Helian Bochen was taken aback and turned to look at Shi Youxi.
"Youxi, you mean..."
Shi Youxi's eyes were deep, and he said, word by word:
“I said, engagement, I can’t.”
Helian Jingfen frowned: "What do you mean?!"
"Literal meaning."
He saw the astonishment in Mu Yiran's eyes, but Shi Youxi remained stubborn.
She said she wouldn't force herself to do things she didn't like, so why did she keep pushing him away today?
Enraged, Helian Jingfen ignored Shi Youxi and went straight to Shi Yan, saying, "Shi Yan, are you playing games with us? What do you take the Helian family for!"
As if recalling how she herself had been rejected by Shi Yan in person back then, and now that she was his daughter, she was being humiliated in the same way again, Helian Jingfen looked at Shi Yan with resentment.
But Shi Yan remained unmoved, looking indifferently at his son, neither speaking up for Shi Youxi nor expressing his opinion.
Helian Xin was so taken aback by the sudden turn of events that she dared not breathe. She hadn't expected Shi Youxi to actually refuse her engagement in front of the elders.
Overwhelmed by a sense of injustice and humiliation, her eyes instantly reddened, filled with anger. Without thinking, Helian Xin pointed at Cheng Ran across the table and suddenly hissed:
"Is it because of her! What those people said is true! You actually like yourself—"
"Xinxin! Don't be rude!" Helian Bochen interrupted Helian Xin at the right moment. He glanced at Cheng Ran, whose face was stiff, and then smiled and softened his tone:
"It seems that Shi Yan and his wife did not communicate well with the child, and You Xi was frightened."
Helian Bochen's face immediately hardened, and he said to Helian Xin:
"Xinxin, really, hurry up and apologize to Mrs. Shi! It's just some unscrupulous media's way of attracting attention, and you actually believed it! Although Mrs. Shi is young, she doesn't look like the kind of person who would do such a despicable thing. Mrs. Shi, Xinxin is young and doesn't understand, you won't mind, will you?"
"..."
You've taken all the bamboo shoots from the mountain, what else could she possibly care about!
Mu Yiran loosened her teeth, her lips feeling sour and bitter.
Being subtly mocked like this and not being able to retaliate is not a pleasant feeling at all. Even though Mu Yiran is currently occupying Cheng Ran's body, the criticism and pointing fingers she has received today are still very real.
She could ignore the online gossip and the pointing and whispering of her employees on the way there.
But when Helian Bochen brought it up so openly, Mu Yiran felt completely at a loss for words.
Helian Bochen was ostensibly apologizing, but he was subtly implying that she was indeed as described online, having shamelessly seduced his stepson.
She just wanted to be nicer to that lonely and empty guy.
Why is it always so difficult...?
Did she really do something wrong?
Just as Li Bu Huo said, perhaps what she thought was good to Shi Youxi would not only not help him, but would also be a burden to him.
But this shouldn't be the case.
Mu Yiran closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, a faint smile graced her face.
"Of course I don't mind."
"Xiao Xi was rude just now, I apologize to Xin Xin on his behalf."
Shi Youxi said anxiously, "Why should we apologize!"
Mu Yiran frowned, "You didn't explain yourself clearly, and you made our young and ignorant girl cry."
"Xinxin is too young to understand; she just can't comprehend what normal people are saying!"
Helian Bochen: "..."
Shi Youxi: "..."
He suddenly felt a little confused. Did his sister want his consent or not?
Mu Yiran turned to Helian Xin, whose face was full of "Are you alright?", and smiled kindly:
"What Xiaoxi just meant was that getting engaged next month probably wouldn't work. He has his self-study exam coming up soon, and time is tight. Getting engaged at this time would distract him."
"Nothing is more important than academic achievements. Young people should prioritize their studies and careers."
"Right? Shi Youxi!"
"..."
Looking at the smile on the woman's face, Shi Youxi suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
He wanted to say that was wrong.
