Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xi Xinyi glanced at Deng Wenwen before looking at Yue Lingsi's concerned gaze. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists slightly. "What should we do now? Sister seems like she's not going to let it go. She..."
"How did that 17% of shares go under her name? That's one heck of a large sum of money. It's impossible for her to have just bought it! Where did her money come from? Mother, I think something fishy is going on!" Yue Lingsi gave it some thought and then voiced out her opinions.
"She probably had some unknown deal with Glory World. Didn't you see Liu Lingyu's behavior just now? We can only wait and see now that things have come down to this. Our top priority now is to collaborate closely with Qi Kai. Lingsi, Xin Er, you guys have to put more effort into that," Deng Wenwen concluded in exhaustion as anxiety was written all over her face.
Yue Lingsi nodded. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll talk to my second brother about it. I didn't expect that witch Xi Xiaye to be so wicked. She even tried to mess up Xinyi's role just now. Everyone has to be careful now that she has her hands in Yueying!"
"Your mother is right, Xin Er. She's not going to let us off. She's coming right at us because of her past grudges, so be alert as well. Your scandal hasn't died down yet and you need to take extra precaution about that. Don't reveal yourself in public too much. We'll decide on what to do next after things calm down." Deng Wenwen looked in the direction Xi Xiaye left, her tone heavy.
"Yes, Grandmother, Mother. I understand. I'll be careful."
Xi Xinyi replied with her head bowed downward. Her closed eyelids hid the icy gleam under her eyes. "However, I won't just suck it up anymore if she forces me. I've got no comments about Grandmother forgiving her for what she did today. I don't care how she treats me, but if she continues to hurt you both, I won't just let her be anymore!"
Xi Xinyi's voice was determined while her pale expression seemed much more willful than before as Deng Wenwen and Yue Lingsi nodded.
"It'd be great if your sister was half as understanding as you. Then, we won't be where we are today. I'm really worried about leaving Yueying in her hands with that personality of hers. If Yueying goes down, then I..." Deng Wenwen sighed and did not finish her sentence.
On the other end, Xi Xiaye walked out of Yueying without any particular expression on her face. She just seemed a little down and her eyes held a tinge of anger.
"Get in the car, Director Xi. The rain is pretty heavy outside," Liu Lingyu spoke up as the car came around the corner.
Xi Xiaye raised her head and looked at the sky. She then only realized that the cloudy sky had finally started to pour.
Without them noticing, the rainy season had arrived just like the sadness within her. However, she wondered if it would last very long this time.
After some time, she took a deep breath before nodding and got into the car.
The car slowly left Yueying and went on the broad highway. Xi Xiaye leaned onto the window in exhaustion after she got into the car and soon, she started to lose focus as well. She did not even notice her phone ringing and only came back to her senses when Xiao Mei reminded her.
She took out her phone and realized it was a call from West Park...
After a moment of hesitation, Xi Xiaye picked up the call.
"Hello?"
Her hoarse voice reached the other side.
"Is this Xiaye?" Xi Jiyang's old voice responded to her. "I'm Grandfather. Are you free now? I want to meet up with you."
...
"Stop the car," Xi Xiaye said quietly after hanging up on the call with Xi Jiyang. "Xiao Mei, you go back with Vice President Liu first. I'll go back later."
"Got it, Director." Xiao Mei observed Xi Xiaye from the rear-view mirror and could sense that her emotions were a little odd. Nevertheless, she did not say much and just got down the car after it stopped by the roadside.
"Go to Bamboo Teahouse in the north," Xi Xiaye told the driver after Xiao Mei got down from the car.
It was past noon when she arrived at Bamboo Teahouse. There were many customers enjoying tea and playing Chinese chess inside.
"Ms. Xi, you're here!" The waiter greeted Xi Xiaye passionately.
Xi Xiaye nodded and went right inside. As expected, she saw Xi Jiyang's gaunt figure at a corner beside the window. From afar, he looked like a candle about to be blown out as his hands holding onto the teapot trembled slightly.
Xi Xiaye started to feel sorrowful. She walked over and grabbed the teapot from him, pouring a cup for him.
"You're here. Sit down."
Xi Jiyang withdrew his hand. His eyes were not as sharp as before. All that was left now was just calmness and an indescribable sense of loss.
