Xu Qingqing was unaware of the online storm brewing around her. After finishing her phone call with Aunt Xu, she prepared to go to bed.
For some reason, her aunt had called earlier, specifically instructing her to stay close to Xie Lianqing and avoid returning to the family estate. Xu Qingqing had wanted to ask why, but the call ended abruptly. When she tried calling back, Aunt Xu’s assistant answered, explaining that the company was dealing with an urgent matter and her aunt was too busy to talk.
Xu Qingqing was always obedient in such situations—after all, Aunt Xu would never steer her wrong. As for the reason behind the warning, she figured she could just ask Xie Lianqing later, so she stayed put at his place without protest.
By the time she woke up, dusk was already settling in.
When she stepped out of the room, Nanny Wang was preparing dinner. Noticing her, the nanny greeted respectfully, "Miss Xu, you're awake? The young master has already returned and is currently in his study attending a meeting."
Xu Qingqing headed straight for the study, pushing the door open to find Xie Lianqing listening intently to someone’s report on the other end of a video call, his expression cool and detached. His gaze flickered toward her briefly before he turned away, continuing his conversation in a composed tone.
Having grown up around such scenes, Xu Qingqing lingered at the doorway for a moment before retreating to the living room. She plopped onto the sofa, boredom gnawing at her, and eventually picked up her tablet to play a game.
Thanks to the drama on Weibo, she’d developed a mild aversion to her phone. Even now, she felt safer using her tablet, as if it could shield her from the lingering unease.
Before long, Xie Lianqing emerged from the study. He gently stroked her long hair and asked, "What are you playing?"
Xu Qingqing was notoriously bad at games, and she’d just gotten herself killed again. Staring at the defeat screen, she looked up and countered, "When did you get back?" She had originally planned to leave after her nap, but she’d slept straight into the evening.
"Not long ago," Xie Lianqing replied casually. "Did something happen this afternoon? Your phone was off all day, so I came home early to see you."
He had expected her to immediately pour out her grievances the moment she saw him, but she’d remained tight-lipped.
Xu Qingqing pouted, mumbling vaguely, "Nothing much." She hadn’t planned to whine to Xie Lianqing about it—being publicly dragged online was humiliating, and she wasn’t about to admit how badly she’d been roasted.
Some things were better left unsaid. Her pride as the esteemed Miss Xu was non-negotiable.
Xie Lianqing sat beside her and asked softly, "You seem upset."
Xu Qingqing frowned, annoyed that he couldn’t take a hint. Couldn’t he tell she didn’t want to talk about it?
She exited the game and opened a match-three puzzle instead, refusing to meet his eyes. "I’m fine. Seriously, drop it."
To avoid further questioning, she slowly turned her phone back on. The moment it booted up, notifications flooded in—dozens of missed calls and messages from WeChat. It seemed like the whole world had been trying to reach her. Some were concerned, others gleeful, and a few were just fishing for gossip. The incident had clearly blown up.
While not many knew about Xu Qingqing’s anonymous account, there were still some who had connected the dots—especially after both the Xu and Xie families had stepped in, and even Zhou Chenyu, the heir of the Zhou Group, had stooped to arguing with netizens.
The only person who could rally such a defense was Xu Qingqing.
Among the missed calls were Xie Lianqing, Xu Changshan, Aunt Xu, Zhou Chenyu (that troublemaking friend of hers), and even two from Grandpa Xu.
She breezed past most of them, immediately calling her grandfather back.
The call connected quickly. On the other end, Grandpa Xu was wearing a straw hat, the sunny backdrop of a vast grassland stretching behind him. His usually stern face was crinkled in a smile. "Qingqing?"
Xu Qingqing instantly switched to a sweet, cooing tone. "Grandpa, you and Grandma have been traveling for so long! I miss you both so much!" She shot a glare at Xie Lianqing.
If not for him insisting she stay under the guise of "tutoring," she would’ve already joined her grandparents on their trip.
Grandpa Xu chuckled. "We’ll be back soon. You focus on studying with Lianqing."
Having worked hard all his life, Grandpa Xu had only retired a few years ago, handing the company over to his daughter. Now, he and Grandma Xu were indulging in their golden years, traveling the world without a care.
Xu Qingqing pouted. "But I want to come with you!" Judging by how happy her grandfather sounded, their trip must be amazing—so amazing that they didn’t even want to come home.
Plus, if she traveled, she wouldn’t have to stay with Xie Lianqing. Long-distance relationships were notorious for falling apart. A few months apart, and maybe they’d break up naturally.
Grandpa Xu shook his head. "Absolutely not. You stay home and study. How were your exams? Have the results come out yet? Just because it’s vacation doesn’t mean you slack off—what about your CET-4?"
While the rest of the Xu family spoiled her endlessly, Grandpa Xu was the only one still clinging to the hope of molding her into a top student. Unfortunately, Xu Qingqing had always been lazy, slow to learn, and too pampered to endure rigorous study. Grandma Xu had long since intervened, and eventually, Grandpa Xu had given up, letting her do as she pleased.
