Volume One, Chapter Three: A Reunion

Xia Shunian tapped his head and looked at Xia Jinchen speechlessly. “Mom usually tells you to read more and play less on the computer, but you sneaked on it again, didn’t you? Seven characters you couldn’t write, and two were written wrong.”

“Brother, don’t mind those little details,” Xia Jinchen chuckled, finishing his writing and then drawing a very abstract pig beside it.

“Hmph, scoundrel,” Xia Shunian muttered.

He wanted everyone to know that he was dealing with a notorious scoundrel.

Though they hadn’t seen their so-called ‘dog father’ in years, they had heard his name and even seen him on TV happily attending events with other women.

So when they saw Lu Junshen for the first time here, they immediately recognized him without doubt.

Xia Nanzhi was unwilling to speak about Lu Junshen to the children; most of what they knew came from her close friend, Meng Chu, who told them the stories.

Thus, the children understood why their mother lived here alone with them—because their wicked father had done things to hurt their mother; he was unworthy to be her husband, or their father.

“Brother, Second Brother, what are you doing?” Suisui ran over.

“Shh,” Xia Jinchen quickly covered Suisui’s mouth. “Suisui, be quiet, we’re doing something naughty.”

Suisui immediately covered her own mouth and nodded, promising not to make a sound. Then she noticed the colorful words written on the car and said, “Second Brother, you wrote something wrong.”

Xia Jinchen awkwardly waved his hand. “...Don’t mind those little details.”

Xia Shunian grabbed Suisui’s hand and asked, “Suisui, is Mom still not off work?”

“Mom was called to the manager’s office by Uncle Manager.”

At that moment, inside the manager’s office:

When Xia Nanzhi entered, the manager waved at her and introduced, “Nanzhi, come quickly. This is Mrs. Lu. Mrs. Lu, this is the auctioneer Nanzhi you were looking for.”

Mrs. Lu?

Xia Nanzhi raised her eyes, frowning slightly as she looked over.

It was her!

Xu Ruoqing!

The woman Lu Junshen once deeply loved.

Mrs. Lu? That made sense—Lu Junshen loved her dearly, and after divorcing Xia Nanzhi, he was eager to marry Xu Ruoqing.

She never expected that after coming alone to Country Y for Lu Junshen’s sake, she would still run into her here.

A tightness gripped Xia Nanzhi’s chest, her expression cooling.

Xu Ruoqing was immaculately dressed, setting down her coffee and casting a disdainful glance at Xia Nanzhi, who was veiled.

Chief Auctioneer?

An expert in appraising antiques?

Once famous for a single auction, she had been hyped online as some kind of expert, yet no one even knew what she really looked like.

Xu Ruoqing snorted coldly. “So you’re Nanzhi. I heard you’re not only an auctioneer but can also appraise antiques? We want to hire you for a few days to go back with us to the capital to inspect some antiques at the Lu family estate. The price is up to you.”

Xu Ruoqing confidently believed no one could refuse the phrase “price up to you,” especially with the Lu family’s renown—no one would dare decline.

She slowly sipped her coffee, waiting for Xia Nanzhi to flatter her.

A chill flickered in Xia Nanzhi’s heart.

She could appraise antiques. But no matter what, they wouldn’t get her.

She had left precisely to never see them again; there was no way she would agree to return to the capital with them.

“Sorry, I’m an auctioneer. If you want someone to appraise antiques, find someone else. I can’t do it. Manager, I have something to attend to. I’ll leave now.”

Xia Nanzhi said this and was about to leave.

Xu Ruoqing was stunned.

She actually refused.

“Wait, do you know who I am? Think carefully before you answer.”

“I know perfectly well. I refuse.”

“What kind of attitude is this? I’m paying you to come back. Why won’t you?”

Xu Ruoqing stood up and grabbed Xia Nanzhi’s arm.

To please Old Master Lu, Xu Ruoqing was determined to bring her back.

Xia Nanzhi frowned deeply and lowered her gaze to the hand gripping hers tightly.

At that moment, her pupils contracted sharply.

Xu Ruoqing wore a flawless green jade bracelet on her wrist, lustrous and translucent—an exquisite jadeite of supreme quality, worth over a hundred million.

Xia Nanzhi recognized it instantly; it was her family’s heirloom.

It was given to her by her mother, who had instructed her to keep it safe, saying it might be useful someday.

But when she left in haste years ago, the bracelet remained in the Lu family. Now, it was in Xu Ruoqing’s hands.

Had Lu Junshen given it to her?

Why would he give Xu Ruoqing her own precious heirloom?

Xia Nanzhi then grasped Xu Ruoqing’s hand firmly. “Is this jade bracelet yours?”

Xu Ruoqing shot her a displeased glare. “Of course it’s mine. My husband gave it to me. If it’s not mine, then whose is it?”

So indeed, Lu Junshen had given it to her.

A sharp pain struck Xia Nanzhi’s chest. Lu Junshen clearly knew it was her heirloom, yet he still gave it to Xu Ruoqing!

What a despicable scoundrel—to give his ex-wife’s family treasure to his current wife. Didn’t he feel any shame?

“Let go.”

Just then, a cold, commanding voice sounded.

Xia Nanzhi looked up. The man stood at the door, his tall figure straight and imposing. His brows were handsome, his eyes deep as an abyss, radiating an overwhelming aura of power accumulated over the years.

Xia Nanzhi’s fingers clenched tightly.

It was Lu Junshen!

Suisui was right; it wasn’t a mistake to have seen him.

Xia Nanzhi should have expected that if Xu Ruoqing showed up, Lu Junshen would be here too.

She hadn’t thought she would see Lu Junshen again after five years away.

Nor did she want to, because she was afraid.

She had given birth to three children, and if Lu Junshen found out, he would surely take them away.

The Lu family, such a powerful clan, would never allow their bloodline to be scattered outside.

These three children had become Xia Nanzhi’s entire life, and she would never allow even the slightest chance of separation.

That was why she had worn the veil all these years and remained so cautious.

She tightened her grip.

The man’s gaze fixed on her as if trying to see through the thin veil to her face.

Xia Nanzhi’s heart pounded faster.

Xu Ruoqing shook off Xia Nanzhi’s hand, her expression completely changed. “Junshen, I told Miss Nanzhi, but she refuses to come back with us. She seems to look down on us.”

Looking down on the Lu family?

She was courting death.

Xu Ruoqing lifted her chin defiantly.

Lu Junshen gazed steadily at Xia Nanzhi. “Name your price.”