Capítulo 1000: Chapter 373: Car Crash
Here, Zhou Wang finally saw the others.
In the courtyard with tables and chairs, two children were playing, while a few elegantly dressed women of varying styles were chatting softly. As Zhou Wang and Xia Xiwei entered, the women’s curious eyes turned towards Zhou Wang.
Zhou Wang had initially thought Xia Xiwei would introduce him, but unexpectedly, she acted as if she hadn’t seen the others and led him directly inside.
While Zhou Wang was a bit stunned, a woman about forty or fifty, simply dressed but with a very dignified face, had already stood up and frowned, “Xixi, can’t you see your aunts and uncles here?”
It was clear the woman was quite angry, yet she still deliberately controlled her tone.
Xia Xiwei paused, turned her head, and smiled calmly, “Hello, Aunt, Third Aunt, Little Aunt.”
She greeted the other three women, but pointedly ignored the woman. The woman took a deep breath and coolly said, “I thought you’d learn some manners by becoming an actor, but it seems my expectations were in vain.”
Originally, Zhou Wang wasn’t sure, but after the woman’s words, he immediately realized that this woman must be the so-called mother of Xia Xiwei.
Zhou Wang had previously opened the [Intelligence Blind Box] and was somewhat aware of Xia Xiwei’s background. He knew she was an illegitimate child and because of this status, she’d never been favored by her mother.
One could say that Xia Xiwei’s decision to enter the entertainment industry was somewhat a form of rebellion against her mother.
“Heh.”
To the woman’s reprimand, Xia Xiwei just chuckled lightly, then turned and took Zhou Wang’s hand, walking towards the main hall.
Zhou Wang, having no chance to speak, could only turn and wave with a smile to the women in the courtyard, his bright teeth leaving them a bit dazed.
“Is that the boyfriend Xia mentioned bringing back?”
“He looks quite proper, but what does he do…?”
“I heard from Yance he’s from another province, but quite wealthy.”
“Really, at this age? Oh, wait, how does Second Brother know him?”
“Must be Xia who told him. I overheard him on the phone with Big Brother at home; Big Brother mentioned Xia’s boyfriend, but he only said a few words, guessing he doesn’t know much about Xia’s boyfriend either…”
Regardless of the social class, gossip is a woman’s nature. As the women exchanged information with smiles, Yan Baiqiu, Xia Xiwei’s mother, looked increasingly displeased.
“You’re saying that’s Xixi’s boyfriend?”
“Uh, Sister, you didn’t know…?”
Little Aunt Yan Siyun started to speak, but realized she had spoken unnecessarily and quickly smiled to cover it up, “Actually, we don’t know much either, maybe Xia only told Big Brother-in-law…”
“Ridiculous, simply ridiculous!”
Yan Baiqiu said angrily, “I plainly told her in advance that Jiang Minghao would be coming to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday. How dare she bring a so-called boyfriend back!”
“Jiang Minghao is coming over?”
The expressions of the women turned subtle.
Jiang Minghao and Xia Xiwei were once betrothed as children. Although the engagement didn’t progress due to Xia Xiwei, Yan Baiqiu had always regarded Jiang Minghao as her prospective son-in-law.
None of them knew about Jiang Minghao’s visit, indicating this was probably Yan Baiqiu’s decision. Undoubtedly, Xia Xiwei bringing a boyfriend now was to slap Yan Baiqiu’s face.
Understanding the reason, the women didn’t feel like watching the drama, especially Little Aunt Yan Siyun, who became anxious.
The Jiang Family and the Xia Family had always had good relations and cooperated in many areas. Coincidentally, Yan Siyun had encountered difficulties in her career and needed help from the Jiang Family.
In today’s situation where the elder Jiang was in poor health, Jiang Minghao had significant influence in the Jiang Family, meaning Yan Siyun needed Jiang Minghao’s approval for assistance.
If Jiang Minghao arrived unaware and saw Xia Xiwei flirting with another man, the atmosphere would become extremely awkward. Yan Siyun worried this would ruin the families’ relationship, so she hurriedly suggested:
“Sister-in-law, why don’t you tell Jiang Minghao not to come today?”
“It’s too late… He called me twenty minutes ago and is probably on his way now.”
Yan Baiqiu shook her head, “And what reason do I have to tell him not to come? Can a birthday celebration date change?”
Yan Siyun was at a loss for words, but Yan Baiqiu instead calmed down, saying lightly: “No problem, I’ll just tell that young man to leave.”
“Ah, Sister-in-law, that… that doesn’t seem appropriate?”
Yan Siyun was stunned.
“I’m her mother. She brought someone claiming to be her boyfriend without my permission. Did she consider whether it was appropriate?”
Yan Baiqiu snorted coldly and then stood up to head inside.
…
Before entering the main hall, Zhou Wang heard vague sounds of conversation.
“…Yance, your recent visa-free policy for specific cities has been quite effective. Magic City even trended on social media, sparking quite a public discussion.”
“Hahaha, didn’t expect Second Uncle you also paid attention. Yes, it’s quite good. We just had a meeting yesterday, planning to expand the effort and promote it to more cities…”
As Zhou Wang listened, he couldn’t help but grin. This tone, this topic… If it were outside in some restaurant, he might assume it was drunk men boasting.
However, given the setting, he could only say they truly had that capability.
Though not familiar with Xia Xiwei’s family, he understood that no member would likely be ordinary, possibly only differing in the field they excelled in.
By that time, Xia Xiwei had already led him inside.
In the spacious and bright main hall, rows of what seemed to be rosewood chairs lined the sides, arranged in a traditional Chinese style. To the right, two men were chatting.
The two men appeared to be in their thirties or forties. As Zhou Wang glanced around, he didn’t see Xia Xiwei’s father.
…Because he had followed the news before, Zhou Wang had seen Xia Xiwei’s father’s face in the media.
Furthermore, there were no elderly people present in the main hall, indicating Xia Xiwei’s grandparents were also not there.
“Oh, Xia is back?”
Seeing them enter, the two men paused their conversation and looked over with smiles.
Zhou Wang glanced at Xia Xiwei, who was already smiling, and realized her relationship with these male elders must be quite good.
“Second Uncle, Little Uncle!”
Xia Xiwei greeted them first, then turned to introduce Zhou Wang with a straightforward demeanor, “Let me introduce, this is Zhou Wang, my boyfriend and also my fiancé!”
“Zhou Wang, this is Second Uncle, who does business in Magic City, uh, big business… This is Little Uncle, who works in Beidou…”
Hearing Xia Xiwei’s last sentence, the two were surprised, their scrutinizing gaze resting on Zhou Wang.
Zhou Wang quickly put on a smile, greeted them with an even tone, “Hello, Second Uncle, Little Uncle!”
The two men hadn’t had a chance to speak when Yan Baiqiu came in through the main door. Her eyes went straight to Zhou Wang, “Are you Xiao Zhou? Hello, I didn’t have time for introductions earlier. I’m Xixi’s mother, Yan Baiqiu. Are you free now? There are a few words I’d like to say to you in private.”
Zhou Wang didn’t expect Yan Baiqiu to follow them inside, but from her serious tone, he sensed something.
“He’s not available!”
Before Zhou Wang could say anything, Xia Xiwei, with a cold expression, had already stood in front of him, blocking Yan Baiqiu.