Chapter 193: Chapter 185: You’re old, it’s time to let go!
Xia Yunong’s steps were initially slow, but after hearing Xia Xue’s words, he wanted to quickly slip away like oil under his feet and run out of the hall. At this moment, Xiao Lin, who had been quietly listening to Xia Xue, moved swiftly, passing through several people to block Xia Yunong who was about to leave the hall, dragging him back like a dead dog.
It wasn’t until Xia Yunong was thrown back like a dead dog that everyone came to their senses. No one even saw how Xiao Lin went out; for those beside whom Xiao Lin passed, they only felt a person walk by with a gentle breeze on their face, not knowing who it was.
Xia Yusheng stepped forward a few steps, came to Xia Xue, and said in a low voice, "Xiaoxue, I will thoroughly investigate this matter and definitely help Hui Hui clear her name!"
Xia Xue ignored him, glancing at Elder Xia, and coldly said, "My mother sacrificed so much for the Xia Family, and now, not only did she die at the hands of the Xia Family, but she couldn’t even be buried in the family tomb. I wonder, if I comply with your wishes and get engaged to Fatty Wang, would I end up like my mother?"
"Outrageous!" Elder Xia was almost driven mad with anger, showing signs of a cerebral hemorrhage. If Xia Xue continued this disturbance, where would the Xia Family’s dignity be?
Xia Yusheng looked helplessly at Xiao Lin, knowing that only Xiao Lin could stop Xia Xue now. What was supposed to be a happy event had taken so many twists and turns; this was not good for the Xia Family.
Xiao Lin saw that Xia Xue seemed a bit too emotional, returned to her side, gently held her hand, and looked at her with compassion. He couldn’t fathom how many hidden troubles Xia Xue had all these years for her to explode so hysterically this time. However, Xiao Lin said nothing; he only gently held Xia Xue’s hand, allowing her to continue until she was fully relieved.
Xia Xue felt Xiao Lin’s gentleness, no matter how hysterical she was, Xiao Lin stood by her side, making her even more touched, her expression slightly recovering, she looked at Xiao Lin and said, "I’m sorry, I lost my composure!"
"It’s okay, do what you want to do, I’ll always be by your side!" Xiao Lin warmly smiled at Xia Xue.
"Thank you!" Xia Xue said.
Xia Xue’s mood calmed down; she was no longer as hysterical as before. Perhaps it was because she had vented, or perhaps Xiao Lin’s gentleness calmed her down.
"This person must die!" Xia Xue said, pointing at Xia Yunong.
At this point, neither Elder Xia nor Xia Yusheng had anything left to say. Although they didn’t know what Xia Yunong had done or if he was involved in the murder of Xia Xue’s mother, the one thing they had to do now was to calm Xia Xue down.
"Xiaoxue, if it really was him who killed Hui Hui, I won’t let him go!" Xia Yusheng said firmly.
Seeing Xia Xue back to normal, Elder Xia dared not provoke her again and quickly instructed the security guards outside to come in, take Xia Yunong away, and lock him in a room on the second floor. Xia Yunong’s matter was not suitable for a conclusion right now.
Xia Yunong did not defend himself; what use would a defense be?
Xia Xue calmed down, nodded, then looked at Fatty Wang and asked, "Fatty, tell me, in the current situation, would you stand by my side? Do you dare to stand by my side? Your father said you’ve been by my side all these years, but even you probably don’t believe that!"
"Xia Xue, what do you mean by this?" Fatty Wang’s face looked very bad. He didn’t expect Xiao Lin to have the powerful backing of both the Hua Family and the Chen Family—not just being a mere doctor.
"I don’t mean anything. I just want to tell you that whatever Elder Xia promised you, your Wang Family should ask him for it, it has nothing to do with me. Today is the joyous day of my engagement to Xiao Lin, and I hope you can stay and attend!" Xia Xue said blandly.
When Xia Xue said this, the Wang Family was already out of temper. Just now, Hua Muyun and Elder Chen clearly sided with Xiao Lin, while Xia Xue had conflicts with other Xia Family members; her words carried significant resentment towards Elder Xia. Elder Xia could no longer hold any hope of using his status as Xia Xue’s grandfather to pressure her—there was no hope left.
Wang Zhantian was rather straightforward; by now, there was no point in staying, so he bade farewell to Elder Xia, "Elder Xia, the Wang Family people have arrived and so have the gifts. It’s a pity your grandson found you such a good grandson-in-law, and we can’t become in-laws. The Wang Family won’t stay here to embarrass ourselves!"
Elder Xia wanted to keep the Wang Family, but given Wang Zhantian’s current attitude, Elder Xia knew that even if he asked, the Wang Family could not stay, so he merely smiled bitterly and nodded, "Our hospitality was inadequate, someday I will personally visit to apologize!"
