Chapter 178 The person she's most afraid to face, yet most wants to see right now, is you.
Shi Hongzhen stared at his mother in astonishment. After a long while, he suddenly smiled with relief.
"You're right, I'm old-fashioned and I'm getting old. It's true, it's time to retire and take a break."
Madam Shi was stunned for a moment, looking at him in disbelief, "What do you mean by that?"
"One baton after another."
Shih Hung-chen said, "Now it's the children's turn. I'll hand the company over to my brother and sister in the future."
There was relief in Madam Shi's eyes, but she still felt this was unlike her son's style. "You... are you really willing to let go?"
Shi Hongzhen looked up at the sky and remained silent for a long time.
"Hui Rong loves to travel. I once promised her that when I retire, I will take her around the world and let her see all the wonders of the world and the scenery of different places."
Unfortunately, by the time he retired, his wife was no longer with him.
Shi Hongzhen said softly, "I want to go for her."
*
Shi Yuanxing and Qin Shuzhi returned to the Shi Mansion the next day.
According to Madam Shi, Shi Qingman's emotions have stabilized somewhat, but she still stays in her room and is unwilling to come out.
As for Shi Hongzhen, because of Qiao Wenbo's matter, there were still many things waiting for him to handle in the group, so he returned to the company early in the morning.
At lunchtime, the maid went upstairs to invite Shi Qingman to come down for lunch, but she refused to come down.
Madam Shi shook her head helplessly and looked at Shi Yuanxing.
"Why don't you go up and take a look?" she said.
"Right now... the person she's most afraid to face, yet the person she most wants to see, is you."
Shi Yuanxing nodded and went upstairs alone.
Shi Qingman's door was unlocked. Shi Yuanxing knocked and pushed the door open to go in. He saw Shi Qingman sitting in front of the dressing table, staring blankly at herself in the mirror.
A moment later, a tall figure appeared behind the mirror. Only then did she turn her head blankly and look at Shi Yuanxing in the mirror.
The siblings' eyes met, their expressions complex, but both remained silent.
Shi Qingman looked at her younger brother, her eyes gradually reddening, her emotions swirling with tears in her eyes.
"Why?"
Her voice sounded muffled, strained and hoarse, "It's clearly my fault, why won't you tell me the truth?"
Shi Yuanxing stood behind her, looking at her in the mirror. "That was an accident, it wasn't anyone's fault."
They were both pitiful people who had lost their mothers, and he felt there was no need to tell her if not knowing the truth would make her feel better.
After all, saying it would only increase her suffering and wouldn't change anything.
"But all these years I've been complaining about you..."
Shi Qingman covered her face with her hands, unable to continue speaking, as if she had no face to face him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Finally, choked, remorseful apologies escaped from between her fingers...
About ten minutes later, Shi Yuanxing came downstairs alone.
Qin Shuzhi quickly went over and asked, "Sister, are you still not willing to come down?"
Shi Yuanxing shook his head.
"Never mind, let her be. I'll have someone send her some food later."
The old lady pulled Qin Shuzhi toward the dining table, and then said to Shi Yuanxing, "Come on, let's eat first."
After finishing her meal, Qin Shuzhi saw a maid carrying food up to Shi Qingman as she passed by the kitchen. After thinking for a moment, she said to the maid, "Let me go."
Qin Shuzhi stood outside Shi Qingman's door with food in his hand and knocked on the door.
A moment later, a faint voice came from inside, "The door isn't locked."
Qin Shuzhi pushed open the door and went in, and saw Shi Qingman standing by the window.
Hearing someone come in, she turned around and saw that it was Qin Shuzhi, a look of surprise flashing across her face.
"Why is it you?"
Qin Shuzhi placed the food she was carrying on the table, smiled at her, and said, "I brought your food up for Grandma."
Seeing that she didn't move, Qin Shuzhi looked at her pale face and advised, "Food is essential for life, you should eat something."
Shi Qingman looked at her, her eyes filled with puzzled inquiry, "All these years, I've treated Yuanxing like this, do you really not hate me at all?"
"I have no right to express my opinion on this matter."
After Qin Shuzhi finished speaking, he considered for a moment and then said, "As for Yuanxing, I think that everything he did was not to make you feel guilty or see you in such a dejected state. What he wanted was for you to have a better life."
Upon hearing this, Shi Qingman's pupils trembled violently.
"If you're still not doing well, then all the grievances he's suffered over the years... haven't they been for nothing?"
Qin Shuzhi looked at her and said softly, "If you want to make amends to him, then give his sister back to him."
Shi Qingman looked stunned and confused. "...Give my sister back to him?"
“I heard from Yuanxing that when Mom was still alive, his sister loved him just as much as Mom did.”
Qin Shuzhi looked directly at her and said, "Back then, Shi Qingman was Shi Yuanxing's older sister."
These words made Shi Qingman's eyes suddenly widen in shock.
She stood frozen for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating bitter laugh, "How could I possibly be qualified to be his older sister?"
“He values family very much when he travels far away,” Qin Shuzhi said. “No matter what happens in between, he loves every one of his family members as always.”
Shi Qingman lowered her head in shame and guilt, "But I... I no longer know how to be a good older sister."
"First of all, you have to be a buoyant older sister."
Qin Shuzhi moved the food closer to her.
"If you break down because of what happened these past two days, do you think your brother will feel good about it?"
Shi Qingman's eyes showed obvious signs of emotion. Qin Shuzhi noticed this, but said nothing more and left the room, leaving her to figure it out on her own.
The two of them left the Shi Mansion in the afternoon.
After taking Qin Shuzhi home, Shi Yuanxing went to the company.
Qin Shuzhi heard him say that after Qiao Wenbo was arrested, the company needed him to go back and assist with matters related to the project.
As for Qiao Wenbo, he will soon face charges of smuggling, embezzlement, attempted murder, and other crimes, and it is estimated that he will serve a long prison sentence.
Monday.
Qin Shuzhi and Shi Yuanxing had arranged to go out for dinner that evening. Because she got off work early, she came to the company to wait for him and happened to run into Shi Hongzhen.
Shi Hongzhen called out to her.
After Tian Zhiyi dismissed the group of executives behind him, Shi Hongzhen said to her solemnly and earnestly, "Shuzhi, it was indeed my oversight that I asked you to take this risk. I sincerely apologize to you. I'm sorry."
Qin Shuzhi was flattered and quickly said, "Dad, please don't say that. The incident happened suddenly, and you were thinking about the bigger picture. I understand."
"Consider the bigger picture."
Qin Shuzhi rarely saw Shi Hongzhen, who was usually calm and serious, smile helplessly. "Don't let Yuanxing hear you say that, or I'll be disliked by him again."
Qin Shuzhi: "..."
“However, you deserve a lot of credit for recovering the company’s confidential documents,” Shi Hongzhen said. “I have already had my lawyers handle it, transferring 8% of the company’s shares to your name as compensation and a reward for you.”
Qin Shuzhi stared in shock, her eyes widening. It took her a while to recover before she quickly declined, "Dad, you don't have to do this..."
Shi Hongzhen waved his hand at her, "Just think of it as me, as your father, making amends for my mistake. Don't refuse."
Upon hearing this, Qin Shuzhi could no longer refuse, "Then, thank you, Dad."
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