C28 The Attitude of a Beggar

"Go apologize to Mengyao and ask her to come back to the company," Xia Yunsheng instructed. He didn't relish making such a decision; it was a blow to both Xia Hao's pride and his own.

"Grandfather..." Xia Hao began to protest but wilted under Xia Yunsheng's stern gaze. "Fine, I'll do it."

"It's not about trying; you must secure Mengyao's forgiveness!" Xia Yunsheng retorted sharply.

"Yes, Grandfather," Xia Hao conceded, his teeth clenched. The thought of humbling himself before Xia Mengyao made him feel as queasy as if he had swallowed a fly. However, he knew that failing to do so would mean losing any stake in the Jade Hill project.

Half an hour later, Xia Mengyao's phone rang with Xia Hao's number. She immediately hung up.

Xia Hao was livid. With no other choice, he dialed again, but this time, as Xia Mengyao was about to hang up, Chen Feng took the call.

"What do you want?" Chen Feng asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Put Xia Mengyao on the phone," Xia Hao demanded, barely concealing his rage.

"She's sleeping," Chen Feng replied coolly.

"Wake her up. I need to speak with her," Xia Hao insisted.

"Idiot," Chen Feng muttered dismissively and ended the call.

"Damn it!" Xia Hao fumed, nearly smashing his phone on the floor of the Yunsheng Building.

"Call her back," Xia Qichao instructed, his face dark with anger.

Xia Hao called once more, and Chen Feng, still smiling, picked up.

"Don't push me, Chen Feng!" Xia Hao hissed. Xia Mengyao hanging up on him was one thing, but Chen Feng's audacity to do the same was infuriating. Did he think Xia Hao had no temper?

"Spit it out," Chen Feng said, rolling his eyes.

"Tell Xia Mengyao that if she behaves, the family is willing to give her another opportunity to return to the company," Xia Hao said, his voice dripping with condescension.

Chen Feng couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Xia Hao was such a fool; he still couldn't grasp the reality of the situation!

"What if she refuses to comply?" Chen Feng asked with a hint of mockery.

"Then she can forget about ever coming back to the company!" Xia Hao retorted icily.

Chen Feng nearly burst into laughter out of sheer frustration. It appeared Xia Hao truly overestimated his own significance.

This time, Chen Feng didn't bother with pleasantries. He abruptly ended the call and promptly blocked Xia Hao's number.

Xia Mengyao, standing nearby, had no complaints about Chen Feng's decisive action. On the contrary, she felt vindicated by his bold move.

"This loser, I'll make him pay one of these days!"

Enraged, Xia Hao slammed his phone to the ground, his eyes blazing as he bellowed.

"Enough!" Xia Qichao reprimanded sharply. "Your grandfather instructed you to apologize. Is this your way of doing it?"

"But Dad, that bitch Xia Mengyao won't even take my calls. And that loser Chen Feng had the nerve to insult me..."

"You need to realize that you're the one seeking help, not the other way around. If you're asking for a favor, you should at least act like it. With the attitude you've shown, it would be surprising if anyone forgave you," Xia Qichao explained.

"So, what should I do?"

"Buy some gifts and go apologize to Xia Mengyao in person at her home."

"Dad, apologizing to that bitch Xia Mengyao will be humiliating," Xia Hao complained, his face a mask of reluctance.

"Which is more important to you, your pride or the Jade Hill project?" Xia Qichao glared at him disapprovingly, then softened his tone slightly. "Once the Jade Hill project is complete, your status within the Xia family will be solidified. Then, you can treat Xia Mengyao however you wish, even if it means driving her out of the family."

"But for now, you must swallow your pride and apologize to Xia Mengyao, no matter how embarrassing it may be."

"Fine, I'll let that bitch gloat for a few more days," Xia Hao said through clenched teeth.

That evening, Xia Hao and Xia Qichao arrived at Xia Mengyao's home bearing fruits as a peace offering. Lin Lan was the one who greeted them at the door.

Xia Hao had learned his lesson this time. As soon as he walked in, he made sure to greet his third aunt.

Yet, Lin Lan was far from welcoming. It was hardly surprising, considering that just yesterday, Xia Hao had nearly destroyed Xia Mengyao's life.

Given Lin Lan's cold reception, Xia Mengyao and Chen Feng were even less inclined to acknowledge Xia Hao.

As a result, Xia Qichao and his son Xia Hao were left out in the cold, without even a place to sit.

Watching Chen Feng and Xia Mengyao chatting and laughing together, Xia Hao was seething with anger, nearly grinding his teeth to bits.

But he was determined not to act rashly this time.

"Mengyao, there might be some misunderstandings between you and Hao," Xia Qichao eventually said, breaking the silence.

"What misunderstanding?" Chen Feng responded, his tone detached.

A shadow of resentment flickered in Xia Qichao's eyes. He had come to a stark realization: the most significant obstacle facing him and his son was not Xia Mengyao, but Chen Feng. At some point, Chen Feng had grown audacious. He had not only stood up to Xia Yunsheng but now seemed to disregard Xia Qichao entirely.

"Chen Feng, this is an internal matter for the Xia family. What right do you have to interfere?" Xia Hao retorted icily. He was prepared to make amends with Xia Mengyao, but he had no intention of backing down to Chen Feng.

Chen Feng let out a scornful laugh, but before he could reply, Xia Mengyao interjected, "What Chen Feng means to say is also my stance."

Chen Feng felt a surge of warmth in his heart, clearly understanding that Xia Mengyao was entrusting him with the decision-making power.

Xia Hao clenched his jaw, holding back any further comments. Xia Qichao shifted his focus to Chen Feng, recognizing that within Xia Mengyao's household, it was Chen Feng who called the shots, not anyone else.

"So, Chen Feng, what's your take on this?" Xia Qichao inquired.

Instead of answering directly, Chen Feng posed his own question, "Have you come to apologize?"

"Yes," Xia Qichao admitted calmly. "Hao was impulsive yesterday and spread some unfounded rumors, which caused great harm to Mengyao and led to her expulsion from the family. It was Hao's mistake."

Xia Hao chimed in at the right moment, "Mengyao, I was wrong about yesterday. I apologize and hope you can forgive me."

Xia Hao bent over, his eyes brimming with undisguised venom.

"Is it merely a rumor?" Xia Mengyao asked icily. Xia Hao had yet to confess that he was the mastermind behind it all.

Xia Hao's face turned ashen. "Mengyao, what are you implying?" he inquired.

"I'm not implying anything. Xia Hao, you can leave now," Xia Mengyao retorted with a cold laugh. Since Xia Hao refused to come clean...

She saw no point in engaging in further conversation with him.

Xia Qichao, on the other hand, gave Xia Hao a puzzled glance, suspecting that yesterday's events might not be as Xia Hao had described. Could it be that Xia Hao had set up Xia Mengyao? The idea startled Xia Qichao. If this were true, an apology would be utterly pointless.

Xia Mengyao spared Xia Hao's life — she was exceedingly forgiving.

Xia Qichao suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. Nonetheless, he had no choice but to forge ahead, "Mengyao, regardless of Xia Hao's actions, we are still family. Family members should be able to resolve issues through discussion."

"Family?" Chen Feng's lips curled into a smirk. He said derisively, "Uncle, since we're family, why don't we agree to let Mengyao take charge of the Jade Hill project?"