Chapter 281: Back to the City

“Mom!” Huang Caixing broke into a run and threw herself into Huang Xinyu’s arms.

Huang Xinyu held her tightly, stroking her wet hair before cupping her face to examine her closely. Only after confirming that Huang Caixing was unharmed did she let out a sigh of relief.

“Lin Xiao, Little Yu, are you both okay?” Huang Xinyu asked, her elegant face showing faint traces of fatigue as her gaze swept over Lin Xiao and Yuan Yu. “I heard about the sudden mudslide on Boulder Mountain and couldn’t reach you. I was so scared.”

Yuan Yu stood quietly beside Lin Xiao, holding his hand. She smiled softly and shook her head.

“We’re fine,” Yuan Yu said.

Seeing the exhaustion on Huang Xinyu’s face, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but feel apologetic.

“I wanted to call you yesterday, but there was no signal on the mountain. I’m sorry for making you worry,” he said.

“Why are you apologizing?” Huang Xinyu chided, shooting him a mild glare. “You don’t need to say sorry. If anything, I should thank you. I wasn’t overly worried because I knew you’d take care of them.”

From Huang Xinyu’s embrace, Huang Caixing looked up, her usual lively demeanor returning. “Mom, Big Brother Lin, why are you two being so polite? Aren’t we family?”

Huang Xinyu chuckled, patting her daughter’s head.

“You’re right. Lin Xiao, you all must be hungry. I brought some snacks, but there’s not much. Let me go get it.”

“Auntie Xinyu, let me do it,” Lin Xiao said, noticing her high heels, clearly impractical for walking in the rain.

He took the car keys from her hand and headed toward the car.

After a simple meal, Lin Xiao and Huang Xinyu drove away from Boulder Mountain, heading toward Jinghai City. Huang Xinyu followed Lin Xiao’s Cayenne in her car. After a few hours of driving, they reached the outskirts of Jinghai City. Although still some forty or fifty minutes from the city center, they had finally returned to civilization.

“Big Brother Lin, I’m still starving! Can we stop and eat first?” Huang Caixing asked from the back seat as they passed a small restaurant.

Earlier, Huang Xinyu had suggested that her daughter ride in her car, but Huang Caixing adamantly refused, insisting on staying with Lin Xiao.

Huang Xinyu could only sigh and lament, “Girls grow up and don’t listen to their mothers anymore.”

Lin Xiao’s stomach growled in agreement. The exertion from rescuing the girl during the mudslide and shattering the boulder had drained him, and he hadn’t eaten much since most of the food had gone to Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing, coupled with the sleepless night caring for Yuan Yu, even someone as physically capable as Lin Xiao felt the need for nourishment.

“Alright,” Lin Xiao agreed without hesitation, parking his mud-splattered Cayenne by the roadside. He waved at Huang Xinyu’s Ferrari, then led Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing into the small restaurant.

The restaurant was modest, occupying about thirty square meters. However, the tables and chairs were clean, and the floor was spotless.

Since it wasn’t mealtime, the place was empty save for two waitstaff napping at one of the tables.

“Waiter! Waiter!” Huang Caixing called loudly from the entrance.

Her crisp voice startled the waitstaff awake. A woman in her thirties quickly stood and came over.

“Little girl, how can I help you?”

“We’re hungry. Can we eat here?” Huang Caixing asked, rubbing her stomach.

“Sorry, we’re not serving food right now. It’s not mealtime, so the kitchen isn’t prepared yet,” the waitress replied apologetically.

Before Huang Caixing could protest further, Huang Xinyu walked in. Her refined demeanor, stunning appearance, and designer outfit stunned the waitress.

“Could you make an exception and prepare something for us?” Huang Xinyu asked with a gentle smile. “There aren’t any other restaurants nearby, and we’re willing to pay three times the normal price.”

The mention of triple the payment brightened the waitress’s expression. She quickly stepped aside.

“Of course! Please, come in.”

Watching this unfold, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but marvel at how money truly smoothed the way.

The group found a table and sat down. The waitress relayed their request to the chef and returned with a menu.

Before Lin Xiao could take it, Huang Xinyu spoke up. “There’s no need to order. Just prepare your best dishes, and quickly, please.”

“Understood! Right away!”

The waitress’s smile grew even brighter. Customers like Huang Xinyu—decisive, generous, and undemanding—were any restaurant’s favorite.

After the waitress left, Huang Xinyu pulled out a pristine white handkerchief and carefully wiped down the tableware for everyone. Her movements were both graceful and meticulous.

When she finished, she looked up and noticed Lin Xiao watching her with an odd expression. Her face flushed slightly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her tone tinged with playfulness.

“Nothing,” Lin Xiao said, averting his gaze.

It was clear to him that this was likely Huang Xinyu’s first time eating at a small restaurant like this. He couldn’t help but wonder how she had raised someone as carefree and down-to-earth as Huang Caixing.

Spurred by Huang Xinyu’s offer of extra payment, the kitchen worked quickly. Soon, several plates of steaming dishes were brought to the table.

Huang Caixing eagerly picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat, and stuffed it into her mouth—only to yelp in pain as the hot food burned her tongue.

“Little Yu, let’s eat,” Huang Xinyu said, picking up her chopsticks gracefully and placing a piece of vegetable in her bowl.

Turning to Lin Xiao, she added, “Eat as much as you can. I told the waitress to prepare extra because I know you have a big appetite.”

Yuan Yu nodded obediently and began eating. Her elegant mannerisms starkly contrasted with Huang Caixing’s lively energy. It was almost as if Yuan Yu were the true daughter of Huang Xinyu, while Huang Caixing was some wild child from elsewhere.

Lin Xiao felt a warm sensation in his chest from Huang Xinyu’s thoughtful intentions. Smiling, he filled a bowl with rice and began eating voraciously. Driven by hunger, he devoured his food with astonishing speed, far outpacing even Huang Caixing.

Huang Xinyu was momentarily stunned. A piece of vegetable slipped from her chopsticks into her bowl without her noticing.

“Auntie, Big Brother Lin is just really hungry,” Yuan Yu explained softly.

“I see,” Huang Xinyu replied, snapping out of her daze. Her eyes softened with a hint of pity. “Lin Xiao, slow down a bit. Don’t choke.”

About thirty minutes later, the group finished their meal. Lin Xiao said his goodbyes to Huang Caixing and Huang Xinyu before leaving with Yuan Yu.