“Let’s go together.” Xia Honglang, sitting beside them, thought it was a good opportunity. “You haven’t really gone out to relax this year, so it would be good for you to go with them for a few days.”
“Yes.” Xia Qingtian smiled and said, “If we cheer for Qingyu together, she might perform beyond her usual level! After all, it’s a world competition, and she’s bound to be nervous.”
“Go ahead. I’ll have my secretary submit your visas tomorrow. If it’s a company business trip, they’ll be processed quickly.” Xia Honglang said with a chuckle, “Don’t forget to bring me back some gifts, your family member staying behind.”
“You’re never serious.” Aunt Liu was amused by Xia Honglang’s words. Then she looked at Xia Qingtian, who was full of anticipation, and said, “Alright then, but you know Aunt Liu isn’t very educated. What if I get lost or something…”
“Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll hire local guides if needed.” Xia Qingtian chuckled, “If that doesn’t work, there’s always the embassy. I definitely won’t let you get lost.”
“Okay, then.” Aunt Liu finally nodded and smiled faintly.
Hearing Aunt Liu agree, Xia Qingtian started chatting with Xia Honglang, “Dad, since it’s a business trip, why don’t we put the expenses for the entire trip on the company account?”
“Nonsense, how can that be the same thing?” Xia Honglang shot Xia Qingtian a look. “It’s already good of me to reimburse you from my private account, and you want to use the company account? What justification would you use to claim it from the company account?”
“Hmm… field research?” Xia Qingtian thought seriously.
“You’re not in a profession that requires field research. Go, go, stop fooling around. I’ll reimburse you from my private account.” Xia Honglang said.
“Well… that’s acceptable too!” Xia Qingtian thought for a moment and chuckled. Her beautiful eyes curved like those of a cunning fox. “Then… buying a bag…”
“I knew it!” Xia Honglang was amused by Xia Qingtian. “I’m not handling this.”
“Ah~ Stingy!”
Watching Xia Qingtian and Xia Honglang bicker, Aunt Liu showed a serene smile from the side, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Her usually gentle and watery eyes seemed to hide an unspeakable worry.
Only after Xia Qingtian left their master bedroom did Xia Honglang take Aunt Liu’s hand and ask, “What’s wrong? Are you troubled?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just afraid of holding the child back.” Aunt Liu looked at Xia Honglang and smiled faintly. “You know, I’m not very educated. If…”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll arrange for a competent assistant who speaks foreign languages for you. Don’t worry, just have fun.” Xia Honglang looked at Aunt Liu seriously and said, “You’ve worked hard these past few years. Now that we’ve finally gotten through it, it’s best for you and the children to go out and relax.”
“Okay.” Hearing Xia Honglang say this, Aunt Liu nodded, swallowing countless unspoken words.
Yes, it should be fine to relax occasionally.
At the same time, Xia Qingtian, who had left the master bedroom, was walking towards her own bedroom. On the stairs, she met Yu Zixuan, who had just returned from working overtime.
Yu Zixuan smiled when she saw Xia Qingtian and greeted her, “Qingtian.”
“Mm.” Seeing Yu Zixuan reminded Xia Qingtian of Wen Jiu’s words and predictions. Her smile became a little stiff. “Aunt, did you just get back?”
“Yes, the client changed several plans.” Yu Zixuan said helplessly, “We just finished brainstorming and finally settled on one. It should be smoother from now on.”
“It sounds very tiring.” Xia Qingtian chuckled. “You’re working so hard even with the wedding so close…”
“It can’t be helped. This work was accepted long ago, and the wedding was arranged temporarily. I can only work harder.” Yu Zixuan said with a faint smile.
“The wedding was indeed arranged very hastily.” Xia Qingtian looked into Yu Zixuan’s eyes and asked, “Aunt, besides the Yu family, will your adoptive parents come to the wedding?”
Hearing Xia Qingtian’s question, Yu Zixuan froze. A sense of panic surged in her heart. Then she gave a dry laugh and said, “That depends on their schedule. Why are you asking so suddenly, Qingtian? Did… did you hear something?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Xia Qingtian chuckled and said, “This is my first time being a bridesmaid, so I’ll probably be very busy. I thought I’d know more in advance to be prepared, so I wouldn’t be flustered. By the way, Aunt, what do your adoptive parents do?”
“They are just ordinary farmers.” Yu Zixuan smiled faintly. “It wasn’t easy for them to raise me. I’ve already told them about my marriage not long ago. I hope they can come.”
“I see.” Xia Qingtian smiled and didn’t press further. “It’s getting late, and you must be tired. You should rest early.”
“Okay.” Yu Zixuan responded and walked towards her room with a smile.
As soon as the door closed, Yu Zixuan leaned against it, and the smile on her face completely disappeared.
Is Xia Qingtian merely curious as she claimed, or is she already suspicious of her?
Regardless, Xia Qingtian’s question did serve as a reminder.
Her adoptive parents needed to be dealt with.
Yu Zixuan looked out at the night sky and sighed deeply. She wished she could resolve all the problems before her wedding.
Tang Jiamingzhu, Gou Wen.
All trouble.
Meanwhile, in a guest room of a large flat in Z City, Gou Wen sat by the bay window, gazing out at the night sky, lost in thought.
Her face was unnaturally pale, and her usually bright eyes had a layer of red veins in the whites, with her eye sockets also appearing red. There were deep bite marks on her lower lip, which was painted with bright red lipstick.
The pain from the poison was intertwined with a deep-seated fear. Everything she held dear was shrouded in a mist as the poison took hold.
This was the most terrifying aspect of the poison.
She would gradually forget everything.
Struggling in pain, helplessness, and endless fear, she would eventually be extinguished into dust.
She couldn’t remember the car accident that took her parents’ lives. All she remembered was a blindingly dazzling red in the black and white images.
It seemed like she was holding something in her arms…
Holding something…
In a daze, Gou Wen hesitated again. Did… did she have something in her arms?
Where… where was she at that time?
A car accident?
Why was there a car accident?
Car accident?
What?
Blood?
Like a faded old photograph, everything in her memory was gradually fading.
Like sand slipping through fingers, like a mirage at the end of the desert, scattering with the slightest gust of wind.
This feeling of being unable to retain or grasp anything made Gou Wen’s brows furrow as she frowned.
What had she forgotten?
What exactly had she forgotten?