Xi Xiaye nodded and then sat down. "Grandfather, how did you find out about this place?"
"Your father told me about it. I've been itching to visit here myself. How have you been?" Xi Jiyang's voice was filled with care and concern while his eyes were kind. "Are you still angry about me making you sign the document before?"
Xi Xiaye looked down as she grabbed a cup and poured some tea for herself. She replied, "Nope, I know you weren't involved..."
She sipped some tea as she took a deep breath. "Besides, I know about your situation as well. I've never blamed you."
Xi Jiyang still treated her very well. Every time something happened, it would usually end up coming under his influence, and for that, she was grateful for him.
Xi Xiaye knew well that even though Xi Jiyang was the head of the family, Deng Wenwen was the one in power of Yueying. Aside from having some of Yueying's shares, he did not have any authority. Just like Xi Mushan, they were focused on their political careers and rarely had any concern for Yueying.
"It's good that you understand. I know that it must've been tough for you. I'm really alright, but as for your father, it's been really difficult for him all these years." Xi Jiyang took a deep breath as he sounded remorseful.
Xi Xiaye was startled to hear his words and a flickering light appeared in her eyes. He seemed to be out of himself too as if he was wandering through his old memories. He continued after some silence.
"I've been starting to feel weaker since a while ago. I'm afraid that I don't have much time left. My body isn't recovering well and my only wish left is that you can make up with your father. Actually, you should be able to sense that he's never forgotten your mother all these years."
Xi Jiyang suddenly let out a long sigh. "Amidst this whole conflict, if we were to find someone to blame, I'm afraid it was my fault back then..."
Xi Xiaye studied Xi Jiyang with her quiet eyes, noticing that his old face was starting to show signs of loneliness. She felt sad just by looking at him. After some thought, she replied, "Nope, I'm sure you'll live much longer."
"As for Father and Mother, they aren't willing to tell me about it. Anyway, it's actually pretty good right now. There's no need to reopen old wounds again. Moreover, Father..."
"Actually, your father thought about retiring several years back, but I stopped him..."
Retiring?
Xi Xiaye remembered that her father, Xi Mushan's political career was sailing smoothly, and he had the opportunity to go even further. Although he was not really the best father or husband, Xi Xiaye knew that Xi Mushan was an honest person and a strong-willed man in the political field as well. Even Shen Yue gave him high praise when making an objective comment about him.
Xi Xiaye was stunned. She looked downward without saying anything.
"I've heard about what happened between you with Xinyi and your grandmother. She really crossed the line this time. Your father found out about it even though he wasn't around and he gave me a call, so I came to take a look at you."
"Are you trying to defend Xi Xinyi, Grandfather?" Xi Xiaye's hand on the teacup tightened as she raised her head slightly and looked at Xi Jiyang.
Xi Jiyang had a bitter smile. "We're family. Of course, I don't hope for both of you to have such a strained relationship and go against each other. I have a hard time deciding who to side with..."
"So, I don't want you to be troubled by this as well. I just hope that you can stay out of this and not be involved, Grandfather. Can you promise me this?"
Xi Xiaye's darkened eyes lit up with a gleam as she looked at Xi Jiyang. "Grandfather, I'm sure you've heard about what happened at Yueying's stakeholders' meeting today. I just want Mother to be at peace. I wouldn't have given them such a hard time if it weren't for their repeated attempts to bother Mother. I gave them chances over and over again and they threw it away, so don't blame me for doing this..."
Xi Jiyang went silent for a moment, then he said, "I won't ask about Yueying at all... I don't care about these conflicts. I just hope that you can support your father no matter what happens in the future. After all, he lost his biological mother... I... I feel sorry for him..."
"What did you say?"
Xi Jiyang's words stunned Xi Xiaye and she gaped at Xi Jiyang in shock.
Was Father not Deng Wenwen's son?
How was that possible?
Xi Xiaye could not believe it. She looked at Xi Jiyang blankly. This was a piece of shocking news!
"Surprised?" Xi Jiyang seemed to have expected Xi Xiaye's reaction. Smiling, he then sipped some tea and continued, "His biological mother passed away after giving birth to him. I married your current grandmother when he was 6 months old. Aside from the intent of giving him a complete family, it was also because..."
Xi Jiyang did not continue. It was difficult for him to say what came next.
