As much as Xia Sha would be happy if she ever heard Guan Xian's faith in him, she began to doubt herself.
"Your grandfather is admitted to the hospital. He wanted to see you."
Xia Qi Feng's ponderous voice rang out from the moment Xia Sha open his door. Fu Qun, who beside Xia Sha, froze like a statue for two seconds before took a step back as if he heard nothing and exit from the room.
Xia Sha closes the door with a flat face before showing her face in front of her father.
"What is it this time?" she rolls her eyes and carelessly sat on the leathered couched in front of his father's fumed-oak working desk. Cross her legs while staring at his father in a slacking manner.
"Hypertension, after her granddaughter refuses to answer his call," his father said shortly. His gaze is sharp and his lips dropped, forming a frown on his face.
"Care to explain?"
Xia Sha averted her gaze from his continuously probing eyes. She clasped her plump lips before guiltily stuck her tongue out to moisten her lips.
"I fall asleep early, missed his call."
"Can't you call the old man back? He is still your grandfather, after all. Or you've forgotten are the granddaughter of Xia's family because you are staying at the Shen's residence right now?"
Unlike usual, Xia Qi Feng maintains his emotion in check today. He didn't even raise his voice at Xia Sha. But something about his calmness makes Xia Sha's body tensed and scared.
"I didn't call back because I don't want to talk about the ridiculous idea of forced marriage with the Xiao family," Xia Sha answered straightforwardly.
"I understand. But you can't keep avoiding the problem like this-,"
"I've made it clear from the start. I, We don't need this marriage to keep Xia Corporation keep standing in the Capital City. Can't you analyze the sale reports? We are doing great!" Xia Sha said behind gritted teeth.
Xia Qi Feng took a deep breath and looked at his dear daughter as if he is unfazed by her words before. Xia Sha knew Xia Qi Feng has his own decision in his mind right now.
She becomes wary and alerted inside. Her heart pounds slowly, but she can felt her blood rushing to her brain. A mocking smile is her first tool from the defense system in her mind.
"You are siding with him right now, right?"
Xia Qi Feng's eyes dropped slightly. He looks sideways to the big window. He didn't deny Xia Sha's words but uttering the fact that Xia Sha has known before.
"He's old. I've been a disappointment in his eyes for a long time, but you, he cherished you more than he cherishes me, Xia Sha."
Xia Sha looked at her father's back with an incomprehensible looked while mumbling, "You don't have to call yourself a disappointment. I knew it already."
Usually, after hearing Xia Sha's sarcastic, impolite words toward him, Xia Qi Feng would turn his back and glared at her sharply. She will shrug her shoulder and innocently saying, "What?" and he will let her go.
But this time, his father remained standstill, giving her the view of his back. He didn't show any emotion but calmness on his body gesture.
Xia Sha blinked. Her throat starts to choke while her mind traveled wildly to all the worst possibilities that could be happening right now.
No, Xia Qi Feng couldn't act like this. He should be showing his temperamental-self facing, not cold and unfazed calmness like this.
Xia Sha bite her lowers lips and swallowed all her bitter words. She looks at her father with a nervous gaze.
"Grandfather... he...,"
"No, he didn't die," Xia Qi Feng quickly cut her words before she can finish. Xia Sha sees his frown through the reflection in the glass wall.
"So why you act like this? You know I wouldn't change my decision no matter how you coax me. Not even throwing Pang Ze Tian and Xia Xiang from the manor could worth this negotiation."
'I'm impossible, try me' is written clearly on her forehead as she picked up his father's coffee cup and made a weird face after she smells the strong bitter smell.
Xia Qi Feng look at his daughter with mixed feelings.
From the day she is born, up till today, Xia Sha has always been the center of his worlds, along with Shen Xia Fei. But when he divorced Shen Xia Fei, Xia Sha is the only one left in his heart.
"Xia Sha, between identity and personal life, which one you prioritized?" Xia Qi Feng asked suddenly, walking back to his seat with a serious face. But no matter what tone he used while asking, it still sounds awkward in Xia Sha's ears.
Xia Sha was stunned the moment Xia Qi Feng asked this question.
Is this a weird question to ask?
Between identity and personal life, which is more important? Your identity formed your whole life, professional and personal. How can you choose between one, when it's an un-separable thing?
Xia Qi Feng's words sound confusing and make no sense at all for normal people. But not for her daughter. Xia Sha could immediately understand what Xia Qi Feng's tried to imply by asking her these questions.
"Grandfather threaten me with my shares?" Xia Sha asked carefully. She corrects her seating position, suddenly appears like a princess from an ancient kingdom.
Xia Qi Feng lowered his gaze before he looks at Xia Sha with an unfathomed gaze, lowly mumbling, "He will take Xiao Zhan as his grandson, so he will inherit the Xia Corporation."
***
"Grandfather! I don't want this! I don't want Xia Sha to be my sister!" Xiao Zhan's thunderous voice rang throughout his grandfather's study room.
Grandfather Xiao looked at his youngest grandson calmly. His wrinkled hand reaching out for the cup of coffee while he moves his gaze back to the thick book he is reading before.
Xiao Yu is the one who welcomed his younger brother with a frown.
"Where is your manner?"
"Cut it, Xiao Yu! You don't have a say in this. I thought you two are helping me in getting Xia Sha back. Turned out each of you had your own hidden agenda behind me!"
"You blame me for your stupidity?" Xiao Yu said indifferently.
Xiao Zhan furiously grabbed Xiao Yu's collar and lifted him.
"Xiao Yu! You are my brother. How could you do this to me just for power?"
"You think I could help you compete against Guan Xian? Are you out of your mind?"
Xiao Zhan's fist has flown in midway when Xiao Yu finish his sentence.
Grandfather Xiao's eyes flare-up. He ripped and crumbled the pages from the book in his hand and hit them angrily.
"You dare to fight in front of me? Do you think I won't break your arm just because you are my grandson?" His angry words directed at Xiao Zhan, whose knuckle has turned white only to hold all his impulsive fist.
Xiao Zhan pushes Xiao Yu, and lets go of his grip on his collar. He faced his grandfather with jaw clenched.
"I told you to stop! I don't need your help anymore! Why are you pushing this farther!" He shouted, emphasizing every word coming out of his mouth.
Grandfather Xiao could see all the veins showing in his neck. He averted his gaze and calmly picked up the book he dropped on the floor.
"You don't need help? Do you even see that girl is madly in love with Guan Xian right now?" Xiao Yu answered coldly. He has climbed back to his seat after composing his self. Xiao Yu's directed his frosty gaze to Xiao Zhan as he added, "Do we always have to be the loser?"
"What made you think we can win this way? How the hell this going to help me win her over?" Xiao Zhan groaned frustratedly, running his hand over his head.
"Xia Sha is very determined to be her father's heir. We only put it this way so she will agree to marry you. I believe she is smart enough to understand this. Only you, fool, to eat this information wholly without thinking," Grandfather Xiao snapped at Xiao Zhan.
"Hah! Do you think Xia Sha will buy this bullshit? Do you even know her?" Xiao Zhan is full of regret right now.
He shouldn't act so impulsive like this. That night when he saw Xia Sha's gaze for Guan Xian, he is felt so insecure and jealous. He didn't want to lose Xia Sha, those like a boy, he runs for help to his grandfather.
How stupid is he, he knew Xia Sha hates being forced by someone. Now they pushed her into the corner like this, he can see the worst thing happen in the future.
"I guarantee she will agree to marry you!" His grandfather answer firmly.
Xiao Zhan scoffed and turned his back away from his grandfather.