Sleepless Spring Tides - Chapter 3 – Freud 3

At midnight, Yi Mansion was in complete chaos.

Fortunately, the Second Miss and the Fourth Miss lived in the west wing and couldn’t hear the commotion. Otherwise, if they had come out to join the fray, there would have been no peace at all.

The Third Miss was studying at a university in Beijing, so it was even more impossible for her to hear anything.

“…What kind of outsider is this?”

Yi Kunshan frowned and muttered in frustration.

“Am I wrong? I agreed to let you handle the marriage arrangements, but how could you sell me off to Beijing! What did the Xie Family offer you in return?”

Yi Siling hurled a gourd-shaped pillow at Yi Kunshan. It hit its target and then bounced off onto the floor.

“Don’t tell me that the Yi Family is trying to break into the Mainland market, so you’re using the Xie Family as a stepping stone and offering me as a gift to them! You! Selling your own daughter! Ruining your reputation in your old age!”

Yi Kunshan hadn’t felt guilty before, but hearing this, he subconsciously touched his nose.

It was indeed far-a flight would take over two hours.

But all this talk about gifts, selling daughters, and ruining reputations… it was all nonsense.

This brat always knew how to hit him where it hurt.

He still couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye and coughed lightly, “You shouldn’t say it like that… Zhaozhao, Beijing isn’t some backwater. It’s the Capital, the Imperial City.”

“Don’t call me Zhaozhao!”

Zhaozhao was Yi Siling’s childhood nickname.

She was born at dawn, just as the sun was rising inch by inch from the east. Yi Kunshan had been waiting outside the delivery room, watching the sky shift from a deep, dark hue to a radiant golden glow as the sun broke through. He had never seen such a beautiful sunrise.

“As bright as the sun and the moon.”

Yi Kunshan had given this cherished eldest daughter the nickname Zhaozhao.

“Zhaozhao… stop arguing with your daddy for now. Both of you, calm down,” Liang Yongwen stepped in to mediate.

Yi Siling wanted to keep arguing, but she was too exhausted. As she sat down, her head buzzed with dizziness, “….Why don’t you go to that wonderful place yourselves, instead of hiding in this tiny corner of the world.”

No matter how grand the Imperial City, the Capital, or the gathering place of the elite under the Emperor’s feet, none of it could compare to Hong Kong Island, to home.

As her emotions surged, her eyes turned red, and she fiddled with the beads on her skirt, “I might as well marry someone with the surname Zheng. At least I wouldn’t have to move far away.”

Liang Yongwen sighed. Of course, she couldn’t bear to see her daughter marry so far away, but… She sat down beside Yi Siling and took her hand, “Darling, Mommy will be honest with you. Among all the young men in our circle, there really isn’t anyone who can compare to Xie Xunzhi. Beijing isn’t that far-it’s just a two-hour flight. Your daddy can let you use the Falcon jet. You can come home whenever you want.”

Yi Siling said nothing.

“The Zheng family’s son may come from a good background and have decent looks, but he’s arrogant, restless, and has a wandering eye. How could you possibly build a life with someone like that? Xie Xunzhi, on the other hand-now that’s a fine young man!”

Xie Xunzhi! Xie Xunzhi! Xie Xunzhi!

Yi Siling’s mind was consumed by this unfamiliar name.

“Do you have a photo? At least let me see what he looks like. No ugly guys, period.” She relented, deciding to compromise for her mommy’s sake.

Liang Yongwen’s expression shifted slightly, masking her unease with a smile. “Yes, yes… he’s quite handsome!” She pulled out her phone and flipped to a photo.

“See? Doesn’t he look like a pretty boy?”

Yi Siling glanced at the photo and let out a bitter laugh. “Pretty boy? Are you seriously showing me a tree?”

Liang Yongwen shot an awkward glare at Yi Kunshan, who had no choice but to pretend to sip his tea.

The photo had been taken surreptitiously during Liang Yongwen’s visit to Xie Garden, while the Xie family wasn’t paying attention. It was more of a landscape shot than a portrait, and only upon zooming in could one make out any details. By a picturesque pond, a man held a small sandalwood fish food box in his hand. His profile was striking, exuding a gentle and refined aura, like the elegance of a bamboo forest.

