Running the Heck Away

Wen Xi observed him for two more seconds before turning her eyes away. Whatever their relationship was, it didn't have anything to do with her. It wasn't her business.

He Yan would always be He Yan; he'd never be He Jinsheng to her.

Taking the gift with her, they walked into the living room, and quite a few people were already there.

Peimi pulled He Yan forward to talk with the elders. Wen Xi, not being able to find a good time to cut into the conversation, just stood there.

She realized that it wasn't like the higher society type of parties with all the socializing and pulling connections. It looked pretty intimate and down to earth- a fun party. Looking at their family like this, the difference between other houses and theirs was quite apparent.

It was similar to the dream family she wanted to marry into in the past.

Peimi was playing with the youngest baby He, but the little fellow suddenly slipped away and moved towards her.

He was wearing a little red tuxedo, and his big, shiny eyes were sizing her up.

This was the only great-grandson of the He family, He Yan's cousin's son, He Shouhuan.

The last two times she came over, the little guy stuck himself to Wen Xi. After half a year of not meeting, he sure had gotten a lot bigger.

"Big Sis Wen, you didn't come for so long! I missed you." The kid blinked innocently, a trace of shyness in his eyes.

Wen Xi didn't expect to be remembered after half a year- she felt her heart swoon. She knelt and gave him the gift. "Happy birthday, Huanhuan."

The kid blinked his eyes, looking at her. "Big Sis Wen, I'm one year older now! I'm five years old!"

Wen Xi felt that there was a sort of cunning look in his eyes as if he were calculating something.

"You're one year older, but Big Sis Wen will be one year older too. There'll still be 15 years between you two." Grandma He walked over.

The kid looked back, not pleased. He mumbled something Wen Xi couldn't hear.

He turned around to Wen Xi. "I'll bring you to my secret base!"

Everyone looked pretty surprised at that, a girl pulling the kid away just before the party. "Huanhuan, you didn't even cut the cake yet! Did you forget it's your birthday?"

Huanhuan thought about it with his cheek in his palm before going to get Wen Xi's hand. "Then cut the cake with me, Big Sis!"

Everyone looked at Wen Xi, who nodded before walking to the table with him.

As the birthday song was sung, as the wish was made and the cake was cut, the kid never let go of her arm. She started sweating from all the hand-holding.

His mother saw that and whispered to her child for him to let go first. "No way, if I let go, Big Sis Wen will run away! She didn't even play with me yet."

With that, he raised his head to look at her. "Big Sis Wen, you won't run after the cake, right?

He blinked, his pure eyes staring into her.

Wen Xi smiled. This kid sure had been thinking a lot. But it was true, she didn't plan on staying for very long.

"I still have some things to do..."

"See, see! I told you!" He said as he looked back to Grandma He. "You liar, grandma! The birthday wish doesn't come true at all, I wished for her to stay the whole night for nothing! She's leaving after ten minutes of being here, hmph."

Wen Xi couldn't help but laugh. This kid was talking like a spoiled adult.

Her heart softened. "I'll... Stay for thirty minutes more then?"

She looked at grandma He. "Is that ok?"

Grandma He looked back at her. "Our treasure of the He family is the head of the house tonight!"

The living room was filled with bursts of cheers from the child.

Wen Xi laughed as well, catching a warm gaze from the crowd.

He Yan was sitting off to the side, looking casual as he looked at the interaction between her and the kid.

His smile seemed to have some deeper meaning.

She moved her eyes away and looked back to Huanhuan.

After that, all of her time was spent playing with the kid.

She'd underestimated how much energy the kid had- she thought half an hour would be enough to tire him out, but it was already nine by the time he was tired.

After returning the child to his mother, Wen Xi walked out of the toy room.

She was about to walk down and say goodbye to Grandma He when she heard an argument.

It seemed to be coming from the living room.

She walked a couple of steps and turned the corner, only to see...

Peimi, hugging He Yan as she sobbed softly.

He Yan didn't hug her back- it looked more like he was forcefully being hugged, or perhaps that he hadn't had time to react before feeling eyes on him. He looked over sharply.

Wen Xi's face paled- and she ran the heck out of there.