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Xu Xiangyi was curious. With so many opportunities in the industry, why was Ningwei considering the Lu family’s project?
However, he realized he couldn’t let his personal issues with Shen Qingfeng interfere with his adopted daughter’s choices.
“The Lu family’s project with Shang Yao is an excellent opportunity with flexible terms and access to their R&D center. It’s rare and valuable. But you should know, Ningwei, this job will mean frequent interactions with Shen Qingfeng.”
Ningwei was fully aware and understood that these interactions were inevitable.
“Shen Qingfeng is a formidable figure. I had dealings with her when I was younger, and she’s not someone most people can handle. She’s managed to navigate between Lu Jianliang and Lu Jianbo for years, exited her previous marriage on her terms, and founded KEVE Technology. Her abilities extend far beyond what people assume based on her looks. If she weren’t so extreme and had a strong educational background, she would indeed be considered a business genius.”
“You’re still young and inexperienced. In her presence, you’re like an open book; she can see right through you. If she wants to sow discord, she will eventually succeed. If you’re mentally strong and indifferent to her provocations, you might be able to handle it.”
Xu Xiangyi gave a thorough analysis, ending with, “Ningwei, the decision is yours to make.”
Ningwei stood by the window, looking at the gloomy sky, her mood mirroring the weather outside. Deep down, she wished her father would take care of everything for her as he used to, making all the decisions so she wouldn’t have to worry.
Shen Qingfeng had once claimed that Xu Xiangyi was her backer, her source of confidence. That was in the past. Now, she had to restrain herself from even meeting them.
“Dad, if Xu Zhiyi were in my position and asked for your advice, what would you decide for her?”
Xu Xiangyi smiled. “Her decisions are beyond my control; she seems to want to make decisions for me as well.” His daughter even planned to have him retire early and work for her, offering him a high salary to manage the domestic market for KEVE Technology, which had recently entered the Chinese market and overwhelmed Li Ke.
Ningwei was speechless, feeling suddenly overshadowed.
Xu Xiangyi wasn’t interested in comparing his children; each had their strengths.
His adopted daughter’s research talents were something his own daughter lacked.
Conversely, his biological daughter’s innate leadership was beyond Ningwei’s reach.
He gently advised, “Ningwei, it’s not that you can’t make decisions. When you were in your teens, I consciously nurtured your decision-making abilities. At that time, you relied on the idea that someone would always be there to support you, but that doesn’t mean you lack the ability to decide independently. Even parents cannot make decisions for you forever.”
Hearing her adoptive father talk about her upbringing made Ningwei break down in tears. Back then, she was the sole recipient of the family’s affection.
Xu Xiangyi heard the faint sobs on the other end and said, “Ningwei?”
“Dad, I’m so confused right now.” Ningwei choked up, “I know I shouldn’t see Shen Qingfeng, but I can’t help but go to her. I find a sense of vanity there.”
The provocations Shen Qingfeng had made were touching on her deepest insecurities.
Every time she was poked, it seemed like a chance to release her frustrations.
Xu Xiangyi felt guilty in the silence. It was hard for a child pampered in luxury to adjust to ordinary life. He apologized again, “Ningwei, I’m sorry. Because I offended people back then, you had to endure these changes.”
Whenever he thought about his children being swapped, he felt pain for both his biological daughter and Ningwei. Over the past six years, he had tried to make amends by continuously sponsoring Shang Tongxu’s research lab and paving the way for Ningwei’s future.
But now it seemed that the path he had laid out might not be what Ningwei truly wanted.
“Dad, don’t misunderstand. I’m not blaming you. I’m just struggling with my own emotions, thinking about you and Mom.” Ningwei wiped her tears. “I’ll work through it.”
Xu Xiangyi couldn’t address her longing for her biological family, as it was impossible to bring her back. But the current situation was a result of his actions, and he was struggling to balance his adopted daughter’s feelings.
“Dad, you should get back to your work.” Ningwei sniffled, making her decision, “I’ll block Shen Qingfeng and cut off all contact. I don’t want that job opportunity anymore.”
