Chapter 24 part 4

This chapter is for charm. Thank you so much for supporting me in Kofi.

Meanwhile, in Hai Cheng.

Throughout the day, Xia Shutong had been dealing with the cooperation matters involving Tianjun, finally making her way back to the Xia family’s ancestral home in the evening.

The car came to a halt outside the villa estate. Qian Lingling hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose not to step out of the car. Attending the Xia family dinner as an outsider wouldn’t be appropriate.

“President Xia, I’ll come to pick you up for the company tomorrow morning. Can you manage by yourself tonight?” She inquired.

Although Xia Shutong’s palms were sweating, her expression remained calm, and she habitually wore a faint, pleasant smile. “No problem, Xiao Qian, you should go home and rest.”

Over the past few days, she had already done her research. Out of all the people she had encountered from the Xia family, there was only one person she needed to concern herself with, it is her Grandfather.

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“Qaydeqyvbla, R yrszstkgl qsa clkdt zyvl vseyu. Esaj oyp y ckv cwpu,” pbl lmrzykdle.

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In soft tones, Xia Shutong exchanged pleasantries with Xia Cha before glancing at the other people around the table, her expression turning somewhat proud.

She observed each person carefully.

Xia Yuansi, Xia Hongtao, and Chai Lan, the four of them seemed visibly nervous, exhibiting the demeanor of those with a guilty conscience. They couldn’t even meet her gaze and only managed to awkwardly echo a sentence or two when Grandfather Xia spoke.

When Xia Hongye looked at Xia Shutong, her expression was one of disdain, but as soon as she glanced toward the main seat where Grandfather Xia sat, she meekly suppressed her sharpness.

In short, with Grandpa Xia’s presence, although the meal was eaten awkwardly, it didn’t lead to any significant conflicts.

After the meal, Xia Cha cleared his throat with a couple of coughs, then kindly turned to Xia Shutong, “Tong Tong, would you like to accompany your grandfather for a walk to aid digestion?”

“Sure,” Xia Shutong nodded.

“Father, how about having Yuansi assist you…” Xia Hongtao, however, stood up at this moment, lacking confidence in his voice.

Xia Cha glanced at him, displaying none of the affability he had shown when facing Xia Shutong. His face instantly turned cold.

“Our family meets four or five times a week, aren’t you getting sick of each other? Tong Tong only returns home once every month or two. Can Yuan Si compare to her?” he remarked.

Xia Hongtao’s face darkened, but he didn’t dare say much. He could only awkwardly smile, “You’re right, Dad.”

The corner of Xia Shutong’s lips curled upward as she unabashedly cast a disdainful glance at them.

Following Xia Cha into the estate, Xia Shutong immediately suppressed her overbearing arrogance and respectfully asked, “Grandfather, may I assist you?”

“Assist me with what? Do you really think I’m so old that I can’t walk anymore?” Xia Cha let out a slight scoff and then affectionately added, “Tong Tong, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, let’s stick to our old tradition and discuss the company’s recent developments.”

After a quick recollection, Xia Shutong proceeded to list off the familiar details she had mastered.

Listening, Xia Cha seemed satisfied, nodding in approval but refraining from saying anything further.

With Xia Shutong following half a step behind him, they arrived at the artificial lake within the estate. Amidst the night’s embrace, the lake’s surface shimmered with the scattered lights, resembling an unreal oil painting.

Suddenly, Xia Cha smiled.

“Tong Tong, I still remember when you first returned home. You were just nineteen then, so inexperienced and timid like you had been bullied. Now, in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and everything has changed…”

Did I really return to the Xia family at nineteen?

Suppressing her surprise, Xia Shutong calmly echoed, “Yes, Grandfather. Time has flown by.”

Without warning, Xia Cha turned around, his smile remaining unchanged as he gazed at her. “Tong Tong, you don’t need to pretend in front of your grandfather. Your grandfather knows everything.”

Xia Cha’s smile was the same as always, warm and kind, like an ordinary old man lovingly doting on his granddaughter.

But his words sent an icy chill through Xia Shutong’s heart.

Xia Shutong’s fingers, resting at her side, suddenly clenched, and tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

What does he mean by this?!

Xia Shutong smiled gently and pretended not to understand, “Grandfather, what do you mean?”

“Tong Tong,” Xia Cha’s voice lowered, “Did the accident affect your brain? Have you lost your memory?”

He reached out and patted Xia Shutong’s shoulder, then shook his head slowly. “If you had orchestrated this yourself, you might have fooled me. But that little girl, Qian Lingling, wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Cold sweat trickled down Xia Shutong’s back, and though she instinctively wanted to step back, her body seemed drained of strength, immobilizing her.

Xia Cha chuckled again, this time with a hint of mockery in his gaze. “It’s been years since I’ve seen you so afraid of me. Little Tong Tong, don’t be afraid. Grandfather just wants to have a little chat with you.”

Xia Shutong bit her lip and nodded stiffly.

The warmth in the old man’s smile seemed contradictory, evoking an instinctual sense of danger within her. It was as if behind his smiling facade, a colossal serpent lurked.

It felt as though every subtle movement, every inconsequential lie, would be exposed by him.

“Tong Tong, tell Grandfather, how much of your past do you remember?” Xia Cha asked casually.

Xia Shutong’s fingers twitched slightly before she honestly replied, “I hardly remember anything, just a few sporadic memories from childhood, but they’re not clear.”

“Oh?” Xia Cha raised an eyebrow. “You don’t remember anything? Yet during this time, you’ve managed the company quite well.”

“I… I don’t remember the past events or the people I know. But I can recall some basic knowledge, reading, using a phone, driving—all of that is not a problem. I’m slowly remembering how to manage the company as well,” Xia Shutong explained.

“That’s interesting,” Xia Cha mused, then took a few steps forward.

He didn’t doubt the truth of Xia Shutong’s words. Even in the past, she rarely lied in his presence, let alone now. Moreover, during this time, Tianjun and Wutong’s operations didn’t show any mistakes. Qian Lingling, that little girl, couldn’t have achieved that.

Xia Shutong’s numb legs moved, and she followed Xia Cha’s steps.

After a brief silence, Xia Cha spoke again, his tone calm, “Tong Tong, since you remember some sporadic memories from your childhood, you must know that you didn’t live with the Xia family before, right?”

“… Yes,” Xia Shutong tried to suppress the trembling in her voice.

She instinctively feared the old man before her, yet at this moment, a bold idea emerged within her.

Xia Cha must know about her past, so could she extract some information from him?

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