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To attend the Lu family banquet, Xu Zhiyi knew she needed to inform her parents. Perhaps it was the years of working together that made Jiang Sixun anticipate her unspoken thoughts.
“I’ll talk to Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu,” he said with certainty.
Xu Zhiyi wrapped her arms around his waist, curious. “What excuse will you use?”
A banquet at the Lu family’s scale was no ordinary gathering; it served as a grand pretext for deeper family issues. The real aim was for Old Man Lu to have a stern word with his sons, during which some family secrets would inevitably come to light. As an outsider, any excuse she made would sound ridiculous.
Jiang Sixun glanced at his watch, aware they couldn’t linger any longer. He placed a gentle kiss between her cheek and neck before letting her go. “I have a plan.”
He rushed downstairs, leaving Xu Zhiyi standing by the door for a moment, lost in thought. Finally, she picked up her phone and called Li Ke, who was miles away in Manhattan.
“I’ll be in Hong Kong next week, staying until the weekend. Can you find some time to meet up?” she proposed.
Li Ke paused for a couple of seconds before responding. “Sure. I’ll be back to see my parents and siblings anyway.” Xu Zhiyi realized that confronting Shen Qingfeng directly would soon reveal that KEVE had changed hands, a secret that could no longer be kept.
If Shen Qingfeng discovered that his hard-earned KEVE Technology, built over twenty years, now belonged to Xu Zhiyi, it would drive him mad.
Over the years, Shen Qingfeng had entrusted KEVE to her not out of trust, but because she held leverage over him. When the net was cast, it would be a desperate battle.
Xu Zhiyi gave Li Ke a few more instructions before hanging up.
In the living room downstairs, Jiang Sixun had just settled onto the sofa when Xu Ningwei walked in from the yard.
They temporarily set aside the topic of the Lu family banquet.
On the coffee table, there were three flavors of homemade iced drinks. Jiang Sixun took a glass and sipped it, tasting the tangy lime.
Xu Ningwei chose not to sit in the middle; instead, she nestled next to He Yian.
Her adoptive mother handed her a drink, still smiling warmly but lacking the old indulgence. “It must be hot outside.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Xu Ningwei accepted the glass, placing her aromatherapy sachet on the sofa arm. “It’s not too bad; there’s a breeze tonight. Just a lot of mosquitoes. I got bitten a few times even with the sachet.”
She took a sip of the refreshing drink. “Dad just called again. He doesn’t know I’m in Shanghai.”
Her adoptive parents turned their attention to her.
Setting down her cup, Xu Ningwei moved closer to He Yian, now tightly beside her adoptive mother. After six years of unexpressed sorrow, she felt the urge to unburden herself, knowing how perceptive He Yian was, having raised her hand in hand. There was no hiding her feelings from someone who knew her so well.
She feared that if she grew distant from her adoptive mother, she would lose her only lifeline.
“Mom, I actually lied to you this afternoon. I didn’t pay attention at the academic exchange; I was just spacing out.” She wrapped her arms around He Yian. “Mom, can I have another hug?”
Tears streamed down her face.
He Yian gently patted her back. “Don’t cry.”
If Xu Ningwei had clung to her and cried like this six years ago, He Yian would have shed tears too, consumed only by her love for her adoptive daughter. When Xu Ningwei fell ill in Manhattan, He Yian felt compelled to fly over just to see her.
Twenty years of nurturing meant the bond ran deep, intertwined like flesh; removing it would be excruciating.
It had hurt for months.
Now, with Xu Zhiyi back, old wounds were slowly healing, yet new ones were forming, stemming from the invisible barrier between mother and daughter.
The absence of childhood reliance and intimacy made their adult relationship feel superficial, each trying to present their best selves to the other.
After six years, Xu Ningwei and Xu Zhiyi had grown close, but the familiarity lacked the reckless abandon of childhood. Xu Yian tried hard to make her daughter feel free to express herself, to say whatever was on her mind without worrying about how she, as a mother, would react.
After all, no matter how flawed, a child is still a treasure.
Sometimes, she could hold back her frustration, but that was only because it was her own blood.
Xu Ningwei longed for that comforting embrace, her shoulders trembling as she cried.
