The next day, Zhong Ziang still didn’t get to eat hotpot.
Because his uncle wasn’t taking him anymore.
Early in the morning, Xie Dingyuan had already packed a small travel bag and was ready to head out. “Aunt Liu, I won’t be home the next few days. Keep an eye on Zhong Ziang for me. Call if anything comes up.”
“So sudden? Do you have enough clean clothes? Let me grab a few more—”
“No need.” And with that, he left straight away, not even bothering to call the driver.
Aunt Liu muttered to herself, “What’s going on? That’s strange…”
Xie Dingyuan was a very organized person. When he had plans to be away for several days, he always made arrangements with her in advance.
But this time…
It felt like a spur-of-the-moment decision.
By the time Zhong Ziang woke up and yawned his way downstairs, the villa was already empty—no sign of Xie Dingyuan.
He searched around and finally asked Aunt Liu, “Where’s my uncle?”
“He left early this morning with a travel bag. I think he’s on a business trip.”
“He left?!” Zhong Ziang’s sleepiness vanished in an instant.
Aunt Liu nodded blankly. “Yeah.”
“…..cr*p.” Zhong Ziang raked his hands through his hair, looking deeply regretful.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Suddenly—pia!—he slapped himself across the face.
“That’s what you get for running your mouth! Couldn’t keep it shut! Serves you right!”
Now that he’d spilled the beans and scared the man off, how the h*ll was he supposed to explain this to Third Aunt?
Zhong Ziang was so stressed he swore his hair was turning white.
—
Xie Yunlan took an early flight and reclined her seat as soon as they were airborne to catch up on sleep.
When she woke up, a gentle voice sounded beside her. “Aunt Xie, you’re awake? Would you like some warm water?”
Xie Yunlan sat up, responding softly, “I’m actually a bit thirsty.”
The girl flagged down a flight attendant and asked for a cup of warm water.
Soon, it was brought over and handed to her. She passed it to Xie Yunlan with a warm, elegant tone, “The temperature is just right.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks—it’s nothing.”
After drinking the water, Xie Yunlan felt refreshed and glanced at the time. “Whoa… I actually slept almost an hour?”
The girl smiled, “I dozed off a bit too.”
Xie Yunlan patted her hand with a sudden sigh. “Dragging you along like this… must’ve been tiring.”
“Not at all. I didn’t have anything to do at home anyway. Better to get out, breathe some fresh air.”
“Linhuai’s scenery is lovely. Find time to have Little Nine take you for a walk along the riverbank—the breeze there is invigorating.”
Zhuang Yawen’s eyes flickered, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Would Professor Xie have the time, though? He’s always so busy…”
“He’ll make time. No matter how busy, he can spare a moment for this. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
“Then…” The girl sat up straighter, suddenly nervous. “Is there anything I should be careful about? Is Professor Xie easy to get along with?”
“Little Nine…” Xie Yunlan paused briefly. “He has a lot of rules, but he’s not unreasonable. As long as you don’t cross his lines, everything’s negotiable.”
The girl let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“What, you’re scared?” Xie Yunlan teased.
The girl shook her head. “Professor Xie is a pillar of the nation—a true hero. I only admire him, why would I be scared?”
Not to mention he was the heir to the Xie family, the foremost of the Eight Prestigious Families in the capital. That status alone would have countless women throwing themselves at him, fighting tooth and nail.
Zhuang Yawen had finally earned Xie Yunlan’s favor and this rare opportunity—there was no way she’d mess it up.
Besides, for all her complaints, Xie Yunlan didn’t seem like someone who’d let others badmouth her Little Brother.
So she chose her words carefully.
Sure enough, Xie Yunlan was pleased, though—
“Don’t go overboard idolizing him, treating him like a god. He’s just a regular person—eats, sleeps, catches colds like anyone else.”
“Really?” The girl smiled innocently, voice soft and sweet. “I thought Professor Xie was like Iron Man—invincible and unstoppable!”
“Hahaha…” Xie Yunlan couldn’t help but laugh. “Silly girl, where in the world is there such a person?”
Zhuang Yawen lowered her eyes, shyly biting her lip. “Stop teasing me! Anyway, in my eyes, Professor Xie has a natural aura.”
Xie Yunlan laughed even more, “Aura is good—it means filters. I was just worried you’d think he wasn’t good enough.”
The girl looked flustered, “No way! If anything, it’s more likely Professor Xie wouldn’t like me…”
Her eyes dimmed slightly, tension showing on her face.
