Xie Lan stepped out of the airport arrivals gate—everything was just as she remembered.
She moved aside, intending to check her unread messages, when a distant call disrupted her plans.
"Miss, over here!"
Xie Lan turned toward the voice and recognized the family driver, who had chauffeured her a few times before.
As she approached, he hurriedly took her luggage from her hands. "Let me handle this."
Then, studying her, he marveled at the change in her, remarking, "A few years abroad have truly transformed you, Miss."
Xie Lan smiled naturally, thanking him, her poised demeanor drawing another admiring sigh from the driver.
He had been the one to bring Xie Lan back to the Xie Family all those years ago, and no one knew better than him how different she had been then.
Now, she was practically unrecognizable.
Settling into the car, Xie Lan took the opportunity to reply to her messages one by one.
Currently a junior in university, she was collaborating with classmates on a project for an international competition. However, with the recent holiday season, team members were scattered on break, leaving them to rely on emails to sync progress.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to return home, intending instead to travel to nearby countries with friends.
But after two years away and with some family matters arising, her father had asked her to come back. She also saw it as a chance to reunite with old friends.
After finishing her messages, she glanced out the window, gauging that they still had some distance to cover before reaching home. She set her phone aside and decided to chat with the driver.
After a moment’s thought, she recalled his surname and asked, "Uncle Liu, how has the family been lately?"
"Same as always, everyone’s doing fine," he replied, pausing briefly before adding cautiously, "But when you get back, try not to bring up Second Young Master. The master hasn’t been in the best mood recently."
Xie Lan’s expression remained unreadable as she calmly acknowledged, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Liu. My father mentioned it to me as well."
"Second Young Master really..." The driver started to say more but hesitated, realizing it wasn’t appropriate to elaborate in front of Xie Lan. He chuckled awkwardly and deflected, "Well, he’s young, after all."
Xie Lan pressed her lips into a faint smile and didn’t respond further.
Sensing her reticence, the driver wisely dropped the subject.
A little over a week ago, the Xie Family had suddenly realized Xie Ya was missing.
The housekeeper had first noticed Xie Ya hadn’t returned home in two days, but since he had only recently graduated and often went out to socialize, no one thought much of it—until his phone was found to be permanently switched off. Alarmed, the housekeeper reported the situation to the Xie father and son.
An investigation later revealed Xie Ya had left for Country W alone a week earlier.
If he had stayed domestically, the Xie Family’s influence would have made finding him effortless. But abroad, their reach was far more limited.
No one knew why Xie Ya had gone to Country W or what he intended to do there.
Within the Xie Family, no one had ever truly tried to understand him. To them, he was just the illegitimate son—unambitious, idle, and spoiled.
Even Xie Father didn’t seem overly concerned. Upon learning of Xie Ya’s disappearance, he immediately instructed his assistant to freeze all of Xie Ya’s credit cards.
His reasoning was simple: cut off the funds, and Xie Ya would have no choice but to return home.
Unlike Xie Lan, who had endured hardships, Xie Ya had lived a life of luxury since childhood. Without financial support, he wouldn’t last a month.
Soon, Xie Lan arrived home to find neither Xie Father nor Xie Huai present.
She returned to her bedroom, untouched in the two years she’d been away, still arranged exactly as she’d left it.
Truthfully, she had only lived in this room for a few months and held no deep attachment to it. Yet she vividly remembered how she’d felt the first time she stepped inside.
Back then, she had been a mix of nervousness and hope. Though reality hadn’t matched her expectations, she had still been grateful.
Looking back now, she wished she could hug her younger self.
And tell her: Don’t wait for others to hand you happiness—go out and seize it yourself.
Her phone chimed with a new message just then.
Picking it up, she saw it was from Zhou Zhuofei:
[You’re back already? So fast! Let me know when you’re free—I’ll treat you to a meal!]
Reading the words, Xie Lan couldn’t help but smile.
Zhou Zhuofei’s enthusiasm was as infectious as ever; even through text, her lively tone came through.
Over the past two years, Xie Lan and Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t kept in close contact. Zhou Zhuofei had encouraged her to expand her social circle and not dwell on the past, so their interactions had mostly been limited to holiday greetings or brief comments online.
When Zhou Zhuofei learned Xie Lan was returning, she had eagerly extended the invitation, hoping to meet up if time allowed.
Xie Lan had agreed without hesitation. If she were to list the people she most wanted to see upon returning, Zhou Zhuofei would undoubtedly be among them—along with her high school homeroom teacher, who had always looked out for her, and her old classmates.
But these reunions couldn’t be rushed; they required careful planning.
Steadying her thoughts, Xie Lan replied to Zhou Zhuofei before turning to unpacking.
She had only brought back essentials and a few gifts.