He Yian comforted her. “Let it out.”
Xu Ningwei wanted to say it wouldn’t get better.
“When I came back these past few years, Dad has been so good to me that I sometimes feel unworthy to be his daughter.”
“Mom, with Xiaomei, it’s been nine fights out of ten times I go home. It’s not that I’m being stubborn; I want to get along with her like you do, but she just doesn’t like me.”
He Yian replied gently, “Xiaomei has her own personality. You can’t say she doesn’t love you. When she found out Xu Zhiyi wasn’t her biological daughter, she rushed to find you because she wanted to know how you were doing.”
Xu Ningwei’s face was stained with tears as she pulled away from He Yian, using a tissue to wipe her face. “If she’s going to treat me like this, then maybe she shouldn’t have bothered.”
Jiang Sixun interjected, “If she doesn’t seek you out, it will make your homecoming even more awkward.”
Xu Ningwei wiped away half her tears, her eyes glistening as she looked at him.
If Xiaomei didn’t reach out, then there would be no Xu Zhiyi, but rather Shang Zhiyi. Why should she be the one feeling helpless?
Xu Ningwei was at a loss for words.
“Even if Zhiyi doesn’t donate blood, she’ll only find out her true origins a year or two later—not too long,” he continued.
Xu Ningwei forgot to use a tissue and wiped her tears with the back of her hand, reluctant to accept the truth.
Jiang Sixun was blunt. “If the roles were reversed, Shen Qingfeng would be both afraid of being found out and terrified of not being discovered. After twenty years without either family realizing the truth, you and Zhiyi both have your own merits. How could Shen Qingfeng let go of her grudge? She would do everything to make sure Uncle Xu knows that the child he’s raising isn’t his.”
“What do you think will happen when Uncle Xu finds out you’re not his biological daughter? Will he seek out your real family or not?”
Xu Ningwei felt her heart plummet.
Just then, Xu Hang descended the stairs and echoed Jiang Sixun’s question back to his father. “Dad, would you go looking for your biological daughter or not?”
The mention of this made Xu Xiangyi silent.
Xu Ningwei dared not look at her adoptive father, tightly gripping her glass.
Xu Xiangyi replied, “Your mother and I would search for her, even if it meant losing everything.”
In that moment, Xu Ningwei finally understood the weight of Jiang Sixun’s words: ‘If she doesn’t search, your homecoming will be even more awkward.’
If Xiaomei hadn’t noticed the blood type mismatch, her parents would be looking for Xu Zhiyi, and her situation would become unbearably uncomfortable.
Taking a sip of ice water, Xu Ningwei asked Jiang Sixun, “Is Shen Qingfeng really not worried that Dad would confront her if she reveals this?”
Jiang Sixun replied, “She’s afraid, but not really. You don’t understand the mind of a twisted person; you can’t apply normal reasoning to her. When Shen Qingfeng approached my uncle to marry him, she was already prepared for Professor Shang and Uncle Xu to find out that her daughter isn’t biological.”
Before he could elaborate, Xu Xiangyi interrupted, noticing his wife’s eyes welling up. He quickly wrapped an arm around her. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
He Yian felt she had lost her composure in front of the kids. “It’s nothing, just reminiscing.” She wiped her eyes with her fingers, reflecting on how the mention of Xiaomei searching for her child made her think of the months Zhiyi had spent without a home, everything she owned stuffed into that rented apartment.
She also remembered the first time her daughter called her “Mom.”
“You guys continue chatting,” she said, rising. “I’ll go check on Zhiyi.”
Gently, she patted Xu Ningwei’s shoulder. “Finish talking with your dad, then get some rest.”
Xu Ningwei forced a smile. “Okay. Goodnight, Mom.”
Seeing her mother wouldn’t return downstairs, she felt a mixture of relief and concern.
On the staircase, He Yian took several deep breaths.
In her bedroom, Xu Zhiyi leaned against her bed, reviewing KEVE’s reports when she heard a knock on the door.
After a couple of knocks with no response, she knew it must be Jiang Sixun sneaking up, careful not to alert her parents in the next room.
