The Xia family had clearly been in a turbulent period lately. Not only had Xia Siyue and Mu Chengfeng's relationship fallen through, but her miscarriage had also become a hot topic at school. Xia Siyue didn't stay in the hospital long because she couldn't stand the strong smell of disinfectant or the gossip spreading there. After returning to the Xia residence from the hospital, she refused to see anyone except the family doctor, spending all her time locked in her room, lost in her own thoughts.
Today, the Xia residence looked very different from usual. Every corner was lavishly decorated, and the servants bustled about in the living room, arranging everything needed for the upcoming event. Old Madam Xia came down the stairs, leaning on her cane. Her cotton slippers made muffled, intermittent thuds on the wooden floor, the sound somewhat indistinct. Xia Minghui, dressed in a formal suit, wore a serious expression that seemed to hide a hint of joy. When he saw Old Madam Xia approaching, a smile spread across his face. "Mom, why did you come down?"
"Just to take a look. Make sure everything is tightly managed—nothing should go wrong on a day like this."
Xia Minghui had already made arrangements for his mother's concerns.
The invited guests arrived one after another, and the vast Xia residence gradually came alive with activity. Servants moved in and out of the kitchen, carrying trays and working nonstop. Xia Minghui couldn't hide the joy on his face. In the living room, most people gathered in clusters. Old friends greeted each other and then turned to meet new acquaintances. Their faces beamed with cheerful smiles, and their conversations mostly revolved around Jiangcheng's economic development or policies...
Xia Yan had cleared her schedule for this day. That morning, when she left the Lu residence, she turned down the driver Lu Zhengting had arranged for her, deciding to drive herself. After his intensive training sessions recently, she had finally mustered the courage to drive alone. Perhaps because she had overcome her fear of traffic and crowds, the joy made her eager to get behind the wheel.
Lu Zhengting had been acting strangely lately—it felt like he was spoiling her rotten, granting almost every wish she had. She stared intently at him as he handed her the car keys, so excited she jumped on the spot. Seeing him purse his lips with a faint, almost-smile, Xia Yan blinked, hooked the keys on her index finger, suddenly stepped forward, and leaped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her eyes curved like crescent moons as she gazed at him, pouted, and planted a kiss on his lips.
She knew how much trust Lu Zhengting had in her skills to hand over those keys.
How could she not be thrilled? She hadn't dared to drive alone since getting her license years ago.
"Be careful on the road."
"I know, I'll be extra careful—no running red lights, no speeding, and definitely no sudden braking like last time." Xia Yan clung to him, arms and legs wrapped around, swaying slightly. Feeling like she might slip, she quickly tightened her grip. After a moment of lingering affection, she patted his shoulder.
"It's about time. I should go. Don't you have something to discuss with Ning Xi today? Go ahead. I'll drive over now, and it should be about right."
"Mm. Should I pick you up tonight?"
"I'll drive myself back."
After reluctantly parting from Lu Zhengting, Xia Yan wore a smug expression that practically begged for a punch. She had thought her driver's license would forever be just a decoration. As she drove, she hummed along to a tune playing in the car. Since it was past rush hour, traffic was light, which eased her nerves. So much so that she forgot her promise to Lu Zhengting before leaving, and her foot unconsciously pressed down on the accelerator. With a roar, a black Maserati shot down the road.
Xia Yan found it exhilarating. In her excitement, she ran several red lights in a row, attracting a police car with its siren blaring behind her.
She managed to reach the Xia residence safely, unintentionally shaking off the police car along the way.
Deep down, Xia Yan probably harbored a dream of being a pilot—why else would she drive like she was flying?
Xia Yan wasn't the first or last to arrive. As she approached the entrance, she saw servants in matching uniforms standing outside. Frowning, she glanced at the villa, which seemed to have been renovated and redecorated. Wasn't this a bit over the top? But then she thought again—Xia Minghui was celebrating his fiftieth birthday, marking half a lifetime. A grand celebration didn't seem unreasonable.
Shaking her head, Xia Yan walked into the living room with a smile. The moment she appeared, it felt like a spotlight was on her. Everyone's eyes locked onto her, leaving her a bit bewildered. Xia Minghui, who had been chatting with someone in the crowd, spotted her and immediately broke into a wide grin, striding over. "Yan Yan, you're here? Did Mr. Lu not come with you?"
"No, he had something to handle, so he couldn't make it."
Xia Minghui chuckled and hummed in acknowledgment—he was actually glad.
"Yan Yan, come, come, let me introduce you."
