Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“Are you free for a date, Brother Xie?”

Xia Wanzhi nearly bit her tongue the moment she said it.

In response, Xie Qiyan let out a short, “Heh.”

Xia Wanzhi interpreted that sound as a mocking sneer.

A second later, Xie Qiyan’s low voice drifted through the electronic device and into her ear. “This ‘date’ from Little Sister Xia… I accept.”

But once they met in person, the man leaned back against his chair, resuming his arrogant posture. “Zhou Yu just had a row with Xie Nan over you at noon. What, are you trying to get him to have a row with me over you now?”

“He doesn’t have the guts to fight you.” Xia Wanzhi didn’t waste words. She pulled the contract from her bag and pushed it toward him. “I’m not here because of Zhou Yu.”

The moment he saw the contract clearly, Xie Qiyan’s expression returned to its usual composure. He gave a light scoff. “Yu Fei told me there was a real troublemaker at the building, the most stubborn of them all. Turns out it’s you.”

“Yes, it’s me.” Xia Wanzhi nodded, getting straight to the point. “I don’t care what you plan to do after acquiring Xingyao, but I’ve paid thirty years of rent for my Studio in a single lump sum. I’m not moving. I don’t care how much you offer in liquidated damages or compensation; I simply don’t want to move.”

Xie Qiyan looked up at her.

To be precise, this morning at the Xie Family dining room had been their first official meeting since they grew up.

Everything about her fit his impression of her.

Until the luncheon began, and she had followed Zhou Yu around with her head down, silent and unassuming.

The Xia Wanzhi in his memory would never bow her head.

After all these years, none of the people he hated in Beicheng had changed.

Only Xia Wanzhi had transformed from a proud, spoiled little princess into a pitiful girl who bowed and compromised in front of others.

“Do you want me to give you a pass for the sake of our old acquaintance?” Xie Qiyan asked her.

Xia Wanzhi didn’t even think before answering, “I doubt our relationship carries that much weight.”

Xie Qiyan laughed out loud.

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips, showing a rare sign of weakness. “But I truly hope you’ll make an exception.”

Aside from the Studio, she had nothing left now.

Getting Xie Qiyan to relent was her only chance.

Xie Qiyan lowered his gaze, his knuckles tapping rhythmically on the desk. After a long silence, he said, “I’ve never been much of a gentleman. Since there’s no friendship between us, why should I make a special case for you?”

Xia Wanzhi clenched her palms, a spark of resentment and stubbornness hidden in her eyes as she stared at him.

The prominent families in their circle were deeply connected, and this group of them had known each other since childhood. Xia Wanzhi had always been the favorite, pampered like a little princess by everyone. Xie Qiyan was the only one she had ever stumbled over.

After their meeting ended on a sour note, Xia Wanzhi returned to the Studio. She was about to pick up her brush to finish the last half of a painting for an order when she was interrupted by a call from the client canceling the commission.

Even though the deposit had been paid, the other party wanted neither the painting nor the deposit back.

Was she some kind of monster?

Zhuzi watched her through the glass partition. She saw her holding the brush mid-air for ten minutes, staring blankly at the canvas.

Zhuzi didn’t know how much strength it took for Xia Wanzhi not to cry. Bad news was hitting her one after another; Zhuzi was terrified that she would eventually break.

Hearing Zhuzi’s soft sobbing, Xia Wanzhi slowly snapped back to reality. She untied her paint-stained apron, pushed open the glass door, and stepped out with a light smile. “What are you crying for?”

“Sister, I’m so scared.” Zhuzi frantically wiped her tears, choking back a sob. “I don’t want to leave you. You said it yourself-wherever you go, you’ll take me with you.”

If the Studio couldn’t stay afloat, knowing Xia Wanzhi’s personality, she would definitely arrange another good job for her.

But Zhuzi only wanted to stay by Xia Wanzhi’s side.

Zhuzi was an orphan. More than that, she was a student whom Xia Wanzhi had personally sponsored through university.

After starting college, Zhuzi would come by to help whenever she was free, until she graduated last year and officially became Xia Wanzhi’s assistant.

She was only two years younger than Xia Wanzhi.
But everything Zhuzi had was given to her by Xia Wanzhi.

Xia Wanzhi took a deep breath and pulled Zhuzi into a tight hug. “Don’t be silly. Of course I won’t leave you.”

