Evening.
Outside of Xi Shan Mansion. Xie Huilan drove her car with Dong Xuebing into the Xi Shan Mansion compound. They are here to visit Senior Xie.
Suddenly, they are blinded by powerful headlights. A BMW is traveling in the opposite direction, and it stops beside Xie Huilan’s car.
The window rolled down, revealing Wei Nan’s face. “Huilan.”
Xie Huilan stopped her car and greeted Wei Nan with a smile. “Wei Nan, why are you here?”
Wei Nan got out of his car. “I was here to visit Senior Xie.” He glanced at Dong Xuebing, sitting in the front passenger seat.
Xie Huilan smiles. “I heard your house caught fire during the earthquake. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Wei Nan replied. “I was not staying there during the earthquake. I only lost some antiques and paintings.”
“Great to know you are safe.” Xie Huilan waved her hand. “Xiao Bing and I are visiting Senior Xie. Let’s chat another time. Bye.”
Wei Nan looks at Xie Huilan. “Drive slowly and be careful.”
Wei Nan stood there and looked at Xie Huilan, rolled up the window, and left.
Dong Xuebing is unhappy. He knows Wei Nan. His family is in the medical equipment supplies, and he is wealthy. He was Xie Huilan’s suitor and almost became her fiancé under the Xie Family’s pressure. Dong Xuebing had a bad impression of him, and he grumbled in the car. “Huilan, why is he still coming to your house? Why is he not giving up? He is so shameless.”
Xie Huilan giggled. “Oh, my little boy is jealous. Hehe….”
Dong Xuebing stared at her. “Stop calling me, little boy. I am asking you a question.”
“His father and our family are close friends. I can’t stop him if he wants to visit us.”
“Did you forget about the timebomb incident in Yan Tai County?” Dong Xuebing frowned. “I had told you that Wei Nan was at the scene, and he immediately ran away after hearing the bomb is strapped to you. Why are you still speaking to him?”
Xie Huilan held Dong Xuebing’s hand. “I know you are brave, and you dare to rush in to defuse the bomb.”
“I am not asking you to praise me. I am talking about Wei Nan.”
“I know who treats me well. Haha….”
“Just ignore him in the future.” They arrived at Senior Xie’s mansion, and they got off. They walked past the guards and entered the front yard.
“Oh, you mentioned that his house was on fire. What happened?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Xie Huilan replied. “Maybe there was a short circuit during the earthquake, and a fire broke out. The villa under his name was burned down. I heard a painting worth over 100 million RMB was burned to ash. His father bought that and kept it in Wei Nan’s villa.”
Dong Xuebing knows Wei Nan is an antique collector. Dong Xuebing had sold a pearl necklace to him through an auction in the past, and he rejoiced when he heard his house was burned down.
Senior Xie’s mansion.
Senior Xie is sitting at the head of the table, and Sister Xie’s mother, Han Jing, is seated beside him. The younger generation, Xie Ran, Xie Jing, and Xie Hao, are seated on both sides of the table.
Xie Huilan enters the mansion with a smile. “Sorry, I was caught in a traffic jam.”
Dong Xuebing quickly added. “Senior Xie, Auntie, sorry to keep you all waiting.”
Senior Xie nodded. “Wash your hands and have dinner.”
Xie Jing and Xie Ran greeted them. “Sis, Brother Dong.”
When they were chatting, Xie Hao suddenly pounced on Dong Xuebing and hugged him. “Hahaha…. My idol! You are finally here! Wow…. You are not injured at all! Brother-in-law, you are amazing!”
Xie Jing laughed. “Xiao Hao, you are too excited.”
Han Jing laughed. “Xiao Bing, when the news reported you were dead, Xiao Hao was sad and cried for a long time.”
Xie Hao protested. “Aunt! Why are you bringing this up?! I did not cry!”
“Hahahaha….” Everyone laughed.
Dong Xuebing was touched and patted Xia Hao’s back. This guy might like to brag a lot, but his feelings are real.
Dining table.
Other than Senior Xie and Han Jing, the rest of the Xie family’s elders are not around. They are busy with work, and Dong Xuebing feels more relaxed. Han Jing kept putting food into his bowl and asked about the earthquake. When they heard about the First Hospital collapse from him, they were shocked and worried. He can tell they care for him, and it feels great.
