Volume One, Chapter 76: Grandmother’s Heirloom

After class that day, Chi Xingwan and Chu Fangfei were heading back to their dormitory together when they ran into Chi Qianyu.

“Chi Xingwan, I have something to say to you.” Chi Qianyu blocked their path, preventing Chi Xingwan from leaving.

Chu Fangfei stepped between them, wary. “What do you want with my sister?”

Chi Qianyu had come to ask Chi Xingwan for help, and was already feeling aggrieved. Now, being confronted by Chu Fangfei, she blushed with humiliation.

“Hey, what’s your problem? Can’t I just talk to her for a moment?”

Chu Fangfei didn’t believe a word. “No one is nice for no reason. Why are you suddenly speaking so politely? Who would trust you’re not up to something?”

“I—” Chi Qianyu was nearly in tears from anger.

Chu Fangfei grabbed Chi Xingwan’s arm, intent on leaving, but Chi Xingwan shook her head. “Fangfei, you go ahead. I’ll hear what she has to say.”

“But…” Chu Fangfei was uneasy. She didn’t trust the Chi family.

Chi Xingwan smiled. “You don’t think she could hurt me, do you?”

“Well, of course she can’t.” Realizing she was overreacting, Chu Fangfei relented. “Fine, I’ll head back to the dorm. See you in class tomorrow.”

After Chu Fangfei left, Chi Qianyu still remained silent. Only after leading Chi Xingwan down a secluded campus path, making sure no one else was around, did she finally speak.

“You must know what’s been happening in the family lately. My mother said you should go to the Xiao family and ask them to step in and smooth things over.”

Chi Xingwan had expected this, but she hadn’t thought that even when asking for a favor, Chi Qianyu would still act so superior.

“If you need the Xiao family’s help, ask them yourself. Why come to me?”

Chi Qianyu frowned and bit her lip. If she could reach the Xiao family herself, she wouldn’t be here asking Chi Xingwan.

Having to humble herself before Chi Xingwan was a tremendous humiliation.

Chi Qianyu wanted to turn and leave, but remembering her mother’s tearful, almost fainting face, she forced herself to stay.

“You’re Xiao Yue’s fiancée and have the closest connection to the Xiao family. It’s your responsibility to do this.”

Chi Xingwan nearly laughed in exasperation. “My responsibility? Tell me, why should I do it? That’s your uncle, not mine. Even if your uncle’s whole family ends up in jail, it has nothing to do with me.”

“How can you say that?” Chi Qianyu shouted in frustration.

“Don’t think having the Xiao family as your backing means you can do whatever you want. You’re not a true member of their family. To them, you’re still an outsider. Even if you marry in one day, you’ll still need your own family’s support.”

This was exactly what Yang Jing had told Chi Qianyu yesterday, and now she repeated it word for word to Chi Xingwan.

“So, only if the Chi family is strong can you be strong. If the Chi family falls, you won’t fare much better. In the future, if you have any disputes with the Xiao family, you’ll have no one to back you up and will only end up being bullied.”

The more Chi Qianyu spoke, the more justified she felt.

Chi Xingwan, however, had grown weary of the conversation. “Are you finished? If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Chi Qianyu was stunned, then snapped, “Hey, you haven’t given me an answer yet. Where are you going?”

Chi Xingwan stopped, turning back to face Chi Qianyu. “First of all, your uncle was arrested because he deserved it. I heard it was your father who called the police—maybe you should be begging him, not me.

“Second, I don’t need the Chi family’s help, nor do I need the Chi family as my support, because you’re not worthy. Understand?”

With that, Chi Xingwan ignored Chi Qianyu’s darkening expression and walked away.

Soon, it would be Grandma Xiao’s birthday.

Grandma Xiao had always been a low-key person. In past years, her birthday celebrations were strictly family affairs, with no outsiders invited. This time, to everyone’s surprise, she planned to invite a few friends and business partners to join the celebration.

When Chi Xingwan arrived at the villa, Grandma Xiao was choosing dishes for the birthday banquet.

“Xingwan, come help me take a look—what do you think of these dishes?”

Chi Xingwan picked up the menu and noticed several of the dishes were Yunlai Restaurant’s signature offerings.

She and Qiao Yang had gone into business together. Though they tried to keep it secret, and managed to keep it from Chi Zhenghua, they couldn’t fool Grandma Xiao.

“Your Uncle Qiao also does business with our family. Although he’s been abroad for many years, I’ve always treated him like one of our own. When he heard I was hosting a birthday banquet, he personally brought his chefs over.”

Chi Xingwan smiled. “So you’ve already tried these dishes. Did they suit your taste?”

“Of course. On the day we sampled the menu, Ah Yue was awake too. I heard you provided the recipes—he ate plenty of everything.”

Chi Xingwan smiled wryly. She could tell that Grandma Xiao was trying to matchmake her with Xiao Yue. However, perhaps even Grandma Xiao was uncertain whether the curse on Xiao Yue could ever be lifted, so her comments remained subtle.

Chi Xingwan did not press the issue but brought up something else instead.

“Grandma, do you want Ah Yue to make an appearance at the banquet?”

Grandma Xiao nodded. “That’s right. Now that Ah Yue can control when he’s awake, I want him to come out and greet everyone—just to put some minds at ease.”

Since this concerned the Xiao family’s business affairs, Chi Xingwan didn’t pursue it further.

Before long, Wei Shian also arrived, much to Chi Xingwan’s surprise.

Xiao Yue came downstairs and said to her, “I invited Shian. I just received my grandmother’s keepsakes.”

Back when Xiao Yue asked Yu Huan to investigate Lan Yan’s identity, Yu Huan discovered the village where Lan Yan’s adoptive parents had lived and found the keepsakes Xiao Yue’s grandmother had left behind.

Those possessions had ended up belonging to the village. Yu Huan had to argue with them for ages and spent money before finally retrieving the items and immediately sending them to Xiao Yue.

Xiao Yue hadn’t opened the package, choosing to wait until Chi Xingwan had a day off to come over, and inviting Wei Shian as well, so they could examine these possible Nalan family relics together.

In the parlor, the same five people gathered as before.

Chi Xingwan opened the package and took out several items.

Most were ordinary keepsakes—a child’s toy, a few battered books. Chi Xingwan examined each one carefully.

Finally, her gaze fell on a wooden necklace.

It was a delicate little peachwood sword, and Chi Xingwan could sense a faint spiritual aura emanating from it.

She placed the peachwood sword on the table and channeled spiritual energy into it. Instantly, the sword began to glow, and all five present were drawn into an illusion.

As Chi Xingwan looked around, she realized that the architecture resembled that of the Republic era. She was backstage in a traditional theater.

“Where are we?” Xiao Yue asked.

Only then did Chi Xingwan notice Xiao Yue standing beside her.

Usually, when entering an illusion, everyone would be separated. That she and Xiao Yue could still see each other was likely because they had been sitting side by side, and because they were engaged.

In the eyes of fate, their connection was intimate enough that even in an illusion, they remained together.

She reached out her hand to Xiao Yue. “Hold my hand.”

“Hm?” Xiao Yue was a little surprised.