Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Slapping the Fake Heiress 43
Anning held Xiao Yuan’s 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, "Aren’t 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 Yuan’s stride grew even larger.
Anning turned back and smiled at the little girl, "I’m Zhao Anning. What’s your name?"
The little girl smiled back at Anning, "My name is Chen Ke’er."
Xiao Yuan tugged at Anning, "Do you even know her and you’re just blabbering? Be careful, someone might sell you."
Anning chuckled softly.
Chen Ke’er 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 don’t like you being a drag."
"Who are you calling a drag?" Chen Ke’er, 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, I’m a drag, but doesn’t that make you a drag too if your dad marries my mom?"
"Well, why are you guys living in my house."
"Like anyone’s eager for your house. If it wasn’t for my mom, I wouldn’t want to see you at all, always sulking as if someone owes you millions, what’s 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 Ke’er waved her fists, "Say ’drag’ again and I’ll sock you."
Anning laughed and pulled Chen Ke’er away, saying to Xiao Yuan, "Let’s find a place to eat, I’m starving."
Not much farther, they arrived at a small restaurant, and Xiao Yuan confidently led Anning and Chen Ke’er 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 Ke’er 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 Ke’er also enjoyed eating.
She ate quickly and finished almost half of her bowl in no time.
Anning said to Chen Ke’er, "If that’s not enough, order another bowl."
Chen Ke’er called the waiter over and ordered another bowl.
"Glutton."
Xiao Yuan didn’t lift his head, just threw out two words.
Chen Ke’er rolled her eyes.
After she finished her bowl of noodles, she chatted with Anning with a smile.
Anning found that Chen Ke’er was quite nice; she was a good talker, seemed to have a good temperament, and most importantly, she wasn’t petty.
All in all, Anning quite liked her.
After dinner, Chen Ke’er earnestly said to Xiao Yuan, "Don’t always feel like my mom and I are mooching off your family. When my mom married your dad, his company wasn’t as big as it is now. She helped him a lot after marrying into your family. And, I don’t plan on taking over your family’s 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 family’s company."
"Easy for you to say."
Xiao Yuan snorted coldly.
It was rare for Chen Ke’er to be calm and collected: "I’m 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 didn’t mind the harsh words you said to her, isn’t that enough? It wasn’t my mom who caused your mom’s death, so why do you always take issue with her?"
Anning actually thought Chen Ke’er made a lot of sense.
It’s just that Xiao Yuan was somewhat unwilling to listen.
Chen Ke’er could only sigh, not wanting to argue with Xiao Yuan any longer: "Anyway, I’ve said what I needed to say. It’s up to you whether you listen or not."
After a while, Chen Ke’er still whispered: "Don’t always listen to what the folks from your grandfather’s side say, they don’t care about you that much."
Xiao Yuan frowned, looked at Chen Ke’er a few times, but didn’t 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 couldn’t let go of.
The three of them waited on the roadside for a moment, then Anning’s driver came to pick her up.
Anning asked Chen Ke’er how she was getting home, and Chen Ke’er looked at Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan waved Anning off: "Never mind, I’ll take her."
That’s when Anning left, smiling and saying goodbye to Chen Ke’er.
After Anning left, Xiao Yuan coldly said to Chen Ke’er, "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 Han’s study, there were two computers; he asked Anning to use one: "Try attacking our company’s 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, it’s kind of fragile. Give me a couple of days, I’ll 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: "Don’t worry, you won’t lose out."
Anning smiled, satisfied.