âBy the way, did your driver badmouth me?â HuMing asked, glancing at Xia XiaoXi. Her eyebrows arched, and the smile on her face gradually faded.She nodded slightly, not denying his claim.
In truth, she wasnât entirely sure why her driver harbored such hostility toward HuMing.
And judging by the earlier events, it was evident that something unpleasant had transpired between them.
âWhat did you two do earlier?â
âHe tried to force his way in, so I stopped him. Then he wanted to throw hands, but I blocked him.â
HuMing recounted the incident as if it were nothing, but Xia XiaoXi was utterly shocked by what she heard.
She had always known that HuMing was skilled, but she was also well aware of her driverâs impressive combat abilities. Yet HuMing had managed to fend him off without a scratch. Judging by the earlier tension, it even seemed like her driver might have suffered a loss.
The boy standing before her was a complete enigmaâshe couldnât figure him out at all.
âWasnât he supposed to protect you? Where is he now?â
âOh, himâ¦â
Before Xia XiaoXi could finish speaking, her driver suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He eyed HuMing warily, his gaze filled with animosity.
âMiss, why did you suddenly wander off on your own? Hurry up and get in the car. Letâs head home!â
âYou can head back for today. HuMing will take me home later,â Xia XiaoXi said dismissively, waving her hand as if it were no big deal.
But her words made the driverâs face darken instantly. He glared at HuMing with a venomous expression before turning back to Xia XiaoXi, his tone filled with concern.
âThis isnât proper, Miss. You know that. Heâs just a boyâhow could he protect you? If something happens, Iâm afraid heâll leave you behind and run off on his own!â
âWhy canât HuMing protect me? Besides, I trust his character completely, so thereâs nothing to worry about.â
To the driver, her reasoning was simply absurd.
He had a clear understanding of the people Xia XiaoXi interacted with. This HuMing guy was someone she had never associated with before, yet she claimed they had known each other for a long time.
It was hard not to suspect that HuMing was trying to deceive her.
Seeing the driver still blocking her way, Xia XiaoXi, despite her usual patience, began to lose her temper.
âYour job is to protect me, not interfere with my decisions. Just based on what happened earlier at the school, HuMing did everything right. When I was on the rooftop with Wu Qing, if you had barged in, it wouldâve made things even more awkward.
âAlso, you keep saying HuMing canât protect me, but from what Iâve heard, you couldnât even beat him. So where does your confidence come from?â
Xia XiaoXi wasnât one to get angry easily, but once her emotions hit a breaking point, she wouldnât hold back.
The driver stood there, his mouth slightly open, stunned and at a loss for words.
Xia XiaoXi pushed HuMingâs shoulder, motioning for him to keep walking.
As they passed the driver, HuMing locked eyes with him briefly.
Then HuMing shook his headâa gesture that, to the driver, was the ultimate mockery.
The driver had expected Xia XiaoXi to side with him, yet she had turned around and criticized him instead. He found it difficult to accept.
Xia XiaoXi walked alongside HuMing. Glancing at her, HuMing sighed. âWhy are you coming home with me? I never agreed to this.
âOh, come on, donât be so stingy. Iâll treat you to dinner!â Xia XiaoXi said cheerfully, her ponytail swaying as she followed him closely.
HuMing, without another word, headed straight to a nearby noodle shop.
â¦
The two casually sat down at a small noodle shop. Thanks to Xia XiaoXiâs mask, no one recognized her.
âHey, HuMing, what kind of show do you have planned?â
âNot telling.â
HuMing was determined to keep it a secret. Though it wasnât a big deal, he felt it would lose its impact if revealed too soon.
âHmph, fine then!â SÑarch* The nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Behind them, the driver was wiping the tables and chairs with a tissue, clearly uneasy about the modest surroundings. He frowned deeply, glancing at HuMing and Xia XiaoXi with disapproval. Despite knowing HuMing was just a student, he couldnât fathom why Xia XiaoXi would lower herself to dine in such a place.
Most baffling of all was how readily she agreed to it.
"That day, I visited the Han family. Honestly, they seemed like good people. Aside from Han ShuYiâs actions, which felt... a bit abrupt, I didnât see any problems."
"The problem lies with Han ShuYi. After all, heâs the real young master, and Iâve been posing as the young master in his place for years. Think about itâif you were in his shoes, wouldnât you resent me?"
"Well, if you put it that way, I can understand. But does that mean you have to hide your true identity?"
"Yes, because the people backing Han ShuYi arenât simple."
Thinking about Xia XiaoXiâs background, HuMing decided there was no need to hide anything. Perhaps she could even help him.
"I see. But honestly, Han ShuYiâs personality is a bit awkward. To be blunt, he gives off green tea vibes. Of course, thatâs just my instinct as a girl."
It was rare for Xia XiaoXi to badmouth someone, but since it was HuMing, she felt no need to hold back.
Meanwhile, HuMing rubbed his chin, a faint smirk appearing on his lips. "Pay attention to who Han ShuYi really is. Heâll give you the answer himself."
The two continued their conversation, laughing and chatting. However, at a distance where he couldnât hear them, Xia XiaoXiâs driver expression grew darker.
He couldnât understand why Miss kept smiling at HuMing. Whatâs so special about this guy? He wasnât as handsome as the young masters from the capital, and his background was unimpressive. He shouldnât even be worth befriending.
A black-and-white cat suddenly crossed his path, brushing against his leg with a soft meow. The driverâs gaze turned cold, full of disdain for the catâs uneven, mottled fur.
When the cat tried to approach him, he kicked it away without hesitation.
A sharp cry echoed as the cat hit the ground, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
In the noodle shop, a child witnessed the scene and tugged at their motherâs sleeve. "Mommy, that man kicked the kitty. Thatâs wrong!"
The mother shook her head and hushed the child, signaling him to stay quiet.
The driver froze for a moment but quickly turned his attention back to Xia XiaoXi.
When his eyes met hers, he was stunned.
Xia XiaoXi was staring at him with undisguised disgust!
Notes
Editor Note
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