It’s not that she wasn’t resentful, but it was his silent gaze that made her uncomfortable.
"So, the little brother is back? How come you didn’t tell your big brother?" Huo Yi blatantly ignored Ye Ranran.
"I only arrived yesterday and didn’t have time. Besides, I thought you would be busy."
"Busy? You or me?" The look on Huo Yi’s face as he glanced at Jun Mochan and Ye Ranran was suggestive.
Ye Ranran scoffed, "Isn’t it normal for my husband to come see me first when he gets back? Or does big brother harbor inappropriate thoughts about my husband?"
Huo Yi’s forehead veins throbbed at her protective stance!
Once, she protected him that way, but now the person protected was Jun Mochan.
Huo Yi noticed that Jun Mochan really had an eye for identifying hidden treasures.
And he lurked around, waiting for an opportunity to snatch her away with all means.
Jun Mochan pinched Ye Ranran’s face, "How could you speak to your big brother like that? He just misses me, that’s all."
There was a tone of severity in his speech, but not a hint of blame. Instead, it was filled with indulgence.
"I understand, but big brother’s words were really misleading." Ye Ranran lowered her head.
"It’s okay, he’s not blaming you." Jun Mochan hugged Ye Ranran, looking at Huo Yi, "Ranran didn’t mean anything by what she said, big brother wouldn’t be so petty as to hold it against her, right?"
"Of course," Huo Yi accepted the outstretched saving grace easily.
Actually, he did not intend to embarrass Ye Ranran deliberately; he just wanted her to notice him.
But he didn’t know what approach to take.
Sweet words were disdainful to her; cold sarcasms didn’t affect her.
Only when it came to the people she cared about, would she raise her defenses and protect them with all her might.
"Once you’re back, have a seat. Dinner will be ready soon." Huo Yi mother came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup.
Xu Zi followed behind her, carrying a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes in her hands.
"I’ll do it. You go take a rest." Huo Yi’s mom took the dish from Xu Zi after putting down the soup.
"No need, mom, I can do it myself." Xu Zi smiled weakly but genuinely.
"Alright, just make sure you rest if you feel tired." His mother reminded her repeatedly.
Xu Zi nodded, "I know."
Ye Ranran didn’t want to see Xu Zi’s hypocritical smile. But she wouldn’t instigate a quarrel either.
So, she turned and walked out.
Jun Mochan didn’t ask for reasons but picked up the hat and scarf as reinforcement, following behind her silently.
"Do you feel wronged, Ranran?" Jun Mochan asked in a secluded moment.
Ye Ranran shook her head, "It’s not about being wronged or not. The thing is, seeing a person I dislike even once feels like a stain."
"Should I drive her away?"
"No need to. Mom quite likes her." Kick her out? That’d be letting her off easy. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to keep her around to have a tug of war with Huo Yi?
"Ranran, you’re still so considerate. But without her, Mom would like you." So he wouldn’t give Xu Zi any chance to turn things around.
But he didn’t plan on telling Ye Ranran all this.
He wrapped her in the scarf and hat, "Would you like to go for a walk?"
"I want to visit grandpa, your biological grandpa." Ye Ranran’s bright eyes stared at Jun Mochan.
"Okay." Jun Mochan gently clasped her hand and put it in his pocket.
Grandpa Huo lived in the old military zone, a distance from the Huo mansion that was neither too far nor close. Jun Mochan drove Ye Ranran there.
(Thank you Zhang Tiantian, Throbbing Excitement, Flourishing Romance, Endless Sorrow and Wenwen for your generosity, (*^__^*) hehe...)