Chapter 1325: Ah Mei
Yang Haoran was about to get married. For all of Yang Haoran's trusted subordinates, this was an extraordinary event. As one of Yang Haoran's confidants, Xiaokang naturally attached immense importance to it and was genuinely happy for Yang Haoran.
From the moment he met Yang Haoran until now, though Yang Haoran seemed to be surrounded by many people, Xiaokang had always felt that Yang Haoran was, in essence, alone. Sometimes, when he caught sight of Yang Haoran's back, it even evoked a sense of loneliness in him. This only began to change after Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing officially became a couple.
Originally, Xiaokang had thought that once Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing became a couple, their marriage wouldn't be far off. He had eagerly awaited that day, but to his surprise, he had waited until now.
Now, Yang Haoran was finally getting married. Although the announcement was somewhat sudden and completely unexpected for Xiaokang, his joy far outweighed his surprise.
This was the second thing, besides Xiujuan's arrival, that had brought him such recent happiness.
"Heh heh, my luck has been quite good recently. One joyful event after another keeps happening. It seems good fortune has descended upon me; I should be striking it rich very soon."
Xiaokang held the beauty in his arms, stroking her long, beautiful hair as he spoke with a smile.
The beauty shyly hummed in response. She didn't say much, merely burrowing her head deeper into Xiaokang's chest, as if trying to nestle into his very core.
"Uncle Yang's kindness to me is as vast as a mountain. For such a major event as his wedding, I should have rushed back to Lecheng to help immediately. However, there are several crucial matters at the Honghai City Underworld Office that I absolutely must handle without delay. As long as I deal with these properly, my achievements in Honghai City will skyrocket, astonishing everyone. So, I reluctantly have to remain in Honghai City and return to Lecheng only after these matters are completely settled."
Xiaokang spoke softly, his tone tinged with regret, yet subtly laced with excitement. His words seemed to be for the beauty in his arms, and yet also for himself.
Xiaokang wasn't lying. After receiving the news that Yang Haoran was about to marry Xu Meijing, he genuinely wanted to rush back to Lecheng immediately, to contribute to the wedding like Yang Haoran's other trusted subordinates. However, the matters in Honghai City were more critical for him, as they concerned his ability to achieve remarkable political successes in the short term and truly shine among the group of Emissaries of Death in the Ninth District.
It was precisely for this reason that his tone, at this moment, carried both regret and excitement.
The regret stemmed from his inability to rush back to Lecheng immediately to offer congratulations and contribute to the planning and arrangements for Yang Haoran's wedding.
The excitement, on the other hand, was because once these Honghai City matters were properly handled, he would undoubtedly earn the admiration of other Emissaries of Death and gain even more appreciation from Yang Haoran, beyond just the affection a senior holds for a junior.
Xiaokang, as her boyfriend, had naturally gained a certain understanding of the beauty's personality after some time together. In this situation, he knew she was overwhelmed with shyness, and even a simple hum was an act of immense courage. Thus, he didn't demand that she speak more words in response, nor did he foolishly insist on hearing any suggestive remarks. He simply held her gently, as if fearing that a slight increase in pressure might crush her delicate form.
"Heh heh, thankfully, the matters in Honghai City are almost resolved. They should all be taken care of before Uncle Yang's big wedding. By then, Uncle Yang will surely be astonished. Consider this one of my wedding gifts to him."
Xiaokang continued to speak with a smile. Although the beauty in his arms remained silent, it didn't deter him from proactively sharing his inner joy with her.
As he spoke, Xiaokang suddenly remembered something. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a serious expression. He looked down at the beauty in his arms and then asked,
"Ah Mei, Uncle Yang already knows about us. Last time, when he urgently summoned me back to Lecheng, although he did inquire about the progress of my work in Honghai City, I could tell that what he primarily wanted to ask about was our relationship."
The young woman, whom Xiaokang called Ah Mei, showed no change in expression. She remained shy, burying her head in Xiaokang's broad, sturdy chest. The only difference was that this time, she hesitated slightly before softly humming in response, still saying little else.
"I told Uncle Yang that you're quite shy, and that his formidable reputation precedes him, making you a bit intimidated, so you haven't mentally prepared yourself to meet him yet. Although he didn't say much at the time, I could sense that he wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer. So, I was thinking, why don't we take advantage of Uncle Yang's joyous wedding and you come back to Lecheng with me to meet him?"
The beautiful Ah Mei, who had maintained her shy demeanor all this time, finally showed a slight change in expression after hearing Xiaokang's words. She no longer responded with a mere hum, but instead asked with a touch of fragility and apprehension in her voice,
"You. . . you really want me to go back to Lecheng?"
Xiaokang didn't respond, only gently stroking Ah Mei's long hair. Seeing his lack of reply, Ah Mei continued, her voice still soft and delicate,
"It's not that it can't be done, but I'll need some time to prepare. I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself in front of your Uncle Yang, costing you your face and putting you in a difficult position. And you're right, as your girlfriend, I absolutely should go back and offer my congratulations on such a joyous occasion. If I can't even do that, what right do I have to be your girlfriend?"
A smile reappeared on Xiaokang's previously serious face. It was clear that Ah Mei's answer had made him very happy.
The participants are confused, but the bystanders see clearly. If an outsider had heard Ah Mei's words, they might have found them a little awkward or strange. But to Xiaokang, they sounded like the music of the heavens, as if no sound in this world could be more beautiful.
"Heh heh, I just love how considerate and understanding you are. I think that's why you've managed to win my heart. Knowing you'll come puts my mind at ease. You should rest well for now. I need to go tell my mother the good news, and also discuss with her what other gifts we should prepare for Uncle Yang's wedding. They don't have to be the best, but they absolutely must be something Uncle Yang will like."
Xiaokang laughed happily. Hearing this, Ah Mei didn't say much, only humming softly before falling silent.
Xiaokang gently kissed Ah Mei's forehead, then turned over and got out of bed. After a quick shower, he left the room to find his mother, Xiujuan, leaving Ah Mei alone on the bed.
After Xiaokang left, Ah Mei didn't get up. Instead, she completely retreated into the quilt, her head included. No one knew what expression was on her face at that moment—whether it was shyness, apprehension, or something else entirely.
As for what she was doing, curled up entirely under the covers—whether she was continuing to sleep, simply relaxing and resting her body, or doing something else—that too remained unknown.
Xiaokang arrived outside Xiujuan's door and didn't push it open directly. Instead, he gently knocked. Although the entire Honghai City was his territory, and this villa even more so, the room before him was his mother's. He wouldn't, and dared not, simply push the door open. Even when knocking, he controlled his strength, fearing that too much force might displease his mother.
The door was knocked, but no response came from within the room. Standing outside, he briefly sensed the interior, detecting no power fluctuations. There were only three possible explanations for this: either his mother had sealed all her power fluctuations, or a small restrictive barrier had been set up inside the room, or his mother simply wasn't in the room at all.
If she had sealed all her power fluctuations, or if a small restrictive barrier had been set up inside, Xiaokang thought his mother shouldn't have remained completely unresponsive. After all, he hadn't angered his mother in the past few days, so such a situation shouldn't logically exist. Therefore, he concluded that his mother must not be in the room.
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