Chapter 85

Kong Xiyan's father's house was in a suburban area, not a particularly bustling place. The streets were crowded with people, and vendors hawked their wares, filling the morning air with all kinds of smells. It seemed B City's recent developments hadn't reached this area at all.

This was still the Kong Xiyan she knew.

The steam bun shop by the roadside, the tiny cake shop, the adjacent milk tea store, and the noisy breakfast stalls—all still there.

Too familiar.

So familiar that Kong Xiyan's eyes felt hot with tears. She stared outside without blinking, silent.

Chi Wanzhao turned to see her like this, moved closer, and whispered, "What are you thinking?"

Kong Xiyan smiled faintly, lowered her eyes, and said softly, "If only my dad were still here."

Chi Wanzhao's bright eyes dimmed. She pressed her lips together and said, "Don't think too much."

Kong Xiyan turned to her. "Mm."

Chi Wanzhao held her hand, her thumb rubbing the webbing between Kong Xiyan's fingers, and said gently, "If you're feeling bad, don't hold it in. A good cry will make you feel better."

Hearing her awkward attempt at comfort, Kong Xiyan smiled, her brows relaxing. She shook her head. "I'm not sad."

Although rumors abroad said her father's death was her fault, she knew he had already been in the terminal stage. He didn't have much time left. Even without her scandals, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few days.

So she didn't blame herself.

Only now that she was back, looking at the familiar sights, thinking of the tall man who had once stood by her side, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pain.

The car drove all the way to the entrance of the residential complex.

Chi Wanzhao led Kong Xiyan out of the car and said to Lu Han, "Wait here."

Lu Han nodded. "Yes, CEO Chi."

He watched the two enter the building.

The complex was an old style, five stories high, without an elevator. Garbage bags were still piled in the hallway, and the smell of leftover food wafted through the corridors.

The environment wasn't great.

Kong Xiyan had originally bought an apartment for her dad, but he thought moving was troublesome. He had lived here for decades, surrounded by old neighbors, and was used to it, so he never moved. Now she thought: Good thing he didn't.

Chi Wanzhao noticed she was walking slowly but didn't rush her, just followed behind, occasionally glancing at the building across. It faced this one, and from here she could see colorful posters plastered on the walls of the opposite corridor. Some had yellowed and faded, rustling in the wind.

Chi Wanzhao looked a few times then looked away.

They headed to the fifth floor, the innermost apartment. From her bag, Kong Xiyan took out a key that hadn't been used in three years, unsure if it would still work. Chi Wanzhao lowered her gaze, took the key from her hand, walked to the innermost room, and asked, "Shall I open it?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Yes."

As soon as she spoke, they heard sounds coming from inside. The soundproofing wasn't good, so she could clearly hear a woman's shrill voice.

"I said I'm not going out! I'd rather die than go out! What if those people find me? Mom! They'll beat me to death!"

"Then you hide here? How long can you hide?"

"I'll just hide here!"

"Still talking back! Who told you to gamble again? And to borrow from loan sharks! I think you really want to die!"

"I do! Mom, if you want to see me dead, I'll jump off the building right now! Anyway, going out means death either way!"

The two were arguing loudly, so loudly that Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao outside the door could hear every word. Chi Wanzhao's face darkened. She used the key to unlock the door.

Click.

The door opened.

Zhou Han and Zhou Meihua, standing in the living room, froze and quickly looked toward the door.

Two people stood there. One they didn't recognize, the other they knew all too well.

Kong Xiyan!

Zhou Meihua's eyes flickered with panic at seeing Kong Xiyan. She quickly composed herself, softened her voice, and smiled. "Xiyan, why are you back?"

Zhou Han felt a pang of guilt upon seeing Kong Xiyan and instinctively shrank back, hiding behind Zhou Meihua.

Zhou Meihua was also startled by Kong Xiyan's piercing gaze. She tried to smile, but it was more like a grimace.

Kong Xiyan stepped forward past Chi Wanzhao, eyes blazing with anger, and said coldly, "What are you doing here?"

Zhou Han glanced at Zhou Meihua, saying nothing.

Back then, when Tong Yue sent her a lawyer's letter, she had paid compensation as required, fearing that if she delayed a second, the events of three years ago might surface and cost her even more. But she was used to spending money freely and liked to gamble.