It was just that, at the moment, she didn’t know what to do either.

It was already very late by the time she returned to the Zhou Family residence. Xia Wanzhi froze for a moment as she stepped through the door.

This was the first time Zhou’s Father and Zhou’s Mother were still sitting in the living room at this hour.

It was as if they were waiting for someone.

Or rather, they were waiting for her.

“Uncle, Auntie,” Xia Wanzhi greeted them, her voice sounding raspy because her cold had worsened.

Zhou’s Mother knitted her brows. Without even gesturing for her to sit down, she reprimanded her in a low voice, “Zhi Zhi, I don’t mean to nag, but Zhou Yu is at home with an injury and you’re only just getting back at this hour. You don’t act like a fiancée at all.”

“I’m sorry, things were a bit busy at the Studio.” Xia Wanzhi remained standing as she accepted the scolding.

“The woman manages the home while the man works outside. If Zhou Yu is busy and you’re busy too, who’s going to take care of him? Who’s going to look after this household in the future?” Zhou’s Mother rubbed her forehead in frustration. Seeing that Zhou’s Father remained silent, she reached out and gave him a nudge.

Xia Wanzhi kept her eyes downcast, listening dutifully to the lecture.

Zhou’s Father sighed helplessly. “Child, you didn’t used to be so withdrawn. Why don’t you have anything to say now?”

“You’re right, Uncle and Auntie.” Xia Wanzhi’s head felt heavy and dizzy; she did her best to just brush things off and get through the conversation.

She knew they had grievances against her.

Everything had changed from the moment the Xia Family fell into trouble, from the moment she moved in here.

Everything had changed completely.

As she headed upstairs, Zhou’s Mother’s voice drifted up from behind her. Xia Wanzhi heard it clearly.

“Look at her! What has she become?”

Enduring a throbbing headache, Xia Wanzhi grabbed a first-aid kit from her room and went to find Zhou Yu. When the door opened, Zhou Yu’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Zhi Zhi?”

“The corner of your mouth… have you applied any medicine?” Xia Wanzhi pointed to the broken skin near his lips.

Zhou Yu snapped out of it and smiled, shaking his head. “This little injury doesn’t matter.”

“Go inside, I’ll apply it for you.” Xia Wanzhi pushed him into the room and slowly, gently opened the first-aid kit.

The entire process was silent. Zhou Yu stared at her without blinking. Xia Wanzhi was aware of it, but she didn’t dare meet his gaze.

She didn’t know why.

She didn’t know when it had started, but the distance between her and Zhou Yu was growing wider and wider.

“Zhi Zhi…” Zhou Yu’s voice was slightly husky, his gaze becoming intense.

He gripped the wrist of the hand she was holding the cotton swab with. A powerful masculine aura surged toward her as they drew close-so close that in the next second, he would have kissed her pale lips.

They were fiances.

He had the right and the status to kiss her.

Xia Wanzhi tried to convince herself of this in her heart.

But as he drew near, Xia Wanzhi suddenly choked on her own saliva. She turned her head away, clutching her chest as she broke into a fit of coughing.

She coughed so hard that a thin mist of moisture gathered on her eyelashes.

She didn’t understand why the mere thought of being intimate with Zhou Yu made her feel so uncomfortable.

Zhou Yu’s movements froze. He went stiff for a moment and seemed to give a self-deprecating smile, though he quickly masked it. He patted Xia Wanzhi on the back and laughed. “Are you okay?”

“I just choked,” Xia Wanzhi said, swallowing hard.

“It’s alright. Get some rest early tonight.” Zhou Yu helped her pack up the medical kit. After a moment, he looked as if he wanted to say something else. He hesitated for a long while before finally saying, “The company will be busy for the next few days. I might be tied up and won’t be able to spend much time with you.”

“Just focus on your work, don’t worry about me.” Xia Wanzhi didn’t know what he had been brewing before that last sentence.

But whatever he had intended to say, it certainly wasn’t that.

She didn’t bring up the farce that had occurred in the side hall of the Xie Family residence at noon, and Zhou Yu seemed to be avoiding it as well.

Those words-so foul they made her want to retch-still lingered in her mind. Xia Wanzhi closed her eyes, feeling a bit lost regarding the relationship between herself and Zhou Yu.