Chapter 22

Chapter 22

News of Zhou Yu and Xia Wanzhi calling off their engagement spread like wildfire the next day.

Zhou’s Mother was a notorious gossip; the news had likely leaked from the Zhou Family as early as the previous night. Otherwise, Xie Qiyan and Xie Tan wouldn’t have known she was homeless.

Xia Wanzhi was having breakfast with Xie Tan in the small dining room of the South Courtyard.

The South Courtyard was Xie Qiyan’s residence. Xie Tan hadn’t lived here before, but last month, the wife of the Xie Family Third Branch suddenly found out she was pregnant. Xie Tan had always been afraid of her young stepmother, and now that the woman was pregnant, she naturally wouldn’t have any energy left to care about Xie Tan.

So, Xie Tan had boldly clung to Xie Qiyan’s leg and begged. After getting his permission, she moved directly into the South Courtyard to live with him.

Listening to Xie Tan’s incessant chatter about the Xie Family’s affairs, Xia Wanzhi mused that Third Uncle Xie must be at least fifty this year, yet he was still capable of fathering a child.

“How old is your stepmother?” Xia Wanzhi tore off a corner of her bread and took small bites, her eyes sparkling with gossip.

Xie Tan thought for a moment. “In her thirties? Not quite forty yet, I’m not entirely sure.”

Xia Wanzhi’s eyes widened.

“Still in the mood to gossip about other people’s families? It seems Miss Xia isn’t so trapped by her feelings that she’s looking for a way to end it all,” Xie Qiyan said, appearing behind them like a ghost. He was dressed in a formal suit, having just returned from somewhere early in the morning.

He washed his hands, ground a cup of coffee, and walked over to sit beside Xie Tan. Compared to his usual self, the arch of his brows was slightly higher today, lacking some of his usual ‘King of Hell’ gloom.

It was as if he had encountered something good.

After all, high spirits follow a happy event.

For something to make the King of Hell happy, it had to be a monumental occasion.

However, Xia Wanzhi didn’t understand the basis for his “end it all” comment. When one is wronged, one must seek justice, so she asked coolly, “Are you crazy, or am I losing it? Why on earth would I want to die?”

Xie Qiyan didn’t even look up at her. He snatched the jam jar from Xie Tan’s hand and screwed the lid shut. After giving Xie Tan a warning look, he stirred his coffee, his voice low. “Grandpa found out about you breaking off the engagement with the Zhou Family last night. He’s quite worried about you. Go see him in a little while.”

At this explanation, Xia Wanzhi’s eyes suddenly lit up. The question that had puzzled her all night was finally answered.

So, it was the Xie Family patriarch who was worried she’d be too distraught and asked Xie Qiyan to pick her up!

She had wondered why Xie Qiyan would ever take the initiative to bring Xie Tan along to fetch her and let her stay the night at the Xie residence. It turned out he was acting on someone else’s instructions.

Relieved, Xia Wanzhi’s complexion seemed to improve significantly. She reached out to take the jam jar, intending to twist it open for another sandwich, but after several moments of struggling with the lid, it wouldn’t budge.

Remembering who had tightened the lid, her temper flared. She looked up and glared at Xie Qiyan.

Xie Tan, who had been watching Xia Wanzhi intently while biting her fork, saw Xia Wanzhi’s expression and took the hint. She nudged Xie Qiyan. “Brother, Sister Wanzi wants some jam.”

Xie Qiyan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Am I stopping her?”

*Thud-*

Xia Wanzhi’s temper spiked. She slammed the jam jar onto the table and gave up.

“I’m not eating it anymore,” Xia Wanzhi said, wiping her hands. She had used too much force trying to open the lid, and her palms were bright red.

Xie Qiyan stared at her for a few seconds and let out a light scoff. “Quite a temper.”

Xie Tan’s eyes didn’t leave the jam jar. She sat there obediently with bread in her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Xie Qiyan patted Xie Tan’s head. “Is the bread good?”

Xie Tan answered honestly, “It’s a bit dry.”

“Do you want jam?” Xie Qiyan asked.

Xie Tan nodded quickly. “Yes.”

