Chapter 37
“Tired or Not?”…

It had become routine for Xia Mi La to leave early every Saturday.

Yet Jiang Xiu Zhu still hadn’t figured out where she went on these early mornings.

“Isn’t her engagement with A He about to fall through?” She rubbed her temples in frustration. “Running out every day without anyone knowing where she goes.”

“Probably fooling around with other men,” Bai You Na commented while eating grapes nearby. “She went to the amusement park with Cui Zhe the day before yesterday, and went shopping with Jin Can yesterday. Tsk tsk, my little sister has become quite the social butterfly now.”

Hearing this only deepened Jiang Xiu Zhu’s irritation. “All you can do is make sarcastic remarks. Why don’t you learn some of her social skills? Even the household staff are almost completely won over by her now. I can’t even find out where she’s been.”

Bai You Na pouted, feeling wronged. “Why take your bad mood out on me? So what if we don’t know where Xia Mi La goes? Why care so much about her!”

Jiang Xiu Zhu felt her temples throb, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger. “Understanding your opponent’s movements is how you gain advantage. Remaining ignorant leaves you vulnerable. What have you been doing at school lately? Have you secured the leverage you need for what you want?”

Not at all, Bai You Na felt a pang of guilt. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll find it soon.”

Even though her daughter was her own flesh and blood, Jiang Xiu Zhu couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Naturally, she wouldn’t pin all her hopes on her unreliable daughter. That evening, she cautiously probed Xia Ying Cai about the matter.

Xia Ying Cai, however, was quite open-minded about it. “Mira isn’t an ordinary high school student. Xia Hongwei might eventually be handed over to her. So it’s perfectly normal for her to have her own arrangements and social engagements. You don’t need to worry so much she knows her limits. When I was her age, my family gave me plenty of freedom and trust too.”

Moreover, Xia Mi La wasn’t acting unilaterally.

The father and daughter regularly shared meals to maintain their relationship. Therefore, Xia Ying Cai was aware of Xia Mi La’s feelings and recent developments.

This particularly annoyed Jiang Xiu Zhu. She couldn’t figure out when Xia Mi La had found her voice.

After years of being submissive and always blaming herself for everything, the young lady had suddenly awakened.

Suddenly, she knew what she wanted and what she needed to do.

Xia Mi La’s previous image of being obedient and sensible was so deeply ingrained that everyone now trusted her more, believing she wouldn’t do anything inappropriate or rebellious.

Though filled with dissatisfaction, Jiang Xiu Zhu couldn’t voice it in front of Xia Ying Cai. If she mishandled the situation, the persona she had carefully built in his eyes would crumble.

In the end, she simply asked him, “Then what about the parent-teacher meeting at Mira’s school next week? Will you be going in person?”
“Aren’t those matters usually handled by mothers?” Xia Ying Cai said. “This time, I’ll have to trouble you to make the preparations. Is it for the children’s training camp again? Feel free to use my card for sponsorship don’t hesitate to spend money. Mira needs to maintain her dignity at school too.”

At this point, he didn’t forget his stepdaughter and added: “Yoona should be treated the same.”

Jiang Xiu Zhu lowered her eyes meekly and obediently: “It’s not the first time we’ve done this, so what is there for you to worry about?”

Xia Ying Cai laughed heartily: “You’re right. I’m most at ease when things are in your hands.”

*

Grandmother had no plans today, and neither did Xia Mi La, so she spent the day accompanying her at the old residence.

The next morning after breakfast, Jin Can came to pick her up to go to the golf course together.

The journey was somewhat long, taking about an hour and a half.

The two chatted casually in the car.

Xia Mi La asked: “Have you had breakfast already?”

Jin Can replied: “I’ve already eaten.”

“What did you do yesterday?” Xia Mi La asked again. “Did you go out to have fun?”

“Not really,” Jin Can said. “My family hired Chief Cha as my tutor, so I spent the whole day yesterday attending classes at home.”

He answered in detail. Xia Mi La immediately understood what kind of lessons these were.

“Chief Cha is very impressive,” she told Jin Can. “She comes from humble origins but has an outstanding resume. She’s very capable herself knowledgeable and makes classes interesting. I’ve attended a few of her lessons too and benefited greatly. So you should cherish this learning opportunity and pay attention in class.”

“I understand,” Jin Can replied.

Actually, he wasn’t typically an obedient person, but he always listened well around Xia Mi La.

Mainly because Xia Mi La genuinely had his best interests at heart.

Xia Mi La could sense this too.

She slightly raised the corners of her mouth and turned to look at him: “It seems like every day is packed with activities and there’s so much to learn do you ever feel it’s a bit exhausting?”

“This doesn’t count as exhausting,” Jin Can answered.

With no worries about food or clothing even living luxuriously and no one provoking or troubling him, merely studying couldn’t be considered hardship.

After all, he had truly experienced real hardship before.

