The truth was that Sheng Xiao had to do more than pick a new assistant. He needed someone who could shoulder the heavy burden of managing Huang Yao—his own father might have moves, but he ultimately lacked in charisma.

  As for the rest of the Sheng family, the really competent ones were the third and fifth Sheng brothers. The other uncles work for their own profit and did not consider Huang Yao a family concern.

  Moreover, there was also the cause where they had gotten used to being pushed around by Grandpa Sheng.

  Still, what Sheng Xiao really had in mind was to meet Shen Jianchuan—his father-in-law.

  After all, he was planning his escape with his little one.

  ***

  It was the middle of a harsh winter, and nighttime at Jianchuan was freezing.

  Grandpa Sheng, however, had been sitting stiffly in his study, never stepping out the door for an entire day.

  He remembered the incident Jing Yun and felt embarrassed. Why did he have to be a child of the Xu family?

  More frighteningly, the thought of having to change his behavior and treat Jing Yun with respect if Jing Yun would come by his house in the future was utterly humiliating—especially after the insults he had thrown at him.

  The old man sighed. That was when he received a call from the Gu family, who suggested they meet and further discuss the matter between Sheng Xiao and their young lady.

  The old man nodded, sensing that he could not afford to wait on that matter.

  Or there would be no stopping Sheng Xiao’s overweening attitude…


  “This weekend it is. We’ll plan things out in detail when the time comes.”


  The other end agreed to his suggestion and hung up.

  Once Miss Gu agreed to marry into the Sheng family, the old man would just have to find some excuse to let her visit his house and familiarize herself with the surroundings here.

  ***

  Next morning.

  Mu Qiqi sought out her tutor early in the day and went out with the forensic squad. It was said that the squad had found a corpse in terrible condition, and they were supposed to perform a post-mortem to determine the john doe’s identity and time of death.

  Although she had seen several corpses, those occasions were within Mu Qiqi’s limit of tolerance.

  This case, however, was a ‘giantized’ corpse, meaning that the decomposition rate was high and the body was bloating like a giant. Naturally, it was utterly disgusting to just imagine the corpse’s bulging eyeballs squeezing its way out of the face…


  Not to mention the level of rot—anyone seeing it once would vomit non-stop.

  Indeed, despite Mu Qiqi’s usual level-headedness, she was sprawled over a nearby lake and vomiting after she saw what had happened…


  Her upperclassmen had already puked a few times themselves and were rubbing each other backs.

  “Look at you, a rich young wife in your own right,” one of them said. “What could have left you so depressed you would suffer with us like this?”


  Nonetheless, Mu Qiqi tried to muster herself.

  But it took just another look at the corpse for her to spill her guts out meekly…


  The tutor grinned when he saw that. “And here I was thinking you would be tough as nails when I saw how calm you were before. I didn’t expect this…”


  “It’s fine. I’ll be alright after just a few rounds of puking.” Mu Qiqi replied, rinsing her mouth and wiping it before returning to the group and listen to the forensic analysis.

  Fortunately, it was less terrible when she turned her eyes to the official.

  Be that as it may, her repeated puking left her with a bad complexion.

  She wondered how Sheng Xiao would react if he saw her like this.

  ***

  Sheng Xiao did not actually go to work punctually at Huang Yao in that same morning, just as he did not have Mu Qiqi accompany him.

  He went out to visit the Shen family on his own.

  Huang Yu assumed that he had gotten into an argument with Mu Qiqi when she saw him, and was about to rush off to find Grandpa Shen when Sheng Xiao stopped her. “Qi’er is the one bullying me all the time,” he explained. “And was there a moment when I don’t spoil her?”


  “Well, it’s hard to say with you.” Wang Yu was not to be duped—how smart is Sheng Xiao, after all? Is there a person in Jianchuan who wouldn’t know?

  Sheng Xiao grinned, before going off to Grandpa Shen’s fish pond. It turned out that he wasn’t there since he had left to meet his comrades, and Sheng Xiao only managed to get Shen Jianchuan.

  “Looking for Grandpa?”


  “For you, actually.” Sheng Xiao replied, leaning on a pillar of the garden shed. “I have decided that I have no reason to refuse your previous offer.”


  “Are you sure about giving up on being the Crown Prince?” Shen Jianchuan asked in return—even if he knew all along that Huang Yao was not a cage that could hold Sheng Xiao, what with that personality of his.

  “I just want an unsullied future with Qi’er.” Sheng Xiao answered, his eyes fixed on the other man. “But I would have to prepare first, and Huang Yao would need some closures.”


  “If your grandfather knew that you are leaving to be your own man, and with me at that… do you think he would have a heart-attack?”


  “Less cynicism please, Father-in-law.” Sheng Xiao said, ending that particular conversation.

  “I have some information with me you should look through. It’s a summary of our family’s gathered connections positions. Actually, the basis of your specialty very much fits this line of work, and incidentally there are two military industries on the outskirts of Jianchuan that are about to go bankrupt. Acquiring them should not be a problem.”


  Sheng Xiao was quite interested.

  “Intend to find out my ability to seal partnership deals?”


  Shen Jianchuan shrugged. “More like tying up loose ends. We can’t let the old man hate our Qiqi.”


  “That depends on him.”


  Sheng Xiao’s meaning did not really need explanation: if Grandpa Sheng would control himself, Sheng Xiao would try his best to bring Huang Yao up to the next level before leaving it to the Sheng family.

  But if the old man would escalate things… well, even the gods had limits to their patience.

  “Don’t let Xiao Qi know about this matter. She’s soft, and would easily feel guilty towards the old man.”


  “I will make the appropriate arrangements.”


  Shen Jianchuan assuredly had nothing to worry about with Sheng Xiao’s ability.

  In fact, one would have to fear that their collaboration would perhaps start another storm.

  Sheng Xiao planned to balance his roles anyway. He definitely would not let anyone know that he was up to something with Shen Jianchuan.

  He only knew too well that he had to climb higher for Qi’er to be freer…


  In the end, the two men wanted nothing more than to protect the most important person in their lives.

  ***

  Afternoon at Xu Manor.

  While Sheng Minglan was having a nap in the afternoon, Mama Xu pulled Jing Yun aside and said, “Since you’re living with Minglan now, you should seal the deal early and prevent unnecessary gossip. You could do it during the announcement of your status, but you would have to ask for her hand from the Sheng family before that.”


  “I know, Mom.”


  “I’ve prepared the right gift for you, and bring some people with you when you go. Don’t sell yourself short as a young master of the Xu family.”


  In truth, Mama Xu was fearful that Jing Yun would be bullied at the Sheng family again.

  Nonetheless, Jing Yun answered, “What a coincidence. I have something to settle with the Sheng family.”


  “Just don’t be too excessive for Minglan’s sake. You need to understand certain boundaries.”


  Jing Yun nodded in response.

  Moreover, he would have to visit Jing Ting at least once to hand over issues that should be passed on.

  Meanwhile, Xu Yihong was quietly observing his youngest brother and mother.

  Sometimes, he thought that he wouldn’t have to work against Jing Yun if there was a way to keep him from remembering anything.

  What a shame…