"It's because the Deng family helped you to rise faster at that time, so..." Xi Xiaye finished his sentence.
Xi Jiyang took a pause before nodding. "I admit that because of my eagerness to go higher, I was a little..."
"Does Father know this?"
She clenched her fists as her heart sank. Then, she took a deep breath and looked at the teacup before her.
"Your father knew it all along. When I married her back then, your great-grandmother gave Yueying to her as a gift. She just left your father and I some shares, and just agreed on one condition with her..."
At that moment, there was the sound of the beaded curtains behind them swaying. Xi Jiyang took a pause and looked at that direction cautiously, and Mu Yuchen's figure came into his sight.
"Why are you here?" Xi Xiaye almost screamed before he walked nearer to her.
Mu Yuchen put his phone away and looked at Xi Jiyang who was sitting before Xi Xiaye. Slightly surprised, he then replied to her, "I couldn't reach your phone, so I called the driver and happened to be nearby."
He stopped beside Xi Xiaye.
"Xiaye, he is..."
Xi Jiyang's sharp gaze noticed that there was something more to their relationship. Moreover, this elegant, charismatic, and seemingly familiar man before him was not an ordinary person.
Xi Xiaye then moved aside and made space for Mu Yuchen. Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Grandfather, he's Mu Yuchen.... We... got married at the end of last year..."
"What?! You... You're married to him?" In utter shock, a light flashed through his old eyes. He glanced at Xi Xiaye and then turned his eyes to Mu Yuchen.
Mu Yuchen soon calmed down and greeted politely, "Hello, Grandfather. I'm Mu Yuchen."
Xi Jiyang was a man who had gone through a lot. He soon suppressed the shock within him and asked, "This...what's happening? Why do I not know about this at all? Does your father know?"
Xi Xiaye did not reply. Instead, she looked down silently. The answer was obvious!
"We wanted to visit home, but we got delayed because we found out that Father has gone outstation. Please forgive us, Grandfather," Mu Yuchen replied quietly as he sat down beside Xi Xiaye.
"Mu Yuchen... You... Are you Mu Tangchuan's son?"
Xi Jiyang felt that Mu Yuchen's face seemed familiar. Soon after jogging his memory, he got his answer. Mu Tangchuan had worked with him before and took over his job after he retired.
The corner of Mu Yuchen's lips lifted slightly, curving into an elegant smile. She gladly answered, "Father has always praised you highly. Grandfather, we should have visited you sooner."
As he listened, Xi Jiyang paused, his old face flashing with a smile. "You are Tangchuan's son... Then, how did you two... How did you end up together?"
Xi Jiyang remembered that back then at his birthday banquet, Xi Xiaye had still been...
"He's my senior and my superior." The person who answered was Xi Xiaye as she shot Mu Yuchen a look. Then, she took a cup for him and poured him some tea. "He's very good to me, so we got married. Grandfather, you don't have to ask anything. Just wish us well."
Pausing as she looked up to Xi Jiyang, she said, "I've been doing well. I wanted to go back and visit you before the New Year. Mother mentioned it too, but after we thought about..."
When she said this, Xi Xiaye did not continue, but Xi Jiyang already understood her. He fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Since you've put it this way, I won't say too much either. You've found a good home for yourself. Obviously, I'm happy. By the looks of it, your father doesn't know either, I suppose?"
Xi Jiyang was no stranger to the name Mu Yuchen at all. In fact, he was Mu Tangchuan's son. Their family background was celebrated and worthy of admiration. Besides that, he had previously heard of the Mu family's young master being a rare talent. At today's meeting, he could see that he was outstanding indeed!
He really never would have thought that Xi Xiaye would be able to get attached to such an important person. In fact, to marry into a prominent family like the Mu family was not easy.
Xi Jiyang could not hide the puzzlement in his eyes as he examined Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen for quite a while, yet he could not notice anything unusual. Instead, he could tell that Mu Yuchen seemed to be quite caring and considerate about Xi Xiaye. In fact, he looked at her with a different kind of gaze. As a man himself, Xi Jiyang naturally understood what that gaze implied.
He waited for quite a while and yet did not hear Xi Xiaye answer. Mu Yuchen then reached out and gently held her cold hand that was perched on her knee under the table, and he answered Xi Jiyang, "When Father returns, I wonder if you'd be willing to come for a meal with him. It'd be good for both sides of the family to meet. As for the rest, if it's too rushed, we might need to arrange it nearer to the wedding."
