In the afternoon, as soon as Xinyan finished her class, she left the teaching building. After greeting Jiang Peiqin, asking her to help take the textbooks back to the dorm, she headed straight to the school gate.
Along the way, she found a secluded spot to take her handbag out from the space. After making sure everything was safe, she took a different route to the gate.
Once she exited the school gate, she saw He Jinxuan standing next to a Jeep not far away.
She couldn’t help but smile and jogged over to him.
He Jinxuan saw her carrying a handbag and quickly stepped forward to take it from her.
Xinyan muttered, "If I had known, I would’ve left the bag at home for you to pick up. I dragged it around all the way."
He Jinxuan grasped her hand, carefully looked it over, and then seeing Xinyan’s expression, he knew she did it on purpose. He indulged her, saying, "Well, remember for next time, I’ll pick it up myself."
He placed the handbag in the back seat and then opened the passenger door for Xinyan. "Get in."
When he sat in the driver’s seat, he said, "Yanyan, let me explain how to start the car now."
Xinyan looked at him with a playful smile, "Already starting the lesson."
He Jinxuan smiled, "With your quick mind, you’ll remember it as soon as I teach you. Just observe today, and this weekend I’ll find a big area for practice. With your smarts, you’ll probably learn in half a day."
Xinyan couldn’t quite believe it, he sounded more confident than she felt, but she didn’t burst his bubble.
Having the experience of driving a shuttle in a past life, she should learn quickly, so she watched carefully from starting the engine, shifting gears, starting, and driving on the road.
Of course, He Jinxuan explained everything in detail. Thus, the time passed in teaching and learning, and they soon arrived at the research institute.
They couldn’t enter the research institute, but the residential area nearby allowed entry after registering.
Xinyan and He Jinxuan had both been there before, and the guard remembered them, allowing them entry after a simple registration.
He Jinxuan drove to the courtyard assigned to Ye Liyan. Seeing the gate was locked, he knew Ye Liyan wouldn’t be home at this time.
Xinyan looked at her wristwatch, "Let’s go straight to kindergarten and pick up the two little ones; they’ll be surprised."
He Jinxuan saw the little girl’s eyes light up as she spoke and dotingly replied, "Okay."
They got out of the car and headed towards the kindergarten at the research institute. On the way, there were other parents also heading to pick up their kids, with many people observing them.
One elderly lady kept watching them, "Are you two here to pick up kids too?"
He Jinxuan showed a righteous expression and didn’t respond, while Xinyan smiled politely, "Yes, we’re here to pick up our nephews."
The lady glanced at He Jinxuan beside Xinyan and, seeing no displeasure on his face, continued to ask, "Are you also from the research institute? I haven’t seen you before."
Xinyan shook her head, "No, we’re just visiting relatives."
She didn’t elaborate more but instead asked the lady, "Ma’am, what time does the kindergarten finish?"
This was the lady’s expertise; she quickly gave Xinyan the rundown of the times from morning to evening and then, with a gossipy expression, asked, "Who are you here to pick up?"
Xinyan didn’t hide it, "We’re here for Ye Silai and Ye Liyan."
The lady’s eyes lit up instantly, "What relation are you to Comrade Ye?"
Hearing this, it was clear the lady knew Ye Liyan. Xinyan looked up at He Jinxuan, and upon seeing him nod, she replied, "That’s our cousin-in-law."
The lady glanced around, then peeked into the kindergarten, and said in a low voice, "You probably don’t know, but Teacher Miao from the kindergarten seems to have her eyes on Comrade Ye, constantly finding excuses to get close to him.
Even after Comrade Ye rejected her, she shamelessly went to his house, scaring Comrade Ye so much he didn’t dare open his door."
Xinyan had a schadenfreude-filled smile and feigned surprise, "Really, and then what happened?"
The lady, seeing Xinyan’s interest, became even more enthusiastic, "You don’t know; Comrade Ye went one better. The next day, he reported to the higher-ups, and the research institute sent someone to talk to Teacher Miao, making her promise not to harass Comrade Ye anymore."
Thinking of something, she added mysteriously, "And Comrade Ye even contacted the kindergarten to have his little son moved out of Teacher Miao’s class."
Xinyan maintained her smile, "When did this happen?"
The lady thought for a moment, "It’s been over a month, I think."
She then pointed to the side, and the three of them took a few steps over. She whispered, "You seem trustworthy, so I’ll share a bit more. You should remind Comrade Ye too, just in case.
Teacher Miao’s uncle works in logistics at the research institute and is said to dote on his niece. A few days ago, my daughter-in-law heard him promising Teacher Miao that he’d help her."
She finished with a knowing look at them.