The new semester had begun, bringing renewed vitality to Cornell University. Xia Xiao Lan encountered some old friends, including Daniel from the Hotel Management program, who specifically thanked her:
“You helped me win a bet with others, so I feel I should treat you to a meal. Please don’t look at me that way – your Chinese boyfriend is ‘Bruce Lee,’ I genuinely wouldn’t dare have any other intentions.”
Daniel raised both hands in surrender.
Xia Xiao Lan burst into laughter. “So this is purely a friendship meal?”
“I swear, with utmost sincerity, this is purely friendship! You interned at the firm for two months – don’t you have any exciting stories to share with friends?”
That was indeed worth discussing.
Daniel and Nancy had spent their summer vacations interning at hotels. Nancy shared various peculiar incidents from the hotel, making Xia Xiao Lan laugh heartily.
“Xia, tell us about your internship!”
Xia Xiao Lan began with the Wilson Hotel project. When she mentioned how three major firms had competed for the same project and GMP ultimately won the bid, Nancy clapped her hands excitedly: “That’s so you! So you went to Washington on business?”
Xia Xiao Lan nodded. Her two months had been far more enriching than Nancy and Daniel could have imagined. When they learned that Xia Xiao Lan had also taken on a theater renovation commission, Nancy almost screamed with excitement.
Daniel inquired about the theater’s name. “That theater is quite substantial and has a rich history. I believe I’ve visited once or twice.” He also noted that it was among the Wilson family’s assets.
Daniel thought Xia Xiao Lan’s connections to the Wilson family were remarkably close. Meanwhile, Xia Xiao Lan was impressed by Daniel’s knowledge and had a sudden thought: “Danny, have you heard of a pair of siblings? They’re both Chinese-American – the sister is named Tina, she’s 18 and studies at Columbia, while her brother Farn recently found work on Wall Street.”
Daniel appeared to come from a wealthy background himself. New York had several wealthy social circles that were relatively independent yet occasionally overlapped. Xia Xiao Lan thought Daniel might know something.
That strange sense of familiarity bothered her – she wouldn’t feel at ease until she understood it.
To her disappointment, Daniel shook his head. “I’ve never encountered such siblings in my social circle. Where did you meet them?”
“At Mrs. Wilson’s home, and Tina also lives in the Upper East Side.”
Daniel, seeing Xia Xiao Lan’s disappointed expression, added: “I might be able to find out some information for you. People who suddenly move to the Upper East Side usually have some background. They need to be accepted by the local social circle, and Mrs. Wilson likely serves as their guide in this regard.”
Wealthy people who suddenly relocate don’t remain anonymous – they need to integrate into new social circles at their destination. Particularly in some Upper East Side apartments, residency requires approval from existing owners. Each building had its own rules – some refused lawyers, others rejected entertainment industry figures. Even with a million-dollar apartment, having the money wasn’t enough; one needed to prove assets worth 3-5 times the property value.
“You mean since Tina lives there, she must have passed the asset verification… They’re screening new owners’ backgrounds, correct?”
Daniel nodded. “You should understand that those Upper East Side apartments don’t want questionable neighbors, like drug lords or gang leaders.”
Did that mean gang leaders couldn’t buy Upper East Side properties?
No, they certainly could.
The money they used for purchasing had to be thoroughly laundered, and they needed a respectable, convincing identity!
Although the money of financiers and bankers might not be much cleaner than that of drug lords, these were the rules established by the wealthy who had first settled in the Upper East Side.
“I understand.”
Daniel smiled. “I’ll help you inquire and let you know in a few days.”
Nancy wailed dramatically, pretending to distance herself from her two wealthy friends.
Xia Xiao Lan was bewildered. “You’ve got it wrong – my clients are the Upper East Side wealthy ones.”
Why investigate clients’ backgrounds?
Had interior design become so competitive?
Daniel didn’t expose Xia Xiao Lan’s curiosity – everyone had their secrets, and this was just a small favor for him.
Two days later, Daniel provided Xia Xiao Lan with some information.
“Tina and Farn are from California, Los Angeles, where there are many Chinese immigrants. I heard their family is in the import-export trade. Tina and Farn are their American names, and their Chinese surname is Cheung.”
Cheung.
The Hong Kong romanization of the surname “Zhang.”
Xia Xiao Lan already knew this, having seen Tina’s signature on the contract.
“Zhang” was quite a common surname.
Though they looked familiar, they couldn’t possibly be relatives of Zhang Cui Jia – her family didn’t have any relatives successful enough to have emigrated to America and become wealthy.
“So the Upper East Side residents don’t know much about the siblings. Cheung should be their paternal surname – what about their mother?”
Daniel shook his head. “That’s unknown. The apartment originally belonged to Mr. Cheung, who gifted it to Tina – a common transfer between family members. If you want to know more, you should probably ask Mrs. Wilson. She seems to be guiding Tina through New York’s social circles and must be familiar with her family.”
Xia Xiao Lan knew she should ask Mrs. Wilson.
But Mrs. Wilson’s unexpected enthusiasm toward her was already puzzling – wouldn’t ask to raise more questions?
Perhaps she could ask Jim for help.
Jim must be bored following Zhou Yi around.
“Do you think there’s something unusual about those siblings?”
Jim called Xia Xiao Lan, originally to report on Zhou Yi’s situation, but immediately set aside Zhou Yi’s daily matters when Xia Xiao Lan brought up this topic.
Throughout his career, Jim had rarely failed, except in tracking down Xu Zhong Yi, where the trail had gone cold several times.
Compared to quietly watching over Baby Zhou, investigating Xu Zhong Yi was far more challenging.
“I’m not sure. I know Tina and Farn look familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen them before. Then I suddenly realized they resemble Cui Ru Cui.”
Xia Xiao Lan had instinctively rejected this possibility, which was why she hadn’t initially thought of Cui Ru Cui.
Based on Tina’s appearance, only a wealthy family could raise such a pampered child. According to Jim’s judgment, Xu Zhong Yi’s wife and children were supposedly living in obscurity somewhere, keeping a low profile and enduring hardships – how could they possibly be connected to a wealthy heiress?
An Upper East Side apartment given to an 18-year-old daughter as a coming-of-age gift.
Demolishing and renovating on a whim when dissatisfied with the décor.
Daniel mentioned their family ran an import-export business in Los Angeles.
How could such people be related to Xu Zhong Yi’s family?
But what if they were?
Setting aside Tina’s situation for now, Farn’s age matched perfectly with that of Xu Chang Le from back then.