Lin Mei had left Xiangxi when she was in college. It had been eight years since she turned eighteen. Her family had moved due to demolition when she was in her third year of university. For most of these years, she had been in Nanjiang, and she was no longer very familiar with her parents' social circles.
She had never asked before, but after Xiao Yue mentioned it today, Lin Mei realized that her parents had maintained contact with Grandma Xu's family after the demolition.
Grandma Xu's children seemed to be doing very well, arranging for her and her husband to live in the most desirable villa in Xiangxi, Yajing Villa. The elderly couple were accustomed to liveliness and often invited their former neighbors over. Xiao Yue and Lin Zhengde frequently visited to play chess with them.
As Xiao Yue recounted these events, Lin Mei couldn't help but ask, "Did Grandma Xu ever mention her grandson?"
Xiao Yue replied, "I haven't heard her mention him, but those two children must be outstanding."
Xing Zheng got into his car after leaving the hospital. He glanced at his watch, then took a few pills from the side and started the car, his destination being the Xing family home.
The injury he sustained at the banquet had not yet healed. The bandage on his hand, while not as thick as it had been in the previous few days, could not yet be removed.
The Xing family home was unusually lively today. Early in the morning, Xie Qin Jia and Xing Sha had gone to the airport to pick up the elderly couple. The quiet house finally had some life. Xie Qin Jia arranged for the kitchen to prepare specialty dishes from Xiangxi, and the meals for the next few days were planned according to the elders' preferences.
In the afternoon, Xie Qin Jia accompanied the elders on a walk in the villa area. As they returned, they happened to encounter a black Bentley Continental. Xie Qin Jia immediately recognized the car as belonging to someone, and her smile vanished, replaced by endless disgust.
Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao looked on with some confusion. When they saw Xing Zheng appear, they understood what was happening.
Xing Zheng got out of the car and walked calmly to Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao. "Grandma, Grandpa, you're here."
Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao had not seen Xing Zheng for nearly eight years. Since Xing Yan and Xie Chi had their accident and Xing Zheng was sent to America, they had not had the opportunity to meet him again.
Xing Zheng now looked completely different from how they remembered him. Xu Shang's eyes welled up as she looked at the mature and cold man before her. "Ah Zheng is back, finally back. How have you changed so much."
Although Xie Jun Yao was not as emotional as Xu Shang, he also showed concern. "Is your work going well? Since you're back, come in and sit down."
After speaking with the elders, Xing Zheng turned to look at Xie Qin Jia. Xie Qin Jia's gaze towards him was as usual, but because of Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao's presence, she did not stop him from entering.
However, after Xing Zheng sat down, Xie Qin Jia went to the dining room, as if even being in the same space as him made her feel disgusted.
Xing Zheng watched Xie Qin Jia's retreating back from the corner of his eye. Although he showed no outward emotion, Xie Jun Yao and Xu Shang were well aware of their strained mother-son relationship. Xie Qin Jia had favored Xing Yan since childhood; it was obvious to anyone.
"Ah Zheng, you're not leaving again this time, are you?" Xu Shang asked.
"No, I'm not leaving. I'll develop my career in Nanjiang." Xing Zheng spoke to Xu Shang with exceptional gentleness, completely devoid of his usual cold and distant demeanor.
Xie Qin Jia sat alone in the dining room for a long time. It was nearly dinner time when she finally went out. However, when she emerged, Xing Zheng had still not left.
Xie Qin Jia said, "Mom, Dad, dinner is almost ready. Go to the dining room and wait. Xing Sha has something to do tonight and won't be back, so let's eat first."
"It's already time for dinner?" Xu Shang had been chatting with Xing Zheng and hadn't noticed how quickly time had passed. She pulled Xing Zheng over. "Ah Zheng, please join us for dinner. It's been so many years since you've eaten with me."
"Mom, no." This time, Xie Qin Jia couldn't hold back. She looked at Xing Zheng and said, "Get out."
Xie Qin Jia's patience had reached its limit. Even with the elders present, she could not tolerate Xing Zheng staying for dinner in this house. The seat at the dining table rightfully belonged to her Ah Yan!
Xing Zheng's shoulders stiffened for a moment. He didn't look at Xie Qin Jia, but even without looking, he could guess her expression, as he had seen it too many times before. "I have a social engagement tonight. I'll have dinner with you and Grandpa on Yangshuo's birthday."
After exchanging a few words with the elders, Xing Zheng left first.
Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao watched helplessly but could not stop him. After Xing Zheng left, the three of them went to the dining room to eat.
As they sat down to eat, Xu Shang said to Xie Qin Jia, "Ah Zheng has had a difficult time alone abroad all these years. Ah Yan's matter was so long ago. Ah Zheng is also a filial child. What can't be said between mother and son..."
"Mom, he killed Ah Yan. I will never forgive him in this lifetime. We don't need to discuss this matter anymore."
Xie Qin Jia was obedient to Xu Shang in all other matters, but when it came to Xing Zheng, her attitude became exceptionally firm. No matter what Xu Shang said, she refused to forgive Xing Zheng.
The bank had been quite lively these past few days. Chen Qi and Lin Mei's affair had been the talk of the town. After several days of discussion, the official disciplinary notice was posted on the internal network.
Upon investigation, the report against Lin Mei was confirmed to be false. Lin Mei was officially reinstated, and her work was unaffected.
Chen Qi, however, did not fare as well as Lin Mei. The internal network announcement revealed that he was not only involved in illegal business operations but also in illegal activities such as quid pro quo sexual favors and the exploitation of interns. This meant that Chen Qi's fate would be more severe than simply being fired from the bank; he might even be prosecuted...
As soon as this news was released, the bank was in an uproar. No one expected that Lin Mei and Chen Qi's breakup would lead to such a major scandal.
Some people cursed Chen Qi for getting what he deserved, but the gossip about Lin Mei never stopped. Especially those who were close to Chen Qi, led by Zong Zong, insisted that Chen Qi had been wronged by Lin Mei. They believed that Lin Mei, enraged after her video was exposed, had deliberately retaliated against Chen Qi.
Lin Mei heard about these rumors from Xiao Fang. When she learned that Chen Qi had been fired and was being prosecuted by the procuratorate, she felt a sense of satisfaction and no longer cared about what others said about her. People had their own mouths to talk, and she couldn't control them.
In any case, her job was not affected. Once Lin Zhengde completed his surgery, she would be able to return to work normally.
She had to thank Xing Zheng for this matter. Speaking of Xing Zheng, Lin Mei suddenly realized that it had been more than three days since he left the hospital without contacting her. She wondered what he was doing.
After finishing dinner, Lin Mei went out to throw away the trash, deliberately bringing her phone.
After discarding the trash, Lin Mei walked around downstairs for a few laps, holding her phone. She opened WeChat, then exited, and then opened her contacts, scrolling to Xing Zheng's name, hesitating, and not calling him.
Xing Zheng had helped her immensely, and it was only natural for her to thank him. But for some reason, she felt shy at the last moment.
Lin Mei was so engrossed in her thoughts that her phone screen went dark, but she still kept her head down.
Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, and strong hands covered her eyes.