SCHS - Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Xu Jianfan asked, both amused and exasperated, “Is that the main point of that sentence?”
Wen Shixue put the phone, which was on speakerphone, to the side, adjusted her position, and clung to Qin Zhen’s waist affectionately, clearly not taking the latter part of the sentence seriously. She replied openly and honestly, “Why isn’t it the main point? You, Xu Jianfan, are a genius jewelry designer, and a genius jewelry designer’s parents specifically requested you stay at our Chenfeng to be a cash cow. What boss wouldn’t be moved by that and want to send a banner of thanks?”
After speaking, she turned to look at Qin Zhen, silently mouthing “Right?” as if seeking affirmation. Qin Zhen couldn’t speak aloud, so she could only stroke her head helplessly and dotingly.
Xu Jianfan: “…”
Although you’re praising me, I don’t think this is the time for me to be happy.
Recalling his parents’ conditions, he couldn’t help but sigh, “My parents are sending Pan He to stay with me. What are you planning to do? It’s not like we can actually develop feelings for each other.”
Xu Rangshan and Chen Wanping weren’t that easy to fool; they wouldn’t just let him do whatever he wanted at Chenfeng. But mainly, they were afraid he’d run off again. With Pan He keeping an eye on him, they’d feel more at ease. Plus, Pan He was familiar with him, and having a familiar, reliable person around when he was alone in another city would make him feel more secure.
Wen Shixue was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Xu Rangshan and his wife to be so strict. She instinctively turned to glance at Qin Zhen, starting to consider the possibility of using Qin Zhen to deal with Pan He. But dealing with him temporarily wouldn’t work forever, and who knew when they would succeed? Over time, their intentions could easily be seen through.
She habitually propped her chin with her finger again, thinking as she said, “No rush, there are always more solutions than problems. How about this, you tell me what happened first.”
To be honest, she was a little curious about how his parents, who had disagreed with Xu Jianfan for so many years, suddenly agreed.
Xu Jianfan didn’t refuse and even suggested calling Qin Zhen over, because she had been mentioned in his conversation with his parents. He thought she should listen too, so they could have more people brainstorming solutions.
Qin Zhen: “...?” She had a vague premonition of something bad.
Xu Jianfan only knew that Wen Shixue liked Qin Zhen; he didn’t know they were already together, much less that they were currently snuggled up in the same bed. So Qin Zhen couldn’t speak directly.
Wen Shixue made a quick decision, got up, and shouted outside, “Vice President Qin, Young Master Xu is looking for you—” Then she padded out in her hotel slippers, ran back in, and personally went through the motions for Qin Zhen. Finally, she stepped onto the bed and said, “She’s here, you can start.”
Qin Zhen: “…”
This act might be a bit much…
Although she thought so, she still obediently spoke up to cooperate with her girlfriend.
Xu Jianfan scratched his head, his intuition telling him something wasn’t quite right. Fortunately, he didn’t dwell on it and quickly began recounting the events, recalling as he went—
Xu Rangshan originally disagreed with him wandering around like a headless fly outside just to pursue his dream. He believed there was a vast family business right in front of him that he could inherit effortlessly, so there was no need to go out and suffer.
Could it be that young people nowadays loved to suffer?
Xu Jianfan naturally disagreed with his statement and defended his dream and choice with his usual strong attitude: “I never thought my choice was wrong. Even if I had the chance to start over, I would still choose this.”
“You!” Xu Rangshan was furious, and Chen Wanping quickly tried to soothe him.
Xu Jianfan stated firmly, “I don’t ask you to understand how much I love jewelry design, I just hope you can give me time to prove myself.”
Then he softened his tone: “Dad, Mom, I know you mean well and hope I can live my life easily without suffering at all.”
“But how is that possible? Even if I listen to you and take over the company, I’ll still encounter failures and setbacks in business, won’t I?”
Chen Wanping said gently, “You’re very smart. Your dad and I believe you can resolve every tricky business matter.”
Xu Jianfan smiled and gently refuted her, “No, I’m not smart at all.”
He said, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t still not know how to make my parents understand my love for jewelry design, nor would I be sitting here negotiating from several cities away—I’m not smart at all, I’m a failed son.”
Xu Rangshan and Chen Wanping were stunned, not expecting him to see himself this way. They exchanged glances, suddenly unable to respond, feeling a lump in their throats and a heavy heart.
Since childhood, they had raised this son as their heir, doting on him and always reluctant for him to suffer any harm or encounter any setback, fearing failure would crush his confidence. Fortunately, he grew up safely and became a polite, kind, and gentle good child.
They wholeheartedly hoped he would inherit the family business and live a smooth and peaceful life, without needing to be extraordinary. But unexpectedly, he developed a strong interest in jewelry design, going against the path they had planned for him. He started drawing jewelry designs, even smilingly saying he wanted to be a jewelry designer when he grew up, and the most famous one at that.
They couldn’t accept the reality of their beloved son’s life trajectory deviating significantly. They always held opposing views on this matter, and the conflict escalated as he grew older. Xu Rangshan had even been so angry that he threatened to tear up his design drafts more than once.
Both father and son were equally stubborn. The father wouldn’t back down, and the son wouldn’t either. Finally, he simply ran away from home and only dared to call them today, mustering his courage.
He said he was a failed son, but weren’t they also a pair of failed parents?
Chen Wanping’s heart suddenly began to waver.
