Chapter 25 The 24th day of getting disliked
Capital Huaxing Shopping Mall
As the top business district in the capital, only customers with more than 10 million yuan in bank card deposits could consume in such a top mall.
The customers who shop here were either rich or noble. So even when Xia Duoduo was a female star, there was no need to wear a mask.
At this time, she was sitting in the service area of a high-end luxury brand. Carrying a somewhat irritable expression, she constantly flipped through her mobile phone.
The phone displayed the chat interface with Xia Yuanzhou:
Xia Duoduo: 【Yuanzhou, I'm sorry. When you were angry, I realized my mistake and planned to give the room to Shi Wei. That’s why said that.】
Xia Duoduo: 【I was worried that Mom would be angry, so I said the wrong thing. Please don't be angry, okay?】
Xia Duoduo: 【We are siblings who grew up together. I have been with you for 20 years. Are you going to ignore me completely because of what happened today?】
Xia Duoduo: 【Yuanzhou, where are you? Please don't ignore me, okay?】
Xia Duoduo had sent several messages to Xia Yuanzhou, but he didn't reply to any of them.
At this time, the door of the fitting room opened. Sheng Linglan, wearing a D Brand’s high-end long dress, spun around in front of Xia Duoduo.
"Elder Sister Duoduo, how about this dress?"
Although Xia Duoduo wasn't in the mood, she still switched to her gentle face in a second, "It’s gorgeous!"
"That's great!" Sheng Linglan looked in the mirror satisfied, "Xia Shiwei is coming to the old house tonight, I don't want her to steal the limelight!"
Xia Duoduo’s head shot up at once. She grabbed Sheng Linglan's hand without control. Sheng Linglan yelped and Xia Duoduo realized that she hurt her and quickly loosened her grip.
"Linglan, you said Shi Wei is going to Sheng Family’s old house tonight? What do you mean?" Xia Duoduo's voice almost broke out of her throat.
Speaking of Shi Wei, Sheng Linglan pouted unhappily, "Yes, the engagement banquet was held in a hurry before and Grandfather was still on vacation on a small island abroad. He came back recently and said he wanted to see Shi Wei."
Xia Duoduo's expression froze.
Had Xia Shiwei reached the point of meeting his family? If she had to please old Mister Sheng, how could she marry into the Sheng Family?
"Speaking of this," Sheng Linglan frowned, "Elder Sister Duoduo, why is my cousin a scum? I heard that he likes you! Who is Xia Shiwei and she still wants to marry into our Sheng Family?!"
Though Xia Duoduo maintained a decent smile on her face, the smile was stiff.
Since the engagement party, everything had gone out of control and collapsed in a direction she couldn’t control. Xia Duoduo had a sudden boost of courage in her heart, "Linglan... can you take me to the banquet tonight?"
Sheng Linglan paused.
Xia Duoduo explained, "Elder Brother Jingchen...hasn't contacted me for a few days. I want to ask him in person why he treats me like this!"
Xia Duoduo sobbed softly, "If he really likes Shi Wei, I won't wait for him...I want a clear answer."
Sheng Linglan looked at Xia Duoduo sympathetically.
In her eyes, Xia Duoduo was the most suitable person to marry into the Sheng Family; she could accompany her shopping and do spa. That Xia Shiwei was just an adopted daughter who was picked up from the countryside. Why should she become her cousin-in-law?
Hoping that Sheng Jingchen would talk to Xia Duoduo as soon as possible and quickly dump Xia Shiwei, Sheng Linglan nodded, "No problem, Elder Sister Duoduo, come back to the Sheng’s house with me tonight!"
-
The two went shopping and had a spa. When they returned to the Sheng Family's old house, it was already past five in the evening.
It won't be long before Sheng Jingchen bring Xia Shiwei back to the old house.
Although Xia Duoduo had known Sheng Jingchen for more than 20 years, she had never been to the old house.
