Xia Chengye cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Aunt, please, come and sit."
Xie Wanfei snorted, then turned and linked arms with Xia Weiliang. "Let's go, let's have a good chat with Auntie. If it weren't for your show, Auntie wouldn't have known so many things happened to you!"
As she spoke, she cast another cold glance at the Xia couple.
Xia Xiaoqiu followed behind, adding, "Cousin, your 'Courage' is really popular! When my friends told me, I didn't believe it! And then, I heard Uncle and Auntie kicked you out, so Auntie and I packed our bags overnight and rushed back from Serbia! You have no idea how many foreign old men's hearts Auntie broke when she left!"
Xie Wanfei chuckled, turning to glare at her. "You silly girl, you're always teasing your Auntie. Next time I won't take you."
"No, no, no, I was wrong!"
Seeing her auntie in such good spirits, Xia Weiliang was relieved. She sat down and snuggled up to her.
"Auntie, please try this. I specially brewed some lung-clearing tea for you."
Xie Wanfei didn't even lift her eyelids. "Put it there."
"...Alright."
After Xia Yiran placed it down, she retreated to the side and watched them coldly.
She knew Xie Wanfei. This old woman had inherited a vast fortune years ago, becoming a genuine rich lady. Xia Chengye alone wasn't enough for her to even consider.
Xie Wanfei had no children, so she became the object of vying affections within the family. Everyone wished to be favored as an heir, hoping to inherit her immense wealth.
Xia Chengye had hinted to her as well, insisting she must make Xie Wanfei like her! But this old woman, apart from Xia Weiliang and Xia Xiaoqiu, was not close to anyone, especially not to her, as she wouldn't even spare her a glance.
She couldn't understand why Xie Wanfei treated Xia Weiliang so well, knowing full well she wasn't a descendant of the Xia family. Was she perhaps suffering from dementia!
Xie Wanfei looked up at Xiao Yi, appraising him slowly from head to toe, then smiled with dignified grace. "I've seen your movies. Among actors your age, you're exceptionally outstanding."
Unlike her attitude towards the Xia couple, Xiao Yi was extremely respectful towards his auntie. "Hello, Auntie. I'm Xiao Yi."
Xia Weiliang felt inexplicably nervous, subconsciously hoping her auntie would like him. Her large eyes stared fixedly at her auntie.
Xie Wanfei looked at her and suddenly smiled. She reached out and took off a thumb ring. "This was left to me by my late husband. It has been passed down for several generations, and now I am giving it to you."
Xia Chengye and Su Hui exchanged glances.
Everyone in the family knew how important that thumb ring was to Xie Wanfei.
Yet, she had given it to Xiao Yi so easily?
Xie Wanfei looked at Xiao Yi and said meaningfully, "This is my treasure. You must protect it well."
Xiao Yi stood tall and nodded solemnly. "I promise."
Xie Wanfei said, "Come here."
He stepped forward, and Xie Wanfei personally put the thumb ring on his thumb. She gazed at it from the side, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. "It suits you better."
In that moment, Xia Weiliang felt an indescribable emotion. Her auntie, seemingly traveling the world with carefree abandon, had actually been missing her late husband all these years.
Su Hui beckoned everyone to the dining room. Tonight was a welcome banquet for Xie Wanfei, and it was naturally lavish.
Xia Weiliang had no intention of staying for dinner. She was afraid of indigestion.
If she left, Xiao Yi would surely leave as well. Xia Chengye quickly signaled to Su Hui.
"Weiliang, please stay for dinner. Besides, Auntie hasn't seen you in a long time. You should stay and chat with her."
"No need."
It was Xie Wanfei who spoke. She held Xia Weiliang's hand and said, "If you don't want to stay here, then go home. I'll visit you when I have time."
Xia Weiliang breathed a sigh of relief but felt a pang of reluctance to leave Xie Wanfei. "Auntie, why don't you come back with me!"
Xia Xiaoqiu, who was eating fruit, quickly looked up. "Me too, me too! I want to go too! Don't you dare leave me behind!"
Xia Chengye frowned, secretly glaring at Xia Weiliang, feeling she was doing this intentionally!
Only after the truth about the fake daughter scandal came to light did he realize why he had never felt close to this daughter. It turned out she wasn't even his!
Looking at her now, he found her utterly displeasing. Ignoring Su Hui's pleading, he was determined to drive her away!
Therefore, this girl must also resent him. Otherwise, why would she be so eager to take Xiao Yi away?
Heh, she had found a patron, hadn't she!
"What nonsense are you talking about! Auntie just got off the plane today, and at this late hour, you want to trouble the old lady? Auntie spoils you so much, and this is your filial piety?"
His dislike for Xia Weiliang was so palpable, even the slow-witted Xia Xiaoqiu frowned. "Second Uncle, are you alright? Why are you scolding Cousin for no reason? What, now that you know she's not your biological daughter, you're treating her differently? Second Uncle, what you're doing is wrong!"
Xia Xiaoqiu was known for her bluntness. The only person in the family who could rein her in was Xia Weiliang.
Xia Weiliang, the person directly involved, didn't care. She no longer considered them family, and having no expectations meant she wouldn't be disappointed.
However, Xiao Yi's face immediately darkened.
He turned to Xie Wanfei and said, "Auntie, we'll be leaving now. I'll have someone come pick you up tomorrow."
"Alright." Xie Wanfei found herself liking this young man more and more.
Never mind anything else, the way he defended Xia Weiliang was exactly how her husband had acted when he fell out with his family to protect her!
"Wait," Xia Chengye chased after them outside. He stepped forward and addressed Xiao Yi directly. "Mr. Xiao, our company is developing a new property and would like to invite you to be our spokesperson. I wonder..."
"I'm sorry, I'm not free."
Xiao Yi didn't even spare him a glance, his refusal sharp and decisive.
"Heh, you're friends with Weiliang, can't you even help with this small favor?"
He had acquired that land halfway through. The industry didn't have high expectations for it, but what did consumers know? As long as they hired a reliable spokesperson and marketed it well, everything would fall into place!
Since Xiao Yi and Xia Weiliang had always been involved in something unclear, he didn't see any need to be polite.
Xia Chengye then looked at Xia Weiliang, his gaze full of warning. "Weiliang, quickly persuade Mr. Xiao."
Xia Weiliang pursed her lips. Damn it, she'd had enough!
"Xiao Yi, you go back to the car first. I have a few words to say to Mr. Xia." She said with a smile.
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can handle it alone?"
"Extremely sure, absolutely positive!" Xia Weiliang smiled even more innocently. Sudn.com
"Alright."
"Hey! Mr. Xiao, wait a minute, I haven't finished speaking!"
Xia Chengye was ignored, and his mood was naturally displeased. He turned and snapped at Xia Weiliang, "Idiot! I have something to say to him, why did you let him go? Don't think I don't know about your little affair. He's taken a liking to you, and he'll listen to whatever you say! Go! Call him back!"
Although Xia Weiliang had been smiling, the anger inside her was about to reach its peak.
"Mr. Xia, why is your face like tree rings? Year after year, circle after circle, you're so generous!"
"You..."
Xia Chengye, holding back a burst of anger, was about to retaliate when he suddenly froze, looking at her with peculiar eyes. "Snake... snake... snake!!"