Chapter 312: Chapter 310 I’ve Changed My Mind
SMACK!
Old Master Si slapped Si Yuhuan on the shoulder. He wanted to hit him a few more times out of frustration, but lacking the strength, he could only stomp his feet in anger. "You idiot, didn’t I tell you to stay away from her?"
"I may like that girl, but she’s already married someone else, become his wife, and is carrying another man’s baby. There’s an insurmountable gulf between you two. You can have any woman you want, just not her. Grandfather has made himself very clear. Why do you still insist on this?"
Old Master Si, frustrated that Si Yuhuan wouldn’t learn his lesson, said, "I told you to treasure her, but you cast her aside as if she were worthless. Now that she doesn’t want you, you’re trying to win her back. Do you think everyone will just wait around for you?"
When Jian Xi was brought up, Old Master Si couldn’t help but express his deep sorrow. "She cuckolded you, and she’s not a good girl either. Forget it. Consider it ill-fated and cut ties."
"The relationship can be broken, but Si Yuhuan owes me far more than that!"
A chilling voice sounded from outside the door as Jian Xi walked in.
Upon seeing her, Old Master Si’s eyes widened in shock. "Xixi, what do you mean by this?"
Several months had passed since he last saw her; she looked much more haggard and had lost a lot of weight.
"Si Yuhuan knows very well what I mean!" Jian Xi pointed at him, a fierce hatred shining in her eyes. "Don’t think you can just hide back in the country and expect a happy ending. Si Yuhuan, give me back my child!"
Si Yuhuan took a deep breath, which tugged at his wound, making him wince in pain. "I didn’t steal the child."
"Stolen child?!" Even Old Master Si, who was slow on the uptake, was starting to understand. "Yuhuan, during the time you were away from the company, did you steal Xixi’s child to threaten her into reconciling with you?"
"Grandfather! Stop adding to the chaos!" Si Yuhuan urged Old Master Si to leave first.
"Si Yuhuan, can’t I get through to you at all? Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been secretly searching for Jian Xi’s whereabouts!" Old Master Si clutched his heart. "I never expected you to do such a thing. You’ve deeply disappointed me."
A wave of helplessness washed over Si Yuhuan. Jian Xi didn’t believe him. His grandfather didn’t believe him either. He felt as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss, carrying a blame he couldn’t escape. Who on earth is framing me! This is so despicable!
"Xixi, Grandfather will stand up for you. I’ll make sure he returns the child to you as soon as possible." Old Master Si was still making assurances.
"Grandfather! I didn’t steal her child!"
"Alright, I know, you didn’t steal the child." Old Master Si approached Jian Xi and whispered, "Don’t worry. Grandfather will help you investigate secretly. If I find the child, I’ll immediately have someone bring him to you. That boy... he’s just too in love with you."
Love? Jian Xi sneered. She couldn’t bear such "love."
"Mm," Jian Xi said, not elaborating.
As she watched Old Master Si leave, her eyes, cold and hard, settled on Si Yuhuan. He was pale; he’d just had his stitches redone. Probably from Fifth Brother’s punches and kicks reopening his old wounds.
"Jian Xi, I know you won’t believe anything I say. All the evidence points to me as the one who stole the child. Give me one month. I’ll find the real culprit, clear my name, and give you justice."
"No need." He’s stubbornly refusing to admit it, Jian Xi thought, momentarily at a loss. This is China, not overseas. The law is strict here, and a hospital isn’t a place where he can act recklessly. Perhaps it’s time I pulled some strings... met someone.
"Si Yuhuan, I’m giving you ten days. If you don’t return my child, this won’t be over between us!"
After delivering her ultimatum, Jian Xi left decisively.
Once outside, Wan Yu immediately rushed forward to support her.
"How are you? Are you holding up?" Wan Yu asked.
Jian Xi’s forehead was covered in a fine sheen of cold sweat.
Wan Yu couldn’t help but feel distressed for her. "You’re just too headstrong! Why not let your brothers handle this? Why must you do it yourself? Don’t you realize you haven’t even finished your postpartum confinement? It’s your own body! If you don’t take care of it, will you even be able to have children in the future? Have you forgotten what the doctor said?!"
Jian Xi was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Wan Yu quickly apologized, "I’m sorry, I spoke too harshly."
"If I can’t get my son back, what good is my fertility?! I don’t even deserve to be a mother!"
「Midnight.」
Silence pervaded the room. Moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing Jian Xi in a profound sense of solitude. Her daughter’s loud cries pulled her back from her distant thoughts. Jian Xi immediately went to soothe her.
"Sweet Yinyin, what’s wrong? Do you miss your brother?"
Jian Yin. That was the name Jian Xi had given her daughter after returning to the country. She hoped her daughter would thrive and always have sunshine in her heart.
The adorable infant in her arms seemed to understand Jian Xi’s words, showing clear signs of unease and worry.
As Jian Xi comforted her daughter, she silently vowed, "Don’t worry, Mommy will definitely bring your brother back to you. Whoever stands in my way, I’ll take their life."
The baby cried even louder.
Suoya slipped into the room.
"Miss Jian, let me."
Yes, Jian Xi had brought Suoya back with her. In the whole affair, Suoya’s actions were unforgivable, yet she had done them with Jian Xi’s well-being in mind, which made it somewhat understandable. The most important reason, however, was that only Suoya could soothe Yinyin to sleep.
While Suoya prepared formula for Yinyin, she also checked her diaper.
"Miss Jian, are you thinking about the Young Master?" she asked.
Suoya never shied away from the mistakes she had made, nor did she dwell on them to the point of despair. Now, she was determined to live devotedly for Jian Xi and Yinyin as her penance.
"Mm," Jian Xi acknowledged, then asked, "What do you think Si Yuhuan will do to the little one? He was taken from his mother right after birth. Can he survive?"
"If Little Miss is this healthy, the Young Master must be healthy too. Si Yuhuan doesn’t seem like a completely wicked person. Actually, you could..."
"Could what?" Jian Xi prompted, raising an eyebrow when she saw Suoya hesitate.
Yinyin had fallen asleep, her breathing steady and deep, an endearing sight.
"If his target is you, then it’s straightforward. Feign compliance and see what he’s planning."
Suoya’s words plunged Jian Xi into a torment akin to the deepest hell, a chill spreading through her. She lay awake all night, wrestling with her agonizing thoughts.
Si Yuhuan wants revenge on me. Old Master Si said he still cares for me. Which is true? Or are both true, his complex emotions all tangled together? Is he using our son as a bargaining chip?
「The next morning.」
Jian Xi went downstairs, looking as though her vitality had been drained, with dark circles under her eyes.
Suoya hurried forward to support her.
"I’m fine. But you, your wounds haven’t healed yet. You don’t need to do these chores. The housekeeper is here; you should rest."
Suoya said nothing, her eyes reddening. She had thought Miss Jian would hate her enough to want her dead, never expecting to be trusted like this again. From now on, this worthless life belongs to Miss Jian. Through fire and brimstone, I won’t even blink.
"President Fu returned your call. He said he would meet you at Baisheng Garden this afternoon."
Jian Xi had already changed her mind. "Tell him he’s too slow. I’ve had second thoughts. If there’s a chance next time, perhaps we can consider working together then."