“You’re asking about that,” Aunt Liu replied with a strained smile. She straightened the floral pattern on her apron before saying, “We only found out the next day that you were sealed inside the mine.”
“Ah!” Xia Qingtian suddenly understood, then apologized, “Did I scare you all?”
“I was alright, after all, it was the second day, and you were safe by then,” Aunt Liu said with a smile. “Your father and Qingyu were quite frightened though. Your father kept saying he shouldn’t have let you go. Qingyu was also stunned and cried for a while, afterwards she kept saying she should have gone to the capital with you. Seeing you now, she probably hasn’t recovered from the previous shock. Your father might be even more dramatic when he gets back tonight, so it’s best if you’re mentally prepared.”
Hearing Aunt Liu’s words, Xia Qingtian felt a warmth mixed with bitterness in her heart. This must be what having a family felt like.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Liu, for making you worry,” Xia Qingtian said, pressing her lips together apologetically.
“Silly girl, it’s normal to worry about you,” Aunt Liu smiled gently as she looked at Xia Qingtian. “Be more careful in the future, after all, there are many people who love you.”
Her heart felt as if it had been softly touched, and Xia Qingtian’s nose began to tingle. “I’m sorry.”
“I already said, there’s nothing to apologize for. That was an accident, and you don’t need to apologize for an accident. The one who should apologize for not protecting you…” Aunt Liu’s words were cut off by Xia Qingtian.
“It’s not about that,” Xia Qingtian felt she owed Aunt Liu a proper apology. For her past foolishness and stubbornness, for her former prejudice and excess. Her prickly self had trampled on the dignity of Aunt Liu and Xia Qingyu, hurting such gentle people with her recklessness.
“It’s in the past,” Aunt Liu understood Xia Qingtian’s meaning and smiled even more radiantly and gently. “We are family.”
“Yes, family,” Xia Qingtian nodded. She had a home, she had a family.
Leaving the living room, Xia Qingtian knocked on Xia Qingyu’s door. Xia Qingyu opened the door and saw Xia Qingtian standing there. Her eyes lit up, and then she asked with concern, “Why aren’t you sleeping? Aren’t you supposed to rest? Why aren’t you sleeping? Did you have a nightmare? Can’t sleep? Or…”
“I’m fine,” Xia Qingtian gently rubbed Xia Qingyu’s head. “I made you worry again, I’m sorry.”
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian’s words, Xia Qingyu first froze, then her eyes immediately welled up, and she pouted, “You know that now? You’re so incredibly stupid! You just went into the mine casually? Do you know how many mine accidents happen every year? Do you know how high the death rate is in mine accidents? Do you think you’re a cat spirit reincarnated? Do you think you have nine lives? Why does something always go wrong when you go out? Are you a pig! Can’t you use your brain more! I’m so angry! I hate you! Idiot! Big idiot!”
After a torrent of complaints, Xia Qingyu finally took a deep breath, feeling the heavy stone weighing on her heart disappear, and she felt much more relaxed. Xia Qingtian didn’t respond, just watched Xia Qingyu with a smile.
“Laugh, laugh! You just keep laughing! Really! How can you be a sister like this? You still have the nerve to laugh!” Xia Qingyu’s face turned red when she met Xia Qingtian’s smile. “If there’s a next time! I won’t talk to you!”
Seeing Xia Qingyu revert to her most familiar self, Xia Qingtian smiled even more brilliantly. “Hate! Don’t you dare laugh!”
…
Outside the Xia residence, a black private car was parked by the side gate. The rear window was open, and a delicate-looking youth leaned against the window frame, his gaze scrutinizing the building before him.
“Young Master.” The burly man beside him, dressed in a black suit, didn’t understand why the Young Master wanted to come here immediately after arriving in Z City. Was there something special about this place?
“Let’s go,” the delicate youth, now known as Nie Qingkong, withdrew his gaze. Soon, they would officially meet. That genius young girl who suddenly rose in the online stock market, we will meet soon. In this world, there aren’t many traders who can go head-to-head with him.
That evening, when Xia Qingtian saw her father, she clearly knew that Aunt Liu’s reminder had been very understated. Xia Honglang was first flustered, then started to nag, and finally his eyes turned red. Xia Qingtian comforted Xia Honglang for quite a while before his emotions stabilized.
“Dad, let’s look on the bright side. Holding that mine, we’re basically on equal footing with the Gu Corporation. They have the technology, we have the raw materials. This is true cooperation, and we won’t be controlled by others.” Xia Qingtian felt her mouth was sore from talking all night.
“Those are external possessions. I care more about your safety,” Xia Honglang said earnestly to Xia Qingtian. “Your safety is something that cannot be exchanged for anything.”
“Dad, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I!” Xia Qingtian spread her hands and spun twice in front of Xia Honglang.
“You see the present, I see your future. With your recklessness, how can I be at ease?” Xia Honglang said. “Forget it, you’ll just think I’m nagging if I say too much. My daughter has grown up and has her own ideas.”
Xia Qingtian could only press her lips together upon hearing this. A parent’s love for their child is indeed far-reaching. This is an eternal truth. Xia Qingtian could understand Xia Honglang’s feelings; she didn’t want to be buried in a mine either…
“You should rest for a few days. Come to the company for a formal meeting on Friday afternoon. All the candidates recommended by the directors will be gathered, and you can review them then. It’s also a chance to get acquainted,” Xia Honglang said.
“Okay, I understand,” Xia Qingtian replied. Those people were the ones she needed to guard against. Who knew which one was maliciously planted by the board of directors, aiming to seize power, or even to sabotage this project cooperation. After all, there were plenty of people who didn’t want to see the Xia family prosper. But it was fine; she would root out these scums one by one, pulling up the weeds along with the dirt, and drive them and their masterminds out of the Xia Corporation! Just then, Xia Qingtian’s phone rang. Xia Qingtian glanced at the caller ID, greeted Xia Honglang first, and then went outside to answer the call. “Hello?”
“Is this Miss Xia? I’m Er Ya’s third brother, Di San.” Di San’s voice came from the other end of the line. “The matter of Er Ya going to Z University is settled. Someone will pick her up from the Xia family at 6 AM tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“Alright.” Xia Qingtian felt a little surprised. Er Ya’s third brother was quite capable. Something she had no clue about, Di San had resolved so quickly. When Xia Qingtian relayed the information to Er Ya, Er Ya indifferently waved her hand and continued to pester Xia Shang. The next day, when Xia Qingtian saw Er Ya at the gate of Z University wearing a security guard uniform, Xia Qingtian felt like ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through her mind. Di San… arranged it like this…