Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Two days later, it was Su Qianran's wedding banquet.

This wedding was grandly prepared, not just for the two individuals but also as a powerful alliance between their respective families.

Not only were elders and relatives invited, but anyone with connections in high society received an invitation as well.

The buzz outside had been building up for quite some time.

People often say that even a thin camel is bigger than a horse. The Yang family, with its foundation built over generations, seemed to be showing signs of revival under Yang Zhi’s leadership these past few years. Su Qianran rarely mentioned her relationship with Yang Zhi in front of Chen Mo, but this didn't mean Chen Mo was unaware of the numerous issues left behind by Yang Qi'an during his tenure. Despite the pressure Yang Zhi faced, he never pushed for a marriage certificate with Su Qianran, which made Chen Mo think he still had some decency.

Chen Mo left early that day.

He was going to pick up the old man ahead of time.

"It's rare to see you dressed so formally," the old man said with a smile upon seeing him.

Chen Mo looked down at his full suit—shirt, vest, jacket, and even cufflinks. He appeared serious on the surface but felt a bit ridiculous inside for overdoing it. After a brief pause, he stepped forward to take the old man's wheelchair from the servant and said, "It's a wedding after all. I'm attending as Qianran's family representative and a long-time business partner. It's only right to dress properly."

The old man's health had deteriorated significantly.

But today, dressed in a red and black Zhongshan suit, he looked more spirited.

He patted Chen Mo's hand on the wheelchair handle and said, "Five years ago, at your request, we blocked all reports about your connection with the Yang family. These past few years, you've completely severed ties with your parents, and I can see they have some genuine remorse. As for that child, I heard he went abroad and doesn't want to come back. Your parents have given up on him too."

"Are you trying to persuade me to reconcile?" Chen Mo pushed the old man out.

The old man shook his head, "I'm an old man, not living much longer. One generation shouldn’t interfere with the next. I hope you can truly let go of these matters and live well."

Chen Mo smiled, "Grandpa, I’m living pretty well."

"Really?" The old man turned to look at him, frowning. "You’re at the age where you should be dating. Yang Zhi is getting married; why haven’t you found someone?"

Chen Mo felt a headache coming on and changed the subject, "I’ve been swamped with work lately."

The old man wasn’t letting him off the hook, "You’re still thinking about that kid from the Xi family, aren’t you?"

And he phrased it as a statement.

"No," Chen Mo replied.

The old man: "Better not. Regardless of who started it back then, it was youthful ignorance. Considering the critical situation the Xi family was in, I now realize that you suffered the most in that situation. Since you decided to cut ties, it’s over. Move on and live your life. I’m not that old-fashioned; you don’t have to marry a girl, but you need someone close to you. You can’t live alone like this, spending all your time with your experiments."

The old man rarely spoke to Chen Mo about such matters.

After Chen Mo returned from parting ways with Xi Siyan five years ago, the old man never mentioned it again.

Today, perhaps influenced by Yang Zhi’s wedding, he brought it up.

Chen Mo kept smiling, "With what you’ve given me, I could live several lifetimes comfortably. How could I not live well?"

"Is that what I’m talking about?" The old man sounded frustrated.

After a moment, he continued, "I know you haven’t touched anything I gave you these past few years, and I know the Yangs have been pestering you privately. When I’m gone, if you can hold onto it, do so; if not, donate it all. Over the years, I’ve seen clearly that Yang Zhi might manage to keep the Yang family afloat if he tries hard enough. As for you, you chose the right path for yourself. No matter how hard the past was, moving forward and living well is what matters most."

Chen Mo tightened his grip on the wheelchair handle.

He remembered the old man saying similar words before passing away in his previous life.

The phrase "live well" sounded simple, but in his past life, it was a truth he never fully grasped until the end.

Chen Mo held the old man’s bony hand and said, "Grandpa, I understand."

"Good, good."

The old man’s slightly relieved murmur drifted in the wind. From Chen Mo’s perspective behind him, he deeply felt the cruelty of time.

Cherishing every weekend spent with the old man, Chen Mo was grateful for these moments of calm conversation.

Chen Mo delivered the old man to the hotel’s second-floor lounge for the wedding and handed him over to the caretakers before heading downstairs to find Old K and the others.

Only a few middle and upper-level executives from Xinrui attended.

For a company like Xinrui, which valued ability over connections, many of the middle and upper-level executives had risen from the bottom.

They were seated at a separate table near the center.

Su Qianran had thoughtfully included Chen Mo’s name on the list.

When Chen Mo arrived, the atmosphere at the table was lively.

"I knew President Su came from a wealthy family, but this is impressive. They say the wedding costs at least eight figures."

"Her husband’s family is probably even wealthier. The Yangs have been rich for generations."

"This is my first high-end wedding. I feel like a bumpkin in the city... Hey, Chen Mo, where did you disappear to this morning? Your phone was unreachable."

Chen Mo pulled out a chair between the sales manager and another executive and sat down.

"Nowhere special. Just went out to buy a new outfit. My usual clothes are too casual."

Everyone at the table turned to look at him.

"Looking sharp, Mo."

"Mr. Chen, you could directly be a groomsman."

"True, your usual clothes are quite casual. You look like a college student when you're not in the lab, even though you haven't graduated from Q University yet, hahaha."

"Just last time, when we went to meet with other companies, I pointed at Brother Mo and said that's Mr. Chen, and they didn't believe me!"

