Five years later.

Ji Xiao finished the last stroke, stretched his waist back, and let out a long sigh of relief, finally getting off work.

Her colleagues had already left work, and she was almost the only one left on the entire floor. Just about to get up. The boss walked up to her and handed her a cup of milk tea: "How about having a meal together?" ”

"No, Evelyn is still waiting for me at home."

Ji Xiao politely refused.

The boss shrugged: "Then I'll send you back." ”

Ji Xiao still wanted to refuse, but the boss raised his index finger on his lips: "Shh, it's so late, you don't want Evelyn to wait for you too long, right?" ”

"That, thank you."

Ji Xiao was a little embarrassed.

She lives in a bachelor apartment not far from the company and arrives in a short time.

The boss also opened the car door and came out, and said with a smile, "Don't you invite me to go up and sit down?" ”

"Uh, of course."

In the corridor, there were only dim voice-activated lights, and Ji Xiao walked in front, and from time to time he turned back to remind him: "The railing here is broken." Be careful. ”

"Well, Miss Ji, this place you live in is very chic."

The boss is Chinese, and the Chinese is not very good, Ji Xiao turned his head. smiled and said, "Boss, you can call me Ji Xiao directly." ”

“no,no,no。 I don't like you to call me boss, isn't there a word in China, called fellow countryman? We're fellow countrymen, and usually, you can just call me Allen. ”

Allen is the owner of the future design company, and when she joined the design company three years ago, Allen sat in the middle of the three interviewers and asked her frequent questions.

And Ji Xiao behaved calmly and confidently, Alan glanced at her appreciatively and said, "You can go back and wait for the notice." ”

At that time, she didn't have much impression of this blonde boy with black eyes, and entered the company. When others told her that Alan was the boss of the future design company, Ji Xiao paid more attention to him.

Alan looked to be in his twenties, his blonde hair showed his European blood in his blood, he had a high nose typical of Europeans, cool lips, but black eyes, and it was much later that she learned from the small talk of her colleagues in the company that Alan was of Chinese descent and mixed race.

Ji Xiao took out the key, and as soon as the key was inserted into the keyhole, the door opened from the inside, and Evelyn rushed out of it and threw herself into her arms: "Mommy." You're a little bit later than yesterday. ”

Ji Xiao hugged Evelyn and apologized with a smile: "I'll try to be as early as possible tomorrow." ”

"Oh, you say, a liar's nose grows."

Evelyn smiled and pinched Ji Xiao's nose.

Alan stood behind Ji Xiao and greeted the little guy: "Hi, Evelyn." ”

"Mommy, who is this person?"

Evelyn looked at him with wide eyes.

Ji Xiao put her down, and suddenly didn't know how to introduce Alan to his daughter, saying that he was an uncle, and he seemed to be younger, brother, it didn't seem right.

"My name is Allen, and I'm a friend of your mother."

Alan introduced himself with a smile.

"Are you here to play with me?"

Alan was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Hmm."

Evelyn happily threw herself at him, "Great, what are you going to play?" ”

Ji Xiao was on the side, and she couldn't even interject to speak, Alan smiled and raised her eyebrows, and was dragged into their small room by Evelyn.

The room is not big, but it is very clean and warm, and you can see stuffed bears everywhere, Evelyn excitedly pulled Alan and introduced: "Alan, these are all gifts from my mother, I like them so much." ”

Ji Xiao actually felt very guilty in her heart, she was usually very busy, and she didn't have much time to accompany Evelyn, so she only called some part-time workers to come and accompany her, she told Evelyn that those were specially come to play with her, and the children believed it.

When Alan left, he smiled and hugged Evelyn goodbye: "Evelyn, I have to go." ”

Evelyn reluctantly looked at the neck holding Alan: "Can you still come and play with me?" ”

"I'll have to ask your mom about that."

"Mom, can Alan still come to our house?"

Looking at Evelyn's expectant look, Ji Xiao couldn't bear to hurt her, so she had to nod: "As long as Evelyn likes it, it's okay." ”

"Hmm!"

With Evelyn, Ji Xiao and Alan have a lot more opportunities to contact than before, and Alan even allowed Ji Xiao to take Evelyn into the company.

After a long time, it is inevitable that someone will say something.

