"Who knows, maybe they did IVF or something. The Xie family is exceptionally wealthy, and Xie Qining is their only son. They wouldn't let their lineage end with him."
Susu asked worriedly, "After what we did to him tonight, he probably won't let this go. Will it be bad for An Jing and you?"
"It's fine. The Xie family's business has never intersected with our group. Even if he wants to do something, he can't touch us. Besides, if he dares to cause trouble, An Jing and I aren't pushovers."
Susu wanted to inquire more about the Xie family, but Tianyi didn't want to discuss it further. He changed the subject, "Let's not talk about the Xie family. How about you? Has your studio been very busy lately? You haven't even had time to answer my calls."
"Yes, I've been a bit busy," Susu lowered her head, not daring to look at him. "But today, it wasn't because I was busy. I was talking with an important client and set my phone to silent, then forgot to turn it back. I only saw your call when Sophie told me."
Tianyi said, "I was thinking of going on vacation with Kang Xi and the others, so we could all relax as a family. I didn't expect those unpleasant things to happen. Are you feeling any better?"
"I'm fine. I just can't understand why someone as polite and refined as Allen would resort to such extremes."
Tianyi slowed down the car and pulled over to the side of the deserted road. He didn't want to talk about Allen.
"He, he really treated you well, to the point of risking his life for you," Qin Tianyi said with difficulty. "If, if you still can't let go, I can move out temporarily, and you can reconfirm your true feelings..."
Susu grabbed his hand, stopping him from speaking further. "What are you saying? I'm already very sure. It's you, only you!"
Tianyi's eyes held confusion. "Is that so? But I'm inferior to him in many ways, and there are things I can't win against him."
In truth, he had always been accustomed to being a natural strongman, never admitting defeat to anyone, believing that with effort and diligence, nothing was impossible.
But he realized that emotions were different from career and business. Persistence or striving didn't guarantee true possession.
From the time he met Susu until now, he had always forcefully made her like him. Did she truly fall in love with him because of that?
Perhaps it was his efforts that made her feel guilty, leading her to believe she loved him.
And her relationship with Yang Sijie was that kind of natural, youthful love, a true affection that could never be forgotten.
He felt like a clown between them. The last time Yang Sijie fell off the cliff, he could feel Susu's heart-wrenching pain when he held onto her tightly.
It took her a long time to recover from the shadow of losing Yang Sijie then. This time, Yang Sijie died for her again, and he feared she would never recover.
Susu felt his hands were very cold. She held them with both of hers, trying to warm them. "No, it's not like that. You can't compare to him. He saved me at all costs in the end, just to make me believe that even if he became worse, he still retained a pure heart, that there are still good and kind people in this world. It has nothing to do with feelings, and even less with true love!"
Tianyi slowly withdrew his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this. Let's go eat something first."
Susu suddenly felt an inexplicable panic. She wanted to explain further, but felt that anything she said was pale and weak.
Tianyi started the car again, a decision made in his heart. It was his repeated insistence that led to their current situation. He should seriously consider some things he had always avoided and not faced.
Susu could undoubtedly confirm that the person she loved was Tianyi, not Yang Sijie. But there were too many unclear and inexplicable factors mixed in, leaving her with a sense of powerlessness, unable to explain herself.
She had been happy and excited for Yang Sijie, and she had also been sad and upset for him, but that was all in the past, in her youthful days. Later, she only wanted to treat him as a friend, as family.
But she hadn't anticipated what happened afterward. She couldn't remain completely unmoved when facing Yang Sijie.
How many times in a lifetime does one encounter true love? She only hoped to encounter it once, with Tianyi, and never have met Yang Sijie.
But she couldn't continue talking to Tianyi. She feared that the more she spoke, the more it would hurt his pride.
They remained silent all the way. Arriving at another restaurant, Tianyi resumed his usual demeanor and ordered many dishes and desserts.
"That's too much. How can the two of us finish all this?" Susu looked at the table full of food, not knowing where to start.
Tianyi picked up a piece of fish, her favorite, and placed it in her bowl. "We'll pack what we can't finish and take it for Chen Ma and the others."
"Mhm, then let's pack this pumpkin pastry first. Chen Ma loves it the most," Susu said, about to call the waiter to pack it.
Tianyi smiled and said, "When I'm not home, you take good care of Chen Ma."
Susu could no longer eat the fish in her mouth. Her heart began to ache. "Tianyi, I was wrong. I won't think about Yang Sijie anymore. He deserved to die long ago, his death was well-earned..."
"Let's not talk about this. When was the last time we had a happy meal?" Tianyi continued to put food in her bowl. "I don't blame you for this. I'm also grateful to Yang Sijie. Without him, how could we be sitting here eating like this..."
"Then why are you moving out? The children will miss you. What will Tiantian do when she cries and asks for Daddy at night?" Susu felt the pain in her heart rapidly spreading to her lungs.
Tianyi elegantly ate a mouthful of food himself and said calmly and gently, "I'll take care of them. It's not really moving out. It's just that the group has a big project recently and I'm very busy, so I'll be staying at the group most of the time."
Susu was anxious and wanted to cry. She asked, "I'll do whatever you want me to do. I won't be sad about Yang Sijie's death anymore..."
Tianyi reached out and cupped Susu's face with both hands, stopping her from speaking further. "You don't have to. You don't have to accommodate me, really. Just follow your heart. Let's give each other enough space and freedom, and think clearly about what needs to be thought through."
"Tianyi, you've misunderstood. You've truly misunderstood..."
Tianyi kissed her cheek lightly, as if no one else was there, then released her face. "We've been through so much, what else is there to misunderstand? Let's stop talking and eat quickly. If we don't eat soon, some dishes will get cold and won't taste good."
Throughout the meal, whatever Tianyi put in her bowl, she ate, unable to taste any of the dishes.
It was very late when they returned. Tianyi drove her to the villa's entrance but then said he had group matters to attend to and drove to the group's office.
She returned home alone and handed the packed desserts to Chen Ma.
When Chen Ma asked about Tianyi, she could only say he was working overtime again.
She walked back to the bedroom in a daze. Without changing her clothes, she lay down on the bed.
Only then did she realize that ever since they returned from the island, Tianyi had been trying to help her forget that unpleasant experience, accommodating her in everything, wanting to cheer her up.
But she had overlooked Tianyi's feelings. Unable to control herself any longer, she hugged the quilt beside her and buried her head in it, sobbing uncontrollably.