Ruthless Host and Her Little Darling Quick Transmigration

Chapter 218 Parkour Academy 18

A black sedan appeared in front of the Lanxiangyuan Villa. Xiao Ruochen opened the door and got out of the car. The swirling snowflakes quickly transformed him into a new look.

The driver unloaded the luggage from the car, Xiao Ruochen took the luggage, told the driver to go back, and walked into the villa alone.

Inside the villa, servants came and went busily, their work efficient and well-trained.

The old butler had been keeping an eye on the door since early morning, and immediately came to greet Xiao Ruochen when he saw him.

"Young Master, you're back! It's snowing outside, come inside quickly!"

The old butler reached out to take the luggage and warmly welcomed the young master home.

When Xiao Ruochen saw the old butler, a rare smile appeared on his face, and he obediently handed his luggage to the old butler.

"Grandpa Butler, how are you feeling? Do you like the clothes I sent back a few days ago?"

"I like it, I like it, but it's too expensive. I'm getting old, there's no need to buy such expensive clothes." Besides, the young master and young mistress will be unhappy when they find out.

Oh! Poor child!

The old butler sighed inwardly, but smiled outwardly. He talked about the changes and preparations at home, trying his best to provide warmth and comfort for the young master's family.

But the villa was empty. On the last day of the year, everyone was away, except for the busy servants preparing for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner. Perhaps only at the New Year's Eve dinner table could the family achieve a brief reunion. Where could warmth come from in such a home?

Xiao Ruochen's smile vanished, and he lowered his eyes, concealing all his emotions.

No matter how much I try to convince myself, I still have some hope.

However, this expectation ultimately turned into disappointment.

The old butler, observing the young master's expression, knew that the facade of a warm atmosphere he had maintained had been shattered. He immediately moved forward, trying to conceal the harsh reality so that the young master would only see his enthusiastic old face. "The head of the family knew you were coming back, so he ordered the room to be cleaned early this morning. The young mistress also had the kitchen add several of your favorite dishes, including steamed lion's head meatballs, braised crab, crispy pork tenderloin, and stir-fried bean sprouts with vinegar..." He left two dishes as if he had forgotten, not making it too obvious.

"Everyone still cares about you, they're just not good at expressing it."

Haha, not good at expressing yourself? You haven't expressed yourself at all, have you?

The old butler inwardly cursed himself.

You're the kind of person who says one thing and means another, and lies through your teeth.

The old butler lowered his head, overwhelmed with shame. He quickly escorted the young master back to his room, not daring to look at his face.

These two insincere words almost made the old butler die of shame on the spot.

What a good child! Every year she thinks of her old man. How could I possibly lie to her? How heartbroken she must be!

The old butler couldn't stay any longer, so he closed the door and left without stopping.

Xiao Ruochen wasn't as heartbroken as the old butler had imagined. He opened the wardrobe and quietly sorted his luggage. Then he took out his laptop and started typing away, researching and watching past interstellar competitions to prepare for the competition six months later.

After the start of the semester, the college will start dividing students into groups of five. They will then work together to get to know each other and will also find a deserted planet for practical training.

The more solid your knowledge is now, the greater your chances of winning the competition. After all, during a competition, your opponent won't give you time to look up information. As the saying goes, "A step ahead is a step ahead in everything." The difference in time can significantly increase your chances of winning.

Xiao Ruochen took notes as he read, then opened a drawer with his left hand, put some things into a teacup, poured in hot water, and soon a strange fragrance filled the room. He picked up the teacup and savored it. The tea was fragrant and lingered on his lips and teeth, and his supernatural abilities were slightly activated; it was a fine tea.

Time slips away silently, unnoticed.

As night fell, this unusually busy family finally had time to gather together.

Grandpa Xiao was very stern. He briefly inquired about Xiao Ruochen's studies, but didn't ask about anyone else. Xiao's mother didn't even bother to give him a glance.

Uncle Xiao remained as unrestrained as ever, completely disregarding the old man's displeasure.

Xiao's mother kept her head down, trying to minimize her presence, as if she wished she could disappear on the spot.

Mr. Xiao, calm down. You're more like Grandpa Xiao, steady and experienced. Your face remains expressionless as you sit there, perfectly composed.

When Grandpa Xiao left, he called Mr. Xiao away directly. No one knows what they talked about. Mr. Xiao stood up from his seat, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, he put his right hand on his wife's shoulder, then quickly moved away without looking at anyone or giving any hint.

The departure of the two seemed to unlock some heavy shackles. The atmosphere at the dinner table became noticeably lighter, but with the sound of Xiao's mother's chopsticks hitting the ground, the atmosphere began to take a strange turn again.

"Sister-in-law, how could you be so careless? Aunt Liu, bring another pair of chopsticks, the cleanest ones." She finished speaking and gave a cryptic laugh.

The color drained from Xiao's mother's face instantly. Her eyes were lowered, and her long eyelashes covered her eyelids, casting a shadow that made her face look clean and pure.

"Screech—" The chair scraped against the ground, making a piercing sound, breaking the eerie atmosphere.

Xiao's mother didn't look at him, and Xiao's uncle was fearless.

"I'm full." Xiao Ruochen couldn't stand it any longer, so he left the dining table and returned to his room.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the frustration in my heart, but I couldn't concentrate on the computer anymore.

Xiao Ruochen, stop being so pathetic, okay? She doesn't need you at all. You've already tried, why rip your heart out and let someone else trample on it?

Xiao Ruochen clenched and unclenched his fist on the table, finally letting out a helpless sigh. He closed his laptop, lay down on the bed, and stared blankly into space.

He wondered if men's and women's thoughts were truly so different? So different that they transcended the realm of humanity. As a fellow human being, Xiao Ruochen found it truly incomprehensible. What was his mother persisting in with this kind of life? What was there left to persist in?

If it's because of him, his mother doesn't seem to care much about him. To say she doesn't care... that's giving her too much credit. In fact, she seems to loathe her son. If it's because of love, Xiao Ruochen can only say that this strange love is utterly ridiculous; he doesn't understand it at all. But what is it for? Even living like this, she still refuses to leave.

Xiao Ruochen closed his slightly sore eyes, and a scene from his childhood unconsciously surfaced in his mind.

At the time, I only felt scared, but now I feel more and more disgusted.

Xiao Ruochen was only three years old then. He woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water, and the hallway was lit by a dim nightlight. Little Ruochen saw his uncle dragging and pulling his mother toward an unknown place; he was about to lose sight of them. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His uncle was terrifying then, like a monster hiding in the darkness. His mother, who was usually sharp-tongued, suddenly became vulnerable and even needed protection.

But Dad isn't home.

How to do?

Xiao Ruochen's legs felt weak, and he clenched his fists, trembling. For his mother! He encouraged himself in his heart and ran over.

"mom!"