His words were like a bucket of cold water, helping Zhu Linya regain some rationality. Looking at the disheveled Cheng Guangchen, the silent Xia Zheng, and Zhao Meiqi glaring at her, she finally realized how embarrassing the situation was, wishing she could bury herself on the spot.
Xia Changwei was so frustrated he lost his composure, glaring at her. During the scuffle between Zhao Meiqi and Cheng Guangchen, they had been followed to the front door.
Xia Changwei said sternly: “Everyone, come inside.”
Zhao Meiqi originally didn’t want to listen to Xia Changwei, but with several bodyguards behind her, she couldn’t leave. She shrugged indifferently and was the first to enter the Xia family home.
Halfway through tidying the hall, Xia Changwei waved his hand, indicating others to leave, and walked towards the sofa stepping on the broken fragments.
Xia Xian’ning and Luo Yingbai followed last. Luo Yingbai originally wanted to find somewhere else to avoid, but after Xia Changwei sat on the sofa and glanced at them, his tone softened: “We’re not outsiders, you two sit down too.”
Xia Xian’ning pulled Luo Yingbai to the most corner spot, then stood up and openly took two untouched plates of snacks and placed them in front of Luo Yingbai. Xia Xian’ning thought he must be hungry.
Luo Yingbai was amused and exasperated, whispering: “Who has the mood to eat right now!”
Except for the two of them, everyone else’s mood was terrible. Xia Changwei sat in the main seat, Cheng Guangchen and Zhu Linya sat on the right sofa, glaring at Zhao Meiqi. Xia Zheng stood in place, feeling conflicted.
Xia Changwei said: “Sit down.”
Xia Zheng paused, but still sat next to Cheng Guangchen. Although Cheng Guangchen didn’t like him now, Xia Zheng’s choice helped her save some face. She looked at Zhao Meiqi with a slightly triumphant expression.
Zhao Meiqi glared: “What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll gouge out your eyeballs.”
Cheng Guangchen’s smile froze, and Zhu Linya said: “Do you have no manners…”
Zhao Meiqi: “Sorry, my parents died early, so I really don’t.”
Zhu Linya: “You—”
Xia Changwei coughed, and she immediately shut her mouth.
Xia Changwei said gently: “Miss Zhao, could you tell me what exactly is going on? For example, why did you appear at my birthday banquet, and when did you and Xia Zheng start?”
Zhao Meiqi paused, seeing his attitude was not bad, and said: “I came here because I felt that the two women at your birthday could attend, but I couldn’t, and I felt unbalanced. I also wanted to wish Xia Zheng’s father a happy birthday. As a result, I spilled wine on myself and borrowed a piece of clothing from him to wear.”
Cheng Guangchen said impatiently: “Do you deserve to be here?! Are mistresses these days so arrogant?”
Zhao Meiqi sneered: “Let me ask you again, isn’t your mother-in-law a mistress?”
Zhu Linya’s face turned red with anger. Zhao Meiqi added: “Besides, in terms of who came first, we’re not sure who the real third party is!”
“What do you mean by that!”
Hearing Cheng Guangchen’s question, Zhao Meiqi pointed at Xia Zheng: “We grew up together in an orphanage. We’ve known each other for over twenty years and dated for three years! Two years ago, this old woman surnamed Zhu came to find Xia Zheng, claiming he was her son, forcing Xia Zheng to break up with me and then marry her adopted daughter Cheng Guangchen! Xia Zheng, tell me, is there a single lie in what I said?!
Zhu Linya never expected Zhao Meiqi to say such things. She had used the reason of being brought back to the Xia family to make Xia Zheng break up with his girlfriend and marry Cheng Guangchen. After hesitating for a few days, Xia Zheng complied.
She knew things were going badly and desperately wanted to stop Xia Zheng from answering, but in front of Xia Changwei, she didn’t dare say anything.
All eyes were focused on Xia Zheng. He hesitated for a moment, looked up at Zhao Meiqi, and saw her almond-shaped eyes wide open, staring at him.
Xia Zheng said inexplicably: “Everything Meiqi said is true.”
Cheng Guangchen: “Xia Zheng, you—”
“It’s all true?” Xia Changwei looked at Zhu Linya, “Didn’t you say he was raised by you since childhood, with great difficulty?”
Zhu Linya, too busy to settle accounts with Xia Zheng, hurriedly said: “Let me explain… When the child was young, our family conditions were poor. Later, when life improved, I adopted Guangchen and was always looking for A Zheng. I only found him two years ago!”
Xia Changwei said calmly: “Poor family conditions? When I broke up with you, I gave you five million and a villa in the city center. Where is that money?”
Zhu Linya broke out in a cold sweat, not knowing what to say.
Xia Changwei no longer paid attention to her and said to Zhao Meiqi: “Miss Zhao, our family indeed made a mistake, but now Xia Zheng and Cheng Guangchen are already married. Tell me how much compensation you want, and we are willing to pay.”
Zhao Meiqi sneered: “Throwing money around at the first disagreement, that’s an old trick.”
Xia Changwei, also a seasoned player, didn’t change his expression: “So do you want it or not?”
“Of course I’ll take it. You’re rushing to send it to me; if I don’t accept, I’d be a fool,” Zhao Meiqi glanced at Xia Zheng, “Money is more reliable than men.”
Xia Changwei was about to leave when Zhu Linya quickly rushed over to grab his hand, saying: “I’m sorry, Changwei. I lied to you. It’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry.”
When she brought Xia Zheng back to the Xia family for recognition, Zhao Meiqi’s words were undoubtedly like a slap in the face to Zhu Linya.
A cold, sarcastic smile flashed across Xia Changwei’s face as he pulled her hand away, saying coldly: “You were full of lies when you were young, and nothing has changed now. Do you think I can’t see through your nonsense? You say you raised Xia Zheng, but with your personality, would you really quietly raise a Xia family son and only come to take advantage after he’s grown up? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Zhu Linya trembled slightly, stammering: “Listen to me, I had my reasons. I took little Zheng out to play, and he got lost. I finally found him after he became an adult…”
Xia Changwei, with his hands behind his back, said: “Lost? I think ‘abandoned’ would be more accurate. You didn’t even raise your own son, so how could you possibly have the mood to adopt Guangchen? She is clearly the daughter of your boyfriend at the time, Cheng Mian! I’m not saying more to save face for both of us and to give Xia Zheng’s identity a bit more dignity. Do you really think I’m a fool?”
Zhu Linya’s lips trembled, unable to speak. Xia Zheng stood silently beside her, and Cheng Guangchen turned pale, not daring to make a scene.
This had nothing to do with Xia Xianning, who sat on the sofa silently. However, hearing this, he seemed to understand a vague truth.
He had heard of Cheng Mian, who was also a famous young master from a prominent family. After giving birth to Xia Zheng, Zhu Linya couldn’t immediately bring him to the Xia family because the child was too young and had no memories. During this period, Cheng Mian and Zhu Linya met and became close, even living together for a time.
Xia Xianning remembered that Cheng Mian had lost his wife early, and Cheng Guangchen was likely the daughter left by his wife. Zhu Linya, seeing the position of Cheng’s wife was vacant, pinned her hopes of climbing up on Cheng Mian, and was willing to abandon Xia Zheng to wholeheartedly help Cheng Mian raise his daughter.
However, three years later, Cheng Mian died in a car accident, and all of Zhu Linya’s plans were once again shattered. She couldn’t even find her biological son.
It wasn’t until later, when she accidentally reconnected with Xia Zheng and used this to return to the Xia family, that all these events unfolded.