Xie Yunlan comforted her, “That won’t happen.”
But in her heart, she was less certain. With Little Nine’s personality, if he didn’t want something, no one could force him.
Still, Xie Yunlan wasn’t here just to play matchmaker—she had real business to handle in Linhuai. She arranged this meeting as a chance for them to talk. If they hit it off, great. If not, so be it. She wasn’t trying to force anything.
So her words carried some restraint—she wasn’t about to give Zhuang Yawen any guarantees.
Nor did she have the authority to.
As an older sister, sure, she worried about her brother’s love life—but she’d never use her position to push him into anything.
And Zhuang Yawen? In Xie Yunlan’s eyes, her opinion wasn’t what mattered. What Xie Dingyuan wanted was the key.
For the rest of the flight, Zhuang Yawen could sense the subtle distance in Xie Yunlan’s tone. Her heart sank a little, but she didn’t show it. She kept chatting and smiling like normal.
At 10 a.m., their plane landed at Linhuai Airport.
As soon as they exited the domestic arrival hall, they spotted Zhong Ziang waiting just beyond the yellow line.
“Third Aunt! Over here!”
Xie Yunlan had just pulled out her phone to call Xie Dingyuan when she heard the familiar voice. She looked up in surprise.
“Angang?! What are you doing here?”
“Of course I came to pick up my beloved Third Aunt!”
“You little rascal! Don’t you have class?”
“It’s Saturday, thanks.”
“Where’s Little Nine?” Xie Yunlan glanced behind him.
Zhuang Yawen also glanced around discreetly, adjusting her posture to present her best side—for that man.
But…
Nothing.
No trace of him.
Xie Yunlan voiced the question for her, “Why don’t I see him?”
Uh-oh.
Zhong Ziang felt his scalp tighten.
“Um… my uncle’s been super busy lately. I think he’s working on some new experiment—no time to come to the airport. So he sent me instead!”
Xie Yunlan nodded, understanding. “Work comes first, of course. As long as I have my Angang to pick me up, I’m happy.”
Zhong Ziang grinned and nodded furiously, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Zhuang Yawen, though, looked a little disappointed.
Still, she recovered quickly. When her gaze met Zhong Ziang’s inquisitive one, she paused before returning a polite smile.
Zhong Ziang raised a brow. He knew this was the matchmaking candidate his Third Aunt arranged, but still asked, “And this is…?”
“This is Miss Zhuang Yawen—your Grandpa Zhuang’s granddaughter, eldest miss of the Zhuang family. She’s five years older than you, so you should call her ‘sister.’”
Zhong Ziang: “Miss Zhuang, nice to meet you.”
No way he was calling her sister—not like they were close.
Besides, coming here as a potential aunt and still trying to pass as the older sister?
Tch…
In that case, shouldn’t he be calling her “Auntie”?
Still trying to act young, huh?
Judging from his uncle’s disappearing act today, this Miss Zhuang was probably doomed to be cannon fodder. Best to keep things civil.
Zhuang Yawen clearly sensed the distance in his tone. But that was fine—once she secured the future heir of the Xie family, let’s see how smug this little punk stays.
He doesn’t want to call her “sister”?
Fine—just wait. He’ll be calling her “Auntie” soon enough.
Gotta say, Miss Zhuang was very ambitious.
“Third Aunt, shall we head home? The driver’s already been waiting for a while.”
“Okay.”
Zhong Ziang smoothly took the luggage and asked as they walked, “What about Miss Zhuang?”
“Well…” Xie Yunlan hesitated slightly.
Zhuang Yawen’s eyes glinted. “Take me to the Shangfeng Hilton—I already booked a room.”
Xie Yunlan exhaled in relief. “I was wondering which hotel to book for you—didn’t expect you to handle it yourself. Then let’s go to the Hilton first.”
Zhuang Yawen froze for a second, then quickly smiled again.
She thought Xie Yunlan was debating whether to invite her to Xie Dingyuan’s place—and she’d intentionally backed off, hoping to be coaxed in.
But turns out… The hesitation was just over which hotel to pick?!
That hit her harder than expected.
She thought Xie Yunlan was already satisfied with her, but now it seemed… not quite.
If Xie Yunlan knew what she was thinking, she’d probably roll her eyes.
As if she’d bring someone to Xie Dingyuan’s home without asking him first.
If you can’t even grasp that boundary, what makes you think you’re fit to be Little Nine’s wife?
Let’s just say—Miss Zhuang seriously overestimated her position.
