The ringing went on for a moment, then cut off automatically. An unfamiliar call came in immediately after.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together, hesitated, then answered and put it on speaker. She said politely, “Hello.”

The other end was silent for a moment before a low voice, tinged with a trace of indulgence, came through the receiver and into Yan Yunning’s ear. “Ningning.”

Hearing that voice — a voice etched so deeply it felt carved into her bones — Yan Yunning’s nose stung. She had told herself she would never again shed a tear over Xuan Yanyu, and yet the tears fell without warning, splattering soundlessly onto her phone screen.

“Ningning?”

“Who is this?” Yan Yunning swallowed down the sob in her voice and pretended not to know.

A low laugh escaped the man’s throat. Teasingly, he said, “The Xuan Yanyu you’d rather collect dog manure than accept gifts from.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

“Shiyao put you through something unfair. I’ve already had someone send all the latest styles from the boutique — every design in your size, to match the red dress you bought — to the City West Villa. You…”

Before Xuan Yanyu could finish, the light in Yan Yunning’s eyes went out. She cut him off, enunciating each word precisely. “There’s no need. You don’t have to do any of this on her behalf.”

“My brother said you were so upset with me you’d rather collect dog manure than accept my gifts. I’m apologizing to you. I’m sorry.”

“I won’t be coming to your gathering that day.”

Yan Yunning said it all in one breath, her eyes brimming with tears, full of grievance.

The man on the other end of the call dropped his smile. His lips settled into a half-formed curve, neither quite a smile nor not. “You have a lot of resentment toward me. Why? I haven’t done anything to you, have I? We’ve only met a few times. We’ve never even spoken face to face.”

Before he received a response, the sound of the call disconnecting reached him. Xuan Yanyu’s displeasure was written plainly across his face. She dared to hang up on him.

The man’s face went flat. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out why Yan Yunning would be so resentful toward him.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind — something Shiyao had said to him right after he woke up. After a long moment, Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his straight nose. Absurd. Something like transmigrating into a novel couldn’t possibly happen. It was absolutely impossible.

——

The following evening.

The Xuan Residence — Dining Room.

Xuan Shi’an sat at the head of the table. Seeing no sign of Xuan Yanyu, he demanded with a cold face, “Where is Yanyu? Instead of staying home and recuperating properly, what is he off running around doing?”

Wen Shuyun sighed helplessly. “The child is grown. With Ye Jian, Ye Chen, and Ye’an by his side, you can rest easy.”

“How can I rest easy?” Xuan Shi’an slapped the table. “Call him back.”

Wen Shuyun looked helplessly at Xuan Zhaoyang. “Yangyang, call Yanyu for me. Tell him to come home for dinner.”

“Dad, Xuan Xixi went to Ruijing’s house on important business. Don’t worry — nothing will go wrong.” Xuan Zhaoyang scooped up a piece of her mother’s sweet and sour pork ribs and hurried it into her mouth.

She wasn’t about to call Xuan Xixi back. Her mother had made exactly this much of the sweet and sour pork ribs, and with her old man around, would there be any left for her?

“Uncle, let me call.” Shiyao smiled and took out her phone, considerately saying, “No need to interrupt Jiejie’s meal.”

Xuan Zhaoyang rolled her eyes inwardly.

“Don’t bother.” Xuan Shi’an’s expression changed and he turned to Xuan Zhaoyang with a cheerful smile. “Yangyang, is Ruijing the child of the Yan family’s second son?”

“He is.” Xuan Zhaoyang nodded.

“My daughter-in-law is staying at his second uncle and second aunt’s house. Send Yanyu a message later — tell him not to come back. He should take good care of my daughter-in-law.”

The moment Xuan Shi’an finished speaking, the dinner table erupted in a range of expressions — some stunned, some visibly uncomfortable, and Xuan Zhaoyang thoroughly delighted. The whole table was quite a sight.

Why was Xuan Zhaoyang delighted? Because in her eyes, anyone Xuan Yanyu married would be better than marrying Shiyao.

“Lao Xuan!” Wen Shuyun set down her chopsticks sharply.

