Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Xie Ci snatched the knife from Xie Qian's hand, finally easing the tension in the hall.

Xie Hongguang quickly called for medical staff to come and treat Xie Cheng's wound. Thinking of Xie Qian's actions just now, he felt waves of dread.

He thought it was just a regular fight between the brothers, but he didn't expect Xie Qian to really have murderous intent. If they hadn't stopped him in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Xie family matriarch was so scared her legs gave out. She rushed over to support Xie Cheng and, seeing Xie Qian standing there with a cold expression, she slapped him a few times, crying and scolding him: "You're brothers! How could you be so reckless!"

Xie Qian let her strike him, his mind kept replaying Xie Ci's words, "I would have no father then." His hands hanging by his side slowly clenched.

Xie Ci, seeing this, slightly turned to shield Xie Qian: "That's enough, don't you think?"

The old lady stepped back a couple of steps, sobbing as she questioned Xie Qian: "You haven't been home in years, and as soon as you return, you beat up A'Cheng like this. You were so well-behaved as a child, how could you become like this now?!"

"You should ask your precious son what he's been up to," Xie Ci looked at Xie Cheng and coldly asked, "Didn't I tell you to stop bothering my dad?"

Xie Cheng sat amidst the broken plates and glasses, being treated by a medic.

"I said if you don't release Jinyan, none of us will get off easy."

"So you want to destroy Xiao Ci too?!" Xie Qian shouted angrily, "From the past till now, you never reflect on whether you've done anything wrong, always blaming others for everything!"

It was indeed related to Xie Jinyan.

Xie Ci turned to ask Xie Qian: "What did he send you?"

Xie Qian's eyes darted, hesitating as he pulled out his phone, but his hands were trembling from the fight, almost dropping the phone.

Xie Ci quickly caught it, flipping to the message page, and saw a photo. It was taken the night they rescued Jiang Chenyu, in the private room, possibly cropped, showing only him and the naked man.

"He threatened me with the photo," Xie Qian glared at Xie Cheng, emphasizing each word, "If I didn't persuade you to let Xie Jinyan go, he would release the photo to the media, ruining your reputation!"

"What photo, with such a big impact?" Gu Yufeng took the phone from Xie Ci's hand, casually saying, "Let me take a look."

Seeing it was Gu Yufeng, Xie Qian hurriedly tried to grab the phone: "The photo's fake, Xiao Gu, don't look!"

Gu Yufeng avoided his hand, glanced at the screen, and wasn't impressed: "This? I thought it was a bedroom shot of President Xie."

Xie Ci: "..."

No shame.

Gu Yufeng's indifferent attitude confused Xie Qian, leaving him at a loss.

Afraid of misunderstanding, Xie Qian emphasized: "This is a photo they made, it's not real! Xiao Ci wouldn't do such a thing."

"It's real," Gu Yufeng said with a smile, "I've seen it from different angles."

Xie Qian was stunned.

He thought the photo was fake, thought Gu Yufeng would mind. But the photo was real, and Gu Yufeng didn't seem to care at all.

Xie Ci looked at Xie Qian's expression, guessing the old man's thoughts.

If such a photo were released, it might not necessarily affect his career, but it would definitely impact his relationship.

The old man had just approved his relationship with Gu Yufeng, and then received such a photo. He was probably worried that he and Gu Yufeng would break up because of this, hence his anger. After all, his own family was torn apart by the Xie family, and with old and new grudges combined, he completely lost control.

Xie Ci turned to Xie Cheng: "I'm telling you for the last time, whether Xie Jinyan can be let out is not up to me. As for the photos, do whatever you want with them."

"It's best to release them now," Gu Yufeng turned the screen towards Xie Hongguang and his wife, who were curiously looking over, "Let everyone see the debauched life your Xie family's eldest son is living."

As he spoke, Gu Yufeng looked at Xie Cheng and smiled: "You're clever enough to know that sending such photos to President Xie wouldn't be threatening, so you turned to Xie Qian, an outsider."

