Qin Hanxiao: “What I need to discuss with you isn’t convenient to talk about over the phone. You’d better come to the old residence.”
“It’s only right that we discuss something like this in person. It’s also a sign of respect for you.”
The Qin family’s old residence was stately and steeped in history, with a tranquil, secluded atmosphere—certainly an appropriate place to discuss something important.
When Song Xinya arrived at the Qin family’s old residence, the butler was already standing properly at the entrance, waiting for her.
“Madam, please come with me.”
Song Xinya followed the butler, but instead of taking the path leading to the main hall, they went another way.
After winding along a twisting path paved with bluestone, the butler brought her to the ancestral hall.
The solemn ancestral hall was filled with the scent of burning incense, and memorial tablets honoring generations of Qin ancestors stood in rows.
Qin Hanxiao stood before the tablets, his hands clasped behind his back.
When Song Xinya reached the entrance to the ancestral hall, she had already mentally prepared herself, but the sight of one Qin family ancestor’s tablet after another still made her heart feel as though it had been gripped tightly by a giant hand. It clenched painfully.
Qin Hanxiao turned to look at her. Seeing that both her feet remained outside the ancestral hall, he said, “Come inside.”
Song Xinya lifted her foot and stepped over the threshold. Her legs felt as heavy as lead. For the first time, she understood how difficult it could be to take a single step.
Qin Hanxiao studied Song Xinya, who had lowered her head, and spoke bluntly.
“I already know the results of your medical examination.”
Song Xinya: “I know. Zhang Yingying told you.”
Qin Hanxiao: “Speaking of that, I have to thank Zhang Yingying. If she hadn’t told me about your test results, the entire Qin family would still be kept in the dark by you.”
He demanded, “Were you planning to hide it from us for the rest of your life?”
Song Xinya: “I’m not that selfish. I never intended to hide it from you forever. I only wanted to spend the New Year with Qin Yuhe.”
The New Year symbolized reunion.
This was the first year she and he had been together, and she wanted to spend it with him as a complete family.
Even if she could never have that again in the future, possessing it for a brief time would still become a beautiful memory.
She knew that secrets could not remain hidden forever.
She simply wanted to spend the New Year peacefully with him.
Qin Hanxiao: “And what did you plan to do after the New Year?”
Song Xinya: “Tell him the truth and be honest about my medical results.”
Qin Hanxiao: “You’re oversimplifying the matter of celebrating the New Year. For the Qin family, the New Year is an important event that concerns the entire clan.”
“Normally, members of the Qin family are scattered all over the world. But every New Year’s Eve, they return to this centuries-old residence, gather in the ancestral hall to offer incense to their ancestors, and celebrate the New Year together as a family.”
“For Qin Yuhe, the head of the Qin family, the New Year isn’t a matter concerning him alone. It concerns the entire clan.”
“The fate Qin Yuhe bears has never belonged to him alone, either. He carries the honor, prosperity, and decline of the entire family on his shoulders.”
Taking advantage of this confrontation, Qin Hanxiao finally poured out all the thoughts he had kept bottled up for so long.
“Actually, I opposed Qin Yuhe’s decision to marry you from the very beginning.”
“Our entire family carefully selected him to become the head of the Qin family. His intelligence, physical condition, business ability, and character—all of them are exceptional. He is outstanding in every respect.”
“My son is so accomplished. He has the family background, the looks, and the talent. Of course I wanted him to marry a young woman from a family of equal standing.”
“Not a woman like you, who came from an ordinary family, with an incompetent father, a mother who died young, and a complicated household with a stepmother and stepsister.”
Song Xinya’s reddened eyes fixed on Qin Hanxiao. She countered, “So your son is so exceptional, yet he looked down on all those wealthy heiresses and happened to choose me as his wife. Doesn’t that prove that I possess qualities more appealing than those women? If I were as worthless as you claim, why would your son have chosen me above everyone else?”
Her words struck with undeniable force, leaving Qin Hanxiao stunned.
