With Sheng Xiao and several others away from Jianchuan, the members of the Sheng family were certainly thinking straight—which was especially true for Grandpa Sheng and Mama Sheng.

  Given that Sheng Xiao didn’t tell Mama Sheng about Jing Yun’s birth and explained nothing about why or when he left with Mu Qiqi, Mama Sheng simply couldn’t get a word in with the old man since she didn’t have the confidence.

  And how furious was the old man?

  It was only too obvious for the Sheng family.

  The names of Jing Yun and Mu Qiqi were like poison to the old man now, with no one daring to so much as breathe a single syllable.

  He hated them so much that he left the entire Sheng family in utter chaos, with no one getting any peace…


  And now, he was still throwing a fit in his study, with Mama Sheng trying to calm him down. “Father… Xiao’er would definitely explain things.”


  “You have the face to tell me that after he kept it a secret from you too!? Hmm?!” The old man shot back. “He never was like this before. Never. But ever since Mu Qiqi showed up, he keeps challenging my authority again and again, testing my limits time after time. Does one Mu Qiqi have that much influence over him?”


  Mama Sheng’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.

  “And you. You would have me bear with them getting married?”


  “Father, even if you ignore all else, you have to be careful with the Shen family, don’t you? They are still our friends…”


  “Our business at Huang Yao is falling apart. How can I afford to care about them?” The old man sneered. “Xiao Qin, I will make this clear to you: Mu Qiqi is never marrying into the Sheng family as long as I live… no, even If I die, I would put it in my will disallowing Sheng Xiao from being with Mu Qiqi, or I would roll in my grave.”


  Mama Sheng felt an inward chill at his words, and was at once upset and worried.

  How did this whole affair end up being Qiqi’s fault?

  “Fourth Sister and Jing Yun’s feelings are mutual. What does Qiqi have to do with it? And forgive me for being honest about Xiao’er, but that’s who he is. He would never bend to you, and that had happened even before Qiqi came. Why would you always make Qiqi your scapegoat eventually?”


  “Are you being fair, Father?”


  The old man merely snorted in anger and flicked his sleeves. “There’s nothing unfair.”


  “Sure, you don’t have to acknowledge Qiqi, but you would never earn Xiao’er’s obedience. You really think he craves Huang Yao and your wealth? He doesn’t. He can leave Huang Yao without a penny to his name, but you also know very well that he has the power to rise again and build something greater than Huang Yao. Why would he feel threatened by you?”


  “Stop lying to yourself.”


  With that, Mama Sheng turned away. “I won’t manage this house any longer. Get whomever you like, Father.”


  “You…”


  Mama Sheng said nothing more and went straight out of the old man’s study.

  Talking to a radical person would only cause conflict with no hope of a good outcome.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Sheng Xiao had also guessed that the old man’s patience was at its limit, and so gave Mama Sheng a call.

  “Where have you all been to? Don’t you know that the old man thought that you four had eloped together and has been throwing a fit at home over the last few days?”


  “Mom, we’ve found out about Jing Yun’s identity, and it’s proven that he’s the youngest child of the family owning Xu Holdings.”


  “Are you talking about the group that sells medical equipment?” Mama Sheng had heard about them too.

  “Yes.”


  “Doesn’t that mean Jing Yun is from a rich background too?” Mam Sheng quickly caught on to the point in Sheng Xiao’s answer.

  “Interesting, isn’t it?”


  “Of course it is. The old man’s face is going to get all swollen with another good slapping. Don’t you know how your grandfather kept cursing Jing Yun, saying that he’s a dog to our family? How much longer do you need?”


  “Around two days.”


  “Alright, I’ll try to hold things together until then. Come back as soon as you can.”


  Even if he achieved nothing, Jing Yun’s contribution alone was worth remembering after he spent so many years working for the Sheng family. But did anyone in the family remember that? They only acted as if it was natural, not to mention that the only one whose kindness Jing Yun actually needed to repay was only Fourth Sister. Did they have anything to with it?

  Moreover, he had worked for the Sheng family ever since he was young. True, they had afforded him the opportunity, but he had also proven his ability through his results—and yet the old man belittled him.

  A dog?

  If he really was one, he would be far better than the lotus-eaters in the Sheng family.

  “Thanks, Mom.”


  “There’s something else. Do you know that your grandfather blamed all your rebellious act as well as what’s between Jing Yun and Fourth Sister all on Qiqi?”


  Sheng Xiao said nothing, but the flames in his eyes had become exceedingly sharp. “The old man would soon go out of control and try something. There’s no telling what he would try this time.”


  “What I’m saying is you should leave the Sheng family and marry into the Shen family. I won’t interfere no matter how you do it, as long as there’s no need to stay in this place where you can’t even breathe.”


  “Mom, I’m prepared for anything. Relax.” Sheng Xiao replied. “Sorry for troubling you.”


  “What’s with the troubling? I’ve already lived most of my life, and it’s not like I can’t survive without the Sheng family. Anyway, I’ll stop rambling. Do what you have to and come back as soon as you can.”


  Sheng Xiao hung up and turned to Mu Qiqi. “Did you hear? Your ‘grandmother[1]’ is asking me to marry into your family.”


  “Huh?” Mu Qiqi did a double take. “You will? If you are, the Shen family naturally welcomes you with open arms.”


  “Little one.” Sheng Xiao pinched her nose and then buried himself into his work.

  Naturally, he was also completely aware that the old man has terminated all of Jing Yun’s duties.

  ***

  The next day.

  The Xu couple brought Xu Yihong to the hotel as a formal greeting between Jing Yun and his so-called eldest brother.

  Sheng Xiao didn’t show up, and was staying with Mu Qiqi in their room, while Sheng Minglan was at Jing Yun’s side as the family had a meal at an elegant diner.

  Xu Yihong was sitting beside his father as he studied his youngest brother opposite him.

  To think that the young man who appeared to be more than what meets the eye was his younger brother.

  He was completely different from the impostor before. With that composure uncharacteristic a youth of his age, he should have some vitality to him.

  “Yifeng, the matter of the impostor was my fault… I didn’t take your feelings into account, and let me apologize here.”


  “Your brother did it for my illness.” Mama Xu quickly explained in his stead.

  “I’m not really offended.” Jing Yun replied.

  “Then… how was your life outside after all these years? We’ve looked very hard but we just couldn’t find you.”


  It was a trick question, and Jing Yun knew it.

  Nonetheless, he answered truthfully and casually. “The Sheng family saved me. I’ve been living well with them.”


  [1] 婆婆 could mean grandmother or mother-in-law but in this case we’re assuming he’s saying grandmother (she kinda is since Sheng Xiao is her ‘uncle’)