Chapter 44 The Guide to Taming a Fake Young Master (20) His expression gradually...
"Little..." Fu Li seemed to realize something the moment she called out, closed her mouth again, and retreated back to Yan Qibai's side.
The man who had been observing him naturally noticed his actions as well. Seeing the once proud and arrogant young master become like a timid rabbit, the color in his eyes and brows deepened.
"It's been so long, Ali, don't you recognize me?" He smiled gently, as if joking.
Just before they were about to leave, Yan Qibai stepped forward first, silently shielding Fu Li behind him.
"Uncle." He bowed slightly and calmly addressed him, "What brings you here?"
Perhaps because of the unknown incident that happened to Fu Li during the last training camp, Yan Qibai harbored a hostile attitude towards the man in front of him.
Noticing the faintly sharp gaze from his adopted nephew, Xie Qiu Chen's lips twitched, and he slightly composed himself. "Qi Bai, it's been a long time. I arranged with your father to come and see you. How have you been settling in these days?"
He chatted with Yan Qibai with a cheerful and easygoing demeanor, completely unlike the man who once used to teach the naive young master how to train people like dogs by holding a dog leash and whip.
Yan Qibai's face remained calm. "I've already gotten used to life at the Yan residence, so Uncle doesn't need to worry. Besides, it's been a month already. I was worried something had happened to the Xie family since you hadn't shown up. After all, you always rush to City C whenever something big happens."
Xie Qiuchen smiled slightly: "That depends on what kind of important matter it is. Some situations are just ordinary matters in my eyes. But I suppose it should be considered a big deal for Qi Bai. I just heard someone calling you Young Master Yan, didn't I?"
The uncle and nephew exchanged words back and forth, their seemingly ordinary greetings actually containing the intention to sow discord between Fu Li and his nephew.
After the exchange of blows, Xie Qiu Chen let the two get into the car and took them to the restaurant, where Yan He would go directly.
He habitually walked to the passenger seat to open the door for Fu Li, but whether it was due to the sudden change in their identities or some other reason, when he turned around, Fu Li had already gotten into the back seat with Yan Qibai, right next to him. The man frowned slightly, calmly got into the driver's seat, but a bad feeling crept into his heart.
On the way, Xie Qiuchen would occasionally glance at the rearview mirror, seemingly casually observing the interaction between the two boys in the back seat.
However, things did not go as he expected.
The young master, who should have been meek and submissive in front of the real young master of the Yan family, seemed to still be the one in a superior position. Yan Qibai would take out a bag of snacks to feed him, or pour him water and put it on the cup holder. What made Xie Qiuchen frown and find it unbearable was that Yan Qibai actually offered to massage Fu Li, rubbing the young master's shoulders and ankles.
Throughout, Fu Li's expression remained indifferent, showing neither great satisfaction nor strong resistance.
This puzzled Xie Qiuchen greatly.
He personally taught the young master how to train a well-behaved dog, and he also witnessed firsthand how Yan Qibai was ruthlessly bullied by Fu Li. Such resentment, even if Yan Qibai was forced to submit temporarily, would undoubtedly take deep root in the young man's heart, waiting for the day it would erupt fiercely.
Moreover, Yan Qibai's body carries the blood of both the Yan family and the Xie family. Xie Qiuchen knows better than anyone that these two families are inherently selfish and vengeful beasts, so how could they not settle scores afterward?
Why does Yan Qibai act as if he is willing to serve Fu Li? Is it really Stockholm Syndrome?
The Maybach was stopped at the front of the traffic. The red light above was counting down from sixty seconds. The man's hands tapped the steering wheel idly, his handsome, deep brows furrowed slightly, as if he were thinking about a thorny issue.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Yan He was already waiting there.
This is a high-end clubhouse with thousands of acres of green space. Xie Qiuchen booked the most luxurious private room, which overlooks the entire park from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Fu Li was the first to enter, and the first thing he saw upon entering was that face he both feared and respected. He hesitated for a long time before calling out:
"dad."
Very quietly.
Yan He looked up when he heard the voice, saw it was him, his expression didn't change, and he didn't say that there was anything wrong with his address. He simply said, "Sit."
Fu Li then carefully found a seat and sat down, her every move exuding a sense of trepidation.
He had expected the meeting to be awkward, but Yan He remained completely unfazed, leaving him with no reason to feel awkward. Just then, Xie Qiu Chen and Yan Qi Bai also walked in.
As soon as Xie Qiuchen sat down, he smiled and said to Yan He, "Brother-in-law, you can let them start serving the dishes now."
Yan He nodded and turned to Yan Qibai, who was sitting on his left, and said, "This meeting was suggested by your uncle. He said he wanted to see you. After all, you haven't seen each other for so many years, and he will have to take good care of you from now on."
Xie Qiuchen smiled slightly: "Of course, after all, I am their uncle."
The soft word "they" eased the initial fear and helplessness that Fu Li felt, and she straightened her back a little.
