Chapter 46: The Conversation

As soon as Chi Xiao stood up from beside Ming Can, he realized he had left his phone and jacket behind.

For some reason, he didn’t ask for them back, letting those items stay in her hands as he walked away.

Returning to the banquet hall.

Countless crystal chandeliers and wall lamps reflected dazzling light, while glasses clinked and music played softly. Chi Xiao walked past, his aloof demeanor making him seem out of place in the lively atmosphere.

It didn’t take much effort to find his father. The imposing middle-aged man’s gaze had already settled on his face, as if he had been waiting for him.

“Dad,” Chi Xiao said without preamble, cutting straight to the point. “Let’s talk. In the lounge.”

Chi Yanpeng had sent Chi Xiao an invitation to this banquet earlier, asking him to attend. At the time, Chi Xiao had refused without explanation, not bothering to give a reason.

Chi Yanpeng knew his son’s temperament well. Chi Xiao had always been reclusive, disliking public appearances. No matter how important the occasion, if he didn’t want to come, nothing could force him. So, Chi Yanpeng hadn’t pressed the matter.

Now, as he looked at his eldest son, this young man who had already grown taller than him, Chi Yanpeng felt that something about Chi Xiao had changed since their last meeting over a month ago. The eyes that had always been indifferent, as if uninterested in everything in the world, now held emotions he couldn’t quite decipher.

Chi Yanpeng: “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Chi Xiao: “Do you really want to talk about it here?”

Under the guidance of a waiter, the two entered a spacious lounge.

As the waiter was about to close the door, a gentle woman’s voice stopped him.

Duan Hanyan walked into the room. Chi Yanpeng noticed Chi Xiao’s brow furrow slightly, but he said in a deep voice, “She’s your stepmother. Is there anything she can’t hear?”

Chi Xiao: “No.”

The lounge was furnished with a circle of expensive leather sofas, but no one sat down.

The silence lasted only a few seconds before Chi Xiao, seemingly in a hurry, broke the calm with his cool voice: “Dad, you don’t need to worry about my further studies. I’ve decided to stay in the country and pursue a master’s degree at A University.”

Because the Chu family would also be attending this banquet, Chi Xiao knew that once he showed up, he would inevitably be pushed into a matchmaking scenario by the elders. That’s why he had firmly refused to attend, even after learning that Ming Can would be there. He hadn’t changed his mind.

But earlier today, he had accidentally found out that his father was already making arrangements to send him and Chu Zhiyu to the United States for further studies.

They were still young, and the matter of an arranged marriage hadn’t been brought up openly yet. Chi Xiao had always thought there was plenty of room to maneuver and that he could resolve the issue gradually. However, with his father suddenly interfering in his education and the arrival of Miaomiao drastically changing his life, Chi Xiao felt he could no longer wait. A string in his mind was pulled taut, urging him to confront his father and make things clear immediately.

So, tonight, after putting Miaomiao to sleep, he returned to his usual residence, changed into a formal outfit, and hurried to the banquet.

Chi Yanpeng didn’t respond directly to Chi Xiao’s statement, instead bringing up another matter: “Do you know the youngest daughter of the Ming family?”

Chi Xiao nodded calmly: “You saw?”

Chi Yanpeng’s expression turned colder: “I didn’t see. Your Uncle Chu saw and came to ask me.”

Chi Xiao: “She’s the one I love.”

Without any preamble, Chi Xiao suddenly declared his feelings, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Even someone as experienced and composed as Chi Yanpeng couldn’t help but be stunned.

It was hard to believe.

Such words had actually come from Chi Xiao’s mouth.

For a moment, Chi Yanpeng felt as if he was seeing his son in a completely new light.

He quickly regained his composure, frowning as he said, “You should know that girl is someone your second uncle and aunt have their eyes on.”

Chi Xiao’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for once, he showed a hint of defiance, as if he didn’t care at all about what others thought: “I’ve set my heart on her too.”

Chi Yanpeng: “No.”

The tension between father and son was palpable. Duan Hanyan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke softly: “Husband, don’t be so quick to dismiss it. It’s rare for Ah Xiao to like a girl, and things with Ah Yao aren’t settled yet. There’s room for discussion. Besides, I think that girl from the Ming family is quite outstanding in both looks and temperament, and her personality seems sweet and likable…”

“What do you know?” Chi Yanpeng interrupted her, his gaze cold and stern, cutting off Duan Hanyan’s words and leaving her with an awkward smile.

