Chapter 153

Chapter 153

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xie Qiyan only waited for the Old Master to introduce Xia Wanzhi to this batch of relatives before he planned to take her away.

The Old Master knew he couldn’t make him stay, so he didn’t try. Otherwise, Xie Qiyan would likely turn hostile on the spot and never come back for any future holidays.

Today, all three members of the Zhou Family had come to the Xie Family.

Though Zhou Yu stood in the crowd and only looked over from a distance, his gaze was far too obvious for Xia Wanzhi not to notice.

Zhou Yu’s expression was desolate, his eyes filled with unwillingness and regret, as if he were hoping Xia Wanzhi would look his way, even once, from afar.

But Xia Wanzhi faced the others with calm composure. A faint smile remained on her lips, and her eyes sincerely met the gazes of the other relatives. From beginning to end, however, she did not spare him a single glance.

She was not even willing to look at him anymore.

Only when Zhou’s Mother pinched his arm did Zhou Yu come back to himself and continue maintaining his dignified front.

When he looked again in Xia Wanzhi’s direction, she was already gone.

“Grandpa, Big Brother and Sister-in-law went off for some alone time!” Xie Tan appeared out of some corner in a whirlwind. As she passed Zhou Yu, she stepped right onto his polished leather shoe. Her voice was loud enough to smoke, and with that shout, everyone in the room knew Xie Qiyan had left with his newlywed wife.

“You little brat, you…”

Zhou Yu’s expression darkened, and he stopped Zhou’s Mother, who had been about to scold Xie Tan for being rude.

Now, he and the Zhou Family were even less welcome than the collateral relatives of the Xie Family.

And Xie Tan was the legitimate eldest young lady of the Xie Family, not to mention she had Xie Qiyan and Xia Wanzhi backing her up.

Even if she truly bullied them to their faces, they could only swallow it in silence.

Xie Qiyan was the Head of the Xie Family, yet on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he had abandoned a whole group of relatives instead of hosting them. It was inevitable that people would think he had no regard for anyone.

By all rights, Old Master Xie, who had always valued rules and etiquette, should have been furious.

But at that moment, the Old Master only gave an awkward smile, showing exceptional indulgence toward his eldest grandson and granddaughter-in-law. He waved a hand and said, “Let them be. Young people these days all have their own ways of celebrating the New Year.”

After saying that, he glanced at Xie Tan, who had deliberately caused such a commotion.

Xie Qiyan had said early that morning that he was leaving. The Old Master had already prepared to turn a blind eye, and he had never intended to give this group of relatives any explanation. Who would have thought Xie Tan would announce it so dramatically?

All he could do was brace himself and dote on his grandson’s wife.

In that instant, Zhou Yu’s face dimmed completely.

Xia Wanzhi had left.

Perhaps she had left because she did not want to see him.

At that very moment outside the Xie Family’s front gate, Xie Qiyan turned the car around. Xia Wanzhi replied to Yun Li’s messages while cheerfully opening the door and climbing into the passenger seat, her face blooming with a bright smile. She pointed ahead in a gesture of departure and declared, “Destination ahead: the Jiang family-”

Xie Qiyan steered with one hand, while his free hand reached over to touch the back of Xia Wanzhi’s neck. “That happy?”

Xia Wanzhi was overjoyed. She moved his hand away, signaling for him to focus on driving. “Happy. Of course I’m happy.”

She was happy to witness Yun Li’s happiness, happy to have made a group of new friends, and also happy that Jiang Baichuan had invited Xie Qiyan to the Jiang family for the New Year.

Xia Wanzhi knew Xie Qiyan was not happy spending the New Year at the Xie Family.

Faced with so many unfamiliar relatives, Xia Wanzhi hadn’t really felt any festive atmosphere either.

It hadn’t been as enjoyable as Little New Year’s Eve last time.

But Ms. Ross managed such a massive corporation overseas. Even when she had returned to Beicheng for Little New Year’s Eve last time, she had still been working online across time zones. On top of that, Richard and Qiao Shu were getting on in years, and Xia Wanzhi did not want them to travel such a long way back just to spend the New Year with her.

Unlike the Xie Family, the Xia Family had always had very few relatives. From childhood to adulthood, Xia Wanzhi had always spent holidays with her parents.

And happiness was what truly made a holiday meaningful.

Jiang Baichuan had invited not only Xie Qiyan, but also those two from the Qu Family. The Lu Family and the Jiang family were related by marriage, so they would definitely be there too. With that, the little Beicheng squad would be complete again.

