Reborn Aristocrat: Return of the Vicious Heiress - Chapter 996
Chapter 996: Sis-in-law Is Truly in Defiance
Si Yiyan felt proud of his subordinates’ recognition and concern towards Wen Xinya.
He initially brought Wen Xinya to Russia with the intention of letting her understand more about his background. Having been in a relationship with her for more than three years, he wanted her to know more about him.
However, he did not expect that she would meet with various mishaps and end up having close shaves with death simply because she wanted to bring about more benefits to Lucifer.
Si Yiyan leaned against the seat slowly with his slender and bony spine taut and upright. However, at this moment, it seemed like a knife that had become blunt and he began to lay back sluggishly. “I’ve already spoken to Duke Moville yesterday. He plans to use the rights to the mine as an exchange for the document.”
Having already guessed his intentions right from the start, Gu Yuehan and his colleagues were not surprised to hear the revelation. Once Si Yiyan set his sights on something, he would be bent on obtaining it.
Si Yiyan continued, “Currently, we’ve secured three ore mines which have just been opened and there’s room for development too. One of them is a rare cobalt ore and the other is a relatively rare magnesium ore. The larger one is a resource for iron. Gu Yuehan shall be in charge of the detailed cooperation.”
The outcome of the negotiation was better than he had expected. Cobalt could be used to create weapons, machines, aircraft, and explosives, while magnesium was an extremely rare resource.
Unable to hide his astonishment, Gu Yuehan said with a nod, “Rest assured, Ninth Young Master.”
It was the best outcome they could get, and the benefits were far greater than those offered in the document.
Even Yueze was extremely thrilled. “Duke Moville was actually willing to hand over such important ores. It’s incredible.”
It wouldn’t be too surprising if Duke Moville only offered to give up his magnesium and iron ores. But cobalt? What is going on? Are Duke Moville’s brains fried? Or did he knock himself silly while negotiating with Ninth Young Master?
Xu Xianghu exclaimed in awe, “Sis-in-law is impressive.”
Xu Xianghu’s respect towards Wen Xinya was taken to another level! If it weren’t because of the document that she had obtained, they wouldn’t have been able to clinch those essential ores.
Si Yiyan said, “Besides, your Sis-in-law rescued Duke Berveld’s youngest grandson and Duke Berveld called me last night to thank your Sis-in-law and Lucifer. He’s also willing to give us the mining right for niobium. It will last for ten years.”
He was well aware of what actually happened last night. He was the one who stabbed Mr. Berveld and left him to fend for himself. It was not because he was afraid of Mr. Berveld, but rather, it was because he did not want Wen Xinya to shoulder the burden and consequences of the matter. However… it was never too late to seek revenge. Also, there were plenty of ways to make someone disappear.
After listening to Si Yiyan’s explanation, Gu Yuehan and the other two had a clearer idea of what happened. They were rather impressed by the shrewd and brilliant way he had handled the matter.
Gu Yuehan said, “Duke Berveld is willing to give us the rights to the mine, partly because he wants to thank Lucifer and your Sis-in-law for saving his grandson and also because he wants to initiate a cooperation with Lucifer. Boss, what are your thoughts on it?”
Lucifer and Duke Berveld had always been cooperating with each other, though it was always superficial. This time, Duke Berveld had the intention to work closely with him solely in business, without getting politics involved. That was extremely beneficial to Lucifer.
Si Yiyan answered calmly, “We’ll wait!”
There were various meanings to his words.
As the largest firearms dealer in Russia, Duke Moville was definitely interested in working with Si Yiyan, who owned 60% of the raw materials market. Duke Berveld had once looked him up with the intention of forging a cooperation, too. However, he was afraid that Si Yiyan would find him to be too condescending and turn him down.
This time, Lucifer managed to assert dominance in the aristocratic circle because of Duke Moville, allowing Lucifer to exhibit the tip of the iceberg of their abilities. His grandson’s incident had also made Duke Berveld take Lucifer more seriously. Hence, he decided to forge friendly ties with Lucifer.
