Chapter 29 Both of them were good-looking and well-maintained…
Both were good-looking and well-maintained, appearing to be around thirty years old. The man was debonair and extremely cultured, while the woman was elegant and poised, exuding an air of power and wealth. Liu Duanhe's appearance, however, was excessively outstanding, as if she had won the genetic lottery, having inherited all of their best features and further enhanced them.
The man smiled first, a gentle and warm smile, as if he had practiced it a thousand times in front of the mirror. Unfortunately, the smile didn't reach his eyes, and upon closer inspection, there was not a trace of warmth. Of course, Liu Duanhe thought it was more likely that Liu Rumeng was too lazy to pretend in front of him.
Liu Rumeng slowly and deliberately scolded him, "Xiao He, why are you so late today? Didn't your parents tell you to go back to the old house tonight? We didn't see you when we arrived. You only arrived when it was almost time to eat. That's so impolite."
He was clearly no longer young; fine laugh lines clung to the corners of his eyes. Unlike Liu Duanhe's intensely handsome and almost aggressive appearance, he looked calm and gentle, making people feel close to him at first sight.
Objectively speaking, Liu Duanhe actually looks more like his mother, or rather his maternal grandmother. His mother came from a wealthy family in Hong Kong, while his maternal grandmother was a famous movie star of that era. She was discovered by a talent scout while begging in Hong Kong because of her stunning beauty.
Liu Rumeng made the first move, but the woman was no longer in a hurry. She held her teacup, watched coldly, and said impatiently with a mocking smile on her lips, "Liu Rumeng, it's almost time to eat. Stop showing off your power. You have nowhere to flaunt it in public, don't you?"
It's hard to imagine that the two, who can even kiss passionately in public like a couple deeply in love, would inevitably engage in verbal sparring and sarcastic remarks whenever they speak at home, making them a truly resentful couple.
Liu Rumeng's eyes and brows were filled with irritation, but her tone was even gentler, "You've had your fill of showing off your power outside, and now you expect me to coax you at home? How ridiculous."
Wu Xiuyi crossed her legs, leaned forward, and retorted defiantly, "I took a look at your company's third-quarter report a while ago. Even with all the effort to cover it up, it doesn't seem very optimistic, does it, President Liu?"
Liu Rumeng subconsciously glanced at the old chairman Liu Yireng's face. Liu Yireng was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, seemingly very impatient with their argument.
He gave Wu Xiuyi a cold look. Having been hit where she was trying so hard to hide her sore spot, Liu Rumeng didn't want to argue with him anymore.
Otherwise, given how closely Wu Xiuyi is watching him, it would be embarrassing if she dug up something else.
Liu Duanhe was ignored from the very first sentence. Although he was initially the target of the attack, fortunately, he had become accustomed to their neglect and hostility towards each other.
Secretary Wei naturally did not attend the Liu family's banquet. As soon as President Liu spoke, he went to the study with the experienced old butler.
Without asking any servants to serve him, he washed his hands and poured himself a cup of tea. Seeing that Liu Rumeng had lost this time, he couldn't help but laugh mockingly. The one who understands you best in this world is indeed your nemesis.
He kept a close eye on it. Everyone makes mistakes. Liu Rumeng had treated Wu Xiuyi the same way before, and Wu Xiuyi had returned the favor in full. When they were young, Liu Rumeng wondered why they had married and had him if they hated each other so much. They even resented each other for having him through IVF. Now, Liu Duanhe just found it funny.
Liu Yi listened until they finally quieted down, then opened his half-closed eyes and ordered, "Tell the kitchen to serve the dishes."
The old butler, who had returned sometime earlier, bowed slightly.
During dinner, none of them spoke at the table. After the meal, Liu Yi interrupted his usual routine of catching up and showing concern after each business trip, saying, "Come to the study with me. I have something to tell you."
Liu Rumeng was stunned, wondering what the old man was trying to do. In the past, although he didn't react to what she said, he would at least listen to it. Why wasn't he even listening this time?
He suddenly thought of the recent rumors circulating outside, and the doctor who was keeping a tight rein on him and refusing to reveal a single word about the old man's health condition. A thought struck him.
Liu Rumeng pondered for a while before following upstairs, with the old housekeeper close behind.
Only Liu Duanhe and Wu Xiuyi were left at the table, and their relationship wasn't much better.
Almost from birth, he never received a word of praise from Liu Rumeng and Wu Xiuyi. Before, he was cared for by a postpartum nanny, and later by a babysitter. The bond between the mother and son was not even as strong as the pure dislike between the couple.
Wu Xiuyi stared at the stairs for a while, looking thoughtful.
She had nothing to say to her child, and he had nothing to say to his mother.
They remained silent for a while before Liu Duanhe broke the silence.
Use a caring tone to ease the tense atmosphere: "Mom, did your business trip go well?"
