Chapter 17: A Visit to the Past
Xiao Feng made his way through the busy streets of Haicheng, the city bustling with life as people hurried about their day. He had decided to stop at a high-end shop before leaving the city, intending to buy gifts for his aunt and cousin Xiao Chi. Despite the memories of the tension between him and Xiao Chi, he knew it was the right thing to do. After all, his aunt had taken him in during the darkest days of his life, and he wanted to show his appreciation.The shop was one of the most elegant in Haicheng, with a polished exterior and an interior filled with luxury items. The smell of fine leather and expensive perfumes filled the air as he walked among the displays. Xiao Feng carefully selected a silk scarf for his aunt, knowing she would appreciate its fine quality. The scarf was a deep shade of red, her favorite color, with intricate patterns woven into the fabric. For Xiao Chi, he picked out a simple yet elegant silver bracelet, hoping it might serve as a small gesture to mend their strained relationship. The bracelet had a delicate design, adorned with small crystals that caught the light beautifully.As Xiao Feng paid for the gifts, the cashier, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, smiled at him. "These are lovely choices," she remarked. "Your loved ones are fortunate to have someone so thoughtful."Xiao Feng nodded politely, but his thoughts were already on the journey ahead to Fengyuan. It had been years since he last visited his aunt's home, and the memories of those days were bittersweet. Xiao Chi had never been fond of him, resenting the attention her mother gave him when he was an orphan with no one else to care for him. He wondered how much had changed since then.After a few hours on the road, Xiao Feng finally reached Fengyuan, a small, unassuming city far removed from the bustling life of Haicheng. The tranquility of the place contrasted sharply with the memories of his past, but Xiao Feng pushed those thoughts aside as he drove through the narrow streets toward his aunt's house.The house was exactly as he remembered—modest, surrounded by tall trees that provided a sense of seclusion. The garden, once meticulously maintained by his aunt, was now slightly overgrown, a sign that time had passed and perhaps things weren't as they used to be. He parked the car and took a deep breath before stepping out, the gifts in hand. As he approached the front door, he could hear the faint sound of laughter from inside, a sound that both warmed and unsettled him.He knocked, and after a moment, the door opened to reveal his aunt, her eyes widening in surprise."Xiao Feng!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of joy and astonishment as she pulled him into a warm embrace. "I didn't expect to see you! What a wonderful surprise!""It's been too long, Auntie," Xiao Feng replied, smiling as he returned her embrace. "I've missed you."As they stepped inside, Xiao Feng immediately noticed Xiao Chi sitting in the living room, a young man beside her. The atmosphere in the room shifted as Xiao Chi looked up, her expression hardening as she recognized him. The living room was cozy but filled with an awkward tension that Xiao Feng could feel the moment he entered.Before Xiao Feng could speak, the young man beside Xiao Chi turned to her and asked, "Who is he?"Xiao Chi's gaze flickered between the young man and Xiao Feng before she answered, her tone laced with disdain, "He's my poor cousin who moved to Lingxi City. He's been struggling since then."Xiao Feng's eyes narrowed slightly at her words, but he remained calm. He quickly assessed the young man, recognizing the subtle arrogance in his demeanor. The young man was well-dressed, wearing designer clothes that spoke of wealth and status. His hair was styled meticulously, and he carried an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. It didn't take long for Xiao Feng to realize that this was Xiao Chi's boyfriend, someone she had brought home to introduce to her mother today.The young man, sensing the tension in the room, gave Xiao Feng a dismissive glance before turning back to Xiao Chi, his expression one of mild interest."Your cousin, huh? Didn't know you had one," he said, clearly unimpressed.Xiao Feng ignored the remark and turned to his aunt, handing her the gifts he had brought. "I brought something for you, Auntie. I hope you'll like it."His aunt's eyes softened as she took the beautifully wrapped package, a mixture of happiness and concern crossing her face. "Xiao Feng, you didn't have to bring anything. This must have cost you a lot of money. You're still a student; you should be saving your money."Before Xiao Feng could respond, Xiao Chi interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What kind of gift could he bring? It must be something cheap. How could he afford anything else? He's just a student."She cast a glance at her boyfriend, a smug smile on her face. Her arrogance was palpable, clearly fueled by the fact that her boyfriend came from a wealthy family in Fengyuan, though not one of the top five in the city.Xiao Feng held his composure, refusing to rise to her taunts. "It's not about the price, Xiao Chi," he said calmly. "It's about the thought behind it."His aunt quickly opened the gift, her eyes lighting up as she saw the exquisite silk scarf. "Oh, Xiao Feng, this is beautiful! It's such fine quality…" She looked at him with a mixture of pride and worry. "You really didn't need to spend so much on this."Xiao Chi's smile faltered as she noticed the quality of the scarf. Her initial arrogance was quickly replaced by confusion. How could Xiao Feng, whom she always saw as a poor and struggling student, afford such a high-quality gift?Her boyfriend leaned in, examining the scarf. "This is from Haicheng, isn't it? I've seen similar designs in some of the more exclusive shops there."Xiao Chi's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. "Well, I suppose he got lucky."Xiao Feng remained silent, his expression calm as he watched the interplay. He knew that his presence had unsettled Xiao Chi, and that was enough for now. He had no need to flaunt wealth or status—his strength lay elsewhere, and soon enough, those who underestimated him would realize it. For now, he was content to be the dutiful nephew, the poor cousin who had returned to visit his family.The young man turned to Xiao Feng, his expression curious now. "So, you're studying in Lingxi City? What's your major?" he asked, trying to make small talk but failing to hide the condescension in his voice."Cultivation," Xiao Feng replied simply, not elaborating further. His eyes met the young man's, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something in his gaze—perhaps recognition, perhaps uncertainty."Cultivation? Hmph, must be a tough path," the young man remarked, not realizing the true depth of Xiao Feng's abilities. "But it's good to see you're doing something with your life, I suppose."Xiao Feng only nodded, not seeing the need to justify himself to someone like him. His thoughts were focused on the true reason for his visit—his aunt. She had been more of a mother to him than anyone else in his life, and despite the tension with Xiao Chi, he wanted to show his gratitude.As the evening wore on, the conversation in the living room became more stilted, with Xiao Chi and her boyfriend trying to steer it toward topics that highlighted his wealth and connections. Xiao Feng remained polite, but distant, his mind elsewhere. His aunt, sensing the discomfort, tried to bridge the gap, but it was clear that Xiao Chi was intent on maintaining the rift between them.