He saw right through Duan Hanyan’s intentions.

His desire to arrange a marriage with the Chu family wasn’t out of old friendship but because the Chu family’s expertise and resources could bring the greatest benefits to the Chi family in the future. Chu Zhiyu was an only child, and everything the Chu family had would eventually belong to her. If Chi Xiao married Chu Zhiyu, the power and resources he would gain would surpass even what Chi Yanpeng had during his time in charge. Chi Yanpeng could clearly see that his current wife didn’t want his eldest son, who shared no blood with her, to have such a powerful marital alliance and effortlessly inherit the family business. For her, the worse the family background of Chi Xiao’s marriage partner, the better. She would be more than happy if Chi Xiao didn’t end up with Chu Zhiyu.

Chi Xiao had no interest in the undercurrents between his father and stepmother. He continued calmly, “The Ming family’s status in Beicheng is higher than the Chu family’s, and their business scale is larger. Why isn’t that acceptable?”

Chi Yanpeng’s temple twitched: “Yes, the Ming family’s scale is large, but the Chu family is under your Uncle Chu’s control, and he only has one daughter. The current head of the Ming family has four children and five grandchildren. The girl you like is the daughter of his least powerful son. At this point, are you thinking that since the Ming family’s succession battle is still undecided, perhaps Ming Can’s father could become the ultimate winner and take control of the entire Ming family, making Ming Can the only daughter of the head of the family?”

Chi Xiao remained silent.

Chi Yanpeng: “You haven’t entered society yet, so you can’t see the current situation in the Ming family clearly. Do you think the Ming family can still remain intact in anyone’s hands? Ever since Chairman Ming, dissatisfied with his eldest son’s incompetence, made the mistake of promoting his second and third sons and then failed to choose a successor or balance their relationships, the Ming family has been on an irreversible path toward fragmentation. If you marry Ming Can, do you think the resources in the hands of her uncles will be available to our Chi family? If they don’t turn around and restrict us, it’ll be a miracle. The Ming family is destined to split and decline. Among the three potential successors, which one has the courage and skill to turn things around? I’ll stop here. You clearly have a better option, so stop obsessing over this unprofitable deal.”

Deal.

Hearing this, Chi Xiao nodded calmly.

His future, his marriage—in his father’s eyes, they were nothing more than a transaction to be calculated down to the last detail.

“I understand,” Chi Xiao said indifferently. “You’re right. The Ming family is indeed on the verge of collapse, and an alliance with them can’t compare to the Chu family.”

Chi Yanpeng: “Good that you understand.”

Chi Xiao’s lips twitched: “Such a good match with the Chu family—it seems a bit of a waste on me.”

After a pause, Chi Xiao suddenly glanced at Duan Hanyan and said, “Dad, why don’t you ask Uncle Chu if he can wait twenty years for Ah Heng? After all, we’re both sons of the Chi family chairman. What difference does it make who he marries into?”

Chi Yanpeng’s eyes widened: “What did you say?”

Chi Xiao: “The most profitable deal in your eyes—I want to give it to Ah Heng. I’ll take the less profitable one. As the older brother, I should yield to my younger brother. Isn’t that what you always used to tell me?”

“Ah Xiao, what are you joking about?” Duan Hanyan took her husband’s arm and patted his stiff back, soothing him gently. “Ah Heng is only a few years old? Don’t say such things to upset your father. It’s the end of the year, and he already has a lot on his plate. Don’t add to the chaos.”

“Too late for the reminder, Auntie. It’s already this chaotic,” Chi Xiao said, his lips curving but his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Dad, I’ve said what I needed to say. I suggest you don’t rush to say no. Think about my proposal again, because aside from this choice, there’s no other option.”

What he meant was:

He would only marry the person he loved.

Otherwise, he would remain alone for the rest of his life. There would be no other choice.

Chi Yanpeng hadn’t heard his son speak so much in a long time.

In his memory, Chi Xiao had always been taciturn, like a mute living in his own world. But Chi Yanpeng had always known that Chi Xiao wasn’t incapable of speaking—he just didn’t want to. Nothing in the outside world could spark his desire to talk, so he remained silent.

