Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“What? You are such a heartless creature! Xinya led a wandering life for 15 years. She just came back and you want to send her abroad. How can you be so ruthless?” reproached Old Mr. Wen. He already knew that Wen Haowen despised Wen Xinya for her unglamorous past. But he’d never expected him to be so heartless.
“Father, Xinya’s past will definitely become the media’s weapon to attack the Wen Family. I am just worried about our family’s reputation.” Wen Haowen argued.
Old Mr. Wen held the corner of his study table firmly. The veins were clearly visible on the back of his hands. “She is just a child and has a lot to learn. We can teach her slowly. There’s no need to condemn her before she even has the chance to prove herself,” said Old Mr. Wen.
Wen Haowen didn’t expect his father to be so stubborn. Suppressing his anger, he tried explaining further. “Father, I am also concerned about Xinya. She is just an ordinary child. If someone makes use of the opportunity to bring her into the limelight, how can she withstand all the criticism? If she goes abroad to study for a few years, the education she receives will also do the family and herself proud.”
“You sound so reasonable by saying you have good intentions for the Wen Corporation and for Xinya. Do you really think I don’t know your real motives? You’re just afraid that Xinya’s behavior will be a disgrace to you, that’s all,” said Old Mr. Wen in a cold voice.
Old Madam Wen added, “Old man, I think what Haowen said makes sense. Xinya does have a weird temperament. I’ve also heard some bad rumors about Xinya amongst some of my friends. That’s why I haven’t been eager to join their group activities recently. Especially that Madam Guo, she’s been asking me a lot about Xinya lately. Everyone knows Xinya has had an unglamorous past. It has become a laughingstock and a topic for them to gossip about. It does no harm to send Xinya abroad and let her come back after a few years when this topic has settled down.”
Old Mr. Wen was extremely disappointed to see the mother and son arguing against him in synchronization. He said, “I think there’s nothing wrong with Xinya. She may be a dull and ordinary piece of jade now, with a bit of mischievous temperament. Given enough time and opportunities, she will become a piece of beautiful glowing jade ornament after putting in hard work.”
Old Mr. Wen recalled that night when Xinya stood beneath the viburnum tree, that young and beautiful face that stood out from the branches full of viburnum flowers. She looked plain and simple but had a hidden charm and poise that resembled a great deal of her late mother, Mo Yunyao.
Old Madam Wen wasn’t happy when she heard what he said. “I can’t see anything good in her. She’s rough and unrefined. She even pushed Ruya into the lake. I am an old woman who has lived for more than half a century, but I have never seen any wealthy family’s daughter like her, who acts violently and is full of profanity. We all know Ruya’s kind and delicate nature, yet Xinya treated her so badly. It shows what a wicked person she is,” she replied.
Old Mr. Wen said in a frustrated tone of voice, “That’s already a matter of the past, why can’t you just let it go? Both Xinya and Ruya are young, getting into fights and arguments is very common for the youngsters. Who hasn’t made any mistakes when they were young? When Haowen was about the age of Xinya now, he also frequently got into fights and trouble, didn’t he?”
Old Madam Wen was speechless. Indeed, when Haowen was at that age, he was even more rebellious than Xinya.
Wen Haowen saw how his father was putting in all the good words for Wen Xinya and knew he wouldn’t give in easily. He finally softened his tone. “Father, I know you love Xinya and couldn’t bear to let her stay abroad by herself. But the media will always find a chance to hound her for having such an unglamorous past, this will be a great disadvantage to her.”
Old Madam Wen quickly continued, “What Haowen said makes sense.”
Old Mr. Wen pointed at Old Madam Wen and Wen Haowen and said in a quivering voice, “How can you be so ruthless towards the Wen Family’s own flesh and blood?”
Old Madam Wen was unhappy to hear that. She said, “Old man, what are you saying? How are we ruthless towards her? If she behaves herself, how will I not love her? Though she has just returned to the family and isn’t close to me, she has already caused so much trouble and unhappiness within the family. She’s not even half as good as Ruya.”
Old Mr. Wen was feeling more frustrated and felt the injustice for Xinya. “Xinya is the true flesh and blood of the Wen Family, but all of you have been constantly showing concern only towards Ruya, calling her a few times a day asking whether she has been eating and sleeping well. On the contrary, you have been treating Xinya like an outsider. Do you think Xinya isn’t aware of the way you’re treating her? You said she isn’t close to you. In fact, you haven’t been treating her well enough,” he responded.
Old Madam Wen said, blushing, “Ruya has been by my side for the past 12 years. Even though she isn’t the true daughter of the Wen Family, I still love and care about her. Though Xinya is the flesh and blood of the Wen Family, there is no relationship between us…”
Old Mr. Wen asked angrily, “So, is not having a relationship a valid reason to send her abroad? Out of sight, out of mind?”
“Father, this is not what Mother and I meant…” Wen Haowen explained frantically.
Old Mr. Wen noticed the pale and expressionless look on Wen Haowen’s face. “She is your own flesh and blood. No matter what happens, there’s Wen Family’s blood flowing in her body. How can you treat her this way? Have you lost your conscience? I think the breeze by the pillow has blown you conscience away and you cannot even differentiate between right and wrong,” he commented.
Wen Haowen felt embarrassed. Sending Wen Xinya abroad was indeed Ning Shuqian’s idea.
Old Madam Wen was always over-protective towards her son and she wouldn’t let him suffer any form of humiliation. She stared at Old Mr. Wen with dissatisfaction. “Old man, is this the way you should talk? Haowen manages a large corporation like the Wen Corporation successfully. Does he look like someone who isn’t clear-minded?”
Old Madam Wen’s words gave Wen Haowen some confidence. “Father, why don’t we ask Xinya for her opinion? Who knows, she might even agree to the idea,” he said.
“I am telling you, Xinya is not going anywhere. She will be staying by my side. If you cannot stand it, you can move out of the Wen Mansion. As long as I’m alive, you can forget about sending Xinya away.” Old Mr. Wen warned coldly.
“Old man…”
“Enough said, leave now!”
“Father…”
“Get out!”
Wen Haowen could suppress his anger no more. “Father, you are too stubborn. One day the reputation of the Wen Family will perish in your hands,” he blurted.
Old Mr. Wen laughed coldly. “If that happens, I am only destroying the Wen Family’s reputation. But you want me to destroy the continuation of our family line. If you were able to provide offspring to the Wen Family, would I have spent that much effort to search for Xinya?”
Wen Haowen was stunned. Not having another child had always been one of his biggest regrets. He had secretly gone for medical check-ups at a male-only hospital, and also let Ning Shuqian do her medical check-ups. The results had shown no problems with either of them. He wasn’t totally at fault for not being able to let Ning Shuqian conceive.
At this moment, Wen Haowen swung the door hard and stomped out in anger. He then saw Wen Xinya standing outside with breakfast in her hands.
