Xi Mushan put his empty glass down when Xi Xiaye asked him the question. He looked at Xi Xiaye and nodded. "Kind of. It's similar to the Xi family and the Han family. They are both big families in City Z."

Xi Xiate poured more wine for Xi Mushan while he went on.

When she was reminded about what Shen Yue had told her, Xi Xiaye thought that Xi Mushan might know a bit more, so she asked straightforwardly, "I heard that Qikai had some **** background before, and they cleansed their name afterward. Is the current Qikai the product after their cleansing?"

Xi Mushan's face was strained for a moment when he heard Xi Xiaye's question. He drank from the glass again before replying, "That's true, but it's been decades. Back then, **** was popular, but afterward, the government became strict with the law. Consequently, companies like Qikai were found out, but of course, the government could not get rid of all of them, so Qikai survived."

Xi Mushan paused, then went on, "Your grandfather was involved in this case back then. He was the head of the Inspection Department. All these years, Qikai had been working with Yueying. I'm not really sure about what's going on with the Qi family, but your grandfather should know more."

Xi Xiaye nodded. "Got it."

"Now that Glory World is challenging Qikai, aren't you guys confident?" Xi Mushan asked quietly, "The tender should be on the day after tomorrow. You guys don't have to be that nervous."

Xi Xiaye took a deep breath. "I've done what I could, and I did my best, so I'll let him handle the rest."

Xi Xiaye sipped some wine and asked. "Father, have you heard about the car accident involving the Qi family's eldest son, Qi Feng, that happened five years ago? I heard the current Master Qi is actually the second son of the Qi family..."

"The second son of the Qi family?"

Xi Mushan repeated the name and squinted his eyes. He swigged a bit of wine as a faint light flashed in his eyes. "Qi Feng... I've seen him before. Although he's Qi Qiming's illegitimate son, he held great importance in the Qi family, even higher than the current Qi Lei."

"Even higher than Qi Lei? Then, why didn't Qi Qiming marry Qi Feng's mother?" Xi Xiaye was puzzled.

"I'm not so sure about that. I only know that Qi Qiming treated Qi Feng very well. Some years ago, he had already decided to let Qi Feng take over Qikai. I heard Qi Feng was heavily injured after the accident, then I never heard about him anymore. I think he didn't make it."

Xi Xiaye did not ask any further questions. She downed her glass and looked at Xi Mushan opposite her, her hands clenched into fists as she placed them on her legs. She was struggling about whether she should say something.

Xi Mushan noticed that she was troubled and seemed to want to say something, but was holding herself back. "What's wrong? Speak if you have something to say. Don't keep it in."

Xi Xiaye took a deep breath and looked at Xi Mushan quietly. "Father, is it... really impossible for you and Mother to go back to before? I don't understand. You still love Mother, and Mother loves you too. How did this happen? Every time I see Mother's lonely expression, I..."

"She told you that she still loves me?"

Xi Mushan's grip around the glass tightened whilst a light flickered in his dark eyes as he stared at Xi Xiaye. She looked at him quietly, having caught the hope in his eyes that was slowly reviving.

After some time, Xi Xiaye nodded. "Mother wouldn't have stayed like this for so many years. Otherwise, she was just over 30 when she divorced you, and so many people were after her. Grandpa also introduced her to many successful entrepreneurs. They were all excellent, yet Mother's heart never moved. I think she's still hopeful."

Was she still feeling hopeful?

Xi Mushan's expression changed as he gripped his glass tightly and emptied it. He closed his eyes to calm himself down.

"I've betrayed her and you... I've made my mistake, Xiaye... I won't deny it, but your mother is the only woman that I've ever loved in my life. I've spent my past twenty or so years in loneliness to punish myself and in the end...

"Throughout all these years, I've thought of blaming you, but Mother always told me that the marriage failed because both you and she didn't know how to keep the relationship going. She hoped I wouldn't blame you or the Xi family. Now that I think about it, no one loved you as much as Mother, if Mother insisted years ago, like how Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi did now, what would've happened to you?"

"Mother has sacrificed so much that she's almost left with nothing. Why can't you put yourself in her shoe? Xi Xinyi has the Xi family and the Han family. Even Yueying is theirs, but Mother has nothing, she never mentioned anything about it, and now you're telling me that you only love Mother...F Father, just what is showing your love for her? If you love her, shouldn't you treat her well, give her everything, and satisfy all her needs while protecting her by her side?"

