“What do you mean, Grandpa?” Sheng Xiao answered Grandpa Sheng’s question with a question. “It’s only noon and you’re already frustrated.”
“Let me ask you then: Where’s Jing Yun?”
“On a business trip.”
“What about your Fourth Sister?”
“How should I know? Maybe she’s on a business trip too, who knows,” Sheng Xiao replied cynically. “Did you tell me to come back just to ask where they are?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s going on between them. I’ve even asked around at your Fourth Sister’s company—they are together now!” The old man growled, thumping his crutch on the floor. “That’s your own sister, Sheng Xiao. You would actually let her mingle with your assistant? Don’t you know the difference between their status?”
“But why are you taking it out on me? And do the people at their company have evidence? Jing Yun and Fourth Sister are usually close anyway since she saved him, and it was clear there is nothing between them after so many years. They would have been together long ago if they had feelings for each other, so why now?”
“I’m not talking about that. I just want to know where your Fourth Sister is—I’m not permitting her to stay away from our house when she returns, let alone be with some good-for-nothing.”
Sheng Xiao and Mu Qiqi shared a glance but said nothing.
And what could the old man do to them anyway? Neither Jing Yun nor Sheng Minglan were at Jianchuan at the moment.
“I’m asking you now. Where is your Fourth Sister?!”
The old man suddenly yelled at Sheng Xiao then. “A daughter of the Sheng family would never be an assistant’s wife, not even if your Fourth Sister cuts her wrists.”
“And that assistant of yours! That ingrate that bites the hand feeding him!”
Not bothered with the old man’s curses, Sheng Xiao led Mu Qiqi and left straightaway.
His untamable behavior was in fact what the old man hated the most, something which began since his younger years.
Not that the old man would care now—when Miss Gu eventually comes to the Sheng family, Sheng Xiao would have to marry her and have a few children, and by then he would have accomplished what his ancestors had entrusted him to do.
‘I’ll let you strut around for now. We’ll see if you can still smile when the time comes!’
***
Mu Qiqi couldn’t help being worried on the way home. “Xiao Xiao, what should we do? From how the old man is reacting, he would never allow them to be together.”
“Jing Yun would win…” Sheng Xiao handily stroke her hair to calm her.
Ever trusting in him, Mu Qiqi relaxed and nodded. “I can’t help being a little nervous when I saw how angry Grandpa was. I wonder how things are on Jing Yun’s end… Would you have allowed their relationship to be exposed if he wasn’t a member of the Xu family?”
“Them being exposed was just a matter of time. This has nothing to do with Jing Yun being a Xu, although him being one could strengthen his position.”
“How should we help them if he wasn’t a Xu?”
Sheng Xiao lowered his gaze at Mu Qiqi and couldn’t stifle a smile. “Help them escape, of course…”
“Eh?”
“You fool.” Sheng Xiao reprimanded tenderly.
There was no need for a direct confrontation against the old man anyway—all Jing Yun and Sheng Minglan had to do was go somewhere no one knew who they were, settle down and start having children.
What could the old man do to stop them when the Sheng family gets reshuffled anyway?
But of course, that would only be the last resort.
….
It was six in the evening.
The Xu couple had arrived at the hotel as agreed, meeting Sheng Minglan.
Both emanated grace and a noble elegance, since they were successful people in their own right.
Madam Xu was very slim but spirited, dressed in a qipao, and had an air of riches.
Papa Sheng on the other hand had the looks of an academic with his glasses and suit, and appeared to be the type who paid close attention to details.
Nonetheless, they were puzzled when they came face-to-face with Sheng Minglan.
“Miss Sheng, I’m afraid to say that there’s no path for partnership between our Xu Holdings and your company, Huang Yao. May I ask if…”
Sheng Minglan said nothing, but merely drew out the photo taken with Jing Yun when they were still children and put it in front of them.
The couple took it and were left stunned.
“Isn’t… Isn’t… Isn’t that our youngest son?”
“I found him almost freezing to death on a winter day back when I was still a child. That’s why I brought him home as a playmate for my younger brother.”
Meanwhile, the Xu couple were still staring at the photo, with Madam Xu promptly breaking into tears. “It’s my child… Dear, that’s our son…”
“But I’m sorry to say, Miss Sheng, we’ve already found our son two years ago,” Papa Xu said then. “We’ve even done DNA test, and he really is our son.”
“Sir, Madam. There’s no mistaking your son’s appearance as a child, is there? I’m convinced that you were lied to.” Sheng Minglan replied.
“Well, where is this child now?” Madam Xu asked.
“Just behind that door. Jing Yun…”
Sheng Minglan called out towards the door to a private room, and Jing Yun entered.
The Xu couple looked at him, with Madam Xu seeing his strong resemblance to her husband during his younger days.
That was why her eyes went red immediately.
“Son… My son.” Mama Xu promptly got to her feet and walked up to Jing Yun, clutching his arm as she studied him from head to toe, and became even more certain when she saw the red birthmark just beneath his earlobe. “This is our son, dear, there’s no mistaking it.”
“But the one back home…”
“That’s a simple matter, sir. You should take another DNA test but quietly, and you would definitely get your answer.” Sheng Minglan suggested.
Papa Xu nodded. He was actually willing to believe that Jing Yun was his son since he resembled his younger self too much.
“Why would you only come to us now, child?”
Unsure how to respond to his parents at once, Jing Yun replied stiffly, “I became sick when I was left at the streets of Jianchuan. Eventually Minglan found me and brought me home, and eventually I remembered nothing about my childhood.”
“I did lose you at the airport… but how did you make it to Jianchuan?”
Jing Yun shook his head. “I only remember the one who abandoned me telling me that I would never find the way home there, thousands of miles away from home.”
“Who could be so cruel to leave my son freezing in the cold…” Madam Xu sobbed. “My son… you’re my son… my poor son.”
Even Papa Xu couldn’t stop his own tears. “Your mother searched through entire cities to find you over the years, and tried to ask everywhere… we couldn’t have known that you were abandoned so far away…”
“It doesn’t matter now. You’re home.”
Jing Yun watched his parents—especially his kind mother, and couldn’t help stirring.
“Sorry…”
“Silly child, what are you being sorry for? We are the ones who should be sorry… we couldn’t protect you!” Embracing Jing Yun, Mama Xu wept.