Chapter 256 Easing Relations

“It might not be an illusion.” Jiang Ran suddenly said this, and looked up at Si Yanxiao.

Seeing him raise his eyebrows slightly, looking puzzled, he immediately explained, "The great Dao of the world gives birth to all things; those things are real, but they are not seen by outsiders."

When Si Yanxiao saw Jiang Ran suddenly speak seriously, seemingly dissatisfied with his misunderstanding of metaphysics, a hint of surprise flashed through his mind.

Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Ran's expression softened slightly, and he continued, "I don't have the ability to create something out of nothing, nor can I secretly instruct them to do things according to my ideas."

"They were telling the truth under extreme fear, so..."

"I never suspected that you were the one who did it."

Before Jiang Ran could finish speaking, Si Yanxiao interrupted her.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, nodded slightly, and replied in a low voice, "That's good."

After saying that, he turned around and walked upstairs.

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin vaguely sensed the unusual atmosphere, and their eyes were filled with surprise.

It seemed that something was happening quietly, without their knowledge.

They then exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, put down their bowls and chopsticks, and said in unison, "We're done eating."

Just as he was about to get up and leave, Si Yanxiao pursed his lips slightly and slowly said, "Wait."

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin paused, a look of surprise flashing across their faces. They looked up at Si Yanxiao and asked softly, "Is there anything else?"

Their tone was polite yet distant, and Si Yanxiao knew they still harbored resentment towards him, but he didn't care.

Then, she reached out and lightly touched the tip of her nose to hide her embarrassment, and suddenly asked, "How was Jiang Ran's mood when she came back today?"

Upon hearing this, a look of shock flashed across Si Zuochen's face. He hadn't expected him to suddenly ask such a question, and he was quite surprised.

But thinking of his previous actions, her eyes flashed, and she replied in a low voice, "Isn't it always me who suffers when I see Bai Zhuwei?"

Although it wasn't stated directly, it indirectly conveyed its meaning.

Upon hearing this, Si Yanxiao pursed his lips slightly, his expression unreadable, and then turned and left.

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

Si Youlin looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Daddy, what...does this mean?"

Si Zuochen frowned slightly and slowly shook his head: "I don't know either."

Si Yanxiao's behavior was too unusual, which inevitably aroused their suspicion.

After returning to her room, Jiang Ran frowned slightly, recalling Si Yanxiao's question at the dinner table, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Was he intentionally trying to get information from me or was he trying to curry favor?

Thinking of this, Jiang Ran couldn't help but feel hesitant.

Meanwhile, Si Yanxiao was in his study looking at the company's business plan, but hadn't turned a single page in a long time. Gu Nan, watching from the side, couldn't help but tease him, "Is there a flower on this page? Or a beautiful woman? You haven't turned it for ages!"

Si Yanxiao snapped back to reality upon hearing the sarcasm in his words, and then casually flipped through the proposal in his hand.

"What do you think of Jiang Ran?" Si Yanxiao suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Gu Nan was taken aback, a look of surprise flashing across her face. She hadn't expected Si Yanxiao to suddenly bring up such a topic.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you never mention her before? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Si Yanxiao pursed his lips, a hint of hesitation flashing across his face, before he began to recount in a deep voice the events that had occurred in the detention center in detail.

Upon hearing this, Gu Nan's pupils suddenly contracted, not expecting such a twist in the situation.

He had witnessed Jiang Ran's abilities firsthand, so he didn't voice any doubts.

I never expected to be involved with Bai Zhuwei. Now that I think about it, if it really was Bai Zhuwei who was behind it all, then her intentions are far too deep!

"What about Bai Zhuwei..."

Gu Nan looked up at Si Yanxiao and hesitated before speaking.

Upon hearing this, Si Yanxiao lowered his eyes slightly, stared blankly at a certain spot, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "I have already warned her to stop this matter here. Continuing to investigate will not benefit anyone."

Gu Nan understood his unspoken meaning, which was to put the matter on hold. Presumably, even he believed that Bai Zhuwei was the mastermind behind it all.

