After comforting Erya, Xia Qingtian felt a sense of accomplishment. However, upon returning home at noon and seeing Miao Tong's radiant, acting-filled smile, that sense of accomplishment vanished instantly.
Fortunately, Miao Tong played dumb despite understanding everything and did not deliberately make things difficult. Although there were occasional probing remarks during their conversation, Xia Qingtian skillfully deflected them with a few words.
Playing charades?
After all, Xia Qingtian had acted in dramas and experienced the entertainment industry. She was capable of this level of acting, and dealing with Miao Tong was easy.
Seeing that he couldn't find a breakthrough with Xia Qingtian, and his elder brother had a peculiar personality that couldn't be provoked, Miao Tong found himself in a bind.
Then there were Xia Honglang and Aunt Liu, who were perfectly good-natured people, making it difficult to make a move.
Miao Tong could only shift his attention to Xia Qingyu.
So, estimating the time Xia Qingyu would finish school, Miao Tong headed straight to the City No. 1 Middle School.
In the morning, Miao Tong had checked the freight schedules and key road condition monitoring for Z City but found no suspicious information.
The search for Tang Jiamingzhu was important, but it couldn't be rushed.
Especially since there was a brother to protect and a Xia Qingtian with an unfathomable background in the Xia family.
Miao Tong felt he deserved a lavish meal and double the allowance money upon returning to the capital.
Leaning against the entrance of City No. 1 Middle School, Miao Tong ate a lollipop while continuing his investigation on his tablet.
Only after hearing the school bell ring for dismissal did Miao Tong put his tablet back into his backpack. Then, with his arms crossed and his head tilted, he glanced into the school with a roguish air.
Before Xia Qingyu even came out, Miao Tong had already caused a small stir.
It had to be said, his face was very deceptive. Coupled with his trendy outfit, his playful smile was also very popular with girls his age.
However, the girls at City No. 1 Middle School were more reserved. Although there were curious onlookers, none of them, unlike the girls at the airport earlier, came forward to strike up a conversation.
Xia Qingyu also seemed a bit surprised to see Miao Tong: "Why are you here?"
"To pick you up and take you home." Miao Tong used his tongue to swirl the lollipop to the side of his mouth, then, as if by magic, pulled a new flavor from his sleeve and offered it to Xia Qingyu: "Here, for you."
"Thank you." Xia Qingyu accepted the lollipop Miao Tong handed her, glancing around with her peripheral vision before asking with a hint of resignation, "Just you?"
"Isn't just me enough? I'm picking up a girl for the first time!" Miao Tong looked shocked at Xia Qingyu's question.
What was with this Xia Qingyu!
The Xia sisters were truly too strange!
After all, it was always girls who waited for him at the school gates. This was the first time he had actively come to pick up a girl!
Seeing that Miao Tong didn't seem to be lying, Xia Qingyu let out a sigh of relief and said, "Let's go."
Miao Tong raised an eyebrow slightly. Was Xia Qingyu's expression of compromise after disappointment genuine?
Tsking, Miao Tong caught up to Xia Qingyu, who had already started walking ahead, and said, "Don't head towards the parking lot. I told your driver to go back."
"Then how will we get home?" Xia Qingyu paused and asked Miao Tong, surprised.
"Let's take a walk and chat first~" Miao Tong said. "Don't worry, with me, will I still trick you? I'm your little uncle~"
Since the Xia sisters called Xia Shang "little uncle," he figured calling himself their "little little uncle" wasn't too much of a stretch.
Moreover, Miao Tong thought this self-proclaimed title was quite amusing.
Xia Qingyu immediately got Miao Tong's joke and shared a smile with him.
This Miao Tong was boringly funny.
"Let's go." Miao Tong casually slung his arm over Xia Qingyu's shoulder. "I'm thirsty, I'll treat you to milk tea."
"With both lollipops and milk tea, won't your sugar intake be excessive?" Xia Qingyu asked speechlessly as she led Miao Tong toward the milk tea shop.
"It doesn't matter. Times have changed, the 'tough guy' style is out. Boys need to be a little sweeter to be loved by girls," Miao Tong said these rambling words with a serious expression, all while contemplating how to trick Xia Qingyu.
After all, the Xia sisters' thought processes were different from normal people.
Initially, as the surrounding girls saw Xia Qingyu talking with Miao Tong, they all retreated somewhat awkwardly.
They hadn't expected such a high-quality guy to be targeting Xia Qingyu, so there was nothing for them.
Meanwhile, Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong, who walked out of the school gate behind Xia Qingyu, were both stunned after witnessing the entire scene.
Xia Qingyu seemed to rarely get so close to the opposite sex.
And they were even talking and laughing together...
"Where did that kid come from?" Shi Xingwu felt a pang of jealousy. "He looks unreliable! Has the goddess been fooled by that kid's sweet talk!"
"I don't know." Li Xiaozhong shook his head slightly, looking at Miao Tong and frowning slightly.
This Miao Tong, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, appeared easy to get along with, but it was likely superficial acting.
He was probably a dangerous person.
It seemed he still needed to remind Xia Qingyu.
After all, as business partners, if Xia Qingyu got into trouble, he would also be troubled.
"He- he even called himself 'little little uncle'!" Shi Xingwu exploded when he heard Miao Tong's self-appellation and exclaimed, "I'll beat him into a little! little!酥 (crisp)!"
"Stop!" Li Xiaozhong grabbed Shi Xingwu. "Don't get involved in things that don't concern you and cause trouble!"
"But! But he!" Shi Xingwu didn't know how to explain. He turned around and saw Nie Qingkong standing not too far away with a sinister and inscrutable expression. Shi Xingwu immediately said, "Nie Qingkong! You tell me! What should we do!"
"What does it have to do with me." Nie Qingkong's tone was cold and sharp. He merely glanced at Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong before continuing to walk forward, only casting a sideways glance at Xia Qingyu as he passed her.
Seeing Xia Qingyu smiling sweetly at Miao Tong, Nie Qingkong clenched his fist by his side unconsciously and walked away with a stern face.
Seeing that Nie Qingkong completely ignored them, Shi Xingwu wanted to say something more, but Li Xiaozhong pulled him away.
On the other side, Miao Tong, walking out of the milk tea shop, remarked, "It feels like all the milk tea shops across the country are pretty much the same. The milk tea in the capital tastes like this too."
Xia Qingyu didn't respond; only Miao Tong was chattering away.
After a while, Miao Tong chuckled and said, "Qingyu, why aren't you saying anything? It feels like I'm being so noisy talking to myself. You should say something too~"
"Just ask what you want to ask directly," Xia Qingyu said, holding her milk tea. "Don't beat around the bush, it doesn't suit you."
Hearing Xia Qingyu's words, Miao Tong was slightly stunned, then he withdrew his sunny smile and said, "Sometimes, it's cuter for girls to be a little more naive."
"What a pity," Xia Qingyu chuckled at Miao Tong and said, "I wasn't a cute girl since childhood."