Mu Qiqi made her way to Sheng Minglan. The sisters then shared a glance, although Sheng Minglan was still quite worried. “Why don’t you go with him? There’s no telling how much Eighth Brother would anger Grandpa with that temper of his.”


  “Fourth Sister, it’s not like you don’t know how much the old man hates me. It would be a surprise if he didn’t black out if I went with Sheng Xiao.” Mu Qiqi shrugged.

  Sheng Minglan giggled at that. “That’s true… After Eighth Brother left the Sheng family, Grandpa might hate you enough to tear you from limb to limb.”


  “You don’t actually have to be so worried. The old man would not allow any surprise to happen to him before getting what he wants.”


  “Do you blame him for it, Qiqi?”


  “That doesn’t matter. He simply has his own stance.”


  After all, Mu Qiqi would not make the effort to remember a person who hated her every second.

  Wouldn’t that only be making life difficult for himself?

  Mu Qiqi then looked at the guests around them, her gaze finally reaching Xu Yihong. “I think you should focus on that man today.”


  After all, Mu Qiqi would never believe that Xu Yihong would miss a chance to try something against Jing Yun, especially at such a stage.

  Of course, once he makes a move, Jing Yun would reveal the evidence he had on hand as well. When that happened, would it not be obvious who would lose more than what they could gain?

  ***

  Meanwhile, Sheng Xiao had reached the garden of the Xu Manor, and found the old man beneath a tree, leaning on his crutch.

  On his elderly but kindly appearance alone, anyone would not be able to resist getting close to him.

  But who could have known that a man with such a space could be so stubborn?

  Sheng Xiao slowly walked up behind him and said, “Say if you have anything to say.”


  The old man promptly wheeled on him to glare at him, his crutch almost landing on Sheng Xiao’s body. “Are you just going to dump Huang Yao over one woman? You could have just asked for whatever you could want. Are you only satisfied if you caused so much trouble every single time?”


  “Are you threatening me? Huang Yao is yours when I’m older. You are ruining your own future!”


  Sheng Xiao listened on, walking up to the tree and leaning on it while showing a small smile. “This again. Can’t you try something new?”


  “If you didn’t pretend as if you’re leaving Huang Yao, you wouldn’t have to listen to my scolding.”


  “Old man, do you still think leaving Huang Yao is still me joking around with you?” Sheng Xiao’s eyes suddenly sharpened as he stared at the old man seriously.

  “What, are you not forcing me to compromise?” The old man sneered. “All you want is for me to acknowledge Mu Qiqi. You would only be happy when I surrender.”


  “Grandfather…” Sheng Xiao called out with rare solemnness. “I want to be with Qi’er, but that does not mean I have to get you to compromise with us. It could easily be done once I leave the Sheng family, so why would I go through so much trouble and torment myself?”


  “Quit with that act. You, giving up on the Sheng family’s wealth and position?”


  “My wealth and position are not given to me by the Sheng family. You should be clear why everyone else calls me Crown Prince—it’s not because of the Sheng family, but because I never lose against anyone.” Sheng Xiao said confidently. “That is why even if I’m not with the Sheng family, I could build another Huang Yao by relying on my own ability. So why should I have to bend to your control?”


  Old Sheng: “…”


  “What is there for me to miss about Huang Yao, or even the Sheng family?”


  “And since you like the young lady of the Gu family so much, you could just marry her yourself as your mistress. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”


  “You knew?” Old Sheng’s eyes widened at Sheng Xiao.

  “Did you think your every move could be kept secret from me?” With that, Sheng Xiao stood upright. “Keep lording over the Sheng family and meddle with your grandchildren. But I would never be a part of that.”


  “That’s the last time I’m telling you that. Just consider that I’m dead from now on.”


  With that, Sheng Xiao moved, ready to leave when the old man spoke out to stop him. “The Sheng family has raised you. What right do you have to choose? Huang Yao and the Sheng family is your responsibility. You would never escape.”


  “Don’t you want Mu Qiqi?”


  “Okay. After you marry the Gu family’s young lady, have Mu Qiqi as your mistress. I can turn a blind eye at that.”


  “You take back what you’ve just said, and I would still have some respect for you.” Sheng Xiao’s voice turned ice-cold. “Don’t forget that Huang Yao would not have done so well now if not for me.”


  “I can agree to any condition, except you being with Mu Qiqi.”


  “You could give me ten Huang Yao but even that would never compare to Mu Qiqi.”


  With that, Sheng Xiao left the tree shade, leaving Old Sheng fuming.

  Second Brother came then and asked him, “What is it, Grandpa?”


  “That brat insist on having me accept Mu Qiqi.”


  In the end, Old Sheng believed that the main problem between him and Sheng Xiao was Mu Qiqi.

  “Then…”


  “Let’s go.” The old man said, unwilling to admit defeat. “Talk to Huang Yao’s partners and sever all connections to him. I will see who would be his friend without Huang Yao’s protection.”


  Be that as it may, Second Brother knew that Sheng Xiao would not be Sheng Xiao if he was afraid of something like that.

  “Grandpa, be careful of your health.”


  “Really, it’s like I owed him from the last life…”


  ***

  Sheng Xiao returned to the guest hall, with Mu Qiqi turning around to watch her man.

  Worried, Sheng Minglan approached them. “Have you talked to Grandpa?”


  Sheng Xiao looked away to take a glass of champagne from one of the attendants before grinning. “He still can’t accept the reality that I’ve left Huang Yao.”


  “Are you really not going back?”


  Sheng Xiao did not answer her, and put one hand over Mu Qiqi’s shoulder instead.

  “But what would you do if you leave the Sheng family? Don’t you have to protect Qiqi?”


  Perhaps, even the old man was convinced that he had nothing to rely on and could not do a thing after leaving Huang Yao?

  That was why the old man insisted on believing that Sheng Xiao would never give up on Huang Yao, with so much just at his fingertips…


  All he was doing was throw a tantrum.

  But that was fine. Let the old man think what he wants—he would only realize that there was no going back when Zhongteng goes public.

  “Just pretend that I have nothing now.”


  Looking away to the other guests, one would find that all of them were flattering Sheng Xiao and Jing Yun for being young and capable, which was why Xu Yihong was definitely feeling a lethal threat.

  But he was smart enough to not do anything in such a scene. Wouldn’t he lose more than what he could gain if he was exposed?