Chapter 55 Dinner with the Xia Family (1/2)

This was A Miao's second time seeing Shen Xinglan smile. No matter how mentally unstable he was or how wicked his tongue was, she couldn't deny his good looks.

She had never seen a man who was better looking than Shen Xinglan, at the very least.

”I hope you'll still be able to smile after hearing what I say next.” Shen Xinglan took off his suit and sat down on the sofa. A Miao, who had been planning to go upstairs, walked over to him.

”What's wrong?”

”Xia Yongqiang gave me a call, saying that we should get together for a meal after so long. It's also a celebration for your university admission.”

A Miao immediately asked, ”Did you agree?”

”Why wouldn't I?” Shen Xinglan raised an eyebrow. ”You accompanied me to the Ji family manor. Naturally, I'll have to meet the Xia family as a thank-you.”

”How courteous.” A Miao gave him a reminder. ”Don't forget they've lost the fake pendant. They might be suspecting us.”

Shen Xinglan rose to his feet to walk up the stairs. ”That's right. It's you that they suspect, not me.” He stopped for a moment when he walked past A Miao. ”Don't try to slip away with some excuse. I'll fetch you tomorrow noon.”

Over at the Xia family villa, Yao Lili threw a tantrum in the living room after hearing that they would be having dinner outside.

”Why must we treat the illegitimate child to a meal? I'm not going!”

Xia Wan was already dressed and looked as pleasant and elegant as usual. Her expression, however, was unsightly.

”Mom, we're not treating her but Shen Xinglan. She's not A Miao; She's Shen Xinglan's fiancee.”

Yao Lili looked at her daughter with great dissatisfaction. ”Wanwan, what exactly are you planning? Your grandfather has already promised to the Bai family. Very soon, you two will be engaged.”

”It's just an engagement, not the marriage itself.” Xia Wan wasn't at all worried. There were two more years to go before she would graduate. Who knows what would happen in such a long period of time?”

When Xia Haixin came downstairs and saw Yao Lili still in her pajamas, he couldn't stop himself from saying, ”You really don't want to go, do you? Stay home then.”

”I'm going! I'm going!” Yao Lili immediately jumped to her feet. ”Seriously! Can't you let me talk about it?”

Xia Haixin sighed as he watched his wife turn around and walk up the stairs. Back then, he had married this woman for her beauty and for the fact that the Yao family was a nouveau riche family from the north.

What he didn't expect was that the Yao family would collapse in just a few years and he would still have to endure this woman's stupidity and vulgarity.

”Dad!” Xia Wan stared at him. ”No matter what, she's still my mom...”

”You can fool with women outside every now and then but you mustn't make a mistake. Grandpa wouldn't forgive you.”

”I know.” Xia Haixin understood his daughter's thoughts. Yao Lili had the dirt on their family. She would be his only wife in his life for as long as she didn't cheat on him.

When Xia Yongqiang came out of his room, the entire family was already waiting in line. Xia Haixin personally took the wheel. In the car, he suddenly recalled something and said, ”Dad, Xia Fan is back overseas yesterday.”

”Didn't he previously say that he wasn't leaving?” Xia Yongqiang scowled. He was well aware that that grandson of his was most similar to him in terms of character. However, Xia Fan was too ambitious and his methods weren't clean enough.

”I've asked Second Brother to give him a call. Since it's his child, it's best for him to watch over him.”

Xia Yongqiang nodded. ”We'll have your Second Brother's family take care of the overseas business for now. I'll converge the companies in two years. When that happens, you two brothers must stand united.”

”I understand, Dad. Rest assured!” Xia Haixin turned his head around and concentrated on driving.

”Rest assured? Don't you understand your own son? If Second Brother makes a fuss when the time comes, don't say I don't leave you any face, Dad...”

On the top floor of Binhai Restaurant, Shen Xinglan and A Miao stepped inside a private room.

”You're here, Xinglan. Hurry and take a seat.” Xia Yongqiang's tone was rather courteous but he didn't rise to his feet.

To him, Shen Xinglan was still a part of the younger generation regardless of how impressive the Ji Clan was. Moreover, Shen Xinglan was also his niece's future husband.

”A Miao!” Xia Wan went up to A Miao and held her hand. ”I'm really sorry for meeting you the last time without clarifying matters. Grandpa didn't lose his jade pendant. The necklace snapped and fell on the side of his bed.”

Shen Xinglan's eyes dimmed. He said casually, ”A Miao told me that Elder Xia lost something. But now...”

”Misunderstanding! Just a misunderstanding!” Xia Yongqiang put on an act of glaring at Xia Wan. ”This girl went looking for A Miao without even clarifying matters. It's all a misunderstanding.”

A Miao took a seat beside Shen Xinglan without responding. She pretended like she didn't see the look that Xia Wan was shooting her.

”Would you mind letting me take a look at it?” Shen Xinglan made a small ”oh” sound. ”If you lose it a second time, at least I know what it is.”

His words were rather unpleasant, but Xia Yongqiang let it slide because he knew this was the way Shen Xinglan was. He took out the jade pendant embedded with a bronze mirror from his bosom and placed it on the table.

”It's nothing valuable. I just gained some affection for it after wearing it for so long.”

Shen Xinglan stared at the pendant attentively for several seconds before putting on an uninterested expression. ”Then you better put it away, Elder Xia. Be careful of knocking it into things.”

A Miao finally learned Xia Yongqiang's goal when they were beginning to dine. He wanted Shen Xinglan to give up the right to auction for a certain piece of land to the Xia family.

”I'm going to the washroom.” She didn't have the mood to watch Xia Yongqiang continuously casting her meaningful looks and chose to leave instead. When she walked out of the washroom, she chanced upon Xia Mei looking around at the elevator. Xia Mei's expression swiftly changed after seeing her.

”You illegitimate child! Where's Grandpa and the rest?”

A Miao fixed her a cold stare. ”What did you call me?”

”Ille...” Xia Mei's eyes widened. ”Which room is Grandpa and the rest are in? Tell me now.”

”I don't know.”

Xia Mei started yelling. ”You don't want to let me in, do you? Let me tell you this. Don't think you can be proud just because you've become someone's fiancee or whatever. You're forever a child the Xia family doesn't want! You're just an illegitimate child. I...”

”Pa!”

A Miao kneaded her palm.