Chapter 96

Chapter 96

It was right around lunchtime, and just like when she was little, Xia Wanzhi was led to the dining table with her grandfather holding one hand and her grandmother holding the other.

A servant was about to step forward and pull out a chair for Xia Wanzhi, but Old Richard waved him off and personally served his beloved little granddaughter himself.

“Thank you, Grandpa! Grandpa, you’re even more handsome than before!” Xia Wanzhi was stunned by the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast spread across the table. No matter how mentally prepared she was, these surprises still made her gasp in awe every single time.

Old Richard smiled at her with a doting look. Every time Xia Wanzhi praised him, he became positively radiant. Out of habit, he touched his bald spot, then asked his usual catchphrase, “Did you miss Grandpa?”

Xia Wanzhi nearly collapsed with laughter. “I did.”

“Then stay in-”

“I’m not staying.” Xia Wanzhi didn’t even need to think to know what he was about to say next.

Old Richard shut his mouth in gloom.

Although they were in the UK, the master of this magnificent palace spoke fluent Chinese.

All because Ms. Qiao Shu, Mr. Richard’s wife, was Chinese.

Ms. Qiao Shu was a promoter of Chinese culture and a renowned master of traditional Chinese painting. When she was young, she had come to the UK to promote Chinese painting, met Richard Becker, and ultimately stayed in the UK for him.

Richard loved Ms. Qiao Shu dearly.

Not only did all their elders and juniors know it, but whenever outsiders mentioned Richard, they would inevitably associate him with Qiao Shu.

Perhaps it was something inherited in the Becker Family bloodline. When Richard was young, in order to pursue Qiao Shu, he had ignored his family’s objections and traveled tirelessly back and forth across the ocean between the two countries.

And in order to pursue Comrade Xia Yongqing, Ms. Ross had also ignored her family’s objections, crossed national borders, and forced the issue with overwhelming momentum.

When love erupted, the longing in one’s heart gradually became clear.

Xia Wanzhi also longed to meet the most important person in her life, just like her grandparents and her parents had.

Fortunately, she had been given the chance to make mistakes.

Being betrayed didn’t matter.

Heaven had sent her Xie Qiyan.

Zhou Yu wasn’t worth regretting.

After all, Xie Qiyan was her true love.

Back when she had just gotten engaged to Zhou Yu, Richard and Qiao Shu had not been completely opposed. After all, Zhou Yu had protected her since childhood, and all the elders had seen it with their own eyes. But no one had expected they would misjudge a person.

At the time, Xia Wanzhi had asked Qiao Shu how one could be certain that someone was the right person.

Ms. Qiao Shu had said, your heart will tell you the answer.

Xia Wanzhi hadn’t understood.

Not until she met Xie Qiyan.

When you truly met the person you liked, it was impulsive, passionate, and unrestrained.

So now, whenever Xia Wanzhi thought about having to fight Comrade Xia Yongqing and Old Richard for love, she actually felt a little excited.

“Has our Wanzi lost weight?” Ms. Qiao Shu shot Old Richard a glance from the side, then narrowed her eyes with a graceful smile, staring at Xia Wanzhi so intently it was as if she might make flowers bloom on her face.

Xia Wanzhi patted the flesh on her cheeks and said with a smile, “I haven’t lost weight. I’ve gained three pounds.”

Lately, Xie Qiyan had been feeding her so well that she was getting softer everywhere.

Hearing this, Xia Yongqing gave a light snort. Convinced he had predicted everything perfectly, he looked as if he had seen right through her. “From eating takeout, right? If you eat too much dirty food, it’s easy to gain weight.”

Xia Wanzhi shot back without thinking, “Nonsense. I haven’t had takeout in ages!”

One sentence exposed something suspicious.

Xia Yongqing’s eyes flashed, and he was just about to speak when Xia Wanzhi immediately realized what had happened. She turned her head and complained to Old Richard, “Grandpa, look! Dad is pulling rank as an elder and trying to lecture me again!”

Xia Yongqing: “…”

Richard looked up at Xia Yongqing.

Xia Yongqing turned to Ms. Ross for protection, but Ms. Ross pretended not to see.