Her debts had grown. She used to take interest money from He Wei, patching up a tiny corner of the hole, but after the press conference, she had to pay all her assets to Jingyan. He Wei fired her, completely cutting off her income sources.

So, at the end of her rope, she and Zhou Meihua had come here.

It was sheer luck that the debt collectors hadn't found out she was here. If they had, she wouldn't have lasted a single day here.

So when faced with Kong Xiyan's question, she just stood there dumbly, unable to reply.

Zhou Meihua forced a smile and said, "What's all this? We're all sisters in the family; no need to make things so awkward. Xiyan, this house was your father's, and you know the relationship I had with your father, so of course we can live here."

Kong Xiyan was angered into laughter by her shamelessness. "My father's?"

"Madam Zhou, on what basis are you speaking to me now?"

"Your relationship with my father?"

"Illegal cohabitation?"

Zhou Meihua immediately became displeased at Kong Xiyan's words, anger rising on her face. "Kong Xiyan, if others don't know, you do. Do you want me to spell out the relationship between your father and me? Should I tell you how many times I slept with your father?"

"You're in the spotlight now, sure, but we're not entirely without ground to stand on. As your stepmother, if that's the attitude you have toward me, aren't you afraid I might go to the tabloids and expose you?"

Kong Xiyan sneered. "Expose me?"

"You two are really just alike."

Zhou Meihua frowned. "You!"

Her words were interrupted by Chi Wanzhao's flat tone. "Yes, equally stupid."

Zhou Han looked at Chi Wanzhao, anger flaring in her eyes.

"Who are you? Who gave you the right to speak here? Sis, you're something else, bringing just anyone home. Don't you find it dirty?"

Chi Wanzhao's face instantly grew cold. Her brows carried a sharp edge, her gaze like a blade, cutting through Zhou Han's facade.

Zhou Han couldn't help but swallow hard, her eyes shifting nervously under that casual glance.

Since Chi Wanzhao had entered, Zhou Han felt she looked familiar, as if she'd seen her somewhere, but couldn't quite recall. She'd wanted to take a closer look, but with Chi Wanzhao's cold expression, she shrank back immediately, not daring to look.

Zhou Meihua stepped in front of Zhou Han, like an old hen shielding her chick. She looked up at Kong Xiyan. "Anyway, we're not leaving!"

Kong Xiyan pulled out her phone from her pocket.

There was no reasoning with such unreasonable people; calling the police was quicker.

But Chi Wanzhao held her hand, taking the phone from her, then made a call and said coldly, "Fifth floor, come up."

Zhou Meihua and Zhou Han exchanged glances, feigning calmness as they stood still. Zhou Han even took out her phone from her coat pocket. "If you push me, I'll call the reporters!"

"Yes!"

Zhou Meihua sided with her. "I'll have those reporters see how you treat your stepmother! I'll let your fans see what a vicious woman you are! Even your father permitted us to stay, yet you want to kick us out!"

Kong Xiyan ignored her and turned to Chi Wanzhao. "Give me the phone. I'll call the police."

Chi Wanzhao curled her lips. "No need."

"Someone will take them away."

Zhou Meihua nervously stepped back, and Zhou Han grabbed her shoulder, her face pale.

Chi Wanzhao raised her hand to check her watch, expression normal. "You have five minutes to pack your luggage. Or you can wait downstairs."

Zhou Meihua obviously didn't believe her. She clutched the edge of the sofa firmly, her wrinkled face filled with stubbornness, with an air of burning their boats. "We're not leaving!"

Chi Wanzhao smiled coldly. "Suit yourself."

She then took Kong Xiyan's hand and walked aside. When Lu Han came up and saw the stalemate, Chi Wanzhao said calmly, "Please escort both Ladies Zhou downstairs."

Lu Han bent slightly, extending his hand. "Please."

Zhou Meihua stood in place, glaring at Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan, her teeth clenched and hatred burning in her eyes. Suddenly, with a fierce, teeth-baring lunge, she went straight for Chi Wanzhao! Her face was flushed red, her expression almost manic. But Lu Han moved in an instant, standing by her side, restraining her hands behind her back!

It was so fast that no one could see it clearly!

