Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Not long after the trending topics about the Eldest Miss of the Xia Family keeping a kept man and her broken engagement had died down, news that the Xia Family had paid off their eight hundred million debt surged to the top of the hot search list.

The repayment certificate, officially stamped by the court, went viral across the internet in a blaze of glory.

This news came so suddenly that the first people to explode-even before the netizens-were the group of playboy heirs and socialites from the elite families who had previously spat vitriol at the Xia Family.

“Mom, what do we do…” Zhou Yu stared at the headlines in disbelief. He lost his composure the moment he realized Xia Wanzhi’s parents had already returned from abroad.

They would definitely come to settle the score with him.

Definitely…

Zhou’s Mother was also pacing back and forth in a state of high anxiety. She was overcome with regret when she recalled her attitude toward Xia Wanzhi over the past three months.

“Eight hundred million is no small sum. How could Xia Yongqing and Ms. Ross produce that much money in just three months…”

The Xia Family had turned the tables far too quickly.

Zhou’s Father maintained a detached, indifferent expression. He had already decided that if Xia Yongqing came to settle the score, he would simply have to take responsibility for the mistake.

His twenty-year friendship with Xia Yongqing had vanished the moment he allowed his wife and son to mistreat Xia Wanzhi.

While some were worried, others were overjoyed. Once Xia Wanzhi’s personal coffers were liberated, she happily munched on two crispy chicken drumsticks.

Because Old Xia and Ms. Ross had returned to the country, Old Master Xie specially hosted a banquet to welcome them back and to congratulate the Xia Family on finally being debt-free.

When asked about their plans, Ms. Ross smiled candidly. “We’ve already decided to emigrate. We’re going to take over the enterprise under Wanzi’s grandfather’s name and officially settle in the UK.”

“What?” Xia Wanzhi lifted her head from her bowl. The news was so sudden that she froze with a piece of meat still in her mouth, staring at Ms. Ross in shock.

Everyone present was stunned for several seconds before they could process the news.

First, it was because they were emigrating to the UK.

Second, it was because they had never heard that Xia Wanzhi’s maternal grandfather was a businessman, let alone one with a family enterprise.

Looking at it this way, the Xia Family’s sudden repayment of the eight hundred million debt must have been the work of this old gentleman.

To produce eight hundred million so easily meant he was definitely no minor figure.

Ms. Ross was far too casual, low-key, and easygoing; no one had guessed her background was actually so powerful.

“When are you leaving?” Old Master Xie’s tone was tinged with reluctance.

Things had reached this point, and there was nothing to be changed.

After all, this was the Xia Family’s private business.

Xia Yongqing replied, “In the next day or two.”

Xia Wanzhi wanted to speak, but remembering the entire Xie Family was present, she silently held her tongue. It wasn’t until the banquet ended and they were in the car back to Lanting Bieyuan that she demanded aggressively, “Is this emigration thing for real? Why didn’t you discuss it with me?”

Ms. Ross had been drinking and was feeling drowsy, or perhaps she had anticipated Xia Wanzhi’s reaction and had intentionally kept quiet.

“My darling, your grandfather was the happiest person when the Xia Group went bankrupt. He’s been hoping every single day that your father and I would return to the UK to take over the family business. Now that things are like this, do you think your father and I have any other choice given your grandfather’s temper?”

Ms. Ross.

Rose Becker.

The sole heir of the Becker Family.

And the only child of Richard Becker.

Richard was Ms. Ross’s father, and he was also Xia Wanzhi’s maternal grandfather-the one who had frozen her personal funds.

Xia Wanzhi didn’t know exactly how wealthy her mother’s family was, but she knew that Ms. Ross had always carried a weight of responsibility.

For the past twenty-odd years, Ms. Ross had pursued freedom and love, staying in Beicheng with her husband and daughter. Now that twenty years had passed and the old gentleman was getting on in years, she had to go back and fulfill her duty.

The bankruptcy of the Xia Family was merely the catalyst.
This marked the beginning of Xia Yongqing’s decision to spend the rest of his years sharing the family responsibilities alongside Ms. Ross.

