Phi-Fic Chapter 166 Alive!
Chapter 166 Alive!
The following day, Chu Ying accompanied Xie Jianfei back to Dongzhou City, while Gu Huaizhou took Li Xifei to Southeast Asia.
The Fifth Family is based in X country, the richest and most prosperous country in Southeast Asia.
This island nation is small in size, but world-famous.
Although the official language of country X is English, most of its citizens can speak Chinese.
The person sent by the Fifth Family to welcome Li Xi and Gu Huaizhou looked to be in her early twenties, a woman about the same age as Li Xi. Upon meeting them, she spoke in fluent and authentic Mandarin: "Miss Xi, welcome home."
"I am Lan Wei. For a long time to come, as long as you are in Southeast Asia, I will be your housekeeper. You can tell me directly if you have any needs."
"It is an honor for Lan Wei to serve you, Miss."
Before leaving London, Zhou Zhiwei had told Li Xi over the phone that a reliable butler would be there to receive her after she landed in Southeast Asia.
It seems that person is Lan Wei.
Just as Lan Cheng was to the Fifth Absolute and Lan Qing to the Fifth Dream, Lan Wei was the confidant chosen by the Fifth Family for Li Xi.
"Excuse me."
"You're welcome."
Lan Wei offered to help Li Xi move her luggage to the trunk, while Gu Huaizhou's luggage was handled by his bodyguard.
After getting in the car, Gu Huaizhou and Li Xi sat in the back, while Lan Wei sat in the passenger seat.
The driver was a middle-aged man with a Chinese appearance. Lan Wei told Li Xi, "This is the driver, Yu Chi Jie. He will serve you 24 hours a day during this period."
"You can call him wherever you want to go."
"Ms. Xi, we will not change your driver unless there are special circumstances. If you notice that the driver has changed, please be vigilant immediately and notify me promptly..."
Lan Wei explained everything in great detail.
It's obvious that she's a capable and reliable girl.
As they approached her grandparents' house, Li Xi finally asked the question she had been curious about: "Miss Lan Wei, how old are you?"
"Just turned 21."
"I'm two years older than you, so from now on you can call me Sister Xixi."
Miss Xi, it sounds like a rich young lady from the old days, which makes Li Xi feel awkward and extremely uncomfortable.
Lan Wei didn't insist on the distinction between master and servant with Li Xi. She nodded and softly called out, "Sister Xi Xi."
"Ah."
Gu Huaizhou slept the whole way and didn't join their conversation.
Seeing that they were almost there, Li Xi gently nudged Gu Huaizhou's arm and said, "We're here, Huaizhou."
Gu Huaizhou opened his eyes alertly, turned his head and glanced at the majestic black iron gate outside the Fifth Jue Family Villa and Manor outside the window. He said, "I haven't been here for many years. Zhaomeng Pavilion hasn't changed at all."
Zhaomeng Pavilion is the name of the Fifth Master's manor, taken from the name of his beloved daughter, Fifth Dream.
The last time Gu Huaizhou came to Nanyang was when he was ten years old, to attend the Fifth Master's birthday banquet.
Upon receiving the news yesterday, Zhou Zhiwei and Wu Jue rushed back to Southeast Asia overnight.
Zhou Zhiwei was exhausted, and as soon as she returned to Zhaomeng Pavilion, Fifth Jue coaxed her back to her room to rest.
Luo Wen had already set off for the Longevity Island Research Institute. When Li Xi arrived at Zhaomeng Pavilion, Fifth Jue personally led dozens of men and women from his family to wait for her on the sidewalk in the middle of the manor's entrance garden.
Fifth Master stood in the middle of the garden sidewalk, while the dozens of people on both sides, dressed in formal attire, stood quietly and orderly on the left and right sides in front of Fifth Master.
In the Fifth Family, the Fifth Absolute is an absolute authority.
From the day he took over the Fifth Family at the age of thirty-five and became the head of the family, his ruthless and iron-fisted style was imprinted in the hearts of every member of the family.
