The setting sun was infinitely beautiful, yet it was near dusk. The sun, having dyed half the sky red, drew its curtain, and looking up, one saw the crescent moon just rising. A hot wind blew head-on, and the streets gradually filled with people. The commercial center was brightly lit, illuminating the night raid. The streetlights that suddenly flickered on seemed the color of dusk. Everyone's face bore different smiles—some hurried, some leisurely.
Xia Yan's figure wove through the crowd, clearly someone in a rush. She had already sent the moving company to the Xia residence, and she was now heading there herself. But just when she needed a taxi, not a single empty one was in sight. She walked to the designated taxi stand, where a long line had already formed.
She stood absentmindedly among the crowd, thinking about what Ke Yaru had said to her today. That terrifying thought was merely her hinting that she was Xiaohan's mother.
The noise around her was clamorous, and Xia Yan's phone rang many times before she heard it. She answered—it was the moving company. The fact that she was moving out of the Xia residence would eventually come to light. She had anticipated Xia Minghui would try to stop her, but she hadn't expected his stance to be even more resolute than she had imagined.
She took a car back to the Xia residence. Xia Minghui was already sitting in the living room waiting for her, along with the Old Madam Xia and Xia Siyue. The moving company employees stood to the side, awaiting her instructions. Xia Yan glanced at everyone, then turned and said calmly, "Go upstairs first."
"Xia Yan, I know Lan Zhi's departure has upset you deeply, but what's the point of moving out of the Xia residence like this?" Xia Minghui stared sternly at Xia Yan, speaking coldly. Beside him, Xia Siyue looked at Xia Yan with a mocking expression.
"Father..."
"Dad, since Sister wants to move out, she must have her reasons. Why not just agree? Maybe she's moving in with Mr. Lu, right?" Xia Siyue said with a smile directed at Xia Yan.
Hearing this, Xia Yan pressed her lips together and silently acquiesced to Xia Siyue's words.
"Xia Yan, is what Yueyue said true?"
"Yes."
"Nonsense! Moving out to live with Mr. Lu? That's improper. If others find out, they'll say the Xia family's daughter has no upbringing," the Old Madam Xia scolded angrily.
Upbringing? She had never seen any sign of upbringing in the Xia family.
"Yes, Yanyan, it truly is improper. If you really want to live with Mr. Lu, you should marry him first," Xia Minghui said to Xia Yan with an unreadable expression. If Xia Yan could really marry Lu Zhengting, it would be nothing but beneficial to the Xia family.
"Marriage?" Xia Yan suddenly laughed. Marriage? She must be out of her mind. She and Lu Zhengting weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend. She really admired Xia Minghui and the Old Madam Xia for saying such things, and she doubted where they got the confidence that Lu Zhengting would marry her.
"Yanyan, only if you marry Mr. Lu will it be proper. You need to know we're doing this for your own good."
Xia Yan looked at Xia Minghui expressionlessly and said faintly, "Marriage is still far off. We haven't reached that stage yet."
"Yanyan!"
"My meaning is clear. I'm very determined about moving out."
Xia Minghui and the Old Madam Xia exchanged a glance, then changed the subject. "Yanyan, since you insist on moving out, we won't oppose it. Since you're back today, I have something important to tell you."
"What is it?"
"This is Lan Zhi's final will. Her intention is for you and Yueyue to split everything equally. Here's the will—take a look."
Hearing this, Xia Yan froze for a moment. She took the document from Xia Minghui, scanned it quickly, and without a second thought, placed it on the coffee table. "Father, you want me to sign this?"
"Yes. Yueyue has already signed."
"Father, I won't sign it. I seriously doubt the authenticity of this will. When my mother was in the hospital, she didn't agree. I remember you were there too, weren't you? How, in the blink of an eye, did she suddenly agree?" Xia Yan said with a cold laugh.
"Things change unexpectedly, Yanyan. Yueyue is your sister. She naturally has the right to a share of Lan Zhi's belongings."
"But those are my father's keepsakes, left to me. Since when did I have a sister from the same parents?" Xia Yan couldn't help but want to tear off the Xia family's mask when she saw the will.
"Xia Yan, how dare you speak like that!" Xia Siyue suddenly stood up, glaring at Xia Yan. "Am I not Mom's daughter?"
The Old Madam Xia's sharp gaze fixed on Xia Yan, and her loud voice rang out. "Xiao Lan Zhi married into our Xia family. Everything she owned belongs to the Xia family. Don't forget, that includes you—you were raised by the Xia family. Without us, would you be living so comfortably now?"
"Old Madam Xia, I think you've forgotten. When you wanted to give me away to Yang Jinkuan, you didn't treat me as a daughter of the Xia family. Yes, I grew up in the Xia residence, but ever since I got involved with Lu Zhengting, your family has used my relationship with him to do business outside. Do you really think I don't know? If we're counting debts, haven't I already repaid the Xia family?"
