Chapter 34
Aunt Zhu quickly comforted her: “Good child, you still have me by your side, and Mr. Xie too. We’ll always stay with you. Don’t be afraid.”
Wen Ran buried her head in her embrace. After a long while, she finally calmed down gradually.
When Wen Ran was little and couldn’t control her emotions, she would scream, unconsciously harm herself, or hide in dark corners to conceal herself.
As an adult, when Wen Ran felt distressed, she might zone out, or hide herself away, clutching her paintbrush and drawing nonstop. Or she might, like just now, suppress her negative emotions deep inside, murmuring something over and over in a low voice, then collapse silently and do things that harmed her body.
Aunt Zhu could calm her emotions, but she also understood clearly that Wen Ran ultimately needed someone by her side who genuinely wanted to care for her and look after her.
Could Xie Yunli do these things?
Aunt Zhu couldn’t be certain about this, because Xie Yunli was, after all, a man. He didn’t have the delicate, attentive sensibility of a woman. And what if… one day he grew tired of it all, just like Wen Ran’s father had?
Although he currently seemed very caring and protective toward Wen Ran, men’s hearts always changed with changing circumstances.
Moreover, he was still a businessman after all. Businessmen always weighed pros and cons when doing things. Whether marrying Wen Ran or taking care of her seemed to bring him no benefits whatsoever.
However, there were no other options at present.
Aunt Zhu sighed. She could only hope that Xie Yunli’s patience with Wen Ran would last a bit longer.
She also didn’t know if having Xie Yunli come to the house to care for Wen Ran would actually work. After all, he still had to manage his work…
“I asked a classmate abroad to look into it. Aside from frequently skipping classes at school, Qiao Ziheng hasn’t caused any real trouble. But that girlfriend of his isn’t a fellow exchange student. She flew over from China to find him. The two of them lived together outside for a while, then returned to the country together.”
The next day, Aunt Zhu received a call from Xie Yunli. It turned out that yesterday Xie Yunli had already asked someone to investigate Qiao Ziheng’s situation at his school abroad, and today he informed Aunt Zhu of the results.
Aunt Zhu thanked him on one hand, while saying anxiously on the other: “Now I really do have to go home for a bit. Mr. Xie, my husband also found out about my son coming back, and he’s throwing a fit right now. I’m afraid if I don’t go back, the two of them, father and son, will get into it. But I thought about it last night, and Ranran still can’t do without my care. So these next couple days, I’ll first prepare meals for Ranran and get everything organized before going back. When she needs me, I’ll come back again. Does that work for you, Mr. Xie?”
Xie Yunli said: “That’s fine. I’ll have Zhou Wei drive you.”
Aunt Zhu quickly said: “No need, no need. Don’t trouble Xiao Zhou. I can just take the coach bus back myself. The round trip would wear him out. Taking the coach is actually faster for me.”
“Alright. If you need it, I can send a car to pick you up anytime.”
“You’re really too kind, Mr. Xie. Also, if you’re not working too late overtime these next few days, would you… come stay for a couple of nights?”
Xie Yunli paused.
He seemed to consider it for a moment, but only for a few seconds.
“Yes, I have no problem with that.”
Aunt Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. She’d really been worried that Xie Yunli wouldn’t agree to this.
“Ranran has been in poor spirits lately, and her sleep too. She finally managed to sleep normally without medication, but recently she seems to be having frequent dreams again. If she wakes up and doesn’t see family at home, she’ll be frightened.”
Aunt Zhu said in a low voice: “Her mother’s memorial day is approaching.”
Xie Yunli fell silent for a moment, then said: “I know.”
“You remember too?”
Aunt Zhu was somewhat surprised.
Xie Yunli said: “I’ll try to come over earlier today. Let me know when you’re leaving, and if you need anything, make me a list.”
“Alright, Mr. Xie.”
Before Aunt Zhu could think more about it, Xie Yunli hung up. Immediately after, her home called, urging her to hurry back.
Somehow the news of Qiao Ziheng’s return to the country had leaked to his father, and he was furious.
But no matter how anxious things were at home, Aunt Zhu first had to finish taking care of things for Wen Ran. She needed to buy groceries for the next few days and stock the refrigerator, then come back each morning to prepare meals for Wen Ran before leaving.
As for her son, she couldn’t bear to beat him herself, so she’d let his father give him a thrashing. This beating was what he deserved anyway.
The more Aunt Zhu thought about it, the more irritated she became, thinking to herself that this disobedient thing really needed a beating.
Wen Ran also knew that Aunt Zhu was going home, and she’d been distracted while painting.
But she also knew she couldn’t make Aunt Zhu worry about her, so she could only try her best to be like usual, eating well and painting well.
Hearing Aunt Zhu preparing her lunch, Wen Ran hurried over in a little run. “Aunt Zhu, I… I’ll do it myself. I can… serve my own rice.”
Aunt Zhu looked at Wen Ran in surprise as she snatched the tray from her hands. “Ranran, Auntie hasn’t left yet.”
“I can do it myself.”