Ji Xiao didn't want to pay attention to these gossips, but when she came out of the pantry that day, she actually heard Evelyn crying, Ji Xiao walked over, hugged her, and asked distressedly, "What's wrong?" Is there something uncomfortable? Tell Mommy. ”

Evelyn wiped her tears and hugged Ji Xiao's neck: "Mommy, is Evelyn really a wild child?" I don't want to be a wild child. ”

"Who told you?"

Ji Xiao frowned.

Evelyn pointed to the girl standing there, Ji Xiao looked in the direction that Evelyn pointed, the girl was an employee recruited in the same batch as her, but now she is still a small staff, usually, she stumbles with Ji Xiao, and Ji Xiao doesn't bother to pay attention to her.

This time, Ji Xiao walked up to her with Evelyn in her arms: "What did you say to Evelyn just now, can you say it again?" ”

The girl was talking and laughing with other colleagues, and when she heard Ji Xiao ask her, she turned her head and looked at her disdainfully: "What can I do?" But it's only been three years to sit in the position of the head of the design department, everyone has long eyes, and I see it, what do I say? ”

"This one you're holding, who knows where it came from, maybe, with the company..."

"Smack!"

Ji Xiao slapped her unceremoniously, she had been in California for five years, she didn't want to have conflicts with others, here she and Evelyn depended on each other, she knew how to be kind to others, Evelyn's life would be better, but this does not mean that she would let others bully unscrupulously.

The girl covered her face and looked at Ji Xiao incredulously: "You, you dare to hit me?" ”

Ji Xiao looked at her coldly: "No one here can point fingers at my children, don't think it's good to hide those things you did yourself, that loophole in Franks, do you think no one knows?" ”

The girl's face changed instantly, and she pointed at Evelyn: "Don't listen to her, look at the child in her arms, if it wasn't the boss's, would the boss allow her to bring the company?" ”

Evelyn cried even more, she hugged Ji Xiao's neck even tighter, Ji Xiao simply threw out a few photos and put them in front of her: "Over the years, you have embarrassed me a lot, I don't want to break it, do you really think I'm a sick cat?" ”

Ji Xiao's eyes swept sharply over every colleague present, she would never allow her children to be insulted like this.

When the girl saw those unbearable photos, she just wanted to rush towards Ji Xiao with her teeth torn her teeth, but Alan came in, looked at everyone around, and asked a little strangely, "What are you doing?" Have a party? "Shang Shi Jin blood.

Ji Xiao hugged Evelyn and walked up to Alan: "Alan, I have something to tell you." ”

Alan looked at Evelyn, who was crying while holding Ji Xiao's neck, took her hand and asked, "Evelyn, what's wrong?" Why are you crying? ”

Evelyn snorted and pointed to the girl just now: "That auntie, she said that Evelyn is a wild child, she is bad." ”

Evelyn looks like a doll, very cute, crying at this time, many people feel distressed when they see it, Alan glanced at the girl, turned around, and looked at Ji Xiao: "Follow me to the office." ”

As soon as the door closed, Alan immediately changed his appearance, hugged Evelyn from Ji Xiao's hand, and comforted her with a smile: "Who said that we Evelyn are wild children, so cute, how can they be wild children." ”

Alan wiped her tears: "Okay, don't cry, it's not good to cry, it's okay not to cry?" ”

Evelyn stopped crying and sat down in Alan's arms.

"What's the matter?"

Alan turned his head and looked at Ji Xiao.

"Alan, I'm resigning."

Ji Xiao calmly spit out this sentence. It was not easy to find a job in California, and her previous accident at Jing's was an indelible stain, but even so, she decided to leave here, and now, Evelyn is the most important thing to her.

"Why?"

Alan raised an eyebrow.

"Evelyn is still young, and I can't let her be hurt like she is today."

"Then there's no need to resign, can't you just let Jessica go?"

"No, I've decided to leave anyway."

Ji Xiao rejected Allen's proposal, after such a fuss, what Jessica said is estimated to have spread throughout the company, Evelyn has long been used to coming to the company with herself, Evelyn is still young, she can't let her be hurt like this and other people's fingers.

"Can't it be changed?"

"Hmm."