Xi Xiaye felt a pang of pain in her chest as a lump formed in her throat, and her eyes were starting to tear up. She sniffed as she lowered her head, her long hair falling over her shoulders and covering her beautiful face. Her voice was starting to get hoarse. "If that's how it is... Father, your love is worthless. You're not worthy of my mother..."

"Xiaye!"

Her words made Xi Mushan's face go pale as he was stunned!

Xi Xiaye took a deep breath, blinking her eyes before raising her head. "That's all I've wanted to tell you. The next move is all up to you. I don't think I'll be eating with you today, so I'll head back no. You don't have to send me."

She felt relieved after saying those words. However, she did not want to stay any longer, so she stood up slowly and was about to leave.

"Xiaye, please sit down and finish this meal with me before heading back."

Xi Mushan raised his head and looked at Xi Xiaye. There was a great deal of struggle and complication in his eyes. Although Xi Xiaye could not see through him, she could sense that he was feeling sad and lonely. In the end, she sat back down.

Xi Mushan refilled her glass with a smile even though he seemed sad and cold. His voice was quiet. "I know you've been longing for us to get back together, but between us..."

Xi Xiaye raised her head slightly and studied him. She waited, but Xi Mushan did not finish the sentence.

She looked at her wine glass. His face appeared inverted as she gazed through the glass. She could sense an unspoken terrible feeling.

She seemed to understand. There was an uncrossable realm between Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan. The presence of Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi constantly reminded Shen Wenna about Xi Mushan's betrayal. After all, she was a prideful person!

She stopped talking and just ate in silence, oblivious of how the food tasted. All the wine she drank could not push the sour feeling down her throat.

It was 1 p.m. when they left the restaurant. The sun was warm and it was crowded outside.

Xi Mushan offered to send Xi Xiaye back to the office, but she rejected. She was planning to walk back since it was not that far away. He hesitated for a moment before folding his arms and following her.

The father-daughter pair walked through the park. It was windy and there was a family in front of them. The daughter was riding on the father's shoulder while the mother was holding a bag as she followed behind them with a gentle smile. Their laughter reached Xi Xiaye's ears.

She felt a heartache as she heard them.

Xi Xiaye suddenly halted her steps and looked at the family in front of them slowly walking away, she sighed, "Father, if we're still a family, if we can be like them, that'd be great."

She seemed sad and nostalgic. "Unfortunately, there are things that we're unable to protect."

Her words stunned Xi Mushan. He could not find the right words to reply.

They went forward. As they approached near the plaza in front of Glory World Corporation, Secretary Ah Hui's voice came from the back. "Mayor, Madam and Ms. Xinyi are here!"

They stopped and then turned around to see a luxury car parked by the roadside. The door opened and a pale Xi Xinyi came out, followed by Yue Lingsi.

The mother-daughter pair advanced towards them.

Xi Xiaye glared at them and then glanced over at Xi Mushan. His expression and eyes were dark. She then turned around. "I'll head back first."

She walked forward.

Xi Mushan turned his head around and saw that Xi Xiaye had already walked past the lamp post beside him. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he kept quiet and just watched her walk away.

However, someone was not going to let her go so easily. Just as Xi Xiaye just walked past the lamp post, Yue Lingsi's scathing voice reached her.

"Xi Xiaye, stop right there! I'm here for you!"

Her sharp tone had Xi Xiaye smiling coldly. She wanted to ignore her and continue forward, but a figure overtook her and blocked her path.

It was Yue Lingsi.

Xi Xiaye raised her head slightly and glared warningly at her. "Move away."

"You just want to create chaos for everyone, don't you? You're just causing trouble for the whole world. Your grandmother almost died because of you!"

With Xi Mushan there, Yue Lingsi tried to suppress her voice.

"She's still alive, isn't she?" Xi Xiaye was calm as she gave a brief reply.

"You!"

Yue Lingsi's expression hardened. As she was about to continue, Xi Xinyi's voice came from the back—

"Mother!"

