"Yi Jian's girlfriend?" Fu Jianlin shook the newspaper in his hand. Only now did he understand who Shu Manlan was talking about.

"Yes, it's all on the news." Shu Manlan raised her chin slightly and signaled Fu Jianlin.

She thought about it and said suspiciously: "Old Fu, you said she will win the award, is it Yi Jian who…"

Fu Jianlin looked at her seriously and said, "In such an international competition, will foreigners listen to a word from you Chinese? Don't tarnish the reputation of the girl. Besides, if she wins the prize, won't it make you proud?"

Shu Manlan groaned a few times. She admitted that what Fu Jianlin said made sense, but the thorn in her heart was still there, and she felt very uncomfortable.

Fu Jianlin put the newspaper aside and said to Shu Manlan, "Go pack your things."

"What are you doing?" Shu Manlan was caught off guard by Fu Jianlin's sudden words and looked confused.

Fu Jianlin said calmly: "The New Year is coming soon, so let's go back home this year."

Fu Jianlin's tone was full of emotion. He had been recuperating abroad for many years and had not paid much attention to his two children, so their relationship had become distant and weak.

Even if he couldn't do anything about it, he would at least go back and express his stance, letting the younger generation know his attitude.

After listening to Fu Jianlin's words, Shu Manlan was silent for a moment. Then she quietly went upstairs to pack her things and prepare to return home.

For many years, the Fu family has not had a proper gathering.

I should be able to have a happy Spring Festival when I return to China this year.

…

Near the city.

In a stylish small villa, a gorgeous woman was lying on the bed sulking.

Three hours ago, Xia Linan got up and went downstairs, and found that Xia Shixun and Xia Yansi were both in the dining room.

Logically speaking, Xia Shixun should have returned to the company by this time. Could it be that the company has closed for the holiday because of the annual meeting tonight?

Xia Linan walked over suspiciously and happened to meet Zhou Linlang coming out of the kitchen with some side dishes. She gave her a shrewd look, and Xia Linan immediately went into high alert.

Xia Shixun looked up at Xia Linan who was walking over, and after watching her sit down next to Zhou Linlang, he slowly said, "You are to appear as Yan Si's female companion tonight, and you cannot have any objections."

Before Xia Lin'an could even swallow the first bite of the side dish, Xia Shixun's words blocked his way and he was unable to speak or swallow.

She slapped her chest fiercely, took a sip of water, frowned, and protested: "I don't want it, I have a male companion tonight."

As soon as Xia Linan finished speaking, the eyes of the man sitting opposite her dimmed.

Xia Shixun said angrily, "Nonsense! You are still an unmarried girl, how can you just bring a man from outside to the company's banquet!"

Xia Linan frowned, obviously disagreeing with Xia Shixun's statement. She said tactfully, "I'm worried about affecting my brother's luck with women. What if there are girls at the party who want to meet him?"

The man who was inexplicably singled out for blame choked on his breakfast and coughed several times with his hands covering his mouth.

Xia Lin'an looked righteous and looked straight at Xia Shixun.

Perhaps because she had been with Fu Yiming for too long, Xia Lin'an had absorbed some of his toughness and arrogance. Even when facing Xia Shixun's angry glare, she was not afraid at all.

This was the first time that Xia Shixun was talked back to by his daughter. He dropped his chopsticks with a "bang". This action scared Xia Linan and Zhou Linlang, mother and daughter.

Then, Xia Shixun said something very angry: "You are my daughter, you must follow my arrangements!"

Xia Linan was unwilling to obey. She was about to open her mouth to refute, but the corner of her clothes was gently pulled by the person next to her. Xia Linan glanced at Zhou Linlang beside her and received her signal, so she didn't say anything even though the words were on the tip of her tongue.

She changed the subject and said, "I have no appetite. I'm going back to my room to rest."

After saying that, Xia Linan left the table and walked up the stairs with the sound of footsteps.

After a while, there was a "bang" and the door was closed roughly.

Xia Linan threw off his slippers, threw himself on the soft Simmons mattress, and vented his anger on the pillow.

In the Xia family, Xia Shixun always has the final say. He makes decisions without considering other people's wishes and always acts arbitrarily!

Xia Lin'an was so angry at herself for being so weak. If she hadn't overheard what Zhou Linlang said to Fu Yiming outside the box yesterday, she would probably have fought with Xia Shixun to the end.

In the dining room downstairs, Xia Shixun was also holding back a lot of anger. His face turned black and he stood up and left the dining room in an extremely ugly manner. He walked to the small garden outside and sat down, sulking in silence.

Zhou Linlang shook her head helplessly. The father and daughter were of the same character. When they were angry, they would always hide away and sulk.

Xia Yansi wiped his mouth and stood up. He wanted to walk to the small garden to accompany Xia Shixun to relieve his boredom, but Zhou Linlang stopped him: "Yansi, go and do your own thing. I'm here."

Xia Yansi paused for a moment, nodded to Zhou Linlang, and said, "Okay, I'll get busy first."

He turned around, walked out of the villa, got into his car, and his eyes darkened.

Originally, Xia Yansi went to find Xia Shixun and could have taken the opportunity to talk about what happened when he met Fu Yiming when he came back yesterday, but he was intercepted by Zhou Linlang.

He didn't know whether Zhou Linlang saw through his intention, but he understood Zhou Linlang's thoughts.

Perhaps others could not understand Zhou Linlang's intention, but Xia Yansi knew that Zhou Linlang was likely to join forces with Fu Yiming.

In the Xia family, Xia Yansi felt like an outsider. Xia Linan was on guard against him, and Zhou Linlang was also on guard against him.

Xia Yansi restrained his eyes, started the car and left the villa.

Zhou Linlang glanced at the car driving out of the villa and sighed silently. She only hoped that this family could maintain its previous happiness, with happy children and a worry-free husband. That would be enough.

She looked at the sulky figure sitting in the small garden, then walked towards the small garden with a pot of scented tea.

Xia Shixun looked at a small flower bed in the garden, and the contemplation in his eyes drifted to who knows where.

Zhou Linlang poured two cups of fragrant scented tea and then sat down next to Xia Shixun.

Her eyes fell on the flower bed in front of her. It was winter now and there were only a few small seedlings that had not yet bloomed.

This flower garden was the first thing Xia Shixun had cultivated when he bought the villa.

Because when they started their business from scratch, Xia Shixun had promised Zhou Linlang that he would set aside a flower garden for her and plant flowers of all seasons for her to enjoy.

Zhou Linlang smiled and said nothing. Unexpectedly, Xia Shixun actually asked someone to do so later.

Every year after moving into the villa, Zhou Linlang could see flowers blooming in the flower garden, especially after early spring, when all the flowers bloomed and the scenery was very beautiful.