if he had that authority, which he didn’t.

Ji Qing was currently staying in a hotel not far from theirs.
The director thought it over and decided to go there himself for another discussion.

But before dawn, before he even woke up, he heard police sirens outside.

The sirens pierced the cold night sky of the northern city.

“Director Meng, something happened!”
the assistant director came knocking frantically.
“Ji Qing has been arrested!”

The director was stunned.
“What?!”

Even the guests heard the commotion.
Tang He’an looked out and saw several police cars.

—

Ji Qing knew he would definitely have to leave the entertainment circle.
He had hidden for three days.
He really couldn’t stay in the northern city any longer.
But there were probably many media waiting for him at the train station and airport.

He wanted to take advantage of the pre-dawn hours to go to the bus station.
Then go to another nearby city and transfer to somewhere else.

He also didn’t dare go get Ji Xiao.

Anyway, the director wouldn’t just leave Ji Xiao here.
Even if he left, someone would definitely bring Ji Xiao back to Yan City.

But as soon as he came out of the hotel, someone grabbed his arm hard from behind.

Ji Qing’s whole body stiffened.

Chen Yong’s injuries from being beaten by Ning Shixue hadn’t healed yet.
His head was wrapped in bandages, wearing a shabby cotton padded jacket.
He sneered and said,
“I knew you’d be hiding in a place like this.”

After he married Ji Qing’s sister, Ji Wan, Ji Qing hadn’t liked going home much.
He often stayed in small hotels near the school.
He found Ji Qing faster than the paparazzi.

“…What do you want?”
Ji Qing frowned with extreme disgust.
He really didn’t have the energy to deal with Chen Yong.

Chen Yong hadn’t left the northern city this whole time.

Ning Shixue had beaten him too badly.
No serious injuries could be found on examination, but his whole body hurt.
And he was bruised and swollen, plus a mild concussion.
Until last night, he was still in the hospital.

And the few thousand yuan he had stolen on the train were mostly gambled away before he even came looking for Ji Qing last time.
Plus paying the hospital bills, now he couldn’t even afford a train ticket.

Not just a ticket, he even owed the hospital a lot of money.

Ning Shixue had been too ruthless.
He was scared to death.
If it weren’t for Ji Qing’s child abuse scandal, he wouldn’t have dared come looking again.

Last night, lying in his hospital bed, an old lady next to him was watching TV.
He heard Ji Qing’s name and looked up.

Only then did he learn that Ji Qing, because of the child abuse and all that messy entertainment industry stuff, now had a terrible reputation.
He couldn’t help spitting.
Served him right.

He was annoyed at first, wanting the old lady to turn it off.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly heard that Ji Xiao might have some kind of hyperthymesia.

The nurse happened to come over to change his dressing.

“…Hyperthymesia?”
Chen Yong, wrapped in his shabby cotton jacket, stank all over.
Lying crookedly on the bed, he asked the nurse,
“Wait, what’s this condition he has?”

The nurse couldn’t help frowning.
Chen Yong hadn’t even paid his medical bills in full.
He was practically freeloading at their hospital.
And he yelled at other patients all day.

He even pointed at the medical staff and cursed, blaming them for being incompetent and not curing him.

“It just means he has an especially good memory,”
the nurse said dismissively.

Chen Yong squinted, lost in thought.

He took out his phone and searched online.
When he found the results, he suddenly sat straight up.
He even pulled out his IV needle.
He sneaked off to the corridor to make a phone call.

A few hours later, he took advantage of the night to leave the hospital.
He waited for Ji Qing under the hotel.

“Come with me,”
Chen Yong said, dragging Ji Qing hard.

Ji Qing couldn’t struggle free and had to follow him into a nearby alley.
His face pale, he said impatiently,
“What do you want now?

He couldn’t even protect himself now.
It was impossible for him to give Chen Yong a single cent.
It was useless for Chen Yong to come to him.

Chen Yong squinted and said to him,
“Don’t pretend with me. You’re worse off than me now. What big star? Hurry up and bring Ji Xiao over.”

“What do you want him for?”
Ji Qing frowned.