Now that he thought about it, they could only do it like that. Initially, after Han Yifeng found out, Mu Yuchen had already made plans that they would eventually need to meet Xi Jiyang and Xi Mushan, but she had not said anything and he was not willing to probe at her wound, so the matter was temporarily set aside.
Xi Jiyang hesitated for a moment, then he said, "Your father might only return to City Z in another two days..."
"Mmm, I'll arrange everything. Thank you, Grandfather, for taking care of Xiaye. She's always been very grateful for you." Mu Yuchen tone was genuine and his eyes were dense with sincerity and gratitude. His elegant manner naturally won him Xi Jiyang's approval.
Whether a person was cultured or not would usually be revealed through their words and actions. Xi Jiyang had rolled in the business world of mutual deception before and he could judge people well. From a simple meeting like this, he was already in admiration of Mu Yuchen.
With Xi Xiaye's personality, she was a little like her father too. In Xi Jiyang's heart, he actually favored Xi Xiaye more because she was more like Xi Mushan, while the latter was a scar in his heart that he could never erase...
How was he supposed to admit that back then, when the old fellow from the Han family locked Han Yifeng and Xi Xiaye's marriage down, he had thought it was a mistake?
Xi Xiaye was too accommodating to Han Yifeng, while Han Yifeng was such a privileged brat. He was fairly arrogant and did not suit with Xi Xiaye's stubborn yet sensitive personality.
Maybe she should have matched with a better man.
Now, it seemed that everything was falling into place as he wished. That was great then since it was Xi Jiyang's wish to see the children happy within his lifetime.
Xi Jiyang squinted his aged eyes towards this couple before him. Suddenly, there was a light of happiness in his eyes. He unexpectedly recalled how back then, Xi Mushan and Shen Wenna seemed to have been like this too. They had sat before him, looking well-matched and hoping that he could give them his blessings.
Now, it was all just destiny making fools out of people.
Quite a while after, he sighed and said softly with a mix of happiness and melancholy, "I don't know what else I can say. I can only wish the both of you to be loving till your old age and be happy forever."
Xi Xiaye nodded gently as she said hoarsely, "Thank you..."
"Okay, let's leave it at that. We'll chat again when we meet. I know that the both of you are busy, so I won't disturb you two anymore. I'm leaving now. When your father returns, I'll give you a call."
Xi Jiyang sighed deeply, then he slowly stood up and staggered a bit. Mu Yuchen swiftly held him up. "Be careful, Grandfather!"
Xi Jiyang held onto his staff tightly and lamented, "I'm old and no good now."
Then, he gently patted Mu Yuchen's arm and said by his ear in a lowered voice, "Be good to Xiaye. This child has been suffering quite a lot since she was young. Since you're married to her now, you have a responsibility to care for her well... I'll leave her in your good hands..."
"Don't worry, Grandfather, I will." Mu Yuchen steadied Xi Jiyang while his deep tone had a hint of determination.
Xi Jiyang nodded. Although he wanted Mu Yuchen to let go of him, Mu Yuchen helped him walk all the way out of the door and into his car while Xi Xiaye just sat in her seat and silently watched this scene.
Moments after that, Mu Yuchen returned casually.
When he saw her in a daze and not snapping back to her senses, Mu Yuchen then reached out and helped her fix her slightly messy hair that tumbled onto her chest as he asked softly, "What are you thinking about that you're so entranced?"
When his voice entered her ear, she slowly regained her senses. Her eyes suddenly revealed a tinge of loneliness as she said in a hoarse and gloomy voice, "Nothing. I just suddenly felt that my heart being heavy... There are some things that I clearly want to do, yet I don't know how to start. Grandfather just told me that Father has never forgotten Mother, yet now, what use is there in saying all of that?"
As he listened, Mu Yuchen's eyes hardened. Then, he held up his tea and casually sipped it. Calmly, he said, "There are some things that you'll realize aren't actually hard at all only when you do it. There are always many possible outcomes to things, so one of them will definitely be the outcome that you want. So, don't be sad. No one can tell the future for sure."
As she listened to such emotional words, Xi Xiaye suddenly felt sad.