Xia Siyue pushed Xia Yan down from the second-floor landing. Xia Minghui, who followed her out, saw her move but couldn’t stop it in time, forced to watch helplessly as Xia Yan tumbled down the stairs. Lu Zhengting and Zhan Meng, rushing over at the sound, witnessed the entire scene.
“Xia Yan!” Zhan Meng shouted her name, her voice rising. By the time she reached Xia Yan, she had already passed out.
Lu Zhengting glared furiously at the instigator. Xia Minghui, standing behind Xia Siyue, was startled by the murderous aura radiating from him, never expecting Lu Zhengting to appear here. Meanwhile, Old Madam Xia, seated on the living room sofa, showed no change in expression.
Xia Siyue’s heart trembled with fear. She dared not meet Lu Zhengting’s eyes, instinctively stepping back and waving her hands frantically. “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to.”
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting’s icy gaze pierced through Xia Siyue. He lifted Xia Yan from the floor. “If anything happens to Xia Yan, I’ll make sure you’re buried with her!”
“Why? She lost her footing herself, it’s not my fault.” Xia Siyue blurted out without thinking, then instantly put on a pitiful expression, staring at Lu Zhengting. But it only earned her an even more sinister look.
Xia Siyue stood frozen in place, too scared to move. She truly saw murder in Lu Zhengting’s eyes.
“Lu Zhengting, stop wasting time. Get Xia Yan to the hospital first,” Zhan Meng said urgently, supporting Xia Yan’s head as she looked at him.
At her words, Lu Zhengting suddenly lowered his gaze to the unconscious woman in his arms. He turned sideways, casting a cold glare at Zhan Meng, and spat out a single word, “Get lost.”
“Lu Zhengting, I care about Xia Yan too…” Zhan Meng knew he blamed her for bringing Xia Yan out. If Xia Yan hadn’t come out, none of this would have happened.
“If Xia Yan suffers any harm, I won’t let you off either.” Lu Zhengting’s voice was as cold as ice as he spoke to the guilt-ridden Zhan Meng.
Hearing this, Zhan Meng had no mood to argue with him. If she were honest, this was indeed her fault.
Lu Zhengting wouldn’t let her touch Xia Yan, which frustrated Zhan Meng. Watching him rush out with Xia Yan in his arms, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Then she slowly walked upstairs to Xia Siyue. “You dared to push Xia Yan?”
“No, I didn’t push her. She lost her footing.”
“Liar. Are you saying I’m blind? I saw you reach out and push Xia Yan with my own eyes, and you’re telling me she just fell?” Zhan Meng’s lips curled slightly. On the surface, she seemed to be smiling, but Xia Siyue, standing closest to her, sensed danger.
“Don’t, don’t come near me.”
“I’m not going to do anything to you. Why are you so scared? It’s like I’m about to attack you or something.” Anyone who knew Zhan Meng understood her temperament—the brighter her smile, the angrier she was.
Zhan Meng smiled at Xia Siyue again, backing her to the stairway. With a radiant grin, she raised her right hand. Xia Siyue, thinking she was about to be hit, reflexively covered her face, never expecting Zhan Meng to push her down the stairs in the same way.
This move shocked everyone else. Zhan Meng listened to the thumping sound of Xia Siyue tumbling down, her expression still calm, maintaining a composed smile as if she hadn’t just pushed her. Gripping the handrail, she walked down step by step.
The fall nearly knocked the wind out of Xia Siyue. Her entire body screamed in pain, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Lying on the floor, she looked up and saw a pair of high heels before her, instantly holding her breath.
“Who are you? How dare you throw your weight around in the Xia family? You actually pushed Yueyue down the stairs. Minghui, call the police! I want to see what you’re capable of!” Old Madam Xia was the first to react, pounding her cane hard on the ground.
“Who I am is none of your business. What right do you have to lecture me? Want to call the police? Go ahead. I’d love to see what you can do to me.” Zhan Meng spoke arrogantly to Old Madam Xia.
Seeing Old Madam Xia rush to defend Xia Siyue, Zhan Meng instantly understood how low Xia Yan’s status was in the Xia family. It was infuriating.
“Fine, fine, fine. Minghui, call the police. I’ll sue her for malicious assault.”
“Whatever. I’ll go along with anything you do. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—if this blows up, I won’t be the one losing face.”
“You, you ill-mannered person.”
“Old lady, let me tell you, manners are useless on someone like you. Ever heard the saying ‘fight fire with fire’? That’s what fits you. Oh no, I should say it fits you, and even the whole Xia family.” Zhan Meng stared at Old Madam Xia without flinching, her eyes showing no retreat.
“You, you, you…”
“Mom.”
“Grandma…”
Old Madam Xia had never been confronted like this before. She faltered on the spot, overwhelmed by anger, and fainted from the shock.
