Chapter 16: Xiang'er?
Perhaps sensing his mother's sadness, Xiao Ming finally broke free from the stare-off and reluctantly joined his mother's side.
"You!" Chen Xiang playfully scolded, pinching his cheeks lightly.
Xiao Ming simply let her do as she pleased, showing no signs of resistance.
Standing up, Chen Xiang turned to Liang Wei with a remorseful expression.
Her voice held a hint of uncertainty as she spoke, "I'm sorry, Liang Wei. I really don't know why he does this to you. Maybe he just likes you?"
'Likes me?'
Liang Wei's face turned into a question mark. He couldn't fathom how Chen Xiang arrived at that conclusion.
To him, it seemed like the little devil was cooking up ways to torment him.
"It's alright, Sister Chen. Kids can be quite unpredictable."
Chen Xiang sighed, a mixture of relief and exasperation evident in her voice.
"I hope you're right. Xiao Ming has always been a little mischievous. Maybe he's just testing you, in his own strange way."
Liang Wei smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, he noticed Xiao Ming's gaze fixated on something in the distance.
Intrigued, Liang Wei followed his line of sight and saw that Xiao Ming was looking at the girl he had been seen walking with earlier.
The girl was accompanied by a woman whom Liang Wei presumed to be her mother.
The woman exuded an air of elegance, dressed in simple yet undoubtedly expensive attire. Her demeanor seemed business-like, as if she were meeting with a professional partner rather than her own child.
With a plain smile, the woman listened attentively as her daughter animatedly recounted her day at the kindergarten.
"Mother! I made a new friend! His name is Chen Ming!" the little girl exclaimed, her eyes brimming with hope.
Aware that her mother had certain reservations about her making friends without permission, the little girl's excitement was tinged with uncertainty.
The mother's platonic smile momentarily faltered, betraying a trace of discomfort.
"That's wonderful, Jingyi," she replied in a controlled tone, masking any hint of disapproval.
"Can you show me your friend?" Jingyi's mother, Liu Meiling, asked, her eyes shifting towards Xiao Ming.
Jingyi eagerly nodded and turned to look in Xiao Ming's direction.
Xiao Ming's expression remained unchanged, his face displaying its usual plainness as he met Jingyi's gaze.
Jingyi waved towards him, her innocent gesture filled with warmth and genuine friendliness.
Meanwhile, Liu Meiling scrutinized Xiao Ming's appearance, a flicker of disgust passing through her eyes before she quickly concealed it and refocused her attention on her daughter.
"We'll talk about this later, okay?" she said, her tone forced and strained as she gently pulled Jingyi's hand, leading her out of the kindergarten.
Liang Wei saw all of this.
Turning back to Chen Xiang, he saw her engrossed in the task of putting a small raincoat on Xiao Ming, completely unaware.
With a warm smile, Chen Xiang lovingly secured the adorable raincoat around Xiao Ming's shoulders.
"Let's go home, shall we?" she said, her voice filled with affection.
Xiao Ming nodded obediently.
As they made their way out of the Kindergarten, Liang Wei's gaze caught sight of Jingyi and her mother stepping into a sleek and luxurious sedan parked nearby.
The polished exterior and emblem of the car hinted at its high-end status.
Liang Wei's eyes followed the car as it smoothly glided away from the curb, its taillights disappearing into the distance.
Chen Xiang, noticing his fixed gaze, turned to him with a concerned expression etched on her face.
"Is something wrong?" she inquired.
Liang Wei shook his head lightly, his smile attempting to brush off any lingering thoughts.
"No, it's nothing. I thought I recognized someone, but it turns out I was mistaken."
Chen Xiang nodded, accepting his explanation without further probing, and they continued their walk towards their apartment, the sound of raindrops creating a soothing backdrop.
Along the way, Chen Xiang's voice resonated with warmth and tenderness as she engaged Xiao Ming in conversation, asking about his first day at kindergarten and inquiring about his new friends.
Her words carried a genuine interest, and Xiao Ming, though not much of a talker, responded with brief nods and occasional one-word answers.
Liang Wei, content to be a silent observer, walked alongside them, his thoughts drifting.
The ambient sound of raindrops created a serene atmosphere as they strolled through the residential area, passing by rows of neatly arranged houses.
From time to time, Liang Wei glanced at Chen Xiang and Xiao Ming, their figures contrasting against the gray backdrop of the rain-soaked scenery.
Soon, their apartment building came into view, and Liang Wei couldn't help but notice a flicker of excitement on Xiao Ming's usually plain face.
The sight surprised him, and a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
'Ah, so the little devil does have a human side after all!' Liang Wei couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the revelation.
As they approached the building, Liang Wei's attention was immediately captivated by a sleek, black car parked in front of the apartment gate.
Its polished exterior gleamed under the dim light, outshining even the fancy sedan that Jingyi and her mother had departed in.
However, the allure of the car quickly took a backseat to the sight of a man leaning against it.
Dressed in a sharp, formal shirt and pants, the man exuded an air of sophistication. His hands casually tucked in his pockets, he appeared effortlessly stylish.
Liang Wei couldn't help but admit that the man's looks surpassed his own, at least for now.
It was like he had stepped right out of a magazine, resembling a handsome celebrity in every way.
The man's face was gentle, adorned with a soft, approaching smile.
As Liang Wei's eyes locked onto the man, a strange sensation washed over him.
The familiarity of the man's features struck a chord deep within, but he couldn't quite put his finger on where he had seen him before.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiang and Xiao Ming were engrossed in their own little world, completely unaware of Liang Wei's distraction.
The boy tugged at his mother's hand, his excitement palpable as he urged her to pick up the pace and return home.
"Slow down!"
Chen Xiang, trying to keep up with his energy, smiled and followed along.
But their progress came to an abrupt halt as Chen Xiang's gaze shifted towards the man standing before the gate.
A wave of shock washed over her, freezing her in place while Xiao Ming continued a few steps ahead, turning around to wonder why his mother had suddenly stopped.
Chen Xiang's eyes betrayed a mixture of emotions as she locked eyes with the approaching man.
Her body tensed, her breathing caught in her throat, and a palpable tension hung in the air.
The man, wearing a guilty smile, broke the silence and uttered her name with a touch of apprehension, "Xiang'er, can we talk?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone