Lan Yuxi checked the time. "That's your family's old manor. What business would my people have there?"
Nan Xiao chuckled. "You are the Nan family's matriarch. And you tell me, 'That's your family's old manor'?"
Lan Yuxi stuck out her tongue. "I was wrong."
"Add a prefix, or I won't let you off tonight!" Nan Xiao emphasized the last few words, his tone full of warning.
Lan Yuxi, thinking of his persistent ways, quickly changed her tune. "Husband, I was wrong."
"That's more like it. I'll pamper you well when we get home tonight."
"..." Lan Yuxi was instantly speechless. It seemed she was damned if she did and damned if she didn't!
"I have to go to class. I'm hanging up now." Lan Yuxi didn't even give Nan Xiao a chance to speak before hanging up the phone and running off.
At noon, Lan Yuxi had lunch with all the faculty and staff. Everyone knew the dean was an incomparably beautiful woman, but they hadn't expected such an approachable one.
During her lunch break, Lan Yuxi, still worried about Old Man Nan, tried calling him. As she had expected, the old man's phone was turned off.
Lan Yuxi took out her laptop and sent a group message to several reliable members of the Bingyan organization, asking them to keep a close eye on Nan Zhenting's movements.
In the afternoon, after Lan Yuxi had answered Ling Chen's questions, she returned home with Lan Musi.
Seeing her return, Tang Wan asked with concern, "First day at work, are you tired?"
"Not tired." Lan Yuxi took a small sip of the herbal tea handed to her by the butler. "Mom, did those two little ones give you and Dad any trouble?"
"No trouble. They're much better behaved than you." Tang Wan lowered her voice and asked, "Did you find out where your father-in-law went?"
"He flew to country M on a private jet."
"Country M?"
"Yes. To deceive the old lady, Grandpa had someone buy property there in advance. However, I suspect the person living there isn't him, but his double. He'll be secretly heading to Noxas."
Lan Haolin sighed softly. "Poor Old Nan. I thought he'd be free after the divorce, but it turns out he was still tricked by that old witch."
Lan Yuxi's eyes dimmed. "The old lady is testing him, seeing if Nan Xiao holds any weight in his heart. She perfectly leveraged the old man's feelings."
Lan Haolin fiddled with his fingers. "Nan Xiao hasn't returned yet. Was he held up by that old lady?"
"Yes, when I got off work, he sent me a WeChat message saying he had some unfinished business there and would be back later."
Lan Haolin frowned slightly. "That old witch. She wouldn't dare to cause trouble openly, so she's scheming in secret."
"Don't mind her. She can't keep Nan Xiao forever anyway."
Lan Yuxi saw the two little ones coming down from upstairs and waved at them with a smile.
"Mommy~" Mumu ran over and threw herself into Lan Yuxi's arms.
Lan Yuxi hugged her with a smile. "Grandma said you were very good today. Mommy will reward you with a kiss. Mua~"
Mumu giggled as her mother kissed her.
Zhaozhao smiled faintly, then was also pulled into his mother's embrace.
Tang Wan said with a smile, "It's good that you're close with the children. You just came back from outside and haven't changed your clothes. Don't spread germs to the children."
Lan Musi smiled. "We disinfected ourselves before coming back."
"Disinfection isn't enough. Go change your clothes quickly."
Lan Yuxi smiled and patted the little ones' heads. "Mommy will go change first and be back to play with you."
Mumu obediently jumped down from her mother's arms. "Mommy, why isn't Daddy back yet?"
Lan Yuxi smiled and pinched her little cheek. "Daddy might be back a bit later."
Mumu's lower lip immediately pouted. "How much later? Will it be after I've fallen asleep again?"
"Mommy doesn't know that either." Lan Yuxi rubbed her little head and hurried upstairs.
Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, then followed her with his short legs.
Lan Yuxi turned and looked at him. "Is something wrong, sweetie?"
Zhaozhao took his mother's hand. "I want to tell you something."
Lan Yuxi curved her lips into a smile and led the little one into the bedroom.
"Are you going to tell me about Grandpa?"
"Yes." Zhaozhao glanced at the digital watch on his wrist. "Grandpa told me I must tell you at this exact time. He said he's leaving and asked you and Daddy not to look for him. He said he'll be safe."
"Did he tell you where he was going?"
"He said, from now on, no matter who asks, just say he's in country M. Actually, he's going to Noxas." Zhaozhao walked to the bed and opened the bedside cabinet. "Grandpa asked me to give this to you."
Lan Yuxi looked at the dozens of bank cards inside and frowned slightly. "Grandpa left all the cards. What will he do?"
"Grandpa brought enough money."
Lan Yuxi sighed. "This old man."
"Grandpa said these cards aren't for Daddy, they're for you. I can only tell you and Daddy about him leaving. No one else, not even little sister. Otherwise, if that person finds out, she'll force you and Daddy to divorce."
Lan Yuxi gratefully rubbed her son's little head.
"Grandpa also said he's sorry and that this is all he can do for you and Daddy. For the rest of his days, he's going to settle his debts."
"Mommy knows. Grandpa's life has been very hard. We all support him."
"Mm." Zhaozhao nodded his little head heavily.
Lan Yuxi smiled and kissed his forehead. "Mommy will go change, and then I'll play with you and your sister."
As soon as Lan Yuxi finished speaking, Mumu stomped in indignantly. "Mommy, I called Daddy, and that person answered. She said Daddy will never come back."
Lan Yuxi's gaze sharpened, but she quickly masked it, remembering the children were there. "It's not up to her to say whether Daddy will come back or not. Mommy will go change first. Don't call Daddy anymore."
Zhaozhao nodded and reached out to pull his sister.
Mumu pouted and shook off Zhaozhao's hand. "I'm angry, very angry!"
Lan Yuxi's lips twitched, and she turned and went into the walk-in closet.
"Is it fun for you to be angry right now? If that person knows you're upset by her, she'll be very happy." Zhaozhao pulled his sister's hand again. "Mommy and we are here. Daddy will come back, don't worry."
Mumu blinked her dark eyes. "Will Daddy really come back?"
"Yes!"
Mumu sighed. "Brother, when will that person die?"
Zhaozhao covered his sister's mouth with his hand. "Don't talk nonsense. Daddy will be unhappy if he hears it."
Mumu pulled Zhaozhao's hand away and said indignantly, "He's not back yet..."
"He's not back, but you still can't say it."