How could Xia Xiaolan respond to such praise? She could only smile modestly!

The matter between Little You and Shao Guangrong had nothing to do with Shao Limin. In this public setting, she was the museum’s designer, and Shao Limin was the leader. Xia Xiaolan knew quite well how to interact with leadership.

Shao Limin shook hands with everyone, focusing particularly on his conversation with father and son Xu. He asked the Xu family when they planned to start their project. While non-profitable projects like museums were built quickly and turned out uniquely different, what about the other lands the Xu family had purchased?

As both sides exchanged pleasantries, Grandmother Yu pulled Xia Xiaolan aside:

“He’s from the Shao family?”

“Yes, he’s Shao Guangrong’s uncle, and he cares deeply for Shao Guangrong.”

Grandmother Yu rolled her eyes, “I don’t think he cares as much as Second Uncle does for Kang Wei.”

True affection needs no justification. Even if a child turns out poorly, they’re still family, and such indulgence, though perhaps not right, is at least seventy percent genuine! If one goes against a child’s wishes and forces decisions under the pretense of good intentions, such love is mixed with other motives.

Xia Xiaolan remained noncommittal, “Anyway, both Shao Guangrong and Little You have cleared things up. What more can the Shao family say? If Uncle Tang wasn’t so focused on treating Little Aunt’s illness, he would have certainly questioned the Shao family!”

So if the Shao family was sensible, they shouldn’t try to interfere anymore. Did they think Little You had no one to stand up for her? Everyone knew she was a lone girl caring for her vegetative mother, yet Shao Guangrong’s mother still went to say those nonsensical things to Little You. Fortunately, Little You had managed to transfer her aunt to Pengcheng. If Little You was still working as a salesgirl at Blue Phoenix in Beijing, she could only have endured the humiliation, repeatedly swearing to Shao Guangrong’s mother that she wouldn’t try to marry above her station with their only son.

What kind of people were they? Even though Xia Xiaolan had known Shao Guangrong for several years, she hardly wanted to deal with his family.

At the opening ceremony, Xu Zhongyi displayed several family collections and invited the leaders to tour the museum. Regardless of their cultural knowledge, everyone tried to appear cultured in such a place.

Did the Xu family spend all that money just to build a museum to display these vessels and containers? Few truly agreed with this in their hearts.

Grandmother Yu didn’t care. She displayed these items not to please anyone, but to give them a proper home and prevent them from being forgotten. Fine things would always find those who could appreciate them.

These were the Yu family’s history, and also part of China’s history. The craftsmanship and the meaning time had bestowed upon them… As Xia Xiaolan toured all the exhibits quietly, listening to Grandmother Yu’s explanations, she felt inner peace.

Tina was looking at a vase. Xu Zhongyi stood two meters away from her:

“Your grandfather loved this vase. When I was young and mischievous, I once rolled up his collected ancient texts and hid them inside the vase. Your grandmother said the plum blossoms in the corner had bloomed and wanted to put them in a vase. I couldn’t bring myself to confess, so I could only watch as your grandmother filled the vase with clear water…”

Xu Zhongyi moved beside Tina, making her nervous. But as he spoke about his childhood mischief, Tina grew curious.

“What happened then?”

“Then the water soaked the ancient texts. We never got to appreciate the plum blossoms, and your grandfather sighed for several days. That ancient text was extremely precious, but he never said he would beat me.”

So these items weren’t just antique treasures, they were Xu Zhongyi’s memories of “home,” things he couldn’t bear to part with.

Tina had never met her “grandfather.” But she had heard from Grandmother Yu and Xu Changle that grandfather was a refined scholar. He always patiently taught Xu Zhongyi and Xu Changle, never raising a hand against them no matter how mischievous they were.

She would never meet such a “grandfather.” The old man hadn’t lived to see his family reunited.

This was why Xu Zhongyi hated Zhang Jiadong, the source of the Xu family’s tragedy. Yet she had always cherished Zhang Jiadong’s “fatherly love,” which must have been very difficult and distressing for Xu Zhongyi!

It was remarkable that Xu Zhongyi still tolerated her.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s alright, Tina. You are my daughter, you are a member of the Xu family. You were just lost for too long, and we’re willing to wait for you to come back.”

Xu Zhongyi felt he was already very happy! He didn’t regret not being able to be “Master Qiu” anymore. All he wanted was a family reunion!

Now, his wish had come true. Tina had accepted her identity, otherwise she wouldn’t have returned for the opening ceremony.

The museum was completed. The Xu family’s precious antiques had found their place, and the family had come together – this was the perfect ending Xu Zhongyi had long dreamed of.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t interrupt Tina and Xu Zhongyi. Today was a good start. This father and daughter could talk calmly now, and they would eventually take the next step. Tina would come to view Xu Zhongyi as her father.

Xia Xiaolan was happy for Grandmother Yu.

When the opening ceremony and tour ended, Shao Limin’s secretary stopped her:

“Comrade Xia, the leader wants to see you.”

Xia Xiaolan followed, and Shao Limin’s car was waiting in a secluded spot.

“You…”

“Little Xia, though we haven’t met many times, this isn’t our first interaction. There are no outsiders here, you can call me Uncle Shao.”

“Uncle Shao, do you have instructions for me?”

Seeing her compliance, Shao Limin softened his tone:

“There are mainly two things. First, regarding Guangrong and your cousin’s matter – I don’t interfere with young people’s love lives, and whether they stay together isn’t my decision. I just want to apologize on behalf of Guangrong’s mother. She shouldn’t have approached your cousin like that. I hope her rashness didn’t cause your cousin too much harm.”

Shao Limin spoke sincerely, but Xia Xiaolan inwardly cursed him as an old fox while maintaining the same pretense:

“Uncle Shao, I can’t make decisions for my cousin, and I don’t think you need to apologize. Uncle Shao, you’ve always been open-minded. I received your help before in Shangdu, and I completely trust your character!”

If anyone should apologize, it should be Shao Guangrong’s mother to Little You directly. Little You was now in America, but she hadn’t been abroad before.

This apology lacked sincerity, as it wasn’t between the actual parties involved. Xia Xiaolan had no intention of being an intermediary to convey the “apology.”

Shao Limin understood her meaning. Though Xia Xiaolan’s words were polite, her attitude was firm. Shao Limin wasn’t angry:

“Then let me continue with the second matter. The Asia Department Store – Little Xia, you’re also one of the shareholders. The museum you designed is now complete and in use, but when will the Asia Department Store open? I don’t want to see it occupying the prime location at Erqi Square while sitting idle… What are your plans for this department store now? Can you give me a clear answer?”

Looking out the car window, they could see the Asia Department Store. It was unusual for a completed building to remain unopened.

Originally the most enthusiastic, Zhu Suizhou was now contentedly staying in Qiong Island. Xia Xiaolan felt she had changed the course of history again. She was also wondering about this – had Zhu Suizhou given up on Asia Department Store?!