Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Xia Wanzhi didn’t know how the news of the broken engagement had spread, but at this moment, what she understood even less was how Xie Tan had managed to invite a great deity like Xie Qiyan to serve as her driver.

Did Xie Tan really have that kind of influence?

Impossible.

Was Xie Qiyan being merciful?

Also impossible.

“Are you here to laugh at me?” Xia Wanzhi had been pulled into the car by Xie Tan. Just as she settled into her seat, she looked up and met Xie Qiyan’s meaningful gaze in the rearview mirror. Though she felt uncertain deep down, she refused to lose face.

“If you’re trying to take advantage of my situation to talk about moving my Studio, don’t bother,” she said. She was exhausted today, her entire body radiating obvious fatigue. Her last bit of energy had been completely spent, leaving behind only a well of resentment.

Capitalists hated uncooperative “Holdouts” like her. Combined with their childhood grievances, she was likely already at the top of Xie Qiyan’s blacklist.

“Sister Wanzi…” Perhaps sensing that Xia Wanzhi’s breathing was a bit heavy, Xie Tan squeezed her hand, her tone carrying a hint of concern.

Xia Wanzhi’s eyelids felt heavy. She closed her eyes and squeezed Xie Tan’s hand back.

Xie Qiyan extinguished his cigar and started the car, not saying a single word from beginning to end.

He drove very steadily. As the car traveled at a constant speed along the elevated highway, the early morning hours felt far removed from the hustle and bustle. The wind brushed past her hair, and her tense nerves inexplicably relaxed a great deal.

Xia Wanzhi merely closed her eyes for a nap, her breathing unconsciously softening. To her, the current atmosphere was actually quite strange.

She felt inexplicably nervous.

She had never imagined that one day she would be sitting in Xie Qiyan’s car, let alone having him act as her driver.

Her current state of misery was as pathetic as that midsummer afternoon during their childhood when she had stumbled upon Xie Qiyan being forced to kneel in the Xie Family courtyard as punishment.

Only this time, the roles were reversed.

He was the one showing kindness.

She was the one being pitied yet remaining ungrateful.

If Old Xia and Ms. Ross were still in Beicheng, if the Xia Group hadn’t run into trouble, none of these subsequent events would have happened.

And Xie Qiyan, perhaps out of respect for the Xia Group, might have relented and allowed her to stay at Xingyao.

The Zhou Family, and even everyone in the illustrious family circle, would have maintained the respect she deserved.

Zhou Yu wouldn’t have turned into the person he was today, either.

But if she hadn’t fallen into these dire straits, she might never have known that people who once greeted her with smiles could one day turn on her with such venomous words.

The drive took just over twenty minutes. Xia Wanzhi didn’t know when she had fallen asleep, but when she woke up, a heavy head was resting on her shoulder.

Xie Tan had fallen asleep too.

She didn’t know how long the car had been parked in front of the Xie Family residence. Sparse light and shadows from outside filtered in. Xia Wanzhi looked up and noticed that the person in the driver’s seat hadn’t left yet.

“Since you’re awake, get out,” Xie Qiyan glanced at the rearview mirror, his voice slightly deep. “Shake Xie Tan awake.”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Since she was on his turf, Xia Wanzhi had no choice but to comply. Without a word, she gently shook Xie Tan’s shoulder. “Xie Tan, we’re home.”

Children sleep soundly, and waking them up takes some effort. Xia Wanzhi had never woken a child before; after a few failed attempts, she instinctively glanced toward Xie Qiyan.

Why did this feel so awkward?

Xie Qiyan turned on the interior lights. Xia Wanzhi raised a hand to shield her eyes until they adjusted. When she lowered her hand, she saw that Xie Qiyan had already gotten out of the car and was walking toward the back seat.

He didn’t go around to Xie Tan’s side. Instead, he stopped right by Xia Wanzhi, briskly opening the door and looking down at her from his height.

Xia Wanzhi looked up at him, her breath hitching inexplicably.

“Aren’t you getting out?” Xie Qiyan’s expression remained unchanged. Before Xia Wanzhi could react, he added, “Do you need me to invite you?”
Xia Wanzhi fell silent for a moment. “I can’t afford that.”

