Chapter 73 Yin Peach Blossom (3) "Too much nonsense."...
Xie Tan slept for a while in the car. When he opened his eyes, the black Bentley was driving smoothly on the Cycle Road of Four Seasons Mountain. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city center, it was replaced by dense greenery, and he could already see the undulating hills of the continuous buildings.
The car slowed down and entered an inconspicuous road. The unassuming metal gate blended into the shaded woods, and it would be difficult to find without a private car leading the way.
After the security personnel confirmed the vehicle's identity, the gate opened quietly, and the vehicle drove onto the wide private road. On both sides, there was a vast green sea of trees, growing freely, with many rare plants.
They are heading to the Xia family's private estate, "Summer Garden," located in the hillside of Diqiu.
After driving through the woods, the view suddenly opened up. This place occupies a gentle hilltop, and what first catches the eye is not a huge complex of modern buildings, but the vast panorama of the city of Dichu.
When they arrived, it was near dusk, and the city lights were just coming on, creating a magnificent scene. Looking further into the distance, one could see the tranquil sea.
It seemed as if the entire city was under the Xia family's watchful eye.
This is not an exaggeration. Changsheng Group's revenue consistently ranks among the top five in the country, and its headquarters are located in Diqiu, making it one of the undisputed leading enterprises.
This vast business empire has a wide range of businesses, including digital technology, new energy vehicles, and cutting-edge technology investments. It is a major taxpayer in the area and drives a large number of jobs and industrial clusters.
The group is also closely linked to the city’s overall planning, investing in the construction of local facilities and sponsoring large-scale events. Its headquarters, the Evergreen Building, is a landmark building in Dich City.
Furthermore, due to the rich cultural heritage and outstanding people of Diqiu City, Changsheng Group also has a presence in the medical field, especially in the mental health sector, with businesses covering high-end funeral services and mental illness treatment centers.
They also excel in philanthropy; the Xia family is one of the directors of the Oasis Charity Foundation, and the library at Diqiu University was donated by Changsheng Group.
So people sometimes joke that "Diqiu's surname is Xia".
The main house has an unpretentious architectural style, but is neat and grand, with dark-colored main materials, giving it a cool and austere feel.
Large panes of glass reflect the verdant mountains, like a giant mirror embedded in the mountains, showcasing the natural beauty of the city.
Xie Tan and Lu Jinzhao were led into the main house. After what happened that morning, Xia Wujin was taken home, but before leaving, she solemnly entrusted Xie Tan and Lu Jinzhao with her affairs.
She entrusted Xie Tan with the task of investigating and resolving the strange events that had happened to her, and entrusted Lu Jinzhao... because this guy pleaded that he wanted to come too, so she gave him the title of bodyguard.
The car that was supposed to pick them up arrived after class in the afternoon.
Along the way, Xie Tan met several professional bodyguards, both men and women, and he felt that the young lady should not lack people to ensure her safety.
Lu Jinzhao's bodyguard is more like protecting him.
Naturally, he also felt that the young lady had no shortage of professionals to help her deal with strange things.
Sure enough, when they arrived at the side hall, there were already four people there.
Judging from their clothes and mannerisms, there were Taoist priests, masters, sorceresses, and a rather young and fashionable wizard who played divination cards; there were both Chinese and Western practitioners.
Among them was a young man, dressed appropriately and dignifiedly, who was chatting with the master. Upon seeing them, he asked the steward, "Who are these two...?"
The butler introduced them in a businesslike manner: "Mr. Xie Tan and Mr. Lu Jinzhao are Miss's classmates and friends. Miss invited them to be guests and also asked them to solve the problem."
The butler then introduced them: "This is Song Zhengxiang, the second young master of the Song family. He is the one who introduced Master He. This is Master Yunsong. This is Granny Yao, the head of Lotus Hall. And this is Miss Qi Shiheng, the fortune teller."
Without needing a detailed introduction, Xie Tan could guess that the people invited by the Xia family must be well-known and capable.
He had seen Master He's posts online before. He was the abbot of Qingyun Temple, the largest Taoist temple in Diqiu City. He had a distinguished lineage, and many wealthy people and celebrities vied to have him consult their fortunes.
The Taoist priest and the master were both carefree and unfathomable, only nodding slightly. The sorceress, on the other hand, was kind and approachable, exchanging a few words with them. As for the fortune-telling witch, she was very aloof, only greeting them with her eyes.
Song Zhengxiang was originally all smiles, but when he heard that they were Xia Wujin's friends, and each one of them was more effeminate than the last, his smile remained the same, but it seemed to have lost some of its sincerity.
After they sat down, the butler served them tea. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and sighed, "This tea still tastes the same after all these years. I remember when I was little, out of curiosity, Jinjin and I secretly poured two cups in Uncle Xia's study to try. It was so bitter that our faces scrunched up. Uncle Xia caught us and said we were wasting good things. I forced myself to finish it and said it was delicious. I was just pretending back then. Later, I discovered its flavor and fell in love with it. That's why Uncle Xia teases me about coming here for this tea."
