Those who failed to understand that would be inextricably bogged down by their worries of what others would say about them!

  Fang Yan’s mother was such a person…


  It was said that a kind mother would bring up children dutiful to their family. But because of her fear of incurring gossip, Fang Yan’s mother acted at the beck and call of her unreasonable and gossipy mother-in-law!

  When Fang Yan’s paternal grandmother was hospitalized, Fang Yan’s mother had waited upon her dutifully around the clock, to the point that even the granny beside Fang Yan’s grandmother in the ward had thought that Fang Yan’s mother was her birth daughter. That granny sighed and said that Old Madam Fang had a good daughter, and only then did the latter say in an embarrassed manner that it was her daughter-in-law!

  On the other hand, Fang Yan’s biological aunt had shunned Fang Yan’s grandmother since she was hospitalized, not even paying her a visit once. It was only when the old lady was about to leave the hospital that she showed up and put up a pretense, discharging the old lady from the hospital.

  Yesterday, when Fang Yan went back to her mother’s place to visit her own children, she bumped into a neighbor auntie who had just moved in, the latter stepping out to clear her garbage in her pajamas. That lady caught Fang Yan and told her how Fang Yan’s paternal grandmother had been going around telling the others that Fang Yan’s mother had never given her a morsel of food before…


  Fang Yan thought what she heard was hilarious. If that old lady had never eaten a morsel of food from Fang Yan’s mother, how did she manage to survive!

  Fang Yan glanced at the neighbor who was preaching to her about how having an elder at home was like having a treasure. She asked Fang Yan, the granddaughter, to lecture her mother. She told her to tell her that although Fang Yan’s father was no longer around, the old woman was already advanced in age, and it wouldn’t take much to feed her, for she wouldn’t be living that many more years. The neighbor asked Fang Yan’s mother to be more magnanimous and take care of the old lady in her final days, to be filial to her on behalf of Fang Yan’s father!

  Fang Yan was so agitated after hearing this that her chest was heaving up and down violently. Fang Yan didn’t want to waste her breath with the neighbor who clearly couldn’t tell right from wrong, so she merely sneered and said, “If the elderly woman hadn’t eaten a morsel of food given by my mother, if my mother were truly unfilial, would the old lady have lived until the age of 86? Would she be in such great health?”


  The neighboring auntie paused in surprise…


  Old Madam Fang was 86, and she was in fantastic health, in much better condition than even people in their fifties like her. While she couldn’t handle climbing up five stories of stairs, the old lady merely panted a little and recovered very quickly. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart diseases—the old lady had none of those!

  That was an undeniable truth!

  It was just that the neighbor had seen the 86-year-old lady rummaging through garbage to look for plastic bottles and cardboard that she could sell for money, so she had believed the old lady’s words!

  However, hearing Fang Yan put it that way, it seemed as if it was indeed like Fang Yan had said!

  If her children were unfilial, how would an elderly person live to 80 and be in such good health and spirits? She would have died from anger!

  When she got home, Fang Yan saw her mother hugging her children and sobbing. When Fang Yan asked her what was wrong, she said tearfully…


  Fang Yan’s paternal grandmother had told the new neighbor that Fang Yan’s mother was unfilial to her, saying that she wouldn’t even feed her! She said that she had never spent a single cent belonging to Fang Yan’s mother, claiming that she had raised Fang Yan’s father to the age of sixty plus!

  Fang Yan’s mother was so mad that she cried, saying that it was all nonsense! Fang Yan’s mother couldn’t hold it back and went to reason with Fang Yan’s grandmother, but the latter would rather die than admit she had said all that. Fang Yan’s mother asked her to confront the neighbor. In the end, she punched Fang Yan’s mother on the chest twice, which still hurt.

  The reason for Fang Yan’s grandmother acting that way was simple… because Fang Yan’s father was adopted by Fang Yan’s paternal grandparents.

  With Fang Yan’s father no longer around, if it were someone without a conscience, the old lady would long have been abandoned. But Fang Yan’s mother had been providing for Fang Yan’s grandmother all along!

  Fang Yan’s mother cared too much about what others would say about her. If Fang Yan were in her shoes, since the old lady claimed never to have eaten a morsel of food from her before, then she would make sure it was indeed the case going forward!

  Since the old lady accused her of being unfilial, she would make her words come true! When the old lady was willing to tell the truth, they could then try to get along!

  Fang Yan had said that umpteen times, but her mother always said that she would be criticized behind her back that way!

  Sometimes, Fang Yan was truly filled with sympathy and a sense of helplessness towards her mother.

  Fang Yan shook her head, let out a long exhale, then went back to her work.

  …


  When Lin Nuan returned to Haicheng, she didn’t stay idle, and neither did Fu Huai’an.

  To be able to get to where he was today, Chu Fangzheng’s capability was beyond all doubt. Very quickly, he got all of the contracts signed. He even managed to rope in more investors than anticipated.

  As he called to inform Tang Xi, Fu Huai’an had already arrived in Jincheng…


  Xie Jingqiu had arranged to meet Fu Huai’an when he got back to the country.

  Sky Imperial Garden, the club-house where the affluent in Jincheng gathered to enjoy tea time. Jiang Ming’an used to be the boss there and frequented the place.

  Later, Cen Mo destroyed the Jiang family, and Xie Jingqiu acquired the place!

  Sky imperial Garden was where their group frequently held their gatherings, drank tea, and played mahjong. Even if it wasn’t for Jiang Ming’an, he was reluctant for someone else to acquire the place.

  It often rained in Jincheng, and it was no exception in this season. Right now, a mild drizzle was happening outside. Xie Jingqiu sat with his legs crossed inside the car, one hand on his knee as he turned his head to look out the window at the mild drizzle, his gaze abstruse and distant.

  Just like how Fu Huai’an was repelled by the idea of meeting him all these years, if he had a choice, Xie Jingqiu wouldn’t want to meet Fu Huai’an either…


  Because when the two saw each other, it was inevitable for them to think about Jiang Ming’an and Lu Xiangsi.

  The car stopped at the entrance of Sky Imperial Garden. Xie Jingqiu got out of the car and took the big black umbrella from Xiao Bai. Gazing at the resplendent and magnificent signboard of Sky imperial Garden, he recalled that when Jiang Ming’an showed him the design plan for Sky Imperial Garden back then, Jiang Ming’an had said vibrantly, “The more resplendent and magnificent, the better. I want Sky Imperial Garden to give off the vibe that I’m loaded!”


  The leggy Xie Jingqiu stood there with one hand in his pocket, not moving. Just his height alone was enough to make him stand out from the crowd. Add to that his noble and aloof disposition, as well as his deep-set and handsome features that exuded a wise and mature aura, and passersby couldn’t help but turn back and look at him.

  He stared at the resplendent and magnificent Sky Imperial Garden for a long while before walking up the stairs…


  The bellboy took the cue and went up to take the big umbrella from Xie Jingqiu, respectfully addressing him as “Chairman Xie!”


  It was Xie Jingqiu who had invited Fu Huai’an over today. The manager and his team had received instructions from Xie Jingqiu’s assistant Xiao Bai in advance. What surprised the manager was seeing Xie Jingqiu attach so much importance to this meeting with Fu Huai’an, to have let Special Assistant Bai come over in advance to book a suite and welcome him personally.

  By the time Xie Jingqiu arrived and entered the room, Fu Huai’an had already arrived.

  Inside the suite, Fu Huai’an stood before the French windows, the stiff iron of his navy blue suit perfectly tracing out the broad and muscular outline of his shoulders. His suit trousers were well ironed as well. He casually rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, exuding a mature and intimidating aura.