Yuran brushed herself off and stood up from the sofa, "Shut up."
The incessantly talking Ao Chen, suddenly roared at , had his temper flare up immediately and stood up as well, "Trying to revolt, huh?"
It was outrageous, she turned around intending to leave, "So much nonsense, I won’t sign with you. Go back where you came from. Who can stand your foul temper? You scrutinize Bo Yan with a magnifying glass, finding faults all over while thinking only you are excellent. Dare you admit it?"
"Do I need to compare myself to him?"
Yuran chuckled without saying a word, just watching him. Ao Chen stiffened his neck, his tone weakening, "Fine, fine, I yield to you. Let’s sign, sign."
Picking up the pen, he quickly signed his grand name at the end of the contract.
Yuran, satisfied, picked up the contract, giving it a look, "Aren’t you worried I might sell you out?"
Ao Chen’s eyes widened, "You wouldn’t dare..."
Yuran raised an eyebrow, "Okay, okay, you call the shots. Just remember to write three songs for Bai Leyao. I’ll come to get them next Monday. If they’re not ready, don’t bother teaching my son; I can teach him myself."
Ao Chen: "...Don’t go too far. I’m already compromising. What else do you want?"
Yuran twirled her finger, "I don’t want anything, ah. Did I say I wanted something? Don’t be so sensitive."
Ao Chen: "...Get out, get out, get out. Just leave, don’t show your face around me."
Reaching the door, Yuran turned the knob, and as though she had just thought of something, turned back and said, "Master, my friend is coming back soon and might come to get something. Make sure to open the door for them."
"Got it, got it, now get out."
Yuran descended the stairs and slid into Bo Yan’s car, only to see Zhizhi asleep in the back seat and Bo Yan with a grave look on his face. A pang of anxiety hit the bottom of her heart, worrying that something might have gone wrong, "Brother Qi, what’s the matter?"
Bo Yan looked over and gave a cold laugh, "Xi Nian is about to be kicked out of Huanya. Hidden needles in the cotton, the old man of the Xi Family truly is something else."
Yuran’s expression changed as well, "What for?"
"A collective boycott." Bo Yan pondered, "Do you know? The editing department at Huanya has all gone on strike, refusing to work on the post-production of ’City of Temptation,’ not a single person editing for Xi Nian’s show. Moreover, they falsely accused Xi Nian of oppressive contracts over the years, and then kicked him while he was down, making his years of contribution to Huanya worthless."
Yuran clenched the contract in her hand, "What does my brother say?"
Bo Yan, "I just called Xi Nian. He had anticipated Huanya’s ploy from the very start. He always had room to maneuver. The master tape for ’City of Temptation,’ he has it, but the company imposed conditions—if he takes the master tape, then he must resign from his position at Huanya and relinquish his shares as well."
Yuran could hardly believe such a merciless and unfounded act of robbery.
Bo Yan, "We Diyang can finish editing ’City of Temptation,’ but then Xi Nian would have to leave Huanya. Xi Nian wanted me not to tell you, afraid you would worry."
"There will always be a time to find out."
Bo Yan understood. Even if she didn’t know it now, would she not worry when she found out later?
Worry existed in equal measure, and finding out later might even make her feel that Xi Nian didn’t consider her as part of the family.
Now that I know so much, it turns out to be a good thing.
"Let’s go, Seventh Brother, let’s go home."
On the way home, Yuran called Xi Yang and Xi Yan respectively. Xi Yan told her explicitly that the old man was preparing to send his brother to London to clean up another mess. Huanya was on the brink of collapse before, but after Xi Nian’s arrival, it made a comeback within just a few years.
The old man was just copying the old ways, wanting to enslave Xi Nian forever. He knew very well how much Xi Nian cared about "City of Temptation," but he couldn’t wait a moment longer and wanted Xi Nian to go to London to toil like an animal.
Xi Family’s patriarch had lost his humanity; his mind was filled only with interests.
And that son of his who could never stand in the light.
Xi Yan also said that currently, they had no idea about Xi Nian’s thoughts or what his true feelings were regarding this arrangement, or if he had any plans of his own.
But Xi Nian said nothing.
He only mentioned that the editing of "City of Temptation" would be handed over to Diyang. As for the shares he held, if the other party wanted them, then they could just take them—quite a simple issue.
Yuran felt that Xi Nian had gone mad. She hung up on Xi Yan and asked Bo Yan, "Seventh Brother, do you know where Xi Nian lives?"
"Seventh Brother, take me to him."
"Beibei?" Xi Nian, with sleepy eyes, opened the door only to see Yuran and Bo Yan standing outside. Bo Yan had gained entry by facial recognition, and with the presence of Xi Nian’s assistant, otherwise, they might not have been able to enter the complex.
After a brief moment of astonishment, Xi Nian stepped aside to let the two in. He closed the door and went to the kitchen to pour water for them. Noticing Zhizhi sleeping soundly on Bo Yan’s shoulder, he pointed towards the guest room door, "Should you take Zhizhi to sleep there?"
Bo Yan nodded, "You two talk."
With that, he gave the two some space and took Zhizhi to the guest room. Xi Nian, with disheveled hair and profound eyes, didn’t seem disheartened; everything appeared quite normal.
"Did Bo Yan tell you?"
Yuran nodded, "Big Brother, what do you plan to do next?"
At this address of ’Big Brother,’ Xi Nian was taken aback, then looked up incredulously at Yuran. He thought he might never hear this term of endearment in this lifetime. Yuran read his expression, "Do I look like someone who would disown her relatives?"
Xi Nian laughed and shook his head, "Of course not, Ranran. As for this matter, I have a plan in mind, and everything is going accordingly. Now, Huanya has a new leader stepping in, I am clear about who this new person is, and I also know what I will be facing going to London, but none of that matters."
"Then what does matter?" Yuran grew somewhat angry.
"Xi Nian, you just got recognized by us, do you feel like your life goal has been achieved and even if you die, it wouldn’t matter? By leaving behind a substantial inheritance for Beibei and me, do you think you’ve done your best?"
Xi Nian was shocked: "I..."
"Is that really how it is?" Yuran scoffed, "I’ll tell you this, I won’t spend a dime of your money. If you want to die, I won’t stop you. But think carefully, I recognize you this one time only. Next time, whether I’ll recognize you or not is another matter. I don’t take life so lightly.
The best atonement is to be present, at least let us see that you live well."
Xi Nian’s gaze grew deep, with a hint of turmoil. Living conflicted with his initial intentions. He had resentment in his heart, resentment that had festered for many years. He had completed a flawless plan, a plan that was now two-thirds executed. Give up? For the sake of his sister, it seemed worth considering.