...

Chen Mo accepted all the teasing with a smile.

On this day, he took the most ordinary seat, becoming an ordinary guest at the ceremony.

The wedding ceremony had not officially begun yet.

Su Qianran and Yang Zhi, as the main characters, were greeting guests at the entrance of the hall.

Yang Qi'an and Zhou Yaoqing, along with Su Qianran's parents, were also present, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

Amidst this perfect scene, a sudden voice rang out.

"Dad, Mom, how come no one told me about my brother's wedding?"

This voice was deliberately raised.

Moreover, there were not just one or two people but seven or eight.

All dressed in professional suits, and all foreigners, they made quite an entrance. Standing at the front was none other than Yang Shule, who had been absent for years.

Yang Shule looked more mature but still had the air of someone accustomed to luxury. However, his once characteristic sunny demeanor seemed to have faded, replaced by a mysterious half-smile.

Everyone at Chen Mo's table was curious.

"Who is that?"

"Why are there foreigners following him, and why is he calling the groom's parents 'Dad' and 'Mom'? Does the Yang family have another son?"

Such questions were quickly answered by the discussions at the neighboring tables.

"That must be the Yang family's younger son, who went abroad a few years ago."

"He seems to be doing well."

"But how could they not inform the younger son about the elder son's wedding?"

"Don't you know? The Yang family situation is complicated. It seems their younger son was switched at birth, and it caused quite a stir back then."

"Is the one who just appeared the real son or the fake one?"

"I don't know. I think he's the fake one. I heard the real one doesn't get along with the Yang family, and you can't find any basic information about him online anymore."

From a distance, the Yang couple looked embarrassed under everyone's gaze.

They couldn't possibly tell anyone that they sent Yang Shule abroad because his reputation was ruined domestically, and he failed his college entrance exams, leaving him with no future. Additionally, the Xi family had sent away their own son, and Yang Qi'an, feeling a sense of duty, paid to send him to the same place, leaving his fate up to him.

At first, everything was calm.

Until Yang Shule kept asking for money, citing various reasons.

High living costs, not wanting to live on campus, and later demanding a house abroad. Whenever he didn't get the money, he would start cursing, losing control, and going berserk. Later, Yang Zhi found out that he was living a chaotic life abroad, with a messy personal life, associating with all sorts of unsavory characters, and developing a gambling addiction.

Yang Zhi tried to keep an eye on him and force him to quit gambling.

Yang Shule laughed and said, "I've always been like this, Brother. Don't you remember? I have gambler's blood running through my veins!"

After two years of mutual torment, Yang Shule suddenly cut off contact, saying he wouldn't return to the country again.

Now, his sudden appearance shocked the Yang family the most.

The couple had to smooth things over, explaining more to the surrounding people: "It's so far away, so we decided not to bother you with the trip. Why didn't you let us know you were coming back?"

Chen Mo sat calmly, watching the drama unfold.

He received a message from Su Qianran, who, amidst her busy schedule, couldn't help but vent to Chen Mo: "I'm going to throw up."

"Didn't you choose this yourself?" Chen Mo replied.

Su Qianran: "I don't live with them, so out of sight, out of mind. Who knew someone I thought was dead in some corner would come back? Yang Zhi is done for if he dares to meddle in this mess again."

Chen Mo glanced at Yang Zhi, who had remained expressionless since Yang Shule's appearance, clearly frowning.

He smiled and replied to Su Qianran: "So far, it looks like your training has been effective."

Just as he put away his phone, he noticed Yang Zhi looking in his direction.

That look was hard to decipher, as if slightly worried?

Worried about what?

Worried that Chen Mo might jump out and say Yang Shule wasn't his biological son and ruin the wedding?

Chen Mo stared back coldly, almost saying: Stop looking, you're sick.

Apart from Yang Shule's unexpected appearance, the wedding proceeded normally.

The crowd soon forgot about this minor incident.

People from the same company sitting together never ran out of topics, and Chen Mo's table was no exception.

He occasionally joined in, mostly engrossed in his phone messages. Sensing a slight pause in the atmosphere, Chen Mo felt a presence looming behind him, a kind of oppressive presence.

Turning on his heel out of reflex, he could only see the buttons on the other person's suit jacket.

It was clearly made of very expensive material.

Everyone at the table was a bit taken aback.

"Mr. Xi?"

"Mr. Xi, when did you arrive?"

...

No one dared to offer him a seat, knowing that his place would be close to the main table.

Xi Siyan looked down at the back of the head with black hair pressed against his waist, then smiled and looked up. "I just arrived. I need to talk to your President Chen about something."

Chen Mo, trying to act as if nothing had happened, turned around helplessly.

"What is it, Mr. Xi?"

As the representative of the new generation of the Xi family, who was already the center of attention at this wedding, he leaned over and whispered into Chen Mo's ear while holding onto his chair, "Don't leave after it's over. I want to introduce you to someone." As he straightened up to leave, he added, "You look great today, and your outfit is nice too."

The last remark was heard by everyone at the table.

"Mr. Xi has similar taste to us."

"Brother Mo looks quite striking today."

...

After taking a few steps, Xi Siyan's phone beeped.

The contact named "Silence Is Not Golden, It's Your Grandpa" finally sent a message after a long time.

Silence Is Not Golden, It's Your Grandpa: Middle finger.jpg

XSY: President Chen, mind your manners.