Yi Siling stared at the photo, feeling a strange, unsettling stir in her chest. It was hard for her to imagine a stranger becoming her husband, and a distant place becoming her future home.

She couldn’t accept this sudden, life-altering revelation.

“If I can’t see his face clearly, it’s a scam,” she declared, refusing to admit the man was handsome. She averted her gaze and pushed the phone away.

Liang Yongwen swatted her leg. “Be reasonable! I’ve seen him in person, and I’m not lying.”

“Well, I’m neither a child nor an old person. You can deceive me without feeling guilty.”

“Such a sharp tongue on such a pretty face,” Liang Yongwen said, both exasperated and amused. She swatted her again. “He’s the Eldest Young Master of the prestigious Xie Family, and you’re treating him like this? Plenty of women would kill for a chance with him, and you’re turning your nose up?”

Yi Siling wasn’t deeply familiar with mainland China, but she knew of the Xie Family.

Xie Xunzhi’s grandfather, Xie Renhua, was a renowned capitalist and a prominent figure during the Republic of China era. He had twice donated the family’s wealth to the nation, and the family’s legacy was so significant that it was destined to be recorded in history books. For over a century, the Xie Family had accumulated wealth, power, connections, and resources-reaching the highest echelons of society. It wasn’t something that could be summed up in a few words.

“If so many women like him, then he should go find one of them. Why bother with an outsider like me?” Yi Siling scoffed.

Yi Kunshan was at his wit’s end. He set down his teacup and said, “Then take over the family business. I’ll arrange for you to start at the group tomorrow, and we’ll have the Second Child take your place in the wedding. We’ve already promised the Xie Family, and the wedding is set for the month after next.”

“But it was agreed that the Second Child would inherit the group without having to marry into another family, wasn’t it?”

She wanted to live a carefree life, letting her three younger sisters earn the money for her. What a blissful existence.

“Then you’ll marry.”

“….”

“Then you’ll join the group.”

“….”

“…Old man, don’t push it!”

Yi Siling felt like she was being backed into a corner.

If she moved forward, she’d have to marry into a family in Beijing, marrying a man she didn’t know. If she stepped back, she’d have to inherit the family business, living a life of confinement, perhaps even dying with regrets.

Either way, it was a dead end. Either way, it was miserable.

“Unless he’s really as good as you say, I’m not marrying far away. If you’re so confident, let me investigate.” Yi Siling had a sudden flash of inspiration, grasping at a lifeline.

Yi Kunshan had complete faith in his judgment. Having navigated the business world for over thirty years, he prided himself on his ability to read people and situations. With just a glance, he could tell whether someone was genuine or deceitful beneath the surface.

He leaned back on the sofa, sipping his tea, “Fine. If he turns out to be a two-faced playboy, I won’t say another word.”

It was well-known that men from Hong Kong had a reputation for being unfaithful, and the wealthy ones were even worse. Yi Siling had grown up seeing this and didn’t believe in the existence of a truly good man.

Even her father, Yi Kunshan, who the Hong Kong media called a devoted husband, had been a notorious womanizer before marriage, with countless romantic entanglements. The fact that Liang Yongwen had tamed him only spoke to her superior skills and strategy, not to any inherent decency in Yi Kunshan.

“You’re just obsessed with their power and influence. I know exactly what you’re scheming-you’re jealous that Chen Weiqi’s father got elected as a Member of Parliament for Hong Kong Island this term, while you were embarrassingly eliminated!” Yi Siling delivered the final blow and turned to leave.

There were plenty of wealthy families in Hong Kong, but no matter how rich they were, they were still just businesspeople. That’s why the Xie Family was different, and Yi Siling understood that.

Their historical roots, the blessings of their ancestors, the ambition of their descendants, and their intricate web of marital alliances had all contributed to the Xie Family’s current status. In the early days of the nation, when the Mainland was still rebuilding, Mr. Xie Renhua, with support from above, founded Zhong Yao Company, the predecessor of Lan Yao Group. Today, it was one of the oldest and most prestigious conglomerates in the Mainland.

The Chen Family’s success in securing a seat in this term’s Hong Kong Island Parliament was due to their marriage alliance with the Zhuang Family, as the Zhuang patriarch wielded significant influence in Hong Kong’s political arena. Without a powerful backer, the Yi Family had no chance of making a mark in Hong Kong’s political scene.