A lively birthday and engagement ceremony didn’t feel lonely due to the departure of the Qu Family and the Wang Family; instead, the atmosphere became even more intense, not for anything else but because of the presence of the great figures Hua Muyun and Elder Chen.
Elder Xia actually figured it out; offending the Qu Family and Wang Family but gaining the favor of the Hua Family and Chen Family was a worthwhile trade. However, the Hua and Chen families’ support for the Xia Family still depended on Xia Xue. He pondered how to reduce Xia Xue’s resentment towards the Xia Family.
Actually, Elder Xia worried too much about this. Xia Xue did indeed harbor resentment towards the Xia Family, but not towards everyone. At least, quite a few of the younger generation maintained a good relationship with Xia Xue. Moreover, her father Xia Yusheng was still present. Although Xia Xue sometimes felt angry at Xia Yusheng’s indifference towards matters concerning her mother, she also understood that her father Xia Yusheng, while nominally in charge of the Xia Family, didn’t hold actual power, which was in the hands of Elder Xia.
Xia Xue seemed to understand what Elder Xia was thinking. After the four people from the Wang Family left, she turned to the elder and said, "You’re old, the world should be left to the young!"
Elder Xia wasn’t angry. His previously somewhat dejected expression lit up slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Xiaoxue is right. This world belongs to the young; I should truly let go!" Elder Xia understood the meaning behind Xia Xue’s words; if he didn’t let go, the Xia Family wouldn’t gain the support of the Hua and Chen families. Having now offended the Qu and Wang families, without the Hua and Chen families’ backing, the Xia Family could be bankrupt in less than three months, leading to ruin and that would be truly unfortunate.
Seizing power, this blatant power grab.
This was the silent wish of the second generation of the Xia Family, yet they liked it.
Second generation members like Xia Yusheng were also nearing fifty. Although he was nominally the current head of the Xia Family, Elder Xia had to make many of the decisions. There was even a time when everything had to be reported to him. It’s said that an old person at home is a treasure, but Elder Xia went too far.
Now, Xia Xue openly seizing power wasn’t met with opposition; rather, it garnered their favor. Not a single person came forth to say Xia Xue was overstepping. After all, even if Xia Yusheng held the great power, at the very least, they could enjoy some leftovers.
Xia Xue turned and offered an apologetic smile to Hua Muyun and Principal Chen, saying, "Uncle Hua, Principal Chen, I lost my composure today, please forgive me!"
"It’s normal for young people to have some temper, it’s good to vent it out!" Hua Qingyi smiled and said. As long as Xiao Lin had no opinions, neither did he.
Principal Chen, who had known Xia Xue for a while, had heard of such matters involving the Xia Family in the past, and asked concernedly, "If you need any help, feel free to ask!"
"Thank you, Principal!" Xia Xue nodded slightly.
Those witnessing this scene found it as strange as could be, especially those who knew Xia Xue. Was this really her?
At this moment, Wei Lingling approached, holding Xiao Lin’s suit, and smilingly said to Xiao Lin, "You two should change clothes!" Besides the clothes, there were also three boxes. Xiao Lin asked in confusion, "What are these boxes?"
"The clothing company’s gifts of shoes, a shirt, and a tie!" Wei Lingling replied with a smile.
A set of clothes worth over a million, giving some matching shoes, shirts, and ties was normal. Xiao Lin was aware of this protocol, so he nodded and then looked at Xia Xue and said, "Xiaoxue, give me a room to change clothes!"
As Xia Xue hadn’t hung up the wedding dress earlier when coming out, and as things had been dealt with, it was time to prepare the engagement dress. She said, "Follow me, I need to change into my dress too!"
The two, Xiao Lin and Xia Xue, walked up to the second floor side by side. The people in the hall quickly became lively again, as if nothing had happened before. To these big figures, such a scene clearly didn’t stir their emotions; it was just a show to watch.
After Qu Yongbo left the gates of the Xia Family Villa and returned to his car, his face was very sullen. He hadn’t expected to lose face like this tonight. Even more unexpectedly, the opponent was a member of Dragon Soul. There was nothing Qu Yongbo could do about Dragon Soul. If it had happened to him, perhaps the elder would have intervened. But as Qu Haobo was in the wrong, the opponent seized on Qu Haobo’s weakness; this disgrace was inevitable.
Qu Yongbo smoked three cigarettes consecutively and then muttered to himself, "Since you want my son’s life, don’t blame me for being ruthless!" With that, he dialed a number.
"Lion, it’s time for you to repay your favor. I want to see the corpse of a man named Xiao Lin, an ER doctor at Yan University Hospital, by tonight!" After saying that, Qu Yongbo thought for a moment, felt it wasn’t enough assurance, and then dialed another number, saying simply, "Action!"
After making these two calls, Qu Yongbo glanced at the Xia Family Villa gate, his eyes filled with boundless rage, and then instructed the driver to drive away. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian () to give recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)