Wu Xiuyi lowered her gaze, examining the details of the manicure she had just done yesterday, and replied casually, "It's alright, but the environment is too humid. You can feel the damp steam as soon as you leave the airport."
Liu Duanhe replied, "That's certainly true in coastal cities." His secretary and assistant would certainly handle the details far more thoughtfully than he could with mere greetings, so he had nothing more to say.
Perhaps he never grew up as he thought he did; he was still that clumsy, tongue-tied child who couldn't get a hug from his mother and could only cry when impatiently locked outside the villa gate.
Wu Xiuyi seemed to suddenly remember something and asked him, "How has your grandfather been lately? Did the housekeeper tell you?"
Liu Duanhe fell silent for a moment, as if struck by a thunderbolt, feeling powerless and bewildered. Why did they always use all their words and actions to express that they disliked him completely and that he was only useful to them, like an object?
From deciding his birth unilaterally to reconcile the interests of both families, to discarding him like a worn-out shoe after discovering his grandfather's dissatisfaction, and then disciplining him after discovering his grandfather's concern for him.
They never seemed to treat him as one of them, but rather as an object belonging to them.
Liu Duanhe smiled and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mom. The housekeeper doesn't tell me anything, and Grandpa keeps it from you all, so why would he tell me?"
Wu Xiuyi looked up at him for a while, then said cryptically, "Everyone knows that your grandfather dotes on you, his grandson. He brought you into the company himself, gave you special training, and provided you with a lot of the team."
It seems his parents are truly wary of his current position in the company. Subtle warnings weren't enough, and now they've finally brought it to the surface.
Despite their heated arguments, they are allies in the same camp and on the same front. Liu Duanhe was previously a tool for them to maintain a stable public image, but now he is an enemy of their interests.
Liu Duanhe calmly called out to a servant, "Could you please bring me another sterilized hot towel? My hands are dirty."
Wu Xiuyi frowned and said, "Can this germaphobia of yours ever be cured? Will people outside keep putting up with you?"
“You’ve grown up, and you’ve developed more and more bad habits. At home, we still have to listen to your orders. It’s your grandfather’s business to spoil you, but outside, you represent your parents, the Liu family, and the Wu family.”
Liu Duanhe smiled faintly, "I'm seeing a doctor right now, don't worry."
He took the hot, freshly disinfected towel and wiped his hands repeatedly until his fair, slender fingertips began to burn. Only then did the restless, itchy feeling in his heart subside.
Throughout the process, he maintained a smile and responded to everything Wu Xiuyi said.
Wu Xiuyi, having had enough of his gentle, perfunctory manner that resembled Liu Rumeng, said with boredom, "Just like Liu Rumeng, it's disgusting to look at."
Liu Duanhe was not sad. He got up and put the towel back on the plate.
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came from upstairs. The renovation of this house was done in recent years, and the soundproofing was excellent. So, apart from the old housekeeper, Liu Yi and Liu Rumeng, he and Wu Xiuyi did not hear a sound of what happened inside or what they talked about.
Liu Duanhe only saw that Liu Yi was still being helped out by the old steward, his face was even more haggard, his back was straightening with difficulty, and the aura of old age and decay had almost completely enveloped him.
Liu Rumeng, who followed him out, also looked extremely unhappy. She glanced at Liu Duanhe, then went straight out, got into her car, and left.
To make work more convenient, neither Liu Rumeng nor Wu Xiuyi lived in the old house. Soon, she also left the old house.
Liu Duanhe didn't leave. He stepped forward to help Liu Yireng, who was about to return to his room, and asked bluntly, "What did you say to him?"
Liu Yi stopped in his tracks and looked up at him for a moment with an unreadable expression.
He said calmly, "My dad didn't look at me very well when he left."
Liu Yi sighed again, finally showing his exhaustion. "The project his company contracted last time had a big problem and almost dragged the company down. This business trip is to patch up the hole. He tried to hide it from me, but my confidants in the company already told me. Not only is his business acumen and management ability mediocre, but his ability to judge people is also terrible."
"So, Grandpa, were you referring to me? Comparing me to him?" Liu Duanhe knew that Liu Rumeng regarded him as an enemy, which was both ridiculous and pathetic. His biological father and mother both regarded him as an enemy, but Liu Rumeng was always good at pretending, more subtle than his mother. Today was the first time she had shown it so obviously.
Liu Yi covered his eyes and said regretfully, "I spoke without thinking, but the fact that he has always regarded you, his son, as a rival is beyond my expectations. There is no imperial successor in our family."
By this point, he had calmed down and even had the energy to crack a joke to try and ease Liu Duanhe's emotions.
Liu Duanhe chuckled in agreement, "That's right, but our family has hundreds of millions in assets to inherit."
"This is enough to turn friends and family against each other."
Liu Yi still hung his head sadly, gazing absently out the window. "Actually, there were other things too. We talked about some other things as well."
"I asked him a question that had puzzled me for years."
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