Xu Xiangyi responded, “If you’re feeling upset, talk to Professor Shang. He’s very perceptive.”
“I will. Sorry for the trouble today, Dad.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s no trouble at all. Take good care of yourself.”
“Goodbye, Dad. Please take care of yourselves too.” Ningwei ended the call, immediately blocking Shen Qingfeng on WeChat, adding her phone number to the blacklist, and setting restrictions on other social media accounts.
She saved the screenshots and sent them to Xu Xiangyi.
Half an hour after Ningwei blocked her, Shen Qingfeng suddenly remembered something important. She tried calling but couldn’t get through, and when she sent a message, it was marked with a red exclamation mark.
Shen Qingfeng sneered. If her guess was right, Ningwei’s blocking her was probably a way to demonstrate her resolve to her adoptive father, capitalizing on his guilt to seek an emotional connection.
After several provocations from Shen Qingfeng, Ningwei had finally lost her composure. Whether she would confront Xu Zhiyi openly or suffer in silence was of no concern to Shen Qingfeng. Either way, Ningwei was destined to lose focus on her research.
This was precisely the outcome Shen Qingfeng desired, and it was also crucial for settling scores with Shang Tongxu.
For Shang Tongxu, the swapped children were a mere inconvenience. What would truly settle her grudge was seeing his prized research talent abandon her work.
Years ago, when her invested medical device company sought collaboration with Shang Tongxu’s team, they were overlooked in favor of a competitor. Shang Tongxu’s cutting-edge research had rendered her company’s products obsolete, leading to its bankruptcy.
With love lost and finances drained, those were the darkest years of her life. Reluctantly, she married a wealthy, much older, divorced man for his money and resources. Even her ex-husband was cautious, but she managed to outmaneuver him, leading to the creation of KEVE Technology.
After twenty years of struggle, with KEVE now valued at around 1.5 billion dollars, she had somewhat eased her resentment.
Initially, her revenge was solely directed at Shang Tongxu, not Xu Xiangyi. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to retaliate against him; it was more about lacking the power or opportunity, especially with bodyguards always around him.
No one could have anticipated that He Yian’s sudden fetal complications would provide the opportunity she needed for revenge.
It wasn’t her fault; Ningwei and Xu Zhiyi were merely victims of fate.
She knew Xu Xiangyi likely suspected her of swapping the children, which was why Ningwei showed such curiosity and composure around her.
Knowing didn’t equate to having proof.
Outwardly, she had few assets and was married into the Lu family, so there was little risk of retaliation. Even if there were intentions to take her down, Xu Xiangyi’s complex dealings with the Lu family made it impossible to jeopardize his own interests.
Xu Xiangyi probably never imagined that the children’s swap wasn’t solely his fault. He owed nothing to Shang Tongxu’s family. After all, he had thwarted her plans, blocked her entry into the Lu family, and bought up many of the photos she had painstakingly acquired.
Let him continue to feel guilty and make amends.
For the past six years, her life had been unrestrained, stirring up chaos in the Lu family and keeping Xu Xiangyi and Shang Tongxu in turmoil over the swapped children.
And it seemed Jiang Yue’s life wasn’t faring any better.
Her phone buzzed, and Shen Qingfeng glanced at it.
Lu Jianliang: [Return to Hong Kong soon; the old man is hosting a family banquet.]
Shen Qingfeng: [Is he attending?]
Lu Jianliang, suppressing his anger: [Aren’t you quite capable? Ask him yourself!]
Shen Qingfeng tossed her phone onto the bedside table, too lazy to reply.
An unseasonal family banquet was likely the old man’s way of reminding his sons. Lu Jianbo would certainly not miss it.
Meanwhile, after hanging up with his adopted daughter, Xu Xiangyi pondered for a moment before sending a message to Shang Tongxu, asking him to keep an eye on Ningwei’s emotional state. He and his wife could no longer be close to Ningwei, as getting too involved might give her false hope and further hurt Xu Zhiyi.
He sent the message and immediately called his daughter back.
“Dad was on the phone. Have you had lunch?”
Xu Zhiyi: “Not yet. I’m having lunch at Uncle Lu’s place. Jiang Sixun brought me here.”
