Chapter 123

Chapter 123

The past two days had been Christmas Eve and Christmas. Things were lively over in the UK, and Ms. Ross had video-called them. After learning about what had happened with Xie Qiyan, she lost all interest in celebrating and kept messaging Xia Wanzhi every so often to ask about the situation.

Asking Xia Wanzhi alone was not enough. Ms. Ross also forced Xia Yongqing, this future father-in-law of his, to show more concern for Xie Qiyan.

Xia Yongqing was not particularly willing to care about the pig that had rooted up his precious cabbage. “I just messaged him yesterday, and now you want me to message him again today? What kind of father-in-law chases after someone like that? You can message Wanzi. I’m not doing it.”

Rose gave a sharp “hey” and smacked him on the arm. “You’re practically an old man already. Why are you still throwing a tantrum? What are you getting jealous of a kid for? Besides, Xie Qiyan is destined to be your future son-in-law. He didn’t have parents to love him growing up. We’re his future parents. Isn’t it only right for parents to care about their child?”

Xia Yongqing smacked his lips, and guilt rose in him at once. But after thinking about it, he still could not bring himself to lose face. He waved a hand and said, “If I ask him whether anything’s wrong, he’ll only say nothing’s wrong. In my opinion, we might as well video-call him. We can see the kid and chat with him too. Isn’t that better than-”

Before he could finish, Rose cut him off. “That’s right! How did I not think of that?”

Two days ago, Xia Wanzhi had said on WeChat that Xie Qiyan was not in a very good state. Although Rose had been worried, she had not dared call. After all, the more Yao Qin’s matter was brought up, the sadder it became. It was better to let Xie Qiyan have some quiet time on his own.

Besides, Xia Wanzhi was there with him. If they showed too much concern, they would only make more trouble.

But today was different. Today, Xia Wanzhi had reported from the front lines that Xie Qiyan was doing much better.

This time, Rose did not hesitate. She immediately placed a video call.

Xia Yongqing let out several hurried “hey, hey, hey”s. “It’s nighttime back home right now…”

“It’s only ten at night. They definitely aren’t asleep.” Rose’s video call had already gone through.

Beicheng’s first snow had stopped yesterday. The haze in Xie Qiyan’s heart had cleared, and his mood had turned into a bright, cloudless day as well.

When Ms. Ross’s video call came in that evening, Xia Wanzhi saw that she cared about Xie Qiyan even more than herself. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she simply switched the camera over to Xie Qiyan. “See for yourselves. I told you he was in a pretty good mood today, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

Xie Qiyan held Xia Wanzhi’s hand and sat closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He took the phone, adjusted the camera again, then held it up high so it faced both him and Xia Wanzhi. “Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

When he thought of how they had even stopped celebrating Christmas because of him, warmth spread through Xie Qiyan’s chest.

When he had found out, he had asked Xia Wanzhi to pass a message to Ms. Ross, telling them to enjoy the holiday properly in the UK. Ms. Ross had sent a voice message straight over, and he had quietly heard it at the time.

Rose had said, “Celebrate what? We’re family. What kind of sense does it make for you two to be all wilted while we celebrate all lively over here? You just stay with your boyfriend. Tell him that if anything happens, he should come to his parents. Maybe we’ll be able to help, right? Don’t carry everything alone.”

In that moment, Xie Qiyan suddenly understood what it meant to have someone at his back.

The support that came from family.

When something happened, family was willing to shoulder it together.

Even at twenty-six, he could still keep being a child.

Because of Xia Wanzhi, he finally had a complete home too.

That was the home Xia Wanzhi had given him.

On the other end of the video, Rose and Xia Yongqing carefully studied Xie Qiyan’s face. Seeing that he really did seem to be in good condition, Rose finally laughed. “My son-in-law really is handsome!”

Xia Yongqing snorted. “Still a little worse than me when I was young.”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

How had he suddenly become their son-in-law…

Even if they were trying to comfort someone, there was no need to go that far.

Xie Qiyan was going to be over the moon.

Xie Qiyan was, in fact, already blooming with joy inside. His gentle voice flowed like a murmuring stream, giving Xia Wanzhi goosebumps as he said,

“I am indeed a little inferior to my father-in-law.” Xie Qiyan was extremely modest.

This time, it was Xia Yongqing’s turn to bloom with joy.

