"You bastard, she's your sister. How dare you push her into the fire?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Old Madam Xia's eyes widened, flames flickering within them.
"Old Madam Xia, Xia Siyue and I are both daughters of the Xia family. You can't only demand things from me." Xia Yan stared directly at Old Madam Xia, her voice low. If it weren't for Xiao Lanzhi, she would have long left this hypocritical Xia family. Seeing the old woman's favoritism again, trying to push her out, she felt nothing but disgust.
"Xia Yan, don't forget, everything you wear, live in, and use—didn't we give it all to you?"
"So now you want me to give it back?" Xia Yan swept a cold glance, maintaining her posture as she looked down on them.
"Have you decided yet?" Yang Jinkuan sat on the sofa in a pose he thought was handsome, eyeing Xia Yan's graceful figure. His mind and body began to wander. What he liked most was a pure woman like Xia Yan, especially when imagining her undressed. His patience vanished; he couldn't wait to cruelly torment her now...
Lu Zhengting had been covertly and overtly suppressing his business, costing him heavy losses. Since they'd all burned bridges, he had no need for restraint. Moreover, taking Lu Zhengting's woman was an even greater thrill and challenge for him.
Xia Yan turned her head and glared at Yang Jinkuan. Both were men of similar age and success, so why was Lu Zhengting always a step ahead? She averted her gaze in disgust. Having seen Lu Zhengting's handsome face for so long, looking at Yang Jinkuan now—even calling him hideously ugly couldn't fully express her utter loathing and revulsion.
"Xia Yan, you must help the Xia family now."
"I can't. I'm just a student; I'm not as capable as you think."
"Xia Yan!"
"Old Madam Xia, no matter how many times you call my name, my answer is the same: I can't do it." With that, Xia Yan turned to leave this suffocating place.
"Stop."
"..." Xia Yan halted, a mocking smile curling at her lips as she looked at Old Madam Xia. "Xia Siyue is already on her way back. I think President Yang still has a decent impression of my sister, doesn't he?"
Her voice was neither loud nor soft. Yang Jinkuan heard it and rubbed his chin. Though Xia Yan suited his tastes better, Xia Siyue would do as well.
Seeing Yang Jinkuan's expression, Old Madam Xia flew into a rage and swung the cane beside the sofa at Xia Yan. "Who told you to call her back?"
"The Xia family is in this state. As the rightful eldest daughter, shouldn't she come back to handle these matters?" Xia Yan said calmly. Why should she be the one sacrificed? Didn't Xia Siyue love watching her make a fool of herself? Now she wanted to see what Xia Siyue would do when Yang Jinkuan set his sights on her.
Xia Siyue returned around the time Xia Yan had estimated, but she wasn't alone. Mu Chengfeng was with her, their arms linked as they appeared before everyone. Seeing Yang Jinkuan, Xia Siyue assumed he was there for Xia Yan again.
"Is President Yang here to see my sister?"
Old Madam Xia shot Xia Siyue a warning look. "Take Chengfeng and go to your room first."
"Grandma, what did President Yang come to see my sister about?" Xia Siyue ignored the warning in Old Madam Xia's eyes, speaking with feigned innocence. She didn't realize that her naive, coquettish demeanor had also caught Yang Jinkuan's attention.
Xia Yan knew that for Yang Jinkuan, Xia Siyue was acceptable too.
Pausing, Xia Yan covered her mouth and coughed a few times. "My dear sister, you've guessed wrong this time. President Yang is here for you."
"Xia Yan, what nonsense are you spouting?" Xia Siyue glared at Xia Yan in displeasure. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mu Chengfeng's nonchalant attitude. She had brought him back to watch Xia Yan's embarrassment, but she didn't want him to see her own.
Knowing Xia Siyue's concerns, Xia Yan decided to step right on that sore spot. She moved closer to Xia Siyue, looking her up and down. "Tsk, tsk, truly pitiful. You're much prettier than me. Oh, and did you know? The Xia family is in trouble now. As a daughter of the Xia family, I'm sure you understand what needs to be done, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't understand what I mean? Then I'll have to trouble President Yang." Xia Yan said lightly.
"What are you going to do?" Xia Siyue furrowed her brows, glaring fiercely at Xia Yan.
Seeing this, Xia Yan shrugged nonchalantly. If the tiger doesn't show its might, they think it's a sick cat?
Yang Jinkuan suddenly stood up, glanced at Xia Siyue, then looked at Old Madam Xia. "So, have you reached a decision?"
Yang Jinkuan had ties to both the underworld and the legitimate world, which was why Old Madam Xia dared not offend him. The Xia family had no connections in the underworld, and it was said that Yang Jinkuan had originally come from the underworld before cleaning up his act.
Yang Jinkuan signaled his men to approach Xia Siyue. She stepped back repeatedly, casting a pleading look at Mu Chengfeng.
