Chapter Thirty-Two: Unable to Hold Back Temper

Jinyuan had once considered publicly declaring that Yuan Xiangdie was his woman. He thought perhaps, as with others he’d dealt with before, he could simply hand over a check and call it taking care of Xiaowei.

But that idea was quickly dismissed. It was the first time Jinyuan had ever been refused by someone. Back in the hospital room, when Xiaowei first hinted at wanting peace and quiet, Jinyuan had entertained the thought.

After all, he was still young, unaware of all that such a declaration entailed. Xiaowei could never imagine that someone as gentle as Yuan Xiangdie, someone so considerate in his eyes, had only recently been released because of something she’d done.

It was a forbidden topic, and no one around the child would ever tell him the truth.

One could say the child was well cared for, protected by these two adults—a point Yuan Xiangdie felt Jinyuan handled competently.

“Jinyuan! Come here, look at this—what is it?” Yuan Xiangdie pushed open the door to find father and son seated on the sofa, one in front of the other. It looked like a serious conversation was underway, but Yuan Xiangdie paid it no mind; she knew this was not something she could handle herself.

Before Jinyuan could respond, a pair of pale hands reached forward.

Resting quietly in the palm was a mobile surveillance device—wireless, no cables, remotely controlled and connected to a mobile data terminal. Where had this been found?

Luckily, Xiaowei was too short to see what lay in the palm.

Jinyuan covered it with both hands, took the device for himself, and casually switched out a cufflink.

“This is my cufflink, Miss Mu. Would you mind fastening it for me?” He raised his head, eyes lingering on Yuan Xiangdie’s face, as if unintentionally. Today, he had just returned from outside.

Yuan Xiangdie’s cheeks were flushed, though that was from the cold wind—what weather, to stand in the garden and let the wind bite.

“Oh, right. No one else will come here anyway. Let me put it on for you.”

Their teamwork was not particularly seamless, but Xiaowei’s youth made it easier.

The delicate obsidian cufflink was fixed to the sleeve of the suit; after checking left and right and finding no difference, she let go with a long sigh.

“All right, please don’t lose such important things again,” she said.

Jinyuan didn’t reply; he glanced at her curiously and then walked away, holding Xiaowei’s hand.

Even if the child resisted, there was nothing to be done—after all, a father is a father, and an aunt is only an aunt.

Inside the car, Xiaowei was so upset he didn’t want to speak, closing up as tightly as a parrot with its beak sealed shut.

Yuan Xiangdie lived far away, so nothing major happened along the way. Xiaowei spent the journey staring out the window, head propped on his hand, watching rows of trees and shops pass by. He wondered whether it was he who traveled quickly, or if these static things, rooted in their environment, seemed utterly immobile.

“Dad, I didn’t build those two snowmen.”

Jinyuan had waited a long time for this—for the child to tell him the truth. Since Xiaowei was born, Jinyuan had always cared for him personally, never relying on others. Though the boy’s temper was odd and he didn’t like talking to his father, he was still his son; how could he ignore him?

“You’re weak. Staying too long in the snow can make you dizzy.”

Why couldn’t you understand? I’m just explaining—I didn’t do it.

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Xiaowei, only six, was already remarkably mature. It was precisely because of his precocious mind that he was often sullen.

Truth be told, the child was stubborn to the core.

“Yuan Xiangdie isn’t really trying to send you away…”

Father and son rarely had much to say; if not for Yuan Xiangdie’s presence between them, the two might have fallen into silence long ago.

Taking advantage of Xiaowei’s absence, Yuan Xiangdie returned to the old estate. Standing before the ancestral home—though only a year had passed—the place seemed to have shrunk by half.

Her fist clenched tightly inside her sleeve, but there was nothing she could do. If she couldn’t master this anger, entering would feel like walking to her death.

Yuan Xiangdie stood stubbornly at the door, waiting to see who would open it for her. From afar, a slow-moving vehicle approached.

One with keen eyes could tell it was a sightseeing car, the type used in scenic areas. This was curious, for a woman like Zhang Xi, who had gained so much, ought to flaunt her fortune. Why send just one person out in such a shabby vehicle?

“Who is it? Haven’t you noticed the time? It’s only afternoon—why come over unless it’s urgent? Our master won’t see anyone.”