And so, right in front of Xia Wanzhi, Xie Qiyan effortlessly twisted the lid of the jam jar open.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

“Sister Wanzi, here.” Xie Tan scooped out a large spoonful for Xia Wanzhi.
Xia Wanzhi kept a stiff face, hesitating for a few seconds before taking the jam, spreading it on a slice of bread, and eating it with a grit of her teeth.

She didn’t spare Xie Qiyan another glance the entire time, nor did she utter a single word.

As soon as she left, Xie Tan swung her legs and shared a cheeky observation with Xie Qiyan. “Sister Wanzi is in a good mood today.”

Xie Qiyan ignored her for a good while before finally responding, “How can you tell?”

Xie Tan pointed at the jam. “She ate so much jam and bread. She especially loves sweets when she’s in a good mood.”

Xie Qiyan let out a sudden, cold chuckle. “So you’re saying she’s quite happy about breaking off the engagement?”

“Hard to say, but she’s in a better mood than last night.” Xie Tan snuck another spoonful of jam while the lid was still off. To avoid getting scolded, she kept talking to Xie Qiyan. “Brother, didn’t Grandpa go to bed at eight last night? How did he find out about Sister Wanzi breaking off her engagement?”

“Just eat your jam.” Xie Qiyan stood up and left. After leaving the South Courtyard, he headed toward the Front Courtyard. Upon entering, he saw Xia Wanzhi chatting happily with the Old Master.

Twenty years ago, before Xie Tan was born, there were no girls in the Xie Family. Back then, the Old Master adored Xia Wanzhi, who would visit during the holidays.

At that time, the Old Master had already hoped that Xia Wanzhi would marry into the Xie Family when she grew up, even joking that she could take her pick of any man from the Xie Family’s current generation.

Xie Qiyan didn’t know what happened after that.

It was only after returning to the country that he discovered the precious daughter of the Xia Family had somehow become Zhou Yu’s fiancée.

Though she hadn’t changed her way of addressing the Old Master from ‘Grandpa Xie’ to just ‘Grandpa,’ her marriage to Zhou Yu would have forced her to call Xie Qiyan ‘Uncle.’

However, it seemed even ‘Uncle’ was off the table now.

“Wanzi,” the Old Master said, his hands resting on his cane, his tone filled with concern. “Did you suffer some grievance at the Zhou Family?”

Seeing Xia Wanzhi shake her head, he asked again, “Was that brat Zhou Yu unkind to you?”

Xia Wanzhi shook her head again.

“Then why did you break off the engagement?”

Xia Wanzhi waited a moment before answering, “I just don’t like him anymore.”

Hearing this, the Old Master sighed helplessly. “Very well. Being happy is what matters most. Regarding your family’s situation, I originally wanted to help, but your parents weren’t willing to accept it…”

When the Xia Family first ran into trouble, he had approached Xia Yongqing and his wife, offering a sum of money to help them through the crisis, but they had refused.

A few days later, news broke that the Xia parents had left their daughter behind and fled abroad to escape their debts.

The court froze all assets under the Xia Family’s name to settle the debts, leaving Xia Wanzhi homeless. At the time, the Old Master had wanted to bring her into the Xie Family home, but Xia Wanzhi had chosen to move into the Zhou Family residence instead.

And now, after such a short time, the engagement was off.

The Old Master’s eyes looked weathered, filled with heartache as he looked at Xia Wanzhi. “Where are your parents? Have they contacted you?”

Xia Wanzhi hadn’t mentioned her parents’ whereabouts to anyone, but facing the Old Master now, she couldn’t bring herself to hide it. “They’re at my maternal grandfather’s house. They’re fine.”

As for the debts they owed…

There was a time limit on the repayment schedule. When the deadlines approached, her maternal grandfather would always step in.

Xia Wanzhi had never worried about that issue.

“That’s good, that’s good. Then you…” The Old Master’s voice carried a hint of a probe.

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips and smiled. “They didn’t abandon me. I was the one who didn’t want to go abroad, and the reason was Zhou Yu.”

Zhou Yu was one of the reasons, and a very significant one at that.

But now, he wasn’t anymore.

“Then what are your plans for the future? Going abroad to find them?” the Old Master asked, getting to the point.

Xia Wanzhi gave an ambiguous answer. “I’ll see how my work goes first.”

At the door, Xie Qiyan gave a soft, mocking huff. He shifted his step back and turned to leave.