Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Slapping the Fake Heiress 43
Anning held Xiao Yuanās backpack and looked into the small alley.
Just to see Xiao Yuan charging over like a cannonball, a punch made the boy reaching out to the little girl retreat several steps and sit down on the ground.
Xiao Yuan was like a lit firecracker, punching with every blow until finally, he kicked the leading boy down to the side.
Only after seeing all the vocational school boys lying on the ground did Anning leisurely walk over with the backpack.
The little girl probably got scared, with tears on her face, looking puzzled when she saw Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan took the backpack and slung it on his back, hands back in his pockets, and pulled Anning away.
After walking a few steps, he looked back at the little girl, "Arenāt you leaving? Do you want to stay here and continue to get bullied?"
The little girl came back to her senses.
She ran to catch up.
"I..."
Following behind Xiao Yuan, she opened her mouth but seemed at a loss for words.
After walking a bit further, she finally said softly, "Thank you."
Xiao Yuanās stride grew even larger.
Anning turned back and smiled at the little girl, "Iām Zhao Anning. Whatās your name?"
The little girl smiled back at Anning, "My name is Chen Keāer."
Xiao Yuan tugged at Anning, "Do you even know her and youāre just blabbering? Be careful, someone might sell you."
Anning chuckled softly.
Chen Keāer caught up with them, "What do you mean by that? How can you just sell someone like that? What have I done to you?"
Xiao Yuan raised his chin, "Nothing really, just donāt like you being a drag."
"Who are you calling a drag?" Chen Keāer, more irritated, gestured fiercely behind Xiao Yuan.
"Whoever should hear, heard it."
"You... why are you like this? So if my mom marries your dad, Iām a drag, but doesnāt that make you a drag too if your dad marries my mom?"
"Well, why are you guys living in my house."
"Like anyoneās eager for your house. If it wasnāt for my mom, I wouldnāt want to see you at all, always sulking as if someone owes you millions, whatās so great about you? Poor in studies, bad tempered, and not even good-looking..."
Xiao Yuan suddenly turned around, his face filled with anger, pointed at his handsome face, "Drag, you must have a problem with your eyesight, you call this face unattractive?"
Chen Keāer waved her fists, "Say ādragā again and Iāll sock you."
Anning laughed and pulled Chen Keāer away, saying to Xiao Yuan, "Letās find a place to eat, Iām starving."
Not much farther, they arrived at a small restaurant, and Xiao Yuan confidently led Anning and Chen Keāer inside, then found a quiet spot to sit down.
This was a beef noodle shop specializing in beef noodles along with some home-cooked dishes.
Anning was indeed hungry by then; she ordered a bowl of beef noodles and some stir-fried greens.
Xiao Yuan ordered a big bowl of beef noodles and took a bottle of juice, Chen Keāer only ordered a small bowl of noodles.
When the noodles were served, Anning started eating immediately, first biting into a piece of beef which was tender and chewy, extremely delicious, the umami flavor exploding in her mouth, nearly intoxicating. The noodles were hand-pulled and rough, chewy and smooth, combined with the delicious broth, it was a rare delicacy.
No wonder Xiao Yuan recommended this place.
Anning quickly made a mental note of the beef noodle restaurant, planning to come back after school another day.
Chen Keāer also enjoyed eating.
She ate quickly and finished almost half of her bowl in no time.
Anning said to Chen Keāer, "If thatās not enough, order another bowl."
Chen Keāer called the waiter over and ordered another bowl.
"Glutton."
Xiao Yuan didnāt lift his head, just threw out two words.
Chen Keāer rolled her eyes.
After she finished her bowl of noodles, she chatted with Anning with a smile.
Anning found that Chen Keāer was quite nice; she was a good talker, seemed to have a good temperament, and most importantly, she wasnāt petty.
All in all, Anning quite liked her.
After dinner, Chen Keāer earnestly said to Xiao Yuan, "Donāt always feel like my mom and I are mooching off your family. When my mom married your dad, his company wasnāt as big as it is now. She helped him a lot after marrying into your family. And, I donāt plan on taking over your familyās company. I have my own capabilities, plus what my dad left me, I can do whatever I want in the future without being tied down by your familyās company."
"Easy for you to say."
Xiao Yuan snorted coldly.
It was rare for Chen Keāer to be calm and collected: "Iām serious, stop acting like everyone owes you something. Over the years, my mom has been pretty good to you, preferring to inconvenience me rather than neglecting you in any way. She didnāt mind the harsh words you said to her, isnāt that enough? It wasnāt my mom who caused your momās death, so why do you always take issue with her?"
Anning actually thought Chen Keāer made a lot of sense.
Itās just that Xiao Yuan was somewhat unwilling to listen.
Chen Keāer could only sigh, not wanting to argue with Xiao Yuan any longer: "Anyway, Iāve said what I needed to say. Itās up to you whether you listen or not."
After a while, Chen Keāer still whispered: "Donāt always listen to what the folks from your grandfatherās side say, they donāt care about you that much."
Xiao Yuan frowned, looked at Chen Keāer a few times, but didnāt lose his temper.
Anning felt that Xiao Yuan actually understood, but it had been awkward for a long time, and there were some things he couldnāt let go of.
The three of them waited on the roadside for a moment, then Anningās driver came to pick her up.
Anning asked Chen Keāer how she was getting home, and Chen Keāer looked at Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan waved Anning off: "Never mind, Iāll take her."
Thatās when Anning left, smiling and saying goodbye to Chen Keāer.
After Anning left, Xiao Yuan coldly said to Chen Keāer, "Walk faster, stop dawdling."
As soon as Anning got home, Song Ruyi caught her to try on dresses. Song Ruyi had custom-made several dresses for Anning, and she had Anning try each one on.
Eventually, Song Ruyi decided to keep all the dresses, but chose a white puffy short skirt for Anning to wear at her birthday party.
After trying on the dresses, Zhao Han also came back, and the family sat down for dinner together.
After dinner, Zhao Han called Anning to his study.
In Zhao Hanās study, there were two computers; he asked Anning to use one: "Try attacking our companyās firewall, see how it holds up."
Anning agreed and sat in front of the computer to start attacking the database of Zhao Group.
About ten minutes later, Anning turned to Zhao Han and said, "Dad, your... how should I put this, itās kind of fragile. Give me a couple of days, Iāll build you a better one."
"You can do that?"
Zhao Han was somewhat skeptical.
Anning assured him confidently: "I can do it, definitely better than what you guys are using now."
"Well then."
Anning twirled her fingers.
Zhao Han understood: "Donāt worry, you wonāt lose out."
Anning smiled, satisfied.