Their plan to emigrate and settle in the UK meant that Xia Wanzhi also had a choice to make.

They had discussed it with her as early as three months ago.

At the time, she had chosen Beicheng because of Zhou Yu.

But this time, it wasn’t a discussion; it was a notification.

“The engagement is off, and you’ve already suffered the bitterness of love. Isn’t it time you listened to your grandfather?” Ms. Ross held her hand, turning to look at her. “Your grandfather and grandmother miss you dearly-they miss you more than anything.”

At this, she gave a gentle smile. “Your grandfather knows many noble princes. Compared to those pretty boys…”

She pivoted mid-sentence: “They’re even more handsome than Xie Qiyan. Once you’re over there, you can take your pick.”

Xia Yongqing chimed in eagerly, “A noble prince for our little Princess Wanzi. How perfect would that be?”

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips, her eyelashes trembling slightly. “I don’t want to.”

This was the place where she had grown up. It held the trajectory of her twenty-five years of life; it was home to the many people she knew and loved.

While she loved her grandparents, she couldn’t accept emigrating just to marry some so-called noble prince and spend the rest of her life abroad.

That night, after returning home and locking her door to video call Yun Li, the latter had a sudden realization. “No wonder your parents wanted to stay with you at Lanting Bieyuan. They were planning to pack you up and take you with them all along.”

Because they intended to settle in the UK, they hadn’t bothered to buy back the Xia Family villa and were staying at Lanting Bieyuan temporarily.

Xia Wanzhi felt even more miserable hearing this. “I’m going to cry…”

“Didn’t they agree to let you stay in Beicheng last time?” Yun Li sighed deeply.

Xia Wanzhi picked at her throw pillow. “Last time was because of Zhou Yu.”

No matter how much they wanted her to live in the UK with them, they wouldn’t have been heartless enough to tear a pair of lovers apart.

“That’s easy then. Just find another man and get engaged. Problem solved!” Yun Li was quite impressed with her own brilliance.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

It was a sleepless night.

When Xia Wanzhi woke up at noon the next day, she saw a message sent an hour ago by Ms. Ross saying she was going to the Zhou Family to ‘claim their lives.’ Terrified, she scrambled out of bed and rushed to the battlefield.

Claiming lives was a job for the King of Hell.

While it felt great to have someone seeking revenge on her behalf, Ms. Ross taking action was a risky affair.

If the Zhou Family were pushed too hard by Ms. Ross and said something they shouldn’t, Ms. Ross might just turn around, come home, and claim her life instead.

Hurriedly changing her shoes and twisting the door handle, she happened to run into Xie Qiyan, who had just returned.

Xie Qiyan was undoing his cufflinks, fully upholding his role as a friendly neighbor. “Where are you going?”

Xia Wanzhi replied, “To the Zhou Family to clean up the battlefield.”

Xie Qiyan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Need a lift?”

Xia Wanzhi cupped her fists in a salute. “Thanks!”

The road was clear all the way. Halfway through the drive, Xia Wanzhi adjusted her seat and stared blankly into space, her eyes vacant.

She let out an involuntary sigh.

Xie Qiyan spoke up. “Does the emigration include you too?”

Xie Tan had quietly shed tears alone after hearing about this the other day, but Xie Qiyan hadn’t told Xia Wanzhi. This was a Xia Family matter, and outsiders had no place interfering.

Xia Wanzhi glanced at him and hesitated for a long time. “It does, but I don’t want to go.”

Perhaps because their relationship had improved recently, she didn’t overthink it and simply bared her heart.

Xie Qiyan remained silent.

He understood the feeling of being caught in circumstances beyond one’s control better than anyone.

Upon arriving at the Zhou Family villa, Xia Wanzhi’s listlessness vanished. She hopped out of the car and ran inside at full throttle.

Xie Qiyan followed behind, laughing helplessly.

“Slow down,” he reminded her from behind, a hint of tenderness hidden in his smiling eyes.