Chapter 65: It Is Already Over

"Where is Qin Xingwan, the lit... why hasn't she arrived yet?"

Madam Chu swallowed the inappropriate three words back down.

Because Chu Li had previously limited her card's credit, she only dared to curse in her heart at this moment.

Her gaze shifted, and seeing Qin Yunshu not far away, she said crossly, "Today is just a private banquet for our family; what is she doing here?"

She called for someone to come and drive Qin Yunshu away.

Chu Li stopped them and said indifferently, "I asked her to come."

He took a glass of wine from a waiter's tray, took a sip, and his mood improved quite a bit.

Madam Chu observed her son's expression, and seeing that he was in a good mood, she stopped dwelling on why Qin Yunshu was here.

She urged, "Miss Cheng is very good; you should interact with her properly."

Chu Li was noncommittal and couldn't be bothered to explain those matters to Madam Chu.

Old Master Chu walked over leaning on his cane; he had specially worn a red Tang suit today, and his presence was imposing.

He was just asking about Qin Xingwan's location.

Anyone could see that he was in a good mood.

Chu Li tossed his wine glass to a waiter and walked toward the Old Master.

"She won't be coming," his voice was very low, audible only to Old Master Chu.

Old Master Chu's expression turned cold, "What did you do?"

"Grandfather, let's step aside to talk," Chu Li's smile was steady and proper.

Old Master Chu felt a moment of trance; the boy who had once fought his way to him for the sake of inheritance now faintly possessed the bearing he had in his own youth.

He instructed his subordinates to go find Qin Xingwan, while he himself went to the nearby lounge with Chu Li.

As soon as they entered, Old Master Chu's cane struck heavily against Chu Li's back.

"Where is she?"

Chu Li felt a burning pain in his back, yet his expression did not change in the slightest; he looked at his grandfather, his thin lips curling into a hint of mockery.

"When you were young, Grandfather, you betrayed someone's affections; must you now sacrifice my happiness to make up for it?"

Old Master Chu was silent; had Chu Li actually found out?

He was worthy of being the heir he had chosen... he felt a touch of pride.

He turned and sat on the sofa, his gaze gloomy, and he scolded unceremoniously, "You don't have a damn bit of happiness."

"That girl only agreed to be my god-granddaughter on the condition of a divorce," Old Master Chu mentioned this, feeling nothing but contempt for his grandson's so-called happiness, "You bullied her to that extent, and you still have the face to drag it out and not divorce?"

"You don't have much face either," Chu Li retorted flatly.

"You..." Old Master Chu's face fell.

Chu Li hadn't come here to talk with Old Master Chu to argue about who was more shameless.

He was here to solve the problem.

"Xingwan and I cannot divorce; I advise you to give up that thought."

Old Master Chu snorted coldly; the wolf cub had grown up and could now threaten people, "So many people have come today; you say it won't work, so it won't work? Where do you expect me to put my face?"

"Pick someone else."

Old Master Chu frowned; he had accepted Qin Xingwan as his granddaughter to please Qin Nainai, so how could he just pick someone else at will?

Besides, those others were not worthy.

"Qin Yunshu," Chu Li raised his eyes, looking at Old Master Chu with a calm expression, "Although she is not as favored by Grandmother as Xingwan is, she is still Grandmother's granddaughter."

Old Master Chu narrowed his eyes; Chu Li had said this so lightly...

He had a guess in his heart.

"You had this plan all along?"

Chu Li's handsome, prominent brows were somewhat shadowed under the light, "Isn't this quite good? You have the granddaughter you wanted, and Xingwan is still my wife."

"As far as I know, Xingwan and Qin Yunshu do not have a good relationship; have you thought about the consequences if she finds out about this?" Old Master Chu pointed out the crux of the problem with a single needle.

Chu Li lowered his eyes; he had thought about it.

But after thinking it over and over, there was no better way.

He could not bear to watch her draw a line between them.

He and she had plenty of time in the future; he believed he could slowly win back her heart.

"You only need to acknowledge Yun Shu today," Chu Li said indifferently.

Old Master Chu watched Chu Li quietly for a long time, his murky eyes holding a trace of a sigh; he remembered his own youth.

Back then, he had also been so certain that she would forgive him, believing they would still have a future.

But in the end, he had ultimately compromised with time.

Ever since then, he had regretted it for many years.

Half an hour later, Old Master Chu walked out, supported by Chu Li.

He scanned everyone present, and finally, his gaze locked onto the girl behind the crowd, announcing emotionlessly, "The granddaughter I wish to acknowledge is... Qin Yunshu."

A smile bloomed on Qin Yunshu's face as she lifted her skirt and stepped forward from behind the crowd.

Madam Chu gripped her wine glass tightly, whispering in disbelief, "How could it be her?"

The Old Master had clearly said it was Qin Xingwan that day.

Suddenly, she looked at her son, thinking of the more than half an hour he had just spent in the lounge with the Old Master.

So, it was Chu Li's idea.

Madam Chu felt deeply depressed; she saw her son's determination not to divorce.

Qin Yunshu stood beside Old Master Chu and called out gently and respectfully, "Grandfather."

Old Master Chu nodded indifferently, signaling the butler to present a box containing a jade bracelet worth a million.

"This is a gift for our first meeting, take it."

Qin Yunshu took it with pleasant surprise and thanked him in a crisp voice: "Thank you, Grandfather."

Old Master Chu waved his hand and left, leaning on the butler's arm.

It was more or less somewhat cold.

Qin Yunshu felt a bit puzzled; she walked to Chu Li's side, "A Li."

It was Chu Li who had asked her to come here, and only after arriving did she know that Old Master Chu wanted to acknowledge a granddaughter; by then, she had already guessed the purpose of Chu Li asking her to come.

She knew this was the compensation Chu Li was giving her.

It was compensation for Qin Shen's departure.

Even though the people below were gossiping unpleasantly, she accepted it gladly.

Chu Li looked at her deeply and raised his arm slightly.

Qin Yunshu gladly reached out and took his arm.

Everyone's gaze fell upon them.

Chu Li's cold gaze swept over everyone: "From now on, Yun Shu is the young lady of the Chu family and my, Chu Li's, younger sister; no one is allowed to bully her."

Such a high-profile announcement was to back Qin Yunshu up and also to shatter those rumors and gossip.

Qin Yunshu gripped his arm tightly, tears in her eyes, and she softly called him: "Brother."

Chu Li raised his hand to stroke the top of her head, a trace of gentle smile at the corners of his eyes: "Little sister."

Madam Chu leisurely took a sip of red wine; she did not know if Qin Xingwan wanted to continue being A Li's wife or wanted to be the young lady of the Chu family, but she would definitely be very angry and disappointed.

Quite good, let them make a scene.

Once Chu Li cannot stand it anymore, he will still get a divorce.

Qin Xingwan sat in the room for a long time; the makeup on her face was no longer exquisite and was entirely disheveled.

She had not appeared at the recognition banquet, and she did not know if Old Master Chu would go back on his word and not help her get the divorce certificate.

She did not know if Grandmother would be worried.

Just as she was lost in wild thoughts, the door opened with a click.

Chu Li had returned.

Qin Xingwan stood up immediately, her gaze sweeping coldly over Chu Li, and she lifted her skirt hem to walk out the door.

The skirt hem brushed across Chu Li's instep.

Chu Li grabbed Qin Xingwan's wrist, and he said indifferently: "It is already over."