When she arrived, Wang Shu and the Zhao family were having dinner together, a scene of great happiness. Seeing Xiao Xiao beginning to get tired, Xia An said to Wang Shu, "Meatball, it's late, we should go."
"Of course, let's go," Wang Shu stood up and said to the Zhao family, "Xiao Xiao really troubled you all."
"It's nothing; we're family." Zhao Sijia smiled at Xia An and added, "Besides, Xiao Xiao is really well-behaved; she doesn't find it troublesome at all."
"Regardless, I still want to thank you," Xia An said with a smile. Zhao Nainai reminded her that she would go pick up Xiao Xiao the next morning, but Xia An refused and said to her, "Grandma Zhao, tomorrow… You don't need to come for Xiao Xiao; I've taken some leave and can take her myself."
"Leave? Why?" Before Zhao Nainai could ask, Wang Shu jumped in and asked Xia An, "Xia An, why didn't you tell me about your leave?"
"I just decided on it recently. On the way here, I called Ye Ziwen, and she agreed," Xia An said with a smile to Zhao Nainai.
"Thank you for all the trouble," Zhao Nainai smiled; although disappointed that Xiao Xiao wouldn't be there tomorrow, she didn't show it.
Xia An took Xiao Xiao's hand and left with Wang Shu. Wang Shu had wanted to ask Xia An about Lu Qichen but when they got into the car, Xia An said, "I'll take Xiao Xiao to sleep first; I'll find you later."
Wang Shu didn't say anything; she wasn't bothered by a brief wait.
Xia An bathed Xiao Xiao and waited until she was asleep before quietly leaving. She knocked on Wang Shu's door, sat tiredly on the sofa, and said, "I'm so exhausted."
"Taking care of Xiao Xiao alone must be tiring," Wang Shu closed the door, poured some red wine for Xia An, and asked, "Would you like to have a drink?"
"Sure." Xia An happily accepted. She hadn't drunk much alcohol in a long time; she needed to stay alert to look after Xiao Xiao.
"The presence of Xiao Qi made your life easier before, so you wouldn't feel tired. These days, with Xiao Qi not around and everything you had to do yourself, plus Xiao Xiao's illness, it's normal for you to feel exhausted," Wang Shu clinked her glass with Xia An's and continued, "You mustn't do anything that would make you sorry in front of Xiao Qi."
Xia An smiled and said, "Yes, Xiao Qi really helped me a lot. If not for him, I don't know how I would have gotten through these days."
The debt of gratitude towards Xiao Qi made Xia An feel troubled; she didn't know how to repay it.
"You should be grateful," Wang Shu half-jokingly said to Xia An, "Xiao Qi treated you very well. You can't do anything that would hurt him."