Chapter 64 Departure

The final two plots of land, located in prime locations in City S, had undergone extensive evaluation and even received national testing and policy support for development, sparking the fiercest competition of the night.

Bidding was incessant, and the price soared. Xie Shiyan remained calm and composed throughout, only raising his bid steadily at crucial moments. Once the price broke the one billion mark, the number of competitors gradually decreased.

In the end, Xie Shiyan secured one of the most promising plots of land for a record-breaking price of 1.3 billion yuan, drawing thunderous applause from the audience.

“1.3 billion…” Jiang Yining felt her breath catch for a moment, her mind buzzing. She knew Xie Shiyan was very rich, but the impact of this number far exceeded her imagination.

Xiao Xiao leaned close to her ear, her voice tinged with the teasing of someone with experience: "Confused yet? You'll get used to your boss Xie's wealth. When my husband Jing Shen was just starting to make money, he'd be heartbroken and couldn't sleep over spending a few thousand yuan on a dress. But later? He could get scratched up on a car worth millions without a second thought. People are just 'spoiled' like that, step by step."

Jiang Yining took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her eyes gradually cleared, revealing a hint of resigned slyness: "I know. Astounded as I am, I won't be petty. Anyway,"

She turned her head to look at the composed man beside her, a smile playing on her lips, "Someone's got my back."

The banquet concluded with a grand charity donation ceremony. Jiang Yining, carrying several exquisite gift boxes containing priceless auction items, carefully followed Xie Shiyan back to the villa.

Xie Shiyan had specially created a separate glass cabinet for her in the walk-in closet, with soft lighting inside. Jiang Yining took out the dazzling jewelry and the warm antiques one by one, and carefully placed them inside as if they were rare treasures. Under the light, they shone brightly.

Xie Shiyan leaned lazily against the glass door frame, looking at the girl's focused and slightly excited profile, and a gentle smile curved his lips: "If you like it, wear it and play with it, you don't have to keep it hidden all the time."

Jiang Yining turned around, gave him a bright smile, and her eyes gleamed with mischief: "Wait until a very important occasion to wear it. What if you lose it if you wear it all the time?"

She paused, then added matter-of-factly, "If you lose it, you're responsible for buying me a new one."

Xie Shiyan chuckled softly: "Okay, buy a new one."

Time flies. Jiang Yining has entered a crucial period after returning to school—the end of the semester. For her, the intense preparation for the final exams of her junior year seems like a dream from yesterday, but eight years have passed since then. Her academic foundation is still there, but facing entirely new textbooks and a new knowledge system, she needs to put in double the effort.

Although Xie Shiyan was extremely reluctant, an important transnational cooperation project had reached a critical stage, and he had to personally fly abroad to oversee it.

Before leaving, he meticulously arranged Jiang Yining's life, even giving special instructions to the driver. He gently stroked her hair, his eyes full of worry: "I'll be back as soon as possible. If anything happens, big or small, contact Yan Ze or Jing Shen immediately. Don't try to handle it all yourself, okay?"

"Okay, okay, stop nagging." Jiang Yining said with a hint of annoyance, but her heart was warm. She tiptoed and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Waiting for you to come back."

After seeing Xie Shiyan off, Jiang Yining plunged headlong into a sea of ​​books and exercises. The library, study room, and her home study became her main battlefields, with professional exams and her graduation thesis weighing heavily on her. Xie Shiyan's originally agreed-upon three-day return was repeatedly postponed due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding the project.

On a weekend afternoon, sunlight streamed through the French windows of the study, illuminating the desk covered with documents and notes. Jiang Yining was intently typing her thesis, her long hair casually tied up, a pair of blue-light blocking glasses perched on her nose, her brows slightly furrowed, completely absorbed in the world of academics.

Downstairs, the villa's smart door lock beeped softly, and the door was pushed open.

Mr. and Mrs. Xie stood in the entryway, their faces showing the weariness of a long journey. They had just returned to S City early that morning, and Mrs. Xie's phone had broken and she hadn't had a chance to get a new one yet. Thinking that their son was away on a business trip abroad and the house must be quiet and deserted, they came over to help tidy up.

However, the scene before them stunned them instantly.

In the entryway, a pair of fluffy pink slippers lay casually beside the rug. Inside the living room, the originally stark black, white, and gray color scheme was completely disrupted by a soft beige rug, brightly colored cushions, vibrant green plants, and a few fashion magazines scattered on the sofa. A faint scent of lemon and…the aroma of food filled the air.

"Old Xie...did we...go to the wrong place?" Xie's mother's voice was filled with disbelief and hesitation as she pulled her husband back out, looking up to carefully check the house number. Yes, it was their son's villa. Filled with suspicion, the two cautiously stepped back in.

The scene in the kitchen shocked them even more. On the stove, a small earthenware pot was simmering over a low flame, and the rich aroma of old hen soup wafted from the edge of the lid.

In a transparent water tank nearby, a dozen or so live prawns were swimming lively. On the counter, several vibrant green vegetables, two eggplants, and a few fresh tomatoes were scattered about…

This is absolutely not the kind of scene their son would ever see.