The elderly lady was confused, seeing Xie Cheng's stern face and silence, she was puzzled and somewhat angry at Gu Yufeng, an outsider, discussing Xie family matters: "The person in the photo is Xiao Ci; what does that have to do with my Jinyan?!"

"You don't know?" Gu Yufeng glanced over Xie Hongguang and his wife, feigning surprise, "You know nothing, yet you're here blaming Xie Qian? What's wrong with you?"

Blamed by an outsider, Xie Hongguang and his wife looked displeased.

Jiang Chenyu followed Gu Yufeng over, leaned over to glance at the photo, and was furious, pointing at Xie Cheng and scolding: "How dare you threaten President Xie with this photo?! I've got the whole video, Xie Jinyan had someone drug me, President Xie came to save me, Xie Jinyan hit someone in public to hush it up, everything was recorded! If you release it, we'll see who ends up disgraced!"

Xie Qian, not understanding, quietly asked Xie Ci: "What's going on?"

Jiang Chenyu eagerly explained to Xie Ci what had happened that night.

As Xie Qian listened, his face grew increasingly grim, disappointed to the extreme, his questions became weak, leaving only an increasingly cold heart.

"Twisting the truth, using any means to reach your goals, not even sparing family—that's your style."

Xie Hongguang, having figured out the whole story, angrily questioned Xie Cheng: "Can't you talk to me before you act?!"

"I'm fifty fucking years old; do I still need to report everything to you?!" Xie Cheng suddenly slammed the table and shouted.

Xie Hongguang's cane thudded on the carpet, louder than Xie Cheng's voice: "It's because you won't talk to me that you keep doing such stupid things!"

Back and forth, father and son started arguing.

Xie Ci had no interest in listening to their shouting, and asked: "So, manipulating Mingjian Gallery behind the scenes, lowering Dad's work prices, even hoarding works—was that your decision?"

Xie Hongguang, red with anger, first looked puzzled, then turned to Xie Cheng as he realized.

No need to ask; from his expression, he'd already guessed the answer.

"You did this? Why would you do that?!"

Xie Cheng remained silent, which was a tacit admission.

Hearing this for the first time, Xie Qian suddenly found it laughably ridiculous.

After all these years, what had he still expected from this family?

"Let's go," said Xie Qian, turning to pat Xie Ci, looking exhausted. "We're going back."

Having asked all he needed to, Xie Ci also didn't plan to continue getting involved in the Xie family's mess.

Seeing them about to leave, the old lady panicked, chasing after to stop Xie Qian: "A Qian, won't you stay? A Cheng was wrong, I'll make him apologize to you, what conflict can't be resolved between brothers?"

But Xie Qian didn't look back, not wanting to say a word.

The old lady pleaded bitterly a few more times, then started crying: "It's all because of that woman, you've become like this! You were so sensible and obedient as a child, and got along so well with A Cheng, if it weren't for her—"

"I just wanted your approval, that's why I listened to everything you said," Xie Qian stopped, "I was never affirmed, no matter what achievements I made, you always thought it wasn't good enough, as long as I didn't follow the path you set, everything I did was wrong."

"I'm not cut out for business, I'm not interested in those things in the business world, and I can't do them, but no matter how many times I said it, you didn't believe me, all I got was blame."

Xie Qian looked at the small patch of sky through the window at the end of the corridor, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Even if I hadn't met Xiao Man, I planned to stand on my own, marriage was just a catalyst, but you blamed all the faults on Xiao Man, repeatedly causing her trouble, I took her away from your sight, had a relatively stable income, and a child, thinking we could finally settle down, but you still wouldn't let go, insisting on tearing my life apart."

"You used to say you'd take over the family business!" Xie Cheng shouted angrily from behind. "You said you would take over so I could do what I wanted!"

