C14 Fiancee!

Hehehe!

Wen Qingfeng could tell his boss wanted to drop the subject, so he tactfully steered the conversation elsewhere: "Boss, Old Master Chu is asking for you to come home."

Chu Rusi idly twirled the Buddhist beads on his wrist, casting a faint shadow with his eyelashes: "With my family resembling a den of wolves, am I expected to return and play the innocent lamb?"

He certainly couldn't go back; the game would lose its appeal.

After weighing his options, he cocked his head to one side and made up his mind: "Qingfeng, you'll take over as vice president on my behalf from now on. I'll handle grandpa. Get someone to prepare the paperwork, seals, and legal contracts."

Wen Qingfeng maintained a respectful facade, though internally he felt like he was being thrown to the wolves while his boss played it safe. He had to admit, he was serving under a shrewd leader.

Smiling through it all.

...

Xu Huanxi returned home with a scowl, the family patriarch in tow, ready to enforce the family rules!

The patriarch, not seeing Chu Rusi, despaired, thinking there was no one left to save him: "Ru Si... where have you gone?"

Xu Huanxi offered a smile so sincere and delicate it sent shivers down one's spine: "Never mind Chu Rusi. You need to write a 10,000-word pledge and a 20,000-word self-criticism, both heartfelt and profound. And don't even think about plagiarizing."

The patriarch sulked and confined himself to his room. Xu Huanxi was clearly his granddaughter, so why did it feel like she was the one calling the shots?

Watching the patriarch retreat, Xu Yinuo gestured to the sofa with a stern look, indicating Xu Huanxi should sit down.

Xu Huanxi, resigned to her fate, walked over and sat down, offering a smile that was equal parts ingratiating and weary. Dealing with these cunning family members was exhausting.

Xu Yinuo got straight to the point: "Mommy, with the Old Ancestor taken care of, what's your plan regarding Uncle Chu?"

Should they just play it cool?

The question only intensified Xu Huanxi's headache. She had to put on a firm demeanor: "Adult matters are not a child's concern."

Xu Yinuo's face took on a serious expression as he warned, "Mommy, if you talk like that, I'm going to be upset." Marriage is a big deal, and Mommy was treating it so casually. He was not on board with this stepfather!

Xu Huanxi felt an odd sense of being overwhelmed. At times, her son could converse with her like a little grown-up, leaving her at a loss for words.

Ultimately, she chose to lay all her cards on the table, gently stroking Xu Yinuo's hair. "Uncle Chu really was tied up with something today and had to leave in a rush. Mommy hasn't even had a chance to talk to him yet. So, let's put this issue on hold for now. Okay? Mommy won't be at a disadvantage, alright?"

Xu Yinuo eyed Xu Huanxi with skepticism for a long while before finally rolling his eyes and holding his tongue. After all, who was Xu Huanxi? She was his mother, and with him by her side, no one could take advantage of her!

"Time for bed. The weekend's over, and you've got school tomorrow," Xu Huanxi said as she nudged Xu Yinuo into his room and tucked him in with care, her heart growing tender.

Though his arrival had been fraught with pain, he was the blessing of her life.

...

In the still of the night, Xu Huanxi was racing to finish a design project, but the absurdities of the day kept spinning in her head, preventing her from finding peace. She set her pen aside and stepped out for a stroll.

The night breeze was fragrant with scents from afar, enveloping her.

The neighborhood was shrouded in deep night, the usual crowd of strollers and loungers nowhere to be seen, and even the night's secret lovers were scarce.

Dipping her feet into the fountain, she sighed in relief, her thoughts clarifying. Problems needed addressing, and she resolved not to put off dealing with Chu Rusi any longer.