Duke Berveld was the most prestigious aristocrat in Russia and hence, he knew more about Lucifer compared to the other aristocratic families. Previously, he had belittled Lucifer because they were laying low. After all, there tends to be a change in the hierarchy over time. However, the tip of the iceberg was already enough to capture Duke Berveld’s attention and make him view Lucifer in a different light. Lucifer had always been known to weigh the pros and cons of everything and remain humble despite being formidable.
Xu Xianghu asked, “Boss, what do you mean?”
Si Yiyan exclaimed smilingly, “It’s not enough!”
Yueze immediately understood what he meant.
A little confused, Xu Xianghu asked, “What’s not enough? Boss, could you not beat around the bush with me? I’m slow-witted. I’ll do a good job if you tell me to commit murder or arson instead.”
Si Yiyan pursed his lips and remained silent.
Yueze snorted with laughter and teased. “You’re indeed well built but simple-minded.”
Gu Yuehan explained, “Duke Berveld may have expressed his goodwill, but he’s not sincere enough. Boss wants them to bring the benefits to us themselves.”
Scratching his head, Xu Xianghu asked, “How could there be such a good thing?”
Yueze smacked his head and chastised. “You’re so silly. You wouldn’t know how to execute this. Just follow Boss’ instructions.”
Plan A was not purely a plan to eliminate the snitch. In fact, Lucifer had greater intentions. It was also a way of exhibiting Rex’s formidable political status and Lucifer’s power. It also served as a warning to others.
Duke Berveld was enticed by the power that Lucifer had exhibited. He would probably offer them the benefits himself.
That was Si Yiyan’s true intentions.
Some people were well built but simple-minded and enjoyed resorting to violence to solve problems. There were also those who enjoyed using racial discrimination to mock and humiliate others. Yet, none of them could defeat Si Yiyan, who was extremely scheming and shrewd.
Xu Xianghu nodded and exclaimed sincerely, “Oh right! We’ll never go wrong listening to Boss.”
Xu Xianghu added in his head, And Sis-in-law!
Although Xu Xianghu was rather simple-minded, he had great awareness and knew right from the start, that he had to suck up to Wen Xinya. In fact, that was rather intelligent of him.
How scheming!
Chapter 997: Do You Know That You’ve Been Duped by Boss?
Si Yiyan said coldly, “Rumor has it that I’m a greedy businessman who knows no limits. Actually, that’s true.”
He had never been hesitant to reap benefits and would go to great extents to plot against others, especially since he was dating Wen Xinya now. He still had to earn enough money to get himself a wife and raise his family. Yes… earning money was very important.
Gu Yuehan’s expression changed. There were plenty of rumors about Si Yiyan going around in Russia. For example, he was branded as a refined gentleman who had an aura like Qingsong Yueyuan’s green bamboo and was sharp like jade, full of wisdom like Zhuge Liang and astonishingly wealthy.
However, ever since Wen Xinya appeared, he was seen as a prideful and arrogant person with a tinge of tenderness.
He gently grazed the carvings of a dragon on the jade piece, feeling much less infuriated. He no longer felt such a strong urge to kill.
Yueze stared at the dragon jade piece in Si Yiyan’s hands. Ever since Wen Xinya gave it to him, he had been keeping it with him wherever he went and Yueze would often see him fiddling with it.
Chuckling sheepishly, Xu Xianghu removed the necklace from his neck, on which there was a tiger-shaped agate pendant. “Hehe! Boss, I got a pendant for myself too. Sis-in-law has got such great taste. This pendant feels much more comfortable than average jade and it’s much sturdier too. You won’t have to worry about it being scratched or chipped off.”
Yueze covered his eyes and tried to stop himself from glaring at Xu Xianghu. He thought to himself, Xu Xianghu… you’re such a bootlicker. Do you know that?
Gu Yuehan’s eyelids twitched and he quickly looked away. Indeed, Xu Xianghu was an amusingly silly person.
Si Yiyan pressed his lips together to form a thin line that looked sharp and daunting.
Still feeling smug, Xu Xianghu exclaimed, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? This pendant was meticulously handpicked by me. It may not be as expensive as yours, but it’s said to be naturally shaped like a tiger. It’s extremely rare!”