Yi Kunshan was so furious that his nose practically twisted, “That was me stepping aside for the greater good, not some embarrassing elimination… I’m only giving you two weeks. If you don’t find anything by then, it’ll be considered your tacit agreement to this marriage.”

He had originally planned to give her a month, but this brat insisted on provoking him.

Yi Siling covered her ears and ran off as fast as she could.

“The status of the Xie Family speaks for itself, but let’s focus on Xie Xunzhi himself. At twenty-three, he led the acquisition of Mplunk. At twenty-four, he founded Xunyan Capital, investing in Maple Leaf Wealth and Lingdu Electric. His personal net worth skyrocketed fortyfold in just a few years. The outside world has high expectations for him.”

“Moreover, he’s upright, has no vices, and doesn’t mess around with relationships. In all these years, there hasn’t been a single scandal. He’s clean and above reproach.”

“Whether it’s his capabilities or his character, he’s first-rate. And his family background? Need I say more? Otherwise, would your daddy have dared to let you dive into this so boldly?”

The voice messages continued to play, one after another.

The night was deep, and the mountains were quiet. In the distance, waves lapped against the foot of the hills, and the breeze drifting into the bedroom carried a faint, briny gloom.

Yi Siling buried her face in the pillow, her nostrils feeling clogged, as if stuffed with cotton.

The small patch of fabric touching her eyes was already slightly damp.

Xie Xunzhi.

The name seemed to come at her from all directions.

A hateful name, a hateful person, a hateful Beijing, a hateful arranged marriage.

Everyone praised him, called him flawless, but she refused to believe it. Rebellious emotions tangled in her heart, surging up like those of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl.

She wished she could find this man right now and rip off his carefully constructed mask.

In the days that followed, Xie Xunzhi invaded Yi Siling’s life even more. She didn’t even realize it, fueled by a restless energy as she transformed into a detective, leaving no stone unturned.

Unfortunately, the results only frustrated her further.

“I want photos, his personal photos. Seriously, what have you been finding for me?”

“I don’t need his Baidu encyclopedia entry, and I certainly don’t have time to read those glowing interviews that sing his praises. I want gossip, scandals, juicy stories! A thirty-year-old man, and you’re telling me he has no ex-girlfriends?!”

“Then dig deeper! Does he have a mistress? Has he slept with any celebrities or influencers? Or does he have some hidden illness or vice?”

“Nothing? Then he must be impotent!”

Yi Leling was already accustomed to such scenes, calmly cutting the steak for the fuming Yi Siling.

Yi Siling put down her phone and poked at the hot towel. “These paparazzi are supposed to be great at digging up dirt, aren’t they? What’s the deal? Is Xie Xunzhi immune or something? Three days wasted, and not a single photo to show for it!”

Yi Leling thought for a moment before replying, “I heard the Xie Family has been very protective of their successor. Media wouldn’t dare take his photo in public. If you really want to find one, you’d have to ask his close friends. But the problem is, his circle is completely different from ours. Even if we know someone who knows him, they’re not close enough to have his photo.”

Yi Siling raised an eyebrow. “Not just photos-Instagram, Weibo¹, Twitter, Facebook… he’s not on any of them. He doesn’t do social media! What kind of relic is he?”

Yi Leling swapped the plate of cut steak in front of Yi Siling and said, “The head of a major Group like that probably spends all day in meetings. He doesn’t have time for social media. It’s not like he’s in the fashion industry.” She spoke from experience. Even as a senior executive at headquarters, her schedule was packed with endless meetings and networking events.

“He’s six years older than me…”

“That’s not too bad. I remember Zheng Qijun is also twenty-eight.”

“Mengmeng’s husband said he’s mature, rigid, and boring.”

“Mengmeng’s exact words were that Young Master Xie is very meticulous at work and doesn’t care much about food, drinks, or entertainment. So her husband has no idea how to even approach him. He hasn’t even managed to meet him in person.”

The air fell silent.

The high-end Michelin restaurant was quiet, with few customers. The sound of the waiter’s footsteps was muffled by the thick, plush carpet as they brought over mulberry ice cream and kaya toast with a rich, fragrant aroma.

Yi Siling absentmindedly chewed her steak, a large, eye-catching leopard ring adorning her index finger.