Wen Ran said seriously: “This kind of small thing, I can… I can even learn to cook.”
Aunt Zhu: “…”
It really wasn’t that she didn’t believe in Wen Ran. It was just that those hands of hers really weren’t suited for cooking.
Clang! The tray she’d just served two meatballs onto fell, and the prepared food scattered all over the floor.
Wen Ran was stunned, and the hand holding the spoon began to tremble.
Aunt Zhu quickly comforted her: “It’s fine, it’s fine. This is nothing. Don’t be scared. Auntie drops bowls all the time too!”
Wen Ran bit her lip and dejectedly stepped aside.
She was afraid of causing trouble for Aunt Zhu and wasting her time, so she didn’t dare try again.
When Liang Zeqi came to the company to find Xie Yunli, as soon as he entered the office he saw Xie Yunli absentmindedly half-reclined in his office chair, head tilted toward the ceiling, as if contemplating something.
This lazy appearance was quite rare, because at the company, Xie Yunli always presented a very composed and decisive image.
Liang Zeqi crept over and suddenly slapped the desk. “Hey, Boss Xie. What major life decision are you thinking about? Share it with your brother?”
He grinned mischievously.
He thought he’d startle Xie Yunli, but he’d clearly overestimated himself.
“My major life decisions were completed long ago.”
Xie Yunli sat up straight, his expression as bland as ever: “You’re the one who should be thinking about yourself.”
Liang Zeqi: “… Don’t even mention it. My mom has already started arranging blind dates for me.”
Actually, he was only a few months younger than Xie Yunli. In less than two years he’d be thirty too. Seeing the younger generation around them getting married one by one, Liang Zeqi’s parents had also started having thoughts in this direction.
“Speaking of which, my mom asked me yesterday why you still haven’t had kids yet.”
Liang Zeqi narrowed his eyes at Xie Yunli. “What do you think?”
“Rather than believing your mother is inexplicably concerned about whether I’m having kids, I’d sooner believe you’re using this as a shield.”
Xie Yunli’s expression didn’t shift an inch. “Did you tell your mother that as soon as I have a child, you’ll immediately go on blind dates and get married?”
Liang Zeqi’s expression stiffened.
Xie Yunli sneered: “You really found yourself a good shield.”
“Come on, bro, how can you think of me as so shameless? We’ve been brothers for so many years. My parents don’t know, but don’t I know your family’s situation? With your wife’s condition, how could she possibly have children? What if she passes on her illness…”
Before he could finish, Xie Yunli pressed the reception desk phone with a snap.
The receptionist’s sweet voice immediately responded: “Mr. Xie, what do you need?”
“Send two security guards up to escort this person out of my office. Also, starting today, put this person on the blacklist. Without my permission, don’t let him step one foot inside the company entrance.”
Liang Zeqi’s previously slouching posture immediately straightened.
He was completely dumbfounded. He’d originally thought Xie Yunli was joking, but it turned out he was serious.
“Bro, I was joking. Don’t be angry.”
“If you were eight years old, I could take it as a joke. But you’re already twenty-eight.”
Xie Yunli’s voice clearly showed he was suppressing his anger. He was absolutely furious. “Don’t you have any sense about what jokes you can’t make with me?”
Making jokes about someone else’s family was excessive anywhere, even if you were good friends.
Liang Zeqi also knew he’d truly crossed Xie Yunli’s line. He quickly lowered his head in apology: “I’m sorry, bro. I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have joked about sister-in-law. I really didn’t mean it. Please forgive me just this once…”
Sometimes his mouth really had no filter. Even if he said something excessive, a scolding or two would blow over, and Xie Yunli wouldn’t truly get angry.
But Xie Yunli could forgive him for joking about himself. But what about Wen Ran?
If these words had been said in front of Wen Ran, did he have the right to forgive on her behalf?
She probably wouldn’t even express her anger. Even if she felt hurt, she could only digest it internally. If she couldn’t digest it, she would only feel sad by herself.
“Get out.”
Xie Yunli said coldly.
Hearing this, Liang Zeqi grew anxious: “I’ve already said this much…” Bang! A fist clenched and slammed hard on the desk.
“I told you to get lost!”
When the bewildered security guards and equally bewildered Zhou Wei entered, they saw Liang Zeqi walking out of the office with an ashen face.
Meanwhile, Xie Yunli sat there with a dark expression, saying nothing.
Zhou Wei seemed to smell a faint scent of gunpowder. He glanced at Xie Yunli’s expression and carefully closed the office door without daring to even breathe, then left.
The situation was obvious. If Liang Zeqi had come out one step later, the one getting punched wouldn’t have been the desk, but his face.
In the hallway, Liang Zeqi kicked the wall in frustration.
Zhou Wei quickly went over, patting his chest with lingering fear. “Mr. Liang, what happened? Why is Mr. Xie so furious with you?”
No one dared make a sound when Xie Yunli was angry, but Liang Zeqi was approachable. Liang Zeqi’s personality had always been easygoing, without airs toward anyone.
Liang Zeqi sighed. “It’s my own big mouth.”