Getting off her bed, she grabbed a burgundy men’s shirt from the foot of the bed, slipping it over her tank top as she walked.
Outside, He Yian wiped her tears away.
Typically, she would call out to her daughter before knocking, but today, her nose was stuffed and her breathing labored.
The door opened, and Xu Zhiyi started to say, “You have some nerve… Mom?”
She almost slammed the door shut, wishing they could pretend they hadn’t seen each other.
He Yian smiled. “I haven’t seen you wear that shirt before.”
Sadness muted her surprise, leaving little room for other thoughts.
Xu Zhiyi replied, “It’s our New Year’s team-building outfit for senior management, ordered by Mr. Jiang. It’s meant to symbolize a prosperous new year.”
She almost believed her own excuse.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” she asked, noticing her mother’s tear-streaked face.
“Nothing, they were just talking about how you and Ningwei were switched at birth. It reminded me of when I first met you.”
Xu Zhiyi embraced He Yian. “That’s all in the past. You should go downstairs; I’m fine. I was just messing around with Mr. Jiang today; it’s nothing serious.”
“I’m not going anywhere; I want to talk with you. Just give me a few minutes.”
He Yian went back to her room, removed her makeup, changed into comfortable loungewear, and left her phone behind, heading to her daughter’s room.
Xu Zhiyi felt guilty, having stashed away the ‘team-building outfit’ into her closet.
The two settled on a spacious couch, He Yian wrapping her arms around her daughter.
There wasn’t anything specific they needed to discuss; she just wanted to hold her daughter close.
Xu Zhiyi rested her legs on He Yian’s lap, imagining if she were younger, she would be snuggling like this.
“Is Mr. Jiang and my brother still in the living room?” she asked.
“Yeah, they were talking about how Xiaomei was in such a rush to find Ningwei.”
Xu Zhiyi pondered. If her parents were the ones who discovered that Xu Ningwei wasn’t their biological child, would they come looking for her?
If they did, it would inadvertently hurt Xu Ningwei.
Given their feelings for her at that time, they probably wouldn’t.
He Yian looked down at her daughter resting in her arms. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Xu Zhiyi fiddled with her mother’s fingers. “I don’t want to talk.”
Feeling the discomfort of her daughter’s fidgeting, He Yian chuckled, despite the heaviness in her heart. “You’re just like your brother. He loved to poke my fingers when he was little.”
“Why don’t you ask what would happen if we had discovered Ningwei first? Would you come looking for me?”
“Then… will you go looking for her?”
Just as she was about to say more, a knock interrupted.
“Zhiyi, can I come in?” It was Xu Xiangyi.
He Yian called from the door, “Come in!”
She patted her daughter. “Sit tight; I’ll give your dad my seat, or he’ll just get jealous.”
She moved to an antique armchair across the room.
As Xu Xiangyi entered, He Yian gestured to the seat next to their daughter. “You sit here; it’s perfect for answering your daughter’s question.”
Xu Xiangyi asked, “What question?”
Xu Zhiyi turned to him. “Dad, why are you up here?”
“I was down with your mom, chatting with Ningwei. We’ve talked everything over, and your brother is downstairs with Jiang Sixun.” He settled beside her and asked, “What question are we answering?”
He Yian added, “We were just discussing how Xiaomei was the first to realize the mix-up with the babies.”
Xu Zhiyi looked at her father. “If you and Mom had discovered first that Xu Ningwei wasn’t your biological daughter, would you have come looking for me? Or would you have quietly checked in on me and, knowing I was okay, left it at that?”
“I would have given up everything to bring you back home. So when Xiaomei rushed to find her daughter, I completely understood; if it were me, I’d be even more anxious. You can’t help but worry about where your child is and how they’re doing. You might even fear for their safety.”
Xu Xiangyi took a moment to steady himself.
“Knowing you were well would make no difference; you’d still need to come home. Feelings can be nurtured over time—if it takes ten years, then twenty years, so be it.”
“Of course, I’ve made mistakes too. I’ve said things I shouldn’t have that hurt you for a long time. But no matter how much I cared for Ningwei or how much time I thought she needed to adjust, your mom and I never considered not bringing you both back.”
