Vol. 1 - Chapter 114 - No way!
"Sorry, did I disturb you, Kang Xin?"
The other person's words left Kang Xin a bit flustered; after all, he was the master of this place.
Han LiTian stood before her, a smile on his face. It seemed he wasn't upset about Kang Xin's refusal to Han ShuYi.
"No, it's fine, sir. Is there something you need?"
"Why don't we step outside to talk?"
"...Okay."
Kang Xin had no reason to decline, though she was curious about why he was looking for her.
Strolling through the back garden, they passed by gardeners watering the flowerbeds and pruning the plants. Upon seeing Han LiTian, the gardeners seemed to work even harder, as if eager to prove their worth for being here.
Kang Xin followed closely behind Han LiTian until he suddenly spoke up.
"Kang Xin, how long have you been with the Han family?"
"Sir, it has been eight years."
Hearing her words, Han LiTian recalled the day HuMing had brought Kang Xin home.
At first, HuMing had said he had found something, and they all thought it was just a small animal. They never expected he would actually bring back a young girl.
HuMing had said she nearly froze to death outside; when he found her, she was covered in snowflakes.
Given the Han family's circumstances, taking in another girl was no problem; they could treat her as another daughter.
But when Kang Xin woke up, the little girl only asked for food and a bed to sleep in.
From then on, just as Kang Xin stated, she took care of HuMing without ever asking for anything more.
As she had said, all she needed was food and a bed to sleep in.
"Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye. So much has happened during these years, and even HuMing has changed." Han LiTian couldn't help but sigh.
HuMing wasn't his biological son, this matter had been mentioned countless times.
However, few understood Han LiTian's true feelings for HuMing.
Some believed he shouldn't continue to take care of HuMing and that sending him back to his biological parents was the right choice. Others felt that after all this time, even if he weren't blood-related, there would inevitably be some emotional bond.
"But Kang Xin..." Han LiTian shifted the conversation back to her.
"All these years, you're the only one who hasn't changed in this family."
"Even though HuMing's status has changed, you still care for him just like before. I've seen how the other servants have treated him; many have changed their attitude towards him because of his identity. Yet you remain the same as you were at the beginning."
How could Han LiTian not know what was happening in his house?
Setting aside the servants' attitudes, the matter with that driver alone made Han LiTian sigh a little.
That driver had been dismissed a long time ago, but his attitude mirrored that of most people. Not to mention, HuMing had faced considerable bullying at school previously.
Between HuMing and Han ShuYi, he could only maintain a sense of equality.
He felt indebted to Han ShuYi for all his missed years, but he also had to consider HuMing's feelings.
As a father, he had done everything within his power.
Now, having someone continue to care for HuMing was not just good for him but also beneficial for HuMing.
That was why he had come to find Kang Xin today.
"Sir, taking care of the young master is my duty. My commitment won't change because of his shift in status."
"I understand what you mean, but I think ShuYi is also right. Aside from HuMing, you should have your own life, too, shouldn't you? Attending school could be your opportunity to be on equal footing with HuMing."
Han LiTian genuinely appreciated Kang Xin from the bottom of his heart.
A loyal person deserves every bit of praise.
Kang Xin fell silent.
Throughout these eight years, she had witnessed the changes in the Han family and watched this man work tirelessly, sacrificing everything for the company and his family.
She lifted her gaze to the man before her; it had been eight years since he had taken her in.
Kang Xin even felt that the reason HuMing hadn't left the Han household was largely due to this man standing in front of her.
However, the relationship between HuMing and Han ShuYi meant that their coexistence was destined to be difficult.
When that time came, how would this man choose?
Kang Xin found it hard to imagine that scene; some things were simply beyond the realm of imagination.
"Sir, the young master has helped me immensely. So far, I'm already very satisfied."
Kang Xin spoke from her heart.
She would never tell that young master had been tutoring her with anyone, including the man before her.
Hearing Kang Xin's response, Han LiTian no longer tried to persuade her.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at his meticulously crafted garden. It had taken him a long time to build all this, and now all he wanted was to watch the children grow up quietly.
"Kang Xin, take good care of HuMing," he finally said, offering a faint smile before leaving.
Kang Xin stood silently, watching Han LiTian's retreating figure.
In the end, she and HuMing would leave this place, but when they met again, what emotions would they face each other with?
The air conditioner hummed as HuMing, and Ye QiuXue sat together in a milk tea shop.
Ye QiuXue bit down on the straw, watching the milk tea slowly rise through it.
Meanwhile, HuMing propped his chin on one hand, staring blankly out the window.
The sunlight streamed onto him, casting his profile into sharp relief in Ye QiuXue's view.
As she looked at him, Ye QiuXue suddenly realized that HuMing was actually quite the handsome guy. She, herself, was also mesmerized by a person's looks.
Blushing, she lowered her head, afraid HuMing might notice her reaction.
The reason she had invited him out today was mainly because she was feeling bored at home. In the past, she would have been busy revising documents instead.
But after HuMing had mentioned the importance of balancing work and relaxation, she decided to spend an entire afternoon out.
"Hey, where is your hometown, President?" HuMing suddenly asked, startling Ye QiuXue.
Though she had shared some details about herself, she hadn't told HuMing where her hometown was.
"W-Why do you want to know?"
"Oh, no particular reason. I just thought since we have so much free time during the summer, maybe we could go together and make a little trip out of it."
HuMing's words left Ye QiuXue momentarily stunned, but then she remembered what her grandmother had said.
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she clenched her teeth, whispering,
"No way!"