Chapter 89: The Xia Family

As they were about to enter the city, Xia Xiyue reminded her, "Without a border pass, we have to take a detour at the checkpoint, and we can't stay long. Tomorrow we have to go to Southern City."

At that time, Azure Harbor was divided into areas inside and outside the checkpoint; to enter the inner district, one needed a border pass.

Shen Qingyi thought for a moment. "In that case, I won't go in. I'll book a hotel outside the checkpoint first, and after you go back, we can discuss the trip to Southern City tomorrow."

"Since you're here, you should meet my family. It will help your future work. If you're not in too much of a rush, I can also take you around the factory." Xia Xiyue showed no sign of stopping the car.

By then, Shen Qingyi was already terribly carsick, but she still forced herself to bear it. "Isn't my work decided by you and Sister Xia Xiyun? It has nothing to do with anyone else, does it?"

Xia Xiyue paused. It was true that it had little to do with others, but he still wanted to take her to meet his parents and grandmother.

"My brother often travels to Harbor City. They have the most up-to-date fashion trends there. If you come to Azure Harbor in the future and keep designing for our factory, I could bring you along then too."

Shen Qingyi considered it. "I'm not sure when I'll be able to come to Azure Harbor."

"The woman who framed your father back then was seen in Azure Harbor, and I've had someone verify it as well. A while ago, my sister said she'd found her fixed whereabouts. If you want to reopen the case, you and your mother would have to come here in person."

At the mention of her mother, Shen Qingyi was deeply disappointed. "She won't help me."

She had originally been able to follow Lu Yan's advice and wait a few years, but it seemed someone had set their sights on her father's things. Either the case had to be reopened, or everything had to be hidden somewhere safe. Right now, however, both were difficult for her.

"She may have her own reasons." Xia Xiyue thought of Han Lanzhi's words.

Shen Qingyi glanced at the calm profile of Xia Xiyue. "You've seen her?"

Xia Xiyue hesitated. "Yes. I had someone look into the Zhao family. They're businessmen in Southern City. Zhao Chu has gone back, but your mother is still in the capital."

"She's staying in the capital alone?"

"She has a servant with her, and she's living at the Capital Friendship Hotel." Xia Xiyue did not want to hide it from her.

Shen Qingyi drew in a deep breath. "What did she say to you?"

"She said that when you refused to listen to her back then and insisted on marrying Lu Yan, nothing good could come of it. For these past four years, she ignored you on purpose, to let you suffer enough at Lu Yan's hands and come back on your own." As Xia Xiyue spoke, he kept watching Shen Qingyi in the rearview mirror, terrified of missing even the slightest change in her expression.

It was a long while before Shen Qingyi gave a self-mocking laugh. "So that's how it is?"

The smile was lonely and bitter.

When that expression fell into Xia Xiyue's eyes, his heart tightened, as though he were being encircled by a dense, prickling pain. He regretted saying it.

"Qingyi!" he called softly.

"Say 'sister'!" Shen Qingyi corrected him.

When she said this, her expression suddenly turned stern, as if that fleeting hurt from just now had only been an illusion.

Xia Xiyue let out a breath.

The car turned into a secluded side road, wound through several bends, and then merged onto the main highway.

When Shen Qingyi looked out the window again, the city had become prosperous and orderly. The high-rises were no fewer than those in the capital, and the greenery was excellent too. The roar of machinery she had heard when she first arrived outside the checkpoint was gone.

Everywhere there were small trees casting shade.

After a short stretch, Shen Qingyi caught sight of several foreigners and asked curiously, "There are international visitors here, too?"

Xia Xiyue smiled. "This is a pilot zone for reform and opening up, and also a special economic zone. So there isn't only foreign investment here, but also capital from Harbor and Taiwan. The environment for private businesses is much better than in the capital as well."

Shen Qingyi understood what he meant. Xia Xiyun had complained to her about this business climate many times. In the capital, everything depended on connections and favors.

But Azure Harbor was a rising city; here, what mattered was efficiency and strength.

Not long after, Shen Qingyi saw a towering building rise from the ground, its blue glass curtain wall strikingly novel to her. "This building must have at least ten stories!"

"Eighteen," Xia Xiyue said.

"How do you know?"

Xia Xiyue replied calmly, "Because it's my family's."

Shen Qingyi was surprised. "Then when you were in the capital..."

He knew what she wanted to ask. "In the capital, our family had no influence. We relied entirely on money to smooth things over."

Shen Qingyi understood.

After a while, the car stopped along a quiet, tree-lined avenue.

Xia Xiyue unfastened his seat belt and got out to open the door for her.

After Shen Qingyi got out, she had only taken a few steps when she nearly lost her footing. Xia Xiyue hurried forward. "Do you need support?"

Shen Qingyi stood there for a moment and waved him off. "No need."

Xia Xiyue stopped as well.

After about two or three minutes, Shen Qingyi felt a little better and said, "Let's go."

Only then did Xia Xiyue set off again.

About five minutes later, Shen Qingyi saw a villa of remarkable grandeur and splendor.

She had never seen a villa like that before. It was enormous, like the mansions in foreign films.

Just as the two of them reached the entrance, a servant came out to welcome them. "Young Master is back."

Xia Xiyue nodded and led Shen Qingyi straight inside.

The floor, polished like a mirror, seemed able to reflect a person's shadow. Shen Qingyi had only ever seen wooden floors; she had never seen anything like this tiled surface before.

Her high heels clicked against it.

She knew the Xia family was wealthy, but she had not known they were wealthy to this extent.

She could not quite understand what meaning there was in the Xia siblings making money at all.

In the hall were crystal chandeliers, leather sofas, famous paintings, and all sorts of ornaments.

At that moment, the Xia family's matriarch came out to greet them. "Yue is back!"

Then she instructed the servant behind her to hurry to the kitchen and prepare a meal.

Only when Shen Qingyi drew near did the old lady realize her grandson had not returned alone, but with a young woman behind him.

"Yue, and this young lady is...?"

Xia Xiyue said, "I forgot to call and tell you, Grandma. This is the designer from our factory in the capital, the favorite student of our teacher."

Only then did the old lady take a closer look at Shen Qingyi. "Miss Shen, I presume? I often hear Yue and Yun mention you."

Azure Harbor truly was open-minded; they had their own way of addressing people, no longer using those formal old terms from elsewhere.

Shen Qingyi found it a little strange, but she still smiled and nodded at the old lady. "Yes, my name is Shen Qingyi."

"Oh my, what a beautiful girl. Come, sit down, come sit down!" She then instructed the servant to make tea.

Shen Qingyi sat in a nearby chair, with Xia Xiyue beside her. "Don't be拘束. There aren't that many rules in my home. If you want to eat anything, just tell me."

Seeing the way Xia Xiyue spoke to the girl, the old lady could not help narrowing her eyes. "Yue, Miss Shen has been married before, hasn't she?"

Shen Qingyi nodded. "Yes, and I have a son. He's four now."

The old lady relaxed and asked, "Then this time you came to Azure Harbor with Yue, are you here to handle some matter?"

Xia Xiyue frowned unhappily and called out, "Grandma!"