After much persuasion, Er Ya was finally calmed down. Xia Qingtian, on the condition that she promised not to act rashly, accompanied Xia Shang downstairs.
Upon reaching the ground floor, Xia Qingtian spotted Miao Tong, his face a mask of gloom.
In the exchange of glances between Er Ya and Miao Tong, invisible sparks seemed to crackle and collide.
"This is Miao Tong, the younger uncle's biological brother," Xia Qingtian introduced them hesitantly. "And this is Er Ya, the younger uncle's... childhood sweetheart."
"Childhood sweetheart?" Miao Tong raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Your Tang family's reach is long indeed! So you started laying your schemes from so early on? Good! Truly worthy of the cunning Tang family!"
"Pah! I can't understand a word of your nonsensical barking!" Er Ya clutched Xia Shang's arm with one hand and put the other on her hip, scoffing. "You deliberately look like my Xia Shang, what? You're ashamed of yourself? Disgusting! Truly worthy of the insidious and treacherous Miao family!"
"The way I look is hereditary! Do you understand genetics!" Miao Tong retorted. "Your Tang family is only after profit, and will stop at nothing to achieve your goals. That's selfishness etched into your genes!"
"So you finally learned a biological term and you're acting all high and mighty! If there's selfishness, cruelty, and inhumanity, it's etched into your Miao family's genes!" Er Ya shot back. "Xia Shang and I are true love!"
"True love? Do people of the Tang family even know what love is? What a joke!" Miao Tong mocked.
"Whether we know it or not, it's none of you Miao family's business to dictate!" Er Ya refused to back down.
"Enough!" Xia Shang, caught between the two, felt his ears ringing. "Both of you, stop arguing!"
His already unpleasant expression turned even more sinister and terrifying.
"Younger uncle is angry," Xia Qingyu observed, analyzing Xia Shang's face.
"Yes, he really is angry," Xia Qingtian agreed.
Seeing Xia Shang's anger, Er Ya pouted and fell silent.
Miao Tong also quieted down upon hearing Xia Qingtian and Xia Qingyu's words.
"If you continue to argue, you'll all leave," Xia Shang was truly angry.
One was his childhood sweetheart, the other his blood relative.
They started fighting the moment they met, and hurled insults at each other over him.
Most importantly, this was the Xia family's residence!
What kind of behavior was this!
He was only here seeking refuge and had no desire to cause any trouble for the Xia family.
"Er Ya, you came to get your change of clothes, right? After you get them, go back to school," Xia Qingtian felt it was too dangerous to let Er Ya and Miao Tong be in the same space.
"I'm not going back! I don't want to go back to school right now. I just want to stay by Xia Shang's side, lest dangerous elements with malicious intentions approach him!" Er Ya said, glancing at Miao Tong from the corner of her eye.
"You have the nerve to call others dangerous? Weren't you dangerous when you wiped out the Lu family?" Miao Tong snorted coldly.
"I don't know what you're talking about. What Lu family?" Er Ya frowned. "You dare to slander me! I'll beat you!"
Saying this, she was about to charge at Miao Tong like a little cannonball again, but Xia Shang grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. "Er Ya, that's enough."
Er Ya looked into Xia Shang's eyes, then pouted with a wronged expression.
"Miao Tong, you should go back to your room and rest," Xia Qingtian said.
"I..." Miao Tong was about to refuse, but then he caught sight of Xia Shang's displeased face. In the end, he could only snort and obediently go upstairs.
"Er Ya, listen to me and go back to school first," Xia Qingtian said. "Tomorrow, Xia Shang and I will come to school to see you."
"Why can he stay, but I can't!" Er Ya's eyes welled up with tears of grievance.
"Because you're much more formidable than him," Xia Qingtian said with a turn of her bright eyes. "I'm afraid you might not be able to resist poisoning him. After all, he's Xia Shang's brother. You're so powerful, I have to do this."
Hearing Xia Qingtian say this, Er Ya's expression softened considerably. "I wouldn't necessarily poison him, he's Xia Shang's brother after all..."
"Then why did you want to beat him up the moment you met?" Xia Qingtian asked. "I'm not questioning your actions, I'm just afraid you might not be able to control your strength. So... please be good, okay?"
Xia Qingtian knew that Er Ya had the disposition of a child, her temper flared up and subsided quickly. As long as she was appeased and gently stroked, Er Ya would retract her sharp little claws and reveal a docile appearance.
As expected, Er Ya reluctantly nodded and then looked at Xia Shang anxiously, "Xia Shang, you must come find me tomorrow! We've agreed!"
"Mm," Xia Shang finally nodded.
Xia Qingtian immediately asked Xia Qingyu to accompany Er Ya back to her room to get her clothes and then personally sent Er Ya off in the car.
Only after the car had completely driven away and disappeared from sight did Xia Qingtian let out a long sigh of relief.
Turning her head to look at the figure standing by the window upstairs, Xia Qingtian's relief was replaced by renewed apprehension.
Miao Tong was not as easily managed as Er Ya.
Standing by the window, watching the car drive away, Miao Tong turned his phone in his hand and said, "The Tang family is truly despicable, using a honey trap on my brother! And a childhood sweetheart at that!"
"It seems the Tang family had a hand in Miao Sang's kidnapping back then!" Father Miao's voice was icy. "The Tang family has gone too far, time and time again! They are utterly outrageous!"
"Dad, what should we do?" Miao Tong's gaze deepened.
"I hear that the Tang family's Bright Lord is missing and is in Z City. You must find the Tang family's Bright Lord before the Tang family does, and then we'll settle all old and new scores!" Father Miao said.
"Okay," Miao Tong agreed, and then as if recalling something, he added, "I heard that the Tang family is different from other influential families; they have a Bright Lord and a Hidden Lord."
"Once the Tang family's Bright Lord is found, the whereabouts of the Tang family's Hidden Lord can be ascertained," Father Miao said. "This task is yours."
"Okay, I understand," Miao Tong immediately agreed.
"The most important thing is to protect your elder brother. Absolutely do not give the Tang family any opportunity!" Father Miao cautioned.
"Yes."
As soon as Miao Tong hung up the phone, the bedroom door was knocked.
"Come in," Miao Tong put away his phone and looked towards the door.
Xia Qingtian pushed the door open and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" Miao Tong was already wary of Xia Qingtian, and now he found Xia Qingtian full of suspicious points.
In fact, the entire Xia family seemed suspicious!
"Although Er Ya is reckless, she's not a bad person, and she's very good to the younger uncle," Xia Qingtian said, observing Miao Tong's expression. "I've heard a bit about the affairs between your Miao and Tang families. Although I don't intend to play peacemaker, I hope you won't take your anger out on Er Ya. She's sincere towards Xia Shang."
"Heh heh, sincere?" Miao Tong chuckled.
The sincerity of the Tang family was the least valuable thing.