C20 What Do You Want?

However, one thing was crystal clear: his sister, Chu Xingyun, was no saint.

The current situation was murky, and Xu Huanxi couldn't afford any vulnerabilities. Coincidentally, neither could he. If word got out that he had a son, it would spell disaster.

He ceased fiddling with the Buddhist beads in his hands. "Qingfeng, make arrangements. Find a way for my son to travel abroad with the old ancestor, whether for half a month or a full month."

My son? And he says it so affectionately!

Boss, do they even acknowledge you?

Wen Qingfeng felt exhausted. How was he supposed to convince someone to take a vacation? Offering up a plane ticket outright would make any sane person suspect a plot.

But an order was an order, and he had no choice but to give it his all.

...

Xu Huanxi's mind was preoccupied all day with the thought of Chu Xingyun returning home, which tanked her work productivity.

She decided to leave work early to pick up Xu Yinuo from school.

Xu Yinuo emerged from school, his quiet and aloof demeanor setting him apart from the rowdy kids around him.

Xu Huanxi watched her son approach with a smile. In him, she saw the poise of the man she had loathed for eight years.

Xu Yinuo reached her and spontaneously hugged her. "What's up, Mommy? You're waiting for me today?"

Xu Huanxi paused, feeling a twinge of guilt for often making her little one wait. She embraced Xu Yinuo, drawing courage from his presence, her voice playful, "Mommy just missed her little Nuo, that's all."

"Okay, I missed Mommy too." Xu Yinuo's face softened with indulgence. He feigned maturity, tousling Xu Huanxi's hair with a grin.

Xu Huanxi thought to herself, when my little one smiles, it's like the sun coming back to life. What a feeling, to be charmed by your own son.

But as soon as they opened the front door, there was Chu Rusi and the Old Ancestor, deep in friendly conversation.

Heh, so much for the sun. It's dead again.

Xu Huanxi grimly concluded that now was not the time for any endeavors. Bad luck seemed to be her constant companion.

Upon their return, the Old Ancestor busied himself with dinner preparations, treating Chu Rusi as if he were already part of the family.

Xu Yinuo, passing by Chu Rusi, stepped on him with feigned accident and said with an innocent look, "Sorry, Uncle Chu."

Chu Rusi was taken aback by the youngster's petulant streak. He reached out to ruffle his hair, "Hey, good kid. Uncle knows you did that on purpose."

Xu Yinuo swatted Chu Rusi's hand away, his expression icy, "I don't like it when people touch my head."

The air was charged with a subtle tension.

Xu Huanxi gave Xu Yinuo's head a pat, "Go wash up for dinner."

The boy was usually well-mannered, but he showed disdain and defiance towards those he sensed were not well-meaning.

Once Xu Yinuo had left, Xu Huanxi's face turned frosty as she eyed the man beside her, "What's your angle?"

Chu Rusi just chuckled. Xu Huanxi's haughty demeanor was a mirror image of Xu Yinuo's. No one would doubt their mother-son relationship.

— Neither felt secure.

"I'll wager Jiang Tunan will show up today. You need someone who can hold their own," Chu Rusi murmured into Xu Huanxi's ear, his tone both enticing and suggestive.

...

The dinner table, with all four seated, was surprisingly comfortable.

Despite Xu Yinuo's sullen demeanor and Xu Huanxi's silence, Chu Rusi and the Old Ancestor were deep in animated conversation, ranging from the economic downturn to the neighborhood gossip.

The Old Ancestor, with everyone gathered, hinted at a major announcement with a secretive air.

Xu Huanxi, unimpressed, sipped her soup.

"I'm planning to take our little Nuo on a month-long trip to Europe."

That single sentence sent Xu Huanxi into a panic. Europe? For a whole month? As if she had a kidney to spare!