After all, he was still in good health—he could easily live another two or three decades. The company didn’t necessarily need Xu Qingqing to take over. There were other heirs, and if all else failed, they could always hire a professional CEO.
But just as he’d made peace with that, Xu Qingqing had somehow—miraculously—gotten into A University, one of the top five schools in the country!
Grandpa Xu had been overjoyed. His already sky-high bias for his granddaughter skyrocketed, and he became convinced she was a hidden genius. All his old aspirations resurfaced, and now he dreamed of grooming her into the perfect successor, constantly nagging her about studying.
"My final grades aren’t out yet," Xu Qingqing groaned, her head already aching at the mention of academics.
Before Grandpa Xu could launch into another lecture, she quickly changed the subject. "Where’s Grandma? What’s she doing?"
Grandpa Xu waved a hand. "She’s looking at horses."
Xu Qingqing perked up. "Is Grandma buying a horse?"
Grandpa Xu nodded nonchalantly. "Yes. And a ranch. The air here is nice—we’re thinking of retiring here."
Xu Qingqing: "..."
Suddenly, Grandpa Xu shifted gears. "Qingqing, how are things with that Xie boy?"
Xu Qingqing stiffened. "W-what do you mean? Why are you asking?"
Grandpa Xu’s tone turned meaningful. "Once we return, we can start discussing your marriage." Xie Lianqing might have acted out of protectiveness, but the Xu Group’s stocks had taken a noticeable hit because of it.
Xu Qingqing froze, then blurted out, "No way!" Marriage? Not a chance. She hadn’t forgotten that in the original novel, she’d died right before her wedding.
Her refusal was so swift that Xie Lianqing, who had been sipping his coffee leisurely, arched a brow and glanced at her.
Xu Qingqing was completely oblivious at the moment, her entire focus devoted to handling Grandpa Xu: "I'm still a student! I don’t want to get married so soon."
Grandpa Xu chuckled warmly. "What’s the matter? Has he been treating you poorly?" If Xie Lianqing dared to mistreat his granddaughter, today’s discussion would take a very different turn.
"I don’t care, I just don’t want to." Xu Qingqing was thoroughly exasperated. She had just been contemplating breaking up, and now her grandfather was bringing up the arranged marriage again—couldn’t he see he was undermining her?
Just as Grandpa Xu was about to say more, a sudden voice cut through the call, followed by a hand slapping his shoulder. "You stubborn old man! Didn’t I tell you not to call Qingqing? Xu Changshan, that snitch, is useless, and so are you!"
Xu Qingqing was baffled. "...Who’s Xu Changshan? Grandpa, did you call me just to talk about him?"
Grandma Xu swiftly snatched the phone away, beaming. "Of course not! I was just talking about the horse ranch. Your grandfather and your aunt are both so stingy—they refuse to buy it for me!"
Without even knowing the price of the ranch, Xu Qingqing immediately raised her hand in enthusiasm. "I’ll buy it for you, Grandma!"
Grandma Xu laughed like a blooming flower. "Good! I knew my Qingqing was the most filial! My, my, how did my precious granddaughter get even prettier in just a few days?"
Xu Qingqing sweetly replied, "Good genes—I take after you, Grandma! And you’re looking more beautiful than ever too!"
Grandma Xu’s hearty laughter was so loud that even Xie Lianqing, sitting nearby in the room, could hear it.
...
By the time Xu Qingqing and her grandmother finished their mutual flattery and hung up, Xie Lianqing was standing by with a cup of coffee in hand.
After chatting with her grandparents, Xu Qingqing had completely forgotten the frustrations of the afternoon. She bounced around the room cheerfully, just as Nanny Wang announced dinner was ready.
As Xu Qingqing ate, Xie Lianqing silently observed her. He was tempted to confront her about how swiftly she had rejected the marriage earlier, but then he recalled their conversation the night before and the online drama from today...
Considering the grievances Miss Xu had endured today, he merely raised an eyebrow and decided to let it slide—for now.
Midway through dinner, Xu Qingqing realized she’d forgotten to complain to her grandparents. But since Aunt Xu had already avenged her, she could always bring it up when they returned.
When it came to matters involving Xu Changshan, Xu Qingqing usually hesitated to trouble her grandparents. No matter how useless he was, he was still their son.
Though Grandpa and Grandma Xu never voiced it, seeing their own son constantly stirring up trouble and disrupting the family harmony surely pained them.
Xu Qingqing might act spoiled with her boyfriend, but she was deeply filial toward her grandparents.
Tonight, Nanny Wang had prepared shrimp. Xu Qingqing nibbled her chopsticks, then pointed at the table imperiously. "Xie Lianqing, what are you staring at? Peel the shrimp for me."
Xie Lianqing: ...So the young mistress couldn’t win against the internet trolls and decided to take it out on him instead.
Proof that she only bullied the weak and feared the strong.
