My Arrogant Young Lady

Leaving my aunt's house, Anyao and I couldn't help but exchange a glance. Sensing my aunt's cold attitude, Anyao shook her head with a wry smile and said, "Your aunt probably met some important person again and thinks you're not as important as them. Her ability to change her attitude is truly astounding..."

"Damn, just a couple of days ago she was calling him 'darling,' calling our young master all the time to invite him over for dinner. But today her attitude is completely different. This auntie is really something, acting like this towards our young master just because she's met someone important. How could a woman with such limited knowledge know that our young master's status is unparalleled?" Di Huo said, frowning.

"Never mind, as long as Auntie is happy." I forced a smile.

It's a misunderstanding. We thought Wang You and Liuli had come to capture Aunt and Zhang Xuan. The presence of Wang You and Liuli has kept us in a state of constant fear.

Everything's alright now, and we're all still here. We glanced at each other, and I said to everyone, "Thank you all for coming all this way for nothing. If there's nothing else, I'll treat you to dinner."

"Hmph. Is treating you to a meal enough? At least treat me to a big meal." Chun'er glared at me fiercely when she saw how concerned I was about Zhang Xuan.

"Okay, eat whatever you want." I smiled.

We soon parted ways downstairs at Zhang Xuan's apartment and drove to the agreed-upon restaurant. On the way, for some reason, I still felt uneasy. I kept thinking about Xi'er's pale face and Zhang Xuan's ashen complexion. Their expressions seemed strange to me; I felt they were hiding something from me.

But a sense of foreboding still lingered in my heart. These past few days, I'd been preoccupied with making money and figuring out how to deal with Wang You and Liuli. It felt like I'd missed something. Something must have happened with Zhang Xuan that I didn't know about. And this matter was related to Xi'er.

While waiting at the traffic light, I thought for a moment and took out my phone. I hesitated, wondering whether to call Zhang Xuan and ask her what was going on. Then, before I could even make the call, my phone rang. It was Zhang Xuan. Seeing that it was her number, I was startled and quickly answered.

"Where are you?" Zhang Xuan's voice was calm on the phone.

"We're about to go eat, are you coming?" I asked.

"Can you come pick me up downstairs? I miss you," Zhang Xuan said.

“This…” I hesitated after hearing Zhang Xuan’s words.

My uncle gave me a nice car, but it can only seat two people. Lately, I've been spending every day with Bao Shao and Lu Zhicheng. Sometimes they sit together in the passenger seat, with Bao Shao holding Lu Zhicheng. But now Bao Shao is in the passenger seat, and I can't possibly ask him to get out and go back to pick up Zhang Xuan.

The receiver was quite loud, and Bao Shao, who was standing nearby, overheard my call with Zhang Xuan. After thinking for a moment, Bao Shao whispered to me, "Brother Xi, something's not right between your aunt and Zhang Xuan. I'm taking a taxi to the restaurant; you go back and check on Zhang Xuan."

"Okay." Even Young Master Bao could see that something was off between his aunt and Zhang Xuan, so I nodded in agreement.

Soon, Young Master Bao got out of the car, and I immediately turned around and drove towards Zhang Xuan's house. When I drove back to Zhang Xuan's building, I saw that Zhang Xuan was already waiting downstairs.

The night wind was a bit strong, and Zhang Xuan stood in the wind, smiling at me. Her face was pale, but her expression was calm. She wore a black wool coat. She looked very dignified. And because she was tall, she looked indescribably beautiful.

Zhang Xuan has always been outstanding, considered a campus beauty in our school. However, An Yao and Xi'er are so dazzling that they overshadow her. As a beautiful woman, she possesses many of the characteristics of a beautiful woman: her skin is snow-white; her figure is well-proportioned; her chin is pointed; and her long, glossy hair gives her a very elegant air. I haven't noticed her recently, and she seems to have lost a considerable amount of weight.

Seeing my car stop in front of her, Zhang Xuan smiled at me and got in. "Don't go to dinner, okay? I want to be alone with you tonight. Just this once, and never again."

Zhang Xuan spoke softly, her tone somewhat melancholic. Seeing the earnest expression on her face as she spoke to me, I frowned and nodded gently, "Okay, I won't go out for dinner tonight."

