Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Jogging across the courtyard and into the villa’s living room, Xia Wanzhi was greeted by the Zhou Family servants, who bowed respectfully and called out, “Miss Xia.”

A fierce argument was raging in the living room, loud enough to be heard from the courtyard outside.

With a loud *thud*, Ms. Ross slammed her hand against the table, though it was unclear what had just been said to provoke her.

“Your Zhou Family is simply going too far! You have absolutely no respect for the law!”

“When we wanted to take Wanzi with us back then, it was Wanzi who couldn’t bear to leave you. She insisted on staying for your sake. And you? How has a snobbish, ungrateful wolf like you treated my Wanzi?”

“To think I actually thought you were a good boy…”

Ms. Ross clutched at her chest, gasping for air in her fury.

Her heart ached whenever she thought of the grievances her daughter had endured all alone.

“I should never have agreed to the Old Master’s request to cut off Wanzi’s cards. I let our precious baby suffer…” Ms. Ross wiped her dry eyes and transformed into a delicate wife, leaning into Xia Yongqing’s embrace.

“She suffered, she suffered. When we get back, I’ll stew a pot of soup to nourish our baby,” Xia Yongqing said, patting Ms. Ross to soothe her.

Ms. Ross was notoriously difficult to deal with. The moment Zhou’s Mother had muttered that it wasn’t certain how much Xia Wanzhi actually loved Zhou Yu, she had been met with a full-scale bombardment.

Xia Yongqing always stood unconditionally by his wife’s side.

Zhou’s Mother looked terrible. From the moment the couple had shown up at her door, she had been the only one doing all the talking for her side.

Zhou’s Father couldn’t even lift his head, offering apologies the entire time.

Zhou Yu also remained silent, enduring the verbal lashing without a word.

If word of this got out, where would the Zhou Family’s reputation go?

Unable to swallow her pride, Zhou’s Mother fought back. “Is your Xia Wanzhi completely blameless? Before the engagement with my Zhou Yu was even broken, she was getting close to that Xie guy! After the breakup, she went straight to the Xie Family for dinner. She was even trending on the hot search with a scandal a few days ago. Why don’t you ask your daughter what’s really going on between them!”

“Mom! Stop talking!” Zhou Yu roared, his face turning ashen.

Zhou’s Mother was instantly startled into silence.

“It’s my fault.” Zhou Yu looked at Xia Yongqing and Ms. Ross, apologizing sincerely. “I let you down. I’m sorry.”

Finally, he emphasized, “But my love for Zhi Zhi has never changed. I love her to the very marrow of my bones…”

“Then let’s pull out your marrow and strip your bones to see if there’s even a single strand of Xia Wanzhi’s hair in there.” Xie Qiyan hooked his fingers into the back of Xia Wanzhi’s collar and pulled her back, stepping out ahead of her.

Xia Wanzhi was a half-second slow and ended up a step behind him. This entrance made it look as though she were being shielded by him.

The moment he saw Xie Qiyan, Zhou Yu’s face went pale, and alarm bells rang in his head.

This was clearly a matter between the Zhou Family and the Xia Family. What right did an outsider like Xie Qiyan have to interfere!

Zhou Yu stared fixedly at him and Xia Wanzhi, feeling more and more that the various rumors about the two of them were true.

“Oh, Wanzi’s Brother Xie is here.” Ms. Ross waved enthusiastically, her tone suggesting a warm welcome to the battle.

Xie Qiyan cooperated perfectly, a faint smile on his lips as he gave Ms. Ross a slight nod in response.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Old Xia, however, asked bluntly, “President Xie is a busy man. Why are you here?”

“We ran into each other at the gate. He drove me here,” Xia Wanzhi explained on his behalf.

She hadn’t expected Xie Qiyan to follow her inside either.

Zhou’s Mother’s face flushed between red and white. The only reason she had dared to talk back to Ms. Ross earlier was because she knew that while the Xia Family had cleared their debts, the collapse of the Xia Group was an undeniable fact.

She believed the Zhou Family’s current status was superior to the Xia Family’s.

But now Xie Qiyan was here, and he was defending Xia Wanzhi at every turn.

Even if the Zhou Family were given a hundred times their current courage, they wouldn’t dare to act out in front of Xie Qiyan.

“What was it that Mrs. Zhou said just now? Care to repeat it?” Ms. Ross shrugged, her mood suddenly excellent.