Her tone was raspy and soft as she dragged Yue Lingsi aside, her pale face seeming a little strained. Her gaze towards Xi Xiaye was complicated. Xi Xiaye looked at her coldly and noticed some mixed feelings in her eyes.

She seemed to be angry but was trying to suppress it, and there was a fit of hidden jealousy within her!

Was she mistaken?

Xi Xiaye squinted her eyes as she looked at Xi Xinyi's. At that moment, Xi Xinyi closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her stomach. "Mother, please don't be like this. I deserved it."

"It's not just about you, Xinyi. She's just disgracing the whole Xi family!" Yue Lingsi said sternly.

Xi Xinyi stopped Yue Lingsi from going forward. She glanced at Xi Xiaye, enraged to see her calm expression and her acting like she was enjoying making fun of them. Her hands balled up. It was not easy for her to endure her anger.

"Xiaye and Mu Yuchen got married at the end of last year. Don't you think that this is all a joke?"

Han Yifeng's words echoed in her ears, and her face turned pale all of a sudden.

Who would expect things to turn out this way?

Xi Xiaye had gotten close to Mu Yuchen... A man like that...

No wonder she could easily get 70% of Yueying's shares!

Xi Xinyi was not a stupid person. Nothing good would happen if she just let Yue Lingsi enrage Xi Xiaye now.

"Xiaye, you should head back for now." Xi Mushan's rock-solid voice came towards them as he walked forward and stood before Yue Lingsi.

Xi Xiaye nodded as she went forward and ignored them.

"Mushan, she...!"

As Yue Lingsi was about to say something else, Xi Mushan said coldly, "Be careful of what you say. Don't tamper your own image, Mayoress!"

"Father! How can you speak to Mother like that?!" Xi Xinyi's eyes widened and she stared at Xi Mushan unhappily.

Xi Mushan glanced over at Xi Xiaye who was getting into the car. He closed his eyes and said, "Let's go back now. This is not a place to cause trouble." He then walked towards his car.

"Mushan!" Yue Lingsi's expression changed as she tried to catch up with him.

"Mother, let's talk when we get back!" Xi Xinyi held Yue Lingsi back with a deep frown on her face.

On a splendid afternoon, the Xi family were in West Park.

"What did you say? Xiaye's married? To Mu Yuchen? Glory World's Mu Yuchen?"

In the living room, Deng Wenwen widened her eyes at Xi Xinyi. Her aged face stiffened with disbelief. "Tell me again! Who did she marry?"

When Xi Xinyi saw Deng Wenwen reacting like this, she panicked and quickly walked over. Holding Deng Wenwen, she advised, "Grandmother, don't get too emotional. Xiaye's married to Mu Yuchen. This happened before the New Year. Yifeng told me this himself. It shouldn't be wrong."

"Married... to Mu Yuchen? Glory World? This is impossible! There's no news of their marriage at all since before the New Year till now. This is not possible! How could she get married without letting us know? How could this be? Where does she put the Xi family? It would be a joke if people heard about this!"

Deng Wenwen's expression looked particularly rigid. She stared at Xi Xinyi in shock, and it was as if all her energy had left her. She collapsed onto the sofa behind her in a daze.

"What's impossible? The truth is so. They were already married before the New Year."

The instant Deng Wenwen expressed her disbelief, Xi Jiyang's calm, weathered voice rang out. Xi Xinyi turned to the source of the sound and noticed Xi Jiyang standing on the stairs.

"Grandfather!" Xi Xinyi called out softly.

Xi Jiyang nodded before he slowly walked down with the help of the railings. His body that turned thinner and frailer by the day looked like a flickering candle in the wind. His aged face was wan and sallow from illness.

When Xi Jiyang spoke, Deng Wenwen instantly looked up at him. Her sharp eyes contained some iciness. "What? Did you already know about this?"

Xi Jiyang made his way down the stairs slowly as he looked at them. "Xi Mushan and I have met them. We've met the Mu family, so it's not that she didn't inform the family."

"What did you say?! You and Mushan have met the Mus? Does that mean this is real?"

When Deng Wenwen heard his revelation, her expression turned cold as she looked at Xi Jiyang. The gleam in her eyes dimmed while she stared angrily at Xi Jiyang. "You mean you and Mushan already knew about this! Xi Xiaye just told the two of you and left us out. She didn't even think of her grandmother?"

