Modern Volume Twenty-Fourth Chapter Mysterious Person in the Dark

  Seeing Wang Ye again, whose hair had turned completely white in just half a year, Zuo Xiao Yao felt a pang of sadness. Although she had previously gone to Zheng Xin Shu Hua Ting to visit him, the old man's demands on life were actually not high. He only hoped for family harmony and beauty, with his children and grandchildren gathered around him, enjoying the joy of family life. Unfortunately, it seemed that this wish was already shattered in his lifetime.

  Because Grandma Wang passed away seven years ago, and Wang Zijia was unwilling to continue living in this home that was no longer a 'home', the three-bedroom, two-hall house now only has Grandpa Wang and a middle-aged aunt who takes care of his daily life, making it seem quite deserted. Even when Zuo Xiaoyao arrived, Wang Zijia and her mother had already come earlier.

  "Grandpa Wang, happy birthday! This is my latest work. Please help me appraise it, regardless of whether it's good or bad, just consider it a birthday gift from me! Wishing you longevity like the Southern Mountains and prosperity like the Eastern Sea!"

  Handing the already framed landscape painting to Wang Ye, who had stood up, Zuo Xiao Yao smiled warmly and sincerely, with a hint of intimacy in her tone, though it couldn't be called coquettish.

  "Xiao Yao, you're really stingy! Now that you're a senior assistant to Jin Hui and earning a good salary every month, why are you still giving away paintings like before?"

  After opening the door and greeting Zuo Xiaoyao, Wang Zijia sat down next to her, continued eating an apple, then stood up again, pulled her over to the sofa, and sat down beside her, smiling and teasing.

  "You haven't heard that what can be bought with money isn't precious enough, I gave to Grandpa Wang not only the painting I drew myself, but also the sincerity expressed in it!" Zuo Xiao Yao smiled and glanced at her before calmly responding.

  "It's true, Xiaoyao is more filial than you, and you still have the nerve to criticize others!" Wang Shuting, who was looking at the painting sent by Zuo Xiaoyao on the table, raised his head and glared at Wang Zijia, who chimed in.

  "The foot massager I gave you is very helpful for your body, how can it not compare to hers! It's really hard to understand, am I your granddaughter or is Xiaoyao your granddaughter, every time you favor her!" Wang Zijia said in a disgruntled tone.

  "Your grandfather is a master of contemporary art, he pursues the spirit. The things you send may be good, but they are just material comforts. Can you give Xiaoyao something that suits his taste? ...Xiaoyao has arrived, it's been a while since I've seen her, and she's getting prettier and prettier!"

  "Thank you, Aunt Zhao. Don't praise me anymore, or else Zi Jia will get jealous and I won't be able to eat well. It's great that I got to try your cooking today!"

  Seeing Ziyue's mother walking out of the kitchen, Zuoxiao Yao stood up and smiled.

  "Hey, hey, stop using me as a crutch all the time! I want to protest, I want human rights!" Wang Xizhi shouted loudly with her mouth still chewing on an apple.

  Several people couldn't help but burst out laughing, and the atmosphere in the living room suddenly became quite relaxed and pleasant. At this moment, all the unpleasantness seemed to have completely disappeared.

  As it was not a full moon, the Wang family did not prepare for the funeral. Except for four of Wang Shutting's five favorite disciples who came, there was only Zuo Xiaoyao, an outsider. Wang Zijia's father also returned before dinner and didn't bring his concubines or children raised outside.

  As for this, Zuo XiaoYao didn't find it unexpected either. Wang ZiJia had told her before that when her parents got divorced, Grandfather Wang publicly made a statement saying he only recognized Zhao Ayi as the daughter-in-law of the Wang family and Wang ZiJia as his granddaughter. He did not allow Uncle Wang to bring the woman and children he had outside into his presence, otherwise, he wouldn't even recognize Uncle Wang as his son!

  When it comes to this, Wang Zi Jia was very proud at that time. This is also the greatest comfort she got after her parents' divorce. After knowing that she is not the only daughter of her father as she thought before, at least, she is still the only granddaughter recognized by her grandfather!

  The atmosphere at dinner wasn't very good. Although Uncle Wang and Aunt Zhao hadn't become sworn enemies like most divorced couples, they still asked about each other's lives and work with concern, just as they had in the past. But Zuo Xiaoyao felt that something was different from before, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Thinking that maybe it was because of her own speculation about them that made her feel this way, she didn't think much more about it.

  As she was about to leave, Wang Zijia, who had planned to walk with her, was suddenly called back by Zhao Ayi, saying that she would stay overnight and accompany Grandpa Wang. Uncle Wang's eyes flashed with surprise, but he also nodded in agreement. Seeing Wang Zijia's expectant and joyful face, it seemed they wanted to make Grandpa Wang happy on his birthday. After bidding farewell with a smile, Zuo Xiaoyao left alone in a good mood.

  Just as Wang's family left the residential area, Xiao Yao suddenly felt a movement in her heart, as if... she was being stared at!

  This strange feeling of being stalked persisted until she returned home, and when she thought about Wang Zijia's parents' unusual expressions, the speculation in her heart was confirmed. Xiaoyao closed her eyes, no longer willing to believe or admit it, but the fact had already become a reality. Although it was still unclear who were the insiders, at least she had confirmed that Wang Zijia's parents had ulterior motives for their enthusiastic 'care' of herself and her grandmother in the past!

  The Lunar New Year is approaching, and as in the past, the Jin Hui Group's annual company party is also about to begin. As the executive director's special assistant, Zuo Xiao Yao's workload has reached an unprecedented level. Although some planning tasks have been delegated to others, some arrangements have been put on her agenda. After being discovered, the "tail" that had been following her since she left the Purple Boundary Realm hasn't left her side. Apart from not being able to freely enter and exit the realm for cultivation, it doesn't seem to have caused her any other inconvenience.

  It was just that Zuo Xiao Yao clearly knew in her heart, all this tranquility was merely superficial, an invisible big hand had already been lurking behind her waiting for the right moment to strike. She didn't have any doubts, as long as she appeared at the 'right' time and place, it was highly likely that the truth would be revealed, but she didn't want to confirm her own guess at all.

  So, after Grandpa Wang's birthday party, she completely disregarded whether it would offend anyone and was very different from her usual moderate attitude. Zuo XiaoYao declined all invitations, including Zuo JingXuan who had not given up on investigating the contents of the purple box. Her life was limited to going back and forth between home and the company, passing through bustling places along the way. It wasn't that she was overly suspicious, but because of a similar fluctuation in power, she could clearly sense that the other party hiding in the dark was also a cultivator!

  Although she had already reached the perfect state of Nasal Qi, Zuo Xiao knew that she didn't have a few kilograms or taels to spare, and wasn't going to confront the person in the dark head-on, who might even be from some power. She had entered the Xuanhuan Gate halfway, although she had a cultivation method, but never had an elder's guidance. On the surface, it seemed like she had cultivated to this level in just half a year, but in reality, relying on the reverse heaven function of the Purple Yuan Boundary, she had spent about four years. She wouldn't be arrogant enough to think that her fellow cultivator in the dark, who might have been cultivating for an even longer time, would be weaker than herself. It was better to wait for an opportunity to act!

  PS: Thanks for the support from Dizzy Girl, striving for double updates tomorrow!