"In this way, our company is going to open a branch in China recently, and there is a shortage of a director of the design department, you see, do you want to go?"

"Where?"

"Jingzhou."

Hearing these two words, Ji Xiao was subconsciously stunned, although time has passed five years, but everything five years ago seems to be still vivid, five years ago, she escaped from everything without hesitation, and now...

"No, thank you."

Ji Xiao shook his head and refused.

The days when you don't go to work are very warm and beautiful, especially when you can accompany Evelyn, Ji Xiao took her to the amusement park, it is summer in California, the vegetation on the roadside is lush, and there is a fragrance in the air, Ji Xiao has fallen in love with the summer in California since he came here.

She took Evelyn by the hand and asked with a smile, "Are you happy?" ”

"Well, Mom played with me, and Evelyn was the happiest."

There is a children's playground in this playground, and when Evelyn goes to play by herself, Ji Xiao walks aside to rest.

When I got home, the landlady came with a letter, it was from Jingzhou, and her address in California was unknown to anyone, except...

Ji Xiao sighed in his heart, and opened the letterhead, the words in it were very brief, saying that Ji Lingling was critically ill and needed her to go back. Ji Xiao softened almost instantly, Evelyn looked at Ji Xiao who was suddenly sitting at the door, and asked, "Mommy, what's wrong with you?" ”

"Baby, we need to go back."

"Where are you going?"

Evelyn's eyes flickered, with an innocent brilliance, Ji Xiao hugged her tightly, and her voice was soft and weak: "Go back to China, my mother's hometown." ”

Ji Xiao booked the ticket that afternoon, when the plane took off from California, Evelyn was very excited, she clapped her hands, looked at the white clouds outside the window, and happily said to her: "Mommy, such beautiful white clouds, like a fairy tale world." ”

Ji Xiao patted her: "Evelyn, Mommy is very tired, can you rest for a while?" ”

Evelyn obediently did it and stopped making a fuss.

The plane crossed the day line and entered the night, Ji Xiao wore an eye patch, she felt unusually uncomfortable, the panic and fear in her heart passed for a while, she went back, what was waiting for her If it was a bad result, what should she do?

With apprehension all the way, Ji Xiao got off the plane exhausted.

Kyungju greeted her with a storm.

The sky was thundering, Evelyn hugged Ji Xiao's neck tightly, she was a little scared: "Mommy, I'm afraid." ”

Ji Xiao patted her on the back: "Don't be afraid, Mommy is holding you." ”

She took out her mobile phone and tried to make a call, after changing her number in California, she hadn't contacted anyone in Beijing for five years, and she was a little nervous holding her phone, maybe, this number wouldn't work...

pressed the dial button, and soon there was a beep of connection, Ji Xiaoji breathed a sigh of relief, and after a while, her phone was picked up, and a familiar voice came out of the phone: "Hey, hello, who are you looking for?" ”

Ji Xiao breathed a long sigh of relief before he spoke to the phone: "Feel free, it's me, I'm back." ”

"Ji Xiao?!"

The voice from the mobile phone suddenly increased several tones, and Xu Suixin said incredulously, "You're back?" When did you get back? Where are you now? ”

After a long absence, Xu casually nagged greetings, and a smile appeared on her face: "I'm at Jingzhou Airport, can you come and pick me up?" ”

"Wait, I'll be over right away."

Xu Suixin hung up the phone, thinking that he was going to drive.

Ji Xiao sat in the lobby of the airport with Evelyn in her arms, this place has too many memories of her, five years have passed, and it is still the same place, except for the new business, it has basically not changed much.

Evelyn watched the people come and go curiously, and shared her findings with Ji Xiao in surprise: "Mommy, the people here all look the same as us." ”

Her big eyes flickered, staring at the crowd coming and going, this was China, and it was the first time Evelyn had seen so many people with black hair and yellow skin like her.

Ji Xiao patted her little head, just smiled, and didn't talk to her. Outside the airport hall, the torrential rain poured down, and the rumbling thunder was heard from time to time in the sky, and the summer in Jingzhou welcomed her return in such a straightforward and rough way.