Finally sensing something was off, she retracted her finger and glanced over. “Wait… Second Child, whose side are you on?”

Yi Leling pressed two fingers to her temple. “I swear to the Goddess Mazu², I’m always on your side.”

Yi Siling swallowed a juicy piece of beef. “I suspect you’ve sold me out.”

Yi Leling gave her a cold look. “What would I gain from selling you out?”

Not only would she gain nothing, but she’d also have to deal with the fallout. “I’m already exhausted from working for you. You don’t think I’m also planning to run for Member of Parliament on Hong Kong Island, do you?”

Yi Siling pouted, mumbling, “You’re bullying me.”

Yi Leling wouldn’t dare bully her-if anything, she was the one who always gave in. The face that employees at the Group saw as always cool, distant, and expressionless was now filled with deep helplessness under Yi Siling’s relentless teasing.

She sighed. “You could try looking at this from a different angle.”

“…Like what?” Yi Siling was starting to feel drowsy, resting her cheek on her hand, her eyes lazily drooping. She’d been tirelessly investigating Xie Xunzhi for days, leaving her mentally and physically drained, with little sleep to show for it.

“It’s not the final verdict yet. But from what I’ve seen so far, this Young Master Xie is better than Young Master Zheng,” Yi Leling offered an impartial and objective assessment.

Over the past three days, she had researched Xie Xunzhi’s business and financial reports. It was clear he had his own approach in the business world-bold, decisive, and efficient. The only uncertainties were his character and private life. If those could also withstand scrutiny, then this marriage would truly be a good match-

At least in theory.

Yi Siling stared at her, silent, biting her lip.

Yi Leling winced, unable to stand her sister’s coquettish demeanor. She tapped her finger on the table. “Here’s an idea-why don’t you go to Beijing yourself and see him in person? Isn’t that better than scouring for his photos here?”

…

By late October, Beijing had already embraced the crispness of autumn. The sunlight carried a tinge of melancholy, and the willow leaves around Houhai Lake were beginning to turn yellow. A black Maybach emerged from the southeastern garage of Xie Garden and turned into the narrow alleyways of the hutong³.

Bai Niao Hutong was one of the longest hutongs in the area, and also one of the least populated. Passersby strolling by paused, casting envious glances at the Maybach.

The huanghuali wood garage door descended at a steady pace, sealing off the only visible gap.

It was only then that the pedestrians noticed the entire right side of the hutong belonged to a single residence-a high gray-brick wall stretching for over a hundred meters. Inside the wall, a second, even taller inner wall was formed by vegetation and reeds.

Catching a glimpse of what lay beyond the wall was impossible. The only hints of the grandeur within were the towering wall and the elegantly upturned eaves of the roof.

This was a superbly secluded Siheyuan⁴, hidden in the heart of the city. Such a location and such grandeur couldn’t be simply described by the words “wealth” or “luxury.”

The alley was narrow, and the Maybach moved slowly. Its nearly six-meter-long body exuded a presence far more commanding than that of an ordinary car.

Seated in the back, Xie Xunzhi listened to the scolding over the phone, his expression calm-neither impatient nor particularly engaged.

His slender fingers pressed the button to lower the window.

“You need to take the initiative too. Last week, when you were on a business trip to Hong Kong, you could have met Siling. Why didn’t you? The wedding is just a few months away, and you haven’t even met your fiancée. Does that make sense to you?”

“Back then, when I showed you her photo and asked if you liked her, you said yes. That’s why I arranged this marriage for you. At the end of the day, you agreed to it yourself… Are you having second thoughts now?”

Yang Shuhua wasn’t one to ramble, but when it came to this topic, she couldn’t help herself. Not voicing her thoughts would only leave her unsettled.

Xie Xunzhi lowered the window all the way. “I’m not having second thoughts. Please don’t overthink it.”

Yang Shuhua: “Then you need to adjust your attitude. Make sure you handle this reception properly. Siling needs to see you as a reliable man. Don’t let her leave with a bad first impression of Beijing.”

Xie Xunzhi’s brow furrowed slightly. After a pause, he asked, “She’s in Beijing?”

Yang Shuhua was even more displeased with him.

His own fiancée had arrived in Beijing, and he was completely clueless.