The Sheng Family's old house was located in the suburbs. It was originally a garden built by a scholar hermit in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The overall garden imitated the blueprint of West Lake in Hangzhou. There were pavilions and towers in the garden as well as the ponds and mountains. It had a unique flavor.
The car stopped at the gate of the garden. After entering the garden, the only way was on foot.
Sheng Linglan led Xia Duoduo to the main house. Along the way, the lush bamboo forest in the garden that left mottled shadows of trees on the green tiles and white walls could be seen.
When approaching the main house, the war-like atmosphere became more and more intense. The voice of old Mister Sheng scolding the servants in the main house could be heard from a distance.
"I told you to prepare the room, who told you to prepare this?" Grandfather Sheng couldn't help blushing when he saw the medicine the servants prepared on the table, "My eldest grandson is young and energetic, why would he need this stuff!"
Sheng Linglan and Xia Duoduo came to the lobby and saw the unspeakable pills on the table. Xia Duoduo didn't understand what the medicine was, but she could tell the efficacy from the medicine box.
Well, it was no different from the medicine Xu Yangyang gave Shi Wei that night.
When old Mister Sheng saw Sheng Linglan and Xia Duoduo coming in, he coldly ordered the servant, "Hurry up and get rid of this medicine!"
The servant quickly took the medicine box and left the lobby.
Sheng Linglan and Xia Duoduo got closer to old Mister Sheng. At the sight of Sheng Linglan’s return, old Mister Sheng’s expression became much gentler.
"Linglan, why are you back so late? Are your elder brother and elder sister-in-law here?"
"How can they be so fast? My elder cousin brother hasn't gotten off work yet!"
Sheng Linglan answered and exchanged a few words with old Mister Sheng.
Xia Duoduo was anxious when Sheng Linglan didn't introduce herself for a long time, so she could only take the initiative to say, "Grandpa, hello, I am Xia Duoduo, the daughter of the Xia Family."
At this time, Sheng Linglan remembered that she brought Xia Duoduo with her, and hurriedly introduced Xia Duoduo, "Oh yes, Grandfather, I almost forgot. She is Elder Sister Duoduo, my best friend!"
Old Master Sheng didn't look at Xia Duoduo, stroked his beard, and slowly poured himself a cup of tea.
"Xia Family's daughter, why didn't you come with your elder sister?"
Old Master Sheng looked neither annoyed or irked. Still, Xia Duoduo caught a different meaning from his words. Xia Shiwei was the daughter-in-law of the Sheng Family. The daughter-in-law hadn't even entered the house, so why was the daughter-in-law's younger sister here?
Xia Duoduo's face carried a slight embarrassment.
Sheng Linglan quickly took Xia Duoduo's arm, "Grandfather, Elder Sister Duoduo is my friend! Can't I bring my friend here?"
"Okay, okay!" Grandfather Sheng doted on Sheng Linglan, "Go to the kitchen to see how Chef Chen's dishes is coming along. Your cousins will be back in a while."
Xia Duoduo frowned.
How could it be Sheng Linglan's turn to go to the kitchen to check the dishes? Just ask the servants to go. But Sheng Linglan obviously didn't realize that this was an excuse for her grandfather to send her away. Thinking of the delicious food in the evening, she left happily.
For a while, only Grandfather Sheng and Xia Duoduo were left in the lobby.
Grandfather Sheng had a kind smile on his face, but his eyes were as cold as ice in December, "Miss Xia, right?"
Xia Duoduo immediately obediently replied, "Hello, Grandpa Sheng."
Grandfather Sheng walked slowly to the lobby door with a cane.
He looked at the green full moon and said in a deep voice, "I didn't expect that in a blink of an eye, you have grown up so much."
Xia Duoduo was a little surprised and deliberately approached Grandfather Sheng, "Grandpa Sheng had seen me when I was little? It's all my fault that I don't remember it well! If I had known this, I would have come to visit Grandpa earlier."
Grandfather Sheng glanced at Xia Duoduo disdainfully, "No, I only saw Shi Wei when she was still in her mother's womb. My family’s old woman verbally arranged the marriage between Jingchen and Shi Wei when Shi Wei was still in her mother's womb."
