The man had clearly aimed for the rush, close proximity, and speed!
Xia Yi glimpsed him and, pulling Xia Weiliang behind him, shielded her. The approaching figure, unable to brake, was about to collide with him—
Yan Zhi: "Big Yang!"
Da Yang: "Roger that!"
Da Yang lifted his foot and delivered a powerful kick, sending the other person flying five to six meters away!
"Ah!"
Hearing the scream, Xia Weiliang paused. "Xia Xiaoqiu?"
Xiao Yi: "Who?"
She leaned closer to explain, "Xia Xiaoqiu, my cousin. Her personality is a bit... well..."
How to politely phrase "picking a fight at the slightest disagreement"?
Su Hui also just realized. "Oh my, Xiaoqiu? Are you alright?"
She hurried over to help the person up. Everyone could now see it was a girl in her early twenties, clutching her stomach and struggling to rise. "Who the heck kicked me just now?!"
It was Xia Weiliang's cousin.
Xiao Yi and Yan Zhi exchanged a silent glance for two seconds before tacitly pointing at Da Yang...
Da Yang: "I..."
Xia Xiaoqiu, ignoring the pain, rushed forward like a leopard cub, headbutting Da Yang forcefully!
Yan Zhi: "Holy cow!"
So fierce?
This was practically Xia Weiliang 2.0!
Da Yang, in pain and close to tears, said, "I... I just... Sigh, forget it. I'm sorry..."
Xia Xiaoqiu, hands on her hips, advanced again. "Not many people dare to kick me! Young man, you've got guts!"
*Slap—*
Xia Weiliang smacked her on the head. "Alright, still want to disregard human life? Get inside now!"
"Cousin!"
Xia Xiaoqiu jumped and threw herself into her cousin's arms. "I've missed you so much!!!"
"Ouch! You're strangling me!"
Xia Xiaoqiu possessed innate strength; it felt as if she could snap Xia Weiliang's slender neck with a casual embrace.
"Ah! So sorry, so sorry!"
Xia Xiaoqiu grinned sheepishly, her arm still wrapped around Xia Weiliang. "Cousin, I heard you were kicked out! Is that true?"
As she spoke, Su Hui's face flushed crimson, and she awkwardly avoided their gaze. "Well... Weiliang, Xiao Yi, let's go inside and talk."
"Xiao Yi?"
Xia Xiaoqiu finally noticed the man standing beside her, frowning. "You're that film emperor? You look just okay!"
Shrugging, she turned her attention back to her cousin.
Yan Zhi and Da Yang exchanged a look.
What a straightforward, tough girl.
They were invited inside by Su Hui. Yan Zhi and Da Yang had intended to wait in the car but were also warmly invited in.
"You're Xiao Yi's friends, so you are our guests."
It was clear that she held Xiao Yi in high regard.
Passing through the courtyard, Yan Zhi couldn't help but exclaim, "Niangniang, your family is really wealthy!"
Xia Weiliang lowered her gaze, her voice extremely faint. "This is not my home anymore."
Yan Zhi faltered, realizing he'd spoken out of turn. He stepped back and went to find Da Yang.
Xiao Yi looked down at her and suddenly asked, "Where's the card I gave you?"
"Ah?"
Xia Weiliang looked up. "It's at home."
"Mm." He nodded, speaking unhurriedly. "You can spend the money in the card however you like. If you like this place, then buy it. If they refuse to sell, tell me, and I'll handle it."
Xia Weiliang stared at him, stunned.
So domineering.
As they spoke, they entered the villa. Xia Xiaoqiu ran ahead. "Great-Aunt! Great-Aunt! Cousin is back!"
Returning to the home she had lived in for over twenty years brought a complex mix of emotions.
Suddenly, a hand was taken.
Xiao Yi stood beside her, speaking at a relaxed pace. "It's just visiting someone's house, why be so reserved?"
Xia Weiliang looked at him, then slowly smiled. "Mm, you're right."
Entering the living room, Xia Yiran stepped forward. "Sister..."