A sudden silence filled the air. Yueze and Gu Yuehan instinctively moved their bodies away from the silly Xu Xianghu.
Si Yiyan suddenly said, “Bring your agate pendant here and let me take a look at it.”
Xu Xianghu quickly grabbed the pendant and handed it to Si Yiyan. “Hehe, I was inspired by the beautiful pendant that Sis-in-law gave you. After seeing how you bring it with you wherever you go and how you treat it like a baby, I decided to get one for myself too.”
Si Yiyan grabbed the pendant and said, “It looks great, but I’d like to test if it’s really as rigid as you described.”
Xu Xianghu did not quite catch the hint, though he raised his brows at the instant that he saw Si Yiyan clenching it tightly in his hand.
Yueze picked up the teacup and sipped on some tea to hide his emotions.
Gu Yuehan remained calm and composed with a smirk on his lips, feeling a little sorry for Xu Xianghu’s pendant.
A loud cackle sounded in the air and Si Yiyan opened his palm to reveal the broken bits of the agate pendant which had been ruined beyond repair.
“Why is it so fragile?” Xu Xianghu questioned in puzzlement, unable to figure out why Si Yiyan’s dragon pendant managed to say intact even after he had squeezed it in a similar manner, unlike his tiger-shaped pendant which was crushed by Si Yiyan so effortlessly. Could it be that it was just too fragile?
Silly, do you know that you’ve been duped by your boss?
Don’t trust your boss’ character too easily!
He’s so vicious and cunning that he can extort you without you even realizing!
Upon hearing his words, Yueze immediately burst into laughter and spat his tea onto Xu Xianghu’s face, thinking to himself, How ignorant and gullible must he be to believe that? How can genuine agate be ruined so easily?
Ah~
Gu Yuehan raised his brows.
After wiping the tea off his face, Xu Xianghu glared at Yueze and chastised. “Gigolo, you’re so disgusting. How dare you spit saliva at me? Are you asking for a beating?”
However, no one answered him.
Pretending to find it a pity, Si Yiyan said, “This agate pendant seems to be of mediocre quality. It shattered so easily. Next time, you should probably just get a tiger-shaped pendant that’s made of pure gold. Not only is it durable, but it also has high tensile strength too. Besides, it’s also very valuable.”
Most importantly, it looked posh!
After hearing his words, Yueze swallowed his saliva and thought to himself, Ninth Young Master, you’re just having him on, aren’t you!
Gu Yuehan chimed in. “Ninth Young Master is right. A gold pendant will be more suitable for you since you’re big and burly.”
Yes! He seemed like a rich, country bumpkin!
Yueze cleared his throat and swallowed his saliva again after hearing what Gu Yuehan said.
Gu Yuehan is just asking for it!
Is this what they mean when they say that you tend to get influenced by those around you?
Despite having known Gu Yuehan for more than a decade, he did not seem to be such a person at all. Is Gu Yuehan too good at hiding his true colors or am I just too blind to see?
Feeling a little hesitant, Xu Xianghu asked, “Is that so?”
Si Yiyan said calmly, “Don’t you think gold is beautiful? It’s shiny and gilded. Your Sis-in-law loves gold jewelry.”
However, Wen Xinya often criticized gold for being tacky and old-fashioned.
Yueze began coughing violently.
Gu Yuehan began patting his back sympathetically.
Xu Xianghu laughed gleefully and said, “Hahaha, I’ll go order a tiger-shaped gold pendant another day.”
I can’t go wrong since it’s something Sis-in-law likes as well.
Yueze exclaimed in his head, I’m speechless!
Boss has really played him like a fool!
He dared not imagine how tacky and boorish Xu Xianghu would look with a thick gold chain around his neck… he would look just like a thug!
Yueze patted Xu Xianghu on his back. “Boss is right. Agate doesn’t suit you at all. Agate symbolizes love. Don’t you always detest things related to romance?”
I must stop this unfortunate dimwit from continuing to purchase agate accessories.