Xia Duoduo choked.
What the hell. Wasn't this saying that even if the Sheng and Xia Families had an arranged marriage from young in the early years, it was Xia Shiwei who got engaged and not her?
Xia Duoduo's face turned pale. Suddenly, she thought of something again, raised her head abruptly, and stared at Grandfather Sheng.
Grandfather Sheng's mouth curled up slightly, "You are right. Our family know that you aren’t the biological daughter of the Xia Family. I don't know what Xia Derong and Zhao Meiqi are thinking. They finally found their biological daughter, but they said she is an adopted daughter!"
"It's only Linglan who is still young and doesn't know what happened in the past. She can be fooled by you, but do you think that I, an old man, am so easy to fool?" Grandfather Sheng fiercely tapped his cane. His voice was extremely stern, "As long as I am still in this world, the granddaughter-in-law of our Sheng Family can only be Shi Wei! Don't even think about it!"
Xia Duoduo panicked. She didn't expect that Grandfather Sheng actually knew about the Xia Family’s situation. Nor did she expect that Grandfather Sheng knew of her scheme long ago and didn't hesitate to expose her mask. She didn't know how to refute for a moment and could only whisper, "Grandpa Sheng, you misunderstood. I'm Linglan's friend, I don't want to..."
"Do you want to or not, do you think I don't know?" Grandfather Sheng was even more unreserved. "What's the matter with the rumors in the wealthy circle? What's the matter with those online marketing? Do you think I don't know anything?"
Grandfather Sheng's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry the pressure of a thousand gold, making Xia Duoduo breathless. After all, he was a hegemon who had been galloping in the business world for decades. How could he not see Xia Duoduo's little trick?
Facing Grandfather Sheng, Xia Duoduo was angry and afraid. She wished she could dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it.
At this moment, Sheng Linglan ran over happily, "Grandfather~ I checked. Chef Chen's dinner is almost ready. I guess we can eat when my elder cousin brother comes back!"
Sheng Linglan ran forward and took Xia Duoduo's hand, "Then Elder Sister Duoduo and I will go change clothes! See you later for dinner!"
Facing his granddaughter, Grandfather Sheng nodded with satisfaction.
Sheng Linglan took Xia Duoduo's arm and left the lobby.
Along the way, Xia Duoduo recalled the words that Grandfather Sheng had scolded her and felt uneasy.
"Elder Sister Duoduo, what's wrong with you? Your face is so pale. Are you not feeling well?" Sheng Linglan asked with concern.
Xia Duoduo shook her head a little tiredly. At this moment, she saw the servant, who had been scolded by Grandfather Sheng, carrying the cold dishes prepared by Chef Chen to the dining hall.
And in the slightly bulging apron pocket, it seemed that there was still the drug that could make people lose control.
Xia Duoduo never believed that Sheng Jingchen saved Xia Shiwei out of love.
She firmly believed that it was his responsibility!
If...it was her who got into trouble...
She believed that Sheng Jingchen would do the same!
"Oh, where is my bracelet!" Xia Duoduo touched her empty wrist and was worried, "That is the bracelet my grandmother gave me. How could I lose it!"
"Did you lose it in the lobby?" Sheng Linglan was worried, "I'll ask the servant to look for it!"
"No need Linglan," Xia Duoduo said, "You go change your clothes, I'll go back and look for it. Better not delay today's dinner!"
Sheng Linglan pondered about it and nodded. After all, she was an eldest miss. She didn't care much about losing things and was too lazy to look for things. Since Xia Duoduo wanted to go, let her find it herself. Anyway, she wasn't stupid and could use the servants by herself.
Sheng Linglan walked toward the courtyard where she lived.
Xia Duoduo stared at Sheng Linglan's back until she could no longer see her figure. The smile on her face disappeared at once and she turned her head and walked toward the dining hall.
-
On the other side
The Rolls-Royce stopped at the door of the Sheng Family's old house.