Zhou Han was still frozen, startled into trembling by Lu Han's action.

She couldn't get a single word out, shaking all over.

Zhou Meihua glared at Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan in fury, gnashing her teeth. "Let go of me!"

"I said let go! Can't you hear?"

She kept twisting her body, but couldn't move an inch. Her wrists were useless, and she couldn't break free.

Chi Wanzhao said slowly, "Madam Zhou, you might want to save your strength. It's almost New Year, and if you got hurt, that would be bad luck."

Zhou Meihua glared at her in hatred. Her hair was disheveled from the struggle, her features twisted, her face burning with fury, making her look sinister and frightening. But Chi Wanzhao remained unaffected, meeting her gaze with increasing coldness. The chill in her eyes couldn't be hidden. She signaled with her eyes to Lu Han to take them out.

Lu Han nodded. He freed his other hand to grab Zhou Han, who was still in shock, and led her out without using any force. As they neared the door, Zhou Han suddenly shouted, "You're protecting her, but do you even know what kind of woman she is?"

"She's a slut! Do you know she has a lover at the company?"

"Even an assistant!"

"She..."

Crack!

Zhou Han's head snapped to the side as Kong Xiyan yelled furiously, "Get out!"

"Why should I?!"

"Kong Xiyan, if you've done dirty deeds, don't be afraid to let people know!"

"I'm telling you, I'm going to say it anyway!"

Zhou Han's eyes were bloodshot as she struggled desperately. She looked at Chi Wanzhao. "You must not know, she's—"

Chi Wanzhao cut her off coldly, her expression fierce, her tone hostile. "She's what? Miss Zhou, it seems this time hasn't taught you anything."

"Wha... what?"

Zhou Han felt a tremor of fear when she met Chi Wanzhao's eyes.

Chi Wanzhao smiled coldly. "I hope you remember what 'disaster comes from careless talk' means."

Zhou Han stared at her tense profile, panic written in her eyes, and gritted out, "What do you mean by that?"

Chi Wanzhao waved her hand, and Lu Han pushed both women out the door. Zhou Han was still screaming, "What do you mean?!"

Soon, as she saw a group of men in black appearing on the street, she understood Chi Wanzhao's words. She grabbed Zhou Meihua and tried to run, abandoning their luggage without a second thought. Lu Han watched her retreating figure with a cold, knowing smile.

Fifth floor.

Kong Xiyan, furious, threw everything belonging to Zhou Han and Zhou Meihua out the door, using boxes to stuff the heavier items, not forgetting to call a locksmith to change the locks. After venting in silence, she slumped down on the sofa.

Chi Wanzhao walked over and hugged her, whispering, "Okay, it's all over."

Kong Xiyan's eyes welled with heat, her voice hoarse. "Am I unfilial? They've been living here and I didn't even know. They disturbed my father for so long and I didn't know. I..."

"No."

"You're not unfilial."

Chi Wanzhao hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "You didn't know. Don't blame yourself."

Kong Xiyan's voice was soft and choked. "It's my fault. I should have come back sooner."

She leaned against Chi Wanzhao's shoulder, her eyes and nose red. There were tears glistening in her eyes. She laughed at herself. "You know, my only regret in life is that I couldn't be with my father when he passed. He left alone."

"While we were in Changning, I often thought, if only I hadn't gone out that day, and stayed in the hospital with him... how nice that would have been."

"But I still went out."

Chi Wanzhao held her shoulders tightly, looking at her eyes. "It's not your fault."

Kong Xiyan gave a slight smile. "I know it's not my fault, but it will be my regret forever."

"He's gone, but I wasn't there for him. How sad he must have felt."

Chi Wanzhao's eyes were deep and dark, as if she were thinking of something else. After a long silence, she took Kong Xiyan's hand and spoke softly. "Xiyan, would you come home with me?"

Kong Xiyan looked up at her. Chi Wanzhao's eyes were dark and bright, with a small, clear reflection of her inside. Kong Xiyan's lips parted to speak, when Chi Wanzhao lowered her head, resting her chin on Kong Xiyan's shoulder, and said weakly, "Xiyan, let's go home."

She had never been like this.

So vulnerable.

Kong Xiyan was stunned for a moment before she replied, "Okay."