Chapter 6: The Mysterious Person

Tan Li successfully maintained her position as Mrs. Xia by leveraging the child she was carrying. This outcome was entirely within Xia Rusheng’s expectations, so when Old Madam Xia indirectly interceded, she very gracefully accepted the favor.

Feeling a sense of guilt, Xia Rui consulted with the Old Madam and granted Xia Rusheng two percent of the company’s shares. Combined with what she had inherited from her mother, she now held a total of eight percent of Fengcheng Investment. Given the current market capitalization of the firm, she could be considered a wealthy young woman whose fortune had only grown.

Taking this opportunity, Xia Rusheng took stock of her assets. Only then did she realize that, in addition to the vast sums of cash and shares left by her biological mother, she had also inherited several funds and two properties. The two houses were particularly significant: one was left by her maternal grandparents, and the other was part of her mother’s dowry. Both held special meaning for her, yet one had been turned into a private vacation villa for the Xia family, while the other was currently occupied by Tan Li’s relatives.

"Nanny Chen, when did the Tan family move in? And who exactly are they?"

Looking at the photos of the property, Nanny Chen said indignantly, "That family has been living there for over a decade. After Tan Li married into the Xia family, her parents thought they could live a life of luxury, so they came to rely on her. The Old Madam couldn't very well have them living here, and since Tan Li was eight months pregnant at the time, the Old Madam lent them one of your mother’s villas. One thing led to another, and they’ve stayed for over ten years."

"Grandmother let them live there?" That complicated things.

"Yes. They had a large family, and since that villa was spacious, she just let them move in."

Xia Rusheng fell into deep thought. If the Old Madam hadn't been the one to authorize it, she could have simply hired some people to evict the Tans; the Xia family felt guilty toward her, so they wouldn't have blamed her. But since it was the Old Madam’s decision, forcing them out now would be a direct slap in the face to the true head of the household. She could not afford to offend her just yet.

"I see. You can go back to your work, Nanny Chen."

Nanny Chen agreed, but just as she reached the door, she turned back and handed a list to Xia Rusheng, smiling. "The New Year is almost here. Every year, the Chairman lets you pick out a gift for yourself, but this year he’s even more generous, saying you can choose as many as you like. Take a look and see what you fancy."

Xia Rusheng glanced at the list—it was nothing more than the latest cars and jewelry. She wasn't interested, though she did need a new car since her own had been totaled in the accident.

During dinner, Xia Rui brought up the subject again. Before Xia Rusheng could speak, Xia Yu clamored for a new car.

"Why another one? How many have you gone through in the last two years? Go look in the garage and see how many haven't even been driven once!" The Old Madam rejected her outright, her expression so stern that Xia Yu dared not argue.

"Mother, it’s only natural for young people to want something new. Just this once, and it won't happen again, alright?" Seeing her daughter signaling her, Tan Li spoke up, all while stroking her belly, which showed no signs of a pregnancy.

Upon seeing this, the Old Madam’s expression grew even colder. "If she wants one, she can pay for it herself. The Xia family’s money doesn't fall from the sky; we can't afford her extravagance."

Both mother and daughter were rebuffed and dared not say another word.

Xia Rusheng ate her meal calmly, though she sneered inwardly. These two fools—one was spoiled and lacked common sense, while the other thought she could turn the world upside down just because she was pregnant. The Old Madam was a shrewd and autocratic woman; the child hadn't even been born yet, and its gender was unknown. For Tan Li to act like a meritorious contributor in front of her was asking for trouble.

"Xia Xia, tell your grandmother and father what you would like as a gift."

Xia Rusheng paused, set down her chopsticks, and shook her head with a smile. "My car was destroyed in the accident, and I had intended to buy one. But since there are plenty in the garage, let's forget about it."

The Old Madam nodded approvingly, a rare look of affection on her face. "If you want one, buy it. As the eldest daughter of the Xia family, how can you settle for your sister's leftovers?"

Xia Rusheng smiled. "Since Grandmother agrees, then I shall go buy one."

When Xia Yu realized that Xia Rusheng could get a car while she couldn't, she immediately pouted, ready to complain. Tan Li kicked her under the table and shot her a look, and she quickly fell silent.

Early the next morning, the Old Madam sent a card to Xia Rusheng. Knowing it was a gesture of love, she did not decline.

"Xia Xia, this is the first time you’ve been out alone since your accident. This face of yours might invite gossip or attract the wrong sort of people, but keep your head up. When your birthday comes, I will take care of all those troubles for you."

"I understand, Grandmother. I am prepared." When she decided to undergo surgery to regain her original appearance, she had already braced herself. She intended to use this face to break into the lives of those people with lightning speed.

"That's good. You may go."

As Xia Rusheng stepped out of the Xia residence and breathed in the fresh air, she truly felt as if she had come back to life. But this wonderful feeling didn't last long. Her "dear" sister, Xia Yu, seemed to have been waiting for her at the gate. As soon as she saw her, she clung to her, impossible to shake off, and proceeded to cajole and drag her to the largest car showroom in City A.

"Wow, sister, look at that red Ferrari! It’s beautiful!"

Xia Rusheng remained calm in the face of her shrieking. She knew exactly what Xia Yu was after, but she had no intention of letting her succeed. The best approach was to stay indifferent and ignore her. If she wanted a car, she could pay for it herself!

"Miss, you have a wonderful eye. This is a brand-new model, the only one in the entire city—" A showroom staff member stepped forward, ready to explain the car's specifications, but was cut off by Xia Yu.

"Sister, I want this car. Could you lend me some money?" Whether she would return it was, of course, another matter.

"No." Xia Rusheng replied flatly and prepared to look elsewhere. The car did look good—like a red stallion, vibrant and full of energy—but the fact that Xia Yu wanted it made it far less appealing to her.

"You're lying! I saw Grandmother give you a card!" Xia Yu’s voice was loud, instantly drawing a crowd. She seemed quite pleased with her discovery, as if she had the moral high ground.

Xia Rusheng didn't want to be stared at like a monkey in a zoo, so she headed straight out of the crowd. Unexpectedly, Xia Yu grabbed her from behind, her eyes red as if she had been bullied.

Just then, another staff member ran over, looking confused as they glanced between the two women. "Miss, a client has already paid for the car. Would you like to inspect it now?"

"Someone paid for me? Really? Who? Can I really take the car away?"

The staff member was momentarily stunned by Xia Yu's questions, then smiled apologetically and pointed at Xia Rusheng. "Miss, I apologize. The gentleman said this car was a gift for that lady."

"Me?" Xia Rusheng was stunned. She followed the staff member’s gaze and saw a tall, well-built man retrieving his card from another employee. His long fingers were slender and powerful. Unfortunately, he was facing away, making it impossible to see his face. After taking his card, he climbed into a Bentley and drove away.