A beautiful summer night

The temperature in Ireland is similar to that in the North City, and even a bit warmer.

Or perhaps it was because the manor was full of blooming flowers. Xia Wanzhi, holding Xie Qiyan's hand, walked along the bluestone slabs, as if she had accidentally entered spring, with spring scenery all around her.

Yes, the Beginning of Spring has passed, and spring has already arrived quietly.

If Liu Shubai can acquire hundreds of acres of land in Youqin Town and transform them into a sea of ​​flowers to please Yao Qin, he can create a magnificent Jiangnan landscape for Yao Qin in this romantic city.

This Chinese-style manor, full of southern city flavor, is also called Youqin.

There is music, and there is emotion.

He had Yao Qin, and he also had feelings for Yao Qin.

"Please wait a moment, you two." A person was hurrying towards them from directly ahead. The manor's butler nodded slightly to Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan in apology, then quickly stepped forward to exchange a few words with the person before turning back and gesturing to invite the two of them to go somewhere else.

"Madam Yao has just fallen asleep, Mr. Liu will be here shortly," the butler said in fluent Chinese.

But clearly, he's a local.

Xia Wanzhi thought of her maternal grandfather, who was far away in England.

When Ms. Joshu married into the British family, Mr. Richard, in order to alleviate her homesickness, not only hired a Chinese chef, but also required the housekeeper and servants in the manor to communicate in Chinese.

Now, Liu Shubai is probably the same.

After waiting for quite a while, Liu Shubai finally arrived late.

Xia Wanzhi remembered what he looked like, and the scholarly air about him that radiated talent.

But Liu Shubai, who was standing in front of her at this moment, had slightly graying temples and looked a bit weathered.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Liu Shubai's voice was gentle. He had rushed over and was still slightly out of breath, trying to calm himself down.

Xie Qiyan's gaze sharpened slightly.

He didn't remember the man.

Perhaps, as he said, he did meet him when he was a child, but Xie Qiyan doesn't remember.

Their eyes met, and Liu Shubai was taken aback, letting Xie Qiyan look at him while also observing Xie Qiyan's appearance.

After a long pause, he spoke first: "Your eyes look just like your mother's."

Xia Wanzhi said the same thing when she saw Yao Qin's photo.

Liu Shubai looked as if he had seen an old friend, as if he was reminiscing and sighing.

Xie Qiyan's tone was impolite, even tinged with obvious hostility: "And her?"

"She took her medicine and just fell asleep." Liu Shubai withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Xia Wanzhi, his tone still gentle. "I thought that A Yao and I would live in this paradise, far away from the rights and wrongs of the past. I never expected that you, little girl, would marry Xiao A Yan."

She was forced to marry Xie Qiyan, she was forced to keep that painting, and she was forced to find him.

Xia Wanzhi frowned slightly.

"Perhaps it was fate. I just didn't accept that painting you made back then." Liu Shubai smiled, but there was no joy in his smile.

He took Yao Qin and hid far away.

But it was still found.

Xia Wanzhi understood the implication in his words and couldn't hide her anger: "So Mr. Liu means that you deliberately kept Ayan's mother's whereabouts a secret all these years?"

Liu Shubai shook his head: "It's not really a lockdown. After A Yao got sick, she rarely saw anyone. Time has passed, and things have changed. I took her to live in seclusion, so it's normal that you can't find her."

"You..." Xia Wanzhi wanted to argue with him, but Xie Qiyan stopped her.

"Why?" Xie Qiyan demanded.

He needs an answer.

Liu Shubai just smiled and said, "Why? Why else? Because I don't want her to die, because she is very ill."

The silence is like today's cold air, devoid of any warmth.

Xie Qiyan recalled what he had said on the phone.

After a long silence, Xie Qiyan said in a deep voice, "I am her son."

“But she doesn’t remember you.” Liu Shubai did not deny his selfishness, nor did he intend to admit his mistake.

Xia Wanzhi was amused and interrupted, "But that's no reason for you to deprive them of the chance to see each other! Mr. Liu, you've been deceiving her for so many years, you must be feeling bad too, right?"

These words hit the nail on the head, like a knife piercing his heart.

Liu Shubai's calm expression finally showed some emotion. His sore spot was hit, his pupils contracted, and his breathing became slightly heavy.

“Yes.” Liu Shubai’s gaze fell on Xia Wanzhi’s tightly clasped hands as she protected Xie Qiyan. He mechanically raised his eyes and admitted, “You’re right. She’s not stupid. She’s just not thinking straight.”

He smiled sadly: "I have to repeat one lie or tell another lie every day, and it really hurts me."

Xia Wanzhi didn't understand, and Xie Qiyan had even less patience for these convoluted explanations. He let go of Xia Wanzhi's hand and grabbed her by the collar, asking, "What exactly happened to my mother?"

Liu Shubai seemed not to hear him and continued talking to himself: "But so what? I just want her to live, I just want her to stay by my side..."

He didn't answer. Xie Qiyan's brow furrowed with anger as he listened to these words. Just as he was about to raise his clenched fist, Xia Wanzhi stopped him with lightning speed.

Xia Wanzhi's heart leaped into her throat. She gripped his arm tightly with both hands, her gaze anxious but more rational than Xie Qiyan's.

She shook her head, signaling Xie Qiyan to calm down.

The veins on the back of Xie Qiyan's clenched fist were clearly visible, and the blue veins bulged. His eyes were red at the corners. After a moment, he slowly loosened his grip and let one arm hang down as if he had lost all strength.