The Xia family had used her connection to Lu Zhengting to bully other companies in business dealings—she had overheard this once when passing by Lu Zhengting's study. At the time, she was so furious she felt like she'd explode. And now they had the nerve to bring this up.
"What are you talking about!" Xia Minghui's feigned kindness shattered the moment Xia Yan spoke.
"Am I not telling the truth?" Xia Yan lowered her eyes, glancing at the will she had tossed onto the coffee table, and added coldly, "I won't sign this will. Don't bother trying to persuade me."
Seeing that the moving company had almost finished packing her things, Xia Yan prepared to leave the Xia residence under the gaze of the three.
Xia Siyue suddenly made a move, striding over to block Xia Yan's path. "You're not going anywhere today. You have to sign this will."
"And if I don't?"
"You have no choice."
Xia Yan stared straight at Xia Siyue and let out a mocking laugh. "You want it that badly?"
"Xia Yan, anything that's yours, I'll take."
Hearing this, Xia Yan's brow furrowed instantly. Her phone suddenly rang. She raised her hand to look at it. The situation before her was completely out of her control. Given their stance, if she didn't sign, leaving the Xia residence would be difficult. And this call happened to be from Lu Zhengting. Did she really have to rely on him again?
"Sign or not?"
Xia Yan knew she was isolated and helpless. Aside from the man who had suddenly called and could help her, she probably couldn't find anyone else who would make Xia Minghui feel threatened.
Clutching her phone, Xia Yan looked up and said, "Let me take this call."
"No!"
"Do you know who this is?" Xia Yan said calmly, staring at Xia Siyue. "It's Lu Zhengting. He told me that if I don't answer his calls, he'll be upset. And if he's upset, he'll ask why I didn't pick up. Then I'll have to tell him the truth. Do you think he'll get angry at me, or at you, Xia Siyue?"
Xia Siyue snorted coldly. "Xia Yan, don't think I don't know about your relationship with him. Do you think I'd believe that?" She suddenly remembered something and leaned in to whisper in Xia Yan's ear, "Does Mr. Lu know about your relationship with Yang Jinkuan?"
"What relationship do I have with Yang Jinkuan? I don't know about it, but you do?" Xia Yan said coldly, squinting.
"Ha, playing the saint while acting like a whore?"
Xia Yan paused for a few seconds. "How do you know about the mS Bar incident? Or did you set it up? Did you lure Yang Jinkuan there?"
"Sister, thinking that way gives me too much credit. If it weren't for the mS Bar incident, I wouldn't have known that I could find like-minded people by your side." Xia Siyue always showed two small canine teeth when she smiled, and that seemingly harmless look always struck Xia Yan as eerie.
Xia Minghui had remained silent. When he heard that Lu Zhengting was calling Xia Yan, whether it was true or false, to avoid unnecessary trouble, he said to Xia Siyue, "Let her take the call first."
"Dad..."
"Let her take the call."
Seeing this, Xia Yan raised her phone and stepped aside to answer. "Lu Zhengting, where are you?"
"Took you long enough to answer."
"I almost couldn't take your call."
Xu Xiao stared intently at Lu Zhengting, drawing Ning Dong's serious displeasure. He glanced at Lu Zhengting. "Call Xia Yan over so everyone can see her."
At that, Xu Xiao couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch Ning Dong's face. "Saying that, you'd better watch out for Lu Zhengting picking a fight with you."
Ning Dong raised an eyebrow, as if to say, Can he beat me?
Those engrossed in scrolling through Weibo couldn't help but laugh. Ning Nan looked at Ning Dong cheerfully. "Big Brother, your skills are practically godlike. Who'd dare fight you? Asking for death?"
Xu Xiao nodded with a smile, then asked, "If I fought you, would I lose?"
"No, I can't beat you."
"... " Everyone was speechless.
Lu Zhengting swept a cold gaze over the group and said sternly into the phone, "What's going on over there?"
Xia Yan briefly explained the situation. Lu Zhengting said directly, "Put Xia Minghui on the phone."
"Okay."
Xia Minghui took Xia Yan's phone, confused. Glancing at the call status on the screen, he immediately became deferential. Whatever Lu Zhengting said on the phone, Xia Minghui just kept nodding.
Finally, Xia Minghui handed the phone back to Xia Yan. "Let's leave the will for today. Xia Yan, since you want to move out, I won't object. But aren't you supposed to start looking for an internship now? I'm not comfortable with you working at an outside company. You can intern at the family business, and I'll feel at ease."
"I'm already working at Lu's."
"When did that happen?"
"Half a month ago."
Hearing this, Xia Minghui could only force a smile. "Good. With Mr. Lu looking after you, I'm reassured."
"Mm. Can I go now?" Xia Yan glanced at Xia Siyue and said with a smile.