Along the way, Shi Wei was extremely nervous.
From her return to the Xia Family to her first engagement with Sheng Jingchen, she had only met Grandmother Sheng and Sheng Jingchen from the Sheng Family. Grandmother Sheng seemed to like her a lot, but... the people of the Sheng Family, it was uncertain.
In this world centered on Xia Duoduo, everyone would like Xia Duoduo and hate Shi Wei. This seemed to have become the rule. At least since awakening, except for the villain in the novel, most other people have followed this rule.
Even if Shi Wei told herself not to be angry or sad, she still felt a little sad.
It was human nature. Who didn't want to be the one loved?
The system cheered up Shi Wei in the sea of consciousness, "Host! Be happy, think about it this way. Xia Duoduo's group hates you so much and there are Ye Yu and Xu Yangyang in prison! Even if you don't show your presence in front of them, they still happily give you dislike points!" Yes, even though Shi Wei had been busy with IP and setting up the filming these days, Xia Duoduo and those people were still enthusiastic, giving her dislike points every day. Adding up, she had more than 200,000 dislike points in her hands. It was more than 20 million.
As long as she didn't die, this dislike value will continue. At least before the TV series was finished, there was no need to worry about funds.
"So, there is nothing to be discouraged about!" The system cheered, "They hate you, we make money!"
Shi Wei couldn't help laughing. At this time, Sheng Jingchen heard Shi Wei's internal voice.
He stretched out his arm and made Shi Wei hold him, "Relax, my family is easy to get along with."
Shi Wei stared at Sheng Jingchen. As if she had been given a reassurance pill, she followed Sheng Jingchen into the Sheng Family's old house.
One second after entering the old house, Shi Wei found that Sheng Jingchen was being conservative.
As soon as they entered the door, a few bangs went off. Fireworks exploded above Sheng Jingchen and Shi Wei's heads.
Shi Wei was so scared that she hugged Sheng Jingchen tightly, thinking that something unexpected happened. But instead she saw Sheng Jingchen's aunt, uncle, their five-year-old little Nuomi, and the smiling old Mister Sheng, all waiting at the door.
Seeing the two people coming in, they immediately greeted them.
"Ah! This is Jingchen's little wife! She looks so beautiful!" This was Sheng Jingchen's aunt.
"Jingchen struck gold this time. He actually married such a beautiful wife home!" This was Sheng Jingchen's uncle.
"Isn't it because my wife had good eyes? This kid benefitted!" Grandfather Sheng was proud.
"Cousin Sister-in-law, cousin Sister-in-law! Hug! Hug!" This was Sheng Jingchen's little young cousin brother, little Nuomi.
The family surrounded Shi Wei and Sheng Jingchen in an instant and kept asking about Shi Wei's well-being.
Shi Wei had looked up a hundred venomous retorting quotes on Baidu and there was no room for her to use it. What throwing 5 million to Grandfather Sheng and making 10 million instead. That became a thing of the past.
She stared at these people who surrounded her and didn't catch on for a while.
These family members of Sheng Jingchen weren’t familiar with Shi Wei.
Even Grandfather Sheng had only heard Grandmother Sheng praise her a few times.
Still loving the house and the bird that came with it, they naturally treated Sheng Jingchen’s wife as they loved him.
This was the first time that Shi Wei felt the care and concern from her family after Grandmother Shi passed away.
She couldn't help but feel warm in her heart. Her eyes were slightly red.
Only Sheng Linglan held Xia Duoduo's arm and pouted unhappily.
"Elder Sister Duoduo is the best match for Elder Brother Jingchen! What do you know!"
Xia Duoduo smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything. However, she felt sour in her heart.
Just now when Sheng Linglan's parents came back and greeted her, their attitude was distant. Even Sheng Linglan's five-year-old cousin wasn't close to Xia Duoduo and acted as cold as a mini Sheng Jingchen.
Xia Duoduo thought that the Sheng Family was so difficult to get close to and was secretly delighted that Shi Wei would be ignored when she appeared later.