Why didn’t he give it some thought? Since it’s a gift to Boss from Sis-in-law, it definitely has to be one of a kind. End even if it’s not, Boss will find a way to make it so.
Xu Xianghu smacked his forehead in a moment of enlightenment and said, “It’s no wonder that Sis-in-law wanted to gift this agate pendant to Boss.”
Forget about it. I’m a bachelor who doesn’t need romance. Gold looks better than agate. I might just exchange it for alcohol too.
Yueze and Gu Yuehan were speechless.
What the heck, how silly is he?
Si Yiyan put the dragon pendant away. He decided that from now on, he would keep the gifts that Wen Xinya gave him hidden from anyone else. It would just be for his own viewing pleasure and no one would have the chance to duplicate it.
Chapter 998: I’ve Returned
At about three in the afternoon, the helicopter landed in the private hangar of Lishan Mansion.
Wen Xinya slowly disembarked from the aircraft while the loud sounds of the propeller rang in her ears. The wind that it generated was so strong that she almost got blown away.
She finally snapped out of her trance. It was the end of her 12-day trip to Russia.
Although it was not quite that pleasant of a trip, Wen Xinya still felt incredibly blessed.
During the first few days of the trip, Si Yiyan accompanied her all day and took her to visit various scenic spots and tourist attractions in the city. Hand in hand with their fingers interlocked, they strolled along the streets of Russia where history and heritage were rich. He explained to her in a clear and refined voice about Russia’s history as well as the evolution of the cities. He was rather eloquent and managed to make the boring history sound extremely interesting.
They had also taken several photos of themselves in the city.
Si Yiyan would accompany her while she shopped, bringing her to all the famous malls and luxury stalls in the city without losing his patience at all. Sometimes, he would scour the stores just to get her a beautiful piece of clothing or jewelry. They would also behave like other ordinary couples, publicly displaying their affection for each other by smooching and hugging on the streets.
In the evening, Si Yiyan would take her to the movies where they watched obsolete Russian movies about World War II, which encompassed the full history and culture of Russia, as well as the citizens’ stubbornness when it came to love. At the same time, the films also depicted the sorrowful scenes of departure and heartwarming scenes of reunion, all of which moved Wen Xinya to tears. He would meticulously kiss her tears away, after which they would cuddle and whisper sweet nothings while exploring each other’s body.
Of course, the only imperfection was that Si Yiyan was too attractive, so much that she had to evolve into a fierce woman to defend her man!
She also disclosed some secrets during the incidents that took place at Duke Moville’s banquet and Elegance Room. That could not compare to dating at all. However, she was glad that she had found out more about Si Yiyan’s background and even got involved in his life in Russia. Becoming stronger and better was the only thing that she had to do now.
Wen Xinya took a deep breath as her thoughts began to clear up.
Back in China, she was no longer Lucifer’s matriarch or Rex’s fiancée. She was only Wen Xinya, the heiress of the Wen Family, the future successor of the Wen Corporation and Si Yiyan’s beloved woman.
At this moment, Si Yiyan called her. “Have you arrived?”
He still sounded refined and even more so affectionate. Wen Xinya held onto her phone while a smile graced her face, for she was unable to contain her joy. “Yes, I just arrived. I got a call from you as soon as my feet landed on the ground. Are you stalking me?”
She then grinned widely from ear to ear.
“Mmm!” Si Yiyan nodded.
Wen Xinya asked softly, “How are things going on Lucifer’s side?”
Seven-odd hours were more than enough for them to do lots of things.
Si Yiyan answered, “Plan A has been executed smoothly and the situation is in control now. Nothing has gone wrong.”
Wen Xinya heaved a sigh of relief and reminded. “Take note of your safety. Don’t get hurt.”
She had truly gotten terrified after Si Yiyan sustained injuries time and time again. She was not too worried about the wound on his arm since the stitches had already been removed and it had already recovered. She was actually worried about his old ailment and was afraid that he would get a relapse during the major operation carried out by Lucifer.
She decided that she would find out more about the remedies from Old Mr. Du. It had been three months, but Si Yiyan had yet to show any signs of recovery or improvement. She would be ill at ease so long as he didn’t recover.