Fighting alone, he couldn’t win. He simply couldn’t.

“Eat less takeout. If nothing else works, hire a chef,” Ms. Qiao Shu said. She was nearly eighty this year, but her voice was still soft, gentle, and warm.
Women from Nancheng carried that Jiangnan grace in their bones, even into old age.

Xia Wanzhi suddenly thought of Xie Qiyan’s mother.

“There are chefs,” Xia Wanzhi said, patting her grandmother’s hand and leaning in closer. “And he’s an amazing chef.”

Xie Qiyan could do anything.

He was practically on par with a five-star chef.

“What chef?” Eighty-year-old Old Richard had astonishing hearing. He gave a soft snort. “Better than your father? Better than your grandfather?”

Xia Yongqing finally found his chance to speak and exposed her in one sentence. “What chef? That Brother Xie of yours?”

Xia Wanzhi scratched her cheek and met Xia Yongqing’s gaze. “Mm-hmm.”

Except he wasn’t Brother Xie anymore.

He was her boyfriend.

Your future son-in-law.

Xia Wanzhi said silently in her heart.

“Who?” Richard set down his cutlery, instantly turning serious.

Xia Yongqing also pulled a long face. “A neighbor. A pretty boy.”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

It was rare to see these two men on the same side. As Qiao Shu and Ms. Ross continued eating elegantly, they exchanged a glance, both looking as if they were settling in to watch the show.

Qiao Shu had been through this before. The moment she heard Xia Wanzhi mention someone to her, intentionally or otherwise, she had already guessed that this person held a special place in Xia Wanzhi’s heart.

On top of that, Ms. Ross was usually all fire and motion, yet today she had actually quieted down. That made Ms. Qiao Shu even more certain of her judgment.

Richard frowned. “What pretty boy? The one from the trending searches?”

Ever since he learned that his precious granddaughter had been hurt by Zhou Yu, the old man had been dead set on finding her a local UK prince and keeping her in the UK.

But Xia Wanzhi was unwilling.

He didn’t force her, but he did take more roundabout action in other ways.

Xia Yongqing was still angry over Xia Wanzhi teaming up with Xie Qiyan to fool him, and he snorted. “Who else could it be?”

Unable to stand another second of these two grown men throwing shade, Qiao Shu patted the table. “Eat first. Eat!”

Richard glanced at Xia Yongqing. “Tell me the details later.”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Because she was worried about Xie Qiyan, who had been left alone in the hotel room, Xia Wanzhi stopped caring about her image and finished eating in a few quick bites. After dinner, she found a chance to slip away and quietly complained to Ms. Ross, “Mom! Look at Dad! Do something about him…”

“He’s always like that. He won’t get anything done.” Rose comforted her, taking her by the arm and turning her around once. Then she teased with a smile, “Well, well. You really have put on some weight. Your Brother Xie must be feeding you well.”

Xia Wanzhi touched her nose. “Ahem. He’s all right, I guess.”

Ms. Ross laughed so hard she could barely stop. She was about to ask more when a servant came over with a message, saying Old Richard was looking for her…

Her daughter, that was.

“Come on. If your grandfather doesn’t see you for half a minute, he starts getting anxious. When I first came back, he was just as passionate toward his precious daughter, but don’t worry. Give it half a month and it’ll fade.” Ms. Ross spoke from experience.

Xia Wanzhi nodded while replying to Xie Qiyan’s messages.

Xie Qiyan: “It’s been two hours.”

Ignoring someone for two hours meant punishment.

Xia Wanzhi typed rapidly: “Dear, there are still ten seconds left until two hours. Doesn’t count.”

Xie Qiyan was in a good mood and didn’t fuss over those few seconds. He asked her, “How’s the battle on the front lines?”

Xia Wanzhi: “Not great.”

-“The commander-in-chief is looking for me. Gotta go. Be good and wait for my updates.”

Ms. Ross caught a glimpse of it and couldn’t help laughing. “Where did this commander-in-chief come from?”

Xia Wanzhi whispered, “Your dad.”

Rose: “…”

Apparently, she could no longer keep up with the times.

These youngsters knew how to play around even better than they had back in the day.