But when Shi Wei appeared, the group of people were so enthusiastic!
Singing? Purposely singing for her to see?
The group of people went to the dining hall to eat. Xia Duoduo felt that staying in the Sheng’s house was bringing humiliation to herself.
The Sheng Family completely ignored Xia Duoduo and kept asking Shi Wei, "Do you have any dietary restrictions?" "What do you like to eat?" "Do you like this dish?" "Weiwei hasn't eaten this rib, so she definitely doesn't like it. I'll have someone serve a new one!"
The family was so merry and lively, while she seemed like an outsider.
Xia Duoduo couldn't help but clench her fists.
Just when the family was having fun, the housekeeper came to report, "Master, the eldest young master of the Xia Family came to the door and said he wanted to see Miss Xia."
"Elder Brother came to see me?" Xia Duoduo was a little surprised, but she couldn't hide her delighted surprise in her words.
The housekeeper paused and corrected, "He came to see Miss Xia Shiwei."
Xia Duoduo's face turned pale in an instant. The joy that had flashed in her eyes dimmed.
She tilted her head slightly and glared at Shi Wei who was eating sweet and sour spare ribs comfortably.
[Dislike value from Xi Xia Duoduo +4000...]
Shi Wei:?
Shi Wei was busy fighting with the spare ribs and didn't pay attention to what the housekeeper said. Now she abruptly received dislike values from Xia Duoduo.
Excellent! Shi Wei was secretly happy. At first, she thought she wouldn't make much money on this trip when she saw the Sheng Family was so enthusiastic. Unexpectedly, Xia Duoduo came. At today's dinner, she not only felt the kindness of the Sheng Family, but enjoyed the dislike value that Xia Duoduo kept sending!
Profit, profit~
What’s more, her disgust for her had obviously upgraded. It was only a meal, but each time she gained the points, it was as high as 4,000!
At the side, Sheng Linglan contributed a lot of dislike value to Shi Wei intermittently, each time it was only +54+32+21...
This younger cousin sister of the Sheng Family was obviously showing her joy and didn't particularly hate herself.
Xia Yiwen came to find Shi Wei, while the meal here was almost finished. Shi Wei stood up and prepared to deal with Xia Yiwen.
The sky unknowingly darkened.
Shi Wei came to the door and saw Xia Yiwen standing in the night, wearing a straight three-piece suit. There was an inexplicably bleak air.
"Weiwei." Seeing Shi Wei coming out, Xia Yiwen's face showed some guilt and dejection, "I'm here to take you home."
Xia Yiwen knew that Shi Wei was going back to the Sheng’s house today.
He knew that he couldn't take Shi Wei home by himself, so he deliberately chose the time when Shi Wei came to the Sheng Family. He calculated that by this time, Shi Wei should have finished her meal with the Sheng Family.
Shi Wei couldn’t possibly refute him in front of the Sheng Family, right?
"Xia Yiwen, I have told you clearly," the cold moonlight sprinkled on Shi Wei. She had long lost her former childishness, her eyes were firm and decisive, "My relationship with the Xia Family ends here, I will never go back to the Xia Family again."
"Weiwei, I know what happened on the night of the engagement. We were wrong..." Xia Yiwen felt heartbroken, "But you are the daughter of the Xia Family! We have finally found you, how can we bear to let you leave?!"
Shi Wei didn't speak. She knew that even when the Ye Family concealed this matter, the Xia Family would know it sooner or later.
But this could not change anything.
Sheng Linglan, who was standing at the side, was completely confused. "Xia Yiwen, what do you mean by that? Isn't Xia Shiwei the adopted daughter of the Xia Family? When did she become the biological daughter?!"
Xia Yiwen choked.
This was originally a secret of the Xia Family.
He only knew that Grandmother Sheng knew about it, but it was hard to say whether the rest of the Sheng Family knew about it. Now, looking at the reaction of the Sheng Family, it seemed that only Grandfather Sheng knew about it.