Xu Suixin came quickly, she almost recognized Ji Xiao sitting in the airport hall at a glance, Xu Suixin rushed over and hugged her: "You dead girl, you have been gone for five years and there is no news at all, you are really ruthless, I don't know until I come back." ”

Ji Xiao hugged Xu Suixin tightly, five years have passed, she has changed a lot, her originally straight black hair has been permed and curled, and it has been dyed golden color, Ji Xiao is almost unrecognizable.

Evelyn pulled Ji Xiao's clothes and asked her, "Mommy, who is this aunt?" ”

Mommy?!

Xu Suixin let go of Ji Xiao, and looked at the little dot standing next to Ji Xiao incredulously, she looked at Evelyn incredulously: "Child, what did you just call her?" ”

"Mommy."

Evelyn looked at Xu Suixin's wide-eyed eyes suspiciously, and hid behind Ji Xiao with some fear.

Xu Suixin opened his mouth for a long time before pointing at Ji Xiao: "You, you, you, are you married in California?" ”

Ji Xiao shook his head.

"And how did this kid come about?"

Ji Xiao smiled at Xu casually: "This matter, wait for me to tell you slowly, what about you?" Married? Now that I'm back, where are you, where do I live? ”

"Marriage or not, didn't I tell you a long time ago? The place where I live is where you live, and besides, you're not married yet, how can I run ahead of you, let's go. ”

Xu Suixin still lives on the top floor of that café, but the difference is that after five years of struggle, she bought this place from the landlord, including the next door.

Ji Xiao patted Xu Suixin's shoulder: "It's okay, Boss Xu, but I haven't seen him for five years, and now I'm so powerful." ”

Xu Suixin smiled: "Don't say that, where do I have such a great ability, someone else bought it." ”

"Who?"

Ji Xiao was interested, and looked at Xu Suixin with ambiguous eyes.

Maybe it's when it comes to love, no matter what kind of girl she used to be, she was a little shy, and Xu Suixin was a little evasive: "Oh, don't ask." ”

Ji Xiao waved his hand: "Okay, I won't ask." ”

"Xiaoxiao, if you come back this time, you won't leave, right?"

At night, after coaxing Evelyn to sleep, Ji Xiao walked into the living room alone, and Xu came out of another room and asked her.

Ji Xiao shook his head and said, "I don't know either." ”

She came back this time because of Ji Lingling's illness, she called the prison just now, and said that Ji Lingling had turned around and had returned to the prison. In California, the letter from the landlady sent her a month ago, and she was in a hurry and didn't pay attention to the time.

If she leaves, what danger will happen to Ji Lingling, maybe just like now, she will be separated from her mother forever, but if she stays...

Ji Xiao hasn't thought about it yet, after all, the city has brought her too much pain, and every grass and tree is an injury.

Xu Suixin patted her on the shoulder: "Xiaoxiao, don't go anymore, my aunt is old, and she almost didn't go last month... I tried a lot of methods, and even went to find Jing Moxian, but I still couldn't contact you..."

Jing Mo Xian?

These three words were like a thunderclap on the ground, and Ji Xiao's heart sank: "Did you really go to him?" ”

"Hmm."

Xu Suixin nodded, and said with a somewhat evasive face: "Moreover, the medical expenses for my aunt's hospitalization are all paid by Jing Moxian, you know that I can't make much money in this small café..."

"My mother's hospitalization fee was paid by Jing Moxian?"

Ji Xiao looked at Xu Suixin incredulously.

Xu Suixin nodded a little weakly, she also knew that she shouldn't accept his help, but at that time, the situation was urgent, and she didn't have a good way.

"Xiaoxiao, I'm sorry, but the situation was really urgent at that time, and it would be too late for her aunt to treat her."

Xu casually tried his best to explain, not wanting Ji Xiao to misunderstand anything.

She also knew how much damage the Jing family had done with Ji Xiao, and if it wasn't a last resort, she would also stop Jing Moxian.

Ji Xiao patted Xu Suixin's shoulder and said with a smile: "You did the right thing, I don't blame you, but I will definitely pay back this money." ”

After speaking, Ji Xiao took out a card from her bag and handed it to Xu Suixin: "This, it's my savings in the past five years, it's not much, I know it's not enough, you can help me return it to him." ”

"Xiaoxiao, you..."

