This time, Xia Qingtian didn’t stay in the hospital for long. By the afternoon of the next day, her father had already taken her back to the Xia residence.
For the next two days, she rested at home, and with the hospital’s medical certificate, she easily secured a few days of sick leave from school.
“You’re so stupid!” Xia Qingyu huffed as she stabbed a toothpick into a freshly sliced apple. “In and out of the hospital all the time—either falling or hurting yourself!”
“What, did you get a VIP membership at the hospital? Do you own shares or something? So eager to help them meet their KPIs?”
“Next time you get hurt, don’t expect me to take care of you!”
Despite her grumbling, Xia Qingyu placed the fruit plate on Xia Qingtian’s nightstand, prepared a thermos of warm water, and even tucked in the edges of her blanket before sitting down on the edge of the bed with her own book. “If you need something, call me. Not that I’ll necessarily answer.”
“I want an apple,” Xia Qingtian said from under the covers, propped up against soft pillows as she flipped through a finance magazine.
“They’re already cut for you!” Xia Qingyu glared at her.
“Feed me.” Seeing Xia Qingyu about to explode, Xia Qingtian winced dramatically and sucked in a sharp breath. “Ouch… my head hurts…”
“Ugh, I must owe you from a past life!” Xia Qingyu gritted her teeth, stabbing a piece of apple with a toothpick and shoving it toward Xia Qingtian’s mouth. “Watch the toothpick. If it stabs you, don’t blame me!”
Watching her tsundere sister’s blatant contradiction between words and actions, Xia Qingtian couldn’t help but smile.
Having such an adorable little sister… wasn’t so bad after all.
Sweet and sour, just like this plate of apples.
After enjoying another round of the Xia family’s “national treasure” treatment, Xia Qingtian finally attended the grand Xia Corporation anniversary celebration.
The event was lavish, booking out the entire top floor of Z City’s renowned Caesar Hotel. Reporters had arrived early, and business partners dressed in formal attire attended with exquisite invitations in hand.
Xia Qingtian wore a French-style retro square-neck dress, its sheer long sleeves concealing the fading bruises from her fall. The dress cinched at the waist, the hem reaching her ankles with a slit up the side that revealed a glimpse of slender, snow-white legs when she walked.
She effortlessly pulled off a pair of crystal stilettos, paired with a dazzling limited-edition clutch, instantly becoming the center of attention at the banquet.
The moment she made her entrance, all eyes turned to her.
Xia Qingtian was already accustomed to such scenes, maintaining an elegant smile as she walked straight toward her father.
“Dad,” she said softly once she reached him. “Why haven’t I seen Mr. Gu?”
She had hoped to properly thank Mr. Gu today—and, if possible, see Mobius again.
Since their parting on the mountain, Xia Qingtian hadn’t been able to contact Mobius at all.
She understood that as Mr. Gu’s special assistant, Mobius must be swamped with work.
But she still wanted to see him with her own eyes to feel at ease.
“Mr. Gu had prior commitments today. He only sent flowers,” her father answered before glancing around. “Go check where Qingyu is. I haven’t seen her, and your uncle seems to have disappeared too.”
“Alright. Uncle’s shy around crowds, so I’ll look for Qingyu first.” Only then did Xia Qingtian realize that Xia Qingyu was indeed nowhere in sight—only Aunt Liu, awkwardly making small talk among a circle of socialites.
After searching the entire venue, Xia Qingtian finally found Xia Qingyu near the women’s restroom.
There, she was surrounded by three spoiled heiresses.
With her long hair down and only a simple pearl clip, Xia Qingyu’s white faux-cheongsam dress with its knotted buttons and fitted waist made her look unusually small and fragile.
“In elementary school, she was the school’s famous charity case. Now in high school, she’s suddenly the Xia family’s young miss. Must be nice to be born lucky!”
“Oh, it’s not about being born lucky—it’s about having a *hardworking* mom. So envious~ As long as your mom puts in the effort, even a sparrow can become a phoenix.”
“Right? I heard she aced the mock exams again—ranked first in the whole school. Now that you’re a Xia heiress, why even bother trying so hard?”
“She *has* to try hard. She’s preparing to steal the nest, after all. If she doesn’t work hard, how can she compete with the *real* heir for the family fortune?”
“True. Your mom worked hard to drag you into high society, and now you’re working hard to secure her retirement. What a *heartwarming* mother-daughter team!”
“Hahaha~”
The three took turns, their words growing uglier by the second.
Xia Qingyu’s delicate face flushed red, her eyes brimming with tears. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides as she struggled to suppress her fury.
Today was the Xia Corporation’s big day. She couldn’t cause trouble, couldn’t embarrass her mother, couldn’t shame the Xia family…
Just endure it. Hadn’t she always endured it all these years?
Just a little longer… Just a little…
**“At least they know the meaning of teamwork. What about you three? Were your brains tossed out at birth, or did your moms spend ten months gestating nothing but a keyboard?”**
Xia Qingtian’s icy voice cut through the air like a blade.
The three heiresses instantly paled at her words.
“Miss Xia, that’s going too far!”
“Yeah! We were standing up for *you*!”
“Xia Qingyu’s been a scheming, two-faced liar since elementary school—”
They didn’t see anything wrong with their behavior, instead blaming Xia Qingtian for being ungrateful.
“Since when is it your business to meddle in the Xia family’s affairs?” Xia Qingtian sneered. “Which families do you three belong to? Introduce yourselves—I’d love to meet your mothers and see just how *hardworking* they are!”
The mention of involving their parents sent the trio into a panic. Exchanging nervous glances, they quickly made excuses and scurried away.
“Pathetic.” Xia Qingtian coldly watched them flee before turning to Xia Qingyu. “Where’s all that fiery temper you show at home? Scared now? Don’t tell anyone you’re my sister—I’d die of shame!”
Xia Qingyu’s nose stung, tears threatening to spill over.
**“Hold them back!”** Xia Qingtian snapped. **“No crying allowed!”**
Xia Qingyu bit her lip, forcing the tears down.
“Today is the Xia family’s event. No one gets to bully a Xia heiress on *our* turf.” Xia Qingtian pulled a pearl hair tie from her clutch.
Moving behind Xia Qingyu, she removed the understated pearl clip and gathered her long hair into a loose, voluminous bun.
Finally, she fastened her own hairpiece onto Xia Qingyu’s head. “There. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Xia Qingyu looked up at her, eyes wide and timid like a startled rabbit.
**“To reclaim your dignity.”**