The car drove all the way back to the Xu residence.
When it stopped at the villa entrance, Xu Lin’s legs were still trembling.
This Mr. Xie was just… too violent!
Thinking back to what he had witnessed half an hour ago, Xu Lin instinctively felt like vomiting.
It was far too bloody.
He leaned one hand against the door, weak and gasping, and pounded lightly while calling out Wang Fang’s name.
When Wang Fang opened the door and saw Xu Lin’s pale, ashen face and his legs shaking like autumn leaves, she froze.
She pointed upstairs toward Xu Mian’s room. “What’s wrong? Xu Mian’s already back. I saw her looking relaxed…” She had thought the matter was already settled and had even been a little disappointed that Grandma Cheng hadn’t done more to handle a mere little girl. “Why do you look like this? Did you take the hit for Xu Mian?”
Xu Lin waved his hand and said, “Bring me a glass of water.”
Wang Fang hurried to get it. Xu Die looked a little worried and asked in a low voice, “Dad, what’s wrong?”
After taking a big gulp of water, Xu Lin collapsed onto the sofa. “I saw Xie Yan today. He said he knew Xu Mian… and then he took one of Cheng Yu’s legs.”
Xu Lin mimed the hammer Wang Hao had wielded. “Right in front of Grandma, he smashed it clean off. The doctor had to rush him away immediately.”
Even recalling the way Cheng Yu had gasped in shock made Xu Lin shiver all over.
Only Xie Yan could dare to do something like that in front of Grandma!
Xu Die’s eyes went wide with question marks. “Xie Yan? I thought the Cheng family was the top power in all of Lincheng. Is this Xie Yan even stronger than the Chengs?”
Xu Lin continued drinking water.
Wang Fang whispered an explanation, “The Cheng family may be powerful in Lincheng, but in Kyoto, they don’t even rank against the Xie family. Rumor has it, the Xies are ruthless and leave nothing to chance.” She looked at Xu Lin. “Hasn’t he always been in Kyoto? How did he come to Lincheng?”
Xu Lin frowned. “Who knows what kind of madness that is, and he said he knows Xu Mian.”
Wang Fang’s heart skipped a beat. “Knows Xu Mian? How could a noble like Xie Yan possibly know her?”
She glanced upstairs and whispered, “Could it be that he came because of our family business?”
Xu Lin shook his head. “If it were the Xu family back when Lin Yin was around, maybe Xie Yan would have noticed. But now… in Lincheng, sure, we’re okay; in Kyoto… he has much bigger opportunities to integrate resources. I don’t think that’s why.”
Wang Fang’s heart sank further. “So you’re saying… Xie Yan has some private connection with Xu Mian?”
Xu Lin said he didn’t know. Wang Fang immediately urged, “Then go upstairs and find out! If Xie Yan is backing Xu Mian, once the trust expires, will she even be available to you?”
Hearing this, Xu Lin’s expression tightened, and he immediately strode upstairs.
Xu Die followed, opening her phone to search for Xie Yan’s name. She wanted to see just who this Xie Yan was, and why he was so formidable.
The Wi-Fi upstairs was slow and kept refreshing.
At this point, Xu Lin stood at Xu Mian’s door, knocking a rare show of hesitation on his part.
No response.
After knocking three times, a calm voice floated out: “Come in.”
Xu Lin pushed open the door, and Xu Die rolled her eyes behind him she was faking her innocence.
Inside, Xu Lin saw Xu Mian sitting on the balcony with her legs crossed, playing a game. On the table beside her stood Lin Yin’s memorial photo.
Xu Lin froze in his tracks.
“You…” He felt completely blindsided. “Xu Mian… don’t you think keeping your mom’s photo out like this is a bit eerie? Doesn’t the Xu family have an ancestral hall? Why not place the photo there for proper remembrance?”
Wang Fang also felt uneasy the room was dim and slightly ominous.
And in the photo, Lin Yin’s eyes seemed to stare straight at her.
Wang Fang took two steps back, standing behind Xu Lin.
Xu Mian kept her head down, playing her game, and laughed lightly. “An ancestral hall? And you have the nerve to talk about ancestral halls? Do you need me to remind you of the dirty things you do in there? Put my mom’s photo there, and you soil her eyes.”
Xu Lin pressed his lips together. Usually, this would have made him angry.
But today… he didn’t.
He smiled, walked over, and turned Lin Yin’s photo to face outward.
Then he asked Xu Mian with a smile, “Xu Mian, do you know Xie Yan from the Xie Group?”
Xu Mian gave a small smile.
Xu Lin was stunned. “Why are you smiling?”
After finishing her game, Xu Mian slowly put away her phone and looked at Xu Lin coolly.
“I see why you were in such a good mood earlier you were just waiting here.”
“I don’t know any Xie Yan.”
“Now get out of my room.”
With that, she picked up her phone again. Xu Lin hadn’t left. He looked at her seriously. “Xu Mian, you’ve already angered the Cheng family, but you mustn’t offend Xie Yan. Listen to me don’t contact people like that. We aren’t on the same level. If you accidentally offend him… what then?”
Xu Lin’s tone was careful, almost pleading.
Xu Mian ignored him, the gunfire from her game echoing through the room.
Xu Lin pressed his lips together, feeling slightly resentful at being ignored. “Just listen to your father, Xu Mian. I won’t harm you. I’ll find you a good match girls should marry well. Remember, no matter what, I am always your father.”
Xu Mian still didn’t respond, her impatience clear.
Finally, Xu Lin had no choice but to leave.
At the doorway, Wang Fang whispered, “What was with her attitude just now?”
Xu Lin shook his head. “I don’t know. But I heard that today’s car accident was orchestrated by Xie Yan’s secretary. Maybe Xie Yan felt Xu Mian was involved, so he stepped in. He came in after she left the Cheng residence, but from what I saw, she didn’t stop so I guess it’s not too deep a connection.”
Hearing this, Wang Fang exhaled in relief.
“That’s good. If Xu Mian had managed to attach herself to someone that powerful, the trust might never have come to us.”
Then, worried she sounded too harsh, she added: “I mean… with Xu Mian’s temper, she should probably just find someone patient. I’ll see if any of our distant relatives are looking to marry. Someone like Xu Mian… better find someone with lower standards, so they can put up with her temper.”
Xu Lin nodded, agreeing. The two of them headed downstairs.
After a few steps, they noticed Xu Die hadn’t followed.
Turning around, they saw her eyes shining as she excitedly pointed at her phone. “Dad! Dad! I know him! I know him!”
Xu Lin and Wang Fang exchanged bewildered glances.
“Know who?”
“I know Xie Yan! I’m very familiar with him!”