At dinner, neither Xie Father nor Xie Huai returned. The housekeeper apologized, explaining they had been called away to a last-minute business engagement and had to leave her to dine alone.
Xie Lan had expected as much and didn’t complain, simply smiling and saying, "It’s fine. They work hard."
Her understanding and gracious attitude only deepened the staff’s affection for her.
After all, who wouldn’t adore such a well-mannered, accomplished young woman?
The Xie Family’s employees were long-tenured, having watched both children grow up. Xie Huai was aloof, Xie Ya was rebellious—making Xie Lan’s warmth all the more striking.
Yet, surprisingly, just as Xie Lan was finishing her meal, Xie Huai walked in.
His steps were hurried as he entered the dining room, pausing briefly at the sight of Xie Lan before regaining his composure. With measured politeness, he greeted her, "You’re back."
At the same time, Xie Lan set down her spoon and greeted him obediently, "Hello, Eldest Brother."
Xie Huai pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, and a servant immediately brought him utensils.
"Would you like rice, Young Master?"
He waved it off. "Just a bowl of soup."
While the servant was serving soup, Xie Huai stole a few more glances at Xie Lan. Two years apart had brought changes beyond his imagination.
She had matured, her demeanor grown steadier, and she’d learned the art of dressing well—now with permed hair and light makeup, she was almost unrecognizable from before.
"You seem to have lost a lot of weight," Xie Huai remarked.
"I have, a little. I’ve been playing tennis often with friends."
Xie Huai gave a noncommittal hum, unsure what else to say.
Two years ago, Xie Lan had still been so obviously a child, but now, whether in appearance or speech, she carried herself no differently from an adult.
"Big Brother, I brought you a souvenir. Should I get it for you later?"
Hearing Xie Lan’s voice, Xie Huai snapped out of his thoughts. "Sure."
"I’m done eating, so I’ll head back first. Take your time, Big Brother."
As Xie Lan stood to leave, Xie Huai’s gaze unconsciously followed, trying to reconcile the figure before him with the one in his memories.
But no matter how he looked, they didn’t match.
Only then did it dawn on him—why Xie Lan’s transformation felt so jarring, why he couldn’t quite process it.
Because she no longer resembled her.
The realization left Xie Huai unsettled, as if the whole world had moved on while he alone remained stuck in place.
If even Xie Lan had changed, was there still anyone in this world who bore a resemblance to her?
Xie Huai sank back into contemplation.
This time, no one interrupted him, and he had no idea how much time had passed before he finally stirred—only to find the bowl of soup in front of him had gone cold.
A servant approached, asking if he’d like it reheated, but he waved them off.
"Take it away."
After returning to her room, Xie Lan fetched the gift she’d prepared for Xie Huai and brought it over. It was a pair of antique cufflinks she’d hunted down, rumored to have once belonged to a prominent figure. She’d had them restored after purchasing them—not particularly valuable, but rich in symbolism.
Xie Huai accepted the gift with a simple word of thanks, saying they could talk more in the daytime, as if deliberately avoiding being alone with her.
His reaction told Xie Lan all she needed to know.
She’d dyed her hair on purpose, and her current style of dress—while something she liked—was also meant to distance herself from her mother as much as possible.
Zhou Zhuofei had been deeply uneasy about her return and reunion with Xie Huai, warning her repeatedly even before she’d come back. Only after seeing recent photos had Zhou Zhuofei finally relaxed.
Xie Lan understood her sister’s feelings perfectly. Xie Huai had done something unforgivable, so her resentment was only natural.
But Xie Lan’s own emotions were far more complicated. No matter how flawed he was, he had shown her some degree of care—though she knew it was only because of his love for someone else.
Perhaps she just wasn’t enlightened enough yet.
"Oh, before you go," Xie Huai called out just as Xie Lan was leaving, "has Xie Ya contacted you?"
Xie Lan’s response was calm. "No. Dad already told me everything, but I’ve been busy lately, mostly staying at school."
Xie Huai frowned. Xie Ya had no reason to go to W Country, so his first thought had been that it must be related to Xie Lan—after all, W Country was just next door, only a few hours away.
Then Xie Lan asked, "Big Brother, I heard you were planning to arrange a marriage alliance between Second Brother and the Jiang Family. Is that true?"
"Who told you that?" he countered.
"Dad mentioned it in passing."
Xie Huai didn’t press further. "It’s under consideration. The Jiang Family has been very receptive..."
"But Second Brother ran away. What if you can’t find him?" Xie Lan pretended to think seriously before suggesting, "You’re still single too, Big Brother. Why not consider it yourself? Business alliances don’t really care about feelings, do they?"
Xie Huai’s expression darkened instantly. "These are matters for adults. It’s late—go rest."