Xia Wanzhi stood her ground. Seeing Zhou’s Mother fall silent and swallow her anger, she shifted her gaze and met Zhou Yu’s eyes from across the room.
“Young Master Zhou, please mind your words from now on. Save those ‘loving me to the bone’ lines for the person sharing your bed. I can’t afford to accept them.” A chill flickered in Xia Wanzhi’s eyes.

“We agreed before that as long as you didn’t pester me, I wouldn’t cause trouble for you. My parents coming here today without notice was indeed a lapse in my management. However, considering what you and the Zhou Family have done to me, surely my parents are entitled to come and give you a piece of their minds to vent their frustrations?”

Zhou’s Mother looked at her in disbelief. “You…”

What a sharp-tongued girl.

She had never noticed before how decisive and ruthless Xia Wanzhi could be.

Xia Wanzhi lowered her gaze, no longer looking at Zhou Yu.

In the past, she was willing to swallow her pride because she still viewed Zhou Yu as her fiancé and his parents as her elders.

But that was no longer the case.

Ms. Ross looked at her daughter with a face full of pride.

Finally, she had inherited her mother’s superb eloquence.

This daughter was worth raising after all.

With the elders of both families present, everything that needed to be said had been said. Ms. Ross had vented her anger, and from this moment on, they would have nothing more to do with the Zhou Family.

Leaving the Zhou residence, Xia Wanzhi noticed Ms. Ross was in such a good mood she was humming a little tune. She figured the Zhou Family probably hadn’t mentioned the Studio to them.

Previously, rumors had circulated that she was only able to stay in the Xingyao Building because of some ‘transaction’ with Xie Qiyan. Although Xia Wanzhi had a clear conscience, it wouldn’t be good if such talk reached the ears of Old Xia and Ms. Ross.

She did have a deal with Xie Qiyan, but theirs was a legitimate business relationship between a client and a contractor.

Old Xia seemed to have a prejudice against Xie Qiyan.

Xia Wanzhi glanced at Xia Yongqing. Sure enough, his expression had turned cold the moment Xie Qiyan appeared.

If he found out she still had this layer of connection with Xie Qiyan, his decision to make her move to the UK with them would likely become even more unshakable.

As they walked out of the villa, Xie Qiyan’s car was parked right at the entrance. He stepped forward quickly to open the door.

“Don’t bother. Our family can just take a taxi,” Xia Yongqing said stiffly.

Ms. Ross clicked her tongue. “Why take a taxi? Why not take a car that’s right here? Besides, Little Xie is heading exactly our way.”

Seeing his wife climb into the car with a beaming smile, Xia Yongqing put his hands behind his back and gave a cold snort in his heart. The next second, he proactively opened the front passenger door and sat inside.

He was determined not to let Xia Wanzhi sit next to Xie Qiyan.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

This targeting was a bit too obvious.

But Ms. Ross, being her usual thick-skinned and oblivious self, didn’t seem to notice. She spent the whole ride chatting away with Xie Qiyan, calling him ‘Little Xie’ over and over.

When they returned to Lanting Bieyuan and stepped out of the elevator, Xie Qiyan and Xia Wanzhi trailed behind. Xie Qiyan spoke in a low voice, “Xie Tan starts school in a few days.”

Xia Wanzhi paused slightly. “Yes, I know.”

She knew there was more to his words.

“I’m bringing her over to stay with me for a few days tonight. If you have time, you can come over and keep her company.” Xie Qiyan stopped walking alongside her.

Xia Wanzhi froze and looked up at him.

Xie Tan was about to start school, and she was about to go to the UK with her parents.

Xie Tan didn’t want to let her go.

Xia Wanzhi’s lips moved as she suppressed the loneliness in her eyes. “Okay.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Ms. Ross noticed they had fallen far behind and called out over her shoulder.

“Nothing.” Xia Wanzhi hurried to catch up and open the door.

As she entered and closed the door, Xia Wanzhi’s eyes met Xie Qiyan’s across the hall.

She swore she wasn’t peeking at him.

She hadn’t expected Xie Qiyan to suddenly turn back to look at her either.

“If you need any help, just say the word.”

Recalling those words, Xia Wanzhi couldn’t help but daze off.

He was actually quite thoughtful.

At the very least, her soul felt a bit comforted.