Chen Yong couldn’t even support himself.
He was addicted to drinking, gambling, and whoring.
Ji Xiao would be a burden to him.

Before, Chen Yong could use Ji Xiao to threaten him.
Threatening him was useless now.
Anyway, he was already ruined.
Did he care about taking on more bad reputation?

“I know you’ve offended a lot of people. You must be short on money, right?”
Chen Yong spoke to him nicely for once.
“I’m short on money too. I found him a new home. From now on, neither you nor I have to worry. How about it?

“I don’t need you to do anything else. Just bring him over. I’ll handle the rest.”

Last night, he had called an old cellmate of his.
The guy had gotten out last year.
He said he had connections.
And with Ji Xiao’s condition, maybe they could even sell him abroad.

He, Chen Yong, had actually fathered such a son.
If he had known, he would have fought to take Ji Xiao as soon as he got out of prison.
Even if it cost money to fight a court case, it didn’t matter.
He was Ji Xiao’s biological father.
Ji Qing was nothing.
Wouldn’t the judge rule in his favor?

Ji Qing: “…”

Ji Qing, for all his years of stepping on others to climb up, relying on Xie Hanzhou as his backer, and not having clean hands, still found this absurd.
Wasn’t this human trafficking?

Ji Qing didn’t want to delay any longer.
It was almost dawn.
He still had to buy his ticket.

But Chen Yong anxiously grabbed him again, his voice becoming irritable.
“What the hell is wrong with you? How about sixty-forty? I won’t let you lose out, okay?!”

It was just past five in the morning.
Some vendors were already setting up their stalls.
They were arguing here when suddenly a scream came from the alley.
The owner of a nearby breakfast stall heard it and couldn’t help going over to take a look.

Should he call the police?

But as soon as he walked over, he was so scared he stumbled back a few steps and fell awkwardly to the ground.

Chen Yong lay face up in the snow.
A large, dirty, glaring patch of blood spread beneath him.
Ji Qing was also splattered with blood.
He was still holding the knife in his hand.

The owner scrambled to his feet and ran to call the police.

The director soon heard the news and rushed over with a few staff members.
Only then did he learn that Chen Yong had died on the spot.
Ji Qing had already been taken away by the police.

Ji Qing confessed that because he was being attacked all over the internet, he was extremely nervous and scared, which was why he carried a knife.

At the time, there were witnesses that Chen Yong had come over and grabbed Ji Qing first.

After investigation, the police preliminarily ruled out suspicion of murder.
But it couldn’t be finalized yet.
However, even if it wasn’t murder, after Chen Yong died, Ji Qing had stabbed him over a dozen more times in anger.
That was at least excessive self-defense.
He would definitely be sentenced.

He hadn’t originally wanted to kill anyone.
But those words “sixty-forty” from Chen Yong had triggered him.
By the time he realized, he had already acted.

He just felt disgusted.
He admitted he hated Ji Xiao and was unkind to him.
But he had worked so hard filming.
Hadn’t he supported Ji Xiao?
Hearing this felt like an insult, insulting all the suffering he had endured by Xie Hanzhou’s side over the years.

Maybe he should have killed Chen Yong long ago.
Or at least, before Ji Wan got married, he should have gone and had a good fight with this man.

Before, he was afraid of Chen Yong’s fists.
He didn’t even dare fight back after being slapped.
Now he realized that what he was afraid of was just his own fear.
He could actually do it.

Ji Qing was very calm when he was taken away.
This time, seeing blood, he didn’t even vomit.

“Director Meng,”
the assistant director, facing this for the first time, asked without a clue,
“What do we do now?”

The director was annoyed.
“You ask me? Who do I ask?”

He could only go back and tell the guests what had happened.
Then he took all the guests and staff directly back to Yan City.

Ji Xiao’s immediate family were all gone.
The police were trying to contact some of his distant relatives.

To see if anyone was willing to adopt Ji Xiao.

But Ji Qing and Ji Wan really had no contact with any relatives.
Ji Xiao also didn’t remember meeting any relatives.
If he didn’t remember, it would be very difficult to find them.

The police were doing their best.
If it really didn’t work out in the end, they would have to send him to a welfare home.