Xuan Shi’an stated it plainly. “The child Shiyao is carrying is not Yanyu’s. My Xuan family’s daughter-in-law can only be Ningning. Shiyao herself said she and Yanyu are simply not a couple.”

“Clatter.” The chopsticks fell to the floor. Both Xuan Zhaoyang and Xuan Zhaoran stared wide-eyed.

Wen Shuyun, unable to bear the shock, swayed. Xuan Shi’an immediately stood and steadied her, lowering his voice. “Wife, you don’t need to be heartbroken. Sooner or later we’ll get our wish and hold a grandchild. Just wait — wait to be a grandmother.”

“Our own flesh and blood.” Xuan Shi’an added, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes creasing with glee.

He had chosen the name two years ago. He had simply been waiting for his dear granddaughter or grandson to arrive.

Wen Shuyun’s mind was reeling. She turned to look at Shiyao, asking in disbelief, “The child you’re carrying isn’t Yanyu’s?”

Shiyao’s tears spilled out ceaselessly. “It is… Auntie, if you don’t believe me, you can go ask Yanyu.”

“‘Is’ — what ‘is’? Our Yanyu is kind-hearted. He let you use the identity of the Xuan Corporation heir to protect the child in your womb long enough to be safely born. How did you end up believing your own act?”

Xuan Zhaoyang covered her mouth as she laughed.

Shiyao’s body trembled slightly. “Uncle…”

“You can rest easy too. You’ll stay at the Xuan Residence as a servant. I’ll have Old Feng pay you a salary until you safely give birth. However…”

Xuan Shi’an’s tone shifted sharply. “I will have the company’s public relations department issue a statement. You and the child in your womb have absolutely no relationship with Yanyu. You are also not a couple.”

Shiyao shook her head through tears. “Uncle, you can’t — if you issue a statement, please at least make it say we broke up.”

“You and Xuan Xixi were never together, so why issue a breakup statement?” Xuan Zhaoyang sneered.

“Because this child will need Yanyu to raise it in the future. The child needs an identity.” Shiyao cried out.

The outside world had to know this child was Yanyu’s — otherwise, the child would be mocked for the rest of its life.

“Outrageous! It is not a Xuan family child. Even if Xuan Yanyu cuts off his own leg, I will not agree.” Xuan Shi’an’s chest heaved with fury.

“Dad, Dad, don’t be angry.” Xuan Zhaoyang ran a few steps to Xuan Shi’an’s side and patted his back.

At this age, he really shouldn’t let himself be this worked up.

“Uncle.” Shiyao had calmed down. She wiped her tears. “If you insist on issuing that statement, then I will get engaged to Yanyu. I have a way to make him agree.”

“You…” Never having been threatened before, Xuan Shi’an was livid. “Fine. If Xuan Yanyu dares to do that, I’ll strip him of his heir status. You’ve been using his position to protect your child long enough to be safely born, haven’t you? Without that position, I’d like to see how you manage to protect it.”

“I’ll cut off his allowance, take back every property under his name. You can both get out. Go wherever you like.”

Shiyao smiled, unbothered. “Uncle, Yanyu is your only son.”

The implication was clear: sooner or later, it would all revert to Xuan Yanyu anyway.

“Heh.” Xuan Shi’an narrowed his eyes. “I still have daughters. Who says a company must be inherited by a son? As long as Xuan Yanyu dares to get engaged to you, my company goes to my two daughters.”

Shiyao gritted her teeth. Why — why did no one think she was good enough? Why…

“Shiyao, go on, go on and goad Xuan Xixi into getting engaged to you.” Xuan Zhaoyang burst out giggling. “I can’t wait~”

Though she knew perfectly well her old man was largely just saying it, that didn’t stop her from needling Shiyao.

That line just now — “So as not to interrupt Jiejie’s eating.”

Absolutely two-faced.

And she’d finally found her opening, so why not let Shiyao stew a little?

Shiyao trembled all over, her tears falling silently — a picture of pitifulness.

Xuan Shi’an helped Wen Shuyun back into her seat and glanced over at Qiuci. “Qiuci, see Shiyao out. Don’t let her stand here being an eyesore. We’ll have a proper talk about her situation once Yanyu gets back.”