Xie Yuping only recognised Xie Qian as his nephew.
These words were not meant to comfort Zou Weijun; Xie Yuping genuinely believed this.
What makes a family member? It’s not just about blood ties but also the bond built through time spent together. Xie Qian had grown up under Xie Yuping’s watchful eye. Sometimes, when Xie Jinghu was unreliable, Xie Yuping had to personally guide Xie Qian. For Xie Qian to become who he is today, it wasn’t just his innate intelligence but also Xie Yuping’s efforts.
Would he support Xie Qian, or the illegitimate children abroad?
Xie Yuping wasn’t senile!
Reiterating this in front of Zou Weijun was a promise, a clear statement of his stance. Zou Weijun wanted to divorce but was hesitant, knowing what kind of man Xie Jinghu was. Without her and Xie Qian in the picture, Xie Jinghu would become an unrestrained wild dog.
If they divorced, who could stop Xie Jinghu from making his mistress official?
Xie Yuping could intervene temporarily, but not forever.
Even if Xie Jinghu didn’t marry his mistress, he could still funnel large sums of money to her and their illegitimate children.
Xie Yuping wasn’t after Xie Jinghu’s personal wealth, but the thought of him giving it to his mistress and illegitimate children repulsed him.
The Xie family’s hard-earned reputation would be ruined!
Everyone would mock the Xie family.
People wouldn’t think Zou Weijun initiated the divorce and took her share of the assets. They’d believe Xie Jinghu’s mistress ousted her to take her place, and that the Xie family allowed it. Just imagining the public opinion made Xie Yuping’s head throb with tension.
To prevent the Xie family from becoming a laughingstock and to honour his conscience and moral compass, Xie Yuping would accept only one outcome: the marital assets of Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu must go to Xie Qian!
Once those assets were in Xie Qian’s hands, Zou Weijun could divorce freely.
Xie Yuping felt he hadn’t raised his younger brother well. Now, with a rare chance to teach Xie Jinghu a lesson, he would seize it.
When Xie Jinghu had nothing left, if his mistress abroad still stayed by his side, Xie Yuping would begrudgingly bless their “true love”!
Xie Yuping’s assurance was so resolute that Zou Weijun, far away in Rongcheng, held the phone with teary eyes. “Big brother, thank you! I’m not just thanking you for myself, but for Xie Qian. Having a morally flawed father is his misfortune, but having an uncle like you is his great fortune!”
Everyone loves kind words, especially when spoken with such sincerity as Zou Weijun’s.
Even the seasoned Xie Yuping felt a deep sense of responsibility hearing her words.
Xie Qian was such a good kid. If he didn’t help him, Xie Qian would truly be fighting alone!
They spoke a bit more, mainly about Zou Weijun’s work in Rongcheng. Second-hand information was no match for hearing it directly from her. Xie Yuping sincerely congratulated her on her achievements and encouraged her to keep pushing forward in her career.
Any woman with ambition should be encouraged, especially given Zou Weijun’s situation. How could a full-time housewife compete with a cheating husband?
Throughout the call, Zou Weijun never mentioned Jiaxin Films, but her goal was undoubtedly achieved.
Reaching a consensus and working towards a common goal was the purpose of her call to Xie Yuping.
Since their objectives aligned, why emphasise securing Jiaxin for Xie Qian?
It was all understood without words!
After hanging up, Xie Yuping noticed the curious gazes of his wife and daughter.
Xie Tang was excited. “Dad, is Third Aunt saying she wants a divorce?”
Xie Tang wasn’t the only one curious; Hou Zhixiu was too.
After years of marriage, Hou Zhixiu thought she knew her husband well, but some things you only understand when they happen. Most people side with family over reason. If Xie Yuping was willing to uphold justice for Zou Weijun, siding with reason over family, what did Hou Zhixiu have to worry about?
A man who’d stand up for his sister-in-law wouldn’t mistreat his own wife!
Xie Yuping shot his daughter Xie Tang a warning look. “This is your Third Aunt’s business. No matter what you hear, don’t blab, understand?”
His words indirectly confirmed Xie Tang’s guess!
That’s great!
Third Aunt should have been this resolute long ago!
In a flash, Xie Tang grasped the situation.
Her father was clearly on Third Aunt Zou Weijun’s side, ready to deal with Third Uncle Xie Jinghu. If Xie Jinghu got wind of it, it would tip him off!
Xie Tang nodded vigorously. “I won’t say a word.”
She was just incredibly excited.
Unable to contain her excitement, Xie Tang invited Peng Guoqing out.
They munched on ice pops in a small shop, Peng Guoqing’s lips turning blue from the cold.
Xie Tang, biting her ice pop, wondered aloud, “School hasn’t started yet. Why’d you dye your hair back to black?”
Peng Guoqing loved dyeing his hair. Despite his young age, he’d tried every colour imaginable, as if he were a boy from the Rainbow Kingdom in a past life. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple, he’d done them all!
Of course, as a high schooler, he had to show some respect to school rules at the start of term, switching to less eye-catching colours.
Black hair?
Xie Tang couldn’t even recall the last time Peng Guoqing had black hair!
It was a casual question, but Peng Guoqing’s heart raced uncontrollably.
The shop’s light shone on Xie Tang, softening her spirited aura.
Xie Tang had a unique charm, hard to describe in words.
The rich kids who grew up with Peng Guoqing couldn’t beat Xie Tang when they were young. Now, if they fought back, Xie Tang was at a disadvantage in strength.
Why couldn’t they win?
Because no one really wanted to fight back.
Unlike Tai Wu, who openly professed his crush on Xie Tang, deep down, everyone had some unspoken feelings for her. Peng Guoqing didn’t dare meet her eyes, shifting his gaze to the shop’s freezer, answering indirectly, “Xie Tang姐, I’m transferring schools.”
Xie Tang wasn’t surprised.
Peng Guoqing had wreaked havoc in every middle school in the capital!
“Are there still schools in the capital willing to take you?”
“…”
Xie Tang’s piercing question left Peng Guoqing speechless. Fortunately, his thick skin let him roll with it. “It’s not that no school will take me. They’re just not suitable for me. I had my dad arrange a transfer out of the city. I’m going to Rongcheng, to be classmates with Xie Qian!”
If schools couldn’t make him succeed, was that his fault?
No, it was the schools’ fault!
They didn’t teach according to his needs.
Xie Tang, biting her ice pop stick, nearly choked. “You’re transferring to Rongcheng’s top provincial school?”
Peng Guoqing had been dying to share this news, waiting until his dad’s secretary finalized it. He was a bit smug, wanting Xie Tang to see his determination to change. But Xie Tang added, “Transferring across provinces with your ‘illustrious record,’ your dad must’ve spent a fortune to get you into Rongcheng’s top school!”
Indeed, it cost a lot and required pulling some strings.
The female secretary had hinted at her contributions over the phone.
Peng Guoqing wanted to say it was normal for his dad to spend money on him, but Xie Tang fired her third question like a machine gun, “But why transfer to Rongcheng’s top school?”