Her phone kept vibrating nonstop. Yun Li was frantically sending messages, crying for help to ease her nerves. But ten minutes later, the messages stopped. Xia Wanzhi guessed she had probably stepped through the Jiang family’s front door.
“This is so nice.” The weather was lovely today. Xia Wanzhi spread her palm against the car window, the light in her eyes as bright as the sun.

A smile touched Xie Qiyan’s brows as he tapped open a playlist and casually put on a song.

They were all songs Xia Wanzhi liked.

After half an hour’s drive, they arrived at Weishui Compound. The two had just gotten out and were about to take the New Year’s gifts from the trunk when an eye-catching, diamond-studded Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up and stopped behind them.

“Wanzi!” The window on the driver’s side of the Rolls-Royce rolled down, and Feng Lingling, wife of Qu Corporation’s president Qu Fan, leaned out and waved enthusiastically.

“Lingling!” Xia Wanzhi replied with just as much enthusiasm.

Behind them, Qu Huai and Le Rao’s family car followed closely after.

The adults got out of their cars in high spirits. Xia Wanzhi took a closer look and saw two miniature versions of Qu Fan trailing right behind Feng Lingling.

Then she looked again and saw Le Rao coming over from the back with her daughter, introducing her to Xia Wanzhi.

In no time at all, the three women had linked arms and were walking inside, chatting and laughing, with the children following close behind. That left the three men looking at one another. In the end, they tactfully picked up the New Year’s gifts and followed.

The house was bustling with noise and excitement. The entire Lu Family had arrived long ago. Before the adults could even begin exchanging greetings, a group of children eagerly greeted them first, rattling off festive New Year’s wishes.

Xia Wanzhi nervously pinched her fingers together. She instinctively wanted to look back for Xie Qiyan, only to find that he had already stepped up beside her and freed one hand to hold hers.

Seeing this, Le Rao smiled and said to the young couple, “Don’t be nervous. We’re all family here. It’s the children’s first time seeing such a pretty auntie, so they might be a little enthusiastic.”

Xia Wanzhi burst into laughter. Through the crowd, her eyes met Yun Li’s, which looked as if she had finally found her savior.

The moment she entered, Xia Wanzhi really had been a little nervous. One could only imagine how overwhelmed Yun Li must have felt in the face of this much warmth.

After all, she had already met the parents. No matter how one put it, Yun Li was practically the Jiang family’s future daughter-in-law.

And it was only natural for a future daughter-in-law to feel nervous on her first visit.

“You’re finally here.” Jiang Baichuan had a clear target in mind. Ignoring the other two old acquaintances, he treated Xie Qiyan and Xia Wanzhi as today’s guests of honor.

Taking the things from Xie Qiyan’s hands, Jiang Baichuan patted him on the shoulder and got straight to the point. “I’m borrowing your wife to keep my girlfriend company and help her relax. Thank you, thank you.”

He knew Yun Li was nervous. He had thought about this moment for a long time and looked forward to it for just as long. He was afraid his family would be too enthusiastic and scare Yun Li away, and he was also afraid she would feel too much pressure.

Jiang Baichuan looked at Xia Wanzhi with devout eyes. “Please, please.”

Xia Wanzhi couldn’t help laughing and nodded in understanding.

There were too many people. Jiang Baichuan was being pestered by the children, had guests to entertain, and still needed to keep an eye on his girlfriend. For a moment, he was stretched thin. Xie Qiyan patted him on the shoulder and simply brought Xia Wanzhi over to greet Old Master Jiang and Jiang Xing.

Jiang Yourong came downstairs, ordering Nan Qiyue’s son and daughter to help her carry over a messy pile of things. “Sister-in-law, come here, come here. I’ve got something good to show you!”

This “something good” looked suspiciously like Jiang Baichuan’s embarrassing past. His expression turned a little stiff, but when he turned and saw Xia Wanzhi pulling Yun Li over with great interest, he had no choice but to flee straight to the kitchen.

Old Master Jiang was already advanced in years. He and Jiang Baichuan’s father, Jiang Xing, sat off to the side, watching the lively younger generation from afar. Most of their attention fell on Yun Li.

The two spoke quietly.

“That girl is gentle.”

Jiang Xing smiled. “I wouldn’t have guessed that boy liked the gentle type.”

The Old Master was extremely pleased. “She suits Xiaochuan. Look at your son. He’s become so much gentler under her influence.”

Thinking of Jiang Baichuan’s usual attitude toward Nan Qiyue and Jiang Yourong, Jiang Xing clicked his tongue. “Finally, someone who can keep him in line.”