Whether it was the brilliant and passionate sunlight or the blooming flowers, both heralded that midsummer was about to arrive.
Clear and crisp bird calls jumped along the green branches following the sunlight, wildflowers among the roadside green weeds slightly bent along with the breeze.
After Qin Song left, Wen Xian did not stay in place, but instead lightened her steps, following behind Qin Song while maintaining a not-too-close, not-too-far distance—he definitely would go find Qin Huai.
But contrary to Wen Xian’s expectations, Qin Song did not walk along the road from earlier. She was not familiar with the Qin family’s manor, and by the time she returned near the fish pond again, there was already no one by the pond.
Wen Xian glanced left and right. Their destination seemed to only be the white western-style house not far away.
The door of the western-style house was open; at the entrance and in the living room it was all quiet.
Wen Xian walked to the stairs and looked up. The deep-red staircase spiraled upwards; only some hot wind blew in from the window, the hallway bright with light.
Wen Xian took off her shoes. She walked silently up the stairs barefoot, even her breathing becoming cautious.
When she reached the second floor, Wen Xian’s palm already seeped a thin layer of sweat. What unfolded before her eyes was a long hallway, dark red carpet spread on the floor.
The doors on both sides of the hallway were tightly closed.
Wen Xian slowly walked into the corridor until she vaguely heard talking sounds coming from inside a certain room.
She seemed to hear Qin Song’s voice becoming high because of excitement, but it was only for a moment before the room inside seemed to quiet down again.
Wen Xian quietly leaned against the wall.
She somewhat inappropriately thought: the dark pattern on the wallpaper was pale gold.
Just as she hesitated whether to get closer and listen, she suddenly heard the sound of a door opening from the left side.
Wen Xian was slightly stunned, not yet having time to react when someone grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into the room.
The tip of her nose bumped into the hard chest of the person.
Wen Xian covered her nose and rubbed it. When she looked up, she met a pair of calm, deep, dark eyes.
Qin Zan was lowering his head looking at her. When his gaze landed on her fair and delicate small feet, there was finally a slight change.
He moved his gaze away and let go of her, saying in a low voice: “Put your shoes on.”
Wen Xian nervously pressed her lips together, hesitating as she called out: “Big Brother Qin, I…”
But Qin Zan did not care what she said. He stepped to the wall, pressed something—who knew which button—and instantly, a door opened in the originally intact wall, and outside this door, there was actually another door.
There were actually two hidden doors inside the wall.
Before Wen Xian could be surprised, she already heard Qin Huai and Qin Song’s voices clearly coming through from beyond that door.
She and Qin Zan both clearly heard the content coming from inside the door.
Qin Song’s tone was very urgent, with a bit of irritation: “Grandfather, why do you not agree to cancel this marriage arrangement? The Wen family has long since gone bankrupt, while the Xu family now is at the peak of the limelight in the circle.”
Qin Huai lowered his voice, scolding him: “What do you know! Even if Wen Xian doesn’t like you, so what? After you two get married, you can play however you want, but you must marry her into the Qin family’s main gate for me!”
“Dong—”
A dull thud.
It seemed that Qin Song had fiercely slammed a punch onto the solid wood table. He said angrily, “Why does it have to be Wen Xian? I hate her eyes that always look at everything so lightly. I can’t accept marrying such a woman.”
This was also the reason why in these four years Qin Song did not dare approach Wen Xian.
Even if the Wen family went bankrupt, the way Wen Xian looked at him never changed. It was as if she was always the bright moon in the high sky, while he was insignificant and unbearable.
Qin Huai let out a sigh. This child was spoiled by him from a young age.
His favoritism toward Qin Song was not because Qin Zan was not outstanding enough, but because Qin Zan’s maternal family background was too deep and strong. His son also was infatuated with Qin Zan’s mother— even though the two divorced, he still could not forget her.
Qin Zan’s mother had passed away for six years. His son had lived in a drunken, dissipated manner for six years. He had not returned home for six years already. Except for Qin Zan, he contacted no one.
Qin Song’s mother was someone he forced his son to marry later on. It was because his son had no bottom line in indulging Qin Zan that made him transfer his affections onto this little grandson.
Qin Huai knew that if he did not make the reason clear, Qin Song would not let it go. He kept a stern face and thought for a moment, finally speaking: “A’Song, right now the Qin Corporation’s financial situation is not good. Last year, the project that cost tens of billions progressed slowly, the capital chain is near breaking. If not for the background on A’Zan’s mother’s side, most investors would have already pulled their funds.”
Qin Song was stunned. He hesitated for a moment, “Then what does this have to do with Wen Xian?”
Qin Huai walked to the window, gazing at the scene of flourishing life within the manor, his gaze deep and far-reaching: “The Wen Corporation went bankrupt, Wen Tianlin went bankrupt, but Chang Shuang did not. Chang Shuang’s name has never appeared on any company under the Wen Corporation.”