Xia Yan wore a faint smile and spoke softly, but inside, a thousand horses were galloping through her mind. Xia Minghui hadn't even asked for her opinion before directly introducing her to everyone present.
Time ticked by. Xia Yan had been standing in high heels for a while, and her heels were starting to ache. Glancing around, she quietly edged over to a corner, leaning against a table, and sat down to rub her calves. She wondered why Xia Minghui had gone to such lengths to get her here.
Suddenly, Xia Yan thought she might be seeing things and rubbed her eyes. There was Ye Yunchen, dressed in a sharp suit, walking straight toward her. She blinked, puzzled as to why he was here.
"Looking for some peace and quiet?" Ye Yunchen smiled at Xia Yan, his lips curving upward, his voice low and gentle. His straight black suit gave him an almost ascetic air. His left hand was tucked into his pants pocket, while his right hand held a glass of vibrant red wine. He swirled the glass gently, the bright light casting a glow over him. Xia Yan stared at him, momentarily dazed. Noticing this, he pulled his hand from his pocket and waved it in front of her eyes, calling softly, "Xia Yan?"
"Huh? What?"
"Why are you hiding here? I've been looking for you."
"Oh, just a bit tired, so I came here for some quiet. What about you?"
"I was looking for you."
"..." Xia Yan's expression turned awkward. Ye Yunchen had never been this direct before, and now it made her feel uncomfortable.
"Came alone? He didn't come with you?"
Xia Yan paused, catching the flicker in his eyes, and realized he meant Lu Zhengting. "He had something to handle. It's fine for me to come alone."
"Is that so?"
The two words from Ye Yunchen struck Xia Yan's ears oddly, and she couldn't shake a sense of unease. Frowning slightly, she gave him a thoughtful look. When he smiled at her, she blinked awkwardly, trying to change the subject.
Soon after Ye Yunchen arrived, people began approaching him to chat. Xia Yan watched in surprise as he displayed wit and elegance in conversation, suddenly noticing that he seemed different from before in some ways.
Xia Siyue had stayed in her room due to feeling unwell, but though her body was there, her mind had already flown down to the living room. Opening her door, she spotted a servant in the hallway, cleared her throat, and called them over to ask about the gathering. Learning that Xia Yan had arrived, her heart couldn't stay calm.
"I see."
Xia Siyue closed the door and turned back into her room. Slowly, she walked to her vanity, sat down, and stared intently at her pale reflection in the mirror. After a moment, she picked up a comb and ran it through her hair absently. Lost in thought, she soon stood up again, walked to the wardrobe, and studied the clothes hanging inside for a long time. Finally, she chose a deep purple V-neck dress with an irregular cut.
Laughter and chatter from downstairs drifted up intermittently. After preparing everything, Xia Siyue stood before the mirror again, looking at the woman with the meticulously applied makeup. Curling one corner of her mouth, she turned abruptly, stepped into a pair of sky-high heels, and pushed open her door with her head held high. Casually, she stood at the top of the stairs, scanning the people below.
Xia Siyue's grand entrance caused more of a stir than Xia Yan's, which was exactly what she wanted. How could she let Xia Yan steal the spotlight wherever she went? With a radiant smile, she wove through the crowd, greeting everyone as if she knew them well, chatting and laughing effortlessly. But her eyes searched for Xia Yan among the guests. Spotting her standing alone by the curtains, she smirked disdainfully before turning to the person beside her with a faint smile.
Xia Yan took a sip of juice. She would have been surprised if Xia Siyue hadn't shown up. So when their eyes met, she stared back calmly, without a ripple of emotion. Ye Yunchen, who had been beside her, was called away. Bored, she glanced around the room. She really wasn't suited for occasions like this, she thought with a silent sigh. Blinking, she was relieved that the banquet was about to start.
The usual procedure followed: Xia Minghui gave a speech, and the banquet began.
Xia Yan and Xia Siyue sat together beside Xia Minghui, while Ye Yunchen was seated next to Xia Yan. She shot a suspicious look at Xia Minghui, who had arranged the seating, wondering what he was up to. During the meal, Ye Yunchen was exceptionally attentive and gentle, constantly piling food onto her plate. Watching this from beside her, Xia Siyue felt a bitter pang in her heart.
"Brother Yunchen, you really don't need to keep adding food for me. Look at my bowl—it's already piled high. If this keeps up, I won't be able to finish it." Xia Yan gave a helpless smile at the mountain of food in her bowl, frowning slightly.