"Why don't we just go abroad to celebrate Sheng Yuxiao's birthday?" Xu Ruying suggested enthusiastically. "We could surprise him by showing up on his birthday!"
Xiao Ya shook her head.
Xu Ruying observed her expression and asked, "Don't you want to see him?"
Xiao Ya put away her homework notebook: "We should go two days early."
Xu Ruying breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that since Sheng Yuxiao hadn't returned for so long, the little one might be angry.
"Oh, right. If we wait until the actual day to go, it would be awkward if Sheng Yuxiao had already returned home."
Xu Ruying checked her phone calendar while speaking: "If we need to go two days early, that means we'll have to leave on the weekend?"
Xiao Ya packed up her schoolbag and stood up: "No need to wait for the weekend, we're leaving tomorrow. I've already bought the tickets."
Xu Ruying: ?
So I'm the only one who didn't know!
Xu Ruying grabbed her backpack strap: "What time is the flight? I'll come too."
Xiao Ya smiled: "Sister Ruying, there's no need to rush. I'm going early because I need to meet Ke Muning."
She paused before asking, "Do you want to come with me to meet Ke Muning?"
Xu Ruying recalled that foreign man's face and shuddered: "Thanks, but no. I'll come two days later."
After saying goodbye to Xu Ruying, Xiao Ya went home to have dinner with her grandfather first.
The next day, she had lunch with her Little Uncle and Auntie before heading to the airport.
When the plane landed, the bodyguard sent by Second Uncle was there to pick her up.
"Sir is still in Mexico and won't be back until tomorrow. He asked us to take you to the estate first," the bodyguard said apologetically.
How could Xiao Ya be angry?
She smiled, her eyes crinkling: "That's fine, let uncle focus on his work."
Uncle's work was increasing, which meant he would grow faster into a complete and reliable adult! He wouldn't remember even a bit of past pain anymore.
The bodyguard relaxed seeing her smile and asked, "Would you like to buy anything, or should we go straight to the estate?"
"Yes, I need to buy some things."
"Alright, let's go to the nearest mall then."
Half an hour later, Xiao Ya sat back in the car wearing a newly bought wig: "Now, let's go to Perry Hotel."
The bodyguard was stunned: "Not going to the estate?"
"No, not yet." After all, uncle wasn't there, so it wouldn't be interesting.
"But we can't let you stay at a hotel. If sir finds out, he'll have our hides..." the bodyguard said with a troubled expression.
"I'm not going there to stay."
"Then why..."
The driver suddenly remembered: "There's a defense industry banquet being held at Perry Hotel, hosted by Mr. Jefferson."
"We received an invitation? Is Miss going to attend in place of sir?" the bodyguard exclaimed in surprise.
Sir must really... trust her!
By the time they arrived at Perry Hotel, the banquet had already begun.
Xiao Ya chose a corner to sit down.
The bodyguard asked curiously: "Aren't you going to greet Mr. Jefferson?"
"I haven't had dinner yet, I'm hungry," Xiao Ya said as she tiptoed to take a small cake from the waiter's tray.
The bodyguard quickly asked the waiter to bring some water.
Xiao Ya sat in her seat, slowly eating the cake.
The bodyguard lowered his eyes, staring at the red wig on the young miss's head, feeling increasingly uncomfortable about it.
Coming to attend a banquet, why did she insist on wearing this thing?
On the other side.
Someone holding a wine glass remarked with a hint of envy: "Ke Muning and Mr. Jefferson are having quite an animated conversation."
"Indeed, given Ke Muning's personality, it's a miracle he hasn't fallen out with Mr. Jefferson yet!"
"Is this another instance of giving Ke Muning's company preferential treatment? Will they get another military project? They must be discussing official requirements in advance."
"Shh, they're coming closer."
Over there, Ke Muning was indeed walking closer while chatting with Jefferson.
But their conversation had nothing to do with military projects.
Ke Muning asked: "You say Demon has been asking about my whereabouts lately, is she planning to visit me?"
Jefferson shrugged: "I don't know."
"Maybe she'll suddenly appear before me..."
"I don't know."
"Honestly, I'm curious when did she start contacting you so frequently?"
Jefferson spread his hands: "Relax, you're still her only godfather. I actually don't communicate with her that much, she just teaches my son Hua Country language, and my son really likes her."
"Your son? That ugly duckling who broke two front teeth when he was little and had a face full of freckles?"
"Hey! Ke Muning! If you talk about my son like that, I'll get angry."
Unable to get any information from Jefferson, Ke Muning's face darkened as he turned his attention elsewhere.
Nearby, there was a woman with a little girl.
The woman was blonde with blue eyes, and her daughter naturally had golden hair too.
Ke Muning stared at the golden hair for a moment, causing the little girl to burst into tears with a "wah!"
Jefferson caught up: "People are saying you want to find a woman to have children."
Ke Muning: "Huh?"
Jefferson smiled: "But I know you're thinking about your goddaughter. At the last banquet, she wore a golden wig. Though you can't identify people just by their wigs..."
Ke Muning said nothing and walked away.
Wherever he went, a circle of empty space formed around him.
Almost no one else dared to approach easily.
He made two rounds of the venue when he suddenly noticed a waiter carrying a bowl of chicken soup with two red dates and wolfberries floating on top.
Very much in the style of Hua Country.
The waiter walked right past him and delivered it directly to a child with red hair.
Ke Muning stared for a moment.
Little crazy one?
No.
The height wasn't right.
Though it would be normal for the little crazy one to have grown taller... it was about time.
But why red hair?
Ke Muning walked over in a few steps.
The child was sitting there steadily, head lowered while drinking soup.
He looked carefully two or three times, not entirely sure of his own eyes. But he still went over and picked the child up from their seat.
Xiao Ya licked the oil from her lips, looked up and smiled: "Congratulations! Ke Muning! Your face blindness is 50% cured!"
Countless emotions surged in Ke Muning's eyes.
He was happy but couldn't help gritting his teeth.
The little one deliberately changed her hair to red just to test if his face blindness had improved?
His lips twitched, but before he could speak.
Xiao Ya slapped something onto his face: "So here's your reward!"
The action looked like she had given him a slap.
Those people who were constantly wary of Ke Muning while also keeping a close eye on him suddenly gaped in shock.
The bodyguard beside Xiao Ya wasn't faring much better!
Was she here to attend the banquet? Or to meet our former enemy?
"What's this?" Ke Muning forced an ugly smile as he took the string from Xiao Ya's hand.
"An amulet, blessed at the temple."
Ke Muning held it: "Oh, mysterious power from Hua Country."
He sat down next to Xiao Ya as he spoke.
Xiao Ya nodded while continuing to dig through her schoolbag.
Ke Muning's lips were almost flying upward: "What else do you have for me?"
Xiao Ya pulled out a notebook labeled 'Homework'.
"This is for you too."
Ke Muning: "What is it?"
Xiao Ya said: "I'll be busy for three days and won't have time to do my homework, so Ke Muning, you help me do it. And you need to make a handmade globe!"
Ke Muning: "..."
He swallowed.
He knew how to make guns and artillery, but this... how was he supposed to make this?