As soon as she stepped out of the car, Xie Tan, who had been leaning against her, slumped over, sleeping haphazardly.

Xie Qiyan’s gaze was cold. Once Xia Wanzhi was out, he leaned down slightly, reaching halfway into the car.

Just as Xia Wanzhi thought he was going to carry Xie Tan out like a good older brother, Xie Qiyan’s broad palm landed on the girl, and he began to shake her vigorously. His movements were so rough it looked like he was trying to scramble her brains.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

How crude.

How vulgar.

How heartless.

Shaking her like that was practically snatching a person away from the Duke of Zhou.

Xie Tan was jolted awake. “Is it an earthquake?”

She was about to lose her temper, but the moment she opened her eyes and saw it was Xie Qiyan, she immediately swallowed her anger and hopped down from the car with a piteous expression.

Not fully awake yet, she reached out and hugged Xia Wanzhi, complaining casually, “Sister Wanzi, you need to deal with him. Is he even human?”

Xia Wanzhi’s lips twitched slightly.

She wasn’t his anything; how could she possibly control him?

“He’s not a person, he’s a dog. Just act like you got scratched by a dog’s paw; we won’t lower ourselves to his level.” The two of them, one big and one small, walked ahead hand-in-hand. Xia Wanzhi spoke very softly, but in the dead of night at this distance, it was hard for Xie Qiyan not to hear.

The young girl had small steps and walked slowly. He followed behind, not in any hurry. Occasionally, when he got closer, he could faintly catch a whiff of a delicate gardenia fragrance.

A while later, after Xie Tan had changed into her pajamas, she couldn’t keep her eyelids from drooping and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Xia Wanzhi adjusted the air conditioning temperature and hesitated for a moment as she came over to tuck her in. She decided to ask anyway: “Xie Tan, don’t sleep yet. Get up and tell me-how did you find out about me breaking off the engagement with your cousin?”

Xie Tan rolled over, her lips moving, but she didn’t answer.

Xia Wanzhi pinched her cheek. In truth, she already had an answer in her heart. She said helplessly, “You little brat, you’re quite something, aren’t you? Now you’re even making the decisions to bring your sister home.”

Hearing this, Xie Tan forced her eyes open to reply, “It wasn’t me. It was Brother.”

Xia Wanzhi froze, taking a long moment to react. “What did you say?”

“Sleepy…” Xie Tan’s eyes closed heavily. “Brother was the one who decided…”

The girl was completely asleep now. No matter what questions Xia Wanzhi asked afterward, there was no response.

The world seemed to fall into a heavy silence. Xia Wanzhi sat on the edge of the bed, running through a thousand and one reasons, but she couldn’t find a single logical one.

What exactly was Xie Qiyan trying to do?

Pity her?

Like the way she had pitied him when they first met as children?

Unable to solve the puzzle, she walked toward the door, intending to ask him directly. But just as she reached it, a knock sounded from the other side.

The door was pushed open.

Their eyes met. Xia Wanzhi blinked and then slowly looked away. “What is it?”

“Go sleep in the guest room next door. Xie Tan’s bed is small; I don’t want you crushing her.” His words fell alongside two boxes he handed over. Xie Qiyan turned and left immediately. By the time Xia Wanzhi snapped out of it, he had already disappeared around the corner.

Xia Wanzhi weighed the two stacked boxes in her hands. When she opened them and saw they contained clothes, she found Xie Qiyan even more impossible to read.

The guest room next door had its own bathroom and was fully stocked with daily necessities. Perhaps the servants had specially prepared it. It certainly made things much more convenient. After Xia Wanzhi finished washing up and sat on the edge of the bed, a strange sensation washed over her.

She had gotten into Xie Qiyan’s car.

And now she was in Xie Qiyan’s bed?

*Pah, pah, pah!*

Xia Wanzhi shook her head, startled into a sitting position by her own neurotic internal summary.

What did she mean, ‘Xie Qiyan’s bed’? This was clearly the Xie Family’s bed.

There was a massive difference.