The director didn’t dare take this responsibility.
Actually, the program team taking care of Ji Xiao now was the best option.
It could whitewash their show and not attract more criticism.

But what if no relatives were found?

The director still decided to leave Ji Xiao at the police station.
When they got back to Yan City, he would send him there immediately.

Tang He’an felt a bit unbearable.
Tang Haohao was a tall, strong kid.
Ji Xiao was too timid to play with him.
So he hadn’t interacted much with Ji Xiao.

But he still liked Ji Xiao quite a bit.

Leaving Ji Xiao at the police station like this, even if someone took care of him, was just too pitiful.

His own parents had died early.
He had raised his younger siblings himself.
He was an orphan himself.
He really couldn’t bear to see this kind of thing.

Ji Xiao also knew that Ji Qing had been taken away by the police uncles.
The little ones on their show watched Forest Bunny Police every day.
They were all familiar with the sound of police sirens.

Only bad guys would be caught by the bunny officer.
Ji Qing must have done something very bad.

Although he didn’t yet know that Ji Qing had killed someone, and that someone was his own biological father.

Tang He’an discussed it with Yan Ting.
Then he told the director and the other guests,
“How about I take him home for a few days first?”

“I think that works,”
He Lin nodded.
“Let him stay with you for a few days. Then Miaomiao and I will take him for a while. We’ll just take turns like this for now. Maybe relatives will be found?”

Then He Lin lowered his voice and said,
“I’ll also help look around for any suitable adoptive parents.”

He had a movie about orphans in preparation.
He had dealt with many welfare homes and adoptive parents over the past six months.

But Ji Xiao’s situation was also hard to find someone.
Both Ji Qing and Chen Yong had criminal records.
Ji Xiao also had hyperthymesia.

But Chen Yong was dead… that wasn’t a bad thing for Ji Xiao.

They were still on the program team’s bus.
It was over an hour’s drive from Yan City.
Ji Xiao, Xie Yaoyao, and He Miao were sitting together, playing with dolls.

Tired from the journey, the guests rested with their eyes closed on the bus.
The little ones played for a while, then also got too sleepy to keep their eyes open and fell asleep in their daddies’ arms.

Xie Zhaozhou had originally wanted to accompany Ning Shixue home.
But as soon as they arrived at the airport, the hospital suddenly called.
They said Old Master Xie was critically ill.
His condition was very urgent.
He had to go there.

Ning Shixue hadn’t spoken since getting on the bus.
When everyone else was asleep, and the director and assistant director were busy making calls up front, Ji Xiao suddenly reached out his little hand and tugged at him.

“What’s wrong?”
Ning Shixue looked down and asked.

“Little Ning Gege,”
Ji Xiao said, holding onto his finger, whispering,
“Don’t be sad.”

He knew his uncle had been taken away by the police.
From now on, he would be alone.
Actually, he had been crying before getting on the bus.
He Miao had been holding him and wiping his tears.
His eyes were still a bit swollen now.

But he was also very sensitive.
He could feel that everyone seemed worried about him and were trying to make him happy, giving him good things to eat.

Ning Shixue lowered his eyelashes.
His face was cold, without a trace of expression.
But there was a very deep emotion there.
It was like when he looked up at the stars at night, he felt a little lonely.

Ning Shixue was stunned for a moment.

Ji Xiao had an excellent memory.
But he was only three years old.
He spoke just as confusingly as Xie Yaoyao.

Ning Shixue still understood what he meant.
Ji Xiao was saying he could take care of himself.

He could even wash his own little socks now.

He also told Ning Shixue that he had long known his uncle had become the little rabbit in the black forest.

Maybe it was a kind of luck.
He knew that in the cartoon, the little black rabbits would all be caught.
So he had already anticipated Ji Qing being caught.
Although he was sad now, it hadn’t traumatized him.

Because he still didn’t understand what being caught meant.
He also didn’t know what crime Ji Qing had committed.

Cartoons were all very gentle.
Especially cartoons for little babies.
The worst things were just lying and stealing.

He thought Ji Qing had lied.
He knew his uncle’s ears turned red when he lied often.