“Xiao Bing, you had scared us this time.” Han Jing sighed. “Don’t push yourself too hard in the future.”
“Shortsighted!” Senior Xie, who had been keeping quiet, scolded Han Jing. “What Xiao Dong did is correct! As a Government Leader, he must have a clear conscience in whatever he does.”
Han Jing immediately replied. “Yes, you are right.”
Senior Xie looks at Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Dong, you had done well this time. The Government doesn’t lack Leaders, but they lack Leaders who dare to step forward during a critical period like this. Well done!”
Dong Xuebing quickly reply. “Thank you, Senior Xie.”
Xie Huilan giggled. “Senior Xie, stop praising him. Xiao Ning cannot be praised. The more you praise him, the more outrageous things he will do in the future. Who am I going to spend my life with if anything happens to him?”
Han Jing gave her daughter a stare. “Stop talking back to your grandfather.”
Senior Xie let out a ‘hmph’ and said. “Carry on eating.”
“Grandfather, eat more.” Xie Huilan smiles as she picks some dishes and puts them into Senior Xie’s bowl.
Senior Xie replied. “I will get angry and lose my appetite when I see you.”
Xie Huilan giggled. “But I miss you a lot. I am your eldest grandchild, and how can you stop me from picking food for you? My younger brothers and sisters will lose respect for me if you reject me.”
Senior Xie stares at Xie Huilan. “You brat…” He scolded and started laughing.
Xie Jing and Xie Ran saw them. Xie Huilan is the only person in the family who dares to speak to Senior Xie like this. Even the second generation, Xie Guobang, and the rest don’t dare to joke with him. Senior Xie might act as if he dislikes her, but everyone knows he depends on her the most. He would have lost his temper if anyone dared to speak to him like this.
Senior Xie returns to his room after dinner.
Only Han Jing, Xie Huilan, and the rest remain in the living room.
“Sis.” Xie Ran looks at Xie Huilan. “I thought Brother Dong and you were training at the Party School. How can you leave the school?”
Xie Huilan replied. “Today is the first day, and the official training starts tomorrow. It will not be easy for us to leave after today.”
Xie Jing laughed. “Sis, Brother Dong, I still have not congratulated you two on your promotions.”
Xie Huilan patted the back of Xie Jing’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Just treat me to a few dinners. Oh….” Xie Jing suddenly remembers something. “When are you and Brother Dong getting married? I am looking forward to your wedding banquet.”
Han Jing laughed. “We had discussed and decided to hold the wedding early next year. It should be around four to five months away.”
Xie Hao cheered. “Since the wedding is decided, let’s hold it this weekend. My Eldest Sister is finally getting married, and I am happy for her.”
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes. “Really?”
Xie Hao cleared his throat. “Err…. That was a joke. Stop staring at me like this. My Aunt is here…. Aunt! She is going to hit me!” He complained.
Xie Jing laughed. “Who asked you to poke fun at Eldest Sis. Happy for her?! You are asking for a beating.”
Xie Hao is scared of Xie Huilan, but not Xie Jing. “Hmph! I will not be happy for someone else. Tsk…. You are already twenty-six and still don’t have a boyfriend.”
Xie Jing stares at Xie Hao. “You rascal! I dare you to say that again!”
Xie Hao is not scared. “What can you do to me if I say that again?”
They joked around.
Han Jing looks at Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing. “What Xiao Hao said is right. You have been together for a while and should get married earlier. We can hold a simple and private ceremony. It will not be too much work. Huilan, what do you think?”
Dong Xuebing got excited. He is looking forward to getting married to Sister Xie.
Xie Huilan smiled and did not say anything.
Dong Xuebing blinked and thought Xie Huilan didn’t like this idea.
Han Jing looks at Xie Huilan. “I am asking you a question. Tell me what you are thinking.”
Xie Ran, Xie Jing, and Xie Hao looked at their Eldest Sis.
Xie Huilan smiled and sipped on her tea gracefully. “Mum, we are thinking the same. I…. was thinking of getting married this month. Funerals for Xiao Bing have been held several times, and I am scared. I thought of discussing it with you all, but I had to be reserved as a girl. I can’t be proposing to someone, right? Haha…. But someone had not been bringing this up, and I can’t say anything. I am too shy to ask someone to propose to me.”
Xie Hao and Xie Jing almost fainted.
How can you be shy when you are saying this?
