Chapter 857: Completely Untarnished
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Yu’s heart sank as she saw how resolute Xia Ling’s expression was.
No… she couldn’t be the reincarnated Xia Ling… she must be just a normal woman, right? She was just darned lucky and somehow managed to get the t.i.tle of the reincarnated Xia Ling. The real Xia Ling was soft-hearted and dumb, and would definitely forgive her if she knelt down and begged for forgiveness… This woman… was not Xia Ling.
Xia Yu’s emotions were complicated as she tried to decide if she was more angry or disappointed.
She snapped back to her senses quickly. It was not important at all if this woman was the reincarnated Xia Ling. The more critical thing at this point was to find a way to return to the Xia Family, and the key to that lay in Xia Ling’s hands! Xia Yu lift her head and begged again. “Alright… I don’t expect you to forgive me immediately… Sister, I’ll pay you back for all my sins all the days of my life… But can you please tell me how to contact the family… help me to find dad and mum… please?”
Xia Ling looked down at the girl in tears curled up near her feet.
Xia Yu’s performance was stellar in front of the cameras and the national audience. She had touched all of them and was using their sympathy to exert pressure on Xia Ling.
If Xia Ling was not moved, her reputation for being heartless would be cemented.
Regardless of whether she was right or wrong.
She gave a sn.i.g.g.e.r. “You want to meet mum and dad? Why?”
Xia Yu lifted her face to look up at Xia Ling with a lost expression. “I really miss them… I’m part of the Xia Family. Sister, wanting to go home is normal for anyone, right?”
Normal for everyone. Well played.
Xia Ling recalled her brother’s explanation of the family tree to her when she was back at home.
To protect the peace in the Xia Family, they lived a secluded life, away from the world. Other than Xia Family members, outsiders could not easily enter the Xia Family premises. In order words, once Xia Yu returned to the family, she would have to live in the mountains with them for the rest of her life.
Xia Ling smiled. “Fine. Going home will be good for you.” Regardless of what the verdict was when Xia Yu turned herself in to the police, if the alternative was going back to the Xia Family, there was no way that she would be able to harm anyone from the constraints of prison or the mountain village. Sending her to the scenic mountain village might help her to gain some good karma.
Hence, Xia Ling said, “I’ll let you meet mum and dad…”
Before she finished her sentence, Xia Yu was already thanking her profusely. “Thank you, thank you so much, Sister!”
She made to knock her head on the ground.
Xia Ling frowned and averted her glance again.
At this moment, the emcee heard instructions from the director in her in-ears. She turned away to listen more closely, her face turning to surprise. She then turned back and smilingly said, “Oh, what a coincidence! Miss Ling, your brother wants to have a video call with you right now. We are connecting him to the screen right this moment, is that alright?”
Xia Ling was taken aback. Brother wants to call me live?
He was watching the show?
She nodded. “Okay.”
The director immediately switched the screen footage, and Xia Moyan appeared on the big screen dressed in his usual white robe. His expression was elegant but cold, and there were retro-designed houses in the background, as well as the sound of the swis.h.i.+ng leaves of the bamboo forest.
His appearance made the hearts of many in the audience skip a beat.
There were all kinds of handsome men in the world—some were brash, some were cheerful, and some were cold and chic. Yet, Xia Moyan’s aura was one that was hard to pin down. It seemed like he was not from this world, like something that was from a piece of Chinese ink art, like he had walked out from someone’s hallucination. Completely untarnished by the world.
It was a beauty that couldn’t be explained. Subtle, but still enough to capture everyone’s attention.
Even Xia Yu was mesmerized.
“So he’s Preceptor Xia…” Some wealthy businessmen were watching the show, whether for work reasons or to keep up with news on the future missus of the Li Family. They weren’t as clueless as most netizens about the situation and had heard about the Preceptor Xia to a certain extent. They were all slightly shocked at his appearance. Who would have thought that someone as powerful as the Preceptor would appear on a mere music festival?!
“Record it down, record it down!” Many of the businessmen commanded their subordinates. “Next time, if we want to look for the Preceptor, we can use this image to hunt him down! Also, make sure to a.n.a.lyze the Preceptor’s outfit to identify what he likes. When we want to ask for his help, we need to be able to gift him with items that are to his preferences.
Dozens of staff were mobilized to capture this small image on the screen.
Yet, Xia Moyan appeared to be completely unaware of this. He called out to his sister, “Xiao Ling.”
Xia Ling c.o.c.ked her head to the side. “Brother, why are you calling me now?” Didn’t this brother hate to be in the limelight? Why did he have to go to this extent to get in touch with her?
Before Xia Moyan could respond, Xia Yu was already crawling towards the big screen. “Brother!”
Xia Moyan seemed to only just realize the presence of this other girl, and his voice was cold. “Who’s your brother?”
Xia Yu started to cry again. “Brother, it’s me, Xia Yu! I was sent to the orphanage with Sister Xia Ling when we were young! You’re an older brother to Sister, which means you’re my brother too, right? Brother, I’ve missed you…”
Even though Xia Yu had no idea what Xia Moyan did, that mysterious Wei Lingnan told her that the Xia Family’s power was beyond imagination. In which case, Xia Moyan must have wealth and power beyond measure. Xia Yu was keen to gain her brother’s acceptance. Maybe she’d be treated like a princess in the future!
Rather than to continue staying in the Pei Family, and having everyone say that she was a fake rich daughter!
She was going to become a real rich daughter!
Xia Yu’s eyes sparkled behind the tears.
However, Xia Moyan only said, “You’re mistaken.”
“What?” Xia Yu’s face turned to shock. “You… aren’t you Sister Xia Ling’s brother?” How weird… didn’t Xia Ling just call him brother?!
Xia Moyan said nonchalantly, “I’m Xiao Ling’s brother, but not yours.”
Xia Yu couldn’t understand what he was saying. Staring blankly, she asked, “Brother, what are you saying? I don’t understand…”
Xia Ling sighed silently. This Xia Yu… she had it in her head to know everyone in the Xia Family, but had no idea who she was trying to get to know! She should’ve stopped and thought about it… Xia Moyan had searched her, Xia Ling, out, but never went to find Xia Yu. There must be some reason for that, right? That was because she wasn’t Xia Moyan’s sister at all!
Unfortunately, Xia Yu wouldn’t understand.
Xia Yu started to plead. “Brother, don’t abandon me… there must be some misunderstanding, right? There must be! Is it her…” She turned and pointed at Xia Ling, her lips quivering. “Did Sister say anything to you about me? It’s all a misunderstanding… Brother, I did do some horrible things to Sister… but I’ve already admitted to my mistakes… Can you forgive me? Sister, sister… say something…”