Just then, a middle-aged man in a silk robe and gold-rimmed glasses emerged from the study.
It was Su Guohua.
He froze when he saw Yue Xiaofei, then frowned, suspicion and scrutiny plain on his face.
"Hmph. So you're finally back."
Su Guohua pushed up his glasses, strolled over to the sofa, and sat down with his legs crossed.
"Kid, where have you been all this time? You disappeared without a word and wouldn't answer your phone. I thought you'd done something and gotten yourself arrested."
His voice was thick with sarcasm and doubt.
"Don't tell me you were off doing something worthwhile. What worthwhile thing could an unemployed drifter like you do?"
"Su Guohua! Shut your mouth!"
Jiang Lan flared up at once. "Xiaofei just got back. Why are you making snide remarks?"
"How am I being snide?"
Su Guohua looked indignant. "It's a reasonable suspicion! A grown man sneaks around acting all mysterious. Who knows what he's up to out there? What if he brings trouble down on our family?"
"Dad, that's enough!"
For once, Su Wanning spoke up for Yue Xiaofei. "Yue Xiaofei... he's not that kind of person."
Rebuked by both his wife and daughter, Su Guohua looked embarrassed. He gave a cold snort and fell silent, but distrust still filled his eyes.
Yue Xiaofei looked at the three of them, torn between laughter and exasperation.
He shook his head, walked over to Jiang Lan, and said softly, "Godmother, I'm sorry I worried you. Something urgent came up, and I had to go out of town. I lost my phone too, so I couldn't contact you."
"What matters is that you're safe. I'm just glad you're back."
Jiang Lan took his hand and drew him down beside her. She looked him over from head to toe