These words stung the man's heart. He had no right to explain further and could only admit it. "Old man, I know you won't listen to my explanation, and I know I can't defend myself no matter what, nor do I have the right to argue with you."

"But I assure you, I will protect my daughter."

Her daughter?

Bai Zhanwang immediately understood his meaning and solemnly warned him, "My daughter's child is a member of the Bai family and has nothing to do with you!"

"You'd better never let her know you exist, and I absolutely forbid you from ever appearing in front of her."

"If you don't listen to my advice, then the Bai family will be your sworn enemy!" Bai Zhanwang threatened him without any reservation.

The man could tolerate any humiliation Bai Zhanwang might inflict on him, but on this matter, he could not compromise. "Old man, what do you think the Bai family can do to me?"

Bai Zhanwang glared at him and said, "I advise you not to challenge the authority of this old codger in the capital."

The man nodded in agreement, smiling as he said, "Yes, everyone in the capital gives you face, but why haven't you avenged your daughter until today?"

After saying that, the smile on the man's face vanished in an instant, replaced by murderous intent and anger.

These words sent a jolt through Bai Zhanwang's heart. This was the last thing he wanted to talk about all these years. "Shut up!"

The man seemed to know what he was thinking and guessed, "Is it because you don't want your granddaughter to be without a father, so you've been enduring it until today?"

It seemed that he had guessed correctly, and Bai Zhanwang's expression was very unpleasant.

The man chuckled to himself, "It's alright now. His biological father has returned, so... we don't need to keep him around anymore."

"It's not your turn to make a move," Bai Zhanwang said loudly.

The man didn't want to hear those meaningless words, and no longer gave Bai Zhanwang any face, so he said directly, "I've given you enough time, I don't want to wait any longer."

"Those who hurt her must die, let alone those who take her life."

"You came back just to take revenge?" Bai Zhanwang didn't want to say that, but he still wanted to confirm.

He truly didn't want his daughter to suffer such a tragic fate, falling in love with a cold-blooded and ruthless man. If he returned to avenge her, at least he could find some solace in his heart.

The man frankly admitted, "I'm here to atone for my sins; revenge is part of that atonement."

"If you're really here to atone for your sins, then don't bother Xiaoxi," Bai Zhanwang said upfront.

He could let Xiaoxi take revenge as she pleased, and he could even make her do it herself, but he would never let Xiaoxi acknowledge him as her father!

The man refused to back down, saying, "I am her father, and I have the right to see her."

After saying that, he bid him farewell without giving Bai Zhanwang a chance to speak, "Grandpa, take care."

Before Bai Zhanwang could say anything, he had already turned and left.

Outside the cemetery, a Maybach was waiting for him. After getting in the car, he did not let the driver drive it away immediately.

The driver waited for his instructions on where to go next, but before the driver could ask, the man said to himself, "Tell me, why is it that people who do wrong can be so self-righteous?"

"Sir, are you talking about Old Master Bai?" the driver asked.

The man chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "Myself."

"I'm the one who's clearly in the wrong, so why can I talk to him like that?"

“Sir, you did nothing wrong,” the driver immediately reassured him.

The man shook his head slightly, a faint sadness on his face. "If I had rejected her from the beginning, she would have stayed far away from me. But I just couldn't bear to let her leave, so I played hard to get to keep her around until I realized that she had fallen completely in love with me. Only then did I realize that I couldn't let her stay by my side anymore."

The driver argued confidently, "You chose to let Miss Yimo leave back then because you were concerned for her safety."

"But what happened in the end?" A murderous glint flashed across the man's face again. "She still left, dying at the hands of a man who used her!"

"I'm going to kill him." The man uttered the cruelest words in a nonchalant tone.

The driver immediately chimed in, "Sir, I'll arrange it for you."

The man refused his suggestion, saying, "No need, I want to do it myself."

"Yes," the driver replied obediently.

"Go back," the man gestured to him.

The driver then started the car, stepped on the gas, and drove away.

Through the rearview mirror, the man could vaguely see Bai Zhanwang's aged face; he seemed to have aged much faster than he had ten years ago.

The reason, of course, was the loss of his most beloved daughter.

"Wen Shaoqing, there are many things in this world that you will regret. Today you abandon us, and you will spend the rest of your life in regret."

Xiao Mo, you're right. After you left, my world lost its sunshine.

When Qiao Xi returned home, she was surprised to see Qiao Guangyuan. He had never visited her once since she moved into Fuyuan.

He wouldn't come to the temple without a reason; he definitely won't be here for anything good.

Upon seeing Qiao Xi, Qiao Guangyuan immediately greeted her with a grin, "Xiao Xi."

"Dad, what brings you here?" Qiao Xi forced a smile from the corner of her mouth.

Qiao Guangyuan said ingratiatingly, "Xiao Xi, let's find a secluded place to talk."

Should we go somewhere else?

Qiao Xi saw the anxious expression on Qiao Guangyuan's face and figured he felt it wasn't convenient to talk here, so he needed to find another place.

Just then, Aunt Liu brought in the tea. When she saw Qiao Xi return, she immediately greeted him, "Madam, you're back."

"Mm," Qiao Xi replied with a smile.

Aunt Liu then placed the tea on the table and said to Qiao Guangyuan, "Chairman Qiao, please have some tea."

Qiao Guangyuan deliberately put on an arrogant attitude in front of Aunt Liu, which Qiao Xi felt was beyond what could be described as just sitting.

Qiao Xi deliberately asked him in front of Aunt Liu, "Dad, is it inconvenient to talk here?"

Qiao Guangyuan didn't expect Qiao Xi to say it, which made him lose face.

This is Fuyuan Garden, after all. If he insists on speaking in another place, it's like treating his son-in-law like an outsider.

But Qiao Guangyuan really couldn't tell Qiao Xi about that matter here. He could only whisper and ask Qiao Xi again, "Xiao Xi, let's go outside to talk."

Seeing how 'sincere' he was, Qiao Xi could only go along with him for now, "Aunt Liu, I'm going out with my dad for a bit. Jin will call me when he gets back."

Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "Okay."

Qiao Xi followed Qiao Guangyuan to the outside of Fuyuan and found a quiet corner.

Before Qiao Xi could even ask, Qiao Guangyuan grabbed her hand and pleaded with her pitiful expression, "Xiao Xi, you have to help Dad this time."