On the other end, Xu Xiangyi’s reaction was the same as Jiang Yue’s; he didn’t connect the two romantically. He chuckled, “Tell Uncle Lu to make you some extra delicious dishes.”
“Sure. By the way, Dad, we’re heading back to Shanghai tomorrow.”
Hearing “we,” Xu Xiangyi asked, “Is Sixun coming back too?”
“Yes, he’s on vacation as well.”
“Then stay a few more days. It’s just your mom and me at home, so it’s quite quiet.”
Xu Zhiyi gave a glance at the man beside her.
Jiang Sixun smiled and pointed at her phone.
The two silently communicated through their gestures.
What are you doing?
Saying hello to my future father-in-law.
Xu Zhiyi laughed and pushed him away, but Jiang Sixun grabbed her hand, their palms touching.
“Dad, I have a secret to tell you.”
This was the first time his daughter proactively shared a secret, her voice excited and slightly coquettish. Xu Xiangyi felt both joy and sorrow; his daughter should have been carefree in his arms at the age of two or three.
“What’s the secret?” he asked eagerly.
“Jiang Sixun has a girlfriend.”
“When did this happen?” Xu Xiangyi was both shocked and pleased. “I was worried he might never marry. This is good; Aunt Jiang won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“Where is his girlfriend from? Have you met her?”
“I’ve met her. She’s from Hong Kong, but I didn’t ask for details.”
“Oh, from Hong Kong. That’s nice; Sixun can speak Cantonese.”
Speaking of Cantonese, Xu Zhiyi shot Jiang Sixun a disapproving look. At the Madrid concert, she only understood that he liked her; everything else was a mystery.
Xu Xiangyi asked with concern, “So, are you coming to Shanghai with Sixun? If you are, your mom and I will need to prepare a gift for you.”
“Jiang Sixun said that it’s too soon to meet the parents. I just told Mom, so there’s nothing that needs to be prepared,” Xu Zhiyi explained.
Xu Xiangyi pretended to be jealous and joked, “So, I’m not the first to hear this secret?”
“I actually wanted to tell you first, but your line was busy. I ended up talking to Mom first,” Xu Zhiyi replied with a smile.
Xu Xiangyi confessed, “Ningwei called me, and Shen Qingfeng went looking for her again.”
“Didn’t I tell her to stay away from Shen Qingfeng?” Xu Zhiyi asked.
“I’ve already blocked Shen Qingfeng,” Xu Xiangyi reassured her.
Xu Zhiyi didn’t want to delve further into the matter. “You don’t need to get involved with Shen Qingfeng. I need to handle it myself to feel any satisfaction. She’s made it so that there’s always a barrier between you, Mom, and me. It’s more painful than being separated from my parents for twenty years.”
“Zhiyi, there’s no one standing between us,” Xu Xiangyi said sincerely.
“My barriers are different from yours and Mom’s. It’s hard to explain,” Xu Zhiyi said.
Xu Xiangyi decided to change the subject to something less painful. “What time will you land? I’ll come pick you up.”
Xu Zhiyi didn’t exaggerate her feelings, avoiding playing into Shen Qingfeng’s hands. With a cheerful tone, she replied, “Ask Jiang Sixun. He knows the exact time; I’m not sure.”
After ending the call, Jiang Sixun spoke up, “Shen Qingfeng has repeatedly stirred things up with Ningwei. Who do you think is most affected?”
“It’s obvious.”
“Ningwei herself,” Jiang Sixun concluded.
“Shen Qingfeng knows how much Ningwei’s parents care about her. She wouldn’t disregard her feelings and bring Ningwei back if she didn’t want to provoke her. As for whether Ningwei goes to the Lu family’s research center, it affects no one but Ningwei,” Jiang Sixun said, still puzzled. “She has no grudge against Ningwei, so why target her so persistently? If she had time, she should have been with my dad for afternoon tea instead of meddling with someone who doesn’t matter.”
