Xia Zhengyuan snapped out of his daze and asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
Zhou Xiuning's eyes were red, and she shook her head: "Honey, just thinking about how we painters are being forced to go to the countryside makes my heart ache. Painting isn't good for my health; if we go to the countryside, will I even come back alive?"
Her voice was sweet and gentle, the kind of thing men loved.
But Xia Anyan shuddered violently upon hearing this.
Ugh, how disgusting. Why do men like this kind of thing?
Xia Zhengyuan had made up his mind at this moment. Looking at Xia Anyan, he even pleaded, "Ayan, your sister is not in good health. I am doing this to protect both of you. Don't worry, I'm just sending you to the countryside temporarily. I will help you get back to the city soon."
“You are your father’s daughter, how could he not feel sorry for you? But there’s no other way now. Many people are watching our family. If we’re not careful, the whole family will be sent down to the countryside. Do you want our whole family to be reported and sent to a farm?”
Xia Zhengyuan hardened his heart and decided to proceed according to the original plan.
This daughter, though resembling his first wife so much, had a temperament that was truly unpleasant.
On the contrary, his son and daughter, born to Xiu Ning, were the ones who won his heart.
Upon hearing this, Xia Anyan seemed to be provoked. With a fierce look in her eyes, she ran towards Zhou Xiuning and slapped her twice.
While hitting me, he also cursed: "You vicious person, you deliberately tried to sow discord between me and my father. You want to kill me so that you can make room for your daughter, don't you?"
She now looks like a domineering young lady, and the way she argued with them earlier really made Zhou Xiuning think that she had suddenly become smart.
Despite being slapped twice, Zhou Xiuning was very happy.
Because she knew that Xia Zhengyuan would never be soft-hearted towards this daughter again!
As expected, Xia Zhengyuan was enraged and slapped Xia Anyan: "You unfilial daughter, she is your mother, how could you hit her?"
"It's one thing for you to be arrogant outside, but now you dare to lay a hand on me at home. All the books you've read over the years have gone to waste!"
Xia Anyan's eyes flashed sharply: "Who does she think she is? My mother is dead, she's dead!"
"She's only been dead for two days, and you brought this woman back and made me call her 'Mom.' I've been calling her that for so many years, has she ever treated me like her own daughter? Now that her daughter is in trouble, she wants me to take the blame. If her son needs help in the future, will she expect me to take the blame too? What am I, anyway? Am I your daughter, or just an object?"
Xia Anyan's words silenced Xia Zhengyuan.
But in his heart, his dissatisfaction with this daughter had reached its peak.
He suppressed his anger: "What do you want in order for you to agree?"
Xia Anyan remained silent.
Xia Zhengyuan's patience was running out: "I'm your father, and I'm trying to discuss this with you. If you don't listen, I can use your household registration book to register you. At that point, it won't be up to you whether you want to or not."
A threat, a blatant threat.
Xia Anyan lowered her head, concealing the darkness in her eyes.
She feigned being manipulated, her eyes reddening, and looked up at Xia Zhengyuan: "Fine, if you want me to agree, then show some sincerity. Isn't she going to give my job to her precious daughter? Then she'll give me money, tickets, and good stuff."
"Don't call me greedy. Ever since you got married, I've never had enough money. If it weren't for the occasional pocket money my grandparents give me, and the money my mother left me, I don't know how I would survive." As Xia Anyan spoke, tears fell from her eyes. Any man would feel sorry for her looking like that.
Xia Zhengyuan was the same.
He began to reflect on whether he had been really too bad to his daughter.
"You..." Xia Zhengyuan was about to speak when Zhou Xiuning stopped him.
She was on the verge of tears: "Ayan, how could you say that? I'm responsible for all the household expenses, and I take care of your clothes and jewelry. Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements? If you're not satisfied, you can tell me, and I can change them!"
Sure enough, Xia Zhengyuan's expression changed again as soon as she said that.
Xia Anyan was so angry she laughed.
This man is really brainless; he was completely swayed by this woman's words.
Fortunately, Xia Anyan doesn't plan to be father to this scoundrel, otherwise she would be furious.
Xia Anyan's eyes were red: "Whatever you say goes. Anyway, Dad is on your side, and I'm just an outsider in this family. As long as I'm in this house, you'll never be happy with me. I might as well just leave."
"But not a single penny less. I need to go to the countryside, and I need a lot of things, as well as compensation for my work. You can't take my job and then expect me to pay for it, can you?" Xia Anyan stubbornly raised her head, refusing to let her tears fall.
Xia Zhengyuan was somewhat angry.
But Zhou Xiuning agreed.
If they keep making a scene and the old man finds out, they won't be able to get it done.
That old bastard dotes on this little bitch the most, while her daughter and son have never been liked by those two old men.
However, she wasn't worried.
After Xia Anyan leaves, her family will head to Hong Kong. As for those two old geezers, they'll just stay here and wait to die!
Zhou Xiuning went back to her room, took out five hundred yuan, and handed it to Xia Anyan with a smile: "Ayan, this is a little something from your aunt, please take it."
Xia Anyan took it, looking disdainful: "Aunt Zhou, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
After saying that, she turned to look at Xia Zhengyuan: "Dad, if you still consider me your daughter, then don't make me feel heartbroken. Don't make me feel like I'm just someone you can do without..."
Xia Zhengyuan felt a chill run down his spine when he saw that look.
In his mind, he couldn't help but recall Xia Anyan's childhood, when she would surround him and sweetly call him "Dad".
Back then, he would carry her on his back, ride a horse, and take her in an airplane.
But after his wife passed away, the little girl changed and stopped being close to him.
After all, blood is thicker than water, and he... couldn't bring himself to be cruel.
They were about to leave, and this daughter had endured far more than she knew. Xia Zhengyuan, in the end, softened.
He sighed: "Okay, before your mother passed away, she made me promise to take good care of you. Over the years, I've been busy with my career and have indeed neglected you."
After saying that, he looked at Zhou Xiuning and said, "Xiuning, go to my study and get the kraft paper from the drawer."
Zhou Xiuning's expression was rather unpleasant.
There were a full five thousand dollars in that brown paper bag.
They intended to use that money to buy boat tickets.
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