When he recalled this period of his childhood, his tone was nostalgic and his words were affectionate.
Master He took a leisurely sip and said, "It is indeed a fine tea. This ancient evergreen tree must have come from the Xia family's own ancient tea garden deep in the mountains. The trees are all over a hundred years old. I heard that the yield is extremely small, and it is only for the family and some close friends and partners to drink. Today, we are fortunate to have the tea thanks to Young Master Song."
"You're too kind. I still need your help to get Jinjin out of trouble, but you're right. Ancient trees of this age and location aren't just about money anymore; it's about... status." Song Zhengxiang said with a smile, "And according to you, a bit of luck and fate? I think Mr. Xie and Mr. Lu are like those lucky people. Is this your first time trying it? How does it taste?"
That last sentence does sound a bit like the attitude of a host.
He looked at the two of them, but Xie Tan wasn't very interested. He only took a polite sip after it was served, and then looked out the window at the scenery with boredom.
If this weren't Xia Wujin's home, he would have preferred to scroll through his phone.
Lu Jinzhao took a big gulp and exclaimed, "It's really delicious! Is it true that the older the stuff, the better it tastes?"
Master He stroked his beard and said with an air of otherworldly wisdom, "Tea is like a person. The longer it ages, the more it naturally accumulates. Its experience, vision, and abilities are incomparable to those of a young seedling. Of course, talent is also very important. Evergreen tea leaves can be produced after a hundred years, but foxtail grass is just lucky enough to be blessed by heaven and live for over a hundred years. What can it do except for ignorant children to pick it up and play with it, and briefly treat it as a treasure?"
As he spoke, he smiled at Xie Tan, Lu Jinzhao, and the witch girl, even more amiable than Granny Yao. Song Zhengxiang's smile deepened; no wonder he had invited them.
The witch politely complimented the tea, but said it to the butler. Xie Tan's gaze never left the window, and he ignored her.
Only Lu Jinzhao didn't understand anything and even thought about what the Taoist priest was saying.
He was sitting with Xie Tan and was about to say, "Can it also be used to make flower wreaths?" when Xie Tan casually tapped the back of his hand with his hand, which was resting on the back of the chair.
Lu Jinzhao blinked, swallowed his words, and said nothing.
The scene quieted down, a little awkward, when Grandma Yao spoke gently. She had met Xia Wujin when she arrived: "We've all grown up like this. From what Young Master Song said, was Miss Xia lively when she was little? She has indeed changed a lot since she was eighteen, and she is so composed now."
“Yes, she was even more mischievous than me when she was little. Brother Xia couldn’t handle her at all.” Song Zhengxiang leaned forward slightly and asked Xie Tan and Lu Jinzhao, “You probably haven’t met her. She’s also aloof at school, right? Don’t worry, she’s actually very kind and friendly to everyone. She’s not pretentious at all. But that’s a disadvantage for her because of her background. From childhood to adulthood, too many people with ill intentions have approached her. Uncle Xia, Brother Xia, and I are always afraid that she will be deceived… Oh, I’ve said too much. You must know this very well.”
He was also from a wealthy family, and he and Xia Wu were childhood sweethearts, so he asked curiously, as if inquiring about his younger sister's friendships, "Are you classmates?"
Lu Jinzhao waited for a while, and seeing that Xie Tan seemed to be dozing off and did not call on him again, he replied, "No, we are from the same club."
Song Zhengxiang's smile seemed to say "as expected," as if they had joined the club because of Xia Wujin.
He turned back and chatted with the masters about metaphysics, mentioning the magical artifacts they wore. He didn't ignore the two of them, often casually asking for their opinions, and then revealing a perfectly timed smile when Lu Jinzhao expressed his ignorant curiosity.
Xie Tan's tea had gone cold, and even though he didn't drink it, the steward thoughtfully replaced it with fresh tea. Taking advantage of the moment when Xie Tan thanked the steward, Song Zhengxiang asked him if he recognized the talisman on the Taoist priest's body.
When called by his name, Xie Tan glanced at it and said, "I don't understand," before looking out the window again.
Since it wasn't convenient to look at Lu Jinzhao openly, he chose to settle for second best and look at the green mountains outside the window to protect his eyes.
Song Zhengxiang's smile had a hint of satisfaction on it as he complained, "As expected, Jinjin just found an excuse to drag her classmates over to play. You're all students, how would you know about these things? This is such a big deal, concerning her own safety, you're just being ridiculous."
Xie Tan ignored what he was saying and closed his eyes to rest.
Lu Jinzhao drank another cup of tea. He rarely drank bitter tea and found it novel. He drank several cups in a row and then asked the butler to pour him a fresh one.
Song Zhengxiang burst out laughing this time: "Mr. Lu, are you chewing Pu'er tea like a peony?"
