A beautiful summer night

The puddles that fell on the ground a couple of days ago have been dried up by today's sun, and the summer night breeze is still refreshing and pleasant, with a hint of autumn in the air.

Xia Wanzhi liked to sit in the car and enjoy the breeze, but on this particular trip, Xie Qiyan was determined to go against her.

Every time Xia Wanzhi lowered the car window, he would close it again from the control panel in less than three seconds.

She was seething with anger and turned her head to try and reason with him, but Xie Qiyan didn't even glance at her.

They didn't say a word from the moment they got on the bus.

No one mentioned what happened last time.

Perhaps because of what happened that day, Xia Wanzhi's hostility towards him lessened considerably.

But Xie Qiyan's gloomy face clearly conveyed the message "Keep away," a stark contrast to his attitude that day.

Xia Wanzhi swallowed the words that were about to come out. She turned to the side dejectedly and looked at the night view outside the window with boredom.

"If you're sick, avoid the wind." His calm words echoed in the quiet carriage.

Xia Wanzhi's reaction time was a bit slow; it took her a while to exclaim in surprise, "Are you concerned about me?"

As soon as the question left her mouth, Xia Wanzhi regretted it.

This is the first time I've ever felt that the interior of a prestigious Rolls-Royce can be so cramped.

"What do you think?" Xie Qiyan asked in return.

Xia Wanzhi couldn't tell.

Her impression of him was mostly solidified by childhood influences. They hadn't seen each other for over a decade, and during that time she mostly heard about him from others.

Many people say he's not a good person.

Despite not being a good person, Xie Tan praised him all the time.

Even Yunli could entrust him with important responsibilities with peace of mind.

When people are most helpless, they will subconsciously feel grateful to those who help them.

But it was precisely when she was at her most vulnerable and helpless that Xie Qiyan appeared by her side.

She thought he had come to laugh at her.

But he said he would take her home.

"How long are you planning to stay in my car?" Xie Qiyan's voice came from outside after being knocked twice on the car window.

Xia Wanzhi suddenly came to her senses and looked around before realizing that she had arrived at the Xie family's residence without her noticing.

I've been getting easily distracted lately.

Xia Wanzhi sniffed, unbuckled her seatbelt, and prepared to get out of the car.

The car door was opened from the outside, and Xia Wanzhi subconsciously looked up at Xie Qiyan. His eyes, behind his glasses, always gave people a feeling of being unfathomable.

"How nearsighted are you?" Xia Wanzhi asked as she walked alongside him after getting out of the car. She was wearing flat shoes today, and she seemed a little shorter next to him.

She asked that question almost without thinking.

Xie Qiyan seemed to pause slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

They had never communicated so calmly, as if having a normal chat.

They were at odds as children over something, and after they reunited as adults, coupled with the Xie family's acquisition of Xingyao and their order for her studio to move out, Xia Wanzhi always kept a sharp tongue towards him.

The enemy opened fire, and he had no choice but to retaliate.

As a result, their relationship became like that of enemies, with one openly mocking the other and the other subtly sarcastic.

Xia Wanzhi asked him how nearsighted he was because she thought he wasn't nearsighted.

She had heard a saying.

People who don't need to see glasses often wear them in public because the lenses can block the viewer's eyes.

Eyes can speak.

The eyes are the windows of the soul.

He wears glasses because he doesn't want others to see his eyes or his true appearance.

She always felt that someone like Xie Qiyan must be hiding many secrets.

"Who told you I'm nearsighted?" Xie Qiyan turned his head to look at her.

The man had already crossed the small stone bridge and was about to reach the main hall. Xia Wanzhi thought he wouldn't answer her question about his privacy, but this man always seemed to prefer giving her an answer when she had given up hope.

Xia Wanzhi suddenly laughed.

She was right.

Xie Qiyan stopped and looked at her as if she were a ghost.

She never smiled in front of him.