Upon seeing Xiao Yi and the others, her expression stiffened. "Yi, Brother Yi, I didn't expect you to return with Sister."
Xiao Yi merely acknowledged her with a "Mm" before diverting his gaze.
Xia Chengye was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Su Hui went over and whispered, "Xiao Yi is here too."
"Oh?"
Xia Chengye finally put down his newspaper and approached Xiao Yi, a picture of successful businessman composure. "You must be Film Emperor Xiao, correct? I've heard your name for a long time! I am Xia Chengye, Yiran's father."
He extended his hand.
Xiao Yi was about to reciprocate, but upon hearing "Yiran's father," he decisively lowered his hand.
"Hello."
Xia Chengye was taken aback. He looked at his outstretched hand, then at Xia Weiliang, his eyes filled with suspicion.
Had she said something to the film emperor that caused him to harbor hostility towards him from their first meeting?
This wouldn't do; he still hoped for future collaborations with the film emperor.
Despite his internal displeasure, he remained quite cordial to Xiao Yi. "Mr. Xiao, please come in."
Xiao Yi directly took Xia Weiliang's hand and led her into the living room, taking a seat with ease.
Xia Weiliang turned her face away. Since Xia Chengye had been so heartless from the start, she decided to follow her own feelings.
After all, in his eyes, she was no different from a thief, having stolen over twenty years of familial affection. She saw no need to make herself uncomfortable.
Seeing her silence, Xia Chengye felt a surge of anger. He let out a cold laugh. "Now that you've gained some recognition, your arrogance has grown, hasn't it? You can't even greet people properly anymore?"
Xiao Yi frowned.
Xia Weiliang mimicked his cold laugh. "You're only realizing my arrogance today? You should have known when you posted on Weibo, indirectly and directly mocking my character. Did I ever bother to acknowledge you?"
Yan Zhi and Da Yang silently applauded.
Beautiful!
"Presumptuous!"
Xia Chengye was furious. After only a few days, she not only disrespected him but also made him lose face in front of outsiders?!
"Heh, Mr. Xia, are you perhaps too immersed in your fatherly role? I am not your daughter, nor am I a member of the Xia family. Today, I am merely a guest invited to your home. Is this how you treat your guests? Where is your upbringing? And your self-proclaimed noble bloodline?"
"You... You..."
Xia Chengye pointed at her, his face ashen, about to unleash his anger. Su Hui and Xia Yiran quickly intervened to calm him.
Xia Yiran said softly, "Dad, Sister doesn't mean it like that..."
Xia Weiliang smiled. "Don't, don't make excuses for me. I mean exactly that."
Xia Chengye sat there, chest heaving. "Fine, if you don't want to acknowledge us, then we have no reason to acknowledge you..."
Xiao Yi's face darkened. He grabbed Xia Weiliang's hand and stood up, ready to leave, his tone filled with disdain. "This is so chaotic. You are not allowed to come to this place ever again."
Xia Weiliang hadn't expected his reaction to be even stronger than hers. She hadn't finished being angry... or rather, she hadn't finished staying!
Su Hui was anxious. "Your daughter has finally returned, and she's brought friends. Can't you just say a few less harsh words?"
Xia Chengye frowned, glanced at Xiao Yi, and remained silent with a dark expression.
"Xiao Liang, Xiao Liang, you're back?"
At this moment, a woman dressed very fashionably came down from upstairs.
Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a golden hairpin from which a red gemstone dangled. She wore a striking red qipao embroidered with vibrant white peonies, a golden-threaded, shimmering shawl draped diagonally across her shoulders. Her demeanor was noble and elegant.
"Great-Aunt!"
Xia Weiliang ran over and hugged her. "Great-Aunt, why did you just get back!"
Xie Wanfei affectionately stroked her hair. "It would have been better if Great-Aunt had returned sooner, so you wouldn't have suffered so much."
As she spoke, she raised her head, her sharp, commanding gaze sweeping across the people in the living room. She let out a cold smile. "Great-Aunt is back now to stand up for you!"