Compared to Su Yingxia’s apprehension, the rest of the Su family watched Chen Xing'er with immense excitement.
Was this indeed the esteemed Miss Chen? And she had just addressed Su Yingxia as "Sister Yingxia"?
The eldest daughter of the Chen family from the capital, calling their daughter "sister"? Su's mother, who had been stunned by Jiang Shaolong's arrest, couldn't believe her ears. Her daughter, conversing as equals with the Chen family’s eldest daughter—what an incredible fortune, what immense luck!
"Oh my, Xia-xia, don't worry about the Jiang family and Jiang Shaolong for now. Aren't you going to introduce us to Miss Chen?" she said, fawning and eager, stepping forward to Chen Xing'er. "Hello, Miss Chen. I am Yingxia's mother. Oh my, you are truly beautiful, like a fairy."
"It's truly a blessing from eight lifetimes that my Xia-xia has a sister like you!"
Chen Xing'er smiled faintly and replied, "Hello, Auntie!"
"Good, good!" Su's mother felt as if she were floating. Her daughter was indeed blessed. With connections to the Chen family's eldest daughter, they could secure this relationship first. As for the matter of Jiang Shaolong as a son-in-law, it was nowhere as important as appeasing Miss Chen. Besides, she hadn't been entirely satisfied with Jiang Shaolong lately.
Su's father, thinking more deeply, was also momentarily stunned. He quickly stepped forward to greet her. "Hello, Miss Chen. I am Xia-xia's father. Hello!"
"Hello, Uncle!" Chen Xing'er replied with a smile, approachable and without any airs of a young lady from a prominent family.
Though more composed than Su's mother, Su's father was still thrilled when Chen Xing'er nodded at him. This was the eldest daughter of the Chen family from the capital; even the ruthless and lawless military men showed her respect. That Captain Qin had also addressed her courteously. Through Miss Chen, connecting with the Chen family of the capital could truly elevate the Su family to new heights. He immediately thought of many possibilities.
Seeing how amiable Miss Chen was, the others also stepped forward to greet her, creating a lively scene. Chen Xing'er mostly responded with smiles and nods, leaving the entire Su family excited and overjoyed. Only Su Yingxia felt complex emotions.
"Everyone, let's head home for now!" Chen Xing'er said with a smile after the greetings. "I'm heading back to the hotel. Sister Yingxia, you stay and accompany your parents for now!"
Su Yingxia nodded, feeling a bit lost. Even Miss Chen couldn't get Jiang Shaolong released, so perhaps others wouldn't be of any use. But giving up entirely wasn't an option; she had to try. She looked around, hoping to find someone to ask for help, but they were all discussing Miss Chen, seeming to have forgotten about the Jiang family. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Yet, for some reason, she also felt that if Jiang Shaolong didn't get out, it might not be a bad thing for her. She then called for a car, and the Su family members boarded and departed.
"Cousin, you seem very interested in Su Yingxia?" Xu Shengqing, who was temporarily driving, asked as he steered the car.
"Making a friend, do you have a problem with that?" Chen Xing'er retorted with a roll of her eyes at Xu Shengqing.
"Of course not, no problem!" Xu Shengqing, finding himself rebuffed, dared not show any annoyance. "Qin Tianyou isn't willing to release Jiang Shaolong?"
"Mm," Chen Xing'er replied.
"He's being too disrespectful. Are you just going to let him get away with it?" Xu Shengqing fanned the flames. "If you called Uncle and Aunt, couldn't you deal with him?"
Chen Xing'er sneered. "Xu Shengqing, do you think I don't know that you instigated me to come to Hang Jiang precisely for your own trivial matters?"
"If you disgrace the Chen family, I'll deal with you!"
Xu Shengqing's expression became awkward. "Ah, Sister Xing'er, I'm your cousin. Can you show me some respect?"
"Respect? You, who are eyeing the Chen family with ulterior motives, deserve it?" Chen Xing'er said with a cold laugh. "I'll tell you directly now, with your ability and character, dreaming of snatching my brother's heir position is like wishing for the moon. You can't even compare to me, let alone my brother."
Xu Shengqing didn't argue and smiled. "If my cousin doesn't give me a chance, I naturally wouldn't have any presumptuous thoughts."
"But he joined the army and has been gone for ten years without anyone knowing what he's been doing or what achievements he's made."
"It's questionable whether he can still support the Chen family when he returns."
"The times are changing every day. After spending so long in the relatively closed environment of the military, he won't be able to adapt to society. His connections will be outdated."
"By the time Grandpa can't hold on any longer, it'll be too late for him to return!"
Chen Xing'er found it amusing. "This is all your wishful thinking. Perhaps my brother is already a general by now?"
"A general before thirty? Now that's wishful thinking, my dear cousin!"
"If he were truly that prominent, I'd gladly kneel to welcome him back on the day he returns!"
...
Jinling, a university.
A professor, having just finished his class, returned to his office and opened his computer. An email popped up on the screen. He clicked it open casually, and his expression suddenly stiffened. After carefully examining the photos displayed in the email, he took out his phone and made a call.
"Mr. Mo, what you were looking for has appeared, in Hang Jiang!"
"We're not sure exactly who has it, only that someone took it to an auction house for appraisal."
...
Western Europe.
Inside a small church, seven or eight men and women of varying appearances and attire were seated. A priest with a large beard walked into the church. Standing beneath the crucifix, the priest opened a box in his hand. Inside was a palm-sized, dragon-patterned, fan-shaped metal fragment.
"Gentlemen, ladies, the latest news is that a fragment identical to this dragon-patterned piece has appeared in the distant East, in Great Xia, Hang Jiang!"
"Oh, Father, you summoned us here just for this broken thing?"
"The mysterious and ancient East holds too many secrets," the priest said with a smile. "The ancient Golden Tripod inscriptions contain information more sacred than the Bible. I need someone to bring back that fragment. Who is willing to make this journey?"
No one responded.
"Alright, ten million US dollars. Since it's an internal transaction, the organization will not take any commission," the priest continued, undeterred.
"In that country in the East, with *that man* there, it's a forbidden zone. I don't want to go die!" a silver-haired man stood up and said. "I'm leaving. You all continue." With that, he left without looking back.
The others didn't mock him; instead, they also began to rise.
"Father, for an item whose specific function is unknown, to risk venturing under that man's nose is not worth it!"
"I withdraw!"
"Ten million US dollars is not a small sum, but life is more important than ten million!"
"..."
The priest's expression began to darken.
"A bunch of cowards. That man has been gone for three years; I suspect he has retired."
In the church, only a scrawny Asian man remained. Speaking in somewhat broken common tongue, he said, "The men of our Lelang Kingdom are never afraid. I will take this mission."
"Excellent, Xiao. You are the one I trust the most. Here is the relevant information. I will use the organization's connections to provide you with convenience," the priest said, smiling broadly. "Just make sure you bring the item back. It is very important!"
"It's just a simple mission. Think of it as taking a vacation," the Lelang Kingdom man named Xiao said after taking the documents, and then he carelessly left the church.