"Xiao Xi, are you pretending not to recognize your father?" Qiao Yonghui frowned unhappily.
Jian Xi wanted to retort, but Aunt Yang tugged at her sleeve and interjected, "President Qiao, don't stoop to Xiao Xi's level. She has just returned from abroad and is probably accustomed to Western customs."
"Fine." Qiao Yonghui took out a card and handed it to Aunt Yang, "The company had a cash flow issue recently, and we missed making some payments. There are three hundred thousand on this card, use it for now."
"Thank you, President Qiao."
Aunt Yang took the card with a mix of surprise and gratitude. Three hundred thousand, if used sparingly, could last for several months.
"Xiao Xi, let's go home! Your sister and the others are waiting for us to have dinner together. You should also get familiar with the engagement ceremony process for tomorrow," Qiao Yonghui said.
"Miss, please go back! I'll be fine here," Aunt Yang quickly added.
Jian Xi frowned slightly but eventually did not say anything more, picked up her bag, and followed Qiao Yonghui out of the hospital.
——————
Jian's Villa was located in Chengnan, designed and built personally by Jian Wan in her day, a mixture of Eastern and Western styles in a three-story detached building.
With the passage of time, the appearance of the villa had begun to show its age.
Light pink roses climbed over the fence, swaying in the wind.
Jian Xi got out of the car and squinted at her home.
"What's wrong? Don't you remember your own home?" Qiao Yonghui teased.
"Indeed, I don't remember," Jian Xi's voice was low, almost as if she was talking to herself.
"Let's go!"
Qiao Yonghui took the initiative to reach out, wanting to take his daughter's hand.
Jian Xi quickly withdrew her hand, avoiding his touch, and walked into the villa, following the memories in her head.
Qiao Jiaying was curled up on the sofa, leaning against Song Jia, chatting and watching TV as laughter filled the air.
The foyer wall was adorned with a large photo of Qiao Jiaying participating in a cello competition. Further in, there were either wedding photos of Song Jia and Qiao Yonghui or pictures of Qiao Jiaying and their happy family of three.
Where was there even a hint of Jian Wan and Jian Xi's presence?
Very good! Very good!
Noticing Jian Xi's cold gaze, Song Jia stood up and said with a smile, "Xiao Xi is back?" Then she called to the kitchen, "Aunt Chen, the eldest miss is back, we can start dinner now."
Qiao Jiaying also stood up, shuffling over in her slippers, and took out a cup of juice from the fridge to offer to Jian Xi, "Sister, are you tired? I made some orange juice, how about I pour you a glass?"
"No thanks, I'll just have water." Jian Xi walked past Qiao Jiaying, poured herself a glass of water, sat down at the dining table, and drank quietly.
Qiao Jiaying looked to Qiao Yonghui with a hurt expression.
"Xiao Xi, Yingying made this juice especially for you," Qiao Yonghui said with a displeased face, taking the cup of juice from Qiao Jiaying's hand and putting it in front of Jian Xi forcefully, "Drink this, it's more refreshing."
It was a command!
"But..." Jian Xi looked up, and suddenly laughed, "I'm allergic to oranges. Would it be appropriate to attend the engagement ceremony tomorrow with my face all bumpy?"
Orange allergy!
The Qiao family father and daughter exchanged looks: Is there such an illness?
"Oh, what is everyone standing around for? Sit down, let's eat," Song Jia said, placing the sweet and sour ribs in front of Jian Xi, "Xiao Xi, this is your favorite sweet and sour ribs."
Up until she was eight years old, Jian Xi had a sweet tooth and loved sweet and sour ribs.
Ten years had passed, yet it was admirable that Song Jia still remembered.
"Xiao Xi, are you tired today? I heard there were issues with your plane before landing, you must have been scared, right?"
"It was okay."
"We were so scared when we heard about it outside. By the way, Xiao Xi, you haven't met Nan Mufeng yet, have you? Your mother told you…"
"My mom is lying in the hospital."
"Ah, Aunt told you, ah, Nan Mufeng is the number one most eligible bachelor in Jiangcheng, just wait to enjoy the good life after marrying him..."
"Xiao Xi, the engagement ceremony is scheduled for five o'clock tomorrow afternoon, you can sleep in a bit more in the morning to adjust to the time difference. Auntie has prepared everything, you just get ready to be the bride-to-be with peace of mind. Your engagement dress is already on the bed, try it on after dinner to see if it fits. If it doesn't, Auntie will get the tailor to alter it overnight…""
Song Jia prattled on, playing the role of the kindly stepmother perfectly.
Jian Xi ate silently.
She ate quickly yet elegantly, not a single grain of rice falling from her utensils. Once finished, she pushed her bowl and chopsticks away, "I'm done eating."
Then she headed upstairs.
"You..."
Qiao Yonghui was so angered he almost choked on his soup.