Chapter 396

Xu Yanfeng stared at the phone lying there, his eyes flickering slightly, with no intention to answer.

Still, Xia Xi reminded him: "Answer it. Maybe it's about your mother."

He heard her words, picked up the phone, but still hesitated a few seconds before pressing the answer key. His tone was flat, without any emotional fluctuation: "Hello."

Xu Guanshan's voice carried a hint of fatigue, not as vigorous as before: "When do you have time? Let's meet."

Xu Yanfeng moved his lips, but ultimately said nothing.

Xu Guanshan seemed to understand his refusal, adding: "This concerns the Xu Clan; I need to make things clear to you."

Xu Yanfeng thought for a moment and replied: "Tomorrow morning."

Xu Guanshan had no objection: "Then it's tomorrow morning."

Father and son had nothing more to say; both sides fell silent, and Xu Guanshan was the first to hang up.

Xia Xi took this matter with Xu Guanshan in stride from start to finish, but also had no intention of advising Xu Yanfeng, as he had his own considerations. She wrapped both arms around his arm, pressed her face against it, and silently comforted him.

Xu Yanfeng placed his palm on her head, gently stroking it a few times: "I'm fine."

He didn't know whether Xu Guanshan's "concerning the Xu Clan" was genuine or merely an excuse; given that he and Zhong Yinghong were about to divorce, what could he possibly have to explain…

The phone rang once; Xia Xi moved, picked it up, glanced at it, and immediately sat up startled.

Xu Yanfeng found her action somewhat puzzling, giving her a confused look.

Xia Xi explained to him: "I promised to help Liang Yuan with a small favor, but I forgot."

Liang Yuan bellowed in the group: "Big sis, you said you'd call me just now—where did you go? @Xia Xi"

Zhao Lei: "I'd like to help you, but it's too noisy here; I'm afraid of giving myself away if I call."

Xia Xi: "Sorry, something came up and delayed me; I'm here, I'm here."

After replying in the group, Xia Xi immediately dialed Liang Yuan's phone and put on an act: "Liang Yuan? Xiao Liu suddenly had something come up and asked for leave; we're short-staffed here—do you think you could come back to cover the shift?"

Xu Yanfeng, watching her put on the act from the side, burst out laughing.

Xia Xi lifted her eyelids, just happened to see his expression, almost laughed herself, she desperately pressed her lips together to hold back laughter, and glared at him.

Xu Yanfeng acted a little innocent, as if he hadn't done anything.

On the other end of the line, Liang Yuan was very cooperative, deliberately speaking loudly: "Manager Xia, I've gone back to my hometown, but rest assured, work is still important—I'm buying a ticket back now and will be at work on time tomorrow."

Xia Xi: "Mm, that'll do."

After the call ended, Xia Xi pinched the person next to her: "Why are you suddenly looking at me and laughing? I almost blew it."

"I think your acting has regressed." Xu Yanfeng curled his lip, bringing up old scores: "When we reunited, you acted in front of me, and it was superb—you showed no trace of performance, making me think you truly didn't care about me."

Xia Xi pinched him hard, feeling guilty and embarrassed: "Can't we not mention this?"

"Fine, I won't bring it up." Xu Yanfeng stared into her eyes, half-smiling: "I won't mention it from now on."

Xia Xi then felt satisfied, taking advantage of Zi Heng not looking at them, she leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips, saying softly: "A reward for you."

Xu Yanfeng glanced at her, and the corner of his lips that she had kissed rose up.

The next morning, Xu Yanfeng went out to see Xu Guanshan.

The meeting place was not at the old residence; it was set by Xu Guanshan at a tea house with a tranquil environment.

Xu Guanshan loved tea; he knew all the refined tea houses in Nancheng like the back of his hand, and he had even long-term rented tea rooms in several of them for meeting old friends or discussing matters.

At the tea room door stood an assistant who had followed Xu Guanshan for decades; seeing Xu Yanfeng approach, he bowed respectfully: "General Manager Xu."

