“Mom? What are you doing here?”
When Ling Xiao saw his mother, Liu Yao, the chairwoman of Dasheng Group, standing at the doorway, he was completely caught off guard.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could’ve picked you up.”
Liu Yao stuffed her briefcase into his hands and walked inside.
“I happened to be in the city on a business trip, so I thought I’d come see you.”
As soon as she entered, her eyes landed on a pair of women’s shoes on the shoe rack.
Her brows immediately furrowed.
“Who else is living here?”
Ling Xiao didn’t hide it.
“My girlfriend. Her name is Xie Jinwen. She happened to go out today.”
Technically, they had never explicitly defined themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend.
Xie Jinwen had spoken of them as future husband and wife, saying they would eventually marry.
Ling Xiao felt that was a bit too big of a leap, and he wasn’t sure his family would accept it as easily as he did, so he settled for calling her his girlfriend.
Liu Yao instantly looked displeased.
After the two sat down on the sofa, she finally spoke.
“Tiantian, you’re grown up now. You have every right to date.”
“But you know our family situation is rather special.”
“Not just any random person can marry into our family.”
Tiantian was Ling Xiao’s childhood nickname.
Liu Yao had always called him that, only using his full name on formal occasions.
No one had ever pressured Ling Xiao to get married.
For one thing, he was still young, and several relatives older than him weren’t married yet, so his parents weren’t in a hurry about his marriage.
They had, however, brought up dating several times.
They always told him to keep his eyes open and choose carefully.
The woman should come from a matching family background, be talented and attractive, and possess good character.
Every time the topic came up, they would inevitably mention that Yin Ciying was still single and say that whoever married her would surely enjoy a happy marriage and harmonious family life.
Ling Xiao had always thought his parents simply noticed that he and Yin Ciying were both still single while his younger brothers already had girlfriends.
He knew his family had high standards when selecting a future daughter-in-law.
But Xie Jinwen was definitely not “just anyone.”
“Mom,” he said, “you don’t know Xie Jinwen.”
“If you met her, you’d like her too.”
Liu Yao’s expression darkened.
“There’s no need.”
“I don’t need to meet her.”
Her attitude was firm.
Ling Xiao’s expression also grew serious.
“Mom, you’ve never even met her.”
“Isn’t that a little too arbitrary?”
“How do you already know she’s not good enough?”
Liu Yao was a veteran businesswoman.
Reading people and situations was second nature to her.
Seeing Ling Xiao’s mood sour, she immediately changed her approach.
“Tiantian, we haven’t seen each other in such a long time.”
“My flight back to Beijing is this afternoon.”
“Let’s not talk about unpleasant things.”
“If you truly like her, bring her home sometime.”
“Let the elders meet her and help you judge her character.”
The words were meant to reassure Ling Xiao.
As for Liu Yao herself?
Anyone she disliked would never gain her approval.
There was no need for her to play the villain in front of her son.
She had plenty of ways to make that woman break up with him on her own.
Unfortunately, Ling Xiao had no idea what was really going through his mother’s mind.
Hearing her say this, he relaxed.
“Okay.”
“I’ll have a short vacation in a few days.”
“I’ll bring her back to Beijing then.”
In the past, Liu Yao had always wished Ling Xiao could spend more time at home.
Now, hearing he finally had leave, she only felt more heartache.
Taking his hand, she said,
“Let me look at you.”
“Haven’t you gotten thinner again?”
The Ling family lacked neither wealth nor status.
Ling Xiao was even the designated heir.
There was no need for him to endure the hardships of military life.
But he had chosen this path himself.
As parents, they didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm.
Military service could build character.
Still, who could have predicted the aircraft accident?
Thankfully, no one had died.
Ling Xiao had been grounded and given a period of leave.
Meanwhile…
After leaving the apartment, Xie Jinwen sat on a bench in a nearby park.
Ling Xiao’s shoulder bag sat beside her.
He had insisted she take it with her.
Inside were her water bottle, a phone charger, pepper spray, and some emergency cash.
Ling Xiao knew perfectly well that she possessed abilities far beyond ordinary people.
Anyone foolish enough to bully her would likely suffer an unpleasant karmic backlash.
Yet he still treated her like a young girl.
Every time she went out, he packed all sorts of things for her.
He really was a chronic worrier.
After sitting there for half an hour, she noticed several groups of people casting glances her way.
Some of the bolder ones approached directly and asked for her contact information.
Without hurry, Xie Jinwen recited a phone number.
Some left happily.
Others frowned.
“Wait… this number sounds familiar.”
“Isn’t this Captain Ling’s number?”
Xie Jinwen nodded.
“Congratulations. Correct.”
“This is Ling Xiao’s phone number.”
“I’m his girlfriend.”
The man immediately panicked.
“Miss, I was wrong! My mistake!”
“Please don’t tell Captain Ling!”
Xie Jinwen waved her hand.
“My memory isn’t very good.”
“I’ll forget about it soon.”
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and flee.
He vowed never to randomly flirt with beautiful strangers again.
A black luxury car pulled up beneath the shade of a tree nearby.
A tall, muscular chauffeur in a suit stepped out.
After making a quick trip to a public restroom, he returned and lay down on a nearby bench for a nap.
Xie Jinwen glanced at him before slinging her bag over her shoulder and leaving the park.
“Miss Xie?”
At the park entrance, Zhao Meiyu and her boyfriend happened to spot her.
They waved enthusiastically.
Xie Jinwen smiled politely.
“Nurse Zhao. What a coincidence.”
“It really is,” Zhao Meiyu replied.
“Miss Xie, are you feeling better?”
“I didn’t expect you’d still be here.”
“Much better. Thank you for asking.”
Remembering something, Zhao Meiyu said,
“There’s a wishing fountain inside the park.”
“It’s one of the popular attractions.”
“Would you like to come with us?”
Xie Jinwen nodded.
“Sure.”
The three of them walked back inside.
They eventually returned to the area where Xie Jinwen had been sitting earlier.
The chauffeur was still asleep.
The wishing fountain was built around an artificial pond.
Countless coins glittered beneath the water.
A tiny turtle swam among them.
Zhao Meiyu and her boyfriend walked side by side.
Each held a coin.
After silently making their wishes, they tossed the coins into the fountain together.
What they didn’t know was that while they prayed sincerely, faint strands of pale purple energy drifted from their bodies and followed the coins into the depths of the pool.
The turtle swallowed those strands of energy.
Then it released a colorless, odorless bubble in return.
It absorbed a portion of their luck and, in exchange, fulfilled one of their wishes.
A fair trade.
Give and take.
“Miss Xie, aren’t you going to make a wish?”
“It’s very effective.”
Zhao Meiyu noticed Xie Jinwen merely twirling a coin between her fingers.
Xie Jinwen replied calmly,
“My wish is beyond what this thing in the pool can bear.”
Zhao Meiyu nodded, only half understanding.
Soon afterward, she and her boyfriend headed off to explore other parts of the park.
At that moment, the sleeping chauffeur stirred.
He rose from the bench and began walking toward the wishing fountain.