Chapter 64: Different Paths

Early morning, before the gate of the Xiang family mansion.

"Ah Fei, are you ready?" Xiang Yan stood by the car, having rarely changed into a crisp Zhongshan suit, with even the white hair at his temples combed meticulously.

Xiang Fei—formerly Xiang Qian—adjusted his cuffs, somewhat nervous: "Does Grandfather... truly know I am coming?"

"The old master was notified last night," Xiang Qiang said with a smile, a cigarette dangling from his lips; he was Xiang Yan's younger brother and Xiang Fei's uncle. "The old man was so delighted he didn't sleep all night, urging the servants to clean the courtyard before dawn."

Xiang Sheng—Xiang Fei's youngest uncle—patted his shoulder: "Don't be nervous; the old master has been talking about you for ten years."

Wu Fu and Wu Mu sat in another car, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension. Wu Mu asked her husband in a low voice: "Will the old master look down on us..."

"Don't think nonsense," Wu Fu said, patting her hand. "The Xiang family is not that kind of people."

The convoy slowly drove toward the old mansion on the hilltop.

The Xiang family's old residence sat halfway up the mountain, its green bricks and gray tiles revealing the depth of a century-old noble lineage.

The old master, Xiang Butong, stood in the courtyard leaning on a red sandalwood cane; he appeared calm, yet the veins on the back of his hand gripping the cane were bulging. The butler came over for the fifth time to persuade him to wait inside, only to be glared away each time.

"They're here!" the servant guarding the gate suddenly shouted.

The convoy slowly rolled into the courtyard. As soon as Xiang Fei stepped out of the car, he saw an elderly man with snow-white hair standing beneath a ginkgo tree, staring at him with eyes like torches.

"Father, we have brought Ah Fei back," Xiang Yan said, his voice trembling.

Xiang Butong said nothing, merely staring fixedly at Xiang Fei, his eyes gradually turning red.

Xiang Fei stepped forward twice, then suddenly knelt and kowtowed: "Grandfather, your grandson has returned."

"Good... good..." The cane in the old master's hand clattered to the ground; trembling, he lifted his grandson. "As long as you are back..."

The rough palm brushed across Xiang Fei's face, and suddenly the old master's eyes flooded with tears: "So alike... far too alike Xiang Yan in his youth..."

In the main hall, Xiang Butong personally poured tea for Wu Fu and Wu Mu: "For the great kindness you two have shown my Xiang family, this old man will never forget it until his dying day."

Wu Fu hastily rose: "Old master, you overstate it; we merely..."

"Sit, sit, sit," Xiang Butong said, pressing him down. "From now on, you are Ah Fei's parents, and you are also benefactors of my Xiang family."

The butler brought forth a red sandalwood box. The old master opened it; inside lay a pair of jade emerald pendants. "A small token of our regard; please, you must accept them."

Wu Mu waved her hands repeatedly: "This is far too valuable..."

"Accept them," Xiang Fei said softly. "Father, Mother, this is Grandfather's heartfelt gesture."

Hearing the word "Grandfather," the old master laughed until the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out: "Ah Fei is right! Come, taste this Pu'er tea; it is..."

Just as the three generations of grandfather, father, and grandson were enjoying their harmony, Xiang Fei's mobile phone suddenly began vibrating frantically.

"Excuse me, I need to take a call," Xiang Fei said, walking out to the veranda.

"Director Wu! Have you gone mad?" On the other end of the line was the editor-in-chief of the Sing Tao Daily. "Shaw Brothers just issued a statement claiming you breached your contract by jumping ship; now every media outlet in Hong Kong is looking for you!"

Immediately after, Zhou Zhou Huimin's call came through: "Qianzai, the company has summoned me for questioning, saying someone paid my breach-of-contract penalty so I could leave?"

The third call was from Wang Jing: "Damn! Qianzai, where are you? Shaw Brothers is going to blacklist you!"

Frowning, Xiang Fei returned to the hall and found Xiang Qiang also on the phone: "...Yes, Wu Xiangqian, also known as Xiang Fei, is indeed our nephew. What is the problem?"

Xiang Butong tapped the table: "What has happened?"

Xiang Sheng put down his mobile phone and sneered: "Shaw Brothers can no longer sit idle; they are blacklisting Ah Fei across all of Hong Kong."

"Li Guoming, that bastard!" Xiang Qiang smashed his teacup. "He already accepted the breach penalty, yet he still dares to play dirty tricks!"

Xiang Sheng flipped through a newspaper: "Shaw Brothers has just sent a letter to the Performers Association demanding a blacklist against 'contract-breaching artist Wu Xiangqian'."

Xiang Fei said calmly: "They are killing a chicken to scare the monkeys; they fear Wang Jing and others will follow suit and leave."

"Slam!" Xiang Butong's cane struck the ground heavily. "Do they think the Xiang family is made of tofu?"

With a single glance from the old master, the butler immediately brought an antique telephone. Xiang Xiang Zhennan dialed a number: "Old Li, this is Xiang Butong..."

The entire room instantly fell silent.

"...That little Li of yours has been quite jumpy lately," the old master said with a laugh in his tone, yet it sent chills down one's spine. "My grandson paid the penalty according to the contract, and now you engage in blacklisting... are you not giving this old man any face?"

From the other end of the phone, Old Li's panicked explanations could faintly be heard.

"Let us do it this way," Xiang Xiang Zhennan said leisurely. "By tomorrow morning, I want to see Shaw Brothers withdraw all statements... otherwise, the land deeds for those few theaters in Tongluowan may need to be renegotiated."

Hanging up the phone, the old master patted Xiang Fei's shoulder: "Good grandson, continue eating."

Sure enough, within two hours, Shaw Brothers' official website quietly removed the statement, but the media had already exploded:

"Shocking! The New Golden Palm Director Is Actually the Legitimate Grandson of the Xiang Family!"

"Wealthy Family Reunion! The Xiang Group Acknowledges Wu Xiangqian's Real Name Is Xiang Shifei"

"Shaw Brothers Swiftly Withdraws Statement; Suspected Pressure from a Big Shot"

Zhou Zhou Huimin sent a text message: "Just personally escorted out by Director Li; he asked me to convey his greetings to Master Xiang..."

Wang Jing directly made a video call: "Damn! Qianzai, you hid your depth too well! No wonder you dared to confront Shaw Brothers head-on!"

Xiang Fei looked helplessly at his family seated around him: "Now everyone in Hong Kong knows who I am."

Xiang Butong stroked his beard proudly: "Excellent! This is perfect for building momentum for your new company!"

As night fell, Xiang Fei stood on the terrace of the old mansion, gazing out at Victoria Harbour.

Xiang Yan walked over and handed him a glass of wine: "Do you regret acknowledging your ancestors and returning to the clan?"

Xiang Fei shook his head: "I just didn't expect... it would be revealed in this manner."

"Ah Fei," Xiang Yan said solemnly, "the Xiang family will not interfere with your career, but the clan will forever be your backing."

Amid the clinking of glasses, father and son exchanged a smile.