The next day, after Zhang Xianya and Chi Shaokang left for work, Xia Yuhuan rode her bicycle to the Youth Office.
She went to inquire about Xia Zhuyu’s assignment to the countryside.
Xia Zhuyu’s rural assignment had been personally handled by Zhang Xianya, and Xia Jianyong couldn’t possibly make waves about it, so this assignment was inevitable.
However, Xia Yuhuan didn’t know the specific timing, so she decided to come and ask.
Mainly because she had already asked Zhang Xianya to handle this matter for her, but she couldn’t keep pestering her for more details.
After all, Zhang Xianya had many things to attend to and couldn’t reasonably divert her energy to these minor matters every day.
Unexpectedly, when Xia Yuhuan arrived at the Youth Office, the staff informed her that Xia Zhuyu’s mother had fallen seriously ill, and she would need to delay her rural assignment by half a month.
Xia Yuhuan was shocked by this news.
“What nonsense? Her mother is sick, so she needs to take care of her and postpone her assignment?”
Then who was that lively Li Rouyue at her wedding?
“Yes, when she came to plead with us, she cried pitifully. Our director specially approved it, saying that when a close relative is seriously ill, we can’t ignore it, so she was granted half a month’s leave.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Yuhuan immediately understood.
This was definitely a scheme orchestrated by Xia Zhuyu’s family.
Xia Jianyong had used gold bars to pull strings. Although he couldn’t overturn Xia Zhuyu’s rural assignment, delaying it was possible. So these fifteen days were the result of Xia Jianyong’s connections.
But what did her family plan to do with these fifteen days?
Xia Yuhuan couldn’t figure it out, so she decided to return to the Xia family to see.
She arrived at the Xia family just in time for lunch.
And there, Xia Yuhuan saw someone she hadn’t expected… Chi Zhenghao.
Xia Yuhuan: “What are you doing here?”
Xia Jianyong: “Why are you back?”
They spoke almost simultaneously, their voices overlapping.
Xia Yuhuan’s gaze fell on Chi Zhenghao, full of scrutiny.
Although Zhang Xianya had said that Chi Zhenghao probably wouldn’t dare to poison Chi Yanzhou—that he didn’t have the guts—Xia Yuhuan still suspected him.
After all, Chi Zhenghao’s dislike for her was quite direct.
Coupled with the attitude of Chi Yanzhou’s uncle’s family, Xia Yuhuan didn’t trust him.
Xia Jianyong quickly stood up and approached Xia Yuhuan: “Why are you back? Who returns to their maternal home right after getting married? It’s embarrassing. You should go back.”
As he spoke, he tried to push Xia Yuhuan toward the door.
His obvious attempt to avoid her only made Xia Yuhuan more suspicious.
“You said it yourself—this is my maternal family.” What, just because I’m married, I can’t come back to my own family home?”
Xia Yuhuan avoided Xia Jianyong’s hand and walked straight into the dining room.
“Since I’m already here, you wouldn’t refuse to let me stay for a meal, would you?”
Xia Yuhuan plopped down on a chair and spoke with a mocking smile: “I got married, I didn’t sever family ties with you. Why can’t I come back?”
“If you really want to chase me away, that’s fine too. Bring me the severance agreement, and I promise I’ll never set foot in this place again.”
Her words darkened Xia Jianyong’s face.
If he wanted to sever family ties, why would he have brought her back? He might as well have left her to fend for herself in the countryside!
Seeing this, Li Rouyue quickly asked the maid to set an extra place at the table.
Then she said to Xia Yuhuan, “Yuhuan, you’ve misunderstood. Your father didn’t mean it that way. You’ve just married into the Chi family, and the Third-day homecoming hasn’t even arrived yet, yet you’ve returned on your own. This goes against tradition.”
“Oh.” Xia Yuhuan casually uttered an “oh” and said, “The Third-day homecoming is just a formality. I married so close by, right here in the compound. I can come back anytime. There’s no need to make a fuss about it, right, stepmother?”
Just as Li Rouyue was feeling awkward, Xia Jianyong angrily retorted, “Right your head! What will outsiders think of us? They’ll only say we didn’t raise you properly, that you have no manners.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Yuhuan immediately responded, “From childhood till now, you never actually taught me anything. If I lack manners, you share part of the blame. That’s the adults’ fault—what does it have to do with me?”
Her blatantly unapologetic attitude was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.
Xia Jianyong was so enraged by her retort that he nearly passed out.
“Fine, fine, fine! So that’s how you’re going to be, you wretched girl? I, I…”
Xia Jianyong was so furious he was about to smash his bowl.
Li Rouyue, sitting beside him, quickly reached out to restrain him.
“Old Xia, calm down. Yuhuan is still young, and you’re already this old—why bother arguing with her?”
As she spoke, Li Rouyue shot Xia Jianyong a meaningful glance, reminding him that Chi Zhenghao was still present and that he should rein in his temper.
Only then did Xia Jianyong regain his composure.
With a stern face, he said, “Since you’re already here, you might as well stay for dinner. Behave yourself and watch your mouth—no causing trouble.”
Xia Yuhuan replied meaningfully, “Well, that depends on whether there’s anything delicious enough to shut me up.”
“You should be grateful you’re getting anything to eat at all, and you’re still being picky? If you’re going to be picky, then don’t eat.” Xia Jianyong’s face darkened as he scolded her.
This time, Xia Yuhuan didn’t argue with him. She took the bowl handed to her by the maid and began to eat.
In this vast world, the stomach is the greatest temple. Only when full does one have the energy to continue fighting. For now, she’d prioritize eating.
Seeing her quiet down, the frantic throbbing in Xia Jianyong’s temple finally eased.
If he continued arguing with Xia Yuhuan, he feared he might die of anger.
Glancing again at Xia Yuhuan, who was focused entirely on eating as if food were her whole world, Xia Jianyong found it utterly irritating.
He turned to Chi Zhenghao and spoke with an awkward smile, “Nephew, please excuse my daughter’s lack of decorum.”
Hearing this, Xia Yuhuan glanced up at him.
She hadn’t expected Xia Jianyong to be capable of such refined politeness.
But when he put on an act, he could indeed appear quite presentable.
Moreover, Xia Jianyong’s attitude toward Chi Zhenghao carried a hint of deference. Was there something he needed from Chi Zhenghao?
Just as Xia Yuhuan was quietly observing, she noticed Xia Zhuyu glaring fiercely at her.
She was baffled by the glare.
The next moment, she saw Xia Zhuyu move closer to Chi Zhenghao and serve him food.
When she spoke, her voice was deliberately sweetened.
“Brother Hao, try this. Mom made this dish, and it’s really delicious. I…”
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Xia Yuhuan was thoroughly disgusted and erupted into a fit of violent coughing.
Chi Zhenghao, sitting across from her, instinctively handed her a tissue.
Xia Yuhuan took it, covered her mouth, coughed a few more times, and wiped her lips before finally recovering.
She said, “Sorry, I choked on the soup just now. Please continue. Zhuyu, take good care of your Brother Hao…”
What should have been a perfectly normal sentence somehow took on a different tone after passing through Xia Yuhuan’s lips.
That phrase “Zhu” sounded like “pig,” and that “Brother Hao” seemed like “good brother”… it just didn’t sound right no matter how you heard it.
Xia Zhuyu’s eyes reddened with anger, nearly slamming the table to stand up and rebuke Xia Yuhuan. But mindful of Chi Zhenghao’s presence, she gritted her teeth and suppressed her rage, sobbing to Xia Yuhuan, “Sister, I know you don’t like me, but do you have to target me like this? Wuwu…”