Chapter 349: Did I Say Something Wrong?

Xie Changwen sighed helplessly, "I understand how you feel. When Zian was young he also ran into many things… never mind, they're all old stories. Since you've already made up your mind, I can't keep urging you."

He naturally understood Fu Sijue's temperament; once he decides to do something, not even ten oxen could pull him back.

"Uncle Xie, there's something we might need your help with. Investigate all the underground bars in Haicheng for us." Lu Xiwán said awkwardly, already prepared for a refusal.

Xie Changwen unexpectedly nodded, then gave Fu Sijue a meaning‑laden sideways glance.

"Meeting you is a blessing for A Jue."

Lu Xiwán never expected Xie Changwen to say that; she lowered her eyes embarrassedly, then after a moment lifted her head resolutely to look at him.

"Meeting A Jue is also my luck."

As soon as that was mentioned, Xie Zian had to come up, and Xie Changwen's face showed envy.

"I don't even know what I did wrong to give birth to that troublemaker Xie Zian; his constant nonsense is one thing, but he also robs us parents of peace."

When Xie Changwen talks about Xie Zian, he bites his teeth, making anyone who doesn't know think they're the enemies.

Lu Xiwán curled her lips, "Everyone has their own temperament; Xie Zian is simply born a bit playful."

Xie Changwen snorted coldly and began venting his grievances to Lu Xiwán.

"Just search the whole of Haicheng; even those who hang out with him daily—how many have reached adulthood and still ignore their families' advice?"

Xie Changwen truly had no way with Xie Zian; if Fu Sijue weren't holding him down, Zian would have fled for refuge long ago.

"In our generation of the Xie family, only Xie Zian remains; he refuses to inherit the family business, wants to play outside for a few more years, and his mother and I are willing to protect him. In the world, are there parents who don't love their children?"

Xie Changwen was very helpless; he isn't good with words, and every time he says a few sentences to Xie Zian, it ends up displeasing him.

He could only say these words in front of Lu Xiwán.

"While Shu Tao and I still have energy and time, let him have a child; we'll teach him well so he can inherit our family business in the future, sparing him from doing things he doesn't want to do."

Xie Changwen wore a worried face; no matter what principles he told Zhu Shutao, Xie Zian remained impermeable.

He also didn't know what to do.

"Uncle Xie, do you know what Xie Zian is thinking?"

Lu Xiwán poured Xie Changwen another cup of tea, smiling as she looked at him.

"How else could he think? He just feels that the decisions Shu Tao and I made aren't to his liking. Yet after all these years, if he could find someone he clicks with, he wouldn't be as lonely as he is now!"

Xie Changwen was incensed; in his eyes, Xie Zian constantly finds excuses to dodge them, scheming in every way to avoid marriage.

Fu Sijue cleared his throat lightly, then continued Xie Changwen's words.

"Aunt Xie arranged for Lilian to live here; Lilian despises Xie Zian, but for the Xie family's face, Zian never told you about it. He's long been prepared to inherit the Xie family."

"You grew up with that stinky kid; you don't have to speak for him!" Xie Changwen clearly didn't believe it.

He himself didn't realize his son was this good.

"I, Fu Sijue, never lie; the Xie family has only one child, and the Fu family happens to be in a similar situation. The pressure on an only son—Uncle Xie knows that better than anyone, right?"

Moreover, times have changed; the Xie family's current stature far exceeds what it was back then.

Fu Mingcheng is old, and Fu Zhuo and his son are unfit for important tasks; Fu Sijue had no choice. But Xie Zian is different.

"Uncle Xie only sees his peers marrying and having children early, and sees them forced by too many family members to scramble for inheritance out of helplessness, right?"

It's just each has his own suffering.

"We can't just let him live like that, never marrying or having children, watching the Xie family die out here?"

Xie Changwen thought Fu Sijue's words enlightened him, yet he still couldn't lose face and stubbornly argued with Fu Sijue.

Lu Xiwán, fearing another rift between them, hurried to mediate.

"Uncle Xie seriously underestimates Xie Zian; he's not the type lacking responsibility and only caring about himself."

As for what's in his heart, only he knows.

Regarding Xie Changwen's worries, Lu Xiwán naturally understood, but all she could do was reassure him to relax.

"Xie Zian won't actually cause the thing you're worried about."

When they finished speaking and went downstairs, Zhu Shutao was happily chatting with Lilian, while Xie Zian sat on the side like a complaining wife, exuding a lingering melancholy.

Seeing Xie Changwen, Xie Zian reluctantly softened his expression, then from another angle continued to stare at Lilian with lingering sorrow.

"When are we going back?" While speaking to Zhu Shutao, Xie Changwen even softened his tone considerably.

Zhu Shutao turned toward the voice, "Who said I'm leaving? We'll stay here for a while; I get along well with this child."

Xie Changwen clearly hadn't expected her to say that, and hurriedly grabbed her shoulder, pulling her aside.

"Let them spend more time together then."

After Lu Xiwán's remark, Xie Changwen realized some things cannot be forced.

Zhu Shutao, suspicious, turned to Xie Changwen, "Listen to what you're saying."

"Before we left, you were righteously saying we were on the same front, and now—how long has it been? —you've changed your mind?!"

Xie Changwen probably thought their voices were low, but Lu Xiwán and the others heard them crystal clear.

In front of Zhu Shutao, Xie Changwen was meek and obedient.

Even Lu Xiwán couldn't bear to watch.

Xie Zian, after Xie Changwen's words, showed a faint smile, but ultimately vanished after Zhu Shutao's repeated refusals.

Even Xie Zian himself couldn't stand listening any longer.

"Mom, dad, stop arguing…"

The two turned together, shouting at Xie Zian, "Shut up!"

Lu Xixi flinched, touching the tip of his nose.

"It really does sound like dad and mommy fighting…"

Accidentally speaking the harsh truth, Xi Xi thought no one noticed.

The next second she felt a scorching gaze fixed on her.

Carefully grabbing Yao Yao's sleeve, Xi Xi whispered, "Yao Yao, big brother, did I say something wrong just now?"

Lu Xiwan's lips curved into an arc.

Her little milk dumpling is still quite sharp.

Lu Xixi, what did you just say?