Translator: Henyee Editor: Henyee
Seeing how she acted naturally and at ease, not at all like a child who grew up in the mountains, the journalists became more excited. “Excuse me, Miss Xiao, how did you feel when you learnt that you were actually a descendant of the Xiao Family?”
Tang Xi frowned. To be honest, the moment she found out that she had become Xiao Rou, she had felt as if struck by a thunderbolt.
“I felt upset and nervous, wondering whether my parents would like a child who grew up in the mountains.” Tang Xi paused, turned to look at Xiao Hongli and Yang Jingxian, and smiled as she continued, “But then I found that my concern was really unnecessary because my parents love me, really love me.”
A journalist wiped away his tears and said with righteous indignation, “Those human traffickers should be brought to justice! Or be shot. They’re really heinous!”
In the banquet hall, Lin Ru looked gloomy as she said, “What will they announce at the press conference?”
“Let’s go over and have a look? I’m worried that girl may say something improper.” Xiao Hongyi frowned. “If Xiao Hongli makes a false charge against us at the press conference, we’ll be in trouble!”
“A charge against us?” Lin Ru snorted coldly. “We won’t admit it. Besides, Xiao Hongli wants to recognize that girl as his daughter himself, and we didn’t force him! Since he likes it, he shouldn’t regret it!”
Hearing their words, Xiao Jinning, who was standing quietly on one side, secretly smiled. ‘Look, Xiao Rou, your parents don’t care about you at all. They are even ashamed of you! Can you still compete with me?’
Xiao Hongyi could tell his wife was annoyed by Xiao Rou from her tone. He frowned and asked, “Who pissed you off?”
Lin Ru was angry at the mention of Xiao Rou. “Who else but that hussy? Brought up in the countryside, she is just as vulgar and unreasonable as those village women! She even dared talk back to me in the hospital! I wish I didn’t give birth to a child like that!”
Hearing this, Xiao Jinning quickly came over to appease Lin Ru, saying in a low voice, “Mom, don’t be angry. Maybe Rourou was angry with me, so she spoke to you like that. It was all my fault.”
Seeing Xiao Jinning being so considerate, Lin Ru looked a little bit better. She patted Xiao Jinning’s hand and shook her head. “It has nothing to do with you. She is too mean. Anyway, she has finally disappeared from my sight. It’s enough for me to have a daughter like you.”
After saying that, she smiled and her face softened. “By the way, what about Chengyu? Has he come?”
Xiao Jinning’s face was filled with a happy smile at hearing Liu Chengyu’s name. She nodded and replied, “Yes, I just spoke with Brother Chengyu on the phone. He’s on his way here.”
Xiao Yan, who was standing not far behind them, frowned upon hearing their conversation.
On the other side, the press conference was delayed for a few minutes as the journalists had asked too many questions. Suddenly, a journalist said, “Miss Xiao is truly a worthy descendant of the Xiao Family. Even though you lived in the countryside for so many years, you still look noble and graceful.”
Tang Xi slightly raised her eyebrows and smiled as she said, “I’m flattered.”
“That’s all for today, thank you.” As Xiao Hongli said this, their bodyguards briskly walked over and escorted them out.
Upon spotting the girl who was walking with Xiao Hongli, Liu Chengyu, who had just gotten off his car, was stunned at her beauty.
“I didn’t expect Rourou to perform so well and to not have any stage fright.” Xiao Hongli looked at Tang Xi with a bright smile. The more he looked at Tang Xi, the more he was satisfied with her. He was almost bursting with laughter in his heart. He wanted to see how his brother, who took a fish eye as a pearl, would look like after he learnt that the daughter he abandoned was actually a great girl.
Tang Xi smiled. A scene like this was routine for her in the past.
But Tang Xi certainly wouldn’t say that. She smiled sweetly at them and said, “I was telling myself that even if I said something wrong, Mom and Dad would stay by my side.”
Grandpa Xiao grinned from ear to ear and nodded repeatedly. “Good, very good. Hongli, be good to Rourou and I’ll make it worth your while.”
Xiao Hongli’s face became clouded at hearing Grandpa Xiao mention that matter again. “Dad, what are you talking about? I’ve told you that I’m really not interested in your company and I won’t work for it. But if you want my son to work in the company, I don’t mind.”
Xiao Jing almost jumped to his feet at his father’s words. As if facing a great crisis, he rushed over to them and said pleadingly, “Grandpa, please don’t force me to work in your company! I have a job I love, so I’m not going to work there!”
Xiao Yao and Xiao Sa had come out to see how the press conference was going, only to hear their grandpa say this. Their reactions were almost identical to Xiao Jing’s. “Grandpa, we don’t want to work in Xiao’s Group either. Uncle and Brother Yan manages the company very well. If you really want to reward us, give us money. Nothing is better than money for us!”
Xiao Jing nodded in agreement with Xiao Yao and Xiao Sa. “Yes, Grandpa. Apart from money, we want nothing else. A position in Xiao’s Group would merely be a burden to us!”
Grandpa Xiao got a headache at the sight of their reactions. Although Hongyi and Hongli seemed to get along well, they didn’t like each other, which was why Hongli didn’t want to work in Xiao’s Group and he didn’t allow his sons to do so as well. Xiao’s Group still existed because Hongli worked in the government and his father-in-law was a widely-respected general. The company’s rivals dared not attack them because they feared the power behind it. However, Grandpa Xiao clearly knew that Hongli protected the company for his sake. Once he died, the company would be taken over by Hongyi and Hongli wouldn’t shield it any more. At that time, Xiao’s Group would be finished.
Grandpa Xiao scowled.
Tang Xi was also surprised. She had only ever witnessed the descendants of rich families scramble for family properties, and she herself was murdered for this reason. Why did Xiao Hongli and his sons take the family property as a burden?
Just then, Yang Jingxian suddenly said, “Today is the welcome party for Rourou. Let’s go in.”
“Yes, Grandpa, how can you forget the…” Xiao Sa suddenly stopped speaking, stared in astonishment at Tang Xi and asked, “Who is this beauty?”
Xiao Yao recognized Xiao Rou first, and a surprised gleam flashed through his eyes.
Xiao Jing burst into laughter and gloated, “I really want to bring Rourou to the party and show her to some people.”
His brothers all nodded. Yes, then they could see how those people, who treated Rourou with contempt this morning, felt regret.
Knowing what they were thinking of, Tang Xi gave a sly smile and said, “Are you going to take me along as a zoo animal? No way! I’m gonna charge them for taking a look at me.”
“Hahaha…” Everyone was amused by her words.