As soon as Zhang Qilin’s expression was noticed, they knew this matter wouldn’t be resolved easily.
Even Fu Gongyan, who had always been grinning cheekily, put on an extremely serious look.
The three men looked at each other in speechless despair. It seemed they had to see Si Wan one more time.
Watching the departure of Zhang Qilin and his friends, Si Wan could no longer remain calm.
Since she was little, except for his grandfather, Zhang Qilin had been the one who treated her the best. He was like her biological brother who cared for her, took care of her and satisfied all of her demands.
When she unexpectedly learned that brother Lin had hated her and wasn’t willing to see her, she felt very upset. From then on, she had never met someone she could unconditionally trust again.
In the meanwhile, she was increasingly reliant on Gong Siming.
The banquet continued, but she felt upset. Si Wan found the laughter and bustle antipathetic but still forced herself to fit in.
This banquet was held by Gong Siming.
She warned herself repeatedly that there shouldn’t be any more mistakes.
She walked into the restroom, washed her face, took out her cosmetics for some touch-ups, forced a smile and perfectly blended in the banquet.
Her social skills were strong. With satisfaction, Yan Xiuya watched Si Wan walking back and forth in the crowd. It appeared that her daughter-in-law possessed infinite potentials.
The banquet lasted until the middle of the night. Yan Xiuya trusted Si Wan with the task of seeing off the guests.
When the last guest was gone, Si Wan let out a sigh of relief.
It was finally over. Holding a banquet was even more troublesome than a wedding.
Right when she was returning for Yan Xiuya, an uninvited guest stopped her.
“Are you a sticking plaster that wouldn’t fall off?”
Si Wan’s patience was wearing thin. Faced with the clingy Feng Qi, she could feel nothing but hatred.
“I just want to apologize.”
Said him miserably, but his brazen face never changed.
“Spit it, I’m listening.”
She looked at Feng Qi with ridicule.
“I’m awfully sorry.”
“I heard you, and you may leave now.”
Turning around, Si Wan was about to step inside.
“Let me give you a ride home!”
Feng Qi followed closely behind Si Wan, insisting on driving her home.
Unable to bear it any longer, she decided to take actions.
She gave him another overarm throw. This time, he fell more heavily in a more direct angle.
Lying on the ground, Feng Qi couldn’t get up for quite a while.
At the sight of Si Wan’s merciless exit, Feng Qi seemed to have realized something.
He remembered one sentence Si Wan once told him – you shouldn’t be sick for the wrong person.
Was he wrong? In desperation, he rose to his feet from the ground.
Without even dusting himself off, he drove away into the dark.
Yan Xiuya, standing by the window, witnessed the whole scene.
“Wan.”
As soon as she entered the banquet hall, she heard the voice of Zhang Qilin.
Turning around, she looked at Zhang Qilin with surprise.
“Brother Lin, I thought you had gone home!”
She tried to set her mind at ease and replied with composure.
“Here is one thing you should know.”
“Ling, thanks for helping me out tonight.”
Yan Xiuya walked slowly down the stairs, and her gaze were full of scrutiny.
“Aunt Xiu, it’s just my obligation. We are family friends, and Ming is my close brother. In his place, I’m always willing to help.”
She looked at Zhang Qilin smilingly.
“I’ve watched you grow up, and you are all my kids. What do you want from Si Wan?”
He made a quick analysis in his mind, trying to figure out the best description of the matter so that it could be resolved properly.
At last, Zhang Qilin took an anxious look at Si Wan.
“I should leave the matter to her.”
Si Wan looked blankly at Zhang Qilin.
“What matter?”
“The incident happened during the banquet tonight.”
Although Si Wan hadn’t expected Zhang Qilin to indicate that, she was willing to trust him. If he asked her to spill it, there must have been a good reason.
This was the trust between family members. Even though he had abandoned her once, she was willing to trust him without the slightest hesitation.
Besides, she didn’t need to hide it.
“It doesn’t matter, brother Lin. I’m ready to tell mother about it even if you don’t ask.”
Hearing such intimate appellations between the two, Yan Xiuya couldn’t help feeling the pressure for her son.
The others didn’t matter, but Zhang Qilin was indeed a strong competitor, for he had been Si Wan’s protector when they were young.
Now it seemed they weren’t estranged from each other despite the fact that they hadn’t met for over a decade. On the contrary, their suppressed emotions were easier to burst.
Si Wan simply regarded Zhang Qilin as her family member, but Zhang Qilin’s affection was not that simple.
In full details, Si Wan unfolded all that had happened tonight to Yan Xiuya, including the incident that occurred outside just now.
Yan Xiuya was pleased by Si Wan’s frankness. But she knew her son quite well. That kid was unpersuadable, especially when he had already decided.
Only the evidence of his own investigation could put him at ease. Therefore, this matter could only be resolved by themselves.
“Let them solve the problem themselves.”
Said Yan Xiuya to Zhang Qilin.
“We should trust them, Lin, what do you say?”
“You’re right, aunt.”
“Si Wan, go and check if Mr. Ma is here.”
She found herself an excuse to send Si Wan away.
Glancing at the bewildered Zhang Qilin, Yan Xiuya spoke in a solemn tone.
“Lin, what are you gonna do?”
He looked up at Yan Xiuya with a desperate look on his face.
“Aunt Xiu, rest assured. I won’t go anywhere near Si Wan’s again, just the way we have remained in the past decade.”
She helplessly shook her head.
“You know I didn’t mean that.”
As the long-buried bitterness flooded Zhang Qilin’s heart, tears were welling up in his eyes.
“I’m sorry that you had to endure this, my poor boy!”
Sympathetically, she patted Zhang Qilin on his shoulder.
“Aunt Xiu, I can see it clearly that Ming likes Wan, otherwise, he wouldn’t forbid everyone to approach her.”
As for Si Wan’s feelings, it was too obvious.
“I’ll handle it properly and make sure no one falls into dilemma.”
At that moment, Yan Xiuya, an all-powerful business veteran, lost her means to comfort Zhang Qilin.
This kid had endured and sacrificed too much all these years.
She felt her son was so fortunate to have such a brother.
“Aunt Xiu, I’m leaving. I’m afraid I can’t wait for Wan.”
Yan Xiuya nodded, and Zhang Qilin rose to his feet, only to find Si Wan standing at the door.
She beckoned him over.
After a simple farewell, they went on their separate ways back home.
In the car, Yan Xiuya spoke seriously to Si Wan once again.
“Dear, whether it is Lin or Feng Qi, I hope you can handle your relationships properly as soon as possible.”