C17 Sorry

After the dinner party ended, Yilin didn't rush to leave. She was eager to find out if Yichen still remembered the car accident. Throughout the evening, she'd been on edge because of the ambiguous look Yichen had given her. Coupled with what Lingxi had said to her before leaving, she needed a definite answer tonight.

Chuman was leaning on the balcony of her second-floor bedroom at the estate, sipping the hot milk Yichen had brought her before he left. She peered down at the small garden below, partially obscured by trees, but she could still make out the figures of Yilin and Yichen. Yilin seemed to be complaining about something with a look of grievance, while Yichen remained unmoved. Suddenly, Yilin became emotional, covering her face and crying, and Chuman could faintly hear the wind carrying snippets of "I'm sorry" from below.

Watching Yichen stand coldly as his sister cried her heart out, Chuman was about to click her tongue and remark on his cold-bloodedness when Yichen sighed, seemingly helpless. He gently patted Yilin's hair, saying something that made her eyes light up with joy. She looked at him through tear-filled eyes and threw herself into his arms. Yichen stood rigid, his gaze as cold as a deep pool, yet Yilin seemed completely oblivious.

Bai Chuman was thoroughly engrossed in what she was watching when she suddenly noticed Yichen's gaze shift towards her. Startled, she choked on her milk, nearly spilling it as she hurriedly covered her mouth.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. She quickly scrambled over to open it, missing the fleeting smile and warmth in Yichen's eyes.

Standing outside was the butler of the Jiang Estate, his expression serious and his black suit impeccably pressed. Despite his respectful tone, Chuman couldn't ignore the subtle disdain in his eyes. It was a stark contrast to the warmth of the folks at Maplecrest Villa. She lifted her chin slightly, offering a distant smile, recalling Yichen's assurance that she didn't need to be overly polite to these people, as he had her back.

"May I ask why the butler is visiting so late?" she inquired.

The butler bowed his head politely. "Ma'am, the master requests Yichen's presence in the study."

"Thank you, butler. Yichen hasn't seen his family in a while and is currently catching up with Yilin. They seem to have a great sibling bond and have yet to return. I'll let him know when he gets back."

As expected, the butler frowned slightly at her words, casting a quick, almost imperceptible glance into the room before leaving respectfully.

Watching the butler's retreating figure, Chuman found herself lost in thought.

That night, no one knew what Yichen and the head of the Jiang family discussed in the study. Chuman waited in the bedroom all night, but Yichen didn't return until dawn. Exhausted, he stumbled into the room and collapsed onto the half-asleep Chuman, startling her awake. He held her down gently, resting his chin on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "It's begun," before falling into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Chengwei, after the conversation, stayed up all night, sitting alone until morning. His eyes were heavy with thought, replaying Yichen's words in his mind, his expression complex.

The Jiang family, now a dominant force both domestically and internationally, built its success on generations of hard work and perseverance. If you trace back their history, the Jiangs are the most prestigious family in Araamouth. However, during Chengwei's father's time, the family began to decline. His father, with exceptional foresight and connections, laid the foundation for what would become Jiang's Group.

Years ago, Chengwei had two brothers. The power struggles within the Jiang family were legendary, even by today's standards. Chengwei was the middle child, often overlooked. When their father fell gravely ill without leaving a will, the eldest brother, driven by greed, tried to seize control of the family. It was thanks to the then-teenaged Yichen that Chengwei and his younger brother managed to survive the ordeal.

The situation escalated to the point where it reached the elderly father, who was so enraged that he suffered a fatal heart attack. The old man had always doted on his eldest grandson, Yichen. Yet, after his grandfather's death, Yichen remained silent, not shedding a single tear. While the family was busy organizing the funeral and hosting the various business partners and high society figures, trying desperately to stabilize the Jiang family's turmoil, no one noticed Yichen. Taking advantage of the chaos, he calmly took the Beretta 92F pistol his grandfather had given him and shot his uncle in the head.