Seeing this, Zhan Meng paused for a moment, muttering to herself, “Can’t handle this and still comes looking for trouble. I’m honestly impressed.”
Ning Xi received the news and immediately dropped everything, speeding to the Xia residence. As soon as he entered, he saw the family doctor performing first aid on Old Madam Xia. Xia Siyue was lying on the sofa, silent, her face twisted in pain.
As for Xia Minghui, Ning Xi felt he always looked either grim or scheming whenever he saw him.
Zhan Meng, surprised to see Ning Xi appear, pursed her lips and asked, “Why are you here? Did Lu Zhengting call you? Not that it matters, this has nothing to do with you anyway. You’re useless here.”
Before Ning Xi could speak, Zhan Meng rattled off a string of words. He had to interrupt her. “Little troublemaker, didn’t I tell you not to meddle in Lu Zhengting and Xia Yan’s affairs?”
“You saying it doesn’t mean I have to listen, okay? Besides, I have my own judgment. I think…”
“You think what? Zhan Meng, what kind of woman are you? Why are you everywhere?”
“Mind your own business! Ning Xi, if you don’t like me, you can leave. I didn’t beg you to come. It’s ridiculous, acting like I care about you.” Zhan Meng said irritably, not even glancing at him, turning her head to look at Xia Minghui.
“I’ll cover all their medical expenses. But I strongly advise everyone here, especially you.” Zhan Meng pointed her finger at Xia Siyue. “From now on, however you treat Xia Yan, I’ll treat you the same. I can’t stand women like you.”
Zhan Meng’s words made Xia Siyue shudder. She neither nodded nor shook her head, just stared blankly at Zhan Meng.
Rolling her eyes, Zhan Meng walked off directly.
Xia Minghui watched Zhan Meng’s retreating figure, squinting. When did Xia Yan get such a fierce woman by her side? One who seemed fearless, even in front of Ning Xi, whom he himself had to treat with some respect.
Ning Xi stayed behind to handle the aftermath. When he came out of the villa, he saw Zhan Meng still standing at the entrance. He walked straight up to her. “What are you standing around for?”
“None of your business?”
“Zhan Meng, can’t you be a little nicer to me when you talk?”
“No. Didn’t you come here just to scold me?”
Hearing this, Ning Xi was furious. He couldn’t remember when it started, but every time he met Zhan Meng, they ended up arguing, and she always struck first. How had their relationship become so unpredictable after they slept together?
Feng Yuan, Zhan Meng’s personal driver, pulled up smoothly in her sports car, stopping in front of Zhan Meng. She rolled down the window and blurted out “brother-in-law,” then quickly corrected herself before they could hear clearly, “Cousin.”
“If you’re this late again next time, I’ll tell your uncle what you’re really up to.”
“Don’t, sis. It was traffic. I rushed over as soon as I got your call. Let’s go?”
Zhan Meng was about to get in the car when Ning Xi grabbed her wrist. She glanced down lightly. “Let go.”
“What are you playing at lately?”
Hearing this, Zhan Meng frowned deeply, forcefully shook off Ning Xi’s hand, and got into the car without answering his question.
Inside the car, Feng Yuan cautiously watched Zhan Meng’s expression, hesitating to speak, glancing at her again and again before tentatively asking, “Cousin, honestly, what’s going on between you and Ning Xi lately?”
“Huh? Nothing’s going on.”
“Even if I don’t know, I can see it with my own eyes. Cousin, you clearly like Ning Xi, so why act so awkward and ignore him?”
“Do I? When did I ever say I liked him?”
“Didn’t you?”
“Just drive. Remember, there’s a gorgeous woman sitting in your car.”
Feng Yuan glanced at Zhan Meng, pouting, feeling frustrated.
Stopping the discussion about Ning Xi didn’t lift Zhan Meng’s mood.
On the other side, Lu Zhengting knew Xia Yan wouldn’t want to wake up at the East Mountain Villa, so he ordered the driver to head to the apartment, where the family doctor was already waiting.
After the examination, Xia Yan’s body was fine, just some minor scrapes on her hands and feet.
Once the wounds were carefully treated, Lu Zhengting turned and left the room, sitting alone on the sofa. Lost in thought, his expression grim, he suddenly heard a faint moan from inside. He stood up abruptly and strode back to the room.
Xia Yan frowned, slowly opening her eyes. Staring at the familiar ceiling above, she didn’t blink. Suddenly, she sensed another presence—one that was deeply familiar to her, a feeling she both loved and hated.
The room was dark, the crimson glow of sunset streaming through the open curtains, casting half the room in shadow and half in twilight red. Lu Zhengting stood in the darkness, making it hard for Xia Yan to see him clearly.