### Chapter 2: Homebound
Seeing Xia Yu peering around like a lost puppy, Zhao Wei couldn’t help but lightly tap her head: “Brat, what are you doing? Do you even want to go home?”
“Of course I do! You really can take me home? No tricks?” Xia Yu was still a bit skeptical about these black-clad folks due to their harsh display of violence earlier.
“Absolutely, hop in! And lucky you, you met my Young Lady. Otherwise, who knows when you’d get out of here.”
“Young Lady?”
“Yeah, just hop in the car. But don’t babble nonsense, okay?” Zhao Wei leaned in and whispered playfully, completely dropping her serious façade.
Seeing this, Xia Yu could only nod. She wouldn’t blurt anything if Zhao Wei hadn’t been chatting with her nonstop.
So, Xia Yu got into a black sedan with Zhao Wei, naturally, Zhao Wei being the driver, and Xia Yu the passenger in the front seat.
Through the rearview mirror, Xia Yu saw a girl in the backseat. Not dumb, she figured this girl must be the Young Lady of the black-clad bunch.
Though she didn’t understand why Zhao Wei had her ride in the same car as their Young Lady, Xia Yu dared not ask. She simply wished they wouldn’t deceive her and actually take her home.
“Team One follow me, escort the Young Lady home,” said Zhao Wei into a walkie-talkie before she started the car and embarked on their journey.
Hearing Zhao Wei’s command, six black cars started up—three in front scouting, three behind guarding.
Fresh from that oversized ward, Xia Yu found everything outside utterly intriguing, though she got a bit bored after gazing at the countryside for too long.
Perhaps feeling drained from constant tension, Xia Yu fell asleep.
Seeing this, Zhao Wei didn’t wake her and continued driving.
Nightfall came, and one of the black cars drove into Xia Family Village. It halted in a relatively open space within.
“Xia Yu, wake up. You’re home.”
Indeed, it was Zhao Wei’s car but now it held only them two—it was because the Young Lady had gone ahead first.
Why did Zhao Wei know Xia Yu’s name? During lunch break, Xia Yu had told her. Then, feeling queasy, Xia Yu fell back asleep.
Since the Young Lady wasn’t there, neither were the accompanying cars. No need for a massive entourage anymore.
Dazedly waking up, Xia Yu saw it was truly Xia Family Village—Zhao Wei hadn’t lied; she genuinely brought her back home.
“Well…thanks, Zhao Wei sister.”
Polite girl that she was, Xia Yu knew to thank Zhao Wei for her assistance, even if she was clueless as to why Zhao Wei helped her—better safe than sorry.
“Mm, head home now, take care on the way. Sister’s gotta hit the road too.”
Zhao Wei patted Xia Yu’s head, pressed the gas pedal, and the black sedan left Xia Family Village.
Watching the taillights disappear, Xia Yu turned and walked toward her house, following her memory.
Arriving at her gate, she gently opened it to see her entire family inside having dinner. Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Old Brother, and Little Sister—none missing.
Turns out, Xia Yu went missing just as summer began. Six months later, as winter approached, working parents returned home.