He just doesn't like Helian Xin! Why did he get engaged to her in the first place?!
But when Shi Youxi looked at the woman forcing a smile, he felt as if his throat was being choked, and he couldn't say anything.
That afternoon, for the first time, my sister focused her attention properly on herself.
A moment later, the boy tilted his head, his voice dry and hoarse:
"……right."
Helian Bochen narrowed his eyes, then immediately laughed heartily, "Oh dear, it seems it was all a misunderstanding. It's good that it's been cleared up!"
"Xiao Xi, don't be shy. You can speak your mind directly. It's your business as young people, so we will definitely do it your own way. We will never force you. If you don't say anything, people might think you have some issues with Xin Xin and don't want to get engaged!"
"Is that really true?" Helian Jingfen asked stiffly, forcing a smile.
Shi Yan lowered his eyelids, tapped his fingertips on the table, and admired Shi Youxi's bowed head for a moment before slowly saying:
"I forgot that he has an exam coming up soon, and the engagement date is uncertain. We can decide after the exam."
Helian Bochen coughed lightly upon hearing this, signaling to his sister that she could shut up.
If we keep talking like this, the engagement will be off!
Helian Bochen chuckled: "Of course it should be like this. It was my oversight just now."
Helian Jingfen had been tricked by Shi Yan and Shi Youxi, and now she was very frustrated, but she couldn't say anything more.
They could see Shi Youxi's dissatisfaction with the sudden engagement. But what surprised Helian Bochen the most was Shi Yan's silence from the very beginning.
Cheng Ran offered them a way out, so they naturally took it first.
The Helian family and the Shi family are evenly matched. Although Shi Youxi cannot rely on the Shi family to do whatever he wants, they are currently on someone else's territory, so their momentum is inherently weaker than the other side.
Shi Yan was never one to be easily manipulated, and his son was no exception.
Thinking about it this way, Helian Bochen instantly became dissatisfied with Helian Xin again. She really doesn't think before she speaks!
If Shi Yan and Cheng Ran's feelings are real, given Shi Yan's vengeful nature, who knows what underhanded things he might do behind her back.
For now, we can only make this agreement verbally. Anyway, the date of the engagement doesn't matter; as long as we have this "engagement agreement," that's enough.
Moreover, there might be better candidates than Shi Youxi in the future; who can say for sure about business marriages?
After being reprimanded by Helian Bochen, Helian Xin obediently shut up and stopped talking, but occasionally she would secretly stalk Cheng Ran.
She still didn't believe that there was nothing between Shi Youxi and Cheng Ran!
Ignoring the contrasting gazes of the two kids, Mu Yiran stared at Helian Jingfen, managing to get through the meal.
Mu Yiran thought it was finally over, but as the group got off the elevator to leave, they bumped into several reporters and Helian Xin's fans who were already squatting there.
The reporter originally only hoped to try his luck and see if he could catch Helian Xin, but unexpectedly, in addition to Helian Xin, there were also Shi Yan and his son.
The moment the reporters saw Cheng Ran there, they rushed over.
"Tianxin! Are you here today to meet your boyfriend's parents?"
"Tianxin, may I ask what your relationship is with Young Master Shi?"
"Tianxin, is your boyfriend Young Master Shi?!"
Will UN and Shiye cooperate in the future?
One daring entertainment reporter even started a live broadcast, pointing the camera directly at the three members of the Shi family.
"Mr. Shi Yan, do you have anything to say about those photos of your wife and son online?"
"Mrs. Shi! It's rumored online that your requirement for dating is that the other person must be a minor. Is that true?"
"..."
Shi Ye's security guards and the tattooed men who had been waiting downstairs quickly stepped forward to separate the reporters and fans.
Shi Youxi frowned as he watched those who were trying to reach for his sister with recording pens and cameras. His face darkened instantly. He raised his hand to push away the reporter's outstretched arm and tried to pull the woman to the inside, but his hand reached for nothing.
"elder sister!"