"Can we go shopping? I'd like to go shopping with you," Zhang Xuan said.

"Okay." I nodded.

Driving, Zhang Xuan and I went to Joy City in Dongcheng. It's a huge shopping mall. After we arrived, I parked the car, and we went shopping. Zhang Xuan seemed very excited while we were shopping. She held my arm tightly, and her face was always smiling.

"Wang Xi, if only you were an ordinary person, I could be with you forever," Zhang Xuan said.

“I’ve always been an ordinary person.” I smiled.

“If you were an ordinary person, I could be with you every day. We could go shopping together. We could go to university together. After we graduate, we could find jobs. Even if my mom dislikes you, I can still marry you against her wishes. I had already planned it all out: even if you don't do well in your studies and don't get into university, I will still study hard and find a good job to support you. It's your fault for being sickly and never getting any rice growing up.” As she spoke, Zhang Xuan gave me a reproachful look.

"You're so good to me." At this moment, I was so in love with Zhang Xuan that I leaned my head against her chest and took advantage of her a little.

“Stop fooling around, let’s go to the supermarket. I want to experience what it’s like to go to the supermarket with you. I want to experience what it’s like to live with you in the future,” Zhang Xuan said.

"Okay." I nodded with a smile after hearing Zhang Xuan's words.

That evening, Zhang Xuan acted strangely. She was different from usual, reverting to her former arrogant self. While shopping with her, she constantly made sarcastic remarks, as if everything I did was wrong and everything she did was right. I didn't argue with her; I just smiled and let her criticize me. Now I'm confident, and I'm no longer as insecure as before. I know that the reason she always put me down is because she cares about her image in my eyes. Only when she's better than me will she not feel inferior in my presence, and she won't be afraid that I'll leave her for a better girl.

Zhang Xuan picked up a jar of jam, looked at it, and tossed it into her shopping cart. Looking at the smile on my face, she sighed and said, "Wang Xi, you've changed. You've become more outstanding and confident. If only you had been like this before. If you had always given in to me and listened to everything I said, I think I would have fallen in love with you long ago."

"So, when did you start to fall in love with me?" I asked with a smile.

“Actually, I’ve always loved you,” Zhang Xuan said.

“Always…” I asked.

“Yes, I’ve always loved you. It’s just that you were too insecure back then, which made me afraid to be with you. I’ve heard that first loves don’t last because people are too immature. Back then, you were immature, and so was I. What if I couldn’t be good to you if I was with you, and I hurt you? Now we’re both mature, and you’ve become radiant. Unfortunately, I feel less and less worthy of you.” Zhang Xuan smiled as she looked at me.

“Zhang Xuan, you will always be the most outstanding person in my heart. I will not allow you to say that about yourself,” I said.

"Really? I'll become even better, right? I'll definitely become worthy of you." Pushing the shopping cart to the wine section, Zhang Xuan picked up a bottle of red wine, looked at it, and said, "Let's drink together tonight, I want to have a drink."

"Okay." I nodded gently.

"Then I'll take more. You're so outstanding now, I'm afraid I can't even outdrink you when it comes to drinking." As she spoke, Zhang Xuan went crazy, throwing bottle after bottle of red wine into the shopping cart until it was completely full.

“Zhang Xuan…” Seeing Zhang Xuan’s unusual behavior, that ominous premonition welled up in my heart again.

We stayed at a hotel near Joy City, and Zhang Xuan paid for me to stay in the largest suite. A table full of red wine was laid out in front of us, and before we knew it, we were both drunk.

Wearing a black blouse, Zhang Xuan sat on my lap, her arms around my neck, giggling foolishly. She kept recounting embarrassing stories from my childhood, constantly teasing me about how silly I used to be. Suddenly, Zhang Xuan burst into tears, "If you could always be an ordinary person, maybe my existence would have some value..."

Holding me, Zhang Xuan cried very sadly. That night, she held me and cried for a very long time.

When I woke up the next day, Zhang Xuan was gone. She had simply vanished from my world...

