The Xia estate sprawls, the entire courtyard's evergreen lushness, lively green all year round, is now covered by white.

On a morning right after snow has fallen, the chill hasn't yet arrived. The first ray of sunlight struggles at the horizon, deciding whether to pierce through the clouds to shine onto the ground. Thus, the air, in the sun's hesitation, maintains a dry cold scent. Perhaps before long, this touch of dryness will transform into a biting dampness due to the sun's diligence.

Xia Xue's hand is enveloped by a large, warm hand. She glanced at the man beside her and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Every day like this, in the early morning before the sun breaks through the cloud cover, she is accompanied like this, walking through every path, breathing the freshest scents in this evergreen garden, until the sun breaks through the clouds and they return to the living room to have breakfast with Elder Xia and Xia Yusheng.

This is how she spends every day; Xiao Lin never leaves her side for a moment. His thoughtfulness moves Xia Xue, and unwittingly she begins to sigh silently, knowing that this is his guilt.

In truth, she was genuinely frightened. Even under such meticulous care, she still feels fear when sleeping, fear when alone. And whenever this happens, what Xiao Lin does most is to hold her tightly, loving her over and over until her body stops trembling, stops rejecting, until she falls asleep exhausted under him. Xiao Lin still embraces her tightly, letting her feel his presence.

But Xia Xue knows such days will eventually end. The man she loves has too many secrets, too many things to accomplish.

She cannot always bind him like this; letting him soar high is the best return for her love. As long as she believes in his presence, in his unwavering loyalty, she will be satisfied.

"It's snowing!"

Xia Xue piled up a heap of snow from the leaves, formed a snowball, tossed it into the air, and then it fell to the ground, scattering around, making her giggle.

"I love snowy days, because they are you, Xia Xue." Hugging the woman he adores from behind, Xiao Lin savors the aroma from her, his large hands encasing her small hands.

"I really want to hold your hand like this, not going anywhere, just staying like this, not eating, not going out, not doing anything, just holding you, not letting you escape."

"Hehe!" Xia Xue struggled a bit, leaning into Xiao Lin's embrace: "You're getting more and more cheesy, have you been corrupted by Hua Qingyi after spending so much time together?"

"Tch, how could he have my deep finesse!" Xiao Lin retorts, humming twice in defiance, much like a little pig, which further incites Xia Xue's tender laughter.

"Who was the one who learned to go to pubs looking for girls when they were just a young boy?"

"You dare make fun of your husband!" Xiao Lin buries his head in her shoulder, one hand teasing her waist: "Isn't your husband that young boy!"

Xia Xue evades Xiao Lin's hand. She is ticklish and cannot stand this tactic of his: "Alright, alright, you're not, you're not."

"Miss, young master!" A servant appears behind them.

"Nanny Wu! What's up?"

Xia Xue brushes off Xiao Lin's hand and turns her head. Being seen in such a manner by subordinates, she still feels a bit embarrassed, although Nanny Wu has been with the Xia Family for over thirty years and is essentially a wet nurse, there remains a touch of awkwardness.

"The master would like to invite the young master to the study for a chat." Nanny Wu glanced at Xiao Lin. This young master, no matter when you see him, looks so handsome, a perfect match for her lady.

"I'll head over now." Xiao Lin, holding Xia Xue's hand, walks towards the main house: "Wait here by yourself, I'll be back soon."

Xia Xue grasps Xiao Lin's hand, showing a bit of reluctance.

"Why, afraid he'll eat me?"

"Is there anyone in this world who dares to mess with you?" Xia Xue tossed his hand aside, holding the remote and flipping through TV channels alone.

"Wait for me." After leaving a kiss on her forehead, he heads towards the third floor of the main house.

The door to the study is ajar. Elder Xia isn't particularly fond of Japanese things, but his living and study environments adopt the Japanese tatami construction; he finds it comfortable to live this way. Japan has many aspects worth learning, including lifestyle attitudes.

Outside the door, Xiao Lin takes off his shoes, steps onto the steps, and enters the tatami room.

"Elder, it's Xiao Lin." When entering such a dignified environment, a person naturally becomes much more serious.

"Come in." From the door to the inner room, there is a partition; Xiao Lin kneels before it until he hears Elder Xia's words. Only then does he get up and walk inside.

Elder Xia sits before a small square table. Expecting Xia Yusheng to be there, it seems Elder Xia merely wants to have a personal chat with him.

"How is Xia Xue?"

It's been a week since Xiao Lin brought Xia Xue back, and no one in the Xia Family has asked a single question about Xia Xue. Yet, Xiao Lin doesn't plan to speak of it. Perhaps it's a bit unfair or slightly disrespectful to the Xia Family, but he maintained his own stance.

"Hmm, she's alright."

Elder Xia places a small porcelain cup before Xiao Lin. The fragrant aroma of rice wine spills from a small bottle, its pleasant sweetness lingering at the tip of the nose, reluctant to leave easily: "Drink a little, it'll warm you up, and you won't get muddle-headed."

