Chen Xinyi was unlike Yun Jian. She had all the dreamy aspirations a teenage girl would have while Yun Jian's life experiences had long destroyed her youthful fantasies.

After they left the school and walked a stretch of their route shoulder to shoulder, because Chen Xinyi's house and Dong Ruan's house were in the same direction, they had to part ways shortly. All along their way, though, Chen Xinyi was humming a tune.

When they came to the intersection where they would go separate ways, Chen Xinyi skipped two steps toward the direction home before turning back to Yun Jian like she suddenly remembered something.

With her hands behind her, Chen Xinyi tilted her head looking like a guileless young girl to ask Yun Jian, "Xiao Jian, are you free tomorrow night? If you are, go to the audition with me. Heh heh, I won't be scared about it when you're there!"

Happy about the turn of events, Chen Xinyi was still currently in her merry little bubble.

To be honest, Chen Xinyi thought that she had gotten the opportunity thanks to Yun Jian. If Zhao Zhengmin was not attracted by the latter and came looking for her at the school, she would not have had the chance to be seen by the talent scout.

"Our family's hosting a dinner tomorrow." Yun Jian wore a small smile.

Ge Junjian had mentioned last week that he was buying his comrades a meal on Saturday and had already booked the restaurant and tables. There was no way Yun Jian would be absent as the man was going to become her stepfather soon. Ge Junjian himself had repeatedly reminded them to be back for dinner as well.

"Oh… I see." Chen Xinyi was a little disappointed but she waved the mobile phone in her hand nonetheless and grinned at Yun Jian mirthfully. "It's okay. Jianjian, believe me, I'll be fine alone too!"

Chen Xinyi then flaunted her biceps—even though she had none visible.

Yun Jian smiled at that.

"I'll get going then. Talk to you at night," Chen Xinyi said as she waved at Yun Jian and patted her pants pocket where her phone was kept.

Chen Xinyi and Zhang Shaofeng's families were affluent households in Longmen City, so it was not a wonder that they had mobile phones. When Chen Xinyi had found out that Yun Jian had one as well, she had asked the latter for her number and frequently contacted her through the phone.

"Okay." Yun Jian nodded.

…

Once Yun Jian returned home, she saw Lan Su who helped Ya Dang back from outside punctually.

"Where's my mom?" she asked them out of habit.

"Aunty went to the market to do her shopping."

Lan Su was walking back slowly supporting Ya Dang and was still mulling over the methods of serving others that Mo Sen had told her recently.

Si Yi had taken Mo Sen back to An Hun Group with him but the latter was worried about Lan Su's support when Ya Dang did his recuperating walk, so he had picked a time for Lan Su to practice holding Ya Dang.

Lan Su was intimidated by Mo Sen's stern expression but everyone knew that the latter was only doing so for the sake of Ya Dang.

"Mn." Yun Jian nodded and entered the house to drop her bag. She was still not doing her homework from school as usual. It was non-existent in her eyes and since her grades were excellent, the teachers could only turn a blind eye even if she did not hand in her work.

Qin Yirou was not back yet when it was already 5:30pm.

Yun Jian was restless, planning to go out and look for her, when she bumped into her brother, Yun Yi, who walked in with a shoulder bag just as she went downstairs.

"Xiao Jian, where's mom?" Yun Yi asked Yun Jian without missing a beat.

"Lan Su said that she went to the market for her shopping. I'm going to look for her," Yun Jian replied.

Little Yun Zhu and the girls were already picked up and sent home by Qin Yirou a long time ago. The kindergarten dismissed early, so the woman had probably picked up the kids before going to the market.

"I just came back from the market. Why didn't I see her?" Yun Yi frowned the moment he heard what Yun Jian said.