Old Madam Xia narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze landing directly on Xia Siyue. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes made her expression somewhat fierce. Both hands gripping the dragon-head of her cane, she lifted it and stomped it heavily on the ground the moment Xia Siyue froze in a daze.
"You still remember to come back? Where did you just go? Who were you with?"
"Grandma, how could I not remember to come back? I just had a meal with a friend, and then he dropped me off."
"A friend? What kind of friend?"
"I wouldn't know them even if I told you. Grandma, I'm going to my room now."
"Stop right there. Were you having dinner with Ye Yunchen?" Old Madam Xia named the person Xia Siyue had been reluctant to mention.
"No." Xia Siyue instinctively denied it, but catching the certainty in Old Madam Xia's eyes, her expression shifted, and she changed her tune. "Yes, I was having dinner with Ye Yunchen. But what does that prove?"
"You spendthrift! Have you forgotten who caused the current state of the Xia Corporation? Ye Yunchen's intentions are impossible to read. With your abilities, he can toy with you however he pleases."
"Grandma, I know Dad wants to set Ye Yunchen up with Xia Yan. But she's his daughter too, and if she can do it, so can I."
"You little wretch! You want to marry Ye Yunchen?"
"Why not? I'm the only true daughter of the Xia family. What is Xia Yan anyway?" Xia Siyue shouted defiantly, refusing to believe that only Xia Yan could marry Ye Yunchen.
Old Madam Xia trembled with rage at her words. "Go to your room right now. You're not allowed out without my permission."
"Why? Grandma, what right do you have to restrict my freedom?"
"Because I'm your grandmother. Now get back to your room and stay there."
Hearing this, Xia Siyue stomped her foot in frustration, glaring at Old Madam Xia but too afraid to speak back.
Once she confirmed Xia Siyue had returned to her room, Old Madam Xia immediately called Xia Minghui to tell him what had happened. Xia Siyue's sudden interference caught Xia Minghui off guard, leaving him flustered.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunchen, who completely disregarded the Xia family, was driving himself to Yuzhou.
At the Xiao residence in Yuzhou, Xia Yan glanced awkwardly at the son and daughter of Old Master Xiao, who had rushed back upon hearing the news. She didn't understand why they were staring at her with such astonished expressions.
Embarrassed, Xia Yan lowered her head and discreetly elbowed Zhan Meng, who sat calmly beside her. She shot her a questioning look: What's going on?
Zhan Meng glanced at Xia Yan, then let her gaze drift between Old Master Xiao's son and daughter. Rubbing her chin, she gave Xia Yan a look that said she had no idea either.
"Miss Xia?" It was Old Master Xiao's daughter who spoke, her tone laced with uncertainty.
Xia Yan nodded in surprise. "Auntie, just call me Xia Yan. No need to be so formal."
"Xia Yan?" she murmured, her puzzled gaze shifting to her brother.
The butler had already handed over all of Xia Yan's information to Old Master Xiao, but they hadn't seen it yet. Besides, their return today was purely coincidental, so seeing Xia Yan appear had shocked them as much as it had the old man.
"Master, Miss, the old master wants you in the study now," a servant announced.
At that, the two exchanged glances. "Make yourselves at home."
Xia Yan was baffled by their serious demeanor. Watching them head to the study, she grew uneasy.
"Zhan Meng, I think we should leave here quickly."
"Why?"
"Don't you think everyone in this house is strange? Don't you notice the way they look at us..."
"You're overthinking it. I don't see anything off. And think about it—since we've been here, haven't they left us alone?"
"That's true, but I still feel uneasy. What if..."
Zhan Meng rolled her eyes and cut her off. "If you ask me, are you just itching to see Lu Zhengting?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Our relationship is so complicated right now. I haven't figured out how to face him yet." The moment the topic shifted to Lu Zhengting, Xia Yan deflated like a punctured balloon, her tone heavy with melancholy.
"Look at you. Every time I bring up Lu Zhengting, you get like this. Fine, let's drop it."
In the study, the two summoned stood before Old Master Xiao, who had his back to them. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Old Master Xiao clasped his hands behind his back, staring at the dense branches outside the window, and let out a faint sigh.
"Take a look at what's on the table."
Xiao Yusheng, Old Master Xiao's eldest son, frowned and reached for the already-opened file on the desk. After scanning it quickly, his face changed dramatically. Seeing this, Xiao Lanqing snatched it from him without a second thought.
"Father, is this a paternity test for our younger sister?" Xiao Lanqing stared in disbelief at the results confirming a mother-daughter relationship.
