Chapter 143

Chapter 143

The day before Little New Year’s Eve, the sky was clear for miles. Warm winter sunlight poured down, embracing everything with open arms.

Qingcheng Villa was bustling with life. A whole group of people carried bags and gifts inside, and the only thing missing from the villa was a giant Double Happiness character pasted on the door.

Richard and Qiao Shu had lived abroad for many years. Now that they were back in the country, the two elders were actually cuddled together in the sun.

On the terrace upstairs, they listened to the younger generation teasing and laughing below, both wearing peaceful smiles, as if the years had been nothing but kind.

They weren’t needed to greet the guests. Neither were Xia Yongqing and Rose.

The man and woman of the house now were Xie Qiyan and Xia Wanzhi.

Most of the visitors were from the younger generation. They claimed they were here to congratulate Xie Qiyan, but in truth, they had come to pay a visit to the highly respected Mr. Richard of the Becker Family.

The news that Ms. Ross had brought her parents to Beicheng had not been made public, so it went without saying that everyone showing up with gifts today had gotten the information through connections.

As far as they knew, the only person who was close to their daughter was Yun Li.

As for the rest…

Xia Yongqing rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue every now and then, looking as if he found the whole thing unbelievable. He let out a long breath, then clicked his tongue again in bafflement. “Back then, we only had a bit of contact with the Xie Family because of my grandfather’s connection with Old Master Xie. How did our Wanzi…”

Ms. Ross glanced down at the dense crowd below and asked with a smile, “How did she what?”

Xia Yongqing looked complicated. “She’s really something. The people from the Four Great Families of Beicheng are all here.”

Rose leaned against the railing and looked down a few more times. After recognizing a few faces and doing a rough count in her head, she let out a surprised sound. “Well, would you look at that. They really are.”

“That boy has quite the network. I’ve never seen our Wanzi make this many friends before,” Xia Yongqing couldn’t help lamenting.

Rose gave a soft snort. “Now you know to appreciate your son-in-law?”

Xia Yongqing: “…”

In the enormous living room, Xia Wanzhi and Jiang Baichuan stared at each other, wide-eyed. If they had to name the reason such a large crowd had shown up today, it was all because of Jiang Baichuan.

Yun Li coughed and took the initiative to block Jiang Baichuan, giving Xia Wanzhi an apologetic look. “My fault, my fault…”

Xia Wanzhi had never had many friends growing up. After high school, she had gotten to know Yun Li. Although they did not meet often, Rose and Xia Yongqing knew the two were close, and even after only meeting Yun Li a few times, they treated her like a goddaughter.

This time, when Rose returned, she mentioned Yun Li, so Xia Wanzhi directly invited Yun Li and Jiang Baichuan over for a meal as well, thinking Yun Li could also introduce Jiang Baichuan properly.

Who would have thought Jiang Baichuan would get so smug that he smugly let the news slip?

Being able to share a meal with Mr. Richard of the Becker Family was a tremendous opportunity.

So, through Jiang Baichuan’s connection, people from the Lu Family came. And because the Lu Family had a good relationship with the Qu Family, the Qu Family came too.

Aside from wanting to visit Richard, most of them were even more eager to meet Richard’s wife, Ms. Qiao Shu-

The highly respected and renowned master of traditional Chinese painting who had long since withdrawn from public affairs.

Probably feeling guilty, Jiang Baichuan slunk off to the side, only to see Xie Qiyan looking as gentle and cheerful as a spring breeze.

“You’re actually not trying to murder me with your eyes?” Jiang Baichuan looked up and saw Ms. Ross smiling down from upstairs. He wondered if Xie Qiyan was only putting on an act because the elders were present.

Xie Qiyan glanced at him. “Why would I murder you? They’re all here to congratulate me.”

Jiang Baichuan: “…”

“Wanzi isn’t blaming you. You just didn’t tell her in advance, so she’s worried she won’t entertain everyone properly.” Xie Qiyan decided Jiang Baichuan was in the way, so he pulled him aside and went to stand beside Xia Wanzhi to greet the guests together.

And, while he was at it, listen to wave after wave of congratulations.

“Congratulations, congratulations! Congratulations to Teacher Mu Xia for finally getting what you wanted.” Jiang Yourong generously stuffed a tote bag into Xia Wanzhi’s hands and smiled at her and Xie Qiyan. “These are letters from your CP fans. I collected them all and brought them over for you. Consider it a gift.”

In just a few short days, Jiang Yourong had already become a veteran diehard fan, charging at the very front to help Xie Qiyan manage those millions of followers.

Xia Wanzhi felt as if the bag was burning her hands. She looked up and met the gazes of Nan Qiyue beside her, as well as Le Rao, Feng Lingling, and Jian Cheng, whom she had only met a few times. Thinking back to how they had introduced themselves as fans of Muxia Wanzi the moment they came in, heat instantly flooded her face.

From embarrassment.

Jiang Yourong draped an arm over her shoulders, blinked, and said to Xie Qiyan, “Teacher Mu Xia, you should go entertain that group of men. I’ve got things here. I won’t let your Xiao Wanzi feel awkward. Besides, Wanzi is my sister-in-law’s best friend, so we’re all family.”

Everyone looked knowingly toward Yun Li and Jiang Baichuan, hoping the two of them would hurry up and make things official too.

Suddenly being called out, Yun Li gave a light cough and tried her best to keep smiling. “…”

All at once, she understood Xia Wanzhi’s social death.

At last, the elders upstairs came down one after another, successfully shifting everyone’s attention away from teasing the soon-to-be engaged couple.

Yun Li was the first to react. She called out briskly, “Uncle, Auntie, please sit, please sit…”

Please help redirect the fire.

Xia Wanzhi gave Ms. Ross a faint, resentful look, thinking that her mother must have seen her embarrassing display just now.

Only after watching enough of the fun had this mother of hers finally hurried downstairs.

Ms. Ross caught her daughter’s gaze but only smiled without saying a word. She winked at her, that look seeming to say, With your man here, what are you afraid of?

Xia Wanzhi shifted her gaze to Xie Qiyan.

That dog Xie Qiyan was still enjoying everyone else’s congratulations.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”