Shi Youxi felt a void in his heart and turned his gaze to look for the woman's figure.
Mu Yiran was standing beside Shi Yan. She ignored the reporters' questions and obediently pretended to be Shi Yan's wife.
Ai Ni followed closely behind, and through the cacophony of voices, whispered to Shi Youxi:
"Young Master, Madam wants you to stay away from her and get closer to Miss Helian."
Shi Youxi stopped in her tracks, her hands clenching tightly as she hung down.
The tattooed arm gripped the phone that was broadcasting live. With a forceful pull, the reporter's face contorted in pain, and the phone was thrown to the ground and shattered.
The sound of shattering punctured the surrounding noise.
"Everyone, the road is narrow, so please don't crowd. If you accidentally bump into something, Shi Ye won't be responsible," the tattooed man said coldly.
"..."
Several reporters looked up from the shattered phone at the sharp, fierce face with its tattooed arms, and instantly took a step back.
They are entertainment reporters, and they are experts at judging people based on their appearance.
They know best who they can offend and who they absolutely must not touch.
Without a doubt, the Shi family is one of the people you can't afford to offend.
The reporter, regaining his senses, swallowed nervously and turned to squeeze in front of Helian Xin.
Even though they didn't get any information, they still managed to take a lot of photos, many of which showed Helian Xin and Shi Youxi side by side.
Having achieved her goal, Helian Xin took advantage of Shi Youxi's inattention and had already left the parking lot in her nanny car.
Helian Bochen glanced at the three people whose atmosphere was a bit strange and said with a faint smile, "Shiyan, there was a slight accident. I will have Xinxin clarify it online. Don't worry, I will have someone clean up any rumors that shouldn't exist."
Shi Yan nodded and watched them leave.
After everyone had left, Mu Yiran released Shi Yan's arm, and the two of them clapped their hands in unison.
There wasn't much to say; after exchanging complaints, everyone got into their own cars.
Mu Yiran stepped into the car, and the boy behind her followed closely behind.
The tattooed man stopped him: "Young Master! The Master wants you to go with him."
Shi Youxi stopped and watched as the white Cayenne wobbled out of the parking space, getting lost before finally turning to the exit and leaving.
The boy paused for a moment, then got into the black Rolls-Royce.
Shi Yan was watching the sanatorium's surveillance footage with his hand on his arm. The father and son watched quietly as the woman in the video pruned the flowers.
In the pitch-black carriage, only the occasional mumbled murmur of a woman could be heard.
"Why must I be forced into a marriage alliance with Helian Xin?"
"I don't like her!"
Shi Yan watched silently and attentively as Bai Shengsheng finished arranging a vase of white Phalaenopsis orchids, then turned off her phone screen.
Shi Yan turned his head, his eyes cold.
"So who do you like?"
"Cheng Ran?"
Shi Youxi pursed her lips: "...This has nothing to do with her."
Shi Yan said, "Ha, you don't even dare to admit it, yet you have the nerve to ask me why?"
Shi Youxi: "If it's because of those things online, I can handle it."
What can you do to handle this?
"Do you think you can run rampant in the group and shut up the old shareholders just because you have 10% of the shares?"
Shi Youxi said urgently, "Not now, but it only takes a little time..."
"Why should I wait for your little bit of time?" Shi Yan coldly interrupted him. "Shi Youxi, don't make me emphasize your identity again and again! As the heir of the Shi family, you are of no help to the group. You are a useless person."
"You can do whatever you want right now because of the Shi family. Without them, you are nothing."
"By the time you have the ability to take control of Shiye, Shiye will probably have already changed hands."
Seeing the boy's unwillingness to part with his lips, Shi Yan chuckled softly:
"What, you're not convinced? Do you think I'm being too harsh on you?"
Shi Yan pointed to the photo of the boy and woman on her phone and tapped the screen with her fingertips.
“If you can’t solve problems, then you shouldn’t create them, but you can’t even do that.”
"What right do you have to talk to me about whether you like someone or not?"
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