"A cow chewing on a peony is a waste of a precious thing," this was an insult to Lu Jinzhao, calling him a cow who couldn't appreciate beauty. This time, the remaining people also laughed.
Xie Tan opened his eyes and looked at Song Zhengxiang.
Song Zhengxiang raised an eyebrow and asked gently, "Mr. Xie only took one sip. What do you think?"
He was well-versed in class distinctions and calmly awaited Xie Tan's reply, confident that he could humiliate him no matter what.
This time, Granny Yao didn't come to their rescue, and the rest of them remained silent. It was clear to everyone that this young master Song didn't like them, and there was no need to cause trouble for themselves.
However, Xie Tan merely raised his chin slightly and said calmly, "Too much nonsense."
Young Master Song was taken aback: "What?"
"He's deaf too." Xie Tan propped his head up with one hand, too lazy to look at him, and instead looked at Lu Jinzhao, "Don't talk to idiots."
Lu Jinzhao held the freshly brewed tea and nodded obediently, "Oh."
The scene fell silent. The others were clearly stunned, and then looked at Xie Tan, who had uttered such outrageous words, with Master He's eyes saying, "Is this the Song family? Have they gone mad?"
"You...!" Young Master Song couldn't maintain his smile for a moment. Remembering that this wasn't his home, he took a few deep breaths. "Mr. Xie, what do you mean by this? Isn't your language a bit too harsh? Or do you have a problem with me? I know Jin Jin is likable..."
"When will President Xia arrive?" Xie Tan completely ignored him and asked the butler with some impatience, "Is he keeping us here for the tasting event?"
The butler, who hadn't participated in the conversation with the guests, stepped forward and explained, "Excuse me, sir, we have another distinguished guest arriving. Mr. Xia is currently entertaining him in the reception room..."
These four masters were already the top talents the Xia family had found, yet one of them was personally received and entertained by the current head of the Xia family?
The competition in the workplace made the masters a bit more serious. Master Yun Song asked, "Which master are you referring to?"
The butler said, "It's the Su family's gentleman."
"The Su family?"
The expressions on their faces changed. Anyone who could become a top figure in this circle, regardless of whether they had met them or not, must have heard of the Su family... or rather, the Black Goat.
Including Song Zhengxiang, he consulted many masters about Xia Wujin's matter, including the Su family, but despite using all his connections and methods, he couldn't even get a meeting with a member of a collateral branch.
The butler pressed his earpiece, received the instruction, and respectfully said, "Young Master requests that everyone proceed to the reception room."
Having said that, Song Zhengxiang couldn't afford to make a scene. Besides, he also wanted to meet the real members of the Su family, so he stood up and walked ahead without the butler's help, as if he were very familiar with the place.
He walked past the group of young people with a cold face, not glancing at them. As he passed Xie Tan, a barely perceptible pale yellow bead landed on the boy.
The remaining people didn't linger and followed them out, not wanting to keep President Xia and the Su family waiting.
Xie Tan stood up and lagged behind Lu Jinzhao. Before entering the elevator, he noticed Lu Jinzhao staring at the hem of his clothes with a somewhat cold gaze.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Jinchao observed Xie Tan's expression, which remained as calm as ever.
Ah Tan couldn't possibly have missed it, or failed to sweep it away... I see, did he have other plans?
So he shook his head and laughed like a dog whose head had been rubbed: "I'm happy that A-Tan spoke up for me."
Xie Tan paused, waiting for them to take the elevator upstairs. The others, especially Young Master Song, deliberately squeezed out of the elevator before him, leaving them behind. He even sneered and suggested, "Since there are distinguished guests from the Su family, those who don't know better shouldn't go up there and cause trouble. It's okay if you embarrass yourself, but don't damage the Xia family's reputation."
The two were not in a hurry and ignored everyone else, walking at the back on their own. Xie Tan then said, "You don't seem to care."
Lu Jinzhao chuckled: "What do I have to care about?"
For some reason, Xie Tan suddenly thought that although he didn't care, he would still find it annoying. Lu Jinzhao's natural and responsive manner showed that he truly didn't care.
He felt no mockery, just as he felt no threat whatsoever, so he found it difficult to feel offended.
They were the last to enter, and the people inside were already chatting. The most enthusiastic voice came from Song Zhengxiang.
The person who arrived must be a big shot. Young Master Song and the others kept praising him, using all sorts of different methods. Even the usually quiet witch girl said a few words.
As Xie Tan stepped through the door, he met the gaze of the VIP gentleman who was surrounded by them and greeting him.
Su He's impatience vanished, and she raised an eyebrow.
Song Zhengxiang followed his gaze and gave a cold laugh: "Mr. Su, please excuse my rudeness, this is..."
Su He walked naturally toward Xie Tan: "Hey, why didn't you tie your hair up today?"
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Author's Note: Ah Tan: (Didn't hear at all, sleepy)
Lu Lu: The ants are talking
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