Wen Ying and Xie Qian were both concerned about whether Chen Tongfu was single. Xie Qian was unsure if Zou Weijun was truly ready to enter a new relationship.
The young couple were both thinking only of Zou Weijun’s wellbeing.
Neither of them spared a thought for practical considerations. Chen Tongfu had made an excellent first impression on Wen Ying. She found him emotionally stable, a very suitable person to date.
Xie Qian likewise gave no thought to money or property. Money could be earned. His mother Zou Weijun’s happiness was far more important.
Xie Jinghu viewed things from a far more worldly perspective than the young couple.
That Mr Yi, though venomously sharp-tongued and thoroughly irritating, was at least strikingly impressive in appearance.
Xie Jinghu did not know Mr Yi’s background, but the man clearly had money. If his ex-wife Zou Weijun were pursued by such a man, Xie Jinghu would not lose face.
Compared to Mr Yi, Chen Tongfu fell far short.
The man was indeed expert in finance. While working at Jinhu, he had kept such close watch on Xie Jinghu that for a long time Xie Jinghu dared not transfer any more money to Sara Zhuo. It was ironic, really. Back then, Xie Jinghu had schemed every way to secretly send money to Sara Zhuo. Now he was preparing to sue to recover the money he had spent on her.
In the current situation, Chen Tongfu’s prevention of further transfers to Sara Zhuo had actually saved Xie Jinghu from greater losses. Xie Jinghu ought to be grateful.
Xie Jinghu naturally possessed no such magnanimity.
What was Chen Tongfu anyway?
Before joining Jinhu, he had been deputy financial director at some listed company. To ordinary people, such a position was impressive. To Xie Jinghu, it was merely a wage slave.
What kind of world was this, where even a wage slave dared aspire to his former boss’s wife?
Belittling his rival brought Xie Jinghu no joy, only greater pain.
Zou Weijun would rather be close to a mere employee than spare Xie Jinghu a glance. It gave Xie Jinghu the illusion that he was inferior to a wage slave.
He had not even confirmed whether Zou Weijun and Chen Tongfu were actually in that kind of relationship, yet Xie Jinghu was already tormenting himself terribly.
Xie Jinghu desperately needed someone to share this pressure.
His gaze fell on Wen Ying.
To that end, Xie Jinghu stooped to personally visiting Zendai University to find her.
Wen Ying truly did not wish to meet Xie Jinghu.
Unfortunately, the scumbag not only habitually acted unilaterally, but also bore a strong resemblance to Xie Qian. If he lingered too long at the campus gate, students would gossip.
Well, Wen Ying did not care about her own reputation, but she cared very much about whether Xie Qian had face.
She did not want to hear classmates discussing discord between Xie Qian and his scumbag father.
For this reason alone, Wen Ying went to meet Xie Jinghu.
Xie Jinghu clearly had a favour to ask, yet he put on an enormous airs, speaking to Wen Ying in the most roundabout way.
Wen Ying grew weary listening. “Uncle Xie, if you have something to say, please say it directly. I have class this afternoon.”
Xie Jinghu choked.
Why had the ancients prized subtlety? Because some things simply could not be stated too plainly.
Yet he had spoken subtly, and this girl had not understood?
Xie Jinghu thought to himself: As expected of someone from a small place. Limited experience of the world. Though she had gained fame through writing, her sophistication was lacking.
“Little Wen, you need to understand which side you are on. We will be family in future.”
Xie Jinghu simply laid it out. “Earlier, Zhao Dong warned me that your relationship with Xie Qian was unusual and tried to incite me against you. Yet have you ever seen me make things difficult for you? You are an outstanding young woman, exceptional among your peers. I admire you greatly. More importantly, Xie Qian likes you, so naturally I extend that affection to you. Thus Zhao Dong’s provocation was doomed to fail.”
Wen Ying listened as if it were gibberish.
Extend affection?
Ridiculous. When had the scumbag Xie ever shown affection to Xie Qian?
The moment Xie Jinghu mentioned Xie Qian, Wen Ying could not help recalling the many wrongs Xie Qian had suffered in the past. She lost all patience for pretending civility with the scumbag.
“Uncle Xie, I completely understand your feelings. That villain Zhao Dong did not only sow discord between us in front of you. He spoke no good of you in front of Xie Qian either. Naturally, in front of me his behaviour was even worse. In Zhao Dong’s mouth, you were a man with no sense of responsibility towards family, unkind to your son, harsh to your wife, a scu… Fortunately, I never believed Zhao Dong’s provocations. Uncle Xie, I have always been very clear about my allegiance. Whoever is good to Xie Qian, I am good to them.”
The scumbag Xie Jinghu wanted to use Wen Ying to pry into his ex-wife Zou Weijun’s romantic situation. Wen Ying refused to let him succeed.
Even if she knew something, why on earth would she tell the scumbag Xie?
Xie Jinghu dangled the bait of “we will be family in future,” trying to instil in Wen Ying the notion that they shared common interests. It only filled her with revulsion.
Xie Qian had already received what he was entitled to. Whatever shares Xie Jinghu held, he could give to whomever he pleased.
Xie Qian did not want them. Wen Ying certainly would not covet them.
What nonsense about a community of interest.
To make Wen Ying bow her head to Xie Jinghu for money, she would rather endure ten lifetimes of poverty.
Wen Ying made it plain she would not help. Xie Jinghu was furious: not only lacking sophistication, but utterly ill-mannered. How could she speak to an elder with such sarcasm?
Wen Ying was like a slippery eel. While Xie Jinghu fumed, she slipped away.
“You wait—”
Xie Jinghu was about to call her when a familiar figure appeared in his sight.
“Xie Tang?”
Xie Jinghu’s eyes lit up.
He had nearly forgotten, seeing Xie Tang so rarely. Not only was Xie Tang studying postgraduate in Modu, but she also had a good relationship with Zou Weijun.
Since Wen Ying refused to help, Xie Tang surely would. She was truly “family.”
Xie Tang was speaking with her senior brother Jiang Wei when Xie Jinghu suddenly called her name. Turning, she saw the detested third uncle and inwardly groaned.
“Senior brother, you go ahead. I will speak a few words with my third uncle.”
Campus forums claimed Jiang Wei and Xie Tang were dating, but their relationship had not yet reached that stage.
Xie Tang did not care what outsiders said. Jiang Wei felt the same. Neither bothered to explain to the gossiping masses.
Yet being in the same research group, coming and going together daily, they had indeed developed mutual affection.
Xie Tang felt a headache at the sight of Xie Jinghu. She did not wish to drag Jiang Wei into trouble. Jiang Wei was equally tactful, knowing their relationship was not yet at that point. He would not make things difficult for her. “Alright, I will wait for you at Professor’s house.”
Xie Tang parted from Jiang Wei and walked towards Xie Jinghu with heavy steps.
“Third uncle, have you come to see Xie Qian?”
Xie Jinghu shook his head. “I came to find you. Have you been in touch with your third aunt recently?”
Xie Tang was instantly wary. “I have been very busy at school lately. I have had no time to contact Auntie Zou.”
Xie Tang deliberately avoided the term “third aunt,” hoping Xie Jinghu would come to his senses.
You are divorced, you know?
Xie Jinghu frowned. “Busy or not, you should find time to show concern for your third aunt. She was very good to you all in the past…”
Precisely because Zou Weijun had been good to Xie Tang, Xie Tang refused to wrong her further. Hearing Xie Jinghu’s request, Xie Tang could only conclude he had lost his mind.
“Third uncle, have you discussed this matter with my father?”
