“What are you thinking about?”
Xie Jingyuan walked over to Xie Qi and said with a smile, “Haven’t seen you these past few days. Still holed up in the Nine-Color Residence?”
“Reading in my room.”
Within the Xie household, only Xie Shan and Xie Jingyuan treated Xie Qi decently.
In an ordinary family, if a junior was favored by the head of the household, they would surely be showered with attention like Xie Xuchuan.
But unfortunately, Xie Shan was merely a servant of the Xie family. It was only because Xie Sanniang took him as a live-in son-in-law in earlier years that he gained the nominal title of family head.
However, times had changed. Although Xie Shan was a live-in son-in-law, he possessed great talent for business and soon expanded the Xie family’s enterprises.
After realizing that the Xie family’s business could not thrive without his support, Xie Shan gained confidence and gradually grew dissatisfied with merely being the Xie family’s live-in son-in-law.
With more thoughts came inevitable discontent.
At that time, the relationship between Xie Shan and Xie Sanniang was as precarious as walking on thin ice—one could even say they were like enemies meeting, their eyes blazing with hostility.
Their marital affection slowly eroded, nearly ending in mutual destruction.
Later, perhaps recognizing the drawbacks, their relationship gradually improved over the years of living together.
Yet, cracks had already formed. In the Xie family’s inner quarters, the couple maintained a certain distance, as if two kings avoiding each other.
Xie Sanniang disliked Xie Qi, so Xie Shan deliberately favored him instead. Unfortunately, Xie Shan’s humble origins meant he was ultimately inferior to Xie Sanniang, and he could not override her decisions within the Xie family.
Xie Jingyuan only knew that his parents’ relationship was strained, but he did not understand why the two twin nephews, only three years younger than him, were treated so differently—one elevated to the heavens, the other cast into the dirt.
In the Xie family, Xie Qi was like an unknown, rotting piece of fruit hidden in a corner during summer.
No one usually cared whether he lived or died, but if anyone happened to encounter him, they all… treated him with great disdain.
“You, your temperament is too quiet.”
Seeing Xie Qi alone, Xie Jingyuan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “I acquired some imported goods recently. Later, go to the Cloud-Weaving Pavilion and pick out whatever you like—take anything that catches your eye.”
“Thank you, Third Uncle.”
“No need for formalities.”
Patting Xie Qi on the shoulder, Xie Jingyuan urged him to take his seat quickly.
“Third Master’s fish is truly excellent. Just now, when this old servant passed by the small kitchen, the aroma…”
Li Granny, Xie Sanniang’s dowry maid, sniffed lightly and joked, “Oh my, it was so fragrant it nearly made one’s mouth water.”
As she spoke, she directed the young maid beside her to set out small white porcelain plates for eating fish and silver forks for removing bones for everyone.
The maid placed plates around the table, but when she reached Xie Qi, she realized one set was missing.
The young girl was momentarily stunned. Seeing that everyone at the table pretended not to notice, she turned and retreated, intending to fetch another set.
Xie Qi rarely appeared with the Xie family. In recent years, it had been slightly better.
In earlier years, even the Xie family members had almost forgotten that their eldest and second young masters were twins.
As if no one noticed the missing tableware, Li Granny continued to flatter Xie Jingyuan while standing beside him. “The old madam has been feeling unwell in her stomach these past few days. After drinking Third Master’s fish soup today, she might just be cured.”
“Mother is unwell?”
“An old ailment…”
The fish Xie Jingyuan caught were truly excellent. Today, the small kitchen prepared a full fish feast, with dishes ranging from frying and stir-frying to steaming and deep-frying.
Xie Qi sat beside Xie Xuchuan, keeping his head down and remaining silent. He had long grown accustomed to being the only one in a group to lack what he needed.
At Xie Sanniang’s signal, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Hua Nanzhi served Xie Xuchuan a bowl of soup and placed a piece of the most tender steamed fish belly on his plate.
The fish was garnished with emerald green scallion shreds, dotted with bright red chopped chili peppers. The spicy, salty, and savory aroma of the fish, mingled with the rich fragrance of oil, wafted into the nostrils, enticing one’s appetite.
“Such fresh fish, you should try it quickly.”
Xie Xuchuan shook his head, having no appetite.
His mind was filled with worries—how could he still eat?
Thinking of Jiang Wansu and Shen Yuanzhu, Xie Xuchuan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mother, after the meal, I have something to discuss with you.”
Since Shen Yuanzhu said that Mother agreed and she would bring Wansu and Yulin’s child back to the Xie family, then he would let her have her way.