"President Yang, Xia Siyue is my girlfriend. What are you doing?"
"Does the young master of the Mu family care about just any woman?"
"I said she's my girlfriend. I want you to let her go."
"Big talk. You think you're enough? Even your father wouldn't dare order me around. What makes you think I'd let her go?" Yang Jinkuan was fuming. Xia Yan had been snatched away by Lu Zhengting, and now, settling for second best, some greenhorn dared to interfere with his plans?
Xia Yan stood quietly to the side, watching the drama unfold. Spotting Xia Minghui rushing back, she kept her expression blank. From the day Old Madam Xia had packaged her as a gift for Yang Jinkuan, she had been utterly disillusioned with this family.
Xia Minghui hadn't come home last night. Now, rushing back to see the chaotic scene in the living room, he was furious. He walked up to Yang Jinkuan and snapped, "President Yang, what are you doing?"
"Collecting a debt."
"You! Isn't there still a week left?" Xia Minghui gritted his teeth at Yang Jinkuan, glancing at the angry and aggrieved Xia Siyue, then at the calm Xia Yan. Yang Jinkuan's purpose in coming to the Xia family was undoubtedly Xia Yan. But now, Xia Yan had directly pushed Xia Siyue forward.
Yang Jinkuan nodded. "There's still a week, but are you sure you've raised that much money?"
"That's not your concern."
"Fine, I'll give you a week. Struggle all you want." Yang Jinkuan raised his hand in a gesture and left the Xia family with his entourage. The look he left behind sent a chill through both Xia Yan and Xia Siyue.
With Xia Minghui back to take charge, Xia Yan saw no reason to stay and tried to slip away unnoticed, but was suddenly called out.
"Xia Yan, you tried to push me out as your shield?" Xia Siyue stormed over, blocking her path, and demanded angrily.
"Don't you like watching me make a fool of myself? So I thought I'd let you experience it firsthand. How did it feel?"
"Xia Yan, you bitch!"
"Bitch? Quite the loose tongue. Aren't you worried about tarnishing your lady-like image? Think about it—when Yang Jinkuan wanted you just now, Old Madam Xia was furious but didn't stop him, did she?" Xia Yan's voice grew softer, the last sentence deliberately meant for Xia Siyue's ears. She had no ulterior motive; she just wanted to do it.
As her words fell, Xia Siyue's face changed drastically.
Xia Yan pursed her lips and smiled faintly. "Problem solved. I'm going back to school."
"Xia Yan."
Hearing this, Xia Yan looked at Old Madam Xia, who had called her name, and said firmly, "My answer is still the same."
Old Madam Xia was so furious she couldn't catch her breath and fainted on the spot.
With the only elder in the house unconscious, everyone was in chaos. No one paid attention to Xia Yan's whereabouts, so she naturally took the chance to slip away. Why stay any longer?
Xia Yan took a taxi straight back to school. She realized that aside from the Xia family, school, and Lu's residence, she had no place that truly belonged to her. After her internship, the school wouldn't let her stay, and she couldn't live at Lu's long-term. As for the Xia family, it wasn't even an option.
Just as she reached Wu Bridge, Xia Yan saw a large group of girls sprinting toward the north campus. Curious, she grabbed one of them. "Hey, classmate, why is everyone running over there?"
"Junior, don't you know? Ning Nan is filming at our school! Everyone's rushing to see him."
"Who's Ning Nan?"
"You don't know Ning Nan? He's every woman's dream guy..."
Hearing this, Xia Yan quickly stopped her. She followed celebrities too, but the name Ning Nan sounded familiar, though she couldn't place where she'd heard it. After searching her memory, she confirmed she had no knowledge of this star and shook her head.
"Hey, want to come with me?"
"Huh? No thanks." If it were Xi Xi, she'd sprint over at full speed. Xi Xi was her favorite celebrity.
Seeing the girl give her a regretful look before running off toward the north campus, Xia Yan thought, did she just call me junior?
How did she look like a junior?
The morning's little incident didn't dampen her mood. There weren't many students on the tree-lined path at Wu Bridge. Most of the girls had gone to chase after that star named Ning Nan, so the number of couples had mysteriously decreased. She enjoyed the peace, picking a bench and lounging lazily against the backrest. The warm sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, scattering into fragmented beams on the ground.
Xia Yan half-closed her eyes. How pleasant.
"Xia Yan! So you're here! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
A man's voice suddenly rang in her ears. Xia Yan jolted, opening her eyes wide. She spun around, staring in shock and confusion at the man sitting beside her, who was dressed discreetly.
"Who are you? Do we know each other?"
"Xia Yan, you forgot me that fast?" Ning Nan looked at her with feigned hurt. Lu Zhengting must not have mentioned his name enough. But that couldn't be right—his name was famous worldwide. There was no way Xia Yan wouldn't remember it, was there?