Si Yiyan said, “I might have to stay in Russia for a long while. Be good and wait for my return!”
Wen Xinya expressed assent. Finding that her answer was not formal enough, she added, “Alright!”
After chatting for a while, they ended the call.
At the instant that the call was ended, Si Yiyan shifted his gaze onto the screen and stared at Wen Xinya’s photo for a moment before switching off his mobile phone. He then put on his black bulletproof vest and picked up the dragon pendant, after which he kissed it and put it back onto his neck. He picked up the glistening gun, “The Killer”, before turning around to leave the study.
Wen Xinya had no idea what happened at all.
At this moment, Liu Yanhua had already sent Wen Xinya back to the Wen Family home.
Her short trip had finally come to an end.
When they left for Russia, they had only brought along small suitcases. Yet, they lugged several large bags and suitcases back together with them. The servants helped Wen Xinya move her belongings to the room. All her things had already piled up.
Mother Wang smiled and said, “Missy, it’s rare that you get to go on a summer break. Why are you back so soon? You should have spent a few more days on a vacation.”
Mother Wang actually took pity on Wen Xinya, whom she had watched grow up. Ever since Wen Xinya reunited with the Wen Family, she had been putting in a ton of effort and hard work to get to where she was today and she indeed rarely relaxed.
Auntie Wu smiled and said, “Fortunately, you’re back early Missy. Old Sir has been nagging about you the past few days.”
She often felt that Old Mr. Wen was too strict with Wen Xinya and the two of them rarely communicated outside of work. However, Old Mr. Wen actually missed Wen Xinya and showed his concern towards her when she was away on a vacation.
Wen Xinya smiled and said, “I’ll go and see Grandpa now.”
As soon as Wen Xinya entered the living room, the servants began greeting her fervently and she would respond with a smile.
Upon sight of Old Mr. Wen sitting on the couch and reading some newspapers, she walked towards him smilingly and said, “Grandpa, your granddaughter is back.”
Old Mr. Wen put down the financial newspapers and said, “Hurry, come here and take a seat.”
Old Mr. Wen was thrilled to see his granddaughter’s return. Happiness was written all over his face and his wrinkles seemed to have faded.
Wen Xinya took a seat beside him and said, “Grandpa, I told the kitchen helpers to prepare medicinal soups for you while I’m away. Have you been taking them regularly? Have you been eating the medicine prescribed by the hospital, too? Do you feel any discomfort?”
Old Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Take a look at yourself. You’re becoming so nosy and naggy. You’re asking about my condition as soon as you’re back. Well, I’m still the same old me.”
He did not find her presence to be too significant when he saw her daily in the past. However, ever since she went on a vacation, he had been feeling like something was missing because she was not by his side to accompany him. The atmosphere seemed to have become quieter and boring without her, making him find it a little strange.
Wen Xinya smiled and said, “I was just worried that you’d tire yourself out by focusing too much time and attention on the preparations for the charity fund, Grandpa.”
Old Mr. Wne developed a passion for philanthropy and he would even invite his like-minded friends along to the nursing homes to carry out volunteer work.
Old Mr. Wen said, “I know what to do. You seem to have lost weight after your trip to Russia. Is it fun in Russia? It’s rare that you go on a vacation. Why didn’t you stay for a few days longer?”
Wen Xinya answered, “It’s pretty fun. However, I came back in advance because I keep thinking about the final examinations.”
Apart from Old Mr. Mo, no one else knew that she had gone to Russia together with Si Yiyan.
Old Mr. Wen proceeded to ask her some more questions about her trip to Russia, which she answered based on her knowledge. She never once mentioned about Si Yiyan!
Chapter 999: What Problem Did Wen Haowen Create Again?
Wen Xinya returned to her room while Liu Yanhua instructed the servants to pack the items that they had brought back from Russia, classifying them into different categories before placing them inside her closet. Liu Yanhua also meticulously checked the packaging of the gifts that Wen Xinya had bought for her friends and family.
