Chapter 28: Xie Yanli, Shocked, Agrees to Go on a Blind Date!

Song Qiao’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Seeing the intense look in Chen Yang’s eyes, she instinctively averted her gaze.
“Chen Yang, what nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly be worried about that bastard? I was just…”

Her eyes darted about quickly, and then she said something that didn’t match her true feelings:
“I was just thinking he must be going through something big right now. Good! That way he won’t have the time to bother us anymore.”

After speaking, she gave Chen Yang a guilty smile, though her expression was a little stiff.

Chen Yang stared at her and continued to ask,
“Qiao Qiao, do you still like him?”

His serious and sensitive question left Song Qiao momentarily stunned. She didn’t understand why Chen Yang would ask that. Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, a bit flustered inside.

Seeing her silence, Chen Yang pressed further,
“Qiao Qiao, do you still have feelings for him?”

Song Qiao thought of the kiss mark on Xie Yanli’s neck from earlier. She looked up at Chen Yang and replied firmly,
“Chen Yang, when we met, I had just broken up with Xie Yanli. That was the hardest time of my life, and you were the one who helped me through it. You of all people should know how much he hurt me. How could I possibly still like a man who betrayed me?”

Chen Yang had already noticed the flicker of panic in Song Qiao’s eyes when he first asked. He’d known her for years and knew she was never good at lying.

He knew she still had feelings for Xie Yanli. She was just momentarily moved by him—or blinded by her lingering hatred.

After a moment of silence, Chen Yang reined in his emotions and gave a light laugh.
“Qiao Qiao, I’m sorry. I was just a little jealous seeing him cling to you, and I asked without thinking.”

“Chen Yang, I know you care about me. I’m not angry.”

She quickly added,
“You’ve seen me at my lowest. So if someday your heart belongs to someone else, just tell me. I’ll let you go. But don’t ever mess around behind my back—if you do, I’ll never forgive you.”

Chen Yang’s gaze flickered. After a pause, he playfully tapped her nose and smiled,
“Qiao Qiao, you’re so good to me. How could I ever betray you?”

Song Qiao smiled and nodded.
“They’re probably waiting for us. Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.”

——

When Xie Yanli arrived at the hospital, he saw that the entire Xie family was already gathered.

The men all had grim expressions, while the women were quietly weeping—especially Lin Xue, who was crying her heart out.

Xie Yanli slowly walked up to them, holding back his sorrow.
“How is Grandpa?”

They glanced at him, then looked away with heavy sighs, none of them speaking. The women cried even harder.

Seeing their reaction, a bad feeling crept into Xie Yanli’s chest. He felt suffocated.

Xie Zhenting was already 82 years old. His health had always been poor and had declined even more in recent years. If the Xie family hadn’t poured in money for treatment and care, he likely wouldn’t have lasted this long.

His greatest wish in life was to see Xie Yanli get married and have children. But Xie Yanli had never fulfilled that wish. Of all the Xie family members, he loved him the most. Xie Yanli felt deep guilt toward him.

Back when Li Lan passed away, Xie Changfeng had immediately wanted to bring Lin Xue—and his illegitimate child—into the family. At the time, Xie Yanli had wanted to return to China and kill them both on the spot.

But he had made a promise to his mother on her deathbed not to return until he was fully prepared, and not to interfere in his father’s romantic affairs. So he endured.

Later, it was Xie Zhenting who refused to allow it. He even declared that if Xie Changfeng insisted, he would sever all ties and disown him. That finally stopped the matter.

But after another five or six years, Lin Xue kept causing trouble, crying and threatening suicide. Eventually, Xie Zhenting gave in and allowed Xie Changfeng to marry her—but he forbid them from having a wedding, having more children, or ever revealing the existence of the illegitimate son to the public.

Over the years, whenever there were disputes between him and Xie Changfeng, Xie Zhenting always sided with him unconditionally. He had sincerely told him many times that his only wish was to see him get married, have children, and inherit the Xie Group.

Thinking of this, Xie Yanli’s guilt deepened.

Seeing his somber expression, Xie Changfeng walked up beside him and said seriously,
“I have something to say to you. Come with me.”

Xie Yanli followed him to a corner by the stairwell. Xie Changfeng looked around, then said coldly,
“Your grandfather loves you the most. Even if he pulls through this time, how much longer can he last? Are you really going to let him die with regrets?”

Xie Yanli’s gaze darkened, but he didn’t argue.

Xie Changfeng had intended to speak calmly, but seeing Xie Yanli’s indifferent attitude, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
He snapped,
“Your grandfather’s will was never made public, but he made it clear that as long as you get married and have a child, he’d leave all his shares to you. If you had put in any effort, we could’ve had those shares by now. Do you really want your uncle to end up with them instead?”

Xie Yanli’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his furious father with contempt.
“All you ever care about is money and power. Even with Grandpa on the verge of death, that’s all you can think about.”

He turned to leave, not wanting to argue.

But Xie Changfeng called out behind him,
“Yes, I know you and your mother have always looked down on me, acting so high and mighty as if you don’t care about money. But let me ask you one last time—if your grandfather dies with this regret, will you ever forgive yourself?”

Xie Yanli froze. He had asked himself that question many times. Of course, he didn’t want that to happen. But Song Qiao didn’t want to marry him, and he didn’t want to force himself to marry someone he didn’t love.

Xie Changfeng sensed he was wavering and softened his tone.
“I know you don’t want to settle. But think of your grandfather. He’s old—he doesn’t have time to wait. If he survives this, just go through the motions. Marry someone, anyone. It’ll make him happy. And who knows? Maybe that happiness will give him a few more years.”

Xie Yanli turned and silently stared at him.

Xie Changfeng walked up, patted him hard on the shoulder, and said,
“I know you’ve hated me all these years. You don’t have to think of me. But at least think of your mother. The Xie Group rose to power thanks to the Li family. Your mother put everything into it. Her greatest wish was for you to inherit it. But the family rule is that you can’t inherit without marrying and having children. Think carefully about what I said.”

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Xue came running over in tears, looking excited.
“Changfeng, thank goodness—Father finally woke up!”

Xie Changfeng looked thrilled and turned to Xie Yanli, just as his phone rang—it was a message from Shen Huaichuan.

Xie Yanli opened the screenshot Shen sent. It was a post from Song Qiao’s Moments.

It showed a photo of Song Qiao and Chen Yang with both sets of parents at a restaurant. Judging by the outfits and background, he knew it was taken just earlier at Xiangya Restaurant. The caption announced they were getting married that weekend and invited friends to attend.

Xie Yanli stared at the photo for a long time before putting away his phone. Then he looked up at Xie Changfeng and said seriously,
“Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll actively cooperate with the blind dates you arrange.”