Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"Alright, the voting will now begin."

The other candidates received only a scattering of votes, with the majority concentrated on Shangguan Hong and Third Uncle Yan Dingxuan.

"...Shangguan Hong, one hundred and forty-seven votes. Yan Dingxuan, one hundred and thirty-nine votes."

There were 355 votes in total, all cast by citizen and student delegates.

As per the procedure, the final step required votes from several family heads. Each head's ballot was worth ten votes, for a total of fifty additional votes.

Xie Yunshen was increasingly convinced that this was clearly a game of political calculus among the elite.

It was obvious that the candidates from other families were effectively out of the running. The moment of truth had arrived: they had to choose sides between Top Star Gate and the Yan family.

The other families dared not offend Top Star Gate. The Yan family's ten votes alone could not change the outcome.

"Now, please have the heads of the major families cast their ballots into the box."

A staff member carried the box along the front row, and the family heads dropped in their numbered ballots.

Yan Shiqi cast his ballot, marked with Third Uncle's number, into the box.

Third Uncle, sitting nearby, said to Yan Shiqi and A Shen, "Shiqi, A Shen, when we go back later, don't mention the election results in front of Shixin. I hope he has already forgotten about this."

Proving himself to his son was Third Uncle's biggest motivation for running. Now, knowing he was likely to lose, he didn't want to disappoint his son.

Xie Yunshen said, "It's not necessarily a loss yet."

Yan Dingxuan smiled. "I'm quite pleased with this result as it is. At least it proves the Yan family's strength."

"I wouldn't count the Yan family out just yet." Yan Shiqi's gaze was fixed on the ballot box.

Xie Yunshen saw the determined, calm sharpness and brilliance in his eyes.

His own heart seemed to be infected, igniting a glimmer of hope.

"We now announce the results: Shangguan Hong, one hundred and sixty-seven votes. Yan Dingxuan, one hundred and sixty-nine votes."

"Mr. Yan will assume the position of Chamber of Commerce President of City A."

When the official announced the result, Third Uncle was still somewhat incredulous. However, amidst the applause, he quickly stood up, his expression solemn yet pleased, gesturing to the audience and the students.

Xie Yunshen looked towards the family heads on the right. Third Uncle received thirty votes, meaning two other heads had voted for the Yan family.

Shangguan Hong sat not far away in the same row, also smiling and applauding. He clapped slowly and deliberately, his smile concealing restrained anger, his eyes gleaming with a cold light.

Yan Shiqi and Third Uncle were soon surrounded by reporters and well-wishers.

The position of Chamber of Commerce President of City A was, for the current Yan family, like adding wings to a tiger.

Many people, finding they couldn't get close to Yan Shiqi, even began to curry favor with Xie Yunshen.

"Mr. Xie, we met once before at Madam Zhu's birthday banquet..."

Xie Yunshen chose to ignore them, quietly creating a safe perimeter for Yan Shiqi.

The reporters' cameras kept flashing.

Xie Yunshen hadn't seen such a chaotic mob scene in a long time.

At that moment, two men in black directly cleared a path through the reporters from the outer edge, and Shangguan Hong came into view.

He walked calmly up to Yan Shiqi, smiling as he extended his hand. "Patriarch Yan, and Mr. Yan Dingxuan, congratulations. The Yan family's influence is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore."

This guy brings several experts with him whenever he goes out now, Xie Yunshen thought.

It fell to Third Uncle to shake his hand.

Yan Shiqi said, "Mr. Shangguan, fortune doesn't always favor the same person."

Shangguan Hong's gaze suddenly fell on Xie Yunshen, sharp and piercing.

"The figure beside you... the more I look, the more familiar it seems." His words were slow, laden with meaning.

Xie Yunshen said, "Of course it's familiar. After all, your Tibetan Mastiff was defeated by me. Isn't he here?"

"Yes, he is a useless waste. You will never see him again." When Shangguan Hong said this, his attitude was so humble it sent chills down one's spine.

And the statement itself was terrifying upon closer thought.

Shangguan Hong's gaze was profound as he forced the slightest curve of a smile and said to Yan Shiqi, "Mr. Yan, I must take my leave now. The police have informed me that there is an important lead regarding the identity of Black Impermanence."

Was he saying this deliberately for him to hear?

On the way back, Xie Yunshen asked about the voting.

"It was the Chen and Bai families who voted for us."

As he said this, Yan Shiqi even took out his phone and sent two thank-you messages to Patriarch Bai and Patriarch Chen.

"Aren't they afraid of Top Star Gate anymore?"

"Since the failed prophecy during the bidding incident, Top Star Gate's prestige has waned, but their actions have grown increasingly reckless. They will inevitably self-destruct sooner or later. Besides, the Chen and Bai families owe us favors. Their siding with the Yan family today was a necessary choice."

A necessary choice. So, the previous intentional investments and assistance to the Chen family were also to secure support for Third Uncle's campaign today?

Xie Yunshen looked at him with admiration. "So you already knew this outcome?"

Yan Shiqi said, "No, I didn't know. I just tried my best to increase the probability of winning. Of course, if the vote gap had been too large, those twenty votes from the Chen and Bai families wouldn't have made a difference. If they had voted for Shangguan Hong instead, the Yan family would have had nothing to say."

But precisely because the votes were so close, they were forced to take a side early.

Xie Yunshen listened attentively while looking at him. "Mr. Yan, you're truly amazing."