Song Xinya continued, “If people had a choice, everyone would want to be born into a good family—to have a mother who cherished them, a father who loved them, to be wealthy and privileged, and to live a stable and happy life without ever having to worry about money.”
“But no one gets to choose what kind of family they are born into or what kind of parents they have. What have I done wrong by being born into a complicated family?”
“Even though I was born into an unfortunate household, I have never complained. No matter what cards fate dealt me, I always did my best to play them.”
“I earned my place at a prestigious university through my own efforts. When my father refused to provide me with any living expenses, I worked part-time while studying. Not only did I manage to graduate, but I also supported my younger brother. The wealthy heiresses you speak of might not have been able to do what I did.”
“So please don’t use my background to attack me. People like you, who were born into privilege, have already taken every advantage fate could offer. You’ve enjoyed all the benefits and all the good fortune, yet you turn around and mock those of us who had no choice in our circumstances. That’s truly cruel.”
Qin Hanxiao was stunned again, left without a reply.
Song Xinya’s words had been clear and penetrating, striking at the heart of the matter. Qin Hanxiao had no moral high ground and could find nothing to say.
A long silence settled over the ancestral hall.
Qin Hanxiao said nothing more and simply explained why he had summoned Song Xinya.
“There is only one child in our branch of the family—Qin Yuhe. The Qin family’s enormous wealth needs an heir. The Qin family cannot accept the consequence of having its bloodline end.”
“Today is New Year’s Eve, and every member of the family has already returned.”
“Miss Song, the fact that I didn’t summon the entire clan here has already spared you a great deal of humiliation.”
“What you should do next—do I really need to spell it out for you?”
Song Xinya lifted her slender neck and raised a hand to wipe away a tear sliding from the corner of her eye.
“No need.”
………
On the thirty-eighth floor, in the president’s office, Qin Yuhe had not slept all night. He had finished handling every matter related to the Qin Group.
He handed the final document to his assistant.
“After the Spring Festival holiday, give this to the executive in charge of the Qin Group.”
The assistant looked baffled. “Isn’t the executive in charge of the Qin Group you? If I give it to you after you give it to me, aren’t I just handing it right back to you?”
That would be an entirely unnecessary extra step.
Qin Yuhe: “Just do it.”
The assistant replied, bewildered, “Understood.”
He had witnessed all the hard work Qin Yuhe had put in over the past few days. Seeing that everything had finally been taken care of, he said, “Since you’ve finished everything, President Qin, why don’t you sleep for a while in the room inside your office?”
Qin Yuhe rose from his chair and headed for the door.
“No. I promised my wife I’d spend the New Year with her. I’m going home to find her.”
The Rolls-Royce sped along the road.
Red lanterns had already been hung all along both sides of the streets. Firecrackers went off from time to time, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year filled the air everywhere.
The Rolls-Royce stopped in front of a boutique, and Qin Yuhe stepped out of the car.
The New Year was such an important holiday. He ought to give his wife a New Year’s gift.
Qin Yuhe had given Song Xinya plenty of jewelry in the past. Today, he planned to give her something different.
Half an hour later, Qin Yuhe emerged carrying an exquisite red gift bag.
He got into the car, and the Rolls-Royce continued toward Zijin Huafu.
On the way, he sent Song Xinya a message: [I’ll be home in half an hour. Yaya, could you come out to meet me?]
He wanted her to meet him at the door so he could give her the gift as soon as he arrived.
From the moment he sent the message until the car reached Zijin Huafu, there was no reply.
Qin Yuhe put away his phone, pushed open the car door, and stepped out.
The magnolia tree by the main gate swayed in the biting winter wind, but no one was there waiting for him.
Suddenly, Qin Yuhe’s right eyelid twitched.
He strode hurriedly into the courtyard.
Standing at the living room door, he pushed it open.
The home that was usually so lively was completely deserted.
………
He’ll confess his feelings in the next chapter~~~
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