"No wonder Xia Yan looks so much like our younger sister when she was young," Xiao Lanqing remarked with a hint of nostalgia. Back then, Xiao Lanzhi had resolutely betrayed the family to elope with Xia Yan's father. Over twenty years had passed, and she never thought she'd see her daughter again.
As a child, Xiao Yusheng, being the only son of the Xiao family, was destined to inherit the family business. Old Master Xiao had always been strict with him. Meanwhile, Xiao Lanqing and Xiao Lanzhi, as the daughters, were raised with indulgence.
Their childhood was carefree, but everything changed during Xiao Lanzhi's teenage years.
"Father, since Xia Yan is our younger sister's daughter, she's a child of the Xiao family. No matter what, she should come back to us," Xiao Lanqing said excitedly.
Hearing this, Old Master Xiao turned around abruptly, his weathered eyes glistening with tears. "Of course Xia Yan will return to the Xiao family. Lanqing, go fetch her."
"Alright, I'll go now."
Xiao Lanqing turned away, wiping the tears from her eyes. Taking a deep breath to steady her excitement, she went to find Xia Yan. When she saw her again, the emotions surged even stronger. Xia Yan really did look so much like Lanzhi.
Seeing the tears in Xiao Lanqing's eyes, Xia Yan was taken aback. "Auntie, what... what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Sorry, I couldn't hold it in. Yan Yan, would you come to the study with me?"
"The study?" Xia Yan asked in surprise.
"Don't want to? Don't worry, we won't hurt you. We just have some things to ask you."
As Xia Yan hesitated, Zhan Meng grinned at her. "You've got nothing else to do anyway. Go with Auntie to the study."
Hearing Zhan Meng's words, Xia Yan felt trapped. Ever since arriving at the Xiao residence, she felt like Zhan Meng had sold her off to them.
On one side, Zhan Meng was pushing her to go; on the other, Xiao Lanqing's tearful eyes...
Xia Yan sighed softly and said weakly, "Auntie, let's go to the study."
Xiao Lanqing nodded quickly and took Xia Yan's hand to lead her upstairs. "Yan Yan, are your parents still alive?"
"They're gone."
"Gone?" Xiao Lanqing didn't catch on at first. Seeing Xia Yan lower her head and avoid her gaze, her expression dim, she suddenly understood and froze.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Xiao Yusheng sat solemnly on the sofa, while Old Master Xiao, struggling to contain his excitement, pointed with trembling hands to the seat beside him. "Sit down and talk."
Xia Yan nodded woodenly, feeling the strange atmosphere. The way the three people in the study looked at her sent a chill down her spine, stirring a sense of unease.
"Old Master Xiao, what did you want to see me about?"
"Is your mother Xiao Lanzhi?" Xiao Yusheng blurted out, watching Xia Yan's startled expression. Seeing her look shocked, he softened his tone.
"How do you know who my mother is?" Xia Yan asked suspiciously. Then, as if a thought struck her, she raised her voice in anger. "Did you investigate me? Why?"
"Yan Yan, don't be upset. We had a reason to investigate you. Did your mother ever mention the Xiao family?" Xiao Lanqing gently placed a hand on her shoulder and asked softly.
"No, she never mentioned the Xiao family to me."
"I didn't think our younger sister still hadn't let go of what happened back then," Xiao Lanqing muttered, but the words slipped out within earshot of Xia Yan. Seeing her stare in shock, she realized she couldn't take them back.
Xiao Yusheng glanced at the silent Old Master Xiao and spoke in a low, steady voice. "Yan Yan, your mother Xiao Lanzhi was our younger sister—the third daughter of the Xiao family."
"That can't be. I've never heard my mother mention anything about the Xiao family."
"It seems Lanzhi still hasn't forgiven what happened back then."
"Do you have any proof? I can't just take your word for it."
Xiao Lanqing patted Xia Yan's hand gently. "You know, you look exactly like Lanzhi did when she was young."
To convince Xia Yan, Xiao Yusheng brought out a photo of Xiao Lanzhi in her youth. The moment she saw it, Xia Yan froze.
"Is my mother really the third daughter of the Xiao family?" Xia Yan asked, still uncertain.
"Yes, the real deal."
Xia Yan's lips parted, and she murmured softly, "Then you..."
"By family rank, you should call me aunt, silly child."
"Aunt?"
Xia Yan couldn't process it. She had never known her mother's relatives were still alive. Now, suddenly appearing at such a critical moment, her mind was in turmoil.
"Can you give me some time to digest this?"
"Yan Yan, don't you believe us? We..."
Before Xiao Lanqing could finish, Xiao Yusheng interrupted. "Lanqing, give her some time. Rushing her will scare her."
Seeing Old Master Xiao nod, she fell silent.
Xia Yan left the study and headed straight to her room. She really needed to sort out the situation.