Chapter 102

Chapter 102

The dozens of young nobles Old Richard had specially chosen for Xia Wanzhi on the occasion of his birthday this time all ended up being completely useless.

His granddaughter took after his daughter, and his daughter took after him.

Three generations, all hopeless romantics.

Once they set their hearts on someone, they would smash straight into a brick wall before ever turning back.

Early that morning, Richard was drinking coffee and sighing over this when he spotted Xie Qiyan in the distance. He raised a hand and beckoned him over to sit for a while.

Time had flown by. Tomorrow, they would be leaving.

Influenced by Qiao Shu, Rose had always loved Chinese culture. After marrying Xia Yongqing, she settled in Beicheng. Later, after Xia Wanzhi was born, the family only came over to keep the two elders company when they had free time or during holidays.

The Becker Family estate was huge, but it was also lonely.

Only when Rose brought Xia Yongqing and Xia Wanzhi back did it become a little livelier.

Now that Rose and Xia Yongqing had immigrated here, Richard had far fewer worries on his mind, and his spirits had improved considerably.

The only regret he had was that Xia Wanzhi had not come with them.

Xie Qiyan walked over and sat down, calling him Grandpa in a gentle tone.

“Sit first. I want to discuss something with you.” Richard gestured for him to sit. Only after Xie Qiyan had taken a seat did he relax his brows and smile. “The weather’s nice. Don’t tell Wanzi about me drinking coffee.”

Xie Qiyan glanced at the cup, a faint smile touching the corners of his eyes.

Such an imposing man still had to sneak coffee at home.

Even he had someone in the family he answered to.

“We’re family. I understand,” Xie Qiyan said, calm and composed.

Richard snorted, then took a relieved sip of coffee.

Xie Qiyan had been staying here these past few days, and the more Richard looked at him, the more pleasing he found him. The main reason was still that Xia Wanzhi liked him, so Richard did not bother with all those twists and turns. He simply made his stance clear and accepted this future grandson-in-law.

In the end, they were the ones who would live their own lives. Even if Richard wanted to interfere, he could not.

He had understood that principle back when he married off his daughter.

Besides, Xia Wanzhi had never stood up for anyone since she was little.

Xie Qiyan was the first.

“Didn’t you say you were taking Wanzi to visit Mrs. York?” Richard asked.

Xie Qiyan nodded. “Yes. We’ll go a little later. There’s no rush on Grandmother’s side.”

Richard laughed, seeing through him at once. “That girl is still asleep, isn’t she?”

Xie Qiyan’s eyes filled with tenderness. “We got back rather late last night.”

During their days in the UK, Xie Qiyan had taken her to visit the schools he had attended and the places where he had lived.

When it came to this part of the UK, Xie Qiyan was far more familiar with it than Xia Wanzhi.

After a brief silence, Richard looked at Xie Qiyan and sighed softly. “Wanzi doesn’t have much of a temper. She’s just a little willful from time to time, so be patient with her. If she’s unhappy, coax her a bit. That child has been easy to coax since she was small. If you really can’t manage it, bring her back and let me do it.”

As he spoke, he smiled again. “Of course, it would be best if you didn’t make her unhappy in the first place.”

Richard smiled because he did not want the conversation to grow heavy, but Xie Qiyan answered him with complete seriousness. “I will.”

This meant Richard had acknowledged him.

Xie Qiyan knew it.

“Since your grandmother is Mrs. York, then in the future, our two families-”

“I don’t have much to do with the York Family.” Xie Qiyan knew what Richard wanted to say next and interrupted him before explaining, “During my years in the UK, Grandmother treated me very well, but that has nothing to do with the family behind her. I have never coveted anything from the York Family. As for that property, Grandmother forced it on me. If I refused, she would call emergency services…”

Richard understood, and he smiled as he waved a hand. “Then forget it. We’re not lacking that bit of cooperation anyway.”

The two families had a decent relationship. Though there was competition between them, there was even more cooperation. Richard had been thinking that if they became connected by marriage, their future collaborations could achieve the greatest possible mutual benefit.
But now, it was clear there was no need for that.

Their family’s Little Princess had never cared to gain anything from marriage.

Her entire family was the confidence standing behind her.

She didn’t need anything else. As long as she was happy, that was enough.

At noon, they went to visit Mrs. York. Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan stayed to have lunch with the old lady. Since she wasn’t in the best health and needed more rest, Xie Qiyan had no intention of lingering. After the meal, he left with Xia Wanzhi.

“Grandmother is very gentle.” Xia Wanzhi wanted to get out of the car and walk for a while, so the two of them strolled down the street with their fingers intertwined. Occasionally, white doves circled low overhead, and Xia Wanzhi would lift her head to glance at them.

With someone holding her hand, she wasn’t afraid of tripping.

Xie Qiyan slowed his pace, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. “Mm. She took care of me a lot over the past ten-plus years.”

When he first came to this unfamiliar city, he had been only twelve years old, still just a child.

Old Master Xie had sent people to take care of his daily life. Someone drove him to and from school. Aside from the loneliness and coldness, his life hadn’t been too bad.

Only later, the person taking care of him stole every valuable thing in the house and ran away.

From that year on, Xie Qiyan began living alone.

The Xie Family never asked about his situation, and he never told the Xie Family what he was going through.

It was also at that time that he met Mrs. York, an elderly woman who treated him like her own grandson.

Xie Qiyan was already fifteen then, but because he hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet, he didn’t look very tall, and his face was still boyish.

On a rainy day, he ran into Mrs. York’s café and asked if she was hiring.

He could no longer afford his tuition or even three meals a day.

The people at the UK branch knew that the Xie Family never asked about him. On top of his reputation as an illegitimate child, they began openly refusing to treat him like a young master. Eventually, they stopped looking after him altogether.

So he had to support himself.

Mrs. York thought he was good-looking and obedient, so she kept him on as a waiter. As time passed, and after she learned about Xie Qiyan’s circumstances, she treated him especially well.

Later, after they had known each other for a long time, Mrs. York acknowledged him as her grandson.

Over the course of a week, Xia Wanzhi learned many things about his past. But all of it took time to digest. Xie Qiyan himself didn’t seem to mind, but Xia Wanzhi would sometimes think about it until her eyes reddened. Then she would hug Xie Qiyan and solemnly swear to him, “Xie Qiyan, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life!”

She said it from the UK all the way back home.

Anyone who saw the two of them couldn’t help privately asking Xie Qiyan whether he had secretly put some kind of spell on Xia Wanzhi.

It had only been a few days, yet Xia Wanzhi was clinging to Xie Qiyan every day like she’d grown a hopelessly lovestruck brain.

If Xie Qiyan hadn’t stopped her, Xia Wanzhi would have moved all her daily necessities into his room.

Xia Wanzhi couldn’t sleep.

She missed the feeling of sharing a bed and pillow with Xie Qiyan that night.

She liked Xie Qiyan.

Her heart liked him.

Her body liked him too.

She had done plenty of wicked things like sneaking into Xie Qiyan’s room in the middle of the night.

When the night was deep and still, tonight was no exception.

Only, when she reached Xie Qiyan’s room and deliberately lightened her movements as she pressed down on his bedroom door handle, she unexpectedly discovered that the door had been locked from the inside.

The door! Was locked from the inside?

Xie Qiyan had locked the door from the inside!?

He actually dared to lock the door!

He was actually guarding against her!

Xia Wanzhi twisted the handle several times, so angry that she planted her hands on her hips, widened her eyes, and let out a cold “Ha.”

Was she some kind of savage beast?!

It wasn’t as if she could eat him alive!