Wen Xinya headed to the bathroom to take a bath and wash off the fatigue that she was overwhelmed with. She then gave Old Mr. Mo a call before texting her friends to inform them of her return. Time seemed to fly by like an arrow as she chatted with her friends merrily.
The Wen Family members usually began eating dinner at half-past six in the evening.
Wen Xinya headed to the living room together with the gifts that she had bought for her grandparents and Wen Haowen.
The servants were busy setting the dining table in the living room while Wen Haowen was speaking to Old Mr. Wen about some business-related matters. There was a strange tension in the air and Old Mr. Wen had a petulant expression on his face while ignoring Wen Haowen. Old Mrs. Wen sat beside them and would occasionally try and placate matters.
Wen Xinya had an ominous feeling.
Did Wen Haowen create trouble again?
Wen Xinya understood Wen Haowen too well. If it weren’t because of something serious, he wouldn’t have been so panicky and even got Old Mrs. Wen to support him and placate matters. She racked her brains and tried to think about what could have possibly happened.
Although she had begun raising doubts, she did not let her emotions show at all.
Her appearance made Wen Haowen stop talking. This made Wen Xinya suspect further that something was amiss. Wen Haowen was keeping his guard up against her.
Wen Haowen stared at Wen Xinya with a benevolent smile. “Xinya, you’re back. Why didn’t you stay in Russia for a few more days?”
Although he had a tender expression on his face, she could sense displeasure and disappointment in his tone. It was as if he was not hoping for her to return so soon.
In fact, Wen Haowen was indeed hoping that she would stay abroad for a longer period of time, at least until he was done convincing Old Mr. Wen and executing his plan. To his dismay, she returned so soon.
However, it did not actually make a difference because there was nothing he could do so long as Old Mr. Wen disagreed.
Wen Xinya smiled and answered, “I was worried about my examination results, so I came home.”
Having understood Wen Haowen so well, she was well aware of what he meant. However, his mysterious attitude made her keep her guard up.
Wen Haowen took a longing glance at her and said, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I suddenly remember that there are still three days to go before the results are out. I hereby wish you good luck for your results.”
Although Wen Xinya was very outstanding, he actually had the same mindset as Ning Shuqian, about whether or not Wen Xinya could really make it to Capital University which had a high cut-off point. Hence, they felt that it would be tough for Wen Xinya to get into Capital University based on her results. Besides, she had missed out on revision when she got abducted and hospitalized. Previously, she even spent lots of time on planning for the Ai Shang Group product launch and could not focus on studying. Under such circumstances, how could she make it to the university?
Hence, he was more or less gloating.
Well aware of what he meant, Wen Xinya smiled calmly and said, “Thank you for your well-wishes, Father.”
Before Wen Haowen could even answer, she continued, “Grandpa, Grandma, Father, I bought some gifts for you guys from Russia. I don’t know if you’ll like it or not.”
Staring at the exquisite paper bags in her hand, Old Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Of course I’ll like the gifts that my granddaughter gives me. Let me take a look at what you bought me.”
Pretending to be interested, Wen Haowen said, “I didn’t expect Xinya to be so thoughtful as to remember to bring me some gifts.”
Old Mrs. Wen was less hostile towards Wen Xinya because of Wen Haowen’s amicable attitude towards her. She did not make much of a comment about the gifts that Wen Xinya had bought for them.
Wen Xinya handed the gifts to them. “I don’t know what you guys fancy, so I just picked these according to my own preference.”
She gifted Old Mr. Wen with a vintage antique watch from the Renaissance period, which looked good as new because of the meticulous maintenance. Seemingly thrilled, Old Mr. Wen said, “Hahahaha! This watch is very exquisite. Wonderful!”
“Good that you like it, Grandpa,” said Wen Xinya, who had found the watch in a renowned antique watch store in Russia. The watch allegedly used to belong to a Russian aristocrat and was exorbitantly priced.
On the other hand, she gifted Old Mrs. Wen with an Emperor’s Emerald ring that was made of gold and jade. The gold was of 99.9999% purity and there were words carved on the ring as well. The emerald was opulent and ostentatious.
Regardless of how much Old Mrs. Wen detested Wen Xinya, she could not resist the temptation of such a beautiful ring. “Very thoughtful of you,” she said.
