Grandpa Xia said with a hint of disapproval:
"You're overqualified to be just an ordinary designer. Besides, the jewelry you designed last time was a huge hit in the Moying Group. You deserve to be the deputy director of the design department with your fame."
"Grandpa, I'm just a temporary intern. It would be troublesome to recruit someone new when I go back to school. Moreover, I'm still a newbie and need more experience." Xia Weilan replied gently, clearly knowing what she needed.
"You're such a sensible girl!" A glint of light flashed in Grandpa Xia's eyes. Comparing Xia Weilan with Xia Ruolin's over - ambitious attitude, he was even more certain that he could truly rest assured when the Xia Group was handed over to Xia Weilan in the future.
Xue Zhiqing watched the harmonious scene between the grandfather and granddaughter. A flash of sharpness passed through his eyes.
Originally, Xue Zhiqing thought that Uncle Xia was his biggest competitor. However, in the end, such a girl suddenly emerged, and she was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Xia family.
Xue Zhiqing's sense of crisis became even stronger.
"If you have any questions after joining the company, Weilan, you can always come to your uncle for advice." Xue Zhiqing coughed lightly and put on a kind - looking mask.
"Sure, Uncle." Xia Weilan agreed.
A few days later, summer vacation began.
Xia Weilan calculated the date of the high - school freshmen's summer vacation. Finally, on this day, she received a call from Lin Zihan:
"Sis, I'll land in Kyoto in two hours. Come pick me up."
The familiar and affectionate voice of Lin Zihan came through the phone. That firm and straightforward voice made it seem as if the young man was standing right in front of Xia Weilan at this moment.
"Okay, of course I'll come pick you up." Xia Weilan's eyes immediately turned red.
"Sis, what's wrong? Did Xuefei bully you again? Don't be afraid. I'll avenge you when I get back." Lin Zihan immediately raised his voice, sounding angry.
"I'm fine. I'm just happy to know you're coming back." Xia Weilan's voice was as gentle as a breeze.
"Okay, sis. Wait for me." Lin Zihan hung up the phone neatly after saying that.
Xia Weilan quickly went back to her bedroom, changed out of her exquisite clothes, and put on her usual clothes. Then she let down her long hair because Lin Zihan thought girls looked better with long hair.
After getting ready, Xia Weilan let out a heavy sigh in front of the mirror, picked up her bag, and left the house. She drove towards the airport.
Lin Zihan used to study in the imperial capital. In his freshman year of high school, he was an exchange student in the United States. It had been half a year since they last saw each other.
Not long after, Lin Zihan, who had just got off the plane, walked out calmly with a simple suitcase in his hand.
"Zihan!" A surprised voice called his name from afar. Lin Zihan's eyes lit up, and he ran towards the figure.
When Xia Weilan arrived at the airport, she waited for a long time but didn't see Lin Zihan.
She kept calling Lin Zihan, but the prompt said, "The other party has turned off the phone."
Not long after, as if thinking of something, Xia Weilan called Wei Hongmei, but no one answered.
Xia Weilan's eyes flashed, and she drove straight to the shantytown.
The car drove from the bustling area to the civilian area. After that, it was a shantytown where one had to walk.
Xia Weilan walked towards Wei Hongmei's residence.
It was a small two - bedroom, one - living - room apartment with the door tightly closed.
Xia Weilan stood at the door and heard Wei Hongmei's unsteady voice inside:
"I've told you, your sister doesn't want us anymore. She married into a rich family and can't wait to get rid of us. You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't believe it. You must be making it up. Only Xuefei would do such things. You said that Sister Weilan drove Xuefei crazy. I just don't believe it. I'm going to find Sister Weilan and ask her clearly."
Lin Zihan's voice was even louder than Wei Hongmei's. Then there was a heavy sound of footsteps.
"Click!" The door was opened from the inside by Lin Zihan.
"Sister!" Lin Zihan, who had a dissatisfied look on his face, suddenly froze.
After reacting, Lin Zihan immediately pulled Xia Weilan and rushed out: "Sister, what are you doing here? Mom is crazy. She might beat you."
Xia Weilan quickly followed Lin Zihan's steps. The warmth from Lin Zihan's hand made her eyes moist.
Lin Zihan led Xia Weilan to a safe corner and then stopped. He looked at Xia Weilan with some confusion:
"What on earth happened?"
He stared at her intently, his lips tightly pursed, showing a kind of stubbornness.
"The Lin family went bankrupt." Xia Weilan admitted under his gaze.
"I know it went bankrupt. But how could it go bankrupt? Mom said it was your fault. I don't believe it. I want to hear it from you. I only believe what you say!" Lin Zihan's voice was hoarse.
Xia Weilan took a deep breath and slowly told him what had happened.
"Sister!" After hearing that, Lin Zihan hugged Xia Weilan tightly and said,
"If I had been in Kyoto, I would never have let them bully you like that."
Lin Xuefei's failed attempt at poisoning, Lin Jiancheng's embezzlement of public funds for gambling, and even the whole family's conspiracy to sell Xia Weilan to an entertainment venue...
"I'm fine, but you're still their child, and the Lin family is still your home. Don't act impulsively." Xia Weilan tried to calm his excited emotions:
"I originally wanted to take you to live with the Mo family. But if you don't want to, I'll pay for your tuition and living expenses from now on."
Hearing this, Lin Zihan frowned disapprovingly: "A real man fails if he can't protect his sister. How can I burden you? I, Lin Zihan, will work to earn my own tuition. Even if the Lin family goes bankrupt, I'm not afraid."
Lin Zihan was extremely serious when he said this.
Xia Weilan knew his temper but was still a bit worried because he was only 16 years old.
"Okay, okay," Lin Zihan quickly pushed her out: "You girls are so sentimental. You think the sky is falling at the slightest thing. I'm going to be the one who can protect you in the future. If I'm defeated by such a small thing, how can I amount to anything?"
Unexpectedly, in the end, it was Lin Zihan who comforted Xia Weilan.
Xia Weilan paused for a moment and then agreed to Lin Zihan's suggestion but asked him to contact her if anything happened.
Lin Zihan quickly agreed and then saw Xia Weilan off. Then he walked towards home.
"Where's your sister?" Wei Hongmei looked at the alley in a bad mood. Not seeing Xia Weilan, she seemed a bit disappointed.
"This ungrateful girl really doesn't recognize me as her mother anymore." Wei Hongmei said angrily.
Lin Zihan suddenly closed the door of his room: "If my mom sold me, I wouldn't recognize her either!"
Although Lin Zihan had a bad temper, he still took out some delicious food from his suitcase:
"The home may not be a real home, but I'm back. You don't even think about celebrating for me. It seems I have to cook for myself."
Lin Zihan took the ingredients he brought and went into the kitchen.
Wei Hongmei followed him in, stunned: "Son, when did you learn to cook?"
"I can not only cook for myself, but I've also learned a lot of other things." Lin Zihan said in a rather mature way.