Xu Lin and Wang Fang blinked at each other and then both laughed.
“Really,” Xu Die said, “I really know Xie Yan!”
Wang Fang smiled indulgently. “Oh, you know him? How do you know him?”
Xu Die replied, “He works at our family hospital! I saw him and even talked to him. The first time we met, he even wore a custom suit worth millions! He was so handsome!”
Wang Fang and Xu Lin exchanged a glance and nodded. “Wow, that’s impressive.”
Xu Lin also smiled as he went downstairs. “Xiao Die, then you should marry him! If our Xu family had such a capable son-in-law, Dad wouldn’t have to worry. Who cares about Grandma Cheng then?”
Wang Fang chimed in, “And then I’d be Xie Yan’s mother-in-law, commanding respect all over Lincheng. Those wealthy ladies wouldn’t dare look down on me.”
Xu Lin nodded. “Then I’d be his father-in-law.” Though remembering Xie Yan’s cold, sharp demeanor today made him shiver, the thought of Xu Die being cared for by someone like Xie Yan made his expression soften. “If our Xiao Die had such a good man looking after her, Dad could finally relax.”
Xu Die laughed. “Dad, don’t worry! I’m the Xu family’s pampered daughter Xie Yan will definitely like me!”
Wang Fang and Xu Lin exchanged a smile, thinking their daughter was too naive.
How could Xie Yan even come to Lincheng? And work at a hospital?
So when Xu Die said she wanted to go work at the hospital instead of attending board meetings, they assumed it was just an excuse to compete with Xu Mian.
Xu Lin waved his hand casually. “Go ahead and play for a few days. Come back when you’ve had enough.”
Xu Die clenched her fists. “Don’t underestimate me, Dad! I’ll bring back a top-notch son-in-law! Otherwise, I’m skipping the board meetings entirely!”
Xu Lin smiled but didn’t comment.
Xu Die wasn’t especially gifted. Even though she’d been on the board for a while, there were still many things she only half-understood. Sometimes her suggestions in meetings made Xu Lin embarrassed for her.
If she could marry a good man, it would be a blessing. He could help steer the Xu family in the future.
Wang Fang also knew their daughter wasn’t ready to manage the Xu family, and secretly hoped Xu Die could marry a capable man.
Once Xu Die went upstairs, Wang Fang whispered to Xu Lin, “Honey, you have to pay attention to Xiao Die’s marriage. Her health isn’t great she couldn’t endure hardships from her in-laws.”
Xu Lin pressed his hand to Wang Fang’s delicate waist. “I know. Xiao Die is our daughter. If I’ve ever wronged anyone, I can’t wrong her. I’ll find a kind and capable young man who deserves our treasure.”
Wang Fang smiled softly, feeling Xu Lin’s hand on hers, while casting a sharp glance upstairs.
Their daughter must marry someone exceptional.
As for Xu Mian?
She could only end up with some abusive country bumpkin!
The next morning, Xu Mian came downstairs for breakfast.
In the dining room, Xu Die was busy wearing a lace-trimmed apron.
Wang Fang cheerfully instructed, “Sweetheart, you need to slice the shrimp and plate it nicely.”
Pouting, Xu Die said, “I’m already trying my best.”
Wang Fang teased, “Aiming for Xie Yan, huh? With your plating, the best you could impress is someone like Li Yan.”
Hearing the name, Xu Mian raised an eyebrow but continued eating without a word.
Xu Die left the kitchen and saw Xu Mian eating broccoli. She held her lunchbox and approached. “Sister, I saw Xie Yan talking to you last time. Don’t tell me you like him? I know he’s handsome, but I have my sights set on him.”
This was both a test and a declaration of ownership.
Xu Mian glanced at Xu Die, letting her gaze linger for a few seconds.
Xu Die’s eyes flickered. “What are you looking at?”
Xu Mian chewed slowly, smirking lightly. “Don’t bother. Xie Yan isn’t interested in you.”
With that, she put down her chopsticks and walked away lazily.
Xu Die stomped in frustration. “Not interested in me? Then why would he be interested in you? Xie Yan isn’t superficial enough to care about looks alone!”
Fuming, she stormed out.
Wang Fang brought bird’s nest to the table and asked Xu Lin, “There really is a Xie Yan at the hospital? From what Xu Mian said, is he into her?”
Xu Lin glanced at the newspaper casually. “If he likes her, that’s fine. Most of the hospital staff are just fresh med school grads. If he really marries Xu Mian, all the better.”
To Xu Lin, as long as Xu Mian didn’t marry someone capable of returning later to fight for the family fortune, it didn’t matter who she married.
Xu Lin continued, looking at Wang Fang. “I’ve asked around about Sheng Ao’s top disciple. He’s right here in Lincheng.”
Wang Fang’s face lit up with delight. “Really? Can we find him?”
Xu Lin nodded. “We’ll try. If not, we just pay more. Nowadays, money can solve almost anything.”
Wang Fang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Once Xu Die finishes her last surgery and marries well, inheriting the Xu family estate, everything will be perfect.”
Xu Lin nodded, squeezing Wang Fang’s face. “Our daughter deserves the best of everything in the world.”
Xu Die’s car sped past Xu Mian, leaving her far behind.
She wanted to deliver a lunchbox to Xie Yan before work and naturally become Mrs. Xie afterward.
Xu Mian stood lazily at the bus stop. On the bus, she saw Xie Yan. Having not slept well last night, she didn’t even nod, instead taking a seat at the very back, pulling her cap over her face, and falling asleep.
When Wang Zhen got on the bus, he pointed to Xu Mian and asked, “Has she been sleeping this whole time?”
Wang Zhen wanted to find out if Xu Mian was really some kind of final boss.
Xie Yan glanced at her, noting the aura that made her untouchable, and nodded faintly with a small smile.
Wang Zhen sat elsewhere.
The bus stopped at the hospital. Xu Mian, hearing the stop announcement, was about to lift her cap when she heard Xie Yan’s deep voice: “Xu Mian, we’re here.”
She removed her cap, her gaze icy as she looked at him.
“Do we know each other well?”
Xie Yan touched his nose, smiling in the morning sun. “We’ll get there slowly.”
Annoyed, Xu Mian put her cap back on and got off the bus.
Someone followed her.
She was about to turn and warn them when a flash of pink dashed across the road.
“Good morning, Xie Yan!” Xu Die pretended to be cute, smiling brightly.
Xu Mian walked straight ahead without glancing.
Xie Yan followed, eyes still unraised.
Xu Die was completely ignored. A breeze blew, lifting her skirt slightly, swaying silently.
“Xu Mian! Why did you get off the bus with Xie Yan?”
“You’re so scheming!”
“Intentionally taking the same bus as Xie Yan to catch his attention, and you didn’t even tell me he was on it!”