Xu Zhiyi suddenly grabbed his arm. “My dad, Professor Shang, studied abroad for his PhD and spent several years in Hong Kong before returning to Beijing to teach. That’s why I was born in Hong Kong. In a way, I’m a Hong Kong native.”
A thought began to take shape in Jiang Sixun’s mind.
Xu Zhiyi continued, “My dad’s research topics are all related to medicine. Shen Qingfeng has always been deeply involved in the medical field. Could it be…”
Before she could finish, she jumped out of the car.
“Zhiyi, what are you doing?” Jiang Sixun hurried after her.
Xu Zhiyi ran into the villa and called out, “Secretary Cai!”
The person she called was in the living room, drinking tea, unaware of why he was being summoned.
“Ms. Xu, what can I do for you?”
Xu Zhiyi took a moment to catch her breath and sat down on the nearby sofa. “Could you check if my adoptive father, Shang Tongxu, had any conflicts or interactions with Shen Qingfeng twenty years ago?”
They had all overlooked a key point. Everyone thought that Shen Qingfeng was seeking revenge on Xu Xiangyi for the swapped children. Was it possible that Shang Tongxu had also crossed her?
It was possible that Shang Tongxu didn’t even know he had offended her.
Secretary Cai, known for his efficiency, responded, “I’ll inform Mr. Lu and head back to Hong Kong right away.” He set down his teacup and left.
Jiang Sixun followed him into the villa and, astonished, asked Xu Zhiyi, “My dad is still upstairs. What’s the rush? You had him order Secretary Cai immediately?”
Xu Zhiyi replied, “I didn’t go through Uncle Lu.”
Jiang Sixun was even more surprised. “You used his people directly?”
“Yes. Uncle Lu won’t refuse.” She joked, “I can decide whether his son stays or leaves home.”
Jiang Sixun chuckled and asked about Secretary Cai, “Didn’t tell my dad? Just left like that?”
“Yeah. I asked him to pass on the message,” Xu Zhiyi said.
Jiang Sixun looked at the car driving away outside the floor-to-ceiling window and then turned to her. “Usually, my dad only listens to him. My words don’t carry much weight.”
Xu Zhiyi stood up to get some fruit and smiled. “Now that you know who holds the power at home, any smart person can tell that listening to me is the right choice.”
Jiang Sixun pulled her closer. “I may not be that smart, but I do listen to you.”
When he looked at her with such deep affection, Xu Zhiyi found it hard to resist and pushed him away. “I’m going to get the fruit.”
“I need to tell you something,” Jiang Sixun said, holding onto her.
Xu Zhiyi stopped and asked, “What is it?”
“My dad is still upstairs, thinking about what kind of gift to give you. He’s only considering gifts over nine figures, as we need to save more for our family’s startup funds.”
“…” Xu Zhiyi laughed. “You’re really something.”
Jiang Sixun, reassured that she wasn’t affected by Shen Qingfeng and Ningwei, finally let go of her. “Sit down. I’ll get you some fruit.”
As Jiang Sixun headed to the kitchen, Xu Zhiyi called out to him, “Do you know what fruits I like?”
Without looking back, Jiang Sixun replied, “Green tangerines, golden strawberries, and lychee meat soaked in iced bayberries.”
He even remembered the exact order of her favorite fruits.
He first brought out the green tangerines and golden strawberries, and then set about chilling the bayberries.
Just as he placed the fruit platter down, his father came downstairs.
Lu Jianbo glanced around the living room. “Where’s Secretary Cai?”
Jiang Sixun, still holding a piece of fruit, answered, “He was dispatched by our decision-maker to investigate something in Hong Kong.”
Xu Zhiyi handed a few golden strawberries to Lu Jianbo. “Uncle Lu, please enjoy the fruit.”
Lu Jianbo laughed heartily as he accepted the strawberries.
“Having an extra person around really makes things lively,” he remarked.
Jiang Sixun peeled a slice of green tangerine for himself and handed the rest to Xu Zhiyi, who was beside him. He then began peeling another tangerine.
Lu Jianbo turned to his son, “I’m heading back to Hong Kong next week. You should come along.”
He had just received a call from his father, reminding him about the family banquet.
