Chapter 2013: Extra: A Brand New Life 128 Chapter 2013: Extra: A Brand New Life 128 Then, Mr. Xue’s voice came through, still tinged with a silly laugh, “Hehe, actually it’s nothing serious, but could you guys come back tomorrow? I have something I want to discuss in person, to get your opinions on it.”

Although his words were somewhat contradictory, Jiang Yue didn’t point it out. Instead, she shifted the phone to the other side so that her family’s Xue Yan could also hear.

Xue Yan said, “Let’s go back after dinner; tomorrow I have a few surgeries, and there’s one in the evening too, so I might get home very late. Dad, don’t wait up for us. If we get home before ten o’clock, we’ll come to your room to wake you up. If we don’t, just go to bed, and we can talk in the morning.” He also spoke into the phone.

“Okay. Okay,” Mr. Xue eagerly agreed, sounding very happy.

Xue Yan and Jiang Yue were both puzzled, not knowing why Mr. Xue was so joyful. He laughed foolishly more than once, which was rare for him.

But since Mr. Xue had said he wanted to talk in person, they didn’t ask and simply chatted a bit more before hanging up the phone.

As soon as they hung up, Zhou Ping, who was sitting closest to them, leaned over and chuckled, “What’s up with Uncle Xue? Even through the phone, I could feel his happiness.”

Xue Yan and Jiang Yue both shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.

They both had busy schedules at the hospital and research center, while Mr. Xue ran a busy company. Although they often dined and met up, they didn’t really have the time or energy to fully keep up with each other’s affairs.

Seeing them shake their heads, Zhou Ping opened his mouth to say something else, but just then, his phone rang. He grabbed it and then told them, “It’s my mom, not sure what’s up.”

As he spoke, Zhou Ping answered the call.

Mrs. Zhou’s voice immediately came through, “Where are you?”

“At a hotel private room having dinner. Yu Zi just won Best Actress, so of course, Si Yan had to treat us, so here we are. Xue Yan and the others are here too,” Zhou Ping said. “Mom, just get to the point, don’t make it feel like you’re checking up on me, okay? I’m grown up, it’s embarrassing if others hear you. Yao Xi always teases me about this.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Xi did not put down his wine glass, but rather bellowed back with a laugh, “Auntie, don’t listen to Zhou Ping. I never teased him about this, it’s just him despising you.”

His voice was especially loud as though worried Mrs. Zhou on the other end of the phone couldn’t hear.

Mrs. Zhou, having heard, laughed loudly, “He’s my son; how could I not know? Haha, Yao Xi, you guys have a good meal. I was just telling him, just because he took over the company doesn’t mean he’s free now. I’m still his mom and he still has to listen to what I say.”

Zhou Ping was very speechless, “Then, mother, if you have something to say, won’t I listen?”

Mrs. Zhou laughed even louder.

Everyone else in the private room laughed as well.

Mrs. Zhou said, “Remember how I told you a few days ago I found my dear friend? We were University classmates and real close back then. After graduation, her family had some trouble and they moved away, and we lost touch, but now I’ve found her again. Unfortunately, she’s sick with late-stage gastric cancer and doesn’t have long to live. She’s divorced, and has a daughter, who’s in her third year of high school, named Yao Yao, gearing up for the University entrance exam next year… It’s quite a tough situation. She was desperate when she reached out for help, wanting to entrust her daughter to me. If she left her daughter with her ex-husband, he’s already remarried and has other children…”