The main branch of the Xia Family was startled by Xia Chengzong and instinctively took a couple of steps back.
"You, you ungrateful son!" Uncle Xia, his hand trembling, pointed at him in anger.
From a distance, Xia Chuyi, who had been standing with arms folded, finally decided to intervene.
She couldn’t let her second brother face difficulties alone.
As she walked towards "Youwei," Xia Chengzong spotted her immediately.
The malicious aura around him dissipated instantly, and his expression changed, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes.
It was clear she had heard everything said before.
No matter how angry or resentful he was, these unseemly people before him were still his closest kin.
"Uncle speaks the truth, I will always be a member of the Xia Family," Xia Chuyi said, clapping her hands as she approached with a nonchalant tone.
Hearing this, the people from the main branch turned around; upon seeing her, they exclaimed, "Xia Chuyi?"
At that moment, everyone had their own guilty conscience.
Xia Chuyi said, "What Uncle means is, if I encounter any difficulties, Uncle and Aunt Xia would surely help, right?"
Aunt Xia immediately became wary and said, "Chuyi, what are you implying? If you had any troubles, wouldn’t your uncle who adores you have already resolved them?"
Xia Chuyi gave Aunt Xia a cold look and said softly, "Aunt Xia, don’t forget, my uncle’s surname is Zhao."
"We of the ’Old Xia Family’ shouldn’t always expect outsiders to take care of our affairs," she stressed heavily on the words ’Old Xia Family’.
Aunt Xia seemed a bit embarrassed and replied, "You sharp-tongued girl, I simply meant that since our families are close, we should look out for each other."
"Look out for each other? When my uncle had a car accident and broke his leg, who from the Xia Family helped look after him? When my brother got injured while protecting my store and was hospitalized, who looked after him?" Xia Chuyi asked each question pointedly.
"Uncle and Aunt, you came today because you heard about this incident, didn’t you?" Her tone became more and more aggressive.
Her string of questions made the faces of the main branch members uncomfortable for a second.
"Yes, yes, we heard about it and came to see you," Aunt Xia quickly responded, thickening her skin.
"Oh?" Xia Chuyi looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "Then why didn’t you go to the hospital first instead of coming directly to the store?"
The people from the main branch were at a loss for words.
As the saying goes, an open secret is known to all.
After scoffing inwardly, Xia Chuyi deliberately said, "I shouldn’t hide from you, the mastermind behind the vandalism has nothing to do with my second brother, but seems to involve Xia Chengzu."
"What did you say?" the people exclaimed.
How could it be? Xia Chuyi’s store, as far as the main branch was concerned, was already seen as their possession—especially by Xia Chengzu.
He was the one who had spread the entire rumor.
How could he possibly vandalize his own store?
Xia Chuyi couldn’t hear the thoughts of the main branch people, but if she could, she would certainly scoff at them.
The extent of this family’s shameless behavior was truly boundless.
Xia Chuyi did not keep them guessing and directly said, "The chief conspirator is the same woman who accompanied Xia Chengzu back to Heshan Village last time, Zhang Xiaoling."
"Zhang Xiaoling?" Aunt Xia picked up the conversation.
They had heard of this woman; her family was highly influential and even had connections to the police.
That’s why they had been so pleased when Xia Chengzu had brought her home initially.
Who knew she would turn out to be so unmanageable.
"Is she the one you provoked?" Aunt Xia asked, both shocked and incredulous.