A family?
Xia Weizhang’s gaze flickered slightly; had Xia Mian always considered him family...
A warm current flowed through Xia Weizhang’s heart, and his smile became even more genuine, "I’ll be counting on you, Miss!"
Xia Mian chuckled softly, "Don’t mention it."
Xia Mian responded easily, but Lu Zechuan’s face darkened once again.
Although Xia Mian is the master of the River of Time, it doesn’t mean that her entry into the River of Time is completely safe.
Adding the times she went to retrieve Song Juan and Xia Zhun, Xia Mian had already entered the River of Time twice.
Once, twice, but never thrice; no one knows if Xia Mian can come back so smoothly the third time.
Whether Ding Cheng is dead or alive, Lu Zechuan doesn’t care; he only cares if Xia Mian will be alright.
"Do you have to go?" Lu Zechuan’s brow furrowed.
Xia Mian raised her hand and gently rubbed the knot in Lu Zechuan’s brow, smiling, "After all, we owe her a favor."
If it weren’t for Ding Cheng stirring up things, Xia Mian wouldn’t have met her father, and Lu Zechuan wouldn’t have clarified his origins.
Everything has two sides; there are benefits and disadvantages.
Lu Zechuan seemed to be soothed by Xia Mian; he pressed his lips together, then said softly, "Alright, while you’re in the River of Time, I’ll collect things from the Mystic Sect that the current world doesn’t have. We’ll bring them back when you’re done."
Xia Mian murmured in agreement, her voice soft and tender.
Towards Lu Zechuan, she almost took out the patience of two lifetimes.
Seeing the sweet interaction between Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan made Xia Weizhang feel a little uncomfortable; he indeed hadn’t considered that Xia Mian might face danger while retrieving Ding Cheng.
Now, with Lu Zechuan’s direct displeasure, Xia Weizhang realized that while Ding Cheng might be important to him, to Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan, she’s just a dispensable passerby.
For Xia Mian to risk her safety for someone totally unrelated to her, that request was indeed quite unreasonable.
"Miss... I..." Xia Weizhang started to speak with hesitation.
But Xia Mian interrupted him by raising her hand, "No need to say more, I’ll fulfill what I promised you."
Xia Mian’s gaze was clear, smile relaxed, and Xia Weizhang swallowed the words he wanted to say back down.
He quietly bowed his head and then silently withdrew.
Xia Mian didn’t let Xia Weizhang wait long; she set out again for the River of Time that very afternoon.
After all, she had many things waiting to be dealt with in the current world; she couldn’t afford to delay here for too long.
Now that Xia Mian was the master of the River of Time, she could freely choose the entrance to the River of Time.
For convenience’s sake, Xia Mian created an entrance directly in the secret room of the Divine Manor, so once she found Ding Cheng, she could bring her back directly to the Divine Manor.
Entering the small world within the River of Time once more, Xia Mian felt a sense of déjà vu.
Here, it’s a script of a wealthy dynasty with a false and true heiress.
Ding Cheng’s role in this world is the false heiress of the wealthy family.
Before the true heiress returned, Ding Cheng had a comfortable time playing the false heiress.
Luxurious clothes, fancy cars, gourmet food; the wealthy parents gave her all the favoritism and indulgence, and her only brother was a doting sibling.
But Xia Mian knew that since it was false, there would inevitably be a day when the lie was exposed, a day when she would be rejected.
When Ding Cheng is rejected and her true identity exposed, her role in this world would completely disappear.
If by then Ding Cheng’s self-awareness still hasn’t awakened, she would vanish entirely within the River of Time.
Whether in the Mystical World or the current world, Ding Cheng would cease to exist.
Therefore, before Ding Cheng’s script concluded, Xia Mian must help awaken Ding Cheng’s self-awareness to successfully take her out.
Unlike the previous two times entering the River of Time, this time Xia Mian was being watched by the Heavenly Dao immediately upon entering the world.
After being provoked twice by Xia Mian, the Heavenly Dao felt humiliated, and had long locked onto Xia Mian’s aura. Upon Xia Mian’s entry into the wealthy world, he transformed himself into a role within that world.
Since their conflict always ended with her escaping, the Heavenly Dao decided this time he’d kill her in the small world!
Xia Mian was completely unaware of this, as she appointed herself an appropriate role upon entering the River of Time, one that could approach Ding Cheng without arousing suspicions.
Xia Mian’s new identity was a distant relative of Ding Cheng.
Rich like the Ding Family.
After all, given the current script, Ding Cheng’s false heiress personality wouldn’t easily associate with someone outside her social class.
Thanks to this fabricated far-relative identity, Xia Mian smoothly moved into the Ding Family’s residence.
On the first day of Xia Mian’s arrival at the Ding residence, she encountered Ding Cheng.
As Miss Ding, Ding Cheng resided in the best room of the Ding family villa, yet Xia Mian’s arrival demanded her room!
Even more domineering than herself! And her parents agreed!
Ding Cheng was simply shocked beyond comprehension; was this distant relative required at all?
Did they not know basic guest courtesy?
Xia Mian, however, did not take Ding Cheng’s displeasure to heart at all.
How little did anyone know, if the true heiress returned, Ding Cheng’s grievances would be far greater than now!
Residing in Ding Cheng’s room, Xia Mian felt no burden whatsoever.
Unbeknownst to her, meanwhile, Ding Cheng’s doting brother had also changed his disposition.
Ding Lei sat by the window in a rocking chair, gazing deeply at the flowerbed below, his eyes filled with an indefinable depth.
"This time, let’s see how you escape!" Ding Lei muttered, standing up and donning a coat before leaving the room.
Where Ding Lei was once gentle and elegant with remarkable tastes, now he seemed explosive, like a firecracker ready to be ignited.
Ding Lei left the room, heading straight for the one Ding Cheng had switched into.
Upon Xia Mian’s arrival, she had taken Ding Cheng’s room, leaving Ding Cheng in a sulk in her new one.
Seeing Ding Lei enter, Ding Cheng immediately began to pout and complain.
Feeling annoyed, Ding Lei frowned, "Bullied and only sulking in your room, that’s not your style."
Ding Lei frowned, "Invite her out, and I’ll have someone teach her a lesson for you!"
Such actions were not uncommon for Ding Lei. Without much thought, Ding Cheng nodded vigorously.
Unexpectedly for Xia Mian, after her attitude towards Ding Cheng, Ding Cheng actively invited her out shopping.
However, since her intention was originally to take Ding Cheng away, having the chance to be alone was quite welcome for Xia Mian.
Without thinking twice, Xia Mian readily agreed to go shopping with Ding Cheng.
As Xia Mian and Ding Cheng left the house, the Ding parents stood at the door, smiling as they saw the two off, full of gratification in their eyes, "Finally, our Ah Cheng has grown up and knows how to socialize with friends!"