A private estate, vast and magnificent, was nestled amidst verdant greenery in the western suburbs of the capital.
The French-style villa at the heart of the estate retained a profound sense of romance and an elegant, captivating aura.
From its majestic architecture to the exquisite details of its neo-classical design, it was evident that the owner possessed extraordinary taste and immense wealth.
Seated on a leather sofa in the grand hall, a young girl in athletic wear seemed out of place amidst the opulent surroundings, particularly her eyes, which blazed with anger.
“This tea is excellent,” remarked the man beside her. Dressed in casual English attire, his white hair tied back and gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, he exuded an air of refined gentleness. “You’ll like it.”
“If you gave me a knife, I’d like that more,” retorted the girl, Xia Qingyu, the younger sister who had gone missing during Xia Qingtian’s morning practice.
“You think you can kill me?” Xiang Xueyuan regarded Xia Qingyu with a faint smile.
“I admit there’s a gamble involved, but one of us, you or I, has to die,” Xia Qingyu stated coldly.
“Qingyu, you are my daughter. There’s no need for us to fall out so badly,” Xiang Xueyuan said, his gaze filled with helplessness, as if addressing a rebellious child.
“Is it too late now for you to regret having me?” Xia Qingyu raised an eyebrow. “Grandpa Xiang?”
The address, “Grandpa Xiang,” clearly enraged Xiang Xueyuan. His hands, resting on his knees, clenched into fists before he stood up and declared, “Tarik! Keep her company!”
With that, Xiang Xueyuan rose abruptly and departed, leaving behind a grim-faced Xia Qingyu and a visibly exasperated Tarik.
“Must you defy him like this?” Tarik sat down beside Xia Qingyu. “He’s been very good to you.”
“No normal person would be grateful for a demon’s charity,” Xia Qingyu said, her eyes fixed on Tarik, her voice chillingly cold.
“Then consider me abnormal,” Tarik replied. He pushed the cup of tea that Xiang Xueyuan had poured towards Xia Qingyu. “This tea is indeed good, try it.”
“The next time we meet, we’ll be enemies,” Xia Qingyu said, a slight smile playing on her lips. “You said that yourself before, didn’t you? What, offering tea to your enemy? You don’t seem like the friendly type.”
“…” Tarik’s mouth twitched after being rebuffed by Xia Qingyu. “Do you have to be like this? Did you swallow a gun? Can’t you speak nicely?”
“How do you expect me to act towards the person who kidnapped me?” Xia Qingyu countered.
Hearing this, Tarik’s expression shifted slightly, and he muttered, “It wasn’t me who kidnapped you…”
“What did you say?” Xia Qingyu hadn’t quite heard Tarik’s self-muttering.
“I said,” Tarik paused, then continued, “the tea will get cold if you don’t drink it soon.”
“I won’t drink it.” Xia Qingyu made no move to touch the teacup. Glancing at Tarik, she turned her head away.
Seeing Xia Qingyu’s stance, Tarik said no more. Instead, he nudged the teacup with his fingertip, pushing it slightly closer to Xia Qingyu, and then sat quietly by her side.
Xia Qingyu noticed Tarik’s subtle gesture but ignored it. Her gaze was fixed on the main entrance, patiently awaiting her sister’s arrival to pick her up.
She knew her sister would come. She would come to bring her home.
Someone was coming for her.
Tarik’s gaze occasionally drifted to Xia Qingyu’s profile, observing her expectant expression. A profound, ineffable envy stirred within him.
Xia Qingyu had a home, roots.
He was different. No one would ever come for him.
Fundamentally, they were worlds apart.
Upstairs, having been rebuffed by Xia Qingyu, Xiang Xueyuan’s expression remained grim.
“Father,” Xi Fu greeted him immediately, her eyes sparkling.
Xiang Xueyuan raised his hand and slapped Xi Fu across the face.
Xi Fu clutched her cheek, her smile freezing on her face.
“Who told you to do something so unnecessary?” Xiang Xueyuan demanded coldly.
“I just wanted to give Father more leverage for the treasure map,” Xi Fu replied innocently. Her beautiful, clear eyes instantly filled with tears as she looked at Xiang Xueyuan. “And last night at the auction, I noticed you looking upstairs several times. I thought… I thought you missed Qingyu. After all, she is your biological daughter…”
“Xi Fu, stop playing these games in front of me,” Xiang Xueyuan commanded sternly. “This is the last time.”
Upon hearing Xiang Xueyuan’s words, Xi Fu flinched and lowered her eyes.
She hadn't considered being discovered, but she had to take the risk.
She couldn’t change Xiang Xueyuan’s attitude towards Xia Qingyu, but she could make Xia Qingyu hate him more and more.
Even this kidnapping, though she had taken it upon herself to bring Xia Qingyu back, would still be something Xia Qingyu would blame Xiang Xueyuan for.
No one could take what was hers.
Not anyone.
“Have Dr. Li and his wife woken up?” Xiang Xueyuan asked, his gaze chilling as he withdrew his attention from Xi Fu.
“They woke up ten minutes ago. I’ve sent them some pastries and tea and instructed them to be well entertained,” Xi Fu answered promptly.
“I understand.” Xiang Xueyuan glared at Xi Fu. “Send Qingyu back. If a single hair on her head is harmed, I’ll cut off one of your fingers!”
Xi Fu’s hands immediately balled into fists at her sides. Her gaze flickered briefly before she could only lower her head and respond, “Yes…”
Before Xi Fu could formulate a plan, someone announced, “There’s someone here who calls herself Xia Qingtian at the gate.”
“She’s quite early,” Xiang Xueyuan sneered. He turned and headed downstairs. “Did she come alone?”
“Yes, she’s alone.”
“This Xia Qingtian is still as audacious as ever…” Xiang Xueyuan’s smile turned increasingly cold. That Xia Qingtian had ruined his life’s work, and she still dared to show up like this. “Let her in.”
He couldn’t help but admire Xia Qingtian’s courage.
Xi Fu followed behind Xiang Xueyuan, secretly heaving a sigh of relief.
She didn't have to send Xia Qingyu back, thus preserving her dignity. And it allowed Xia Qingyu's hatred for Xiang Xueyuan to deepen.
Even if Xia Qingtian eventually took Xia Qingyu away, her objective would be achieved.
Good, very good.
As Xiang Xueyuan and Xi Fu returned to the living room and took their seats, Xia Qingtian entered.
“Sister!” Xia Qingyu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately moved to step forward, but Xi Fu raised an arm to block her.
Xia Qingyu glared at Xi Fu, who provocatively hooked the corner of her mouth.
Xi Fu knew clearly that the more unpleasant she acted now, the more Xia Qingyu would hate Xiang Xueyuan.
“Qingyu, it was just morning practice, was it necessary to come all this way?” Xia Qingtian asked, her arms crossed. “Is the Wen family not big enough? Or do you think the greenery in this estate is better, more suitable as a natural oxygen bar? Hm?”
“All your praise now will not change or add any points to your past actions,” Xiang Xueyuan said sarcastically, looking at Xia Qingtian. “Save your energy.”
“Praise? I wouldn’t say that,” Xia Qingtian said with a smile. “I was just marveling at how a beast’s dwelling is indeed surrounded by greenery, quite primitive.”
“……”