Chapter 580: Should We Cooperate?

But it would be different if the Madam stepped in.

Lady Qi and Shi Youxuan once had a friendship; although it wasn't deep, they could still speak to one another.

That is why Lady Qi came today with so many precious gifts, and although they were refused, she still stated her purpose later on.

This matter is not entirely unfeasible.

But the risk is just too great.

If successful, Qi Xiansheng would become the number one figure in L Country, and by then, the Sheng Family doing business in L Country would basically be making money while lying down!

But if it fails, it could also drag the Sheng Family into the abyss, beyond redemption.

Shi Youxuan did not agree immediately, nor did she express disagreement right away; she told Lady Qi that such a big matter had to be discussed with her husband, and it was not something that could be decided in a short time.

This answer was within Lady Qi's expectations.

As long as she wasn't refused immediately, there was hope.

With hope, the remaining matters would be easier to handle.

……

After Lady Qi left, Shi Youxuan immediately called her husband to tell him the purpose of Lady Qi's visit.

"Wait for me at home, I'll be back right away."

When Sheng Hanyu arrived home, Sheng Zichen trotted over on his short legs to welcome him: "Papa, Papa!"

The little guy's smile was very bright; because he was full, his little belly was rounded, and he was running around on the floor to digest his food.

"Son."

He bent down and took his son into his arms; hmm, the little guy had gotten heavier again.

"Where is Mommy?" Sheng Hanyu kissed his son's little cheek and asked.

Sheng Zichen pointed in the direction of the kitchen with his chubby little finger: "Mommy, making for Baobao, yummy."

His face carried a mysterious confidence, and his smile grew even brighter.

Sheng Hanyu's cheek twitched twice; his son was still too young and didn't understand his mother at all!

Could the food she made be called yummy?

Calling it dark cuisine would be polite; that was poisoning!

As the father and son were talking, Shi Youxuan came out of the kitchen.

"What are you two saying about me? I heard it while I was in the kitchen; you must be bad-mouthing me, right?"

Sheng Hanyu repeated what his son had just said: "I asked Erbao where you were; Zichen told me you were in the kitchen making him something yummy, and then I didn't say a single word, really, if you don't believe me, you can ask Zhang Ma."

There was no need to ask; Zhang Ma had already provided proof: "Yes, Madam, Sir didn't say a single word, and then you came out."

Shi Youxuan went to the kitchen, but of course, she didn't wash her hands to cook the soup herself.

She had the cook make chicken noodle soup for Sheng Hanyu.

His appetite had been a bit poor lately, so eating some noodles would be easy to digest.

The soup made from an old hen tasted delicious, but it required time, and it was just the right moment to discuss serious matters during this interval.

"Baobao, go play with Zhang Ma for a while; Mommy and Papa have things to discuss." Shi Youxuan told the child to go find Zhang Ma, but the little guy disagreed.

His two chubby little hands held his father's neck tightly and wouldn't let go: "No, Baobao wants to be with Papa, together."

Shi Youxuan: ……

Sheng Zichen spoke early and could express what he wanted to say very early on, but this was the first time he had said such a long sentence.

"Carry him in to listen together; consider it cultivating his ability to participate in big events early." Sheng Hanyu couldn't bear to watch Zichen cry; the little guy was so chubby and cute.

"No."

Shi Youxuan refused, her face sinking as she said to Zichen: "I will say this one last time, go find Zhang Ma to hold you."

Sheng Zichen was unwilling.

"Don't want to, like Papa, don't like Mommy—Baobao."

He hugged his father's neck tightly with his two chubby little hands, head-to-head with his father.

In other families, children this age are generally close to their mothers, but neither of Shi Youxuan's two children were.

Both Shi Ran and Sheng Zichen were close to their father, and relatively speaking, kept their mother at a respectful distance.

Because Sheng Zichen was raised by his grandmother from birth, he was better to his grandmother than to his mother.

The reason was simple: because she was strict.

Everyone else had kind and amiable grandparents, but Papa... Mommy was strict.

This couldn't be blamed on Shi Youxuan; she couldn't spoil them in everything. Children needed someone to teach them what they could do and what they couldn't, but often the person who was strict at the beginning was the one who didn't win the children's hearts.

Sheng Hanyu's heart softened; he didn't wait to plead for his son before receiving a warning look from his wife, so he gave up.

"Be good, go play with Zhang Ma first; Papa will accompany you in a while."

He reluctantly placed the soft little guy in his arms onto the floor. Sheng Zichen pursed his little mouth, tears filling his eye sockets as if they could roll down at any moment; he looked pitiful and opened his arms, waiting for his father to hold him.

The little appearance was weak, pitiful, and helpless; Sheng Hanyu couldn't bear to look, and if he looked again, he would definitely soften his heart and change his mind.

Shi Youxuan stood to the side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry; was it necessary?

It was only for a moment apart, and he had to make it feel like a life-and-death separation?

The more he was like this, the more she had to harden her heart; she couldn't let Sheng Zichen get his way.

If he got his way this time, it would be even harder to manage the next time he did this.

She said softly to her husband: "Hold your ground, and then watch."

Seeing that acting pitiful didn't work, Sheng Zichen immediately turned and walked toward Zhang Ma. The pitiful little look from just a moment ago was completely gone, and he said with a face full of smiles, soft and sweet: "Grandma, hold Baobao, go feed the sheep, look at the flowers, eat yummy."

The transition was especially natural; he flipped his face faster than turning a page!

Sheng Hanyu was stunned, and then his brows furrowed.

Only then did he discover that his son was actually this kind of child.

He has a face exactly like his, but his temperament is completely different.

The child was carried away by Zhang Ma, and Shi Youxuan said triumphantly: "How about it? Have you witnessed your son's 'ability' now?"

Sheng Hanyu: "This child will be under your care until he is three, and under my care after he is three; he must be strictly disciplined!"

His mind is too flexible; this is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

The advantage is that he will have a much stronger ability to adapt to society when he grows up, and the disadvantage is that his mind is too active, making it easy for him to be attracted to bad things.

"This is what you said, will you keep your word?" Shi Youxuan was quite happy; her husband finally thought the same way she did.

Sheng Hanyu: "Yes, I said it, and I will definitely keep my word."

In just a few words, the couple decided on Sheng Zichen's future education.

The little guy, who was already chasing butterflies outside, could never have imagined that his "miserable life" starting from the age of three was decided at this very moment.

The couple went to the Study to discuss matters; both of them had similar ideas, intending to wait and see how things developed and not participate blindly.

They had had enough of those days full of risks; now that the business was big enough and there was enough money to spend, the family being happy and complete together was better than anything else, and there was indeed no need to get involved in unknown risks.

However, they still needed to maintain their association with Lady Qi; as long as it did not involve matters of principle, they would help with small things if they could—it was just a matter of a small effort!

……

The next morning.

At the appointed time, Lady Qi came again.

This time there was not as much pomp as yesterday; she only brought two bodyguards and drove two cars.

Shi Youxuan stood at the courtyard gate to welcome her, just as she had yesterday.

The car door opened, and after Lady Qi got out, Qi Heng emerged from the car.

Having not seen him for three years, Qi Heng had changed a lot.

First of all, he was taller and stronger.

Then, his face no longer had that naive, round-faced look from his childhood, and there was a maturity in his eyes that did not match his age!

"Hello, Auntie." Qi Heng greeted her very politely, and according to the customs of L Country, he pressed his palms together above his head and performed a very standard bow.