The next day, Xia Qing Tian and her group boarded a flight back to Z City.
Concurrently, an international flight landed smoothly at Z City International Airport, Terminal 1.
A clean-cut young man in casual male attire emerged from the airport, and a black private car quickly stopped in front of him.
The car door opened, and a burly man in a black suit stepped out with a solemn expression, personally opening the car door for the young man. "Young Master, weren't you supposed to arrive next week?"
"I didn't want a bunch of people following me," the clean-cut young man said casually after getting into the car, his gaze fixed outside the window. "What about my new identity?"
"Your ID and enrollment information are all here." The burly man immediately handed over a file upon hearing him and then hesitantly asked, "Young Master, are you really going to attend school?"
"Xiang Qing Kong? Interesting..." the clean-cut young man chuckled. "I'm bored anyway. It's just for fun, and to see how hopeless this country's education system truly is...
By the way, don't let anyone know I'm here, or you know what will happen."
Hearing the young man's nonchalant voice, the burly man swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
This is a disaster!
As the car entered the airport expressway entrance, a dark commercial vehicle exited the same entrance and drove to Terminal 3, stopping in front of Gate 3.
When the car door opened, Xia Qing Yu was the first to jump out, giving Xia Qing Tian a big hug. "Sister, you're back."
"Mm, I'm back." Xia Qing Tian held Xia Qing Yu tighter before calling for everyone to get into the car.
Mr. Gu, however, took a separate car driven by Assistant Lin back to Gu's Entertainment.
Before parting, Mr. Gu whispered in Xia Qing Tian's ear, "Tomorrow at noon, return to Xiaoyao Pavilion."
"I have classes tomorrow during the day. I'll go tomorrow evening," Xia Qing Tian replied after a moment's thought.
"Even better." Mr. Gu's lips curved slightly before he got into his car and left the airport.
After seeing Mr. Gu off, Xia Qing Tian got into the commercial vehicle. As soon as she sat down, she seemed to remember something and asked, "Qing Yu, today is Tuesday. Aren't you in class?"
"I participated in a bilingual speech competition in the city this morning. It finished very early, so I came to pick you guys up," Xia Qing Yu said. "I still have to go back to school for classes tomorrow, Sis. You'll be going to school tomorrow too, right?"
"Yes." Xia Qing Tian stretched lazily. "Unless something major comes up, I should be at school."
"Ah? You're going to school?" Er Ya puffed out her cheeks and looked at Xia Qing Yu. "You're going to school too?"
"Yes," Xia Qing Yu nodded.
"Tsk." Er Ya clicked her tongue, her disappointment evident. She then immediately hugged Xia Shang's arm. "It's okay, I still have Xia Shang."
"I have to go to work tomorrow," Xia Shang quietly withdrew his arm from Er Ya's embrace. "My vacation is over."
"Ah? No way! You guys are going to school, and I have to go to work. What about me!" Er Ya's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why don't you go to school too? I think I can help you transfer your enrollment to City No. 1 High School, so you can be classmates with Qing Yu," Xia Qing Tian thought carefully, wondering if it was possible to transfer Er Ya's schooling to Z City.
"No! Wouldn't that be childish? I'm going to be your future aunt! How can I be classmates with Xia Qing Yu!" Er Ya protested, then puffed out her cheeks and pointed at Xia Qing Tian. "It would be more like it if I were classmates with you."
"Ah? Did you take the college entrance exam?" Xia Qing Tian asked.
"Why would I take the college entrance exam?" Er Ya blinked. "I've never been to school."
"Huh?" Xia Qing Tian and Xia Qing Yu's eyes widened simultaneously.
"Er Ya's master and brother are very capable," Xia Shang explained. "My programming was also casually taught by Er Ya's brother, in case I got bored at home or something."
"That might be a bit difficult," Xia Qing Tian couldn't think of a way to get Er Ya into Z University. If she had never attended school, it would be hard for her to even get into City No. 1 High School.
"Qing Tian, do you have my third brother's phone number in your phone?" Er Ya's beautiful eyes rolled as she thought of a solution. "Let me call him."
"Alright." Xia Qing Tian didn't know what Er Ya's brother, Di San, actually did.
She had only spoken to Di San on the phone once.
Er Ya dialed Di San's number. "Third Brother, are you still alive?"
"I won't die." Di San found it a bit strange to receive a call from Xia Qing Tian and thought Er Ya had gotten into trouble. Upon hearing Er Ya's voice on the other end, Di San felt a throb in his temples. "What do you want?"
"I want to go to Z University," Er Ya said.
"Why would you go to Z University? They wouldn't even hire you as a cafeteria lady, saying your hands aren't shaky enough!" Di San said irritably. "Can't you just be a little more settled!"
"I don't care! I'm going to Z University, you figure it out!" Er Ya snorted and hung up the phone.
She then handed the phone back to Xia Qing Tian. "Done."
"You're done with what!" Xia Qing Tian's mouth twitched. She felt like Er Ya had messed things up.
However, if Er Ya followed normal conventions, she wouldn't be Er Ya.
Seeing Er Ya's carefree demeanor, Xia Qing Tian's thoughts turned to the matters of the Tang and Miao families, and she sighed helplessly.
It seemed she would have to ask Mr. Gu more about these two families tomorrow.
Also, Mr. Gu had mentioned before that Er Ya was from the Tang family... the Tang family's what? Master?
In any case, she would think about it tomorrow.
Upon returning to the Xia residence, the variety of dishes on the table fully conveyed Aunt Liu's enthusiasm.
"I was so happy knowing you were coming back that I accidentally made too much with the chef," Aunt Liu said, cupping her face with one hand and smiling gently. "Hurry and wash your hands to eat."
During the meal, Xia Qing Yu deliberately sat next to Xia Qing Tian, occasionally picking food for her and pouring her tea.
After the meal, Xia Qing Yu also lingered around Xia Qing Tian intentionally or unintentionally.
It wasn't until Xia Qing Tian said she was going back to her room to shower and rest that Xia Qing Yu stopped clinging to her, but she still looked like she had something to say.
After her bath, Xia Qing Tian changed into casual clothes. When she went downstairs again, she saw Aunt Liu trimming branches for a bouquet in the living room.
Aunt Liu was wearing a lake-blue dress with an off-white skirt in the front, and her voluminous long hair was held back by a lake-blue scarf, cascading down her back.
A ring inlaid with a round pearl adorned her fair finger, and she held a pair of brass antique floral shears in her hand.
She trimmed the branches while comparing their lengths, then placed them into the crystal vase.
A delicate beauty and vibrant flowers, as enchanting as a fairy tale.
"Qing Tian, why didn't you sleep for a while?" Aunt Liu also noticed Xia Qing Tian, put down her scissors, and smiled gently. "Would you like some snacks?"
"I can't eat anymore for now." Xia Qing Tian walked towards Aunt Liu with a wry smile, feeling that tonight's dinner could probably be skipped. "Qing Yu seemed a bit strange today."
Xia Qing Yu had always been proud in front of Xia Qing Tian.
If the hug at their first meeting was due to missing her after a long separation, then Xia Qing Yu's clinginess afterwards was a bit odd.
It was as if she was afraid Xia Qing Tian would disappear in the blink of an eye.
Had Xia Qing Yu ever been this clingy before?