For other families in Southeast Asia, the fifth most powerful figure is a contemporary tycoon.
For members of the Fifth Family, the Fifth Absolute is also a terrifying existence.
No one dared to challenge the authority of the Fifth Master.
They dared not do it when they were young, and they still dared not do it when they were old.
Although the lion was old, the young lion king, Luo Wen, remained steadfast and devoted to serving the old lion, and no one dared to challenge the father and son.
Therefore, when they received the news early in the morning that the head of the family's granddaughter would be returning to Southeast Asia at 11:00 a.m. that day, they rushed to Zhaomengguan to wait for her before 9:00 a.m.
At this moment, all the clansmen's eyes were focused on the car that Li Xi was riding in.
The car drove into the estate and parked outside the garden.
Lan Wei reminded Li Xi: "Those people are all core members of the Fifth Family."
"Sister Xixi, this is your first time returning home, and all the core members of the family must be present to welcome you. Don't be nervous, they wouldn't dare to do this for you."
Nodding, Li Xi said, "Let's get off the bus."
Lan Wei and Gu Huaizhou got off the car at the same time.
Lan Wei wanted to open the car door for Li Xi, but Gu Huaizhou was one step ahead.
"Let me do it."
Lan Wei thought about it and also felt that having Gu Huaizhou open the car door for Miss Xi would be more intimidating to those with ill intentions, so she lowered her head and moved to the side.
Gu Huaizhou personally bent down to open the car door and reached out to help Li Xi out of the car.
After Li Xi got out of the car, Gu Huaizhou consciously stood half a step behind her, like a dutiful bodyguard, following her steps towards the group of people.
boom! ! !
Deafening gunfire erupted from every hidden corner of the Zhaomeng Pavilion, a cacophony of gunfire that sent a shiver down Li Xi's spine.
Fortunately, Zhou Zhiwei had given instructions on the phone last night, and she was already prepared for this situation.
Even so, Li Xi was still somewhat taken aback by the Fifth Family's power.
So arrogant, aren't they afraid of attracting unwanted attention and getting retaliated against?
"Welcome home, Miss Xi!"
All the clansmen standing in front of the Fifth Absolute bowed to Li Xi at the same time.
Li Xi: "..."
She only fantasized about such a scene when she watched "Princess Pearl" as a child and played the Empress while draped in a bed sheet.
Later, when she grew up and saw similar scenes in comics, she would always comment: "So pretentious."
OK OK.
Now that this scenario was playing out in her life, she was utterly shocked.
In an instant, Li Xi was struck by inspiration, feeling that he could create a hundred comics with a gangster background.
“Grandpa.” Li Xi smiled helplessly at the fifth master and said, “This really scared me.”
The fifth rarest thing is to have a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha!"
"Xi Bao, come here." Fifth Jue opened his arms to Li Xi.
Li Xi walked over with a calm gait and hugged Wu Jue. In a voice that no outsiders could hear, Li Xi whispered to Wu Jue, "Grandpa, I just wanted to kneel down and shout to you, 'Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!'"
Fifth Jue burst into laughter, "Did you scare Xi Bao?"
Li Xi shook her head. "Grandma talked to me last night, saying that when Grandpa proposed to her, he liked to celebrate with a hundred guns firing at once."
"Luckily I was mentally prepared, otherwise I would have been really scared."
Fifth Jue pouted, still somewhat unconvinced, "Your grandma doesn't understand my romance."
Li Xi: Actually, I don't understand your romance either.
"Grandpa, you're so kind. Today's scene is so lively and wonderful. I will remember it for the rest of my life. Thank you, Grandpa!" Li Xi was the best at coaxing people. With just one sentence, he made Wu Jue's heart flutter with joy.
He released Li Xi, took her hand, turned to face the clansmen present, and announced loudly: "Dear relatives and friends, this is my granddaughter Li Xi."