His uncle didn’t like him anymore.
But he still liked his uncle very much.
Anyway, his memory would never disappear.
He remembered Ji Qing’s phone number.
He remembered every place they had moved to.
He remembered where Ji Qing filmed.
And the police car that took him away.

In Forest Bunny Police, the black forest had no end.
If one day his uncle got tired of walking and turned back into a little white rabbit, he would wait for him outside the forest to come home.

And there were so many people playing with him.
He wasn’t lonely at all.
So Little Ning Gege didn’t need to be sad.

“…”

Ning Shixue was speechless.
He just reached out and touched his head, saying nothing.

In the end, it was decided that Ning Shixue would take him home for half a month first.
Then Tang He’an would pick him up.
After all, Ji Xiao got along better with Xie Yaoyao.
If he went to Tang He’an’s house now, he would probably be scared.

Ning Shixue had originally wanted to ask Xie Zhaozhou first.
But Xie Zhaozhou was still at the hospital.
He couldn’t get through to him on the phone.

He could only send Xie Zhaozhou a few messages.

After thinking it over, he still felt it wasn’t quite appropriate.
He could take Xie Yaoyao and Ji Xiao to stay in a hotel for half a month.
Anyway, the program team had already transferred half of his pay to his card.

Old Master Xie’s heart condition had suddenly acted up.
His condition had stabilized now.
Thanks to his previously strong constitution, he had been able to hold on until now.

Xie Zhaozhou soon replied to him.

– [. : Okay. Take him home.]

Xie Zhaozhou always had good judgment.
Ning Shixue felt he was completely controlled.
If Xie Zhaozhou had only replied with an ‘okay,’ he would have overthought and thought Xie Zhaozhou might not really want to, but agreed out of politeness.

Or if Xie Zhaozhou had flirted with him again, that would mean Xie Zhaozhou didn’t know what he was thinking right now.

But when he lowered his eyes and saw the words ‘go home,’ he couldn’t help burying his face deeper into his scarf.

It was still midsummer in Yan City.
The air conditioning was on in the car.
He had put on the scarf.
This scarf was Xie Zhaozhou’s.
When he lowered his head, he could smell that cold yet gentle perfume.

—

The program team took all the guests home.

The old butler loved children.
He had raised Xie Zhaozhou and Xie Yaoyao.
He was also very kind to Ji Xiao.
He bent down and asked Ji Xiao,
“Your name is Little Mantou?”

Ji Xiao: “…”

He seemed to have said it wrong.
He was Little Tangyuan.

That night, the old butler had Ji Xiao and Xie Yaoyao sleep together in the little bed in the playroom.

Xie Yaoyao propped his chubby face in his hands and sighed.
Actually, he wanted to sleep with the baby.
But Little Mantou was afraid of the dark.
He could keep him company.

Before he went, he worriedly went to find Ning Shixue first.
He patted his pillow.
Then he and Ji Xiao pulled the covers up for him.
Before leaving, he didn’t forget to say,
“Baby, don’t miss me too much.”

Ning Shixue: “…”

I know, I know. Who’s going to miss who?

With Xie Yaoyao gone, Ning Shixue played games all night.
He didn’t sleep until 5 or 6 in the morning.

The next day, 7 AM.

Xie Yaoyao punctually stuck out his little bottom.
He crawled up on all fours and started huffing as he put on his clothes.

Ji Xiao was woken by him.
He also rubbed his eyes and sat up.

He didn’t sleep in.
But if he didn’t have school, he didn’t get up this early.
He asked blankly,
“We, going to kindergarten?”

Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King planted his chubby hands on his waist.
He didn’t want to go to kindergarten.
He was going to wake the baby up.

They both had to brush their teeth and wash their faces by themselves.
The two little ones carried their little stools, stood on them to brush their teeth, then pattered off to Ning Shixue’s bedroom.

Ji Xiao didn’t dare at first.
He felt this was like doing something bad.
But Xie Yaoyao had already fluttered off like a little butterfly.
He could only patter along after him.

Xie Yaoyao used all his might, his chubby little feet kicking in the air several times before finally climbing onto the bed.

He flopped onto Ning Shixue’s chest and started rubbing against him hard.

