Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Cutting off all connections with Xi Chengâs five companies and firing Xi Cheng from the Xi Corporation while announcing the joint projects with the other three great families was their best solution so far. It would definitely cut losses in the shortest time possible, so naturally, none of the directors had any objections.
And thus, the âwarâ filled with the acrid smoke of gunpowder died down. Anyone could see that, despite her words, Han Yuan had still defended her son. However, the directors had gotten what they wanted so there was no need to drive Xi Cheng into a corner. It wouldnât do for the directors to have a falling out with the Xi family when they were all part of the Xi Corporationâitâs best not to burn their bridges. Therefore, no one objected to letting Xi Cheng off this time.
When the time to leave came, Han Yuan informed everyone, âMy daughter-in-law, Lin Yu, is pregnant. Her family met with misfortune when she was young and it was a huge blow to her. She grew up frail as a result, and her current pregnancy doesnât look good. The doctor said sheâll have to stay in bed until she gives birth.â
âConsequently, she wouldnât be able to do the things she has taken on for others, and sheâs also retiring from all her positions. Many of her positions and tasks involve charity work, which is linked to our corporationâs reputation, so these projects canât stop.â
Han Yuan went on, âAs for myself, although the matters Iâm responsible for in the corporation arenât important, they are still related to the bread and butter of many of our employees. Youâve all seen for yourself that my health isnât doing so well, so I especially hired Shi Nianâs wife, Yun Nan, to help take on Lin Yu and my work for a while. Does everyone agree with that?â
âOf course we agree!â was the directorâs collective thought. âWhatâs not to agree with?â
Firstly, just as Han Yuan had said, the matters and projects she and Lin Yu were in charge of werenât greatly important to the corporationâs overall operation, but were still quite important to the maintenance of the Xi corporationâs reputation. Since Lin Yu and Han Yuan were physically unable to work due to health issues, they naturally had to find someone reliable to take on their work.
Secondly, Shi Nian was giving the Xi Corporation a huge amount of aid and support and the corporation had to rely greatly on the Shi family to rise once again. Entrusting Shi Nianâs wife with these philanthropy and minor projects was the best choice as it would be a nod in respect to Shi Nian and also tie the Shi family name to the corporation, ensuring that they would do their best to help the Xi Corporation.
Thirdly, Yun Nan was a much more prominent and known figure than Xi Chengâs wife. As a famous film director who built her own thriving company, she had talent and reputation in spades, and having her would only be a boon to the Xi Corporation.
The directors dispersed after the meeting finished, leaving only Shi Nian, Yun Nan, Xi Cheng, Han Yuan, and John in the room. John stood silently at the side. Now that the crisis was over, he could finally feel his bodyâs injuries in all their painful glory. However, he couldnât leave and get them checked out yet. He was Xi Chengâs chief assistant, which meant that other than work issues, he also handled many of Xi Chengâs private matters. He had to stay with Xi Cheng for the time being.
Xi Cheng felt extremely wronged. At this point, he couldnât care less about the fact that Shi Nian and his wife were present. He kneeled beside Han Yuanâs knees once more and called out aggrievedly to her, âMomâ¦â
Han Yuan stared at the top of her sonâs head, thinking, âHow can this son of mine, whom I had spent my entire lifeâs effort nurturing, actually be so shameful?â
âYou still feel wronged?â she asked slowly. Xi Cheng looked up at his mother with teary eyes and whimpered, âMom, Iâve learnt my lesson, but I really was deceived. Iâm sorry, Mom. I cheated and fooled around with Gu Man, and she honey-trapped me. Itâs all my fault! Iâve truly learnt from my lesson!â
Han Yuan closed her eyes in disappointment and sighed, âAnd what good is learning your lesson going to do? You donât even know where you went wrong.â
Xi Cheng didnât know what she meant. Han Yuan sighed once more and stared at Xi Chengâs eyes as she told him, âGu Man wasnât the one who cheated you of your companiesâLin Yu sold them. Think back. Did Lin Yu ever ask you to sign anything?â
Xi Cheng froze. Lin Yu had asked him to sign a lot of things. However, heâd never thought to flip through what heâd signed to. Heâd thought that, in this world, only Lin Yu wouldnât hurt him.
Heâd thought that all Lin Yu wanted was his sincere loveâto be the only one he holds in his heart. Xi Cheng couldnât give her that, so he obeyed all her other wants and wishes. After all, Lin Yu wouldnât be where she is today without the Xi family. Therefore, she would surely and wholeheartedly treat him and each and everyone in the Xi family well.
That was what Xi Cheng most unwaveringly believed.
âSon, do you know what your mistake is? Your biggest mistake is you never take women seriously,â Han Yuan continued. âDid you ever truly love Fang Xi? No, you donât love her. You only fell in love with her after you lost her. What you love isnât her, but your own ego!â
âOf course, you donât love Lin Yu, but do you love Gu Man? No, you donât love her either! She was just a momentary passion. When it comes down to it, youâre only with her because it strokes your ego. Just like your love for me, itâs all talk and lip-serviceâyouâve never let any of us into your heart.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThatâs why Fang Xi left. She didnât leave just because Lin Yu and I went to see her. She saw right through you and had been hurt and disappointed for a long time. She was looking for an opportunity to break things offâwhich I delivered. All your actions, and mine, were just products of our self-important delusions.â