Chapter 111: Don’t Want to Hurt
“My parents are very busy, and I don’t have any friends. The servants carefully attended to me, and people my age didn’t dare to play with me… Only my older sister would get into mischief with me.” Ling Hanmu seemed to be lost in distant memories, his gaze gentle.
“She is a very important person in my life.”
After speaking, Ling Hanmu turned his head to look at Xia Chenge: “She taught me music theory, taught me guqin and qin-xiao… She taught me everything she knew.”
“She’s a good sister,” Xia Chenge said. “I envy you.”
“From now on, she will be your sister too.” Ling Hanmu smiled faintly.
Xia Chenge didn’t reply this time. She changed the topic: “Let’s go, weren’t you going to take me home?”
Ling Hanmu shook his head with some helplessness. The road ahead was long!
After Xia Chenge returned home, Wei En immediately greeted her. He said to Xia Chenge with great excitement: “Little Miss, you did so beautifully! I really didn’t expect you to fight back like that. It was truly killing two birds with one stone. Now the shareholders’ stances in the group have been reshuffled, and most of them are leaning towards you.”
“Right after the Ling family announced Young Master Ling’s engagement to you, I received calls from several shareholders, asking you to visit the group when you have time to familiarize yourself with it.”
Xia Chenge said calmly: “In the eyes of businessmen, there is only benefit. It’s understandable for them to act this way. With cooperation with the Ling family, Sheng Xia’s future is bright. No one foolish would know how to choose. However, don’t worry about them for now; I won’t be going to Sheng Xia temporarily.”
“Why?” Wei En asked, confused. “Isn’t this the best time?”
“I have other plans. You’ll know when the time comes,” Xia Chenge said, keeping him in suspense.
Seeing this, Wei En had no choice but to give up trying to persuade her.
Having interacted with her during this period, Wei En had witnessed Xia Chenge’s decisive methods. She was by no means a pushover. Whatever she did, she had her reasons!
“Do Grandfather and Grandmother know about Xu Jingyi and the others?” Xia Chenge asked again.
Wei En shook his head: “I don’t dare to tell them.”
“Then I’ll go tell them.” Xia Chenge went upstairs directly.
Wei En sighed, faintly worried that the Old Master and Old Madam would be too shocked and their physical condition would worsen.
He looked at Xia Chenge’s stubborn back and sighed again: If only Young Master and Madam were still here, how happy they would be to see the Little Miss become so outstanding!
Xia Chenge was unaware of Wei En’s thoughts. During the short time she was going upstairs, her mind was racing, carefully organizing the words she would say.
Arriving at the elders’ room, Xia Chenge took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
The Old Master and Old Madam were still awake, seemingly waiting for Xia Chenge to return.
When they saw Xia Chenge, who was meticulously dressed, they both felt their eyes light up.
“Xiao Ge, come here!” the Old Madam said with a surprised smile, beckoning Xia Chenge. “Our girl has grown so beautiful; I don’t know how many boys she’ll captivate in the future!”
“Grandmother, you’re talking nonsense again.” Xia Chenge said playfully. She never used to act spoiled, but after being reborn as the Xia family’s young lady, she had unconsciously gotten used to acting spoiled in front of the two elders.
“Xiao Ge, how did things turn out?” The Old Master was more rational and more concerned about the marriage contract.
How he wished it was just his overthinking, and that Xia Minglan didn’t have such dirty thoughts.
Xia Chenge bit her lip, remained silent for a moment, and then simply recounted how Xu Jingyi’s family of three had falsely accused her.
The Old Master was furious: “This is too much! I really didn’t expect that beast to be so heartless. How could I have given birth to such a beast!”
The Old Madam, however, was in tears: “Xiao Ge, you’ve been wronged! So, is Jingyun really engaged to Ling Hanmu in your place?”
Xia Chenge shook her head: “No, it’s still me.”
“Ah?” The Old Master was stunned.
Xia Chenge then explained everything that happened afterward.
The old couple was so shocked that they couldn’t speak for a long time.
They never dreamed that Xu Jingyi and the others would be so shameless, even using Xia Chenge’s achievements to pressure the Ling family.
“Grandfather, you said that if one cannot bear it, one should not endure it, so I taught them a lesson,” Xia Chenge said softly.
“Child, you did the right thing. Grandfather doesn’t blame you; Grandfather only blames himself for being blind,” the Old Master said with great pain. “I had originally hoped that this beast would have some conscience, but I was too naive and almost caused you to die again!”
“I’m fine. It’s just that you shouldn’t be sad, Grandfather.” Xia Chenge held the Old Master’s hand. “The most important thing is to take good care of your health. If they don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them.”
Of course, these words were just Xia Chenge speaking casually.
Her not provoking them didn’t mean they would give up.
How could people as ruthless as Xu Jingyi and his daughter let these matters go? They would definitely find ways to ensure she could never turn her life around.
But in the end, only she, Xia Chenge, would reach the finish line, so these people would ultimately only meet their demise.
The Old Master remained silent. Recalling the various events in the Xia family over the years, he began to suspect that the deaths of his son and daughter-in-law were not accidental and that Xu Jingyi might have been involved.
But the Old Master never dreamed that his own daughter was also one of the culprits!
“Enough, enough. We gave them a chance, and they didn’t cherish it, so it’s none of our concern. I am utterly disappointed in Minglan; I’ll just pretend I never had such a daughter,” the Old Madam said sadly.
Xia Chenge comforted them: “Grandfather, Grandmother, you still have me. Let’s just be happy as a family and ignore others.”
“Child, you are so good.” The Old Madam looked at her granddaughter, who combined the strengths of her son and daughter-in-law. In a daze, she seemed to see them again, and her heart ached, regretting that they had left so early, leaving their granddaughter to be bullied alone.
“So, since I’m so well-behaved, should Grandfather and Grandmother take good care of their health so I can properly care for you?” Xia Chenge said with a smile.
The gloom in the hearts of the two elders was dispelled by Xia Chenge’s words.
Xia Chenge didn’t dare to tell them about the original owner’s parents’ accident, fearing they wouldn’t be able to bear the shock and would fall into despair again.
She then spoke about other matters at the banquet, including Old Madam Ling.
The Old Madam seemed relieved: “With her approval, your marriage to Ling Hanmu will be much smoother. At least she’ll protect you, and no one will dare to make things difficult for you.”
Xia Chenge pondered for a moment and then expressed her thoughts: “Grandfather, Grandmother, I actually don’t want to be engaged to Ling Hanmu. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Why?” The Old Master was greatly alarmed. “Is Ling Hanmu a playboy?”
“He’s not. It’s just that feelings can’t be forced, and I…” Before Xia Chenge could finish speaking, the Old Madam interrupted her.
“Xiao Ge, no one knows what the future holds. Feelings can be cultivated. Don’t make a decision so quickly.”
“But I…”
“Alright, child. It’s getting late, and you’ve had a long day. Go to bed quickly.”
The Old Madam sent Xia Chenge back to her room without letting her finish her words.
Xia Chenge had no choice but to cover the two elders with their quilts and leave.
As soon as the room door closed, the Old Madam looked at the Old Master: “Old man, am I being too selfish? Knowing that Ling Hanmu he…”
