The Old Madam was a famous philanthropist and entrepreneur in S Country, even the Queen had received her before.
Her death caused a sensation in S Country. All the news media covered it and the nation mourned the loss.
Mu Sihan was on a seven-day visit abroad and could not be back in time for the Old Madam’s funeral. He called and asked Nan Zhi to go to the funeral hall and pay her respects to the Old Madam.
Xia Yanran also learned of the Old Madam’s death from the news. She still remembered clearly the other time when she saw the Old Madam at the Capital. The Old Madam was kind and did not seem to have any airs.
It had only been such a short time, how did she pass away just like that?
Nan Zhi looked at Xia Yanran. “Have you heard, Yanran?”
Xia Yanran looked at Nan Zhi with red eyes. “What is it?”
“The Old Madam left all her fortune to Xiao Yi.”
Xia Yanran’s eyes widened slightly.
But then she understood. The other time she went to see the Old Madam with Xiao Yi, she found that although the Old Madam had nagged about Xiao Yi, she still loved and valued him in her heart.
After all, he was the child her only daughter had loved most.
“Xiao Yi has changed and become the object of many nobles in the Capital to curry favor with. When some of them heard that he was not married, they started to have ideas on him. I heard that after the Old Madam’s funeral, they will send their daughters for Xiao Yi to choose from.”
When Xia Yanran heard this, she only nodded.
Now that Xiao Yi had inherited the Old Madam’s business, he had become one of the richest people in S Country. Who wouldn’t want to butter up to him?
“I’m afraid their hopes will be dashed. There’s already someone by Xiao Yi’s side,” Xia Yanran murmured in a voice only she herself could hear.
Xia Yanran had not told Nan Zhi about what had happened between her and Xiao Yi. She herself was tired of her entanglement with Xiao Yi, let alone her friend.
She did not want to say it out and make her friends feel sad and sorry for her. Those upsetting things, she would suffer in silence herself!
Nan Zhi saw that Xia Yanran was silent and became suspicious. “Why, did something happen between you and Xiao Yi again? Why are the both of you still like teenagers? You’re not young anymore! It’s time for you two to settle down properly!”
With a bitter laugh, Xia Yanran changed the topic. “The Old Madam’s funeral is tomorrow, right? I want to pay my condolences too.”
Although it was inevitable that she would meet Xiao Yi and Yi Ran, they were two separate matters. The Old Madam had hopes for Xiao Yi and her to live well, so she wanted to send her off on her last journey.
When Nan Zhi saw that Xia Yanran did not want to talk about relationship matters, she did not continue asking.
…
The next day.
Because of Nan Zhi’s noble status, she needed to have her picture taken by the reporters as she went to the Old Madam’s funeral hall, so Xia Yanran did not go with her.
Nan Zhi was wearing a black suit, her hair pulled up into a solemn style and she went into the funeral hall under the escort of the Royal guards. Xia Yanran went through the passageway for ordinary guests.
Entering the funeral hall and seeing the Old Madam’s portrait, Xia Yanran’s expression was sad.
After the memorial ceremony for the Old Madam, Xia Yanran went to the family section to convey her condolences to them.
Xiao Yi and the butler were kneeling at the family section. Xiao Yi’s face was thin and tired, and his deep eyes were bloodshot.
When Xia Yanran came over, Xiao Yi raised his head and their eyes met. He bowed, looking as he did with other guests, a mixture of sorrow mixed with politeness and indifference.
Ever since Xia Yanran came, Yi Ran’s gaze had never left her.
Seeing Xiao Yi and Xia Yanran’s eyes meeting, Yi Ran’s tensed heart slowly lowered.
When Xia Yanran left, she also looked at Yi Ran.
Yi Ran did not look at her and had her eyes on Xiao Yi, her gaze full of admiration.
Seeing this, Xia Yanran’s heart ached a little, but she did not stay too long and left the hall.
…
The Old Madam’s funeral was arranged by Xiao Yi and was very grand. He had lost a good deal of weight over the course of a few days.
After the Old Madam’s ashes were buried, Xiao Yi stood alone in the cemetery.
Yi Ran sat in a black SUV and looked out of the window. She could only faintly see Xiao Yi’s slender and tall figure. Beside Yi Ran sat a person wearing a hat and mask, who followed Yi Ran’s gaze and looked at that figure on the hill. “Why, do you still want to keep him?”
Yi Ran’s pupils constricted. “He has already been hypnotized by me, can you spare his life?”
“The Old Madam’s gone and if we keep Xiao Yi, are you going to let him foster his relationship with the Old Madam’s lawyer and the other elders? Now, all those who know him have left him. If we don’t do it now, we will arouse the suspicion of others even when our plan succeeds in the future!”
Yi Ran bit her lip hard.
To tell the truth, she really could not bear to get rid of Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi was the first man she had fallen in love with. He was unattainable and she experienced many hardships and finally gotten him. She even had his child, but he could not live.
Yi Ran’s eyes welled up with tears.
When the man beside her saw her reaction, he laughed coldly. “Were you hoping that he would fall in love with you someday? No matter how much you look like Xia Yanran, you’re just a substitute. Money is the most reliable thing in the world. When we have the Old Madam’s fortune, you can have any man you want.”
Yi Ran looked down at her lower abdomen, her voice choked. “But, I’m pregnant with his child.”
“You’d better abort the child.”
Yi Ran’s pupils constricted and she used her hand to protect her lower abdomen. “I don’t want to abort the child, I really like him and he’s a part of me. I can agree to your requests, but I want to keep the child!”
“It’s up to you. As long as he’s dead, you can keep his bloodline if you want.”
Yi Ran nodded with tears streaking down her face.
…
When Tang Chao learned of the Old Madam’s death, he also came to attend her funeral. After Yi Ran returned from the cemetery, she handed a task over to Tang Chao.
Xiao Yi only returned in the evening and Tang Chao asked the maid to prepare the few dishes Xiao Yi liked.
“Brother Xiao, I know you feel miserable. Let me accompany you and let’s get drunk tonight!”
Xiao Yi looked at Tang Chao and his throat was slightly hoarse. “Okay.”
Tang Chao opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass each for Xiao Yi and himself.
“Brother Xiao, now that you have inherited the Old Madam’s fortune, you must need some time to take over. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the company in B City.”
Xiao Yi touched his glass with Tang Chao’s. “Thank you.”
“It’s fine. But now that Brother Xiao has changed and became a big boss with wealth, I’m really happy for you.”
They drank for more than half an hour and Xiao Yi felt a little unwell. He called the butler over to help him upstairs to rest.
Tang Chao looked at Xiao Yi’s unsteady figure and he frowned, feeling a suffocating feeling in his heart.