Yan Shiqi looked out the window. "It's just the most basic duty of being a family patriarch."

Xie Yunshen emphasized, "I think you do it better than anyone else."

Regardless, the Yan family was now gradually escaping the tragic fate depicted in the novel.

Yan Shiqi looked at him and suddenly said to the front, "Today, I'll go visit my mother."

The driver said, "Alright, Mr. Yan."

On the highway, the driver headed towards the southern district. After exiting the highway, he stopped in front of a vast cemetery.

Before that, the driver first stopped at a nearby flower shop to buy a bouquet of tulips.

"My mother loved tulips the most when she was alive."

Xie Yunshen followed Yan Shiqi as they walked past rows of small grave houses.

Desolate trees, a cold sky.

The original novel didn't describe Yan Shiqi's mother in much detail; Xie Yunshen only knew she had died young.

Xie Yunshen looked at the youthful face on the tombstone.

Yan Shiqi placed the flowers before the tombstone and lit a stick of incense.

Xie Yunshen deliberately kept his distance, standing about ten meters away.

It seemed this cemetery had professional caretakers. Every tombstone was clean and tidy, some even with fresh offerings and flowers.

Yan Shiqi stood before the tombstone, gazing at his mother's photo.

"Today, Third Uncle became the Chamber of Commerce President. Everything in the Yan family is also fine. Don't worry about me. Someone is protecting me."

His gaze flickered toward Xie Yunshen not far away, then returned to the tombstone. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, submerged in pain.

"I'm also... doing well. The insomnia has eased up a lot recently, and it's been a long time since I've had a headache." He sighed softly, closed his eyes, his voice carrying an undeniable tremor: "If you truly have a spirit in heaven... can you tell me... am I your child? Am I a child of the Yan family?"

The voice was too soft, like a heart that had been ill for a long time, slowly, thread by thread, drawing out a painful sound.

He pressed his forehead against the stone tablet.

Xie Yunshen noticed Yan Shiqi's emotions seemed off. Although he couldn't hear the words clearly and couldn't see any expression of pain on his profile, he could still feel that heavy, oppressive weight.

He hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't step forward to interrupt him.

*Splat!* A fat raindrop landed on Xie Yunshen's hand.

The previously calm sky suddenly started pouring.

Yan Shiqi kept his eyes closed, unmoving. More and more raindrops pattered against his neck and the top of his head.

Suddenly, the rain stopped.

"Mr. Yan, let's head back quickly." A voice sounded beside him.

Yan Shiqi opened his eyes, feeling a shadow cover his head.

It wasn't that the rain had stopped; it was Xie Yunshen holding his own jacket over Yan Shiqi's head.

"In this weather, getting caught in the rain can easily make you sick," Xie Yunshen said worriedly.

Yan Shiqi turned his head to look at him.

Xie Yunshen saw this always proper and steady patriarch of the Yan family, his hair wet from the rain, a strand fallen onto his forehead.

His slightly furrowed brows, dampened by the rain, appeared even darker and more handsome. His usually composed eyes held a rare trace of confusion at this moment.

Xie Yunshen sighed inwardly.

Yan Shiqi stood up, having already regained his usual calm. "Let's go."

Xie Yunshen did his best to hold the jacket over him. Raindrops pattered loudly on the fabric overhead.

Although the two walked quickly, the jacket could only cover so much. Xie Yunshen's shoulder and half his body were already soaked. It looked as if Mr. Yan was taking shelter under his shadow.

When the driver hurried over with an umbrella, he saw this scene. He froze for a second, startled by his own inexplicable thought.

Xie Yunshen even cheerfully teased him: "You came just in time, arriving before we got ninety percent soaked."

The driver held the umbrella over them. "I came as fast as I could."

Once in the car, Yan Shiqi finally took off his wet jacket, but his pants were also damp.

Xie Yunshen was soaked from head to toe.

A heavy rain enveloped the bustling City A.

The weather seemed to be getting colder.

The nearest hotel was still twenty minutes away.

Xie Yunshen suddenly remembered that his luxury mansion was very close by, only about a five-minute drive. They could just go there to change clothes.

So, after getting Yan Shiqi's approval, the driver headed to Xie Yunshen's "Heavenly Palace" mansion.

Previously, Xie Yunshen had planned for his grandfather to move in and had people prepare some daily necessities and clothes for them to keep there.

But later, because Shang Guanhong was there, that plan was put on hold.

However, the things were still there.

"This place definitely can't compare to the Yan estate. We'll leave right after changing. Mr. Yan, please make do for now." Xie Yunshen led him inside, offering him the master bedroom while he went to the adjacent room.

He rummaged through the clothes in the walk-in closet with great urgency.

There was one set of new clothes, but they were unwashed. Not suitable for Mr. Yan.

There was another set he had worn once, but they were washed very clean, practically like new...

Xie Yunshen shook his head. That didn't seem very appropriate either.

After some hesitation, he finally grabbed both sets.

"Mr. Yan, which one?" He held one set in each hand, rushing over like the wind.

His expression was as serious as if choosing which company to acquire next.

Yan Shiqi took the set that was "practically like new." "You've worn these?"

"Although... yes, but they're washed very clean! No odor at all!" Xie Yunshen hurriedly explained.

"It's fine," Yan Shiqi smiled.

Oh, he smiled. That meant the situation wasn't too bad.

Xie Yunshen thought to himself.