“She flew in yesterday and should have arrived by now. I’m not sure which hotel she’s staying at, though. Her mother didn’t mention it. Send someone to find out. Food, accommodation, activities… and a driver-everything needs to be arranged properly,” Yang Shuhua instructed, leaving no detail out.

Xie Xunzhi thought for a moment before responding, “There’s no rush. We don’t even know why she’s here. If she’s in Beijing for other reasons, my sudden arrangements might come off as intrusive.”

His words were measured and reasonable, but Yang Shuhua wasn’t having it. Her voice rose, “If she’s not here for you, then who is she here for? Honestly, you’re letting the girl take the initiative first!”

For a brief moment, Xie Xunzhi entertained the thought that she might be in Beijing for a romantic getaway with her boyfriend. His eyes flickered, but he quickly dismissed the idea. It felt foolish to dwell on such things. He didn’t have the luxury of worrying about how many boyfriends she might have had.

“Alright, I’ll handle it properly,” he said, closing his eyes to rest for a moment.

As he spoke, a red Ferrari approached from the opposite direction. The hutong was narrow, and the two cars nearly brushed past each other.

On the other end of the line, Yang Shuhua only heard the roar of the engine. “I didn’t catch that, son. What did you say just now?”

This alley rarely saw outside vehicles.

Xie Xunzhi held the phone and glanced out the window.

The Ferrari was a convertible, brand new, with only temporary plates. The driver’s seat was occupied by a young woman. The warm autumn sunlight bathed her long, cascading curls, which shimmered like silk.

She wore oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses that covered her eyes but revealed a smooth forehead, a delicate jawline, and a pair of full, crimson lips.

She seemed unfamiliar with the route, glancing at the navigation system as she drove. When she tilted her head, the curve of her slender neck was exposed.

Further ahead was a dead end.

This road had been built for the convenience of the Xie Garden’s side entrance, funded by the Xie Family.

“Uncle Mei, slow down,” Xie Xunzhi said, narrowing his eyes and calmly instructing the driver.

The Maybach decelerated. Xie Xunzhi turned his upper body to look back.

The Ferrari, realizing there was no way forward, came to a stop. After turning off the engine, the woman didn’t immediately get out. She leaned forward, perhaps changing her shoes or picking something up.

Then the car door opened, and a long, slender leg emerged first. The Achilles tendon was prominent, and the foot was pale.

The sandal was gold, its design intricate and adorned with rhinestones. The straps wrapped around her foot and ankle like a beautiful yet torturous accessory, or perhaps a golden serpent. It exuded a sense of fragile, uncomfortable, and unhealthy sensuality.

Xie Xunzhi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Was this kind of shoe… absolutely necessary?

The woman leaned casually against the supercar, tilting her head as she studied the tall gray-brick wall for a long moment. Then, she raised her phone, moving it up, down, left, and right.

Most likely, she was taking pictures.

Though it was unclear what she could possibly be photographing around the perimeter of his family’s wall.

A few ginkgo leaves fell onto her shoulders and slid off.

The call was still connected, and Yang Shuhua’s voice continued to call out to him, “Son, son… Xie Xunzhi!”

Xie Xunzhi finally shifted his gaze away, sitting up straight. His impeccably tailored suit remained flawless as he picked up the phone and pressed it to his ear. “I’m listening.”

Yang Shuhua chided him for his half-hearted attitude. “Put your work aside for the next few days and focus on accompanying her. She’s new here, unfamiliar with everything. Don’t let her feel slighted, or her family might think we lack manners.”

Xie Xunzhi chuckled lightly, a rare departure from his usual deference to his mother’s words. “You’re overthinking it. With her being so formidable, who would dare make her feel slighted?”

Footnote:

1. Weibo(微博):A popular Chinese social media platform similar to Twitter, where users can post updates, share content, and engage with others through comments and likes.
2. Mazu(妈祖): A Chinese sea goddess, revered by people in coastal regions and by overseas Chinese communities. She is considered a protector of sailors and fishermen.
3. Hutong(胡同):Narrow alleys or lanes found in Chinese cities, especially Beijing, often lined with traditional courtyard residences. These areas are known for their historical and cultural significance.
4. Siheyuan(四合院): A traditional Chinese courtyard house, typically rectangular and consisting of buildings on all four sides enclosing a central courtyard. It has been used as a residence for centuries in China.