CH 19

The moment the thought crossed my mind, the lights at the Jian Estate turned on and I saw a black car turn into the driveway. I stood still among the flowers as I saw two people step out of the vehicle. It seemed my father had returned from his trip, with one added factor – Shen Qingyu had returned with him.

Half an hour later, I walked into the living room to find Jian Zhenlin sitting, immersed in a phone call. To his side was a buxom, mature woman holding and teasing Jian Yulin. The years had not left the slightest trace on her face, and her features remained beautiful and refined.

My father saw me come in and ended the call. “Xiao Jie.”

He hesitantly walked over to me, stumbling over his words as he searched for the right thing to say.

“I just asked Lin Ma where you’d gone. How can you run outside in such cold weather? Were you with someone?”

I stayed quiet, waiting.

Jian Zhenlin glanced at Shen Qingyu. “Your Auntie Shen had been in Singapore for some time now, so she came back with me. You and your aunt haven’t seen each other for six years, so it is inevitable that you would be a little unfamiliar with each other. Hopefully you will now have more time to get along.”

I couldn’t help but. She and I have never been familiar with each other.

“Anjie.” Shen Qingyu finally spoke up, and smiled as she walked over. “I heard from your father that you were back. I wanted to come back to see you, but I couldn’t find the time so I put it off until now. Coincidentally, it was the same day as your father’s return. Anyway, Anjie, welcome home. I will be here all day tomorrow, so we can have a nice talk.”

I nodded slightly. “I’ll go on up now if there is nothing else.”

I brushed past the man standing near the handrail as I walked upstairs.

Closing my room door behind me, I immediately felt the need to be unburdened of my defences and exhaustion, so I shuffled to the bathroom, filled the tub with hot water, slid in naked and submerged myself completely under.

The next day I woke up at two in the afternoon and after getting ready, made my way downstairs fully dressed. I had intended to go out, but halted completely in my tracks when I saw Xi Xichen on T.V.

“We are very honoured to have Mr Xi Xichen, the CEO of Xi’s, on this edition of Celebrity magazine.” The hostess received a round of applause.

Sitting on a single sofa opposite her was Xi Xichen. He made an objective and pertinent comment as he sat in a well-tailored, solid black suit that helped to outline his figure in a handsome and distinguished manner. His slender, folded legs, elegance and calm, coupled with a touch of light between his eyebrows, led to an aura of added mystery to his persona.

“Our program group has invited many successful entrepreneurs, but I dare say, Mr. Xi, you are the youngest and most handsome entrepreneur ever invited. As far as I know, you have not yet reached the age of thirty?”

“Yes.” Xi Xichen replied very concisely.

“You have a great achievement at such a young age, which is really admirable.”

“My father, the founder of Xi’s Holdings, is a very dedicated entrepreneur. I just play on the platform he gave me.”

“Mr. Xi is really too humble. As far as we know, Xi’s Holdings Co., Ltd. has developed rapidly in the past five years. Mr. Xi must have a unique and correct insight into the management of enterprises.”

The host then asked some questions about business management and his philosophy. Xi Xichen answered it all in a proper manner.

Towards the end, the hostess smiled and stood up to face the audience. “So let’s respond to the needs of the audience, basically the female audience, and ask Mr. Xi some personal questions.” Immediately, he received a round of applause and enthusiastic agreement.

Xichen nodded his head with considerable poise.

“Maybe people will think my question is too direct, but, may I ask if Mr Xi is married?” Not surprisingly, there was another round of applause.

Xichen paused for a moment before answering, “No.”

“Still one of the single aristocrats, indeed!” The hostess put on a heartfelt pose, then suddenly seemed to think of something and pretended to be shocked, “Don’t tell me, Mr. Xi, you plan to be a single person forever?”

“I think I’ll get married.” He said.

The hostess immediately pounced. “I think that our single, female audience with us here and in front of the TV will express envy and jealousy of that lady. I wonder if I can ask Mr. Xi to reveal a little bit about who this future Mrs. Xi is?“”

“I’d like to, but I don’t think she would like me talking about her.”

“Having never been on this type of show before, it’s a tour de force.” Somehow Shen Qingyu had ended up standing behind me. “If he wasn’t forced to go, he’d be too lazy to care.”

She looked at me with a smile as I turned to her. “Next time you have the chance, how about you also go on to help support Auntie’s radio station?”

Without waiting for my answer, she continued, “But, since when does Xichen have a girl in his sights?”

I took a deep breath, and then slowly said, “The accident that year, my father and your nephew thought I had done it on purpose.”

Shen Qingyu’s face stilled. “We don’t need to talk of the past. Let’s forget about it and look forward to a pleasant future together.”

I chuckled. “Don’t worry, I just want to tell you that I have always felt guilty I didn’t catch you and let your child die. But that accident was not my fault, you understand. So please, tell your dead child not to come to me again.”

She gaped at me in shock, and I quickly left before she could say anything.

I ran upstairs to pack my luggage, but my stomach twisted as soon as I entered the room, and I ran to the washroom sink, vomiting up clear water.

I had to see a psychiatrist in France because of the nightmares that haunted at night.