Did he win?
The shamelessness of adults lies in their tendency to shirk responsibility.
This entire mess was Xie San’s fault from start to finish. Xie Qian only proposed going to Rongcheng to protect his mother, Zou Weijun.
If possible, Xie Qian wanted his parents to divorce cleanly. If the Xie family agreed to that, he would consider it a true victory.
The problem was, the Xie family didn’t agree, and Xie Qian lacked the power to force the outcome he wanted. He had to compromise and retreat. In terms of winning or losing, Xie Qian saw himself as the loser.
Yet Xie San claimed he had won, believing Xie Qian had played a cunning game, using “divorce” as leverage to force Grandma Xie to take his side and Xie Yuping to make the call, sending Xie San’s two illegitimate children abroad. Without the Xie family’s permission, they couldn’t return. Xie San’s authority as a father was challenged by his teenage son. Though he sent them away, he couldn’t resist the urge to discipline Xie Qian.
A father teaching his son—wasn’t that only natural?
Xie San knew Xie Qian’s temperament and deliberately said these things to wound him mentally. With Xie Qian’s pride, he would likely retort, giving Xie San an excuse to cut him off financially.
Xie San was too hasty, so hasty that Xie Qian saw through him in an instant.
—Were the mother and children abroad in such a rush?
Unfortunately, his father was bound to be disappointed.
No matter how angry Xie Qian was, he wouldn’t play into Xie San’s hands. He could forsake the vast family fortune. Growing up, he never lacked money and had little desire for material pleasures. If he needed money, Xie Qian believed he could earn it himself in the future.
He wouldn’t say he’d abandon the inheritance, though, because by law, half the family assets belonged to his mother, Zou Weijun.
Xie Qian could give up his father’s share but wasn’t foolish enough to let the portion belonging to his mother fall into another woman’s hands. His friendship with Wen Ying had influenced him, and he couldn’t help but wonder what Wen Ying would do in the same situation.
Wen Ying never let her opponents get what they wanted or allowed them to seize the initiative. She dragged them into her domain, leaving them bewildered.
Whatever Xie San wanted to hear, Xie Qian refused to say, ensuring Xie San would be infuriated.
Xie Qian shifted his gaze from the narcissus plant, finally giving Xie San a look.
“If you don’t want to provide for me, then don’t. Why do people call me Young Master Xie? Besides your wealth, it’s probably also due to the influence of Uncle, Second Uncle, and Little Uncle. Grandma always says the Xie family rises and falls together. Whether I’m well-received outside likely stems from the family’s overall prosperity. You might be overestimating your own role.”
The title “Young Master Xie” held no appeal for Xie Qian.
But he knew how to speak in a way that would annoy his father while delighting his uncle, Xie Yuping. He didn’t hold back.
As expected, Xie San’s face darkened further, while Xie Yuping’s furrowed brow relaxed. His gaze toward Xie Qian softened, but when he turned to Xie San, it was full of reproach.
“You’re a grown man, yet less sensible than your son. If you keep spouting nonsense, don’t show your face here again.”
Xie Yuping held absolute authority in the Xie family, undeniable even by Grandma Xie.
A widow in her youth, Grandma Xie was a strong woman. Raising four sons alone, she threw herself into her career. When she couldn’t manage the family, Xie Yuping took charge of his three younger brothers, including Xie San.
“Eldest brother is like a father” wasn’t just a saying. Xie Yuping’s authority over Xie San was built over years. Despite Xie San’s wealth, he didn’t dare defy Xie Yuping.
With Xie Yuping clearly siding with Xie Qian, Xie San felt stifled but tried to justify himself.
“Big Brother, it’s for his own good. He’s young, untested. People flatter him now, but if one day no one does—”
Xie Yuping cut him off. “Unless I’m dead.”
“What?”
“Didn’t hear me? I said, unless I’m dead, I’ll ensure people keep flattering Xie Qian.”
Xie Yuping’s tone was calm yet carried an undeniable dominance. “Even if I die, your second brother and youngest brother are still here. If all three of us are gone and the Xie family collapses, no one will call him ‘Young Master Xie’ anymore. Whether you’re here or not doesn’t change how much we care for Xie Qian. He’s Xie Yuping’s nephew.”
Xie San was left speechless, choked by Xie Yuping’s words.
Xie Yuping’s bias was blatant—there was no continuing this conversation!
Xie San had come in a fury to confront Xie Qian, only to be sent packing by Xie Yuping’s few words.
After Xie San left, Xie Qian stood and bowed deeply to Xie Yuping.
Xie Yuping sighed. “Xie Qian, I’m ashamed. I can control your father’s actions, but not his heart.”
Xie San’s heart was no longer with his wife, Zou Weijun, or his son, Xie Qian.
Could anyone expect a man whose heart had strayed to suddenly see the light?
Xie Yuping now questioned whether preventing Xie San and Zou Weijun’s divorce was wise. But if they divorced, could Zou Weijun truly recover from the trauma?
Decisive in business, Xie Yuping hesitated in family matters.
Feeling he had let Xie Qian down, he asked if Xie Qian had any other requests.
Xie Qian did have one: when he and his mother were in Rongcheng, he wanted his father to stay away from them.
Since divorce wasn’t an option, this was the next best thing—a de facto separation.
Without Xie San’s outburst tonight, Xie Yuping might have hesitated. But after this fiasco, he agreed readily.
In Xie San’s current state, visiting Xie Qian and Zou Weijun in Rongcheng would only aggravate Zou Weijun’s condition. Xie Yuping had to assert his authority as family head to restrain Xie San.
When Xie Qian left Xie Yuping’s house, his steps were light.
He was heading to Rongcheng.
Though things hadn’t turned out perfectly, he had secured breathing room for himself and his mother.
Rongcheng was a good place. No one would call him “Young Master Xie” there, and there’d be no “Mrs. Xie San.” The new environment would ease his mother’s mental strain.
Xie Qian pulled out his phone. Wen Ying’s reply was “Mutual congratulations.” He felt an urge to share his joy with her, his fingers dancing over the keyboard.
“What gift do you want?”
“???”
Wen Ying sent back three question marks instantly.
Xie Qian chose his words carefully.
“You passed the entrance exam. Shouldn’t we celebrate? Maybe even Teacher Liang will get you a gift.”
Teacher Liang was grateful Wen Ying, the former underachiever, hadn’t tarnished his reputation.
This time, Wen Ying replied with an ellipsis. Xie Qian’s lips curved upward.
“I’m serious. Think about what gift you want and let me know.”
Miles away in Rongcheng, Wen Ying lay on the sofa, reading Xie Qian’s message three times. She buried her face in a pillow, rolling back and forth.
I want you to transfer here soon.
—Replying like that would make Xie Qian think she’d lost her mind, wouldn’t it?
