Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Snow was falling heavily in the UK. The day after Xie Qiyan finished handling his business affairs, he paid a visit to his future in-laws.

Outside the Becker Family estate, snow had gathered on Xie Qiyan’s shoulders. His right hand was red from the cold as he held his phone to his ear, listening carefully to the instructions coming from the other end.

“I understand,” Xie Qiyan said, committing it all to memory.

The other end fell silent for a moment, then the voice lowered. “I’m getting on in years. I can’t sit through a flight anymore. Otherwise, I…”

“It’s all right.” Xie Qiyan lifted his head and watched the crystalline snowflakes drift down. Something in his heart seemed to finally let go. He answered the person on the phone, “Grandpa, your intentions-my future father-in-law and mother-in-law will understand.”

Old Master Xie remained quiet for a long time, until Xie Qiyan finally ended the call himself.

On the other end, a surprised smile appeared on the old man’s weathered face. He raised a slightly trembling hand and wiped away the dampness at the corner of his eye.

After all this time, this was the only phone call between grandfather and grandson that had lasted more than ten minutes.

Inside the estate, Ms. Ross kept glancing outside. Since they had known in advance that their future son-in-law was coming, the entire family had stayed home today to receive him.

Richard and Qiao Shu had put on their reading glasses and were sharing a tablet, leaning close together as they browsed Xie Qiyan’s Weibo with lingering interest.

Both of them were romantics. Their eyes curved with delight as they read, the corners of their mouths lifting slightly, and every so often they whispered teasing comments to each other. It was easy to see how satisfied the two elders were with this grandson-in-law.

Only Xia Yongqing sat off to one side with a stern face, ramrod straight, putting on the full air of a father-in-law.

“Stop looking like you have some deep grudge against the world. If you don’t like your son-in-law, who exactly do you plan on liking?” Ms. Ross really couldn’t stand it anymore. She came over, added two packets of sugar to his coffee, then handed it back and forced him to drink it.

Xia Yongqing gave a cold snort, still wearing that icy expression. The thought that his precious daughter had proposed to someone without even telling her family made him uncomfortable.

More importantly, Xia Wanzhi had told Rose about the proposal but not him. That made him even more uncomfortable.

Before Xie Qiyan appeared, the man his daughter admired most and liked best had been him, her old father.

But now, he, the old father, had long since been pushed aside by Xie Qiyan.

“A few Weibo posts, and they’ve got you all completely bewitched,” Xia Yongqing said, irritation rising in him.

Richard was still savoring the contents of Xie Qiyan’s Weibo. Hearing Xia Yongqing’s words, he gave a little huff. “This grandson-in-law of mine is far better than you were back then.”

Xia Yongqing: “…”

Ms. Ross held back a laugh and added the finishing blow. “See? Young Xie won over Father in less than half a year. You took three years back then.”

Xia Yongqing: “…”

He took a sip of coffee. It was sickeningly sweet. Feeling even more displeased, Xia Yongqing put down the cup and got up, intending to go outside for some air, feel the chill, and incidentally see whether the pig who had rooted up his family’s little cabbage had arrived yet.

He had just risen to his feet when he saw a servant leading someone through the door.

Xia Yongqing paused, tugged at his tie, and sat back down.

Rose and Qiao Shu both brightened and immediately stood to welcome him.

Richard, meanwhile, slowly took off his glasses and looked over with a smile, waiting for Xie Qiyan to call him Grandfather.

“You’re freezing, aren’t you? Your hands are all red.” Rose accepted the gifts he had brought, handed them to a servant to take aside, then instructed another servant to bring over a clean towel. Looking at Xie Qiyan with kindly warmth, she said, “Wipe the snow from your hair. Sit down and have some tea to warm yourself up.”

Rose was five foot seven and wearing heels as well. When she took the towel from the servant, she reached straight up and wrapped it over Xie Qiyan’s head.

With her long arms and legs, she could just reach.

Xie Qiyan was deeply touched. He had originally wanted to take the towel and wipe it himself, but in that moment he froze where he stood, staring blankly at Rose.

He had already forgotten what it felt like to be cared for by an elder.

From where Xia Yongqing sat, he was facing him directly. Taking a deep breath, he withdrew his gaze, busied himself with the tea set on the table, and poured a cup of hot tea. Only after Rose had finished wiping the snow off Xie Qiyan did he finally speak at an unhurried pace.

