Chapter 281 - 81: Took the Bait
As soon as Xia Zhiyun spoke, Xia Zhengguang shot him a glare.
That might be the case, but with Zhang Yiqin in police custody, she couldn’t control whether he stayed at the villa or not.
However, this meant he no longer had a valid reason to kick Xia Jiajiao out.
After all, Xia Jiajiao was Zhang Yiqin’s biological daughter, so she had a right to live in this house.
"Just stay out of my sight from now on. I don’t want to see you."
It didn’t matter that he had watched Xia Jiajiao grow up; she was living proof of Zhang Yiqin’s affair, and he couldn’t stand the sight of her.
However, Xia Zhengguang seemed to have forgotten that when it came to infidelity, he was even more prolific than Zhang Yiqin.
Just recently, for instance, rumors about Xia Zhengguang and his female secretary being inappropriate had been swirling around Xia Corporation.
But since the parties involved never responded directly and no one had any concrete evidence, the matter eventually died down.
Xia Zhiyun had heard some of these rumors, but since Xia Zhengguang never admitted to them, he, as his son, couldn’t say anything.
Besides, Xia Zhiyun believed deep down that as long as he was the son of the legitimate wife, Zhang Yiqin, the Xia family would eventually be handed over to him.
Xia Jiajiao threw all the credit cards from her purse onto the coffee table in front of Xia Zhengguang, then stomped upstairs to her room in her stiletto heels.
"Dad, you canceled Jiao Jiao’s cards. What about her living expenses?"
Xia Jiajiao was a first-year graduate student at Dijing University. Even if she could stay in the dorms, she would still need money for food.
"Hmph, I’m not her dad. If she wants money, she can go ask your mother or her real father."
Now, just looking at Xia Jiajiao made Xia Zhengguang’s skin crawl, filling him with the urge to slap someone.
"And you’re not to give her any money either. Your money comes from the Xia family, and she’s not one of us."
Having learned the whole truth, Xia Zhengguang finally understood why Zhang Yiqin had treated Yun Zijin so poorly before.
It turned out that because she knew Yun Zijin wasn’t her biological daughter, she thought she could treat her however she wanted.
If Yun Zijin hadn’t been so capable herself, who knows how badly she would have been bullied by that mother-daughter pair.
"Alright, you go mind your own business. Don’t worry about me."
Xia Zhengguang waved his hand, dismissing Xia Zhiyun.
Xia Zhiyun knew Xia Zhengguang needed some time to cool down, so he left the living room without another word.
However, when Xia Zhiyun reached the second floor, he faintly heard something crash to the ground.
The sound was coming from Xia Jiajiao’s room.
After a moment’s thought, Xia Zhiyun walked over and knocked on the door.
"Jiao Jiao, are you okay?"
Having had to process so much information overnight, all Xia Jiajiao wanted to do now was vent her frustrations.
"I’m fine!"
Xia Jiajiao yelled from inside, followed immediately by the sound of shattering glass.
"Jiao Jiao, if something’s wrong, you have to tell me. Don’t do anything foolish."
She was his sister, after all, and Xia Zhiyun didn’t want to see her become despondent over this.
Xia Jiajiao suddenly threw the door open, her hair much messier than when she had first come back.
"Brother, what you and Dad talked about today... it’s not real, is it?"
Xia Jiajiao would rather be the young lady of the Xia family with unknown parents than be labeled the product of her mother’s affair.
Once that label was attached, it would be nearly impossible to get rid of.
Xia Zhiyun didn’t shake his head, but he didn’t say anything to contradict her either.
The matter was basically settled. Anything discovered by the J Bureau would only be disclosed to the parties involved or their lawyers after verification.
So, there was basically no way to spin this.
"How could Yun Zijin be so cruel? Mom is her..."
Xia Jiajiao was about to say that Zhang Yiqin was Yun Zijin’s biological mother, but then she remembered—Zhang Yiqin was *her* biological mother, not Yun Zijin’s.
In that case, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to criticize Yun Zijin anymore.
Xia Zhiyun looked at Xia Jiajiao. Yun Zijin wasn’t like them; she wouldn’t just let others walk all over her.
"Which J Bureau is Mom at? I’m going to see her."
She had no credit cards and no living expenses now. If Xia Zhengguang wouldn’t give her money, her only option was to go to Zhang Yiqin.
"It’s too late today. I’ll take you tomorrow."
Regardless, as her mother, Zhang Yiqin had an obligation to provide her with living expenses.
Xia Jiajiao’s mood improved slightly after getting Xia Zhiyun’s promise.
"Well, I’m going to wash up and go to bed. Good night, Brother."
With that, Xia Jiajiao shut the door right in his face, not caring about Xia Zhiyun’s reaction.
Xia Zhengguang, who had come upstairs at some point, said, "What did your mother teach her? Not even a greeting for her elder?"
After Xia Zhengguang finished speaking, Xia Zhiyun glanced at him. "Maybe she didn’t see you. I’m going to the study."
Xia Zhiyun felt as if he were the only normal person left in the entire Xia family.
＊
Worried about her future living expenses, Xia Jiajiao woke up early the next day.
When she came down to the living room, she saw Xia Zhengguang and Xia Zhiyun already eating breakfast.
’Did I not wake up early enough?’
Seeing Xia Jiajiao, the butler smoothly had someone bring out another breakfast for her.
They were a family, yet each person at the table had a different mindset as they ate.
"Dad, I’m taking Jiao Jiao to see Mom today."
Xia Jiajiao hadn’t seen Zhang Yiqin since she was arrested, so she had to go at least once.
Xia Zhiyun was also Zhang Yiqin’s son, so it was perfectly normal for him to visit her.
After breakfast, the half-siblings with the same mother left together, leaving Xia Zhengguang alone at home.
However, Xia Zhengguang had been wanting to avoid Xia Zhiyun today anyway, so their visit to Zhang Yiqin suited him perfectly.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunque received a message from Mo Bin: Xia Zhengguang had agreed to meet with the person they had arranged to discuss the sale of shares.
Yun Zijin didn’t go to the Lu Family’s company to keep Lu Yunque company today because she had to prepare for the Hua Country Style fashion show that evening.
After leaving the Xia family villa, Xia Zhengguang went to a coffee shop named "A Coffee Shop" and sat down across from a man so average he would disappear in a crowd.
"Mr. Shen?"
Xia Zhengguang looked at the man across from him and asked uncertainly.
"That’s me. Hello, Mr. Xia."
Hearing the familiar voice, Xia Zhengguang finally relaxed a little.
"My apologies. Scams are so sophisticated these days, I have to be careful."
"Understandable."
Mr. Shen picked up the black coffee in front of him and took a small sip.
The bitter taste made him frown slightly.
"Mr. Shen, about the matter of the shares you contacted me about before... is the offer still valid?"
He couldn’t kidnap Yun Zijin, and he had promised Zhang Yiqin he wouldn’t touch Xia Jiajiao. If he wanted Xia Corporation to survive this crisis, this was his only option.
"Of course. I’m just wondering how much Mr. Xia is prepared to sell?"