Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 31 Separation is for Reunion (Please read, recommend, and do anything!)

A mix of emotions—surprise, confusion, and sadness—swirled in Gu Xiao's heart, eventually giving way to a sense of relief.

He said speechlessly, "So that's all you were going to say?"

Liu Yifei's eyes widened, tears welling up, and she asked, aggrieved, "What do you mean?"

Gu Xiao felt extremely uncomfortable with her tearful appearance.

He comforted me, saying, "You're going back to New York to finish your studies, right? The sooner you go, the sooner you'll come back."

Liu Yifei was stunned for a moment, blinking her still watery eyes.

"Yes, I'm just going back to New York to study and take care of some family matters. It's not like I'm never coming back." Liu Yifei's face turned bright red, and she felt so ashamed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Gu Xiao found it both amusing and speechless at her belated realization.

He picked up a napkin and handed it to her, his tone softening slightly: "When are you leaving? Have you booked your plane ticket?"

My flight is at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Liu Yifei took the napkin, quickly wiped her eyes, and said in a clear voice, "Mom has already arranged everything."

Gu Xiao nodded and replied naturally, "In that case, I won't see you off. Have a safe trip."

"no!"

Liu Yifei immediately retorted, her cheeks puffed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "You have to come and see me off!"

Gu Xiao was somewhat resistant, muttering under her breath, "Everything's already arranged, why would I go?"

The girl's eyes widened. "What did you say?!"

Gu Xiao shrank back and wisely changed her mind, "I'll go, I'll go."

Seeing that he had given in, Liu Yifei gave a satisfied hum, slightly raising her chin to reveal her slender, fair neck.

Suddenly remembering something, she added, "Remember to bring Xiao Jiu with you! It's been so long, it'll miss me!"

Gu Xiao's hoodie pocket twitched, and a small head popped out.

Xiao Jiu blinked and called out softly in Liu Yifei's direction, indicating her agreement.

Gu Xiao patted its head and said nothing more.

……

……

The next morning.

At the entrance of a luxurious European-style villa, Gu Xiao, dressed in a black cotton coat and wrapped in a thick dark blue scarf, shivered in the cold wind, her arms wrapped around her chest.

"Damn Liu Yifei! I shouldn't have agreed!"

He muttered under his breath, his breath instantly condensing in the cold air.

As a southerner, he simply couldn't understand such an absurd temperature difference.

Xiao Jiu peeked out from her collar with her fluffy little head, her bright black eyes curiously surveying the unfamiliar garden covered in frost flowers.

When a cold wind blew by, it squinted its eyes contentedly, looking completely relaxed.

Just then, the villa's ornate iron gate slowly opened.

Liu Xiaoli came out wearing a neatly tailored beige long down jacket and pushing two suitcases.

She saw Gu Xiao, whose cheeks were red from the cold, standing at the doorway. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle smile.
"Xiao Gu? Why are you here so early? Do you want some breakfast?"

Just as Gu Xiao was about to wave her hand in refusal, a cheerful figure darted out from behind Liu Xiaoli.

Liu Yifei wore a short white cotton jacket with a white knitted hat topped with a fluffy pom-pom, which made her look even more charming.

When she saw Gu Xiao, her eyes lit up instantly, and she ran to him:
"You're really punctual!"

Her gaze was quickly drawn to the little head peeking out of Gu Xiao's collar, and she excitedly pointed out, "Xiao Jiu! Good morning!"

Xiao Jiu called out softly, pushed off with his hind legs, and nimbly leaped up to grab the girl's outstretched index finger.

Liu Yifei was so excited that she held her breath and quickly used her other hand to carefully protect herself.

Xiao Jiu rolled around in her warm palm, its fluffy tail brushing against her tiger's mouth, bringing a slight tickle.

"Haha, I knew it wouldn't want to leave me!"

Liu Yifei looked up at Gu Xiao excitedly, her eyes filled with undisguised joy.

Gu Xiao glanced at the lecherous squirrel with disdain, then turned her head away, deciding to avoid seeing it altogether.

Liu Xiaoli smiled and shook her head, then turned to arrange for the luggage to be loaded onto the vehicle.

Liu Yifei lowered her head and gently stroked the downy fur on Xiao Jiu's back with her fingertips, speaking softly:
"Xiao Jiu, I'm leaving now to go to school in a faraway place. You have to be good, listen to Gu Xiao, and don't be picky about food, okay?" Gu Xiao couldn't help but complain, "It eats like crazy every day, and it's still picky about food."

"Shut up!" Liu Yifei glared at him, then looked down and continued nagging at Xiao Jiu.

Gu Xiao sighed softly, thinking that women were really troublesome.

Just as he was about to help Liu Xiaoli move her luggage, he suddenly felt something in his arms. Looking down, he saw it was a beautifully packaged blue box.

He hesitated for a moment, then declined, saying, "There's no need to be so polite."

"It's nothing valuable."

Liu Yifei turned her face away, her ears slightly red, "You can look at it after I leave."

Gu Xiao remained silent for a moment, then put the box away and nodded slightly.

The driver had already arranged the luggage in the trunk. Liu Xiaoli opened the car door and said softly to her daughter:
"Sisi, it's time to go."

Liu Yifei's smile faded slightly. She handed Xiao Jiu to Gu Xiao's shoulder and whispered, "Take good care of it."

Gu Xiao responded.

"Remember to call me!"

"know."

"Remember to prepare well for your interview!"

"understood."

Liu Xiaoli urged softly from the side, "If we don't leave now, there will be a traffic jam on the highway."

Liu Yifei bit her lower lip, turned around and got into the car, waving vigorously through the car window.

Gu Xiao waved back, watching the black sedan slowly drive away from the villa area and eventually disappear around the street corner.

A cold wind swirled up a few withered leaves, which brushed past the cuffs of my trousers.

Gu Xiao rubbed Xiao Jiu's head and turned to blend into the sparse crowd of people in the early morning.

After walking a few steps, he finally couldn't resist and sat down on a bench by the roadside, carefully unwrapping the farewell gift.

Inside the box lay a dark blue fountain pen, its clip adorned with delicate star and moon engravings.

There was a note underneath, with the girl's neat handwriting on it:
Wishing the superstar all the best for the future.

—Liu Yifei

In the bottom right corner of the note, there was a small, smiling squirrel drawn in pencil.

Gu Xiao stared at the simple squirrel drawing and thought to herself that the drawing skills were really not very good.

……

……

At eight o'clock, Gu Xiao returned to her room, shivering with cold.

He put the pen in his desk drawer, took off his cotton-padded coat, and collapsed into bed as if relieved.

Sending someone to the airport took a lot of his energy, and now all he wants to do is take a nap.

Just as his consciousness was fading and he was about to drift off to sleep, a piercing buzzing sound pulled him back to his senses.

It's my phone ringing.

Gu Xiao impatiently fumbled for her phone, and an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

Without thinking, he hung up immediately.

The world returned to silence, and he breathed a sigh of relief, pulling the blanket tighter around himself again.

But less than ten seconds later, the buzzing sound filled the room again.

An unnamed anger suddenly flared up.

Gu Xiao angrily grabbed her phone, pressed the answer button with her thumb, and was about to yell at someone when she suddenly heard an unexpected voice:

"Gu Xiao? It's me, Huo Xuan!"

Gu Xiao's sleepiness and anger were instantly dispelled, and she abruptly sat up in bed.

On the other end of the phone, Huo Xuan said in a light tone:

"Could you come to the school for a visit? Producer You is looking for you!"

(End of this chapter)