You could hear the fury in her sharp voice. Even Yue Lingsi, who listened from the side, had a change in expression. They were all upset.

"Mother, if that really is the case, then Xiaye's really gone overboard. She..."

On the side, Yue Lingsi did not forget to make things worse, yet when she saw Xi Jiyang frown, she immediately held her tongue again.

Xi Jiyang did not answer and just ambled over slowly.

Deng Wenwen's expression began to look like the rolling of dark clouds. The cold light in her eyes shifted while her hands were already clenched into fists. Finally, she could not help but flip the coffee table in front of her. As if she exploded, she got up swiftly!

There was a deafening crash as the entire coffee table was overturned. The teacups and teapots on it shattered all over the ground, frightening Yue Lingsi and Xi Xinyi.

"Great... Just great! You two kept it a secret from me. You both hid it from me! You don't think it's important to tell me! Great!" Deng Wenwen started to tremble. She was shrouded in gloom as she glared at Xi Jiyang. "You two treat me like an outsider!"

"Mother, calm down. Have a seat first. Be wary of your health!"

Yue Lingsi went up worriedly, yet Deng Wenwen pushed her away before walking up to glare at Xi Jiyang. "I, Deng Wenwen have slaved hard for decades now. How much have I sacrificed for the Xi family? Yet, Xi Jiyang, you still treat me like an outsider! Xi Xiaye left me out completely and didn't attach a single ounce of importance to me as a grandmother. You and Mushan have even agreed to it? How great! You two are great! Both denying my existence! How outrageous! Simply outrageous!"

"Grandmother, calm down. The doctor says you can't get too emotional. Be careful with your health. Let's just hear what Grandfather has to say about what actually happened." Xi Xinyi frowned and held Deng Wenwen. When she saw that her grandmother was on the verge of losing control, she felt worried.

"So what if we told you? Should I let you go and stir trouble? Because of Yueying's matters, you and Xiaye have been at conflict with each other. You yourself know to what extent! Would you only be happy if you messed everything up?" Xi Jiyang burst out as he looked at the shattered mess on the ground. His expression darkened.

"Are you blaming me now? Xi Jiyang, you'd better watch your conscience. I do all of this for the Xi family! Otherwise, would you just watch helplessly as Yueying collapses? Now, Yueying is in an unstable position. The 20% shares Shen Wenna is holding is like a time bomb. Xiaye now even controls 70% of the shares. If she sells all of these shares, Yueying might just collapse immediately!"

Deng Wenwen's aged face sank as she turned her furious eyes to Xi Jiyang. "Now, it's just perfect. You're turning around to blame me, aren't you? Recently, I've been worried over so many things, yet have you said anything? Xi Jiyang, ever since the day I married you, have I ever treated the Xi family poorly? Now, you and Xi Mushan are going to do a bank run on me like this, aren't you? Tell me! Tell me!"

The more Deng Wenwen spoke, the angrier she got and the more she felt wronged. She flung the magazine in hand at Xi Jiyang as her breath started to quicken.

Xi Jiyang fended off the magazine she hurled at him. He narrowed his eyes at Deng Wenwen as he spoke coldly, "I told you that since Yueying is the Xi family's property, what's wrong with giving half to Xiaye and the other half to Xinyi? It's you lot who are making things so complicated, wanting to have it all for yourself, so what else can I say? Whoever wants to get the role of CEO can just do so with their own capabilities."

"Half for each of them? You might as well just demolish it all! With Xiaye's conduct, do you think she can keep Yueying safe? Do you want to let the two sisters fight to their death? I told you Yueying is my life. Whoever wants to touch it will have to do so over my dead body!"

"Huh, that's your problem then! When you made me hand the shares over, you should've thought about this outcome. In fact, now Xiaye doesn't care for your Yueying. She..."

Xi Jiyang suddenly thought of Shen Yue.

"I hope that you lot will behave. Avoid the painful consequences that you'll have to suffer yourselves in the end. Don't be a joke. Stop causing trouble and let the Xi family have some peaceful days. You won't get anything good out of offending the Mu family, including the Yues!"

When Xi Jiyang said this, he could not help but feel worn out. Then, he turned to walk upstairs.