"Yes," Xia Yiwen admitted with great sorrow, "Back then, Mother went to a manor in the far suburbs of Capital to nurture her pregnancy. When she went to the mountains to pick tea, she accidentally fell and gave birth prematurely. Shi Wei was born in the town hospital. Because of the negligence of the hospital nurse, the wrong child was taken... It was only four years ago that we learned about this and found Shi Wei."
Sheng Linglan's pupils shrank instantly. So, Shi Wei was the real daughter of the Xia Family and Xia Duoduo was a fake daughter? Then when these heiresses used to mock Shi Wei as a rural wild girl and said that she might be the illegitimate daughter of the Xia Family, Xia Duoduo didn't even say a word to refute?
How could she!
Sheng Linglan turned back to find Xia Duoduo, but for some reason Xia Duoduo didn't follow her.
She stamped her feet in annoyance.
At this side, Xia Yiwen was still trying to persuade Shi Wei to go home, "Weiwei, look, old Mister Sheng and the others are here today. We can't lose face in the Sheng Family. Come back with me!"
"Young man, don't use me as a shield!" Old Mister Sheng said bluntly, "Whether Shi Wei returns home or not doesn't depend on me. It depends on whether she is willing or not."
Xia Yiwen was stunned.
Wasn't Sheng Jingchen's marriage with Xia Shiwei based on her bloodline of the Xia Family? If Shi Wei left the Xia Family, there would be no Xia Family power behind her. Will old Mister Sheng still be interested in Shi Wei?
However, Old Master Sheng said, "When we made the engagement, it was indeed for the family. So our family is grateful to Shi Wei for helping Jingchen a lot. But the matter had been resolved. Whether Shi Wei and Jingchen are engaged or not is entirely up to them. They don't have to do it for anyone’s sake."
"Maybe four years ago, the Sheng Family needed a heiress. But now, whether it was a heiress or not, our Sheng Family doesn't care."
This statement was more or less a bit of a bridge-breaking meaning.
Xia Yiwen knew well that even if the Sheng Family had taken a fancy to the family power behind Shi Wei, the core was still the Xia Group established by Grandmother Xia and Grandfather Xia. Father Xia only inherited the Xia Group.
What the Sheng Family really took a fancy to was the relationship between Xia Shiwei and Grandmother Xia.
Xia Yiwen knew that today, he could not bring Shi Wei back again.
If the Sheng Family could not force Shi Wei to come back, who else could?
Did he really have to tell his parents that the daughter they recognized four years ago doesn't want them now?
Just then, the servant rushed in, "Master! It's not good! Miss Xia, Miss Xia, she's in trouble!"
Miss Xia?
Xia Yiwen looked at the servant in confusion and then looked at Shi Wei who was standing in front of Sheng Jingchen as if nothing had happened.
"It's not me," Shi Wei said nonchalantly, "She is talking about Xia Duoduo."
"Duoduo is here too?" Xia Yiwen was surprised.
The Sheng Family was hosting a dinner party to welcome their grandson's wife. What was she, an outsider, doing?
"Now isn't the time to discuss this." Sheng Jingchen interrupted Xia Yiwen and turned to ask the servant, "What happened to Xia Duoduo?"
The servant found it difficult to answer. She glanced at Sheng Jingchen and at old Mister Sheng.
Old Mister Sheng was confused and didn't understand what the servant meant. "Why are you hesitating? Speak!"
The servant gritted her teeth and could only say, "Master, didn't you ask me to dispose of the medicine? I obviously threw it away, but for some reason, Miss Xia consumed it by mistake!"
Everyone around was at a loss.
Only old Mister Sheng's pupils shrank.
The system gloated and told Shi Wei, "Host! I know what medicine Xia Duoduo took!"
His emoji face was full of a sly smile, "It's the medicine Xu Yangyang gave you at the last engagement party!"
"Besides, it's not like the servant’s explanation of consuming it by accident. It was clearly Xia Duoduo who took it on her own initiative!"