Chapter 122 Xie Tingsheng’s Family

Chapter 122: Xie Tingsheng's Family

Hua Diao ambled back upstairs, where the long-awaited Jiang family had finally arrived, now gathered at her doorstep. Aside from Aunt Jiang, everyone else was present and accounted for—even the mischievous Jiang Jiabao, and Auntie Jiang's two children, cousin Dou Yinyin and cousin Dou Zitao.

Beyond the Jiang family, several unfamiliar faces stood at her door, seemingly another family unit. There was an elderly couple, a disheveled middle-aged man, a haughty middle-aged woman, and two young men, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen. They looked sallow and emaciated, their clothes neither branded nor clean, reeking of grime. Their overall demeanor and appearance were even more unkempt than the Jiang family's.

So, who were they?

Two question marks popped up in Hua Diao’s mind.

She quietly slipped into a corner, not rushing forward, intending to observe from a distance first.

At the moment, the two families seemed to be embroiled in an argument. The Jiang family's main speaker was Uncle Jiang, while their counterparts were the disheveled middle-aged man and the haughty woman.

Hua Diao perked up her ears, straining to listen, and indeed, she gleaned some crucial information.

It turned out the other family at her doorstep was looking for Xie Tingsheng—they were his biological parents from the slums, along with his good-for-nothing elder brother, Xie Tingrong, his wife, and their children.

Hua Diao recalled the novel's description of this family: Xie Tingsheng's original family was abysmal. Not only were they poor, but the two elders were notoriously biased, doting on Xie Tingrong while treating Xie Tingsheng, their later-born son, with extreme cruelty.

Had it not been for Xie Tingsheng's exceptional abilities and later sponsorship from Hua Diao's father, he would likely have rotted in the slums, bled dry by his parents and enslaved by his elder brother.

But how had this family found their way here?

Neither the original Professor Xie Tingsheng nor the current CEO Xie Tingsheng would have given them his address.

Thinking of Lin Mohan, who had also shown up today, Hua Diao frowned. Could this be her doing as well?

Lin Mohan was from the Special Operations Bureau; investigating Xie Tingsheng's information shouldn't be difficult for her. The possibility was high.

Dark thoughts swirled in Hua Diao's pitch-black eyes, a flash of murderous intent momentarily flickering.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairwell behind her. Hua Diao instinctively turned her head, seeing Xie Tingsheng's tall, slender figure emerge from the dim stairwell, followed by a cheerfully grinning Zhu Bin.

"Little sister-in-law!" Zhu Bin called out happily.

Hua Diao straightened up, her delicate eyebrows arching as she looked at Xie Tingsheng. "Why is he here?"

Hadn't they agreed not to bring him home again?

Zhu Bin's smile immediately fell. He had thought only Brother Sheng didn't welcome him, but it turned out his little sister-in-law didn't either. Was there no true goodness left in human relationships?

Despite his disheveled, blood-stained clothes, Xie Tingsheng's handsome face remained striking. His thin lips curved slightly as his deep, smiling phoenix eyes met Hua Diao's. "He's here to pick up a spatial item."

Zhu Bin quickly adjusted his mood, rubbing his hands together with an eager nod. "Yes, yes! I couldn't wait to get my hands on a spatial item, so I just came along to pick it up."

"Oh."

Hua Diao didn't make it difficult for him, pulling out the finished spatial item—a snake-shaped necklace—and handing it over. "Here. This is your custom-made spatial item. Its shape formed on its own. I could only set whether it would be a ring, bracelet, or necklace, but not the specific design. This necklace of yours isn't bad; it's golden, quite opulent, and pretty cool."

Zhu Bin's eyes lit up—until he took a closer look, and then (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻!

How was this cool?! The snake's mouth was wide open, so fierce, its two sharp fangs looking like they could pierce his throat any second. If he wore it around his neck, wouldn't it be even easier for it to bite him?

Zhu Bin whimpered pitifully. Could he get a different design?

This spatial item had cost him nearly ninety percent of his savings—didn't he deserve a shape he actually liked?

Hua Diao seemed to read his thoughts, her expression instantly hardening. "Once sold, goods are non-refundable and non-exchangeable."

Watching Zhu Bin deflate, Hua Diao quietly offered a suggestion. "If you don't like it, you can check my encrypted forum. It's full of my customers, some of whom have also ordered spatial items. You could try trading with them. Aside from the shape, all spatial items I produce have the same capacity and performance. Maybe there's a snake enthusiast who'd be willing to swap with you."

Xie Tingsheng shot him a disdainful look. "Be grateful you got one at all. Don't be so picky. A spatial item's value lies in its utility, not its appearance."

Zhu Bin stuffed the snake necklace into his pocket, rubbing his face to perk himself up.

Brother Sheng was right; usefulness was what mattered.

Moving past that, he finally noticed the commotion in the 18th-floor hallway. Craning his neck, he asked in surprise, "Who are these people? Why are they arguing at your door? Isn't this floor just your unit?"

"Yes, just us. Those people are my grandparents, and your Brother Sheng's family. They probably figured it's not so dangerous outside anymore, so they dragged their whole clans here to sponge off us and demand favors."

Hua Diao then recounted what she had overheard earlier. It turned out the Jiang and Xie families had crossed paths outside the neighborhood, fighting over a silver coin that had fallen to the ground. Both families were greedy, neither willing to back down, and after a long argument, they finally compromised by splitting it in half.

That was also why Hua Diao had waited and waited at home, but the Jiang family hadn't arrived.

Later, these two families met again at Hua Diao's doorstep. Both were there to demand benefits, and naturally, old grudges and new resentments immediately flared up. Each side feared that with more people, their share would be smaller, so they started arguing right there at the door.

Hua Diao spoke casually. Seeing her indifference, Zhu Bin breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard about the Jiang family; if his little sister-in-law valued family ties too much, all the good things and luck she possessed would eventually be swindled away by them. Fortunately, she didn't seem to care much.

Hua Diao and Xie Tingsheng exchanged a knowing glance, a shared smile passing between them.

They weren't their real family; why should they care?

Xie Tingsheng took Hua Diao's hand and stepped out, his gaze coldly sweeping over the two still-bickering families. In a detached tone, he said to Zhu Bin, "On your way downstairs, take them with you. My wife and I are about to eat."

His tone was as if he were dismissing trash.

Light and airy, utterly unconcerned.

Hua Diao rubbed her rumbling stomach and nodded in agreement. At this hour, eating was indeed the priority.