We cannot assign blame, nor can we be biased; this is the only way to handle it.

"Hmm." Gu Nan nodded slightly and responded slowly. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked again, "Do we need to explain to Jiang Ran? After all, we did misunderstand her before."

After saying that, she looked up at Si Yanxiao's expression and saw that his expression changed slightly. Then she replied in a low voice, "Perhaps... I should try to ease the tension between us."

He hesitated slightly as he spoke, as if he was deep in thought.

Upon hearing this, Gu Nan's face flashed with shock, then she chuckled in surprise, "It's really rare to hear you say something like this on your own initiative."

Si Yanxiao ignored his teasing, his gaze darkening as he looked at him coldly.

Gu Nan instantly understood, fearing she might be implicated, and quickly changed the subject, saying, "But given the current situation..."

I fear the task ahead is arduous and the road is long.

Before he could finish speaking, Si Yanxiao understood the meaning behind his words. His expression turned cold, his brows furrowed slightly, and he continued to look through the project proposal in his hand.

Seeing his displeasure, Gu Nan wisely shut her mouth immediately.

After the two finished discussing the company's next steps, it was already late at night. As Gu Nan left, her gaze swept over Si Zuochen and Si Youlin's room, her eyebrows slightly raised, and a thought flashed through her mind.

He immediately turned around and walked in the other direction.

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin had just finished washing up when they suddenly heard a few light knocks on the door.

Si Zuochen paused, then asked in a deep voice, "Who?"

“It’s me,” Gu Nan replied softly from outside.

Before he could finish speaking, Si Youlin opened the door from the inside, his face full of surprise: "Uncle Anan?"

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Si Zuochen quickly asked, "Why are you here at this hour?"

Gu Nan smiled slightly, walked slowly closer, and replied with a light smile, "There are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen and Si Youlin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with doubt, before asking, "What is it?"

"Do you still want Ayan and Jiang Ran to be together?"

"Of course!" Si Youlin quickly replied, while Si Zuochen remained much calmer, his brows furrowing slightly as he asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"

Gu Nan's lips curled slightly as she slowly said, "Bai Zhuwei acts without considering the consequences, and some of her actions have touched a nerve with Ayan."

"Why not take this opportunity to ease the tension between them?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen was immediately taken aback. Recalling Si Yanxiao's attitude during the meal, he instantly understood and said, "No wonder Father is acting so strangely today..."

He paused slightly as he spoke, a hint of hesitation flashing across his face, before continuing, "But what good would it do if he reconciled with Jiang Ran, given his complicated relationship with Bai Zhuwei?"

Gu Nan was taken aback by Si Zuochen's sudden question. She hadn't expected him to see things so clearly, and a hint of surprise flashed through her mind.

His eyes flickered slightly, and then he advised, "Things can't be accomplished overnight. Let's start by easing tensions and then move forward step by step."

"Besides, while Ayan is still hesitant and wants to ease things, if Bai Zhuwei says something sarcastic and Ayan changes his mind, then it will be too late for anything we do."

After saying that, Gu Nan's gaze fell on the two of them, and she lowered her eyes to carefully observe the changes in their expressions.

Si Zuochen hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded and replied in a low voice, "Okay, I agree."

Although he had recently been quite critical of Si Yanxiao and didn't want to deal with him because of Bai Zhuwei's matter, this matter was of utmost importance right now, and he couldn't care less about other trivial emotions.

Seeing that Si Zuochen readily agreed, Si Youlin chimed in with a similar sentiment.

Seeing that a consensus had been reached, Gu Nan smiled slightly, secretly pleased that she had handled a major matter for Si Yanxiao.

"So what should we do now?" Si Youlin asked slowly.

Si Zuochen looked up at Gu Nan, waiting for him to make a decision.

Gu Nan raised an eyebrow and said directly, "First, we need to arrange time for them to be alone. Jiang Ran's attitude is unclear right now, so we need you to find out more."

"As for Ayan... since he has the intention to ease tensions, he probably won't confront her anymore."