Chapter 36
Xie Zhengde chatted with Shen Yanqing for a while, then called Xie Mi into the study.
When she entered, only Xie Zhengde was there.
He was calmly flipping through a book. When he saw her come in, he gave a brief nod—words as sparing as ever, “Sit.”
Xie Mi obediently walked over and sat down.
“How have you been living all these years outside?” Xie Zhengde closed the book and asked.
“Not good.”
He hadn’t expected such a blunt reply. Xie Zhengde froze for a moment, then his eyes showed faint approval.
Speaking directly, no beating around the bush—good.
“Why not good? Was it because of money?”
“It wasn’t exactly about money.”
Xie Zhengde nodded in satisfaction. Ambitious, neither humble nor arrogant—good.
Xie Mi: “Mainly because I had no money.”
“…”
Honest, no concealment—good.
“What’s your plan now that you’re back?”
Xie Zhengde leisurely raised his teacup and took a sip, looking calm on the surface, though under the desk his leg was shaking like mad.
On the computer screen facing him were his recent Baidu searches:
[How to win back your daughter’s heart?]
[What to do if your daughter insists on running away from home?]
[Can a daughter unilaterally sever ties with her father?]
Xie Mi stayed silent, her expression serious.
Xie Zhengde’s tea was nearly gone. He chewed on the tea leaves, forehead damp with sweat, his leg trembling harder under the desk.
After what felt like centuries, Xie Mi finally spoke.
“That sunny-side room on the second floor—the one with the big terrace.”
“Huh?” Xie Zhengde didn’t get it.
“Huh?” Xie Mi didn’t get it either. “Didn’t you ask me which room I want to stay in?”
She had thought long and hard. That room was the best—biggest space, windows facing the lake. It was, without doubt, a luxury lakeside room.
Now that she finally got to be a rich person, of course she wanted the best.
Xie Mi was giddy with pride, completely unaware of the ecstatic look in Xie Zhengde’s eyes.
But as Chairman Xie, he had to maintain composure. Forcing down the joy in his heart, he kept a stern face.
“Alright, I’ll have Old Bai prepare that room and decorate it according to your liking.”
“Thanks, Dad!”
Xie Mi cheered, jumped up, hugged him quickly, then dashed out of the study.
The moment she left, Xie Zhengde leapt to his feet, clutching the father-daughter photo from the desk to his chest, tears streaming down his face.
“My daughter! My precious daughter—!”
“You called me?”
A crisp voice sounded from the doorway, nearly making him drop the photo frame.
Seeing Xie Mi peeking from behind the door, Xie Zhengde immediately put his stern mask back on, though his eyes held the misery of being caught in a socially embarrassing moment.
“Anything else?” he asked lightly.
“Yes.” Xie Mi’s pretty eyes curved into crescents, smiling sweetly. “Dad, drop some gold coins for me, yeah?”
…
[Ding—]
[Alipay: 5,000,000 yuan received.]
Xie Mi jumped three feet high on the spot, nearly dropping to her knees right then and there to kowtow three times in his direction.
She could hardly believe it. Starting today, she would become the happiest, most cheerful little girl alive.
“Congratulations, Teacher Xie, on returning to your family.”
A smiling voice came from behind.
Xie Mi turned and saw Shen Yanqing lounging lazily on the sofa, long legs crossed, one brow raised slightly at her.
“I’ve been meaning to ask—why are you here?”
Still fiddling with her phone as she paid off every kind of debt she had on Huabei and Caobei, Xie Mi walked over and sat on the sofa.
“Of course, to see Teacher Xie.”
“Don’t fake it!”
Xie Mi exposed him mercilessly. “First, how did you know I was here? Second, how do you know my dad? Third, just now the butler said you were the first man my dad ever brought home—don’t you think that’s suspicious?”
Shen Yanqing wasn’t annoyed at being called out. “As expected of Teacher Xie—sharp as always.”
“Spit it out, or I’ll choke you.”
Xie Mi narrowed her eyes dangerously, her hands creeping toward his neck like claws.
Shen Yanqing bowed his head with a laugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“Alright, alright. I have business ties with Chairman Xie. While chatting, I mentioned you. I told him a bit about you, and he invited me over.”
“You told him a bit about me?” Xie Mi sensed something fishy. “What exactly did you say?”
“Well… like how when you’re hungry you pick food from trash cans but can’t even beat the stray dogs for it. Or how you got cyberbullied, stalked, and threatened by antis. Or how you look sick and actually are sick…”
Halfway through, he noticed her face turning increasingly dangerous and wisely stopped, flashing a bright smile.
“You know me, I like to talk nonsense.”
Xie Mi understood now.
No wonder this arc was never in the original plot—it was Shen Yanqing’s handiwork.
But why did he do it?
“I want you to live well.” He seemed to see right through her heart.
For a split second, Xie Mi’s heart skipped a beat. This scene felt strangely familiar, though she couldn’t place why.
But smart people never overthink. If she couldn’t figure it out, she just wouldn’t bother. She slapped the table.
“As thanks, I’ll treat you to dinner!”
“Alright.”
Shen Yanqing’s peach-blossom eyes curved in delight, his smile as gentle as ever, “What will you treat me to?”
“Sha County snacks.”
“…”
The richer a person is, the stingier they get. No lies detected.
That first night in her new home, Xie Mi was so excited she couldn’t sleep.
To burn off the energy, she played two rounds of games.
After losing both, her joy turned into despair—now she really couldn’t sleep.
Outside the window came a rustling sound.
“Slow down, Mom.”
“Son, this is our chance. If we don’t drive her out within these two days, once she leaves to record her show, we won’t get another shot.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’m ready. Couldn’t scare her in the day, but tonight there’s no way I’ll fail.”
Xie Mi walked over to the window and saw two figures in white dresses with long black wigs covering their heads, climbing a rope toward her window.
Ah, so that’s it.
So this was how the original Xie Mi had been scared into madness when she stayed home before.
“We’re here, we’re here. Same plan as always—knock on the window, make faces, scare her to death…” Li Miyan hadn’t finished speaking when she met Xie Mi’s smiling eyes.
Xie Mi pointed her flashlight directly at Li Miyan and Xie Lian.
Click.
Bang—!
A high-powered outdoor flashlight burst to life, flooding half the sky with light. The just-asleep butler Old Bai jumped up instantly, ready to prepare four dishes and a soup.
Li Miyan’s eyes rolled back from the blinding glare. Her grip slipped, and she fell straight down.
“Mom!”
Rushing to save her, Xie Lian let go of the rope, leaping after her—only to land squarely on her back with a loud thud.
Pfft—
She would’ve been fine, but now she was gravely injured.
Li Miyan: Having you as my son is truly my misfortune.
