Old Master Li’s voice was heard. “Is that Shi Jin?”
“It is,” Shi Jin replied in a low voice. She could hear Old Master Li’s guilty and aged voice through the static.
Her heart softened immediately. She thought that her heart would never soften for anyone, but in reality, it would always soften in front of the people she cared about.
“Shi Jin, It’s your grandfather. Are you alright?” Old Master Li’s voice was slightly choked. He was obviously worried that Shi Jin would ignore him.
When they went to fetch Shi Jin that year, Li Juekai had been in a coma because of a car accident. Old Master Li had also been worried that his old illness would relapse and he would miss the opportunity to fetch Shi Jin.
Just thinking about it made the old man regret his actions.
Shi Jin said softly, “Not bad. What about you?”
“Good. Me too.” Sensing Shi Jin’s attitude, Old Master Li’s tone was obviously brisk. “Can we have lunch together tomorrow afternoon?”
“Okay,” Shi Jin agreed.
After she put down her phone, Old Master Li’s comforting tone still rang in her ears.
She pursed her lips slightly and leaned back in her seat, smiling.
Old Master Li was also in the car. He put down the phone and said happily to the chauffeur, “Shi Jin has agreed to have dinner with us.”
The chauffeur, who had been with Old Master Li for many years, was also happy about this. “That’s good. I knew Miss would definitely agree to meet you.”
“It must have been hard on her,” Old Master Li said.
After some thought, he took out his phone and fixed his gaze on Shi Xuexin’s name.
After a while, Old Master Li called Shi Xuexin.
Shi Xuexin was talking to Yuxiu Hua in the living room at this time. For some reason, many problems had cropped up with the Shi family’s business recently.
The clients who had been cooperating well started to shirk their responsibilities.
Obviously, the Shi family had been developing benignly. Shi Qing’s ability and the Shi family’s influence were constantly improving, and the company’s profits were not bad. However, as if they had agreed, these customers were taking the risk of giving up on their own interests and turning to other companies.
Shi Qing had been extremely anxious these past two days.
Yuxiu Hua sat in the living room and sighed.
Shi Xuexin consoled him softly, “Dad, don’t worry. Why don’t we go and find out why these clients are no longer cooperating?”
“How can we? They don’t want to talk to me about it. I don’t even know what I did wrong.”
Yuxiu Hua decisively said, “Then let’s treat them to a meal first. No matter what, we have to fight to see them and talk about it.”
“That’s the only way.” Shi Qing really had a headache.
Just as Shi Xuexin was about to speak, her cell phone rang.
She picked it up and frowned. It was Old Master Li.
It was only after she returned to the Shi family that she started contacting Old Master Li. Soon, she had started to think that he was a little annoying and had a very old-fashioned way of thinking. He would always get someone to send her home-made clothes, vegetables that he had planted himself, and chickens and ducks that he had raised himself, making the Shi family’s villa a mess.
Shi Xuexin had gradually stopped contacting him.
Why was he calling again?
“Grandfather?” Although she was not too happy to receive the call, Shi Xuexin still picked up.
“Xuexin, Grandpa is here in the capital. When are you free? Will you come out for a meal?”
Shi Xue thought about how her parents were troubled by the company’s matters. It was time for her to put in some effort. How could she give up on her parents? Besides, if she were to wear a new dress to meet Old Master Li, how would she bear being seen in public if he also brought some chickens and ducks?
She immediately shook her head and said, “Grandpa, I’ve been preparing for my final exams in school, as well as the piano competition and the Chinese Art Exhibition. I might not be able to see you for the time being.”
“Okay then, maybe next time.” Old Master Li hung up.
Shi Xuexin heaved a long sigh of relief. Luckily, he had not insisted this time. She was really afraid of meeting him.
Yuxiu Hua asked, “That’s the grandfather of the Li family?”
Because she knew that Li Juekai was the Best Actor, she felt a little respect for Old Master Li instead of looking down on him like before.
Shi Xuexin nodded. “He came to the capital and said he wanted to meet me. I should have gone to meet him, but Dad is in a terrible fix right now. I want to help him settle his matters first.”
Yuxiu Hua was gratified. “My good daughter, having you is really my blessing.”
Anyway, Li Juekai was already outdated. What was so important about him? So what if his daughter didn’t want to see him?
Shi Qing took out his phone to reply and suddenly laughed. “Chairman Zhang has agreed to have dinner with us! Quick, quickly book a good place!”
Shi Xuexin immediately said, “I’ll handle it now.”
***
In the car, Old Master Li put down his phone. A trace of loneliness appeared on his aged face.
How had the child that he had raised with his own hands ended up like this?
“Isn’t she coming over?” The chauffeur and Old Master Li had worked together for many years and were good friends. Seeing his expression, he could guess what was going on.
“I knew she wouldn’t come.” Old Master Li’s last call had just been a final test.
The driver said, “It’s normal for her to be arrogant.”
Old Master Li’s voice suddenly became serious. “But she shouldn’t have lied to me back then.”
At that time, Shi Xuexin had just been sent back to the Shi family and the Li family had not had time to fetch Shi Jin. Old Master Li had called the Shi family frequently to ask about Shi Jin’s condition and to show his concern. However, nine out of ten times, the Shi family had received an answer saying that Shi Jin was unwilling to answer or leave the Shi family.
Old Master Li had not been in good health at that time and had believed it to be true. He could only find out more about Shi Jin through Shi Xuexin’s phone.
Shi Xuexin’s explanation was similar to that of the others. She told him, “Shi Jin doesn’t want to go back at all. She doesn’t want to leave this house and leave the city. She can’t accept it at the moment. But don’t worry, Grandfather. I will take good care of Shi Jin and accompany her through this. If she is willing to stay with the Shi family, I will treat her like my own sister. It just so happens that she has a friend. It’ll be quite nice for us to accompany each other. Please give her more time, Grandfather, alright?”
Old Master Li trusted this child that he had raised single-handedly. He really thought that it would be good for Shi Jin to stay.
It was only after Shi Jin and the Li family gradually drifted apart that he slowly came back to his senses. How could Shi Jin not have been willing to pick up the call back then?
It was Shi Xuexin who had not given her a chance to answer.
Why had Shi Xuexin stopped Shi Jin?
