Chapter 80 - Apathetic (2)
Chapter 80: Apathetic (2)
The car steadily traveled on as the husband and wife maintained a quiet understanding. Xi Xiaye looked out the car window while Mu Yuchen focused on driving.
Unlike the past few journeys, there was no music, so it was currently pin-drop silent.
“Is there anything you want to say to me?” Mu Yuchen’s deep voice suddenly broke the stifling silence.
Then, Xi Xiaye tore her gaze away from the world outside the car window and turned to look at him. She lowered her gaze and fell silent for a while before she said in a bitter and raspy voice, “It’s just some past grudges. There’s nothing to talk about. When the times comes… When I’m in the mood, I’ll tell you more.”
“How many years have you thought about that person?” He did not look at her as his gaze remained focused on the road ahead, yet his question seemed significantly important.
How many years had she thought about him?
Xi Xiaye obviously knew who he was referring to.
She did not know how many years she had kept Han Yifeng in her heart either. Ever since the day she could understand things, she had been fed the idea that she had to become a filial daughter-in-law to the Han family. When she was younger, they would always say to her —
“Xiaye, go play with Bro Yifeng!”
“Xiaye, you have to think of a way to cheer Bro Yifeng up.”
“We heard that Yifeng fought with someone else for you. What happened?”
However, she had to admit that in that long period of time, Yifeng was indeed like a brother to her. He protected her, treated her well, and cared for her very much.
So, why had it all changed after that?
There was a time when Han Yifeng’s emotions became hers too. She was used to him being around, and when all of this was shattered, all of his habits and memories were forcefully removed from her life. The oppression from before made her feel a little suffocated.
“It’s been a very long time now… The Xi family and the Han family are family friends. Back then, it was decided that Han Yifeng and I were to get engaged even before we were born. From what I recall, Father and Mother had always been very loving, so I really couldn’t believe that Father would’ve cheated on Mother…”
She sighed sorrowfully, her twinkling eyes holding loneliness and bleakness that was hard to hide. “Xi Xinyi’s mother and my mother were very good friends back then. I’ll never forget the way Mother looked like she was about to break down when she found out about all of this… On the other hand, I never would’ve thought that many years later, I’d find myself on the same path as my mother. Xi Xinyi used to be called Yue Xinyi. She was very good friends with Su Nan and me…”
“So, sometimes, you really can’t help but lament about how fate just likes to mess with people. Mother said that it felt like she had fallen from heaven to hell. At that time, because I was young, I didn’t understand, but when I grew up and experienced the same thing, I immediately knew how she felt.”
Xi Xiaye had never mentioned this to anyone. Even with Su Nan, she was not willing to talk about these things. These memories were a wound that just formed a scab and would still hurt when touched.
“Mmm, understood. Someone as naive as you will believe lies rather easily. You aren’t vigilant at all.” He listened for quite a while before coming to this conclusion.
“You’re not me. You don’t understand how it was either. You can’t just rashly make such a judgment,” Xi Xiaye disagreed.
“I won’t argue with you. From now on, you’re with me. Let me teach you how to judge a person. There are some investments which worth you must first measure. Just knowing how to give your all without knowing how to demand isn’t very wise.”
Mu Yuchen shot her a side look. He was lazy to argue with her.
“I know you don’t want to talk about these unhappy things too, but with whatever you need to face, you’ll still have to face them. You can’t just ignore it. I’ve heard about Yueying’s matter. Glory World currently doesn’t have any asset in the aspect of showbiz. Yesterday, a few Vice Presidents handed me a document. They hoped that if it was possible, Glory World could take over Yueying, making it a stepping stone for Glory World to enter the showbiz industry. I want to hear your thoughts.”
Then, he gradually slowed the car down and finally stopped by a street. He turned to fix his eyes on Xi Xiaye, his deep eyes sunken with an indescribable look.
She looked up at Mu Yuchen, stunned. “Is the company planning to advance into showbiz?”
She was very shocked, especially since she had heard that he particularly disliked showbiz. In fact, she remembered that previously, Vice President Liu had suggested entering the industry too. While the old Chairman, Mu Yinan, had wavered slightly, it was the Master’s single vote from abroad that vetoed it. Subsequently, no one had raised it again.
“Even though I don’t quite like getting into this line of work, it’s still not wrong for the company to diversify our development.”
Mu Yuchen seemed to be able to tell that Xi Xiaye was hesitating. He laughed and said softly, “I know about your relationship with Yueying. If you want, I can put Yueying under Glory World and then let you be the Executive Director there, killing two birds with one stone.”
When she heard this, Xi Xiaye raised her brows slightly. So, it turned out that he had said all of this because he had a selfish motive?
She thought about it for quite a while and then shook her head lightly. “I don’t quite agree. Based on what I know, the Han Corporation is already planning to help Yueying resolve their crisis. The several projects from Qi Kai’s end should probably be allocated to Yueying already. If the company were to make a move now, it’d incur too much cost. You know how it is.
“Besides, the management for the movies and television industry is all Greek to me. I can’t be your Executive Director. I’m still interested in the South River project, so it’s best if I stay and be a good Planning Director,” Xi Xiaye answered honestly. Her strength lay in business planning. Showbiz was complicated and she did not have any experience at all, so how could she do it?
“I’m giving you the chance to take revenge, yet you don’t want it? Do you still want to hold onto this South River project?” Mu Yuchen looked at her and said with a faint smile.
What an easily satisfied woman!
“No, I just know what’s appropriate. I know my own capabilities. In fact, going steady and striking hard is very important. Do you think that I made it from a small employer to my current position overnight?”
“Are you preaching to me? Hmm?” Mu Yuchen could not help but chuckle as he watched her little face brimming with seriousness and determination. He reached out to pat her head, but she frowned and pushed his hand away, upset.
She realized that he seemed to like patting her head as if he was a teacher teaching his student or a brother teaching his younger sister.
Whatever it was, it just felt weird!