Xu Suixin looked at her, and finally nodded in compromise: "Okay, you really haven't changed at all, you're still so strong." ”

Ji Xiao smiled and didn't speak, there was nothing wrong with being so strong, but she had so much money on her, and before she found a job, she needed to borrow Xu Suixin's place.

Rao is embarrassed to be like this, Ji Xiao still feels that this is too much better.

When she first arrived in California, she realized how difficult it was to live alone, she needed to find a house, find a job, and take care of the child in her womb, life was very difficult.

Now, at least there's a place for their mother and daughter to stay, isn't there?

The next day, Ji Xiao took Evelyn to prison, and Ji Lingling, who could have been released from prison a long time ago, was extended to the present because she made another mistake in prison.

Five years have passed, all her hair has turned gray, and her face has lost its brilliance, and even when she saw Ji Xiao through a glass, she stared carefully for a while before recognizing her.

Ji Xiao picked up the phone on the table with some trembling and shouted softly: "Mom." ”

Ji Lingling's voice was old: "Hey." ”

When the mother and daughter met, they suddenly didn't know what to say, five years, how terrible time is, maybe it is reflected in such a detail, facing the old mother, Ji Xiao didn't know what to start with.

In the end, I had to pick up Evelyn and introduce her with a smile: "Mom, this is my daughter, named Evelyn." ”

"Evelyn, Grandma."

"Grandma is good."

Evelyn's little milk voice reached Ji Lingling's ears through the earpiece, and she looked at Ji Xiao in surprise: "Are you married?" Where did you get married? When did it happen? ”

Ji Xiao shook his head: "No, Mom, I'm not married, I just have a child." ”

She said it frankly and didn't want to hide it from her.

Ji Lingling's eyes dimmed, and after a long time, she sighed: "You are like me, you are also a hard-working person." ”

The time for the visit is limited, most of the time, the mother and daughter are watching each other in silence, coming out of the prison, Evelyn pulled Ji Xiao's sleeve suspiciously: "Mom, why does grandma live behind the wall?" Why can't we go in and see her? ”

A child who is only four and a half years old and doesn't know what a prison is, Ji Xiao can't bear to hurt her young heart, and says with a smile: "Because grandma is old, I feel at ease living behind the wall." ”

Evelyn didn't seem to understand.

As long as the mother is okay, she can rest assured for the time being.

Next, she needs to look for a job, if she lives alone in Xu Suixin's place, it will be a little inconvenient for Evelyn.

Ji Xiao picked up Evelyn and strode away.

The experience of working abroad is a very advantageous condition, however, the past Jing's water landslide has followed her like a shadow, and every time, when the company sees this, it will choose to refuse her.

Therefore, when Xinyang Design Company called her and informed her that she could go to work, Ji Xiao's excitement was beyond words.

On the first day of work, she entrusted Evelyn to Xu Suixin, put on formal clothes, and went to Xinyang Design Company to report.

Ji Xiao didn't expect to meet acquaintances here who he hadn't seen for a long time.

Seeing him, Ji Xiao was stunned for a moment, but still shouted: "Senior brother, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

Shen Zhiyuan looked at her and smiled warmly: "It's been a long time, Xiaoxiao." ”

Then Ji Xiao knew that Shen Zhiyuan was the CEO of this design company, she thought about it, and handed her resignation to Shen Zhiyuan in the afternoon.

Shen Zhiyuan raised his head from a pile of design drawings, looked at Ji Xiao, and was a little puzzled: "Xiaoxiao, what's wrong?" ”

"Senior brother, I don't think I can accept your charity, I want to resign."

She pointed to the resignation letter placed in front of Shen Zhiyuan.

"Xiaoxiao, I didn't hire you for charity, I know your talent best, and besides, I don't have the final say on hiring you alone, it was decided by the board of directors."

Shen Zhiyuan clasped his hands and put them on the table.

Ji Xiao shook his head: "Senior brother, don't persuade me anymore, I just came to tell you in person that I am going to resign." ”

"Can you tell me why?"

Shen Zhiyuan looked at her, Ji Xiao's appearance made him quickly understand that this was not just as simple as charity, there were more important things, and he didn't know.

Ji Xiao shook his head: "Senior brother, let's not mention the past, let's go." ”

Ji Xiao turned around, ignored Shen Zhiyuan's voice, packed up her own things, and left here.