“Come over and have some tea with me.”
Xie Qiyan greeted everyone in turn. When addressing Richard and Qiao Shu, he used respectful forms, calling them Mr. Richard and Ms. Qiao Shu. When he addressed Xia Yongqing and Rose, he called them Uncle and Auntie.

Richard, who had been waiting for his future grandson-in-law to call him Grandpa, froze. He looked at the polite, well-mannered young man before him in confusion.

The last time they had met, this boy had been very good at pushing his luck.

Xia Yongqing shared the same bewilderment as his father-in-law. Though he maintained an expression that said he couldn’t stand Xie Qiyan, when he heard that cool, distant “Uncle,” a faint displeasure still rose in his heart.

Only Rose and Qiao Shu exchanged a glance, the smiles in their eyes deepening.

This formality represented his respect and courtesy.

The more proper he was, the more it proved that what he had come to discuss today was something very important.

“Sit down first. Have you had breakfast?” Ms. Qiao Shu asked Xie Qiyan with a gentle smile.

As Xie Qiyan sat down, he noticed the cup of tea his future father-in-law had pushed toward him. Smiling, he picked it up and took a few sips to moisten his throat, still every inch composed and proper. In a warm voice, he said, “I have.”

All four pairs of eyes landed on him. Xie Qiyan had come here with a purpose today, so he did not beat around the bush. He stood and picked up the bright red gift bag that had been set aside. Inside was the betrothal letter Old Master Xie had personally transcribed.

The folding betrothal letter listed the betrothal gifts, and when unfolded, it stretched a full meter long.

Rose opened the letter and recognized Old Master Xie’s handwriting. She asked Xie Qiyan, “What is this?”

“My sincerity in asking to marry Wanzi.” Xie Qiyan’s fingertips curled slightly. In this moment, he had none of his usual aloofness, none of his customary calm and indifference. He sat upright, the fingertips resting on his knees trembling faintly.

Right now, he was only an ordinary man working hard to marry the woman he loved.

Facing the elders and parents of the person he loved, he would feel nervous. He would feel at a loss.

He spoke directly. After hearing him, Rose looked at Qiao Shu, and mother and daughter smiled at each other.

Richard reached out, signaling for Rose to hand him the betrothal letter. He narrowed his eyes and read it for quite a while. The farther down he read, the harder it became to hide the smile in his eyes.

“This is your sincerity?” Richard asked.

“The betrothal letter was written by my grandfather at home. It represents my sincerity, and also the sincerity of the Xie Family,” Xie Qiyan said clearly. In marrying Xia Wanzhi, he was not fighting alone.

When both families were willing, that was a match blessed by heaven.

Old Master writing the betrothal letter by hand meant he acknowledged this future granddaughter-in-law and intended to form an alliance by marriage with the Xia Family. And these generous betrothal gifts represented the Xie Family’s regard for Xia Wanzhi and for this marriage. They meant that after Xia Wanzhi married into the Xie Family, the Xie Family would never allow her to suffer the slightest grievance.

Richard held on to the betrothal letter and did not let go. Xia Yongqing could hardly reach out and ask for it, so he could only stand and lean over to read.

There were two different sets of handwriting in the letter. The first half was the Xie Family’s sincerity, while the second half…

Listed every asset Xie Qiyan owned.

Xia Yongqing froze as he read it, then subconsciously glanced at Xie Qiyan.

This was far more than sincerity. This was him trying to hand over both his fortune and his life to their family.

With a complicated expression, Xia Yongqing returned to his seat and picked up his teacup, wanting to take a sip.

The cup was empty. He set it back down, only to see Xie Qiyan very tactfully pick up the teapot and pour him tea.

Xia Yongqing: “…”

Since he had already gone this far, Xia Yongqing did not know what to say.

He had nothing left to say.

Before this, he had blamed his daughter for not being reserved enough. Marriage was a major life decision, and he blamed her for settling on someone for life without discussing it with her family.

But now, seeing that his daughter had not been let down, seeing someone go to such lengths in order to marry his daughter, and feeling the overwhelming sincerity of this future son-in-law, all his dissatisfaction and stubborn resentment vanished in an instant.

There were not many people in the world who could go this far.

And the person who could make Xia Wanzhi abandon her reserve and restraint, hold up a ring, and propose with such passion-perhaps in this lifetime, there would only ever be Xie Qiyan.