23: Chapter 23: Do I still need to personally chase after them?

A message came back quickly from the other side: [What time? How many people?]

Xu Wanning checked and replied: [Six including me. My grandparents, my mom, my Second Aunt, and my younger brother. We arrive at 10 PM.]

[Understood.] Lu Chengyue's messages were always this brief. Had she not been used to it in her past life, she would have certainly thought he had no interest in her.

"Sis, are you in a relationship?" Xu Yu had leaned over the sofa at some point and seen the chat content.

Xu Wanning didn't try to hide it. "I'm currently pursuing him."

Xu Yu's eyes widened. "You're so beautiful, and you still need to personally pursue someone?!"

He adored his sister; every time she came back, he would have her pick him up from school just so he could show her off.

Such a beautiful sister actually needed to pursue someone? Did that guy have a problem with his aesthetics, or did he just not like women at all?

Xu Wanning gave him a light tap. "No one is liked by everyone, and I'm no exception. There are surely many who dislike me. However, as for him, he probably just isn't ready yet."

Xu Yu hopped over the back of the sofa and sat next to Xu Wanning. "Understood. He's insecure. He feels he's not good enough for someone as beautiful, charming, and highly educated as you."

Xu Wanning didn't quite understand where Lu Chengyue's insecurity stemmed from. After all, he was a Firefighter—a Firefighter worthy of everyone's respect. She really liked him.

"Regardless of the reason, just wish your sister luck in successfully pursuing your future brother-in-law."

She pulled Xu Yu up. "Come on, help Grandpa and Grandma to the airport. We have to go, or we'll miss the flight."

Over there, Lin Wanqiu and Qin Qingru were still talking about how Lin Wandong and Zheng Cheng's family were subhuman. They all knew how well Lin Wanqiu had treated that family over the years; they never expected to raise such a family of ungrateful wolves.

"Mom, Second Aunt, alright, alright. Hurry up and pack; we need to head to the airport."

The things here could be moved a few days later. Xu Wanning only packed the items from her room and the very important documents her mother mentioned. They left the remaining furniture for now, since her father and second uncle still had to stay here for seven days.

The two brothers, Xu Jingan and Xu Jingping, drove them to the airport. When it was time to leave, Lin Wanqiu and Qin Qingru hugged their respective husbands and cried miserably. They originally didn't want to leave, but they were afraid that staying behind would only hold the men back.

When the boarding announcement sounded, Xu Wanning hugged her dad and second uncle. "You two stay safe. I'll come pick you up next Saturday. If the cargo ship arrives early, call me, and I'll come sooner."

She had originally wanted to take her dad and second uncle with them first and then fly back in a few days, but the two brothers refused.

Especially since the second uncle's house needed to be sold; the title couldn't be transferred if he wasn't there. Furthermore, he didn't plan on selling it to a good person, as he didn't want a good person to suffer a loss.

The two brothers stood at the boarding gate watching them get on the plane. Then they turned and walked out; they still had very important business to attend to.

Since the Zheng family dared to plot against the Xu family like this, just making them pay a financial price wouldn't be enough.

After all the commotion, Xu Wanning fell asleep as soon as she boarded the plane and slept until it landed.

The group traveled light, so they got off the plane more briskly than others. Outside, the sky was already pitch black.

Lin Wanqiu was worried that there would be few cars at night and it would be hard to get a taxi. "Ningning, have you booked a car?"

Xu Yu held his chin high. "Does my sister even need to book a taxi? Someone is coming to pick us up personally."

Lin Wanqiu looked at her daughter in surprise. She hadn't heard her daughter mention having a boyfriend?

Xu Wanning gave a shy smile. "A friend is coming to pick us up. Let's go out; he should be here by now."

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Lu Chengyue waiting there. His height was so conspicuous it was hard to miss him.

Xu Yu pointed in Lu Chengyue's direction. "Holy crap, Sis, that big brother has a great physique. I wish I had a body as good as his."

He didn't envy the height—he was already 185cm and only 17, so he would surely grow more. It was mainly the physique.

"You can have it too if you train more." Xu Wanning knew he was simply admiring him and didn't realize that was the person coming to pick them up.

She stared at Lu Chengyue, unable to get enough of the sight.

Lu Chengyue also saw her immediately. He watched her as she walked out step by step. Even though they had just met yesterday, he felt as if they had been apart for a long time. He... he wanted to hug her.

"Brother, why are you standing there like a statue? Didn't you see Ningning and the others coming over?"

Lu Zhiyu bumped into her brother. She felt that Ningning hadn't seen her just now surely because her brother's large frame was blocking her.

Lu Chengyue quickly went with Lu Zhiyu to wait at the exit. Xu Wanning kept her eyes on Lu Chengyue until Lu Zhiyu rushed over and hugged her. "Ningning, welcome back."

"Uh..." When did Zhiyu get here? Why didn't she see her just now? "Why did you come to pick me up too? It's so late."

She had asked Zhiyu's brother to pick them up but hadn't told Zhiyu. Now that she had come anyway, would she be upset?

Lu Chengyue walked over and first greeted Xu Wanning's family. "Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, Second Aunt, Little Brother."

He then peeled Lu Zhiyu away from Xu Wanning's embrace and looked at Wanning tenderly. "It's getting late, let's get you settled first."

"Okay." Xu Wanning nodded. "Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Second Aunt, Little Brother, this is my best friend Lu Zhiyu, and this is her brother."

Xu Wanning's grandparents were very pleased with Lu Chengyue, looking at him with immense kindness.

Qin Qingru also looked at him with great fondness. "Oh my, this young man is so handsome. Such height, such muscles—he gives off such a sense of security."

Lin Wanqiu echoed, "Yes, yes, he's really quite remarkable."

Xu Yu's expression turned gloomy. His sister had been unusually shy just now; could this guy be the man she liked?

He had been admiring the man's physique moments ago, but upon realizing his sister's different attitude toward him, he immediately became like a puppy whose bone had been snatched, baring his teeth.

Lu Chengyue was a bit flustered by the praise; he had never been complimented like this to his face before.

Lu Zhiyu took a step into the middle. "What about me? What about me? Am I not good?"

Qin Qingru quickly praised her, "How could that be? You're a beautiful girl and so well-spoken. You're wonderful."

Lu Zhiyu was satisfied and giggled. She familiarly went over to support the two elders. "Grandpa, Grandma, let me help you."

Xu Wanning walked forward, naturally leaning toward Lu Chengyue's side, wanting to walk side-by-side with him. Lu Chengyue was quite cooperative.

Just as the two were about to touch, Xu Yu stepped forward and wedged himself between them, nearly knocking Xu Wanning over.

He looked at Lu Chengyue with a face of feigned innocence. "Big Brother Lu, how did you train to get this physique? Teach me."

Lu Chengyue saw Xu Wanning stumble and subconsciously reached out to catch her. Seeing her steady herself, he withdrew his hand. "We have physical training at the station. If you want to train, I can teach you."

Xu Yu blinked. "Station? Are you in the military?"

Lu Chengyue shook his head. "Firefighter."

"A Firefighter!" Xu Yu's eyes lit up. "Haha, that's so cool." Firefighters were great; he had previously thought about applying to be a Firefighter if he didn't get into university. It was too cool.

He pulled Xu Wanning back. "Sis, he came all this way specifically to pick us up. You should talk to him more."