Mumbling complaints, the sleepy-faced attendant walked away, but Yuan Xiangdie didn’t mind.

“No need to stoop to his level. But that scoundrel—don’t think I’ll ever let him off.”

Elsewhere, the road was hardly peaceful; drama unfolded at every turn. There were even would-be robbers. Jinyuan, calm as ever, stopped the car and queued placidly behind others.

A hint of amusement flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it.

Xiaowei, at first, didn’t know how to confront these people. All his life, he’d been told robbery was impossible—this was a law-abiding society.

Fortunately, his father was beside him, composed and steady.

Among the elite, those at the helm of listed companies played psychological games best; once someone fell into their trap, the whole group could unravel.

Jinyuan was an unflinching controller; he smeared dirt across his pale child’s face, transforming him instantly into a little coal sprite, his eyes and lips curling upward.

“Hide behind the seat. If someone comes, don’t make a sound.”

Jinyuan himself was fearless—he’d faced countless such situations—but this was the first time with his child.

From afar, the sound of police sirens echoed through the bend. Jinyuan was curious; it seemed this incident was staged to delay him, as he was soon to attend a meeting with a punctual, important figure.

When the meeting finally started, he realized he had indeed been set up. “Don’t worry. We’ll deal with future problems in the future. Right now, the most important thing is your health. Everything else is futile.”

These days, Yuan Xiangdie was busier than ever. If not for the graduation ceremony, her little shop would not have lost so many invitations due to her lack of attention.

Julie, watching the winged red tickets fluttering away, felt utterly defeated, but there was nothing to be done. Their reputation was established, but within a year, they couldn’t expand production, especially not at scale.

So they remained a high-end, bespoke brand, and even that had its limits.

---

In the end, Julie’s cries marked the conclusion, but after venting her temper, the girl obediently came to help.

“Hahaha, this is hilarious. Yuan Xiangdie, who’d have thought you’d need me one day? Didn’t you used to scorn my rough fabrics? Now you’re begging!”

“I’ve always said, when cutting fabric, you must be calm—don’t let your mind wander. If you botch it with one snip, I won’t be responsible.”

“It’s not that difficult; don’t blow it out of proportion. Remember who I am—I’m a little angel!”

If boasting were an art form, Julie would be its master. Yuan Xiangdie ignored her, busy with the day’s tasks.

Everyone had arrived; An Jingxiao, the young master of the family, had suffered a severe blow recently. Why is it, every time he sees this woman, she’s either fighting or heading to a fight? Couldn’t she be a bit more ladylike?

Today, An Jingxiao had come specifically to commission a custom dress, but knowing all slots were filled, he had come himself to negotiate.

Since the last scandal over his broken engagement, this was his first public appearance—he needed a dramatic effect. Otherwise, if he kept waiting, the proud young master of the An family might grow old at home, a pitiful fate.

“How sad.”

“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re here to bully our Yuan Xiangdie again.”

Julie nearly wanted to hit him. An Jingxiao felt, for the first time, the malice of so many people around him.

“Open up; I brought something.” He raised his hand, gesturing to the carload of fabric behind him.

Julie admitted her heart was tempted; her expression softened, but she kept up appearances.

“We’ll see… depends on my mood.”

Since the old man was hospitalized, the household belonged to these three. Jinyuan was always measured, maintaining the proper distance between man and woman. Even for the child’s sake, the two often spoke privately.

At night, when Yuan Xiangdie returned home, she was dazed and exhausted, forcing herself into her room.

“Do you need…”

“No.”

Such a stubborn girl. Jinyuan’s gaze grew more probing.

Sensing his eyes, Yuan Xiangdie turned away; even a slight movement, her black-and-white eyes met his head-on, and Jinyuan stared straight back, unembarrassed.

In the end, she smiled like a butterfly. This woman had always rejected him, just as when they first met and he abruptly asked her to be the child’s mother—indeed, too forward.

Jinyuan’s fondness for her was real, so he wanted to test her feelings. But today’s inquiry would surely be met with embellishments. Xiaowei disliked his father; if he came home only to compete for his aunt’s attention, he’d rather his father stayed, taught lessons, and slept.