Today, however, he seemed to have a lot to say.

Every word was like a barb, aimed precisely where it would tear flesh and draw blood.

“Do you think I don’t dare to give up on you?”

As Chi Xiao bent down to pour himself a glass of water, he suddenly heard the suppressed words from behind him.

He straightened up and said indifferently, “Do as you please.”

From childhood, Chi Xiao had never felt like he was an important person. From the moment he could understand human speech, his ears were filled with the endless quarrels of his parents. In his memory, his parents had almost never shown him any affection. Later, they finally separated, and Chi Xiao stayed with his father, who was extremely strict and had high expectations. Chi Xiao had once thought that this also represented a form of importance. However, when he met his father’s demands, even exceeding them, he received no feedback—no praise, no acknowledgment. Nothing.

There had been several moments when he had doubted whether he was a living, breathing person or just a program running endlessly, devoid of any emotional needs.

So, when faced with his father’s earlier question, Chi Xiao found it hard to feel any emotional fluctuation.

What difference did it make whether his father gave up on him or not?

Chi Yanpeng’s heart tightened, his face darkening.

He truly didn’t dare to give up on Chi Xiao.

In his eyes, Chi Xiao was the only heir. His current wife’s two children, though still young, had already shown themselves to be utterly mediocre in Chi Yanpeng’s eyes. All they did at home was play with toys and make noise, with no serious pursuits. A few words of scolding would send them into hysterical tears. How could they compare to his eldest son, who had been a genius since he was one or two years old?

He took a deep, heavy breath, as if reluctantly compromising, and said to Chi Xiao in a calmer tone, “You need to understand that emotions are the most unreliable thing in the world. You might like her very much today, but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel the same tomorrow, the day after, or even a long time from now.”

Chi Xiao, having retracted his earlier barbs, said softly, “Dad, when I was seven, there was a day when you and Mom were fighting at home, really fiercely. I ran to Teacher Leting’s house to hide. While I was playing with stones in the yard, some kids outside the fence mocked me, saying I was a child my parents didn’t want. I pretended not to hear and didn’t want to deal with them, but someone dragged me over to confront them and forced them to apologize to me.”

Hearing this, Chi Yanpeng was stunned.

He had never known that such a thing had happened to Chi Xiao. Before today, Chi Xiao had never mentioned his childhood.

Chi Xiao: “From that day until now, it’s been fourteen years—two-thirds of my life.”

Chi Yanpeng was silent for a while.

As if recalling something from the past, Chi Yanpeng suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh and asked Chi Xiao, “Does she feel the same way as you do?”

If it’s just one-sided affection.

It won’t end well.

Father and son seemed to know exactly what words would hurt the other the most.

Chi Xiao: “That’s her business. All I care about is having a clear conscience.”

With that, Chi Xiao excused himself, saying he had something to attend to that evening. After a polite farewell, he opened the door to the lounge and strode out.

The corridor was lined with spotlights, casting a bright, dizzying path. The thick carpet underfoot felt as though it might give way if stepped on too hard.

Chi Xiao raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, finally finding a moment to glance at his smartwatch.

Sun Moon Volcano: 【[Picture]】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【Miaomiao is sleeping on his stomach again!】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【[Picture]】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【Great, he rolled back over!】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【Why can’t I control this monitoring robot? I want to check my room.】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【Never mind, figured it out.】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【?】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【I sent seven messages and you’re not replying???】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【…】

Sun Moon Volcano: 【You have three minutes. If you don’t reply, I’m going to use your phone to send me a kneeling, begging-for-mercy emoji.】

Just as Chi Xiao opened the chat, the last message popped up.

Ming Can had recently retrieved her own phone, downloaded the monitoring app to watch Miaomiao sleep, and stopped using Chi Xiao’s phone.

She had sent that last message just to scare him. Using someone else’s WeChat without permission was rude, and besides, she and Chi Xiao weren’t that close.

Less than twenty seconds after sending it, Ming Can regretted it. He might be busy with something important, and she shouldn’t have thrown such a childish tantrum.

Just as she was about to retract the message, a new message suddenly appeared in the chat box—

cx: 【[Kneeling and begging for mercy.gif]】