Yuan Xi was determined to distract Huo Yao, so she failed to notice the latter’s actions. She simply asked. “Do you mind?”
Huo Yao let go of Yuan Xi’s wrist without saying a word. She looked in the same direction as Yuan Xi and saw two people standing in the corridor.
It was quite a coincidence since she happened to know both of them.
Huo Yao raised her brow but veered her eyes. She looked at Yuan Xi and asked. “How are you related to Yuan Huan?”
Yuan Xi’s pupils shrank. She responded rhetorically. “Do you know him?”
“I am working on a research project for the department and Yuan Huan was invited to guide us,” explained Huo Yao briefly.
From the looks of it, Huo Yao and Wang Jing were talking about her older brother.
Yuan Xi watched as Yuan Huan walked over. She paused and replied softly. “He is my older brother.”
Huo Yao had already guessed this. She glanced at Yuan Xi thoughtfully. “Are you not close?”
Yuan Xi pursed her lips and said, “We are half-siblings.”
Since they only shared the same father, it was normal for them to have a slightly strained relationship. This was common when single parents remarried.
Huo Yao nodded without probing further.
Yuan Huan walked over. Yuan Xi instinctively took a couple of steps back and stood in front of Huo Yao. She looked at Yuan Huan and asked. “What are you doing here?”
Yuan Huan seemed accustomed to his little sister’s defensiveness. He looked at her and said gently, “I called you, but you didn’t answer.”
Yuan Xi frowned. She was certain that Yuan Huan must have seen her text messages, but she made no mention of it. Instead, she said, “My phone was on silent mode, so I may have missed it. Why did you want to see me?”
Yuan Huan glanced at Yuan Xi mildly.
Yuan Xi instantly sensed chills running down her spine. She felt so uncomfortable that she had trouble talking. No matter how she tried, she could not bring herself to continue speaking.
Yuan Huan looked at Huo Yao and smiled courteously. “Hi, Huo Yao.”
Huo Yao was completely calm. She nodded politely and greeted him. “Hello, Mr. Yuan.” “I didn’t realize you were friends with Xi.” Yuan Huan sounded rather surprised.
Yuan Xi squeezed her hands slightly and felt even more annoyed.
Huo Yao acknowledged. “Uh huh.”
Yuan Huan pursed his lips and did not continue chatting with Huo Yao. He looked at Yuan Xi and said, “Come home tonight.”
“I’ll pass.” Yuan Xi automatically wanted to oppose him.
“It’s Dad’s birthday today,” said Yuan Huan.
Yuan Xi was caught by surprise.
“I will wait for you at the entrance after school, so come out the moment your classes are over.” Yuan Huan nodded to Huo Yao. He waved to Mu Qing standing nearby without giving Yuan Xi the chance to respond to him.
Mu Qing came over. Since he was acquainted with Huo Yao, he glanced at her and nodded politely. Then, he left with Yuan Huan.
Yuan Xi snapped out of her thoughts, relaxed, and stopped squeezing her hands. She finally realized that there was sweat on her palms.
Yuan Xi exhaled. She quickly raised her head and looked at Huo Yao solemnly. “Try to avoid my older brother if you can. He isn’t as nice as he seems on the surface.”
“Uh huh. Got it,” acknowledged Huo Yao. “Do you still want me to get the stuff for you?”
“What stuff?” Yuan Xi was caught by surprise and did not know what Huo Yao meant.
Huo Yao raised her brow and headed toward the classroom.
