Chapter 127 - 126: The Feeling of Home (First Update)

Chapter 127: Chapter 126: The Feeling of Home (First Update)

Xiao Yi was going to the Ministry of Justice on business today, and Xianyun, estimating the time Xiao Yi would get off work, took Xu Jing to the Xiao Mansion.

When he heard that Xu Jing was "coming home" and wouldn’t be leaving the Western Capital for the time being, Xiao Huai’an couldn’t have been happier. In the carriage, he leaned against Xu Jing, smiling and humming a little tune off-key.

Upon arriving at the Xiao Mansion, he darted ahead like a little host, leading the way and calling out, "Mom, this way! This way!"

Supported by Qiushui, Xu Jing walked slowly inside, taking a moment to smile at the child running ahead, her mind awash with complex emotions.

She was not at all unfamiliar with this Xiao Mansion she had never visited, because the original owner had lived here for nearly five years. Even if she didn’t consciously recall the original owner’s memories, every brick and tile here gave her a strong sense of déjà vu and discomfort.

Yes, discomfort.

The days the original owner lived here were hardly happy. She had gambled everything to manipulate Xiao Yi but didn’t get what she wanted; she couldn’t make Xiao Yi support her in retaliating against the Xu family, and the child she had painstakingly borne didn’t improve her status in this household one bit.

During the years she lived in this house, she became increasingly violent and paranoid, not to mention that the people of the Xu family now and then came under the pretense of visiting her to actually mock her. Later, she wanted to take revenge on one more person—Xiao Yi. She knew Xiao Yi, though unwilling to approach her, wouldn’t ignore the troubles she caused outside, so she worked hard to offend people just to make Xiao Yi clean up her messes, eventually offending her way into trouble herself.

Xu Jing now felt as if she had just finished watching a movie filled with the darkness of human nature and pain, and was now forced to visit the filming location, her heart heavy with inexplicable oppression.

Sensing Xu Jing’s silence, Qiushui worriedly asked, "Miss Xu, are you feeling unwell?"

She noticed Miss Xu’s face seemed a bit pale.

Xianyun had been closely watching Xu Jing’s condition and thought to himself that this was bad news upon seeing her like this. He quickly ran over and said, "If Miss Xu is feeling unwell, don’t stay in the room; why not wait for the Lord in the pavilion in the courtyard? The Lord has just gotten off work and will be back soon."

He hadn’t expected Miss Xu to reject the Xiao Mansion so much, and could only hope that some open air and scenery would improve her mood.

Xu Jing heard this, slightly raised the corners of her mouth, and nodded, saying, "Okay, I’ll wait outside."

She didn’t want to go inside and see those familiar structures and furnishings.

Qiushui then helped her to the courtyard. As soon as Xu Jing sat down in the pavilion, the little one, who had previously rushed ahead, came running back, looking worriedly at Xu Jing and sidling up to her, "Mom, Xianyun said you’re not feeling well, are you okay?"

It was his fault, because he was too excited about Mom coming home and didn’t stay with her.

If he had stayed with her, would Mom not be feeling unwell?

The child’s innocent and pure eyes seemed to dispel all gloom. Looking at the child in front of her, the weight on Xu Jing’s heart suddenly lightened a little. She picked up Xiao Huai’an and embraced him, smiling slightly, "No, Mom isn’t unwell. Chang Xiao, don’t worry, Mom just thinks the weather is nice today and wants to sit outside."

Xiao Huai’an tilted his little head to look at Xu Jing, seemingly skeptical. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, opened his small arms, and hugged Xu Jing tightly, saying with a cheerful smile, "Xianyun said that when I’m unhappy, I just need to hug someone, and then I won’t be unhappy anymore. Now I hug Mom, so Mom won’t be unhappy either."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned, and her heart softened immediately.

This child was truly perceptive. He sensed her unhappiness and used this method to comfort her deliberately.

She smiled and hugged him back lightly, saying, "Chang Xiao is so amazing! Mom’s unhappiness has all been chased away."

Xiao Huai’an couldn’t help but giggle, and in the elegant but overly simple courtyard, the rare sound of a woman and a child laughing reverberated.

Xiao Yi, who was striding inside, couldn’t help but pause, a surge of indescribable emotions flooding his heart, not unpleasant at all, even adding a sense of urgency.

Zhao Jingming, who followed him inside, raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Is that the Little Point’s voice? When did Little Point become so close to that Miss Xu?"

Standing beside him, Xiao He looked at Xiao Yi, who silently quickened his pace, and gently shook his head, smiling, "Yanci here, finally feels a bit like home."

Xiao Yi, following the sound, quickly reached the pavilion in the courtyard. Seeing the mother and son laughing and playing together in the pavilion, he involuntarily paused, then slowly and quietly walked over, as if afraid to disturb the beauty of the moment.

Even so, Xu Jing soon noticed his presence, raised her eyes to see him, seemed slightly startled, and gave him a faint smile, "The Vice Minister Xiao is back?"

Xiao Huai’an immediately jumped off the ground with a "thud," running over excitedly, "Dad!"

Xiao Yi slightly bent down to catch him, gently ruffling his little head, then, very adeptly, picked him up and looked at Xu Jing, his voice slightly hoarse, "Have you been waiting long?"

Xu Jing shook her head, "No, I just arrived a short while ago."

Seeing the steam rising from the tea on the table, Xiao Yi responded in a low voice with an "mm."

Just then, Zhao Jingming and Xiao He also came over. Seeing Xu Jing, Xiao He immediately bowed as if they were very familiar, smiling, "Miss Xu, we meet again."

Although Zhao Jingming didn’t greet as formally as Xiao He, he glanced at her and said, "Why did you come so early? The dishes here at Yanci are quite bland, only the iced sufu pudding is somewhat decent, why not try some?"

Xu Jing couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

Did he think this was her home, where she could have anything she wanted?

Moreover, why did these two seem so familiar with her? In her impression, she had only met them twice, and the last encounter was not particularly pleasant.

However, before she could say anything, Xiao Yi sat down in the pavilion with Xiao Huai’an in his lap and instructed Xianyun, "Go to the kitchen and see if there’s any iced sufu pudding, bring two bowls over."

Xiao Huai’an’s eyes brightened immediately, his little tongue unconsciously licking his lips, and Xu Jing instantly knew who the iced sufu pudding in this house was made for.

Xianyun promptly replied, "Yes, I’ll go right away!"

The pavilion was octagonal and spacious, with Xiao Yi sitting in the section next to her, and Xiao He and Zhao Jingming soon joined, sitting across from them.

Xu Jing thought of something, glanced inquisitively at Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yi immediately understood, saying, "The matter I’m going to discuss, they both know about it too. I had them come over to make things clearer."