Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Welcoming
"No need for goodbyes, this is our last meeting. I once learned some face-reading skills from a fortune teller, and I can see that you have the face of someone who won’t live much longer. I wish you a peaceful departure." Xu Ke suppressed the hostility in his heart, returning a gentle smile to the middle-aged man, yet successfully wiped the smile off the man’s face. He seemed to see a fleeting bloodthirstiness in the man’s eyes, but in the blink of an eye, it was as if nothing had happened, as if it was all just an illusion.
"Hurry up, don’t linger here." A policeman, about the same age as the middle-aged man, looked at the man with disgust and pushed him forward. As the middle-aged policeman passed by Xu Ke, he gave Xu Ke a friendly smile, as if he hadn’t heard Xu Ke cursing the middle-aged man.
Although he was a policeman, he was also a father, and he naturally loathed human traffickers, wishing to eliminate them hastily.
The middle-aged man was pushed away by the policeman.
The child’s mother was still sitting on the ground, holding her child and crying her heart out. As the onlookers gradually dispersed, the mother finally vented her emotions enough and forced herself to stand up. Just as Xu Ke was about to walk toward Lin Mengyao, the woman called out to him.
"Thank you for today. I don’t have much to repay you with, but this is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it." The woman took off the bracelet from her wrist and stuffed it into Xu Ke’s hand, then bowed to Xu Ke gratefully before leaving with her luggage, without looking back even as Xu Ke called out to her.
"What’s going on here?" Lin Mengyao, carrying their few pieces of luggage, came to Xu Ke’s side, looking somewhat surprised at the retreating figure and asked curiously.
"Nothing much, she might just be eager to get home. This is a token of her thanks." Xu Ke said as he handed the bracelet to Lin Mengyao.
The bracelet didn’t look very valuable, probably worth little. Lin Mengyao glanced at it and then withdrew her gaze, carefully placing the bracelet into her bag, keeping it properly. After all, this was a gesture of goodwill from the other party, and Lin Mengyao’s lips curled up slightly, feeling pleased.
"Hi, was it you who saved me earlier? I’m really grateful to you." A timid voice came from behind them.
Both Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao turned their heads simultaneously to look behind them. It was the young girl who had nearly been hit by the middle-aged man.
Both Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao had sharp and somewhat aggressive looks. Hearing someone talk behind them, they both turned their heads, their sharp eyes piercing the girl’s gaze like a sword, which seemed to intimidate her. Her eyes turned red.
"Is there something you need?" Xu Ke’s eyebrows furrowed subtly. He wasn’t too fond of delicate girls who seemed fragile enough to break with a bit of force, or to be blown away with a breath.
Though Xu Ke tried hard to hide his dislike, the girl’s sensitive and fragile nerves caught a faint signal nonetheless. Not knowing what she had done to annoy Xu Ke, her breathing turned slightly shaky, and her eyes filled with tears, as if ready to cry any second.
"I..." The girl sniffed and bit her lip, as if terribly frightened, "I just came to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I might have been hit just now. Thank you!" She bowed to Xu Ke and, before Xu Ke could say anything, ran away hurriedly like a startled rabbit, not daring to look back.
"What was that all about?" Xu Ke watched as she stumbled away, finally frowning, "Do I look that scary?" Xu Ke touched his face, looking at Lin Mengyao with a pitiful expression.
Xu Ke’s expression made Lin Mengyao laugh and cry at the same time. She reached out and patted Xu Ke’s head, her sharp eyes softening. "You don’t look scary at all. You look very handsome, dashing, and graceful. And your appearance today while saving someone was even more impressive." Lin Mengyao gave Xu Ke a thumbs-up, showering him with compliments.
Xu Ke, hearing such praises rarely from Lin Mengyao, was delighted. He took the suitcase from Lin Mengyao’s hands and walked out with a spring in his step, making Lin Mengyao’s heart soften even more, as her nervousness and anxiety about coming to Shangjing with him were replaced with happiness and relief.
The excellent man walking ahead was her husband, Lin Mengyao’s husband.
When Lin Mengyao followed Xu Ke outside the airport, her eyes were immediately drawn to the stretch Lincoln parked nearby. But she only glanced at it before withdrawing her gaze, standing beside Xu Ke and putting her hand into his palm.
"I don’t know which car Grandpa Zhao drove to pick us up. Let me call and ask." Xu Ke said, holding Lin Mengyao’s hand as he took out his phone to call Housekeeper Zhao.
Sitting inside the stretch Lincoln with his eyes closed, Housekeeper Zhao immediately opened his eyes upon hearing the phone ring. In that instant, his eyes were sharp and alert, but those emotions vanished with the second ring, replaced by a gentle gaze, looking like a kindly old man.
"Family Head, have you brought Lady out?" Housekeeper Zhao answered the call, using his uniquely gentle voice.
"We’re already out, but I can’t see the family’s car. What car did you drive today to pick us up?" Xu Ke said while scanning around.
"I drove the stretch Lincoln. Family Head, I see you two; I’m coming over." Housekeeper Zhao wanted to say more but changed his words when he saw Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao at the exit with a smile.
"Alright." Xu Ke agreed.
"Grandpa Zhao will come down to pick us up soon. Just relax and stay calm." Xu Ke comforted, touching Lin Mengyao’s somewhat cold fingertips, knowing her nervousness caused it.
"Okay, I understand." Lin Mengyao nodded, looking at Xu Ke’s face, feeling her once restless heart calm down again.