Xia Mi La smiled without saying anything.

“What about you?” Jin Can asked. “What did you do yesterday?”

“I was at the old residence all day yesterday. I stayed with grandmother, completed the assignments she gave me, and also attended classes.”

Jin Can knew about this. Several times when he went to pick her up on Saturdays, she had just left her grandmother’s side.

So essentially, every Saturday she was mostly studying too.

“Is it difficult?” he asked. “Are you tired?”

Even though he had just contemplated the same question that studying alone shouldn’t be tiring words of concern and worry still came out naturally.

This made him better understand her earlier concern for him.

“Not particularly difficult,” Xia Mi La replied with a smile. “I don’t feel tired.”

Jin Can turned to look at her. Their eyes met, and a faint smile appeared in his gaze.

As they continued chatting, the conversation turned to the golf course they were heading to.

“A coach will be here shortly to teach you,” Xia Mi La said. “If you find it interesting, you can learn for a while. If you get bored, we can just ride around the course and enjoy the scenery. That golf course was just built last year it’s very large and beautiful, with stunning natural landscapes. Since it’s your family’s property, your main task today is to familiarize yourself with it. Whether you can play or not doesn’t matter; understanding your family’s business is more important.”

Chief Cha had mentioned something similar to him yesterday.

So Jin Can didn’t argue and obediently nodded, “Okay.”

After a pause, he added, “Anyway… I’ll just follow you today, right?”

He deliberately played up his vulnerability he was just an inexperienced outsider who hadn’t seen much of the world. Visiting such a grand and luxurious place for the first time, it was natural for him to feel uneasy.

Jin Can felt he had perfectly captured the tone of someone both slightly anxious and somewhat expectant.

“Mm,” Xia Mi La responded without hesitation, nodding readily. “Just follow me.”

Finally, the car arrived at their destination.

Several caddies were already waiting at the entrance. As the car stopped, they hurried forward some helped unload the golf clubs and place them on the cart, while one escorted them to the locker room to change into their golf attire.

After changing, they were led to the lounge.

The golf course operated on a strict membership system with rigorous screening standards, making it uncommon to encounter other groups. Today, Jin He had even booked the entire place, so only invited students from Tanmyung High School were allowed in.

Since it wasn’t tee-off time yet, not everyone had arrived. Those already present had changed into their golf shirts and were relaxing in the lounge.

The lounge was spacious with excellent views, featuring full-length windows that overlooked the expansive green fields in the distance.

As the two entered, everyone greeted them.

“Mira, Acan, you’re here too.”

Jin Can gave a cool nod, while Xia Mi La waved with a smile. “Good morning.”

Most of the other invited guests from Vermilion Bird Hall had already arrived, and Jin He was there as well.

Hearing the greetings, he glanced at Xia Mi La, let his gaze sweep over Jin Can beside her, then indifferently looked away.

“Mira,” Cui Zhe was much more enthusiastic, stepping forward directly to greet them.

He guided them to seats and asked Xia Mi La, “What fruit would you like? I’ll have them bring some over.”

Xia Mi La looked toward Jin Can.

“I’m fine with anything,” Jin Can said.

“Then have them prepare a fruit platter,” Xia Mi La decided.

“Alright,” Cui Zhe replied, lightly resting a hand on the back of her chair. Before leaving, he complimented, “That golf outfit looks really nice on you.”

Cui Zhe carried the upright aura of a model student, and his compliments came across as sincere, making it easy to believe he genuinely admired the outfit.

The same words, if spoken by Zhao Taihe, would have sounded more like teasing.

Just as a caddy brought in the fruit platter, Zhao Taihe finally arrived.

Striding in confidently, he walked up to the caddy and, without any hesitation, picked up a fork, speared a piece of mango, and popped it into his mouth.

The caddy froze the fruit was meant for Xia Mi La, but someone had taken a bite. She looked helplessly at Cui Zhe.

Cui Zhe waved a hand resignedly. “Let A Tai have that one. Go bring another portion.”

“Oh?” Zhao Taihe chuckled carelessly, “So it wasn’t for me after all. I thought Jin He was being so considerate toward me – seems I was overthinking it.”

Jin He responded mercilessly: “Stop daydreaming.”

Zhao Taihe made an indifferent clicking sound with his tongue and raised his arm to wrap around the pretty girl he had brought along.

This was likely his new girlfriend – she looked unfamiliar yet very fashionable, with long pink hair and avant-garde accessories in various colors adorning her wrists, neck, and even ears.

As Zhao Taihe’s gaze swept around, he noticed Xia Mi La sitting nearby.

The corners of his mouth curved up again as he greeted her: “When did you arrive? You look beautiful today.”

Xia Mi La showed no displeasure at his flirtatious manner.

She remained as gentle and refined as ever, smiling politely at him: “Thank you.”

———————–

Author’s note: [Hugs]