A moment later, he came back to his senses and cursed, “Who the hell is your father-in-law? Too early for that!”
Rose exchanged a glance with Xia Wanzhi and couldn’t be bothered with the two of them. After a few casual words about nothing in particular, Rose finally said solemnly, “Take your time with the search. As long as she’s alive, there’s hope. If you can’t find her in Beicheng, look in Nancheng. If you can’t find her in the country, look overseas.”

Before, this had been Xie Qiyan’s burden alone.

Now, it was something their entire family cared about.

After the video call ended, Xie Qiyan’s heart remained unsettled for a long time.

Xia Wanzhi held Xia Changsheng, who was becoming more and more of a sleepyhead, while she herself curled up in Xie Qiyan’s arms, the back of her head pressed against the fierce beat of his heart.

–

Recently, rumors about the Xie Family had been spreading like wildfire through their circles.

Aside from the sarcastic ridicule directed at Hou Mengqiu, the person people talked about most was Xie Qiyan.

They said that the moment Xie Qiyan came back, the Xie Family had been turned upside down.

They said Xie Corporation was now completely Xie Qiyan’s domain.

After the truth about Hou Mengqiu came out, those who had once called Xie Qiyan an illegitimate child all shrank back like turtles and didn’t dare make a sound. Quite a few people spoke up on Xie Qiyan’s behalf, and others cursed Xie Tianqi as a scumbag who had no sense of decency.

Some also said that among the Four Great Families of Beicheng, the Xie Family’s waters ran the deepest and murkiest.

The Xie Family’s reputation had never been as good as the other families’ to begin with, and now that such a scandal had erupted, they looked even worse compared to the other three.

But Xie Qiyan had no fear of gossip. Even if someone discussed it right in front of him, he remained completely unmoved.

At the end of the year, every company was pushing to hit its performance targets. On the last day of December, Xie Qiyan announced that Xie Corporation had reached a partnership with an overseas company and held a signing ceremony.

For this project, the Four Great Families of Beicheng had all been competitors, but Xie Corporation stood out from the rest and successfully won the bid.

On New Year’s Day, the film and television company under Xie Corporation was officially established, and Xingyao Mall, converted from Xingyao Building, also unveiled its sign that same day.

With this move, Xie Qiyan pulled Xie Corporation’s reputation right back up.

There were still plenty of people who called him ruthless, but none of them could deny his business acumen.

Now that the Xie Family had Xie Qiyan, perhaps one day they really could surge from last place among the Four Great Families straight to the very front.

During dinner on New Year’s night, Jiang Baichuan kept complaining to Xia Wanzhi. “Did something happen to your President Xie? If this keeps up, Xie Corporation is going to monopolize the entire market. Xia Wanzhi, rein him in. He’s going to make enemies like this.”

Xia Wanzhi clinked glasses with Yun Li. The two women exchanged a smile and couldn’t be bothered with the half-drunk Jiang Baichuan.

“Ahem. Did something really happen?” Yun Li lowered her voice and asked Xie Qiyan.

After all, she was Jiang Baichuan’s girlfriend. Yun Li knew how busy Jiang Baichuan had been lately. He and Xie Qiyan were brothers, but they were also competitors-especially with that last bidding project. Xie Corporation had won, and all the effort the other families had put in had come to nothing.

Since her own boyfriend had lost and demanded comfort, and since Yun Li didn’t understand business matters while Jiang Baichuan looked so aggrieved, she had felt just a tiny bit bad for him and comforted him by saying there was no shame in losing to Xie Qiyan.

Xia Wanzhi choked lightly. After glancing at Xie Qiyan, she burst out laughing. “Nothing happened. This is just his normal operating procedure.”

Xie Qiyan could hear what they were saying. Meeting Yun Li’s probing gaze, he nodded in agreement. “Mm. I need to make money to marry my wife.”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Jiang Baichuan gave a derisive laugh. “It’s almost New Year, and I still don’t see you pro-”

Before he could even fully get out the word “proposal,” Xie Qiyan covered it back up with one hand over his mouth.

Jiang Baichuan pushed his hand away and glared as he cursed, “Damn it! Xie Qiyan, you actually used force-”

Xie Qiyan clicked his tongue and wiped his hand with a napkin. “I’m the one who should be disgusted.”

Jiang Baichuan spat twice, then wiped his mouth. “I’m unclean now…”

Xia Wanzhi and Yun Li collapsed laughing off to the side.

Yun Li had astonishingly sharp hearing, and with her little bit of telepathy with Jiang Baichuan, she kept feeling as if she’d missed something. “Did someone just say proposal?”

Xia Wanzhi froze, and her heart tightened. “Huh? I don’t think so…”