"How old was I when I said that? Eight? Or ten? Who doesn't have childhood fantasies?" Xie Qian replied calmly. "As for you, if you want something, you need to have the guts to go after it yourself. You can't blame others. I'm indebted to Xiao Man, I'm indebted to Xiao Ci, but I don't owe you anything."

As Xie Qian walked away resolutely, Xie Cheng hurried after him.

"Brother!" Xie Cheng called out, his eyes red, choking out the words, "I just want you to come back."

Xie Qian: "There's no going back now."

"A Qian!" Xie Hongguang also ran after him.

The elderly couple cried and begged, desperate for Xie Qian to stay. Xie Ci blocked them, his tone calm: "You forced him to come home, and now you've left him with nowhere to go."

Xie Hongguang and his wife hesitated, unable to speak.

"Let's call it quits and part ways with some dignity." After saying this, Xie Ci led Xie Qian out of the hall.

Xie Cheng followed them to the hall entrance, watching Xie Qian walk away. He slumped against the wall, sliding down weakly, and crouched in the corner, head in hands. A flood of childhood memories rushed through his mind.

Under their parents' iron-fisted rule, he and his brother had clung to each other, finding solace and strength to make life bearable. He'd thought they'd always stick together, but his brother had strayed, abandoning him.

When he should've stood by his brother, he'd sided with their parents, becoming part of the problem and even making it worse.

He'd assumed his brother would return if things didn't work out, but he'd underestimated his brother's resolve and the damage he'd done.

All these years, his brother had kept the same number, leaving him with a sliver of hope.

One misstep led to another, and now there was no turning back.

When they reached the hotel lobby on the first floor, before they could reach the door, a loud voice suddenly called out from outside.

"Captain Xie!" Xie Jinlin burst through the crowd, beaming, "It's really you! Remember me? I'm Xie Jinlin—I used to watch you play ball in high school!"

"I remember," Xie Ci said offhandedly, not in the mood to chat.

"I'm going pro now," Xie Jinlin said eagerly, "There's a game after New Year's—will you come?"

Xie Ci looked him up and down, noticing the club logo on Xie Jinlin's sports uniform.

"Did your dad approve of this?"

"No, I've loved basketball forever," Xie Jinlin grinned, "But my dad's into it too. He always wanted to go pro, so I'm living his dream."

Xie Ci was silent for a moment, then patted his shoulder: "Give it your all—I'll be there."

Xie Jinlin's eyes lit up: "You got it!"

People in the lobby were sneaking glances at Xie Ci and the others, eyeing Xie Qian's injuries and whispering about what might've happened.

The stares were too much, so Xie Ci didn't stick around. He and Gu Yufeng escorted their father out.

Seeing Jiang Chenyu about to follow them out, Jiang's father pulled him back and walked to a corner: "What happened? Is it resolved?"

Jiang Chenyu frowned and clicked his tongue: "After we finish this project, let's not work with the Xie family anymore. It's bad luck!"

On the way to the hospital, Xie Ci glanced through the rearview mirror at Xie Qian, who had been silent in the back seat.

Someone cold and heartless wouldn't feel depressed.

Even if you're battered and bruised, you can't completely cut the ties of blood.

Xie Ci looked away, unaware that Gu Yufeng in the passenger seat was watching him with a hint of concern.

After some tests at the hospital, Xie Qian was getting his wounds treated, while Xie Ci and Gu Yufeng waited on a bench in the hallway.

Noticing Xie Ci's serious expression, Gu Yufeng quietly hooked his little finger resting on Xie Ci's thigh and whispered, "Don't let their issues get to you. Don't feel guilty just because your dad's life isn't great either. His bad luck isn't on you, but yours is because of him."

Xie Ci held his slightly cold hand and tucked it under his coat to warm it. "I know."

Some things just don't have answers, and you won't find a perfect solution. You just have to look at them the right way, so you don't get stuck in the mud and can finally move on.

"Really?" Gu Yufeng looked at him.