From finding a job to losing her job, in less than half a day, she is probably a wonderful flower in the workplace.

Ji Xiao calmly left here from the surprised eyes of his colleagues.

When taking a taxi on the side of the road, Shen Zhiyuan still chased him out: "Xiaoxiao, tell me, what happened?" Otherwise, I won't let you out of here. ”

There was firmness in his eyes.

Ji Xiao silently stood away from him and pursed his lips: "Senior brother, five years ago, the collapse accident was your ulterior motive or my mistake, we know it, we don't need to find out anymore, right?" ”

With that, she turned and got into the taxi.

Shen Zhiyuan stood on the side of the road, thoughtful, and did not say anything more.

She had no way to work under Shen Zhiyuan, the senior brother she used to trust and admire so much, actually used her. Ji Xiao will never be able to accept this, even if five years have passed.

She returned to Xu Suixin a little tired, Xu Suixin's café had just started to open, and when she came back, she asked strangely: "Xiaoxiao, what kind of job did you find this?" Leaving work so early? ”

Ji Xiao sat on the sofa next to him and closed his eyes: "I resigned." ”

"What?"

Xu Suixin put down the coffee for the guest and ran to her: "Didn't you just get a job?" Why did you quit? ”

"Don't ask, let me be quiet, okay?"

Xu Suixin looked at Ji Xiao's tired face, so he didn't say anything anymore, and patted her on the shoulder: "Forget it, if you don't work, you won't work, sisters, support you." ”

Ji Xiao let out a light "um".

However, having said that, how can she live here all the time, there is not much money left in her hand, and all the five-year savings have been given to Xu Suixin to pay back Jing Moxian, what should she and Evelyn do next, Ji Xiao is really at a loss.

It is also the road to the sky, when Ji Xiao was about to change careers to do some work that has nothing to do with design, he received a call from Allen, and his tone sounded a little blamed: "Ji Xiao, why didn't you tell me when you returned to Jingzhou?" ”

"I'm sorry Alan, I left in too much of a hurry."

"How's my little princess? Are you still adjusting to life in China? ”

Ji Xiao knew that he was asking Evelyn.

"Thank you so much for thinking about her, Evelyn is fine."

She fell asleep, hugging the heartwarming white that Eren had given her.

"That's good, Ji Xiao, since you have returned to Jingzhou, are you still interested in the branch I mentioned?"

"What did you say?"

Ji Xiao was a little excited, and his voice suddenly increased by a pitch.

Alan seemed to be taken aback for a long time before he spoke: "I'm just asking you if you're still interested in the branch." ”

"Yes, yes, has the branch been opened now?"

"Well, if you want to go to the design department, I'll call the people over there and go to work directly, and the salary will be calculated according to the head office, how about it?"

Ji Xiao didn't know what to say, Allen's phone call was like heaven to her at this moment.

"Great, Alan, thank you, I can go to work tomorrow."

"Ji Xiao, are you poor?"

Alan asked tentatively.

"yes, actually, I'm dying poor."

Ji Xiao was in a good mood and joked with him.

"Do you want to pay your salary in advance?"

"No, it's good that I have a job now."

Ji Xiao rejected Allen's offer.

She doesn't want to owe much to others.

put down the phone, Ji Xiao suddenly had a feeling that there was no way out, and the willows and flowers were bright and another village.

She straightened her clothes, lay down next to Evelyn, kissed her forehead, and fell asleep with her in her arms.

On the first day of the new company's report, Ji Xiao received a big order, Allen's excessive recommendation made Ji Xiao feel extremely pressured, and the company even directly handed over a recent very important list to her to deal with, the customer wants to build a villa, the requirements are very high, and the salary is also very objective, Ji Xiao gritted his teeth and agreed.

Steven, the director of the branch, smiled and patted her on the shoulder: "Alan is very sure of your work ability, Ji Xiao, this is the customer information, you can take it and familiarize yourself with it first." ”

"Hmm."

Ji Xiao walked back to his desk with the heavy information.

As soon as she turned the first page, Ji Xiao was stunned, a familiar name caught her eyes, but she didn't expect to meet the old man in the first business.