Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ling had not even uttered a word when Xia Haichao said, “Who’s being rude to Miss Ling?”
Auntie Liu said, “Miss Ling? She’s just a little girl who came from a humble family, does she really think she’s a rich madam now?”
Xia Haichao looked at Xia Ling for further instructions. “Miss Ling, do you want me to toss her off the mountain?”
Xia Ling was shocked. “You can even do that?”
Xia Haichao said, “Once she’s tossed off, it’ll be quiet.”
Xia Ling looked down. They were already halfway up the mountain, if she fell from this height, she’d be seriously injured, if not dead. “It’s not good to kill people so casually.”
Xia Haichao replied sincerely, “It’s not good, indeed. But if they’ve offended you, that doesn’t apply to them anymore. You’ve got too many obstacles to deal with in your life, and the Xia family should do what we can for you. If you do incur the wrath of the heavens, Old Master and Young Master Moyan would find a way to help you reconcile with it.” He was trying to convince her to approve of his actions; he truly wished he could toss Auntie Liu off the mountain at once.
Auntie Liu turned pale from fear. “Don’t come near me! Killing is an offense!”
Xia Haichao did not even bat an eyelid. “We’re deep in the mountains, who’s going to find out that I was the one who killed you? Moreover, when the wild animals finish up your corpse, no one is going to find your remains.”
His words sent a chill down her spine.
Only now did Auntie Liu truly feel the weight of the situation. She trembled, “A-Alright. Shall we talk things over calmly? Let’s not get physical, eh?”
Xia Haichao sinisterly said, “My one job is to protect Miss Ling. Whether you’ll be tossed off the mountains is Miss Ling’s call. Rather than plead with me, you might as well apologize to her.”
Auntie Liu was terrified of the idea of being eaten up by animals. She swallowed her pride and said to Xia Ling, “Um, Xiao Ling, I’ve been kidding all these while, you see. Don’t take it to heart. Though it wasn’t me who gave you life, haven’t I raised you up all those years?”
Xia Ling did not buy it. “Have you?”
“Have I not—” Auntie Liu almost raised her voice, but quickly suppressed it when she saw Xia Haichao’s unfriendly glare. “Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I haven’t raised you well all these years. I even took your allowance, and sent you to training camp as soon as I could, leaving you to your own devices. It’s my fault, I deserve to die.”
Xia Ling sneered. “You deserve to die… you think your statement suffices?”
Auntie Liu was shocked by her response. “Huh? What more do you want?” She had been arrogant all her life and had never apologized to anyone.
Xia Ling laid down the rules. “You have to be good. When you see my parents later, you’re not allowed to be impolite to them. You have to do as they say, got it? Otherwise, Uncle Haichao has tons of opportunities to toss you off the mountain.”
Auntie Liu nodded vehemently. “Will do, will do.”
Only then was Xia Ling satisfied. She instructed Xia Haichao. “Let’s go.”
Their group continued their way up the mountain. Father Ye was right at the back, helping his wife along and muttering, “Why did you offend her? She’s rich and powerful now and can flare up at us as she wishes, why would she listen to us? I think we’ll have to count ourselves lucky if we can make it out of here unscathed. Why did you even think of risking our lives for that 30,000 yuan?”
Auntie Liu dared not vent her anger on Xia Ling, and hence, directed it at her husband instead. “What do you know? Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Moreover, I want that 30,000 yuan for the family! Now that Feifei has woken up we need money her food, clothes, and education! Are we supposed to depend on your measly pension? Or on your stingy ways? If I don’t work harder for money, what is our family going to live on?!” She got angrier the more she spoke, and soon her teeth were clenched.
Father Ye hung his head low and thought of how he couldn’t even make 30,000 yuan in a year. He felt guilty towards his wife and Feifei, but that guilt had partially turned into a grudge against Xia Ling—she was so rich, and yet she wasn’t willing to give her family some of her money. What was the point of having so much for herself? What an unfilial child!
He decided to give Xia Ling a piece of his mind when he found an opportunity.
Xia Ling was getting tired from the long windy road. She leaned against Li Lei and said, “I can’t walk anymore.”
Li Lei called out to Xia Haichao, who was right in front. “Uncle Haichao, shall we take a break?”
Xia Haichao acted like he was caught in a fix. He looked up at the sky, a signal that they were short on time. “But Old Master and Madam are waiting for you at the mountaintop.”
Xia Ling poured for a bit but did not want to be rude to her parents whom she hadn’t met. “Let’s go on then, I can handle it.”
Li Lei’s heart went out to her. He walked in front of her and squatted down. “Get on, I’ll piggyback you.”
Xia Ling was stunned. “It’s alright, you’ll be too tired.”
Li Lei hurried her. “Come on up, don’t let our parents wait too long. Plus, you aren’t heavy.”
“But aren’t you tired?” Xia Ling asked quietly.
How could he claim to be tired at a time like this? He casually said, “I’m way fitter than you, this is a piece of cake to me. You’d better hurry up before I change my mind.”
Xia Ling hurriedly got onto his back.
Li Lei carried her easily and smiled. “Now that’s a good girl.”
Xia Ling said, “If you’re tired, don’t force yourself. You can just put me down.”
Li Lei teased. “Who was the one who got up right after I said I might change my mind?”
Xia Ling said, “… You’re being mean!”
Li Lei chuckled and walked on with her on his back.
Xia Haichao watched their whole interaction and nodded his head discreetly; this man wasn’t too bad. Old Master had already told him not to be too unreasonable towards her potential husband, but at the same time, they could not go too easy on him. At the very least, he had to be good enough to marry the Phoenix of the Xia family. Xia Haichao not allowing them to stop for a rest was, in fact, a calculated move.
But not everyone was as happy as they were. A few people were rejoicing while others were upset.
Auntie Liu was envious of the way they behaved so affectionately. “I’m tired too!”
Father Ye saw how Li Lei carried Xia Ling and felt extremely pressurized. He was already panting from the journey thus far, not to mention that his wife was way plumper than Xia Ling. He stammered. “You can just… hang in there…?”
Auntie Liu hit him hard on the head in anger. “Good-for-nothing!”
Father Ye hung his head low and kept quiet.
The path was getting steeper and more precipitous. Carrying extra weight, even Li Lei was beginning to sweat. Xia Ling’s arms were around his neck, and she could feel his breathing getting heavier by the minute. Her heart ached. “I think I should get down and walk on my own.”