Sister Linlin told Xu Qingnian, "Old sir, you wouldn’t really think that hiring a caregiver like me to look after you at home would only cost ten thousand a month, would you?"

Xu Qingnian was taken aback.

The nanny who followed You Jingqiu to the Xu house back then had a monthly salary of ten thousand.

Xu Xingguang had told Xu Qingnian in order to persuade him to move to Cangshan Town that Xu Zeqing would take the money previously used to hire a nanny and hire a more professional caregiver for him.

Thus, Xu Qingnian always thought Sister Linlin’s monthly salary was ten thousand per month.

"To be honest, for someone like me, the starting salary during the probation period is ten thousand. After passing the probation period, it’s at least fifteen thousand a month. Miss Xu was generous; she gave me fifteen thousand during the probation period."

"Later, when my position was confirmed, we signed a work contract, and my monthly salary is now twenty thousand."

Hearing this, Xu Qingnian fell silent.

Sister Linlin revealed another piece of information, "Miss Xu previously instructed me to keep it from you, not to let you know the truth, but I feel sorry and unjust for Miss Xu."

"I’ll tell you honestly today, you’ve been living in Cangshan Town for over three months now, and your good son only gave her ten thousand in the first month; the rest was all paid by Miss Xu herself!"

"Old sir, you should see clearly who truly deserves your care and attention. Your son doesn’t care whether you live or die. In the entire Xu Family, only Miss Xu genuinely cares for you. Yet, you still plan to stand against her."

After speaking, Sister Linlin didn’t care what Xu Qingnian would do; she just left the room.

She needed to go downstairs to keep watch in case that man named Xu Zeqing might try to hit Miss Xu.

Miss Xu is so beautiful; she can’t just bear the beating for nothing.

Downstairs.

The renovation of the small courtyard was nearing completion, showing the budding hints of a traditional Chinese garden style. Entering the courtyard was a wall made of stacked gray-blue bricks.

The wall had a moon-shaped window, the central part of the window embedded with a pattern, vaguely revealing the interior of the courtyard.

Walking around the wall led to a winding path of ancient wooden stepping stones, surrounded by smooth, white pebbles.

The path’s sides were bare soil, sprinkled with seeds, yet to sprout, without knowing what kind of flowers would bloom.

To the left of the path was a fenced flowerbed, inside were planted a few rare species of slender bamboo. Behind the bamboo flowerbed was a pavilion made of cedar; it was initially an open-air tea room, but Xu Xingguang transformed it into the home of Huo Wuyi.

On the right side of the yard was an irregular garden, at the center was an open space where several large stones piled up. Xu Xingguang planned to carve them into a set of traditional outdoor tables and chairs.

The table could be for tea drinking or playing chess.

The small courtyard wasn’t fully built yet, thus remained somewhat chaotic.

Xu Zeqing stood on that pebble and ancient wood path, eyes nearly bursting as he glared at Xu Xingguang.

Standing on the steps above, Xu Xingguang was dressed in a light green cheongsam, draped a silk shawl over her shoulders, with ink-dark hair pinned with a black hairpin, exuding an elegant aura.

The father and daughter stood close but with a world of difference in their demeanor.

Xu Zeqing couldn’t pretend anymore to be the refined gentleman he once posed as; he was like a gambler who had lost everything, aggressively rushing towards Xu Xingguang.

He grabbed Xu Xingguang’s cheongsam collar, and the silk fabric, thin as a cicada’s wings, distorted under his grip.

Xu Zeqing, with trembling flesh, forced Xu Xingguang, "Was Xiao Nan the person you deliberately arranged by my side?"

The collar gripped in Xu Zeqing’s hand, Xu Xingguang remained fearless in her response.

She even lightly nodded, replying, "Yes, she looks very much like the school beauty aunt you secretly adored back in the day. Look how considerate I am, specially finding a young girl fitting your aesthetic."

Seeing Xu Xingguang frankly admitting, the anger inside Xu Zeqing exploded.

"Xu Xingguang, you’re really cold-hearted! I’m your father; let alone plotting against Ming Yue and them, how could you target me! I raised you, held you, cared for you..."

Seeing Xu Xingguang, Xu Zeqing seemed to look upon her as a heartless wolf, "You are even worse than a heartless wolf!"

"Mr. Xu, we’ve long severed our father-daughter relationship. Have you forgotten so quickly?" Xu Xingguang expressed a slight impatience, clicked her tongue, lowered her eyes to Xu Zeqing’s hand clutching her collar, and spoke coldly, "Please remove that disgusting hand."