Jiang Sixun responded with a hint of reluctance, “What am I supposed to do there?”
Lu Jianbo replied, “Aren’t you an amateur photographer? I’ll take you along to capture some shots.”
Jiang Sixun was left speechless.
It seemed Shen Qingfeng was also planning to return to the old mansion on Shenshui Bay Road.
“I’m accompanying Zhiyi back to Shanghai tomorrow,” Jiang Sixun said.
“That’s fine. The family banquet is next Saturday,” Lu Jianbo said firmly.
This would be the first family banquet since his elder brother’s wedding.
His father had insisted repeatedly over the phone that his presence was mandatory.
Meanwhile, in the restaurant, the dishes had been set out, and the lobster noodles were ready.
Xu Zhiyi went to the restaurant first, leaving the living room to the father and son.
Jiang Sixun tossed the tangerine peels into the trash, stood up, and said, “I’ve never been very polite to my cousins. I can’t guarantee I’ll be on my best behavior at the banquet. Please bear with me.”
He placed the peeled tangerines on a nearby table next to his father.
The next afternoon, they set off for Shanghai.
On the plane, Jiang Sixun took a shower after Xu Zhiyi, changed into dark-colored lounge pants and a navy blue shirt, and dried his hair before heading to the front cabin to find her.
Xu Zhiyi was gazing out the window, lost in thought.
Jiang Sixun took a seat beside her, across the aisle.
Xu Zhiyi turned and patted the empty seat beside her, “Why don’t you sit here?”
Jiang Sixun smiled faintly, “Distance creates beauty.”
Xu Zhiyi grinned and adjusted her position, tucking her semi-dry hair behind her ears. She opened her tablet and started playing a racing game, a hobby she’d enjoyed since her student days.
Jiang Sixun idly swirled his wine in his glass, his attention fully on her.
Debating whether to move closer, he knew they both intended to adjust to the time difference and sleep through the flight until they landed in Shanghai at dawn.
After her shower, she wore a simple white cotton dress, looking relaxed and gentle. He couldn’t resist wanting to hold her close.
“What are you doing?” he asked, taking a sip of his wine.
Xu Zhiyi replied, “Just a little game to pass the time.”
Jiang Sixun put down his glass and moved to sit beside her, “What game? Let me see.”
“It’s a racing game, quite niche,” Xu Zhiyi explained as she played. “You probably haven’t heard of it.”
Jiang Sixun watched her play for a few minutes. She glanced at him with a smile, “Isn’t it a bit boring?”
“It looks interesting,” he said.
Unable to help himself, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Xu Zhiyi suddenly sat up and returned the kiss.
Jiang Sixun, concerned about her game, said, “You crashed. You’ve been overtaken.”
“It’s fine; it’s just AI opponents,” she said, giving him another quick kiss before sitting back down to salvage her game.
Seeing she was preoccupied with the game, Jiang Sixun placed her tablet on the table and kissed her deeply. With flight attendants occasionally passing by with drinks, their kisses were easily interrupted. He whispered, “Shall we go to the back?”
Xu Zhiyi looked into his deep eyes and nodded.
In the limited space of the rear restroom, the door closed behind them, and they embraced each other passionately.
After their deep kiss, Xu Zhiyi leaned against the door, catching her breath. In the mirror, she could see Jiang Sixun holding her tightly, their height difference stark.
Jiang Sixun turned on the tap, not paying attention to whether it was hot or cold.
The warm steam from the sink began to fog up the mirror, gradually blurring their reflections.
She had promised him she’d help next time.
Jiang Sixun whispered in her ear, preparing to kiss her, but Xu Zhiyi shyly turned her head up, avoiding his gaze.
The cool scent of him surrounded her.
Her face flushed, she stared at the ceiling.
Jiang Sixun’s jaw was clenched, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
In the intimate space, their heavy, arousing breaths were mingled with the sound of running water.
Xu Zhiyi’s eyes wandered as she gazed at his sharp jawline. She reached up with her free hand and lightly touched his chin.
Jiang Sixun, unable to resist, pressed his lips to hers and murmured, “Focus, don’t be distracted.”