“If we had discovered it first, we wouldn’t avoid looking for you just because we felt bad for Ningwei. We wouldn’t keep it from her, but we’d definitely give her a few months to adjust.”
“No matter how well you’re treated elsewhere, I wouldn’t feel at ease. No one could care for you like I do.”
Xu Zhiyi reached out to embrace her father, resting her head against him.
She had always regretted not being able to be this close with her biological father in her life.
How she wished she could return to her childhood.
Xu Xiangyi held his daughter tightly. After six years, he finally felt all barriers between them had vanished.
With her eyes puffy from crying, Xu Zhiyi wiped her face and pulled away from her father’s embrace.
“By the way, I misspoke earlier; let me correct myself.”
“What did you say?”
“That regardless of how well others treat you, no one can match the love your mom and I have for you.”
This time, he included her mother, and despite the tears still in her eyes, Xu Zhiyi couldn’t help but smile. “What comes out in the heat of the moment is often the truth from the heart. Corrections don’t count. Besides, Mom heard it anyway; changing it won’t matter.”
He Yian chuckled at her daughter. “If you hear any commotion downstairs tonight, just ignore it.”
Xu Xiangyi laughed heartily. “I’ll go home and reflect on that.”
Wrapping herself in a blanket, Xu Zhiyi snuggled up to He Yian as they shared stories about Shen Qingfeng’s younger days.
Glancing at the time, she realized it was already past two in the morning.
The next day, Xu Zhiyi didn’t wake up until half past ten.
With her brother out, she learned from the housekeeper that he had taken Xu Ningwei to the airport early that morning.
Her parents were at the office, and Jiang Sixun had scheduled some meetings.
She was left alone for lunch.
As evening approached, she received a message from Jiang Sixun, with a reservation at a restaurant: [Bring your card; you’re paying today.]
Having not seen him all day, Xu Zhiyi texted back: [What color shirt are you wearing today?]
Jiang Sixun replied: [White.]
He Yian had a penchant for buying her spaghetti strap dresses in every color imaginable.
Xu Zhiyi chose a white linen spaghetti strap dress identical to the one from yesterday, put on the necklace Jiang Sixun had gifted her, and did a light makeup before heading out.
This was the family’s first official dinner together as a five-member unit.
She was the last to arrive, and the seat of honor was saved for her.
Xu Hang said, “You’re hosting; you sit in the main spot.”
Xu Zhiyi glanced at Jiang Sixun, feeling boldened by him. “Today’s treat is from Mr. Jiang. I’m just swiping the card for the boss. Mr. Jiang, why don’t you come and sit here?”
Jiang Sixun looked at her. “I can sit wherever.”
Xu Zhiyi thought, “…”
She realized he wasn’t someone she could easily compete with.
Xu Hang, caught in the middle, was about to burst.
“Dad, let me switch places with you.”
Xu Xiangyi raised an eyebrow. “What’s the difference where you sit?”
Xu Hang exclaimed, “Of course it makes a difference! They’ll kick me under the table if they disagree!”
“…”
Xu Zhiyi interjected, “Who would kick you?”
Xu Xiangyi chimed in, “You deserve it for not letting Zhiyi call Jiang Sixun ‘Brother Sixun.’”
Xu Hang couldn’t take it anymore. “Who started that rumor?”
Xu Zhiyi laughed, turning things around. “Who else but me? I said Dad would deal with you, and you didn’t believe me.”
Jiang Sixun deftly redirected the conversation, addressing the two elders. “Next week, we’re hosting a family dinner at our place; I’m bringing Zhiyi along.”
The table fell into an unusual silence.
All eyes turned to him.
Xu Xiangyi broke the stillness. “…You’re taking Zhiyi with you?”
Afraid he had misheard, he repeated the question.
Jiang Sixun nodded. “Yes.”
Xu Hang feigned ignorance. “Why are you taking her?”
Jiang Sixun replied, “If I can attend your family dinner, why can’t I bring Zhiyi to my family dinner?”
Everyone, including Xu Zhiyi, was momentarily speechless.
The logic seemed sound.