Grandpa was sick.
Big Daddy couldn’t come home for a few days.
He had told him to make sure the baby got up in the morning to eat.

Ning Shixue put on his pained expression.
He had just fallen asleep.
But when he turned his head, he met Ji Xiao’s timid gaze.

Ji Xiao was still standing by the bed, not knowing who to help.
His little face was full of conflict.

Ning Shixue: “…”

Ning Shixue rubbed his face and had to sit up.
He decided to reason with them.

Both little ones got on the bed.
The old butler had given them their onesie pajamas.
They looked like two little lumps.

They both sat opposite him, eyes blank with confusion.

“People like me, and you two, who are NEETs,”
Ning Shixue said, pointing at them.
His eyes were innocent as he said with unassailable logic,
“don’t need to get up this early.”

Xie Yaoyao scratched his cheek.
He didn’t understand at all.
His big, dark eyes grew even more confused.
“What is, NEET?”

Ning Shixue: “…”

Well, it wasn’t that extreme.

Ning Shixue couldn’t reason with them.
Xie Yaoyao launched his chubby cheek attack again.
He had to get up and eat breakfast first.

Then he went back to sleep.

When he woke up at noon, he received a call from He Lin.

“Director He?”
Ning Shixue asked, lying on the bed, a bit confused.
He didn’t know why He Lin was calling him.

He Lin got straight to the point.
“Xiao Ning, I have a role here. Do you want to come and film it?”

Ji Xiao had been settled.
He had immediately rushed to the film set.
He had filmed a TV drama in the first half of the year.
These days, actors were crazy.
A male supporting actor had suddenly been caught taking drugs.

Their drama was supposed to air in half a month.
Now they had to find someone to fill in and reshoot.
He had set his sights on Ning Shixue.

“Not many scenes, not many lines. Not too hard,”
He Lin told Ning Shixue.
“You can finish in a few days.”

This character basically only appeared in flashbacks in the later part.

He thought it was very suitable for Ning Shixue.
Even if Ning Shixue’s acting was terrible, he could edit it frame by frame.

And this male supporting character’s hand was wrapped in bandages.
Ning Shixue’s injured hand right now didn’t matter.

But the problem was, he had to film now.
After filming, it needed editing.
And there were other actors’ schedules.
He didn’t have time to wait for Ning Shixue to fully recover.

He was just asking Ning Shixue’s thoughts.
If he didn’t want to, that was fine.
He would find someone else.

Actually, he was also a bit hesitant.
Filming for a few days probably wouldn’t be too tiring, right?
He was afraid Ning Shixue would get sick.

But the opportunity was too rare.
It wasn’t his own bias.
Being able to play a male supporting role in his production, even if it was a minor role, was sometimes better than male lead roles in other productions.

Ning Shixue didn’t hesitate much and agreed.
He wanted to be a salted fish, but he didn’t want to do nothing at all.

Xie Yaoyao hugged his leg and wanted to go out with him.
He Lin heard on the phone and told him,
“It’s fine. Bring them along. Someone here will look after them.”

Ning Shixue didn’t want to trouble He Lin.
The old butler accompanied him to the set instead and helped take care of the kids.

He Lin’s set was at the Yan City Film and Television City, not far from the Xie residence.
In the afternoon, they drove there.

—

Old Master Xie’s condition had completely stabilized.
Xie Zhaozhou left the hospital in the evening.
He didn’t go to the company.
For the first time in his life, he arrived home at exactly 7 PM.

The night before last, when he took Ning Shixue out for his birthday, he realized Ning Shixue didn’t actually dislike going out.
He seemed to really enjoy nighttime drives.

It wasn’t cold in Yan City at night.
He could take Ning Shixue out for a drive.
He had even bought two movie tickets.

Anyway, Xie Yaoyao and the others went to sleep around 8 PM when they weren’t filming.
They wouldn’t cling to Ning Shixue.

He drove that pure black Mercedes and parked it in the yard.
His gaze suddenly paused.

The villa was pitch black, so quiet only his engine could be heard.
Even the old butler wasn’t there.

Xie Zhaozhou’s face darkened.
“…” Where were they?