Chapter 47 - Reception

In the manor, the once quiet atmosphere was replaced by a bustle. The servants who had left seemed to be called by the warmth of the Xia family and returned one after another, adding a bit of popularity to the reception. However, despite the large number of service staff, there were only a few invited guests, as if foreshadowing the extraordinary nature of this banquet. In order to make her forget her loneliness, Xia Zhuozhuo's three brothers carefully prepared gifts. Xia Huaizheng presented a painting by a famous artist that he had treasured for a long time. The Great Wall in the painting, like the tenacity and glory of the Xia family, spanned the long river of history. This painting was once a treasure in his bedroom, but now it has turned into a deep affection for his sister. Xia Huaicheng presented a three-layer cake, which was the result of his staying up all night to make it by hand. Each layer revealed his love and care for his sister, and it was so exquisite that it was amazing. Every stroke and every line of the cake condensed his efforts and emotions, as if to say: "No matter how the world changes, you will always be my baby." Xia Liu's gift was more direct. He handed over the long-promised land transfer contract for the park. This gift, like his promise to Xia Zhuozhuo, was firm and reliable. A warm current surged in Xia Zhuozhuo's heart, and she felt an unprecedented sense of belonging. However, at this moment, the arrival of housekeeper Xia interrupted this warmth. He held a jewelry box in his hand, claiming that it was a gift from the fifth young master. Xia Zhuozhuo's expression froze instantly. She did not immediately take the gift, but asked Xia Liu to open it for her. A gemstone pendant necklace engraved with flames came into view, and rubies and diamonds complemented each other, like flames blooming in the night sky. "Fire symbolizes Xiaoqi's name - Zhuozhuo. I didn't expect that the fifth brother would have this thought." Xia Liu sighed. However, Xia Zhuozhuo just asked Aunt Xu to put away the gift lightly, and she felt mixed emotions in her heart. At this moment, Mrs. Xia came slowly, holding a special gift in her hand - a charity foundation. This foundation was jointly established by Mrs. Xia and Mr. Xia after Xia Zhuozhuo went missing, aiming to help families who lost their children find their loved ones. Now, she handed the foundation to Xia Zhuozhuo, along with a fund of 50 million and a professional team. "This foundation, called 'Angel Baby', has helped hundreds of families find their abducted children." Mrs. Xia's voice was full of tenderness and determination, "Now, I hand it over to you, and I will obey your orders in the future." Xia Zhuo looked at the name of the foundation on the contract, and she knew the weight of this foundation. With it, she will have more strength and support on the road ahead. She looked at Mrs. Xia gratefully, with a choking voice: "Thank you, Mom..." "We are all family, no need to say thank you." Mrs. Xia caressed Xia Zhuozhuo's head lovingly, as if she wanted to devote all her maternal love to this moment. However, at this moment, two guests hurried over, presented gifts, and left in a hurry. Their departure made the already empty banquet hall even more deserted. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Mrs. Xia's face, but she quickly regained her composure. Just then, an unexpected figure appeared at the door - Xia Liuli. Her appearance was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. The guests who were about to leave stopped in their tracks, with gossip flashing in their eyes. Xia Liuli walked into the banquet hall with a smile. She glanced at the sparse crowd around her, with a smug smile in her eyes. She seemed to be telling everyone that even if she left the Xia family, she could still be the protagonist of this banquet. "What are you doing here?" Mrs. Xia's voice was a little unhappy. She used to love Xia Liuli as her own daughter, but since that day, she saw Xia Liuli's true face - an ungrateful and ungrateful wolf. Xia Liuli didn't care about Mrs. Xia's indifference. She walked to Mrs. Xia and said directly: "I'm here to attend the welcoming banquet. By the way, I want to tell you that this manor is mine now." Her words were like a bomb, exploding in the banquet hall. Mrs. Xia widened her eyes and looked at Xia Liuli in disbelief: "What did you say? This manor is yours?" Xia Liuli smiled and took out a contract from her bag: "My father transferred this manor to me as a gift for my eighteenth birthday. Now, I'm here to take back the house." Mrs. Xia was so angry that she was shaking all over. She was about to scold Xia Liuli, but was stopped by Xia Zhuozhuo. Xia Zhuozhuo looked at Xia Liuli calmly, with a hint of firmness in his voice: "The house was indeed transferred to you before, but don't you think it's too much for you to do this now?" Xia Liuli didn't care about Xia Zhuozhuo's accusation. She looked at the Xia family provocatively: "Too much? Humph, what you Xia family did to me before was a hundred times more excessive than this. Now I'm just taking back what belongs to me." Xia Zhuozhuo took a deep breath. She knew that this dispute would not have any results. She decided to solve the problem in another way: "Xia Liuli, we used to be a family, and there is no need to be so stiff now. Why don't we sit down and have a good talk to see if there is any way to have the best of both worlds." Xia Liuli sneered: "Talk? What's there to talk about? I want this manor, and you have to give it to me." Just then, a low and powerful voice rang in the banquet hall: "Enough!" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Mr. Xia slowly walked into the banquet hall. His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty: "This manor is the property of the Xia family, and no one can occupy it privately. Xia Liuli, leave here immediately and stop making trouble." Xia Liuli's face turned pale in an instant, and she looked at Mr. Xia in disbelief: "Dad, you..." Mr. Xia no longer looked at her, he turned to Xia Zhuozhuo and said: "Zhuozhuo, don't worry. This manor will always be your home, and no one can take it away from you." Xia Zhuozhuo looked at Mr. Xia with emotion, and she felt an unprecedented sense of security. She knew that no matter how many storms she encountered in the future, as long as her family was around, she would never be alone. And Xia Liuli, under the majesty of Mr. Xia, could only leave the banquet hall in disgrace. Her figure gradually disappeared in the night, as if she had never existed. And this welcoming banquet, after experiencing this storm, has become more meaningful. It witnessed the unity and tenacity of the Xia family, and also indicated that Xia Zhuozhuo's future path will be full of challenges and hope. Xia Liuli was stunned. The man in front of her claimed that he had bought back her mortgaged property from the court. He told her coldly that she had nothing to do with the house anymore and that it was futile to appeal. Xia Zhuozhuo's cold eyes were like a sharp blade, which made Xia Liuli wonder how she knew this secret. The three brothers were also stunned. Xia Liu was the first to break the silence, his tone full of anger and disappointment: "It turns out that the gang of villains dared to come to collect the debt because you mortgaged the property privately! If it weren't for Zhuozhuo's help, we would have been homeless! Xia Liuli, when did your heart become so cruel?"