"Due to special circumstances, she almost became an abandoned baby, but was fortunately saved by Mr. Li Chang'an. Mr. Li was very righteous and not only saved Xi Bao, but also raised and cared for her as his own daughter."
"Therefore, although Xi Bao has returned home, she does not need to change her surname. Please ask all your relatives and friends to go home and tell your families about Li Xi's existence."
"From this day forward, within the territory of Southeast Asia, seeing Li Xi is as if seeing me."
Upon hearing this, no one dared to stand up and utter a single word of opposition.
Everyone congratulated Fifth Master on finding his granddaughter, and the atmosphere seemed joyful.
"...Go back first. In a couple of days, Zhaomeng Pavilion will hold a grand event to publicly reveal Li Xi's identity. We hope that you will all be there."
"Sir, we'll head back now."
This group arrived quickly and left just as fast.
Soon, the Dream Pavilion returned to silence.
Fifth Juechao beckoned to Gu Huaizhou, "Huaizhou, come, come inside with me."
Gu Huaizhou came to Li Xi's left and accompanied Wu Jue into the manor. Wu Jue whispered to them, "At the latest, news will come from Luo Wen's side tonight."
"We need to get a definite answer as to whether Mengbao is still alive."
“If she is alive and returns safely, that would be a blessing. If…” Fifth Jue looked at Gu Huaizhou and said, “I will bring Luo Wen back and personally lead people to wipe out the headquarters of the Longevity Island Research Institute.”
"I want to see her alive or dead. Zhiwei and I brought Mengbao into this world, and it's time for me to take her home."
Hearing this, Li Xi felt heavy-hearted. She asked Fifth Jue, "Grandpa, how dangerous is this mission?"
"Every action carries risk." Fifth Jue was proud, but not arrogant.
He said, "The founder behind the Longevity Island Institute is Solner from the United States. He is a member of parliament and has an extraordinary status. The Longevity Island Institute is just a tool he uses to win over various countries."
"It all depends on whether Thorner is willing to give up this big piece of meat. If he knows what's good for him, he should take the initiative to send Mengbao back to me and accept all my demands."
"If he remains stubborn and refuses to hand over the Dream Treasure, then my Fifth Family will not hesitate to fight him to the bitter end!"
Fifth Jue frowned, revealing his ruthless nature, "I'm just old, not crippled or dead. I can't kill a mere Thorna!"
Li Xi was startled and subconsciously turned to look at Gu Huaizhou, only to find that Gu Huaizhou looked calm and composed, as if he had long been used to such grand occasions.
"Xi Bao, you and Huai Zhou must be tired from your journey. Go back to your room, take a shower, and change into something cool before we talk."
"it is good."
Country X is located near the equator, but the temperature is not hot. Due to its unique geographical environment, the average annual temperature here is around 27 or 28 degrees Celsius.
Because of the humid air, when the temperature is high, you feel a damp sensation as if your whole body is enveloped in heat.
Gu Huaizhou wasn't used to the climate here, and he felt less comfortable and at ease than he did in Dongzhou City.
On the contrary, Li Xi absolutely loved the climate here.
Despite getting hives whenever she's exposed to cold air, Li Xi finds life here quite comfortable.
After taking a shower, Li Xi changed into a light, long-sleeved dress with a beautifully embroidered peacock pattern on the hem.
In country X, Nyonya is a popular style of clothing among local residents.
The fifth family is of Chinese descent, but they have adapted to local customs and have lived here for two or three hundred years. They also love to wear the traditional clothing of this place.
Gu Huaizhou and Li Xi reunited last Mid-Autumn Festival. At that time, Li Xi was wearing long clothes, trousers and a coat. In Gu Huaizhou's memory, Li Xi had rarely worn skirts except for formal dresses.
Of course, this doesn't count when we're in bed.
At this moment, Gu Huaizhou was stunned by Li Xi's graceful figure in a long dress.
But he didn't show it on his face. He just gently complimented Li Xi when he got close, saying, "You look great in a dress."