Wen Xinya remained composed. She knew that there were some people whom she could never please. In that case, there was no point in forcing herself to suck up to them. In her previous lifetime, she had done enough of those bootlicking. She had solely bought the gifts for them out of courtesy.
She gave Wen Haowen a floral embroidered snuff bottle which was tiny and made out of agate. It was a rare collectible, too.
Staring at the exquisite item, Wen Haowen began fiddling with it and he said, “It’s so small and intricate. Xinya, I like it very much.”
Smiling calmly, Wen Xinya said, “The tobacco inside the snuff bottle helps to awaken your senses. Do sniff more of it to freshen yourself up.”
Of course, she had other intentions for gifting Wen Haowen with the snuff bottle. She was indirectly trying to tell him to wake his senses up so that he could keep his temper in control and refrain from acting irrationally.
Everyone was glad to receive her gifts.
After answering some of Wen Haowen and Old Mr. Wen’s questions about her vacation, she noticed that the tension seemed to have decreased.
At this moment, Mother Wang walked towards them and said, “Old Sir, Old Madam, Sir, Missy, dinner is ready.”
Old Mr. Wen said in a robust voice, “Let’s dig in.”
The dishes were splendid, most of which were Old Mr. Wen’s and Old Mrs. Wen’s favorites. The sumptuous spread also included some of Wen Haowen’s and Wen Xinya’s favorite dishes.
Although the atmosphere was not pleasant, it was not hostile either. Wanting to strike the iron while it was hot, Wen Haowen asked, “Father, what do you think of my proposal?”
He felt extremely uncertain because Old Mr. Wen had yet to express his opinion.
Wen Xinya paused in her actions and her eyes lit up, soon after which she helped herself to the dishes as if nothing had happened.
Wen Haowen had indeed created another issue.
Chapter 1000: Does Wen Haowen Have An Illicit Lover
The tension arose again because of Wen Haowen’s words.
Staring at Old Mr. Wen, Wen Haowen felt a little irritated, for he felt that Old Mr. Wen had overreacted to his casual remark.
Old Mr. Wen glanced at him coldly and said, “Since the shareholders have already agreed, I don’t have any objections. I’m just a retired old man.”
He was displeased by Wen Haowen’s decision to act before seeking his permission.
Although he had already retired from the business world, he was still the Chairman of the Wen Corporation and all major decisions would have to pass through him.
Wen Haowen’s face stiffened and he frantically said, “Father, I’ve been trying to find a chance to talk to you about this proposal since a long time ago. However, you’ve been too busy with the charity fund, so I…”
Recently, he had been facing lots of obstacles. First, it was his divorce, followed by his adulterous affair. He initially wanted to use the product launch to redeem himself and make up for the scandal that he had caused. However, Yang Ziyu’s pregnancy scandal ruined everything and caused him to be utterly embarrassed. The proposal was supposedly a good chance for him to redeem himself. Due to the fact that a large amount of funds was required at the start, he was afraid that Old Mr. Wen would turn his suggestion down. Hence, he decided to hold a shareholders’ meeting first before reporting it to Old Mr. Wen afterwards.
Previously, the battle between the Xiao Family and Wen Family caused the Wen Corporation’s stock prices to plummet and the shareholders earned a fortune from the increase in stock prices as well. Hence, as soon as he proposed the lucrative plan, the shareholders immediately agreed without hesitation.
Wen Haowen continued, “Father, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Whether or not this proposal will pass, is still dependent on your decision.”
Although Old Mr. Wen had already retired, he still had the final say in such major decisions. The plan could only be executed after he gave the green light.
Old Mr. Wen interjected. “Enough, stop talking.”
As much as he was the Chairman, he could not possibly object to all of the shareholders’ decision to support Wen Haowen.
“Father, I…” Wen Haowen’s lips moved and he decided not to say the words that he wanted to, because of how stern Old Mr. Wen was.
While listening to their conversation, Wen Xinya thought to herself in astonishment, Wen Haowen usually seeks Grandpa’s opinion before making any decisions. Yet, he actually acted first this time. What exactly is he trying to do?