Xu Xiangyi said, “It’s fine for you to take Zhiyi to Hong Kong for a few days, but your grandfather’s family dinner is no ordinary gathering.”
Jiang Sixun countered, “Shen Qingfeng will be there too.”
In an instant, both Xu Xiangyi and He Yian understood. Their daughter was eager to face Shen Qingfeng head-on. They opted not to say more. “You two can figure it out,” Xu Xiangyi concluded.
Xu Hang shot a teasing glance at Jiang Sixun. “How about you and Zhiyi just get together? Perfect timing to meet the parents at the family dinner.”
As soon as he finished, he received a kick under the table from his sister.
Xu Zhiyi felt her breath catch, like she’d just been hurled onto a rollercoaster.
Xu Xiangyi shot him a stern look. “What nonsense are you spouting! This isn’t a joke! Sixun has a girlfriend.”
He Yian added, “Can we please keep things in check? This isn’t a game.”
Xu Hang sipped his drink and turned to Jiang Sixun. “So, when did you get a girlfriend?”
Jiang Sixun answered, “Ask your sister.”
Xu Zhiyi was taken aback. “…”
Just when she thought the rollercoaster ride was over, another twist came.
“I just found out recently,” she said vaguely.
Given the stakes with Shen Qingfeng and the fact that it would be her first confrontation with her, Xu Xiangyi grew serious. “She’s good at playing mind games. Be prepared.”
Xu Zhiyi smiled confidently. “I’m immune to her tricks.”
The day after the dinner, she and Jiang Sixun flew to Hong Kong.
She received a message from Secretary Cai: Shen Qingfeng had already returned to the city.
On the plane, Xu Zhiyi gazed out the window for a moment, then turned to Jiang Sixun. “What weaknesses do you think Shen Qingfeng will exploit?”
Jiang Sixun replied, “Not necessarily weaknesses. She’s unpredictable.”
Xu Zhiyi observed the man beside her; he hadn’t held her at all during the flight.
“Give me a kiss.”
Jiang Sixun leaned down and softly pressed his lips to hers.
Xu Zhiyi playfully nipped at his lips. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” he replied, explaining, “I didn’t hug you because I didn’t want to interrupt your thoughts.” Then he pulled her into his embrace.
Xu Zhiyi said, “My only weakness is you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Love makes me foolish,” she teased, wrapping her arms around his neck. “If Shen Qingfeng sent you to spy on me, I’d spill everything in a heartbeat.”
Jiang Sixun laughed. “Same goes for me.”
He tightened his embrace, deepening the kiss.
They continued their intimate exchange, moving from the front cabin to the small rest area.
Xu Zhiyi leaned back against the narrow bar, enveloped by the tall, warm man. His long fingers brushed aside a small piece of fabric, gently grazing her skin.
She felt electrified, her body trembling.
Pushing against his arm, her instincts urged her to stop.
Buried in his neck, she recalled the soft sound that had escaped her lips moments ago—embarrassing yet intimate, a closeness she’d never experienced with Jiang Sixun.
He didn’t push further, instead smoothing out her dress.
Holding her waist, he lifted her, kissing her deeply. “How about spending the night in my room?”
Xu Zhiyi replied, “No way. I have something important to do. I suspect you’re a spy sent by Shen Qingfeng.”
Jiang Sixun chuckled. “Should I keep my distance for the next few days?”
“Better.”
As soon as she finished speaking, he deepened the kiss.
…
It rained for four or five consecutive days in Hong Kong, and the day of the family dinner was still overcast.
Jiang Sixun brought Xu Zhiyi to the old mansion early, allowing her time to familiarize herself with the house.
In the study, he met with his grandfather alone. “Why did you bring an outsider?”
Jiang Sixun savored his tea slowly. “What do you think?”
The old man grumbled, “Regardless, Shen Qingfeng is now your aunt. She’s part of the Lu family. Don’t cause any trouble at the family dinner; that’s all I care about.”
Jiang Sixun said nothing, turning to gaze out the window. The nearby bay looked dull and gray in the rain.
In the yard, Xu Zhiyi wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, sipping tea while enjoying the sea view.
She asked the housekeeper, Uncle Zhuang, to inform Shen Qingfeng she wanted to see her in the left courtyard.
