"Qing Tian, aren't you eating?" Xia Shang asked, his bowl nearly empty. He looked up to see that Xia Qing Tian had barely touched her meal.
Er Ya, beside them, sniffed around them with a frown.
"I don't have much of an appetite," Xia Qing Tian said, lacking any desire to eat.
How could coming to the capital stir up so many troubles?
Xia Qing Tian found it all incredibly far-fetched.
Could things get any more chaotic?
Just then, a knock sounded. A servant reported, "Young Master Lei San is here."
"Young Master Lei San?" Xia Qing Tian raised an eyebrow at the sound of his name. What did he want?
Could it be about the mine?
No, the Lei family's business had nothing to do with new energy or mining industries.
Could it be...
Xia Qing Tian's eyelids twitched as she remembered the white jade dice she had acquired at the Lei family's auction.
Could it be that Young Master Lei San had also learned of the white jade dice's secret and wanted it back?
After all, when she had exposed the fake exhibit at the auction, Young Master Lei San had waived all her auction fees. Among the items she hadn't paid for was this white jade dice.
Or perhaps he wanted to buy it back at a high price?
After all, the treasure was sure to contain many ancient artifacts, and it was understandable for Young Master Lei San to be interested.
But... would Young Master Lei San really be so lacking in class?
Xia Qing Tian felt uneasy but found it difficult to refuse him outright.
After all, Young Master Lei San had helped her when she was kidnapped in City C, and again when Li Xiaoxiao was kidnapped.
Xia Qing Tian recalled Young Master Lei San's face. After a long hesitation, she instructed the servant to entertain him properly.
She picked up the accompanying drink and downed it in one go, calming her nerves before leaving the guest room where Er Ya was resting.
"Why does she look like she's about to march to her execution?" Er Ya propped her chin on her hand, watching Xia Qing Tian's retreating back. She then turned to Xia Shang and asked, "Who is Young Master Lei San?"
"I don't know either," Xia Shang replied, shaking his head.
"I have a feeling there's something fishy going on here. I'm going to check it out. Are you coming?" Er Ya asked, her large, expressive eyes blinking.
"No, I haven't finished my meal yet. You too..." Xia Shang was interrupted before he could finish.
"Then enjoy your meal. I'm off!" With those words, Er Ya was gone.
"Don't go..." Watching Er Ya's back, Xia Shang finished his sentence and sighed silently. He took a sip of his drink, his gaze deepening.
If he could, he wished he hadn't come to the capital this time.
He longed for a simple and stable life, but now it was becoming increasingly difficult.
Recalling Old Man Miao's dying words and Er Ya's description of the Miao family, Xia Shang sighed heavily.
He was so tired.
At the same time, Xia Qing Tian spotted Young Master Lei San sitting in the living room, sipping tea.
Xia Qing Tian pushed up on her cheeks with her index fingers, forcing a somewhat natural upward curve to her lips, which had stiffened with nervousness. "Young Master Lei San, it's been a while."
"It could have been even longer," Young Master Lei San said, putting down his teacup. He shot Xia Qing Tian an exasperated look, silently adding in his mind: *If you weren't so good at causing trouble.*
"Young Master Lei San is joking," Xia Qing Tian said, unsure if Young Master Lei San was indeed there for the white jade dice. Her unease grew, but she maintained a calm facade, sitting diagonally opposite him. "It was quite lively here yesterday. I didn't see you."
"We've had cargo handovers and two auctions scheduled these past few days. The Lei family has been quite busy, so I only sent the butler with a gift," Young Master Lei San replied.
"Then, for you to make time to visit today..." Xia Qing Tian picked up the tea served by the servant and looked up at Young Master Lei San, her eyes filled with inquiry.
"You don't know why I'm here?" Young Master Lei San raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure in his gaze.
If Xia Qing Tian didn't cause so much trouble, would he have been coerced by Wen Jiu to come?
Hearing Young Master Lei San's words, Xia Qing Tian's heart sank.
So, Young Master Lei San was indeed here for the white jade dice!
After all, it was a secret that could be won in a card game by Wen Jiu. It wasn't strange for Young Master Lei San to know about it.
"If you're here for that, then please leave," Xia Qing Tian said, placing her teacup back on the square table. "This matter originally depended on mutual willingness."
What she had bid for and acquired at the auction was hers.
Although the Lei family didn't take her money, it was merely a trivial benefit Young Master Lei San gave her to keep her quiet.
One matter for one matter; Young Master Lei San shouldn't expect to take the motorcycle she had "won" with her bicycle.
Seeing Xia Qing Tian's attitude, Young Master Lei San also became annoyed.
No one liked being coerced; he had no choice but to come.
If it were truly about "mutual willingness," he wouldn't even deign to look at Xia Qing Tian!
He, the coerced party, hadn't lost his temper, yet Xia Qing Tian, who should have been seeking his protection, had slammed down her cup first.
What a wicked and arrogant woman.
"Do you think I want to be here?" Young Master Lei San said coldly.
"Then that's perfect! Someone! Escort..." Before Xia Qing Tian could finish speaking, her phone rang. She answered it and heard Wen Jiu's voice.
"Qing Tian, has Young Master Lei San arrived?" Wen Jiu asked.
"He's here," Xia Qing Tian said. As soon as Wen Jiu mentioned Young Master Lei San, her heart sank further.
"It's good that he's there. I don't think that second uncle from the Miao family is someone to be trifled with. I was afraid he might harass you again, so I asked Young Master Lei San to protect you for three days," Wen Jiu said lazily, lying on the bed and eating fruit. "After three days, when I'm discharged from the hospital, I'll personally escort you back to City Z."
"What?" Xia Qing Tian exclaimed. She immediately glanced at Young Master Lei San, whose face had turned completely black. She switched hands holding the phone and asked in a low voice, "He... he came for this?"
"Yes? Why else would he be here?" Wen Jiu sounded perplexed. "That kid was a million times unwilling, but I threatened him with a batch of goods for the Lei family, and only then did he agree to go.
"What? You don't actually think he came for some dice or treasure, do you?
Hahaha..."
After laughing for a while, Wen Jiu didn't get a response from Xia Qing Tian and was taken aback. "No way? You really thought that? That's a secret only the family head can know. How could I possibly tell anyone else casually? Old Third Lei doesn't know!"
*You just casually told me!*
Xia Qing Tian wanted to shout this, but she swallowed the words back.
She casually replied a few times, hung up the phone, and looked at Young Master Lei San.
"Since Miss Xia is so unwilling, then I shall..." Young Master Lei San was about to get up and leave when Xia Qing Tian interrupted him.
"Oh dear, how could you serve Young Master Lei San such poor tea?" Xia Qing Tian admonished the servant she had called over. "Go to the family head's quarters and get the best tea. Entertain Young Master Lei San properly."
"???" Young Master Lei San looked at Xia Qing Tian, whose expression changed faster than turning a page, and his lips twitched.
This woman was truly wicked!