Old Mrs. Wen hurriedly said, “Old Man, why do you have to get so worked up? Now that the shareholders are there to tend to the matters at the company, what’s there for you to be worried about? Besides, it’s not like Haowen hid it from you intentionally. He just didn’t want to bother you with these matters because you’re so busy lately.”
Old Mr. Wen shot Old Mrs. Wen a glance which made her subconsciously shut up.
He placed the chopsticks onto the table and glared at Wen Haowen sternly. “What’s wrong with you lately? You stay out late all the time. Don’t you tell me that you’ve been working overtime at the office. Perhaps, your mother might believe that bullshit, but you can’t fool me.”
Ever since Wen Xinya went on a vacation, Wen Haowen had already stayed out for at least five nights.
Wen Xinya stopped eating and subconsciously looked up at Wen Haowen.
What is going on? Why has Wen Haowen been staying out? Could it be that he has an illicit lover?
Wen Xinya found it rather bewildering. Ever since his scandal was exposed, Ning Shuqian was sent to the nursing home and she then became married to Wen Haowen only in name. Wen Haowen was highly suspecting towards Ning Shuqian, whom he resented to the core because of the fact that she had faked her pregnancy.
Hence, there was no longer a woman by Wen Haowen’s side and, as a forty-year-old man with raging hormones, it was only normal for him to feel an urge to satisfy his sexual needs. After thinking about it… Wen Xinya felt that it was understandable that Wen Haowen had an illicit lover.
However, Wen Haowen’s reputation had already been tarnished by his adulterous affair and he could not afford to suffer another blow. Yet, he still had the audacity to get into an extramarital affair. Wasn’t he afraid of ruining his reputation even further?
Wen Haowen’s face stiffened and he explained wryly, “Father, I was really busy with work…”
Not wishing to hear his explanation, Old Mr. Wen interrupted. “You should know clearly whether or not you were really working. I don’t want to intervene with your personal life, but… if you ever dare to do anything that brings shame to the Wen Family again, don’t blame me for being nasty.”
Wen Haowen’s adulterous affair had already caused the Wen Family’s reputation to be tarnished. Wen Xinya had a hard time making use of the Xiao Family to assert dominance and salvage the Wen Family’s reputation. They could not afford to let Wen Haowen damage it again.
Wen Haowen’s face turned red in embarrassment. Although the matter about his adulterous affair was already over, he still felt incredibly frustrated and ashamed at the mention of it. Besides, Old Mr. Wen was staring at him with an intimidating gaze. He was very certain that Old Mr. Wen would punish him severely if anything were to go wrong again this time.
He put on an unnatural smile and said, “Father, don’t worry, I know what to do. I won’t let anyone plot against me and implicate the Wen Family this time.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he shot Old Mrs. Wen a glance.
Wen Xinya witnessed everything and she found it rather ridiculous.
Just like she had expected, Old Mrs. Wen caught the hint and frantically stepped in to give him an out. “Old Man, Haowen already knows his mistakes. He won’t commit them again. Besides… that bitch Yang Ziyu was the one who set him up previously. How could you put the blame on Haowen?”
Old Mr. Wen glowered at Old Mrs. Wen and said, “Shut up. All you do is call others ‘bitch’. Aren’t you ashamed at all?”
He had no idea what to say about Old Mrs. Wen, who had been living a luxurious life for decades but still did not pick up any aristocratic social etiquette.
Old Mrs. Wen was at a loss for words. Filled with resentment, she felt that Old Mr. Wen must have been embarrassed of her for being uncouth.
The atmosphere became tense again. Wen Xinya picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed them inside Old Mr. We’s bowl. “Grandpa, the stir-fried meat that Mother Wang made today tastes rather special. Give it a try.”
Old Mr. Wen gazed at her tenderly and said, “Have some, too.”
Wen Haowen’s eyes lit up upon sight of Old Mr. Wen’s interaction with Wen Xinya, filled with resentment. He felt that Old Mr. Wen was undermining and disrespecting him because he now had Wen Xinya as his successor.