“Second Brother, you’ll take over Huang Yao for now since Eight Brother had picked you as Deputy CEO.” Old Sheng said.

  “Let me try talking to him, Grandpa. Perhaps he would see me after all.” Second Brother suggested to the old man. “I might not be able to bring him back, but I would at least know whether there is turning back for what he’s doing.”


  “It’s the same even if you go.” The old man said tiredly. “Tomorrow is the Xu family’s reunion event—he would definitely be there. Anything else could wait until then.”


  Worried, Second Brother stayed behind the old man. “Grandpa…”


  “I did what I did so that he would have a better wife. How am I wrong?”


  “…”


  Second Brother was unable to critique the old man’s action, although he fully understood Sheng Xiao’s retaliation.

  ***

  Huang Yao was now a mess. At the same time, gossip magazines were not sparing the Sheng family and persistently jumped at any latest news.

  And when Old Shen saw how things ended up over there, he finally felt he had gotten back at them.

  Despising his granddaughter? Really?

  At dinner, Old Shen even sneaked Sheng Xiao several glances, eventually saying, “Your grandfather had come looking for you…”


  “I had a hunch. I could also tell that you didn’t let him in, Grandpa.”


  “How’d you know?”


  “Didn’t security become tighter around her?” Sheng Xiao answered as if it was naturally. “Do you feel like you had gotten even?”


  “Humph.” Old Shen snorted.

  “I’m returning to Jing Ting with Qi’er tonight. We’ll be present at Jing Yun’s reunion event tomorrow, and the old man would naturally come looking for me.”


  “Don’t forget your promise.”


  “I’ve bet everything I have on my dear father-in-law. What else could I do?” Sheng Xiao laughed. “Since I have decided to leave Huang Yao, I am definitely not turning back, although now’s not the time to announce the founding of our new company yet. When the time is right, I would have all of the Sheng family know that I’m never going back.”


  “Aren’t you afraid of giving your grandfather a heart attack?”


  “He had better choices.”


  Despite his single line, Sheng Xiao knew very well that Old Sheng would never let him leave so easily. This time, however, Sheng Xiao is never returning to the Sheng family’s house for even half a step.

  And for Old Shen, he was naturally feeling comfortable after he got even against the Sheng family.

  “I’ll leave you youngsters to your own devices.”


  Later, Sheng Xiao left the Shen’s house with Mu Qiqi, since Old Sheng would never expect him to return to Jing Ting now. Mama Sheng was the one who arranged and paid for the residence, which was why Sheng Xiao was comfortable staying there.

  “Your grandfather almost abducted me at the gates outside the forensic team’s building.” Mu Qiqi told him as he carried her up to their bedroom.

  “That’s why I had Xu Che tailing you.”


  “Where did he come from? I saw him in action today—the other guys actually lost their teeth.”


  “Retired special forces.” Sheng Xiao replied, watching her little cheeks.

  “Oh, no wonder.”


  The man had really arranged for everything.

  Carrying her into the bedroom, Sheng Xi then put her in the bathtub and let her soak in hot water before joining her in there.

  Watching as he leisurely closed his eyes, Mu Qiqi leaned into him and gave him a kiss. “What do you have in mind for the reunion event tomorrow? Your grandfather definitely would be there.”


  “Different situations call for different reactions.” Sheng Xiao replied with a vague smile. “Instead of worrying about me and tomorrow, you should be worrying about what would happen to you right now…”


  He caught Mu Qiqi’s chin right then and assaulted her with a fierce kiss.

  Before she could react, she was already pinned beneath him.

  “We’ve not tried it underwater. Should we?”


  Gasping, Mu Qiqi knew that she had lost all initiate—asking whether they ‘should’ be really the man’s deliberate teasing.

  “Would you stop if I say no?”


  In that split second, Sheng Xiao’s smile became devilish and he whispered into her ear, “Well, my answer would be ‘just the tip!’”


  ***

  While Sheng Xiao was having a lively time, the Sheng family was an utter mess.

  Huang Yao would soon lose control over the stockholders, let alone their partners.

  Sixth Brother certainly couldn’t match Second Brother in competence, but the foundation they stood upon was unstable and could not win the trust of their stockholders or partners.

  “Why did I trust a bastard who would throw something so good as Huang Yao at a moment’s notice?!” Old Sheng ranted. “What more does he want? The CEO of Huang Yao holds more stocks than anyone else, doesn’t that satisfy him?”


  “Grandpa, you know very well what he wants.” Second Brother told the old man.

  “No way!”


  After all, it took the old man great pains to free himself from Mu Qiqi. He was certainly not going to bend himself over to have him back.

  “Second Brother, it would be hard on you now. Hold Huang Yao together first and foremost—don’t worry about how Eighth Brother used to do things. Just do anything you can.”


  “I’ll do my best, Grandpa.”


  Even so, there was only one Sheng Xiao in this world, and only those who witnessed his wonders would understand one thing: no matter how outstandingly competent Second Brother would be, he was just a face in the crowd when compared to geniuses like Sheng Xiao, and was at best an excelling management personnel.

  “Oh, Eighth Brother, Eighth Brother… Are you so sure I would surrender?”


  After all, the old man was sure that Sheng Xiao was just trying to get out of their stalemate even now. He had played this same trick last time, and the old man would therefore never be intimidated, even betting larger this time around.

  “We’ll see who would last this time.”


  The old man was intent on waiting until Sheng Xiao understood that this time, he would not compromise.

  He just did not know that all he managed to wait for was Sheng Xiao’s announcing that he had founded a new company.

  As such, he would naturally show up at the Xu family’s reunion event with Second Brother in tow.

  At the very least, he would talk to that bastard before fighting.

  ***

  Over recent years, Sheng Xiao had asked for nothing from the Sheng family, and would manage Huang Yao well no matter how they would treat him.

  And yet, the old man still couldn’t tolerate Mu Qiqi.

  In fact, the entire family had been under the protection of Sheng Xiao’s competence, but none of them were grateful.

  Despite the vastness of their conglomerate and family business, how many in the family had really accomplished anything with Huang Yao?

  In that respect, Second Brother empathized with Sheng Xiao most.

  All the others could see was how Sheng Xiao had enjoyed the privilege of being the Crown Prince and the respect of all of Jianchuan, unaware of his diligence behind the scenes and the responsibilities he shouldered in their stead.

  Therefore, Second Brother knew very well that regardless of whether the old man could meet Sheng Xiao tomorrow, Sheng Xiao was never returning to the Sheng family.

  Never.