"What kind of life is perfect? We're here now, so let's just make the best of it," Xie Ci said.

Gu Yufeng was amused. "Make the best of it? You're not happy with me?"

"I want to hear you play the violin," Xie Ci said, changing the subject.

"I'll play for you tonight when we get back," Gu Yufeng said casually, "but my rates are steep."

Xie Ci said seriously, "Will one box do?"

Gu Yufeng held up his hand: "This much?"

Xie Ci held out his palm, then flipped it over: "This much."

"..." Gu Yufeng silently turned his gaze away.

Xie Ci: "Scared?"

"When have I ever been scared?" Gu Yufeng braced himself.

Gu Yufeng's words lightened the mood, and Xie Ci chuckled softly. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked curiously, "Hey, what did you want to be when you were a kid?"

"A dream?"

Mentioning this, Gu Yufeng's eyes dimmed a bit, and the corners of his lips curled into a somewhat ironic smile. "A photographer? Most of the time, dreams are just fantasies—gone as soon as you think of them."

"As long as you can complete the assignments Catelyn gives you, she shouldn't restrict you from doing other things, right?"

Catelyn's tough, but she's not as controlling as Xie Hongguang and his wife. If you push back, Catelyn would give in for her kid, just like how she didn't agree with Gu Yufeng coming out but didn't make things difficult for them.

Gu Yufeng said earnestly: "But she'd never let me fly a bomber."

Xie Ci: "...Obviously."

Gu Yufeng asked Xie Ci: "What about you?"

Under Gu Yufeng's curious stare, Xie Ci rubbed his nose, avoiding eye contact awkwardly. "A painter."

Gu Yufeng tilted his head slightly closer, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "You say you hate your dad, but you're secretly a fan, huh."

"It's just a nice idea about parents I never knew."

Xie Ci cleared his throat. "But I figured out pretty quick I wasn't any good at it and quit."

Gu Yufeng: "But I loved those little doodles you used to draw on my tests."

Xie Ci: "Do you still remember?"

Just as they were talking, Xie Qian came out after treating his wound, and the three of them prepared to return to the studio first.

Xie Ci took the medicine from Xie Qian, hesitating to say anything.

Gu Yufeng noticed and spoke up on his behalf: "Uncle, since it's all clear with the Xie family, don't be sad anymore. If you're sad, President Xie will feel bad too."

Xie Qian looked at Gu Yufeng, then turned to look at Xie Ci: "I'm fine, seeing things clearly actually makes me feel more relaxed than before."

"That's good," Xie Ci said with a serious tone. "If grandpa gets convicted of a crime, the kid won't be able to take the civil service exam."

Gu Yufeng was about to nod, then paused: "What child are you talking about?"

Xie Ci glanced at Gu Yufeng's stomach and remained silent.

Gu Yufeng: "..."

Your child is no longer a concern, so no need to worry about the civil service exam.

It was already 5 PM when they returned to the studio. Gu Yufeng, mindful of Xie Qian's mood, wasn't planning to go in, but Xie Qian spoke first, asking him to stay for dinner.

Compared to five years ago, the studio had been completely renovated and looked very different.

Gu Yufeng trailed behind Xie Ci from the gallery to the backyard, where he was suddenly pounced on by Xiao Fang, almost falling over. He suddenly understood why Xie Ci had been urging him to exercise more.

Gu Yufeng absentmindedly patted the dog's head, implying: "No wonder I'm always hungry; turns out you're the one eating all the food."

Xiao Fang whimpered and nuzzled his palm.

Xie Qian, who was standing nearby, didn't get it and thought Gu Yufeng was really often hungry: "Xiao Gu, are you trying to control your weight? Being hungry all the time can mess up your stomach."

Gu Yufeng lifted his chin towards Xie Ci: "He never feeds me."

Xie Ci acted like he didn't understand: "If you want, I can feed you until you're as big as this."

Gu Yufeng: "..."