Chapter 923: Chapter 235: The End of the New Year, Return Trip, and Valentine’s Day Arrives

"Xu Lin, what did my dad say to you just now?"

Once Xu Lin got in the car and they drove for a while, Rong Xiyi couldn’t help but ask.

"He told me to take good care of you."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? Those powerful men usually find it hard to apologize. Your dad isn’t too bad to you. I guess he’s just too proud." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Xu Lin looked at her and said, "There’s a share of the inheritance for you too."

"I’m not interested in that inheritance."

Rong Xiyi pouted.

"You’re still young. When you’re in your twenties or thirties, will you still say you’re not interested in an inheritance? By then, you might be a different person. Of course, I might be different too."

In simple words, Rong Xiyi is still rather naive, just a carefree girl who loves to have fun.

However, she will mature one day, as time will inevitably take away the innocence of her youth.

"Then I’ll give you my share of the inheritance when that time comes!"

Rong Xiyi said earnestly, "What’s mine is yours, and I won’t change!"

Xu Lin didn’t take it seriously.

Besides, he wasn’t interested in Rong Xiyi’s inheritance. How much could it be anyway?

Actually, Xu Lin could say what Jack Ma once said: I’m not interested in money.

He genuinely felt that way.

Xu Lin didn’t have any bad habits and generally didn’t spend money recklessly. He didn’t really need much money for food, drinks, and entertainment.

The money he did spend was all invested in his career, all in the pursuit of training a super artificial intelligence.

Raised with no shortage of money, Xu Lin never experienced any hardship, so he wasn’t particularly keen on money.

By eleven o’clock in the evening, they stopped at a hotel, planning to drive back the next day.

With Xu Lin here and knowing she’d see Ms. Ren the next day, Rong Xiyi was filled with excitement, and the pent-up frustration from staying at home vanished entirely.

"Xu Lin, I’ve really missed you lately!"

"Haven’t we been video calling every day?"

"It’s different. I want to see you in person, hold your hand, and hug you!"

Rong Xiyi hugged Xu Lin, her face resting on his chest.

She had indeed been quite lonely these days, with no one to chat or go out with in Suzhou. Her high school friends weren’t familiar anymore, and overall, she felt quite solitary.

"Have you bathed?"

Xu Lin asked her.

"Not yet."

"Then let’s bathe together."

"Hmph!"

Rong Xiyi playfully said, "This time I’ll scrub your back!"

"Okay."

Xu Lin knew she planned to use her body to give him a bath.

It was a case of absence making the heart grow fonder; they hadn’t seen each other for over half a month. Xu Lin didn’t think much of it, but it was different for Rong Xiyi, as Xu Lin was the only guy in her world, making her particularly proactive.

The next morning at eight, they just had a simple breakfast before Xu Lin started the drive back.

It was the fourth day of the new year, a time when workers typically return home, so there was pretty much traffic everywhere.

It wasn’t until around nine in the evening that Xu Lin got home.

"Mom, I’m back!"

Back at Xu Lin’s place, Rong Xiyi was the most excited, immediately rushing to Ms. Ren.

"Mom, I’ve missed you so much!"

"Yanyan, I’ve missed you so much, too!"

The mother and daughter quickly embraced, almost moved to tears.

"No need to be so emotional, right?" Xu Lin said.

"You brat, what do you know?" Ms. Ren shot him a glare.

With Rong Xiyi back, Xu Lin’s house was lively again, the two women chattering away.

Xu Lin thought that, although they weren’t biological mother and daughter, they were quite similar in many ways. According to his dad, Ms. Ren was a lot like Rong Xiyi when she was young, especially in personality.

"We’re going to your grandfather’s tomorrow, so just stay home by yourself,"

Xu Lin said, taking a cigarette from his dad.

His dad said, "I’ll be off the day after tomorrow too."

"So soon?"

"I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh."

There weren’t many words exchanged between father and son. It could be said that men don’t need to say much.

The four of them in Xu Lin’s family chatted late into the night, not sleeping until after one.

His dad spoke the least, followed by Xu Lin, while Ms. Ren and Rong Xiyi chatted non-stop, munching on sunflower seeds.

Just after eight the next morning, everything was ready, and they said goodbye to Xu Lin’s dad before heading to his grandfather’s house.

On the fifth day of the new year, a few uncles and aunts had already left for work.

Xu Lin and company didn’t reach his grandfather’s until the morning of the sixth day.

By then, only his third uncle, second aunt, and a few others were at the house.

There were fewer people this year, so it wasn’t as lively as last year.

"Grandpa, I came to see you." Xu Lin saw his grandfather sitting in a rocking chair, looking quite at ease.

"Ah Lin, you’ve grown up."

Seeing Xu Lin, his grandfather reached out to touch his face.

Xu Lin bent down to let him touch it.

"Yes, I’ve grown up," Xu Lin said.

He then asked with concern, "How’s your health these days, grandpa?"

"My memory is getting worse, can’t remember many things. I often forget things, and sometimes, I even forget you all."

"As long as you’re healthy, grandpa. I hope you live a long and healthy life."

"Good, good. Grandpa hopes you stay healthy too."

"Grandpa, do you remember me?"

Rong Xiyi skipped over, bending down to ask.

Her grandfather looked closely and said, "Yan, how did you get so young?"

"Dad, I’m right here!"

Ms. Ren said resignedly.