10. Try to connect basketball with chickens_2

"You really have the flair, you should consider going into movies, Xiao Huan~"

Yan Huan then smiled at Ye Lan and immediately reached out to tap on Yan Huan's head, chiding,

"But this is just a keychain, how could it possibly warrant wasting so much manpower."

Yan Huan covered her head, dodging Ye Lan's light mock punch,

"So, it's just a plot from a novel... but Auntie, you're almost like those CEOs in the stories who wouldn't blink at millions, willing to spend time looking for a cheap keychain—isn't that essentially the same?"

Ye Lan's smile deepened; she reached out to ruffle Yan Huan's hair, yet it didn't get messy,

"Shiyu rarely loses things; she won't be careless unless someone else has touched them. Although it seems troublesome, this kind of thing hasn't happened many times. And you might have noticed, besides dolls, her favorite thing is jellyfish."

"Right, but we also checked the surveillance just now, and there were no strangers approaching her bag."

"Yeah, so that's what's so strange about this time... Maybe she did really overlook it and leave it at the Oceanarium? However, I wouldn't bother others with this kind of thing."

Ye Lan, with a smile, patted her head and said to Yan Huan,

"The thing she lost is important to her; it's [her thing] with her name on it. I know that something with her name on it can't simply be replaced by buying a new one, but that's only for me and her.

"To others, it's just a cheap keychain.

"I'm willing to come back and help her search because I'm her mother, therefore I hold her special things in special regard too, a kind of special that money can't measure, plus I had no other plans tonight anyway.

"How could I possibly expect others to come running on a weekend night, busy over this sort of thing... So, Xiao Huan, I'm really sorry to trouble you to come and search with us so late."

Yan Huan didn't really mind; returning late might even help her avoid being ambushed by Ye Shiyu's hypnosis.

The temperature around them seemed to grow warmer at the moment, perhaps due to Ye Lan's smile just then.

"No wonder, just now that driver, Mr. Liu, offered to help and you declined."

"Yes, she was only supposed to drop us off and then her shift would end. She should rest once it's time to clock off, so let's take a cab home later~"

Considering today is the weekend, that driver must be paid overtime just for bringing Ye Lan in the morning and picking her up in the evening; no need to be on standby all day to get a full day's overtime salary...

For some reason, hearing Ye Lan speak this way, Yan Huan suddenly felt a bit tearful.

Maybe it's because in her previous life, she died of overwork, and now hearing a leader who wouldn't assign tasks after hours, she momentarily felt regret for not meeting sooner.

"Auntie, I will definitely work under you if given the chance."

Moved by the conversation, Yan Huan suddenly spoke earnestly.

Would the auntie not disdain, glad to be... a leader?

"Hahaha..."

Ye Lan couldn't help but laugh again at Yan Huan's serious manner, affectionately mess up her hair, and said,

"Well, with Xiao Huan's talents, that shouldn't be difficult, but you'll have to make sure not to regret it later~ Because while I'm lenient in that aspect, for others... hehe."

"..."

Seeing Ye Lan's suddenly mischievous smile, Yan Huan wondered if perhaps she had spoken too soon.

But she's only in her first year of high school; it's not yet time for urgent career decisions, and pondering various future life paths is okay.

Kind of like "Grandma, Grandpa, when I grow up I want to be an astronaut."

As Ye Lan was ruffling Yan Huan's hair, Ye Shiyu came down the escalator with an impassive face and not looking too good.

Obviously, her search turned up empty.

Seeing this, Yan Huan got up and took the initiative to suggest,

"Sister Shiyu, shall I go up and look for it again?"

Ye Shiyu glanced at her, then her gaze shifted slightly to Ye Lan who was rubbing her feet.

Her mother had been walking in heels all day, and they had already repeated the search many times.

And after all, it's just a keychain, though she quite liked it, even if she lost it, giving it to someone else...

At that thought, Ye Shiyu's brow suddenly furrowed slightly, not knowing why such an odd thought sprang to mind.

It was a weak thought, fleeting, even though she usually cherished everything she owned.

In the past, Ye Shiyu had lost things but refrained from searching further to be considerate of her mother...

But!

She had never experienced a diminishing desire for treasured possessions; instead, she would feel more regretful after losing them...

Now, because of that sudden thought that popped into her mind, her complexion turned extremely cold and angry, as if feeling nauseated.

The phone in her hand suddenly lit up, the glow strangely deep and captivating in her palm.

Yan Huan raised an eyebrow.

Is this anger?

All because of not finding that keychain?

But why would the modifier light up? Who's she going to hypnotize when she can't find her stuff?

Seeing Ye Shiyu's grim expression, Ye Lan put her heels back on, fastened the straps, and stood up,

"We have twenty more minutes before the mall closes, why don't Xiao Huan and I accompany you for another search?"

Ye Shiyu's icy expression softened slightly upon hearing her mother's gentle voice, then she shook her head and said,