Gu Xia walked to the parking space, started the car, and drove towards Crown Community.
Gu Xia was well-acquainted with Crown Community, a villa complex. The house prices there were the highest in Ji*ngbei, exceeding 15,000 yuan. To put that into perspective, in 2008, a house price surpassing 10,000 yuan was considered astronomical. This was the real hub for the wealthy elite of Ji*ngbei, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that anyone residing here was, in essence, the boss of a certain company.
Naturally, the high prices were justified. The villas at Crown Community were all three-story detached houses with areas exceeding 300 square meters. They came with their own gardens, swimming pools, and other facilities, and the security personnel were all seasoned veterans, ensuring top-notch security.
Gu Xia drove up to the gate of Crown Community. The community’s security guard saluted and asked, “Hello, who are you looking for?”
“I’m looking for someone in Building 6…”
“Mr. Xu.”
Gu Xia couldn’t help but admire his own quick thinking. The adoptive grandfather’s last name was Xu, so it made sense that his cousin would also be named Xu.
“Please wait a moment,” the security guard said.
Gu Xia sat quietly in the car, knowing the protocol from his previous life when he worked in sales. Less than two minutes later, the security guard returned from the guard booth after making a phone call to verify.
“Please come in,” he said, opening the gate and saluting Gu Xia.
“Thank you.”
Gu Xia drove into the community. Aside from the roads and houses, the community was lush with greenery, featuring grass and trees everywhere. Luxury cars were parked in front of each villa, with most being Bentleys, Porsches, Maybachs—cars worth millions.
Gu Xia circled around, searching for the sixth villa. The place was so vast that it took him ten minutes to locate it.
Finally, he parked the car at the entrance of the villa yard, where a Rolls-Royce and Ferrari were also parked nearby.
Gu Xia pressed the button at the courtyard gate and waited patiently.
“It must be Gu Xia!” came Xu Tianxiang’s voice from the intercom next to the button.
“It’s me, adoptive grandfather,” Gu Xia replied with a smile.
Click!
“Okay, the gate is open; come in!” Xu Tianxiang said.
Gu Xia entered and found flowers and vegetables carefully tended in the yard. There was a glass gazebo set up inside, and Xu Tianxiang, dressed in a traditional Tang suit, was engrossed in a chess match with an old man of the same age.
“Gu Xia, this way,” Xu Tianxiang waved.
Gu Xia walked over and respectfully greeted Xu Tianxiang as “Grandpa.” Then, he turned to the old man in the Tang suit and said with a smile, “Is this your cousin, Grandpa? I’ll address you as Grandpa as well.”
“Haha, Gu Xia, isn’t it?” Xu Yuansheng, the old man in the Tang suit, chuckled. “Sit down.” Afterward, he called out, “Mengying, pour me a cup of tea.”
“Sure thing,” a melodious voice echoed from inside the house.
“Gu Xia, I’ve heard my brother mention you frequently! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Xu Yuansheng said warmly.
“My grandpa praises me too much; I’m almost embarrassed,” Gu Xia chuckled and touched his nose.
“Why didn’t you give us a heads-up before coming over?” Xu Tianxiang asked while still engrossed in the chess game.
“Didn’t Brother Xu mention that you’d be celebrating the New Year at your Ji*ngbei home? I assumed your family would be here, so I headed straight over,” Gu Xia explained.
“I do spend every New Year at home, but they’re coming over tonight to celebrate,” Xu Tianxiang confirmed with a nod.
Squeak!
A tall girl in a white down jacket approached Gu Xia with a cup of tea and playfully said, “Classmate Gu Xia, welcome to my home for tea.”
Gu Xia, who had been focused on the chess game, turned to look and blurted out, “It’s you?”
Turns out it was Xu Mengying; was this her home? What an unexpected coincidence.
“Why not me? Did you think my grandpa had another adopted grandson named Gu Xia?” Xu Mengying asked with a grin.
“Mengying, do you two know each other?” Xu Yuansheng inquired as he raised his head.
Xu Tianxiang also looked between the two.
“Of course, we know each other; we’re classmates,” Xu Mengying responded, casting a glance at Gu Xia.
“That’s right. Both of you are from Ji*ngbei University’s Department of Economics and Management. I didn’t realize you were even desk mates. What a small world! Ah, the joys of being college students,” Xu Tianxiang remarked with a smile.
“Yes, indeed! Mengying is my granddaughter, and Gu Xia is your adopted grandson. What a twist of fate!” Xu Yuansheng added with a smile.
“All right, you two, go chat somewhere else and don’t disturb us old men playing chess,” Xu Tianxiang waved them off.
Gu Xia exchanged a glance with Xu Mengying; they didn’t have much to discuss. What could two people who hardly spoke in class have to talk about, especially alone together?
Gu Xia scratched his head and, with a wry smile, said, “I think I’ll watch the grandpas play chess here. I’m quite interested in chess, though I’m not very skilled. I’ll just observe and enjoy the sun.”
Xu Mengying didn’t mind; they had little in common.
“Haha, sounds good.”
Gu Xia settled nearby, watching the two seniors engage in their chess match. Meanwhile, Xu Mengying headed back inside the house to select vegetables and prepare lunch.
Unbeknownst to him, Gu Xia spent the entire morning in this setting. Initially, he watched and played chess, but eventually, he began to doze off due to the warm sun.
Soon, noon arrived, and Xu Mengying’s mother returned home with an array of vegetables. She glanced at Gu Xia, exchanged greetings with the two seniors, and went into the kitchen with a smile.
“Mengying, who is the young man?” Qian Wenxin, Xu Mengying’s mother, asked. She had been running errands and shopping for groceries all morning and wasn’t aware of Xu Tianxiang’s phone call to Gu Xia.
“He’s Grandpa’s adopted grandson, didn’t we talk about this last time?” Xu Mengying replied softly.
“Oh, I see.” Qian Wenxin nodded and proceeded to ask for more details about Gu Xia.
Mother and daughter busied themselves in the kitchen, washing and chopping vegetables.
*****
“Grandpa, Grandpa, it’s time to eat!” Xu Mengying called from the door.
“Okay.”
Gu Xia, who had been dozing off, was jolted awake by Xu Mengying’s voice, nearly falling off his stool. He hastily righted
himself.
“Haha.”
“Hahaha.”
Laughter filled the room at the sight of Gu Xia’s reaction.
Gu Xia sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
Gu Xia followed them into the house and was greeted by a lavish spread on the dining table. Sea cucumber soup, Jiwei shrimp, beer duck—the dishes were meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. An oval table was adorned with twelve different dishes.
Since Xu Mengying’s father was tied up with work and couldn’t make it home, the five of them sat down to eat.
Gu Xia retrieved a bottle of aged wine from his car and offered it with a smile. “Grandpas, please try the homemade wine from my parents. It’s been aging for over 20 years.”
“Oh, a twenty-year-old wine; it has the color of soy sauce!” Xu Yuansheng quipped with a smile.
“Haha, pour me a glass, Gu Xia. I’d like to sample your family’s wine,” Xu Tianxiang requested with a grin.
Gu Xia poured wine for the two seniors and one for himself. Seeing Xu Mengying’s mother emerge from the house, he greeted her, “Hello, Aunt.”
“Hey, Gu Xia! Make yourself at home,” Qian Wenxin said with a smile.
“Come on, Wenxin, take a break from your chores and join us for lunch,” Xu Yuansheng called out.
“Alright.”
The meal ended with wine and laughter.
After lunch, Gu Xia rested for a while, then accompanied his adoptive grandfather, Xu Tianxiang, back to his home before returning to his own.
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