"Yes!" Elder Xia is a man full of authority; Xia Yusheng is nothing compared to his father.

"I heard from Xia Yu that you have some ideas about the Xia Family. I want to hear more comprehensively."

"I want to help the Xia Family ascend."

For Xia Yusheng, he might provide overly detailed explanations, but for Elder Xia, he would lay everything clear. To a savvy elder, being concise is more straightforward than vague explanations.

"Currently, the Xia Family hasn't reached that level. Even if you have the ability to help them rise, it will be very strenuous." Elder Xia downed the wine in his porcelain cup in one gulp.

"Two-pronged approach." Xiao Lin followed suit, swallowing the contents of his cup, and felt a warmth in his stomach.

"Having Xia Xue by my side is too dangerous, yet she is more suitable for my plans than anyone else in the Xia Family.

"You know how much change your plan will entail; it includes generations of the Xia Family's beliefs and is the principle by which they operate."

Elder Xia asked Xiao Lin in a deep voice. He wasn't saying that Xiao Lin was wrong, but the issues such a change would bring about were not just superficial.

"I don't think it affects anything. The principles and beliefs of the Xia Family, Xiao Lin never thought to change them, but such approaches are gradually being phased out in today's society. To survive and better promote the Xia Family culture, fresh blood needs to be injected."

Xiao Lin would not back down. If they continued in the traditional way, the Xia Family might not fall, but keeping up with him would be much more difficult.

"The Xia Family has been in the business of department stores since my grandfather's generation. Can you dare say your experience is far richer than theirs?"

"This is not a matter of experience, but of the times." Xiao Lin poured more wine for Elder Xia: "My way isn't to change the Xia Family, but to carve out a new path—a path belongs to Xia Xue."

Xiao Lin stood firm and did not back down despite Elder Xia's sternness.

"Why insist on pushing the Xia Family to ascend? Whether they enter the political sphere or not, it won't make the Xia Family better."

"The Wang Family will definitely be ousted. I can assure the elder of this, and anyone who threatens Xia Xue should meet their deserved end."

Upon saying this, Elder Xia clearly sensed a murderous intent from Xiao Lin. This young man wasn't joking, and he had to seriously consider Xiao Lin's proposal.

"With Hua Muyun's clout in the political arena, it's not a problem for the Xia Family to enter politics as a commercial giant. Many politicians switch from business to governmental private enterprises. With political protection, the Xia Family's commercial development will reach a higher level, isn't that the elder's expectation?"

"The premise is that the Xia Family must have enough strength."

"Exactly." Xiao Lin paused, his dark eyes fixed on Elder Xia.

"The financial issue."

"Since it's my suggestion, I will naturally handle the financing." Xiao Lin smiled: "If Elder Xia is willing to approve my proposal, then I hope you can persuade the others in the Xia Family."

Elder Xia fell into silence. "Xia Xue, she..."

"Are you worried about the issues between her and Xia Yunong?"

"After all, this is a matter concerning the entire Xia Family clan and it's not that simple."

Elder Xia had his concerns. Suddenly creating an offshoot might provoke objections from others because it means the family assets would have another division.

"Elder, do you think I care about the Xia Family taking a share?" Xiao Lin sneered; the elder's worries were understandable, but they are mostly unfounded.

"Let me be clear! With the issues between Xia Xue and the Xia Family, I won't interfere as long as she doesn't propose it, then everyone stays in peace."

"You..." Feeling Xiao Lin's threat, Elder Xia trembled. He didn't expect Xiao Lin to be so direct and couldn't find words to respond.

"Xia Xue is of illegitimate birth and has no status in the Xia Family, right?"

Xiao Lin squinted his eyes, staring unwaveringly at the elder: "So when the Wang Family proposed a marriage alliance, you offered her as a sacrificial lamb without hesitation."

"As a child of the Xia Family, she must bear this responsibility. Besides, the Wang Family holds such a prominent position in Yanjing, marrying there wouldn't mistreat her."

"Has the Xia Family truly regarded her as part of the bloodline? The elder need not emphasize this to me." Xiao Lin lowered his gaze, shaking the wine bottle with little wine left inside.

"How the Elder convinces the others in the Xia Family is none of my concern. Regarding your assets, I'll make it plain here: my woman and I are not interested. As for the branch within 'Rhine', it belongs to Xia Xue, and no one can touch it, including you, Elder."

"You're putting me in a dangerous position."

"Heh!" Xiao Lin ignored Elder Xia's anger.

"I've seen many who play dumb to outsmart. The Xia Family is not short of such talents. Xia Xue is my woman, and she's been oppressed for long enough. From now on, if any of you wish to gain any benefit from her, you must ask me, Xiao Lin, first." (To be continued. If you like this work, you're welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation.)

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