Chapter 165 Empress Dowager

I rubbed my hangover head, took a shower in my hotel room, and then checked out, getting my 500 yuan deposit back.

Zhang Xuan disappeared. I figured she'd probably gone to school. It's 10 a.m. now; by the time I get to school, it'll probably be almost time for the semester to end. Zhang Xuan is just an ordinary girl; because of her strong personality, she's always a top student. No matter how tired she is, she always finishes her homework. I'm someone who might leave at any time, and it wouldn't be good if she stayed with me and interfered with my studies.

But when I arrived at school, I saw that the seat behind me was empty, and that ominous premonition surged up in my heart again.

"Where's Zhang Xuan?" I asked An Yao, who sat next to her.

“Zhang Xuan didn’t come. Isn’t she with you?” An Yao looked at me with a strange expression.

"She's not with me. I thought she came to school!" At that moment, my ominous premonition completely exploded. Anxiety began to creep into my heart, and I started to feel anxious.

"Could something have happened?" An Yao frowned.

"Let's look for it!" I said, and quickly called Zhang Xuan.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off..." When I dialed Zhang Xuan's number, a cold voice immediately came from the other end.

I couldn't stay at school any longer, so I quickly drove to Zhang Xuan's house. Remembering Zhang Xuan's unusual behavior last night, I became increasingly anxious.

I arrived at Zhang Xuan's house quickly. I had a key to Zhang Xuan's house, and when I turned the doorknob and went inside, I was stunned.

All the gifts that had filled the floor yesterday were gone, and standing before me was a completely unfamiliar family of three: a middle-aged couple and a child of about seven or eight. They seemed somewhat surprised to see me enter. The middle-aged man, who was in Zhang Xuan's house, was wearing glasses. As soon as I opened the door, he immediately asked, "Who are you? How do you have a key to our house?"

"Who are you? What are you doing at my aunt's house?" I asked.

“I am the new owner of this house; I have already bought it,” the middle-aged man said.

"What!?" My face changed instantly upon hearing the middle-aged man's words.

My aunt sold the house? Have new owners moved in? So, where did my aunt and Zhang Xuan move to?

Thinking about this, I felt even more uneasy. I even thought it was a dream, and I slapped my head a few times. Then, I went into the bedroom to take another look. I found that all the beds were gone, and several new beds that the family had bought were lying on the floor. They were throwing away the things that my aunt and Zhang Xuan had left behind, intending to replace them with their new ones.

Staring blankly at the empty bed in the bedroom, the man and woman quickly followed and said, "Young man, are you from this family? How come your aunt sold the house without telling you?"

"No..." Sweat gradually streamed down my cheeks.

“That’s strange. You have a key to their house, so you’re practically part of the family. They should have told you when they sold the house…” The man frowned, his gaze suddenly turning sympathetic as he looked at me.

Seeing the man's sympathetic gaze, I couldn't help but clench my fists. Just then, a seven or eight-year-old child ran in and said, "Mommy, there are lots of toys in this house!"

"Don't want anything from this store, throw it all away. Mom will buy you new toys later." The woman gave her a disgusted look.

Hearing their words, I was horrified to see that the boy was holding a toy that belonged to me when I was little. A pang of pain shot through my heart, and I immediately took the toy from the boy. Then, I saw a large plastic bag in the hallway, filled with all of Zhang Xuan's belongings.

My heart ached even more. I thought for a moment, gritted my teeth, and said to them, "You are not allowed to throw anything out of this house!"

"Why?" they asked, looking at me in surprise.

"Because I'll pay double the price to buy this place!" With that, I strode out of the bedroom.

When I stepped out of the bedroom, I saw that An Yao had already arrived with the four hall masters and Mount Everest. Upon seeing them, I immediately told them, "Tell them not to touch anything here. I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back in a little while."

I hurried downstairs and drove towards my uncle's company. My aunt had sold the house, but my uncle's company should still be there. I didn't know why my aunt had sold the house. I had no idea where she would go after selling it. With my hands on the steering wheel, I drove like the wind towards my uncle's company.

When I arrived at my uncle's company, I became extremely anxious. Because my uncle's company had also been sold; it had changed hands.