“Chang Shuang left nearly ten billion in assets for Wen Xian, but only when she gets married can she own this property. And at that time, Wen Tianlin promised me, no matter what the Wen Corporation’s fate was, Wen Xian would bring 20% of the assets as dowry to marry into the Qin family. And the condition was that the Qin family could guarantee Wen Xian a worry-free life for the rest of her days.”
Qin Song listened to Qin Huai’s words in a daze.
The Wen family indeed had gone bankrupt, but he had not thought that Wen Xian was still a ten-billion asset heir.
Separated by a wall from Qin Huai and Qin Song, Wen Xian listened in a trance to Qin Huai’s words. She had never heard Wen Tianlin and Chang Shuang mention this matter before.
And what was the meaning of Wen Tianlin’s sentence?
He said: No matter what the Wen Corporation’s fate was.
Did Father already foresee in advance that there would be a problem with the Wen Corporation?
Wen Xian slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. Her body went limp as if she had lost all strength, leaning against the cushion.
Qin Zan, who had been quietly standing aside without speaking all along, suddenly stepped toward Wen Xian.
He squatted down in front of Wen Xian. In his usually indifferent and desireless gaze, there was now a trace of warmth. He said word by word: “Xian Xian, have you ever considered changing to another fiancé?”
“Qin Song cannot take care of you, I can.”
“The Qin family wants that 20% asset, I don’t.”
Wen Xian had not yet recovered from the content Qin Huai had spoken about, when she was hit dizzy by Qin Zan’s few sentences.
She raised her eyes and blankly met Qin Zan’s gaze. She could read the meaning in Qin Zan’s eyes—he was serious.
Wen Xian could hardly think of any past connection between herself and Qin Zan. She only froze for a moment before getting up and running out of this room, hurriedly running downstairs.
Qin Zan slowly stood up, looking at her slightly panicked back figure, slightly frowning.
He was too impatient. It seemed he had scared her.
—
This manor was designed and built by Qin Zan’s father finding someone. Before his mother passed away, his father lived here alone, and Qin Zan would often come here to see him.
Qin Huai and Qin Song did not know there was also a hidden door inside the study. By the time they came downstairs one after another, Qin Zan was sitting in the living room drinking tea, while Wen Xian was nowhere to be seen.
Qin Song was the first to speak: “I’ll go find her.”
Qin Zan did not stop Qin Song. He was listening to the housekeeper listing the dishes prepared for noon. After hearing, he instructed: “Prepare two more spicy dishes, don’t make the desserts too cold.”
Qin Huai had originally been sitting on the sofa reading emails. Upon hearing Qin Zan’s words, he couldn’t help but lift his head and glance at him.
Was this prepared for Wen Xian?
For Qin Huai, as long as he could get the money, he did not care whether Wen Xian married Qin Zan or Qin Song. After all, divorce could happen at any time later. If Qin Zan was interested in Wen Xian, that was also a good choice.
Qin Huai kept a stern face and thought it over. The more he thought, the more he felt it would be more beneficial for Qin Zan to marry Wen Xian. Qin Zan’s background did not require him to marry a wife with an equivalent background.
But Qin Song was different. By comparison, he needed a woman from a deeply-rooted noble family to solidify his position in the Qin Corporation.
After the housekeeper withdrew, Qin Zan calmly glanced at Qin Huai’s expression as he fell into thought. He understood that Qin Huai should already be considering this possibility.
Qin Zan faintly smiled.
Wen Xian had not gone far. She knew that blindly running away was useless. She would eventually have to face these real and embarrassing truths.
The kindness on Qin Huai’s face was fake. The gentleness Qin Song showed was fake. Then what about Qin Zan?
What did Qin Zan want to obtain from her?
Wen Xian sat by the pond, gazing at the calm surface of the water. Perhaps because it was hot, the fish had all hidden deep below.
She absentmindedly wondered, what did Father think about when he fished?
Qin Song found Wen Xian by the pond.
This time, Qin Song had become smarter. He did not get too close to Wen Xian but instead sat down on the chair next to her.
Qin Song knew where his advantage lay. He softened his tone, staring intently at Wen Xian, his face showing unease: “Xian Xian, about Xu Chuwei’s matter, I’m very sorry. I won’t say things like she approached me on purpose, nor will I push all the blame onto her.”
“I just… just like you too much.”
Wen Xian: “……”
She gave Qin Song an incredulous glance, her expression indescribable.
Saying he wouldn’t say such things, yet still saying them anyway. And in the end, the reason he found was actually: I like you too much.
Wen Xian felt that with this level of intelligence, Qin Song could basically say goodbye to inheriting the Qin Corporation.
Qin Song was still continuing: “Four years ago, when I found out I was engaged to you, I was almost crazy with happiness. But back then, you were still young. Later, you lost your parents. I couldn’t find a suitable time to express my feelings.”
“After that, I was busy with my studies. Until I met Xu Chuwei in England— the moment I saw her, I thought of you.”
Wen Xian: “……”
So this was a stand-in for white moonlight. [trope where one person dates another as a substitute for their true love]
Wen Xian endured her patience to listen until Qin Song finished speaking before replying: “I’m a little hungry. When are we eating?”
Qin Song: ?