A younger relative seeking out another was no issue, and Uncle Zhuang would pass on the message.
But having a younger relative summon an elder—especially an elder coming to see her—was quite improper.
Moreover, she was an outsider, while Shen Qingfeng was a member of the Lu family.
In other cases, Uncle Zhuang would brush it off with a smile.
But for her, it was different. With her father being Xu Xiangyi, she had the backing of a wealthy family.
Sending an elder to meet a younger relative was not just a power play; Uncle Zhuang understood that, and Shen Qingfeng certainly did too.
“Ah, you want me to see her?”
Uncle Zhuang informed Shen Qingfeng where Xu Zhiyi was.
The front yard and the left courtyard were perfect spots to enjoy the scenery, but with the family dinner today, the front yard was bustling with people, making it less serene.
Shen Qingfeng initially didn’t want to go, but since Uncle Zhuang personally came to invite her, it would be impolite to refuse. In the Lu family, Uncle Zhuang represented the old man’s wishes.
The sound of her delicate high heels approached, stopping right by the chair next to Xu Zhiyi.
Xu Zhiyi didn’t turn her head, sipping her tea calmly.
The woman didn’t make a fuss either. She smoothed her dress and leaned back in her chair.
Xu Zhiyi finally spoke. “Today, I have only two things to say to you. This is the first.”
Shen Qingfeng replied, “You’re so straightforward in your actions; you’re quite like Jiang Yueyu, but even more like Yu Rui.”
Xu Zhiyi had no interest in who Yu Rui was.
Shen Qingfeng smiled. “If you only have one thing to say, what should I do with all my words?”
Xu Zhiyi gestured for her to continue, the wind fluttering her shawl as she kept her gaze away.
Shen Qingfeng said, “Luna is the first intern you brought in; she didn’t mention Yu Rui to you? Maybe by the time you started your internship, Yu Rui was already a thing of the past. Ning Yun was the one in the spotlight, and Luna was too busy gossiping about Ning Yun and Jiang Sixun to remember that her boss had a white moonlight.”
“You’re interested in Jiang Sixun; you must know that a rich girl from Hong Kong once set up a family fund to chase after him. That girl was Yu Rui.”
Xu Zhiyi took a sip of tea, realizing that she had initially thought it was Ning Yun. The Hong Kong rich girl fit perfectly, but it turned out to be Yu Rui.
Shen Qingfeng continued, “Like you, Yu Rui was too shy to confess her feelings. She used the fund to visit Jiang Sixun’s office from time to time.”
“But who could have known that Lu Jianbo and Director Ning arranged for her to meet Ning Yun? It might have just been a meal, but Ning Yun live-streamed their blind date on social media. The two daughters from Hong Kong’s top families have always been compared, leaving Yu Rui with nowhere to hide.”
“Jiang Sixun went along with his father’s wishes. He liked Yu Rui but wouldn’t lower himself to woo her.”
“Heartbroken, Yu Rui got engaged to another wealthy heir.”
“Jiang Sixun also followed his father’s lead, taking the ‘if it’s broken, then break it’ approach. I know that when Lu Jianbo wanted to marry me, it was partly out of spite. But who could blame me for loving him and wanting to marry him?”
“Jiang Sixun knew Yu Rui was bothered by Ning Yun but still kept things ambiguous with Ning Yun for three years. Those in the know understood it was a mutual use to appease their families, but outsiders were clueless.”
“Do you know what color Yu Rui loves most? Purple. She adores taro purple and even prefers her coffee cup in that shade.”
“Only when you showed up did Jiang Sixun slowly begin to let go of Yu Rui.”
“You invited me here, so I can’t come empty-handed. Here’s a little gift for our meeting; I hope you like it.”
Shen Qingfeng’s long hair fluttered in the breeze as she pressed it down with her hand. “What’s the sentence you want to say? I’m all ears.”
Xu Zhiyi smiled. “Xu Ningwei has completely lost it. Congratulations, Miss Shen; you’ve successfully avenged my foster father, Shang Tongxu. After twenty-eight years and three months, the grudge is finally resolved. I’ll present my gift at the family dinner later.”