He told Zhou Wei what he’d said in his slip of the tongue. Upon hearing it, Zhou Wei frowned and said indignantly: “That’s really too much!”
Liang Zeqi: “Right? Too much! I just had a slip of the tongue. Did he have to get that angry? And ban me from stepping foot in here! Basically ending our brotherhood over this! It was just one sentence…”
“I’m saying YOU were TOO! MUCH!”
Zhou Wei put one hand on his hip and angrily pointed at him with the other: “You shouldn’t joke about anyone, but especially not Ms. Wen Ran, understand? You don’t know what kind of person she is at all. You’re just arrogantly imagining she’s some clueless disabled person. Let me tell you, Mr. Liang, thinking that way is a HUGE! MISTAKE! You’re COMPLETELY! WRONG! She’s not at all what you imagine! And not only did you make an offensive joke about Ms. Wen Ran, you also joked about Mr. Xie’s future children! Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re still brothers, Mr. Xie would have punched you already, believe it or not? Just throwing you out is already giving you a lot of face! If it were me, if someone dared insult my wife, I wouldn’t be worthy of being my wife’s husband if I didn’t break his legs!”
Liang Zeqi was about to speak when Zhou Wei interrupted again: “Also, you claim to be Mr. Xie’s brother of many years, so do you remember what year Mr. Xie quit smoking?”
Liang Zeqi froze.
In fact, Zhou Wei had only recently recalled this himself. He’d previously just thought Xie Yunli had suddenly quit smoking completely during a certain period, but later realized that Xie Yunli quit smoking the year he married Wen Ran.
For a man who’d smoked for years to suddenly quit completely, how much willpower and endurance did that require?
Zhou Wei looked at the now-stunned Liang Zeqi with pity, as if looking at an idiot. “You really don’t understand our boss at all.”
“Do you think Mr. Xie would really marry a woman he doesn’t like at all for some reason?”
Zhou Wei said to him mockingly: “Honestly, if you say you’re Mr. Xie’s good friend of several years, I really don’t believe it at all. Even I understand that a man like Mr. Xie would never do something that’s meaningless to him, much less casually marry a girl he doesn’t like. Although I don’t know how he and Ms. Wen Ran met or when they met, at least one thing is very clear to me: for Mr. Xie to willingly devote himself like this, she’s definitely not an ordinary girl. She must be someone worthy of Mr. Xie’s wholehearted devotion. You simply don’t understand anything!”
Liang Zeqi, who’d originally hoped to get psychological comfort from Zhou Wei, completely didn’t expect to receive another thorough scolding instead. He was instantly dumbfounded.
“So in the future, you’ll have to fend for yourself, Mr. Liang.”
Having vented his frustration, Zhou Wei felt better and turned to leave.
Leaving behind a completely bewildered Liang Zeqi.
So this wasn’t going to blow over? He was serious? Really serious?
Liang Zeqi quickly chased after him. “Assistant Zhou, Zhou the great talent! Boss Zhou! You can’t just watch me get abandoned.”
“Even if you call me Brother Zhou, there’s nothing I can do, Mr. Liang.”
Zhou Wei brushed his hand away. “If you’d only offended Mr. Xie alone, that would be one thing. Once his anger subsided he’d still treat you as a brother. But this time you offended three people: Mr. Xie, Mr. Xie’s wife, and Mr. Xie’s future children. You’ve offended his entire family. What can be done about that?”
Liang Zeqi said desperately: “There’s really no way at all? I’ll kowtow and apologize, won’t that work? If that doesn’t work, I’ll bring all my parents’ major clients to your company and not take a cent of commission.”
Only now did he truly realize how vile his mouth had been.
This guy Liang Zeqi came from money, that was true. He had lots of friends, that was also true. Whether he worked or not, he could live comfortably for half his life, also true. But he just liked hanging around with Xie Yunli, because ever since studying abroad he’d liked following Xie Yunli around. He could fall out with anyone else, but he didn’t want to fall out with Xie Yunli.
“It’s useless. You not only need to get Mr. Xie’s forgiveness, you also need to get Mr. Xie’s wife’s forgiveness. But that’s basically impossible to achieve.”
Zhou Wei looked at him sympathetically. “Because you can’t even see her.”
Xie Yunli protected Wen Ran so tightly it was almost airtight, and his protective instinct toward her was definitely much stronger than what he showed outwardly.
So given the current situation, this level of protection would only grow stronger.
But Liang Zeqi wouldn’t understand. Like Zhou Wei before him, he also thought Xie Yunli and Wen Ran couldn’t possibly have any real feelings, that they only maintained their marriage relationship out of obligation.
Because the current Liang Zeqi, like the former Zhou Wei, hadn’t seen Wen Ran, and the autistic daughter they imagined had already solidified in their minds.
Liang Zeqi watched Zhou Wei’s departing back and rolled up his sleeves. “I refuse to believe that my friendship with Xie Yunli over so many years can’t compare to one slip of my tongue!”
But then he dejectedly thought: Actually… it really couldn’t compare.