Xu Yanfeng gave a slight nod.

The assistant opened the tea room door and invited him in.

Xu Yanfeng entered the tea room; besides Xu Guanshan, there was a sharply dressed elite professional. Xu Yanfeng had a good memory—at a glance he recognized him as the lawyer surnamed Yuan who had previously handled Xu Guanshan's private affairs.

Xu Guanshan gestured to the opposite seat: "Sit."

Xu Yanfeng unfastened one button of his suit with one hand and sat down.

Xu Guanshan picked up the teapot to pour him tea, casually remarking: "I've met Xia Xi twice, both times here." Now that the matter has been brought out into the open, he no longer avoids this topic.

Xu Yanfeng looked around, beginning to scrutinize the setting; his mind naturally conjured the image of Xia Xi alone, face-to-face with Xu Guanshan in negotiation—how helpless and desperate it must have been. His expression unconsciously revealed a hint of coldness.

Xu Guanshan had been in a position of superiority all his life, never admitting he was wrong, and still is so. Even though his marriage has been declared a failure, his son and he are nearly estranged.

"I have my considerations; you two really aren't suitable…"

He had barely begun when Xu Yanfeng ruthlessly cut him off: "If my mother didn't have a family background matching yours, even if you had feelings for her, you wouldn't have married her, would you?"

Without waiting for Xu Guanshan's reply, Xu Yanfeng added: "She has been devoted to you for decades, wholeheartedly."

Even if you uttered a single "yes," it would be a disservice to her decades of devotion to you.

If you had any heart at all, you should be able to feel her intentions.

Unless you're not human and lack a heart.

Xu Guanshan indeed found himself unable to speak.

He and his son hold incompatible views, destined never to discuss these topics.

After downing a cup of tea, Xu Guanshan spoke of his true purpose in summoning him: he would transfer all his equity to him, thereafter letting him fully take over the Xu Clan, after which he would intervene no longer and withdraw completely.

Sorting out the details of his assets will take some time; after his divorce from Zhong Yinghong, they will be divided equally, giving her half.

Xu Yanfeng remained silent for a long time, then took the contract handed over by the lawyer, reviewed it from beginning to end; the last page already bore Xu Guanshan's signature. He would not foolishly refuse, took out the pen he carried, and signed his name decisively.

Xu Guanshan seemed to exhale in relief, leaning back in the armchair, thinking Xu Yanfeng would refuse all his gifts out of anger toward him.

"When will you hold the wedding?" Xu Guanshan poured himself another cup of tea and asked casually.

They had mentioned a wedding date in earlier chats, but had never formally discussed and settled on it.

"Not yet decided; I'll wait for her to decide." Xu Yanfeng capped his pen.

Xu Guanshan opened his mouth, then swallowed the words again; his wedding would probably not invite him.

After a while, Xu Guanshan opened his mouth again, saying: "Your child… let me see them someday." After all, he is his only grandchild-generation descendant, and he has never met them.

Xu Yanfeng curled his lip and said lightly: "If it weren't for your decision back then, he ought to have been born into a happy, stable environment, rather than in a foreign land, with no relatives nearby, mother and son both struggling. I ought to be grateful that my son is sensible, blaming me rather than hating me; otherwise I would regret your decision for the rest of my life."

Zi Heng initially held resentment toward him; even knowing he was his father, he refused to get close. Zi Heng had lived with Xia Xi since birth, never seeing a father figure in his world. As his father, he had never accompanied or cared for him a single day—his resentment was utterly normal.

That child was so sensible it made one's heart ache; he longed for paternal love but never showed it. Later, after spending much time together, Zi Heng began to try trusting him, getting close, relying on him, and now he can be intimate without any grudge, even able to banter with him, and his guilt and regret have likewise lessened.

Xu Guanshan stared blankly for a long while; when he finally came to, Xu Yanfeng had already left the tea room, leaving only a signed contract on the table.

That cup of tea Xu Yanfeng never touched; it had stopped steaming, and its aroma had faded.