Chapter 90: A Test of Resolve

The old matriarch was a shrewd one. The way her grandson called her “Grandma” with such emphasis was clearly meant to cut her off.

Just moments ago it had only been a tentative guess, but now she was certain her grandson liked this girl and was afraid she might ask something too improper.

Mrs. Xia frowned slightly. “Wang Yi said you arranged for her to stay at a hotel?”

Xia Xiyue gave a faint nod. “Mm. I even had someone keep her company and show her around.”

At that, the old lady could not help glancing at Shen Qingyi again. She sat properly and quietly, without the slightest curiosity when Wang Yi was mentioned.

“Didn’t Grandma say you should accompany her yourself?”

Xia Xiyue had his own reasons. “I’m busy!”

“Now you have time?”

“Grandma, A-Yue just got back. Don’t keep asking him this and that. He really is busy in the capital; the work I assign him every day is more than he can finish.” It was Xia Xiyun who spoke.

Shen Qingyi turned toward the voice and saw Xia Xiyun approaching in a green qipao, graceful and alluring. Her bright face was alight with a smile, and when her gaze met Shen Qingyi’s, she even winked at her.

Shen Qingyi rose as well. “Sister Xiyun!”

She felt that although the old lady had not said a single harsh word, there was an inexplicable unease in the air, as though she were being examined from head to toe.

Only after Xia Xiyun came over did she finally relax.

“Qingyi, what a rare guest you are. We’ve invited you to visit Harbor City before, but you never would. How does it feel coming this time?” Xia Xiyun asked with a warm smile, looking every bit the gracious hostess.

Mrs. Xia also smiled. “Since it’s your first time in Harbor City, let A-Yun take you around.”

Xia Xiyun apologized, “Grandma, you can see how I’m tied up from morning till night. Where would I find the time? I still have to go see a new batch of samples the factory just finished. One of those bags was designed by Qingyi herself.

Let A-Yue accompany her instead.”

At that, the old lady’s expression darkened, but with Shen Qingyi present, she could hardly say much.

Xia Xiyue looked up at Xia Xiyun and saw her raise an eyebrow at him. Then she stood and beckoned him over. “Come with me. I’ve got a task for you.”

She led Xia Xiyue into another room and said, “What’s gotten into you, you brat? From the way Grandma acted today, she probably saw through it at a glance.”

Xia Xiyue said nothing.

“What, you still want to make it official? I advise you to keep it buried in your heart forever. It’s not that I don’t feel for you, but you’ve got no chance.” Though Xia Xiyun had always seemed rather indifferent when it came to romance, even she felt sorry for this foolish younger brother.

From sixteen to twenty-two, a full six years, this woman had run through his entire youth. They always said first love was the hardest to forget, and now it seemed that was true.

From the confusion of his early years, to the day he finally understood his own feelings and wanted to confess them, only to discover she was about to marry someone else—on the day she married, her younger brother was only eighteen.

“I don’t have a chance, then I’ll create one. I don’t want to wait anymore,” Xia Xiyue said.

“And what do you have to compare with Lu Yan? At best you can match him in looks, but looks are the least remarkable thing about Lu Yan. I’m telling you, just let it go. Don’t make things hard for Shen Qingyi. If this goes on, we won’t even be able to do business or remain friends.” As she said this, Xia Xiyun’s own heart was hardly any less burdened.

“That’s just how you see it. I’m younger than him, richer than him, and most importantly, I can be by her side when she needs me. I know how to cherish her, how to take care of her and An An.”

Xia Xiyun shook her head. “Lu Yan’s value isn’t something money can measure. If he wanted to make money, I wouldn’t even use our Xia family as the yardstick; within five years, he’d be able to surpass the Fan family in the capital.

If you want to beat him, you ought to study him properly first.”

Thinking of Fan Lei, Xia Xiyue scoffed. “Our Xia family can do it too, and in less than five years.”

“That confident?” Xia Xiyun suddenly smiled.

“Mm. Once I make a name for myself in the capital, Grandma won’t be able to control me anymore. As for Dad, Mom, and you, you’ll side with me, won’t you?” Xia Xiyue’s tone was light as he said this.

Xia Xiyun curled her lips. “If Shen Qingyi were willing of her own accord, I’d naturally side with you. That child, An An, is ridiculously clever—I like him too. As for Dad and Mom, that can be talked through as well. But don’t forget, besides Grandma, there are still your eldest and second brothers.”

“The eldest and second brothers went abroad when they were ten. Their thinking won’t be as old-fashioned as Grandma’s.”

Xia Xiyun arched a brow. “Hard to say. A lot of a person’s ideas are already set before the age of ten. Just look at the wives they married—aren’t they all well-matched, from proper families and fine households?”

As the siblings talked here, in the main hall the old lady studied Shen Qingyi. “Miss Shen is truly beautiful. You don’t seem very old either. You married quite early, didn’t you?”

“I got married when I was twenty.” Shen Qingyi answered openly.

The old lady nodded. “What does your husband do?”

“He is an engineer at the National Academy of Sciences,” Shen Qingyi said evenly, meeting the elder’s scrutiny without evasion.

When Mrs. Xia heard “engineer at the National Academy of Sciences,” she was somewhat surprised. “So you come from a scholarly family.”

“My father was a professor when he was alive. My husband was his student.” Shen Qingyi did not feel inferior about her background in front of Mrs. Xia.

The old lady nodded slightly. Though she had only been sitting there in quiet reserve and not speaking much, an aloof pride seemed to emanate from her all the same. If Shen Qingyi had not already married and had children, setting family background aside, this status would not be unworthy of her grandson.

“Do you and your husband get along well?”

Shen Qingyi nodded. “Pretty well.”

Mrs. Xia understood. If it were truly good, no one would say “pretty well” in front of outsiders.

Especially a woman whose husband held such high status; to say their relationship was good would be something to envy.

“A-Yue is already twenty-two at a glance and has never even had a proper girlfriend. I don’t know what he’s been busy with all these years, though there is an engagement arranged for him. He just doesn’t take it to heart. If you two are close, could you help talk him around?” The old lady’s tone remained gentle and pleasant.

Only then did Shen Qingyi finally understand. The old lady had taken such a long detour—first asking about her marriage, then mentioning Xia Xiyue’s fiancée—probably because she had misunderstood something.

She hurried to clarify. “Madam, A-Yue is my boss. Although he’s younger than me, I respect him a great deal. It was thanks to him and Sister Xiyun that I got this job to support my family.

I’m not foolish, so please rest assured. A-Yue and I—”

“Grandma!” Xia Xiyue came out of the room and called out, his voice thick with emotion, interrupting Shen Qingyi before she could finish.

He strode up in a few quick steps and stood beside Shen Qingyi, his expression solemn. “Grandma, if even you can’t persuade me, how could Qingyi possibly do it? Aren’t you making things hard for her?”

Xia Xiyun also came out after him, smiling. “Exactly, Grandma. If you want someone to persuade Qingyi, you might as well let me do it.”

Mrs. Xia’s expression turned a little awkward. She quickly changed the subject and said to the servant behind her, “Go see how the dishes in the kitchen are coming along. Why is it taking so long?”

Xia Xiyue clearly no longer felt like staying for dinner at home. “I’ll take Qingyi out to eat. She can try Harbor City’s specialties while we’re at it.”

“A-Yue brought a friend back?”

A deep, powerful voice with a hint of authority came from the doorway.