It turns out that his uncle didn't care too much about whether he was related to the Xie family or not, and still maintained his old feelings for him.
This realization undoubtedly became an invisible spiritual support for him at this dinner party, which improved Fu Li's mood a bit.
However, not long after, the group started chatting at the dinner table.
Originally, Yan He and Xie Qiu Chen were just discussing business matters, which the two teenagers didn't quite understand.
Then Xie Qiuchen suddenly asked, "After Qi Bai goes to university, shouldn't we let him join the company to familiarize himself with the business? Brother-in-law, I remember you went through the same thing, right?"
His face still wore a gentle and polite smile, as if he had only thought of the matter casually.
Yan He nodded. "We all went through this. The next generation should too. I've already transferred all the shares to him, plus the Xie family's share. He needs to gain experience in the future."
The two continued their conversation about the heir. However, Xie Qiu Chen initiated most of the discussion, with Yan He providing the rest.
This topic is undoubtedly sensitive at this time, especially for Fu Li, who has just lost her right to be the heir.
His face gradually turned pale, and he tried hard to suppress the awkward and unwilling expression on his face.
He knew, of course, that he was now an outsider, and these things were no longer his to enjoy. But when he heard about the unlimited rights and future that the heir of the Yan family would have, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy—just a month ago, all of this should have been his.
Yan Qibai, who was standing to the side, became increasingly sharp-eyed as he listened.
He knew their identities had only just been switched back, and the young master couldn't accept such a huge difference. If he were to lay these things out in front of him again—"Look, this was all yours before, but now it belongs to someone else"—no wonder he wouldn't feel at peace!
Xie Qiu Chen deliberately stirred up these topics to make Fu Li uneasy; it was clearly intentional!
Yan Qibai glanced at the increasingly absent-minded boy beside him, his brows furrowing deeply.
What exactly is Xie Qiu Chen trying to do? Almost a month has passed, and he suddenly visits and brings up this matter in front of Fu Li. What is he up to?!
Thinking of the other party's wicked sense of humor and unfathomable cunning, the young man's wolf-like eyes filled with vigilance. Then, taking advantage of a pause between the two adults, Yan Qibai seized the opportunity to steer the conversation towards school matters.
But the stimulus given to Yan Fuli was enough.
The young master sat with his head down next to Yan Qibai, opposite Xie Qiuchen. Both of them could see the dejection and resentment in his eyes clearly, but their thoughts were completely different.
The dishes were almost all served. The exquisite and delicious food no longer aroused the young master's appetite. He made an excuse that he wanted to go out for some fresh air and left the private room.
Then Xie Qiuchen said he had left something in the car and needed to retrieve it, so he went out with her.
On the rooftop garden, a boy sat in the waterside pavilion, fiddling with an unknown blade of grass in his hand, his eyes filled with a lifeless loneliness.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps. He turned around and saw Xie Qiuchen following him, standing at the bottom of the pavilion steps, smiling at him.
"Did I disturb Ah Li?" The man's classic phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled gently.
Fu Li shook his head. Xie Qiuchen walked over and sat down next to him, quickly placing his left hand on Fu Li's shoulder and asking softly, "Ah Li, are you in a bad mood? Is it because of that Yan Qibai?"
One was called by a nickname, while the other was called by a full name; the difference in their relationship was immediately apparent.
Perhaps thinking of his beloved uncle, a hint of dependence appeared in the boy's eyes, yet he still seemed somewhat awkward, hesitatingly saying, "There's a reason... but..."
Seeing the deep worry in his eyes, Xie Qiu Chen immediately understood. He spoke in the gentlest tone, "Ah Li is afraid that after leaving the Yan family, she will have nowhere else to go and will have a hard time, is that right?"
"Yan Qibai took everything from you, and now he has everything, but it's Ali who suffers. Maybe in the future she'll only be able to go hungry and cold, unable to find a job, unable to establish herself anywhere, living in poverty and then dying alone, right?"
It was as if she was trying to comfort someone, but she described reality in such a cruel way that it was almost vivid in her mind. She expressed the worst worries the other person had about the future. The young master couldn't help but sniffle, and tears welled up in his eyes, as if they were the culmination of all the grievances and worries he had been carrying for the past few days, ready to burst forth at any moment.
He only showed his vulnerable side to those closest to him, and Xie Qiuchen knew this, knowing that he was one step closer to his goal.
He had been plotting this step by step since he approached the Jing family and told Jing Hongguang that he could use this information to ask Yan He for money. He originally hoped that the Yan family would kick Fu Li out after discovering the truth, but he never expected that they would not.
Now, after a period of just the right amount of time to ferment, the young master's fragile mind, which has never experienced great storms, is on the verge of collapse. With just a gentle push, he could fall into the trap prepared by the hunter, like a flying insect caught in a spider web, unable to break free.
Author's Note: My judgment was wrong; the next chapter will be a chaotic mess.
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