Xie Qiyan's eyes were filled with deep thought, confusion, and doubt.

The little princess, who grew up drinking milk air-shipped from New Zealand, was pampered and charming. Even when she was sick, the liveliness that seemed to be naturally rooted in her amber eyes still easily showed.

If the Xia family hadn't gone bankrupt, he would have met that willful little princess with her eyes always smiling like crescent moons when he returned to China.

"What are you looking at me for?" Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips, feeling uneasy under her gaze.

"What are you laughing at?" Xie Qiyan looked away and stepped over the threshold in front of him.

Xia Wanzhi followed in his footsteps, glancing around but not answering.

Everyone was in the restaurant waiting for dinner to start at this time.

When Xia Wanzhi was led inside, she discovered that the entire Xie family was there.

Her feet felt like they were filled with lead, and she curled her toes slightly, momentarily wanting to escape.

No one told her that she was having dinner with the entire Xie family.

No one told her that the whole family was sitting at the dining table just to wait for her.

"Can't walk anymore?" Xie Qiyan turned around and looked at her.

Xia Wanzhi didn't think straight and nodded reflexively. Only when she realized what she was doing did she suddenly look up, shake her head dryly, and say, "I..."

"Xie Tan," Xie Qiyan called out.

The little girl, who was sitting on the chair swinging her legs, suddenly jumped down and arrived in front of Xie Qiyan: "Sister Wanzi, you're here!"

Xie Qiyan lowered his eyes: "Take people over for dinner."

Xie Tan was naturally happy to oblige. He took Xia Wanzhi's hand and, ignoring everyone's gaze, chattered incessantly as they walked towards the old man's table.

Having a familiar person by her side naturally made her feel less awkward. When Xia Wanzhi sat down, she greeted the old man and then turned her gaze to Xie Qiyan, who was slowly rolling up his shirt.

He always seemed to like rolling up his sleeves when he ate, revealing a small section of his wrist.

Further down, the pale blue veins on the back of her hand were faintly visible, and the fingers holding the chopsticks were long and strong. Xia Wanzhi inexplicably sensed a sense of sexiness in her hands.

She felt guilty for staring at him for too long and hastily looked away, only to find herself meeting Xie Qiyan's gaze halfway through.

Somewhat embarrassing.

The Xie family's old house is a traditional Chinese architectural style, unlike Xia Wanzhi's European-style villa. The restaurant here is very large, and the dining table is a traditional eight-immortal table.

This time, the seating arrangement was the same as when Zhou Yu brought her here for dinner last time.

She and Xie Qiyan sat on either side of the old man.

Logically, this shouldn't be the case.

"Wanzi, eat." Grandpa Xie pointed his chopsticks at a plate of roast duck, gesturing for Xia Wanzhi to start eating. "These are all your favorites, don't be shy, make yourself at home and eat more."

Xia Wanzhi nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and replied softly, "Thank you, Grandpa."

The old man's eyes were full of heartache. There were many people at the dinner table, so he didn't mention her annulment of her engagement with Zhou Yu. But tonight's actions were a way of telling everyone that Xia Wanzhi would have his protection from now on.

The meal was unusually quiet. The Xie family elders treated her no differently than before, offering only polite expressions of concern.

No one knows what they are thinking in the dark.

"This girl broke off her engagement with the Zhou family, and now the old man has specially brought her back to take care of her. Is he thinking of keeping her in our family as a granddaughter-in-law?" As they left the table, Aunt Xie secretly guessed with Uncle Xie.

Uncle Xie's face was full of displeasure: "What nonsense are you talking about? Staying as a granddaughter-in-law? Whose daughter-in-law?"

Second Aunt said anxiously, "I'm afraid it's our Xie Lin!"

"No way! If Sister Wanzi is going to stay, it'll be for Big Brother!" Xie Tan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hands on hips, arrogantly declaring her ownership. "She would never like anyone else!"