My Identities Were All Exposed After I Was Pampered by Everyone at My Grandfather's House! Chapter 4

A Warm Welcome

Qiao Yue ambled around the limited edition sports car owned by Qiao Ze, heading towards the passenger side. Just as Qiao Ze was preparing to savor his moment of triumph, the pair witnessed Qiao Yue effortlessly swing her leg over and mount a motorcycle parked beside the luxury vehicle. With a roaring engine, the motorcycle shot forward, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. "Ahem!" Qiao Ze, his face now coated in dust, coughed a few times while staring dumbfoundedly at Qiao Yue's rapidly receding form. "He, he just left like that? On a motorcycle?" he stammered, unable to conceal his disbelief. Qiao Jing lowered his gaze behind his spectacles, his eyes obscured by the shadow cast by the frames. "Drive," Qiao Jing commanded. The car smoothly began to move, and Qiao Jing's fingers traced over a photograph of the young man displayed on his tablet. A Dodge Tomahawk? He had been pondering the presence of such a formidable machine in this humble village, casually parked in the open. He truly hadn't anticipated this. It became clear that the young man they were bringing back to the Qiao residence was poised to offer a multitude of surprises. Qiao Jing adjusted his glasses, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile gracing the corners of his lips. Qiao Yue, astride the Tomahawk, blazed down the road, the wind whistling past her ears. She recalled the circumstances a few years prior when she was compelled to learn how to operate such a machine. The learning process had been perilous, nearly resulting in a broken leg. Yet, once mastered, she had embraced the exhilarating sensation of merging with the wind, soaring with unbridled freedom. Approximately two hours later, Qiao Yue's Tomahawk came to a halt before the grand Qiao family manor. She surveyed the expansive grounds, mentally comparing them to her own estate. "Indeed, it's larger than my place, but not quite as grand as Godfather's estate," she mused. Shortly after Qiao Yue's arrival, a servant emerged to greet her. The attendant regarded the travel-worn young man with a look of suspicion. The second and third young masters had stated their intention to pick up the fifth young master today, yet here he was, appearing rather disheveled. Furthermore, the second and third young masters were nowhere in sight. Despite his reservations, the servant fulfilled his duty and escorted Qiao Yue into the villa. Qiao Yue paid no heed to the direct or indirect gazes cast her way. Her sole purpose was to fulfill her mother's final wish, and she intended to depart as soon as her task was accomplished. Given the unusual nature of Qiao Yue's arrival, the servant opted not to inform the old master directly. Instead, he sought out the third Madam, who was currently at home. In the eyes of the household staff, the third Madam was known for her gentle disposition. Having not produced a male heir in such a prominent family, her influence was limited, and she was generally perceived as a non-confrontational individual. "My health has been rather delicate of late. Kindly have Xin'er and Ying'er attend to our guest! We can address other matters once my elder brother and the others return!" the Madam instructed. "Yes, Madam," the servant replied. He then proceeded to locate the two young ladies, inwardly sighing for the sake of the fifth young master. While Miss Ying'er possessed a placid temperament akin to her mother's, Miss Xin'er's disposition was entirely different—a fact that elicited a sigh from the servant. In the opulent living room, Qiao Yue sat serenely on the sofa, sipping a cup of coffee. The servant had requested she wait here, but she remained uncertain as to the purpose or the expected arrival. Was it for Old Master Qiao? That seemed highly unlikely. Surely, a servant would escort her to an elder rather than expect the patriarch himself to appear. As Qiao Yue's thoughts drifted, a sharp female voice pierced the air. "Yo! Where did this country bumpkin crawl out from? Has he come to leech off our family's fortune? The Qiao family has no relatives or acquaintances whose attire and person are so utterly unkempt..." The young woman abruptly ceased speaking the moment Qiao Yue turned to face her. Initially, glimpsing only Qiao Yue's back, the girl had dismissed him as a slovenly youth based on his disheveled appearance. She had not anticipated the radiant handsomeness and sunny disposition that greeted her upon his turn. However, Qiao Xin's momentary astonishment quickly dissolved as she resumed her tirade. "Oh, it's that boy from the remote village who claims to be my aunt's son. Who can truly vouch for that? After all, countless individuals aspire to instant wealth these days." Qiao Ying, taken aback by her sister's venomous remarks, swiftly tugged on her sleeve, silently urging her to cease. Qiao Yue offered a gentle smile, his expression betraying no sign of disturbance in the face of Qiao Xin's taunts. Yet, his eyes held a subtle hint of pity, the kind one might reserve for someone intellectually challenged. Qiao Ying felt an uncanny sensation, a suspicion that her fifth brother regarded Qiao Xin's outburst with utter disdain. "I was personally invited back by Qiao Jing and Qiao Ze. If Miss Qiao finds this outcome unsatisfactory, perhaps you should direct your grievances to your second and third brothers?" Qiao Yue responded with measured politeness, his demeanor unwavering. He harbored no inclination for engaging in childish disputes. "You! Your mother disgraced the Qiao family by eloping with an outsider back then! If you possess even a shred of self-respect, you should depart the Qiao residence of your own volition! Do not even harbor thoughts of exploiting our family's generosity!"