Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Hidden Thoughts
Xia Family’s group gaze had suddenly shifted to Xia Lan.
“You, you…” Xia Lan pointed at Xia Chuyi, unable to utter another word.
Xia Mei, with hands on her hips, immediately stepped forward and slapped Xia Lan’s hand with a smack.
“What are you stammering for? Still pretending?” Xia Mei looked at her with disdain. “Was Chuyi trying to save your face? She and He Qing mutually agreed to break off the engagement, and then you seized the chance to seduce He Qing into agreeing to transfer the marriage arrangement to you?”
Xia Mei’s words, though misguided, turned out to be correct.
Xia Chuyi wanted to applaud her for that, but she still tried hard to feign ignorance.
“Oh, really? Is that so?” she asked, tilting her head in feigned surprise.
“You!” Xia Lan pointed at Xia Mei, trembling with anger while still trying to maintain her gentle image. “Sister Mei, Chuyi, how could you misunderstand me ?”
With that, she simply followed Mother Xia’s example and covered her face to cry, but the fierce look in her eyes was caught by Xia Chuyi.
“Why continue pretending?” Xia Mei spat disdainfully at Xia Lan and was about to continue.
“That’s enough! Everyone stop talking!” Grandpa Xia banged the table and stood up.
In the Xia Family, Grandpa Xia held absolute authority, and in that moment, everyone fell silent.
“Chuyi, Grandpa is asking you. Tell Grandpa the truth. Did you and He Qing mutually decide to call off the engagement?” Grandpa Xia stared intently at her, trying to put pressure on her.
Xia Chuyi was not at all intimidated. She met Grandpa Xia’s gaze and answered, “Yes.”
“Er Lan, did you go to the He Family? Did the He Family really agree to call off Chuyi’s engagement?” Grandpa Xia then turned his sharp gaze on Xia Lan, his tone stern.
“Yes…” Xia Lan answered timidly with her head down, “I went to the He Family with Brother Qing’s letter. They agreed to call off Chuyi’s engagement and switch it to me and Brother Qing…”
Before she could finish, Grandpa Xia rudely interrupted her, “Let’s leave that aside for now. I’m asking you, when the He Family agreed to break off the engagement with Chuyi, did they mention returning the betrothal gifts?”
Xia Lan was startled.
Xia Chuyi found it amusing inside.
Quite calculating indeed.
Did the He Family give a betrothal gift? Yes, they did give a symbolic one. Later, Uncle Xia secretly returned it, along with some extra money, claiming it was to be used by He Qing for pulling strings in the military.
Of course, the money returned by Uncle Xia was his own. The portion the Xia Family received had long been consumed and was certainly not spit back out.
Initially, Uncle Xia had also chosen He Qing for his tall stature, good looks, and ability to handle matters, believing he would have a promising future in the military.
Who would have known? It’s easy to judge a book by its cover, but he had misread him entirely.
She thought it was probably because Daddy Xia was a military man, and Uncle Xia held exceptional trust in military personnel, probably giving He Qing extra points just for that.
Truthfully, not every soldier truly deserved to wear that green uniform.
Somehow, she suddenly thought of Huo Shiqian. That man…
Tch, tch, tch, stop right there!
Why was she even thinking about him?
She quickly refocused her mind.
She heard Xia Lan responding quietly to Grandpa Xia, “No, they didn’t mention it.”
“They didn’t mention it at all?” Grandpa Xia asked sternly.
It was just short of asking outright whether those possessions Uncle Xia gave to He Qing would be returned by the He Family or not.