In a distant land.
In a European-style room, the curtains were drawn tight, with only the flickering light from the computer screen casting eerie shadows on the occupant's face, distorting their features into something frightening.
"Border crossing record found."
"They're on the island of Borneo."
The person at the computer turned their head to report.
"I thought those two brothers would be like little babies forever, never stepping out from behind their big gate, always under their father's wing."
"Have they overcome their psychological barriers?"
The man who spoke had typical Germanic features and an icy tone.
Given Wei Xuanming's history of success, he had countless enemies abroad.
This man was just one of them.
"It's such a shame. Just as they overcome their mental blocks, they'll have to bring their father even worse news," the man said.
"We couldn't touch them in Hua Country, but we've finally got our chance." As he spoke, his palm made a clicking sound.
"They haven't overcome anything," said the person at the computer. "They've probably just suddenly developed a sense of responsibility as elders, as adult men."
"What do you mean?"
"The Gui family has a new heir, very young. I'm not sure how old. It's always hard to tell with Hua Country people."
"What! When did this happen?"
"Perhaps you should take a look at a youth program that recently went online overseas. Their heir makes an appearance in it."
"Huh? What program? Just send me the video directly." The man looked surprised. "Are they crazy? How could they let a new heir appear in public?"
The person at the computer sighed helplessly and said, "I'm sorry, I can't send you the video directly. The show's producers have signed a contract with the famous Sandbox company. You'll have to pay on the platform to watch it, otherwise you'll face copyright infringement lawsuits from Sandbox's legal department."
"..."
The man cursed, then had no choice but to open his phone and make a generous subscription payment to the Exchange Lives production team.
"Hey, is this the heir you mentioned?" the man asked, pointing to Li Qingqing, who first appeared on screen.
"No, it's not her. I have trouble telling their faces apart too. I think you just need to find the girl who appears in the same frame as Wei Lin. That image spread from Hua Country's social media platforms to foreign countries, which is how I discovered the existence of this new heir."
"Fine."
The man watched patiently for a while longer: "Hey, are you sure you're not messing with me? Why would their new heir be such a scruffy little girl? And living in a mountain village in Hua Country?"
This question... the person at the computer found difficult to answer.
After all, finding even this much information was quite an achievement.
The man tossed his phone aside, no longer interested in watching the reality show, and stood up saying, "Prepare the plane."
"Yes, Mr. Ke Muning."
*
The resort that Wei Wenjuan had booked in its entirety was full of two-story villas.
Li Xiaoya and her two uncles moved into one of them.
Wei Wenqing carried Li Xiaoya out to the balcony, with Wei Wenjuan following in his wheelchair. The sea breeze stirred the light curtains, and the next moment, fireworks exploded over the beach.
The staff were startled, then couldn't help but rush to the windows to watch.
"Wow! This scale rivals the Shanghai Disneyland Fireworks Show!"
"Did Mr. Wei arrange this for us too?"
"It's so extravagant! How could the company ever worry about investments again?"
"With enough money, there's no performance that can't be achieved!"
Zhou General watched their discussions in the staff group chat, his mouth twitching slightly.
Perhaps... this fireworks display was meant to entertain a child.
"Do you like it?" Wei Wenjuan asked from nearby.
"Uncle, I've only seen fireworks in fairy tale books before. Just one page, with painted fireworks," Li Xiaoya said softly.
Wei Wenjuan's eyes stung with emotion, instantly knowing she must love it.
Wei Wenqing couldn't help but hold Li Xiaoya, perched on his shoulders, even tighter.
In this moment, the two brothers truly felt alive in this world, and that every day ahead would be so meaningful.
Since Li Xiaoya was still young, they worried about interfering with her growth and sent her to bed early.
Early the next morning, the company's department managers, along with President Xiao, came to invite Wei Wenjuan to join them.
"Invite me?" Wei Wenjuan was a bit incredulous.
Why invite him specifically?
"Yes, everyone really likes you, Mr. Wei."
President Xiao also smiled and said, "My beach barbecue skills are unparalleled. Would you like to try, Mr. Wei?"
They'd be working together often in the future, so why not start getting familiar now?
Wei Wenjuan was silent for a moment.
In the past, when he was abroad, everyone knew he was Wei Xuanming's son. His older brother and sister had already passed away, so according to succession, he should have been the heir.
The adulation, hostility, and scrutiny heaped upon him had been a thousand times more intense.
Now, no one was watching him so closely.
Wei Wenjuan said, "Let's go."
He looked back at his brother.
Wei Wenqing waved his arms happily: "Go ahead, don't worry." He had finally caught some alone time with Xiaoya!
And so Wei Wenjuan was sent off with cheers.
After Li Xiaoya woke up, Wei Wenqing personally washed her face, combed her hair, helped her into a little dress, slung her small backpack over his arm, and then uncle and niece went to breakfast alone.
Breakfast was buffet-style.
Wei Wenqing led her to a seat on the outdoor terrace and used his phone to tell her, "Uncle will get you some food. Wait here quietly for uncle."
Hearing the voice played from the phone, Wei Wenqing felt an immense satisfaction.
He could chat with Xiaoya anytime, anywhere now.
It's just that the voice was too cold. It would be better if there was a gentler voice.
"Okay, uncle. I'll wait for you," Li Xiaoya nodded obediently.
Before long, a waiter came over and asked her in English... His accent was very thick, and Li Xiaoya struggled to make out that he seemed to be saying something about tea, and what, was it coffee?
At that moment, at another table not far away, a guest was also being questioned by the waiter.
That person put down the newspaper in his hand and said, "Green tea."
Li Xiaoya stared at his face, her eyes widening instantly.
Then she jumped down from her chair and walked up to that person: "Secretary Wang?"
"Miss Li." Secretary Wang nodded slightly with a smile.
At this moment, someone came out carrying a tray: "I looked everywhere but couldn't find what I wanted to eat."
Li Xiaoya tilted her head to look, exclaiming in surprise: "Sister Xu?"
Xu Ruying looked up at the sky happily and said, "Ha! My luck is really good today!"
Li Xiaoya looked at Secretary Wang, then at Xu Ruying.
Secretary Wang said, "I'm keeping an eye on her for her uncle, just like when I accompanied you to meet that Mr. Liu."
Li Xiaoya nodded: "Oh."
Xu Ruying was completely confused: "What? What Mr. Liu?"
Secretary Wang tilted his head, still smiling as he looked at her: "Young miss, please sit down."
Xu Ruying shuddered.
Had her uncle been possessed?
At this moment, Secretary Wang's phone suddenly rang, and he said, "Excuse me, I need to take this call."
The person on the other end of the phone spoke in Dutch: "My friend, I didn't expect to see you here. I need a small favor from you."
Secretary Wang asked the person on the other end: "Where are you?"
The person said, "I'm walking towards you right now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xiaoya felt a shadow fall over her head.
She turned to look and saw a muscular, tall foreign man holding a tray in one hand.
"Hey, is this your child? Having a meal together?" The foreign man put down his tray and sat down, pulling up a chair.
Secretary Wang shook his head and introduced to Xu Ruying and Li Xiaoya: "This is Mr. Ke Muning, a Germanic man."
After Secretary Wang finished speaking, he bent down to ask Li Xiaoya, "Have you studied foreign history? Do you know who the Germanic people are?"