Instead, a bloated, obese middle-aged man appeared. Seeing that I was only eighteen or nineteen, he said to his men with obvious disdain, "Get this kid out of here. Don't let him hold everyone up."

"Dude, you'd better get out of here. This is a workplace, not a place for you to wander around," a young man quickly grabbed my arm and said.

"Get out!" I snapped out of the young man's grasp and grabbed the middle-aged man by the collar. Gritting my teeth, I glared at him and said fiercely, "Where's my uncle? Where did the person who sold the job to your company go?"

"Damn, you think you can fight me with your small frame?" Looking at the dozen or so employees in the company, the middle-aged man immediately shoved me hard. But, after he shoved me, fear immediately appeared in his eyes, because he had used all his strength to push me, while I held on to his collar tightly and did not budge.

At that moment, the middle-aged man saw clearly my distinctive red eyes, typical of a spoiled brat, the expensive brand labels on my clothes, the gemstone ring on my hand, and the gold necklace that was faintly visible in my collar.

Sensing my unusual status, the middle-aged man's attitude softened slightly. "Brother, your uncle sold his company to me. It wasn't doing well before; if someone hadn't given him two million, it would have gone bankrupt. These days, running a business isn't as easy as it used to be. It costs money and time. Capable people all go into low-risk ventures. I saw there was still a chance to make a profit, so I bought it. Where your uncle is, I don't know. But I heard he went abroad..."

"Go abroad?" Hearing the middle-aged man's words, my limbs turned ice cold.

"Yeah, Old Zhang's wife. You know her, right? She's the one who's always pretending to be rich. That woman has always wanted to go abroad, and she keeps saying how great it is overseas. Yesterday, when Old Zhang's company was transferring ownership to me, I asked him a few questions. I asked him where he planned to make his fortune, and he sighed and said maybe overseas." The middle-aged man looked at my fierce expression and kept wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Dude, I know something, but I don't know how..." A young man next to me seemed to have thought of something.

"What is it?" I asked.

“A woman came yesterday. She seemed really rich. She was quite beautiful, and she was covered in jewelry. She brought a large group of people with her, and they talked for a while in Mr. Zhang’s office. When they came out, I went with them to see them off, and I saw that they were driving a lot of nice cars. Bentleys, BMWs, and Rolls-Royces…” he said.

"Who is that woman?" I asked.

"I don't know, but after hearing what your uncle called her..." the young man said.

"The Empress Dowager?" Hearing the young man's words, my limbs felt even colder.

"Yes, yes, that's the Empress Dowager. Haha. You know, in today's society, where are there any Empress Dowagers anymore? But that woman really has an air about her, just like an Empress Dowager from ancient times. She looks incredibly wealthy. She even has a group of thugs with her, and there's a really pretty little maid next to her," the young man said.

"I understand..." I released the middle-aged man's collar. I walked out of my uncle's company, feeling utterly dejected.

When I drove back to Zhang Xuan's house, I saw that An Yao, along with Tian Lei and Di Huo, had already cleaned up the house. The family of three who had been there earlier had already left. An Yao said to me, "Brother, I gave them double the price. I told them to buy another house. No one will be living in this house anymore."

“Zhang Xuan, she went abroad…” I said, sitting blankly on the sofa as I lit a cigarette.

"What!?" An Yao looked at me in surprise after hearing what I said.

“They told me that the Empress Dowager visited Zhang Xuan’s father’s company. After she left, Zhang Xuan’s father sold the company, and they may have gone abroad…” I said.

“That’s impossible. Xi’er’s mother comes from a noble family and grew up in a prestigious clan. She received the best education. The Yehenara family has always kept a low profile. Apart from being famous in the martial arts world, ordinary people have no idea that the family exists. Xi’er’s mother has never left the Yehenara family, so how could she go to see a nobody like your uncle?” An Yao said.

“But she really went. Some people saw her and said she was a beautiful and noble woman, and that she was accompanied by many skilled men and a very pretty young girl. There were also Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, BMWs…” I said.

"So, it was the Empress Dowager who made Zhang Xuan's family leave? She didn't like your relationship with Zhang Xuan, and used her power to make Zhang Xuan's family leave?" An Yao asked.