Chapter 4 - Former Home
"Xiao Xia, thank you for your hard work. Thank you!" Fang Ya thanked Xiao Xia sincerely.
This "thank you" was not only for now, but also for the girl who had once stood up for injustice.
Xiao Xia looked at Fang Ya, and the corners of her mouth curled into a big smile. "Mrs. Tang, you're too kind!
"Tang Tang is especially cute! I really like playing with her!" Xiao Xia said and turned to look at Tang Tang. "Isn't that right, Tang Tang?"
Tang Tang nodded. "Yes! I also like you the most, Xiao Xia!"
Fang Ya smiled and went forward to take Tang Tang's hand. "We still have things to do and have to leave first. You can come and play with Xiao Xia next time, okay?"
When Tang Tang heard that she was going to leave, her face immediately fell in aggrievance.
"Mrs. Tang, why don't we let Tang Tang play for a while more?" Xiao Xia tested the waters.
Fang Ya flashed a deeper smile to Xiao Xia. "Don't call me Mrs. Tang. Just call me Fang Ya."
"Ah... that's not good..." Xiao Xia hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then, can I call you Sister Ya?"
"Of course!" Fang Ya's smile deepened, and her tone grew lighter.
Tang Tang looked at the two of them with a half-understanding look. "Then what should I call you Sister Xiao Xia, Xiao Xia?"
Fang Ya and Xiao Xia were both stumped by Tang Tang's question.
Following that, Xiao Xia raised her chin and said to Tang Tang, "Just call me Sister Xiao Xia, then!"
Tang Tang replied with an "Oh" and lowered her head to continue playing with the toy in her hand.
Fang Ya stroked Tang Tang's hair lovingly before saying to Xiao Xia, "I might have to trouble you to take care of Tang Tang for me in the future."
"No problem!" Xiao Xia patted her chest.
As Xiao Xia said this, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.
She looked at Fang Ya skeptically. "Sister Ya, you're..."
"It's nothing. I might be busy in the future," Fang Ya took a deep breath and said.
"I don't have anyone I can trust in this city... so..." Fang Ya looked at Xiao Xia with some embarrassment.
"Can you please take care of Tang Tang when I'm not here?" Fang Ya asked again.
"Leave it to me!" Xiao Xia immediately agreed.
"Sister Ya, don't take it to heart!" Xiao Xia looked at Fang Ya's indifferent expression and felt her heart ache for her.
"Actually..." Xiao Xia hesitated for a moment, but she still did not tell anyone what she had heard.
She sighed and said, "If you need my help, just tell me!"
Fang Ya knew Xiao Xia's good intentions and thanked her again.
After leaving the law firm with Tang Tang, Fang Ya dug deep into her memories and walked into a deep alley.
This was the place where her father had lived before he died. It was also the place where her stepmother had lived after she was chased out of the house by her daughter-in-law.
Ever since her father married a new wife, Fang Ya had had very little contact with the family.
However, her stepmother had still traded her happiness in exchange for her son's marriage. After her father died, Fang Ya broke off contact with the family.
This time, Fang Ya only remembered that her mother's dowry had not been given to Fang Ya before her father died.
For Fang Ya, that was the only thing her mother had left for her.
However, her father had used it as a betrothal gift for her stepmother, Shao Xiang.
In her previous life, Fang Ya had gone to Shao Xiang's residence to look for her stepmother a few months after her divorce.
However, it was only then that she heard that her stepmother had passed away not long ago.
This was also a great regret for Fang Ya in her previous life. This time, she had to think of a way to get her mother's belongings back!
Fang Ya walked into the alley. Both sides of the alley were piled with all kinds of miscellaneous items.
It was difficult for the two of them to walk side by side in the alley.
They walked all the way to the deepest part of the alley. A rusted and corroded iron door appeared in front of Fang Ya.
Seeing her former home in such a dilapidated state, Fang Ya's heart was filled with sorrow.
"Mom, where is this place?" Tang Tang asked curiously.
Tang Tang had lived in a relatively affluent environment since she was young. She had never been to such a dilapidated place.
To her, everything here was new and strange.
Fang Ya took a deep breath and said, "This... used to be my home."
Tang Tang looked at Fang Ya in confusion, as if she did not quite understand what "used to be my home" meant.
At that moment, a woman pushed open the door from inside, holding a basin of water that was about to be splashed out.
The woman looked up and saw the person in front of her and could not help but be startled.
Fang Ya looked at the woman, and a trace of surprise flashed across her eyes.
The two of them stared at each other, not moving for a long time.