Xu Jianfan adjusted his mood and continued, “I love designing jewelry, I love seeing pearls and jade turn into beautiful ornaments in my hands, adding beauty to others. That’s why I want to be a jewelry designer and do what I want. You only live once; what’s the point if you live a boring life according to a template?”
“So, Dad, Mom, please give me a chance. Whether you think your son can do it or not, try letting me give it a shot. Once I fall and break into pieces, won’t I know I can’t do it and know what I should do? I can’t live in a greenhouse forever and never grow up.”
“Just give me two years. If I succeed before the deadline, dissolve the engagement for me and acknowledge that my choice wasn’t wrong, letting me do what I want. If I achieve nothing after two years, then from then on, I will do whatever you say without complaint.”
“Okay?”
Xu Rangshan still didn’t speak. Chen Wanping sighed and said, “Jianfan, why don’t you come home first? You can’t keep hiding outside without a place to stay.”
“I do.” He paused for a moment after saying this, then, after mustering his courage again, finally said Chenfeng, “I’m at Chenfeng.”
“I am Zhu Ziming.”
Revealing his location was the most sincere negotiation he could offer his parents.
Xu Rangshan and his wife were greatly surprised. Xu Rangshan grabbed the phone and said, “What is going on?!”
Pan He came back yesterday and clearly said that Zhu Ziming wasn’t him, and Qin Zhen even testified, making it hard not to believe. But now he says he is Zhu Ziming?!
What exactly is going on? Could it be that Pan He and Qin Zhen teamed up to deceive them?!—When did they learn to lie!
Xu Jianfan immediately guessed what Xu Rangshan was thinking and quickly cleared Pan He and Qin Zhen, saying, “I paid someone to impersonate me, so the person Secretary Pan saw yesterday was indeed not me. Vice President Qin didn’t know I was Xu Jianfan at the time. I lied to her, saying Secretary Pan was here to cause trouble for me and would take me away and break my limbs, which is why she kindly came forward to give false testimony…”
Xu Rangshan was so angry his head was buzzing, “Good kid, you’ve even learned to lie! And you lied to someone else’s family!”
Xu Jianfan nervously rubbed the back of his neck, “I didn’t lie for long, she saw through it…” He added, “So she told me to talk to you, that I couldn’t keep making you wait. Don’t blame her, and don’t blame Secretary Pan.”
Xu Rangshan’s pupils were still dilated in shock when he heard the first part. It would be fine if Qin Zhen didn’t know, but now that she did, who knew what might happen? What if she told Wen Lianchang and his wife, letting them know that his unfilial son from the Xu family ran away from home to avoid marriage? What would they think? Would they misunderstand that he was looking down on their daughter?
But upon hearing the latter part, he didn’t think that way anymore. Qin Zhen was a sensible person. Since she advised Xu Jianfan to talk to them, it meant she didn’t want to interfere too much in their family affairs and wouldn’t tell Wen Lianchang and his wife about this. They could rest assured.
Xu Rangshan’s emotions were like a roller coaster, going up and down.
Chen Wanping pondered silently, thinking about everything that had happened and Xu Jianfan’s decision. Gradually, she felt that parents needed to learn to let go. As Xu Jianfan said, whether it was good or bad, whether it would work, he would know once he fell and broke into pieces, and the lesson would be even more profound.
She said softly, “His father, Jianfan is right. He’ll know the pain after he falls.”
Xu Rangshan looked at her in silence, and upon careful consideration, it made sense. Then, remembering the company he had just mentioned, an idea suddenly struck him. He said, “I can give you two years, but before the results are out, you must actively cultivate a relationship with Miss Wen.”
Xu Jianfan was startled, the excitement that had just surfaced disappearing in less than three seconds. “Dad, how can feelings be forced?”
“How will you know if it works if you don’t try?” Xu Rangshan used his own words against him and said without room for refusal, “It’s settled then. I’ll have Pan He accompany you and keep an eye on you. So you need to be proactive and enthusiastic towards her, understand? If you don’t agree, then obediently come back and take over the company. There’s no third option.”
Then he gave him time to consider.
After finishing his story, Xu Jianfan sighed helplessly again, saying to Wen Shixue and Qin Zhen on the phone, “That’s how it is. If I agree, I’m afraid I’ll be contacting you even more often.”
Even if Xu Rangshan didn’t say it, he could guess this was for the engagement. After all, if the two of them got together, they wouldn’t have to bother dissolving the engagement. It was just Xu Rangshan’s stubbornness that gave him a headache, as if he wouldn’t give up until the two of them developed something.
Wen Shixue rubbed her chin, looking relaxed. “Go tell your parents you agree. Tell them not to worry and that they don’t need to keep an eye on you.”
Xu Jianfan: “?” He said in surprise, “What are you planning to do?”
Qin Zhen also looked at her in confusion, only to see her confidently toss her hair. “It’s just cultivating a relationship, your dad didn’t specify what kind of relationship.”
“So from now on, I am your Shixue Jie. Gege is fine too, I’m always kind and easygoing, you can pick whichever you want, I don’t mind. The important thing is that our sister-brother or brotherly bond is unbreakable!”
She was definitely going to exploit this loophole!
Xu Jianfan was completely bewildered: “???”
Truly worthy of you, Wen Shixue. While others cultivate relationships aiming for marriage, you’re aiming to become sworn siblings!
Comments
Post a Comment