Why are you looking at me like that?
Xia Wenxi stared intently at Xia Wensheng, "What exactly do you want? You're acting like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken."
Xia scoffed, "This is the first time I've ever seen someone insult themselves."
You know perfectly well what I mean.
"I told you, I want to be a good older brother."
"Fine, don't tell me then."
Xia Wensheng didn't want to mention Lin Junying's matter, as it would only increase his annoyance, so he brought up another matter.
"Xia Wenxi, so the friend you mentioned who gave you the cat is Lin Shen? I only found out about this after meeting him today. Why didn't you tell me before?"
Xia Wenxi didn't tell Xia Wensheng before because she was too lazy to listen to Xia Wensheng's nagging, but now that she knows, there's no point in hiding it anymore.
"My friend found a kitten, but couldn't keep it, so he gave it to me. I already told you."
While driving, Xia Wensheng took the opportunity to glare at his sister, "Don't play word games with me. Why didn't you say earlier that your friend was Lin Shen?"
Xia Wenxi said calmly, "Your current reaction is the reason."
One sentence left Xia Wensheng speechless.
"My reaction... isn't it all because I care about you?"
Speaking of which, Xia Wensheng feels that he is becoming more and more relaxed when communicating with Xia Wenxi now. A few months ago, he could not have imagined being alone with Xia Wenxi like this.
Xia Wenxi knew perfectly well what Xia Wensheng meant by those words.
"He found the cat, and I adopted it. If someone else finds a cat and asks me about it, I'll adopt them too."
"I didn't ask you that. I don't interfere in your relationship matters."
Xia Wensheng said this, but at the same time, he felt a mix of secret pleasure and a sense of shame. He felt that Lin Shen had fought alongside him the night before, and that it was immoral for him to be so gloating.
Xia Wenxi watched his expression shift from a sinister smile to a furrowed brow, and silently moved to the side. She had never heard of Xia Wensheng having a mental illness before.
——
During dinner with the family that evening, Xia Hengyuan suddenly said to Xia Wenxi, "Xiaobao, next month is your birthday. How about we throw you a birthday party at home?"
Birthday?
Xia Wenxi paused for a moment, then remembered: July 28th was her birthday. She had also seen the original owner's ID card; her birthday was also on this day.
However, Xia Wenxi hesitated about holding a birthday party. "Dad, isn't it enough for us family to celebrate together? There's no need to go to all this trouble."
Xia stopped eating when he heard this. His father had just finished speaking, and he almost immediately guessed that his father was up to something, otherwise he wouldn't have held a birthday banquet for no reason.
This year is Xia Wenxi's twenty-second birthday, nothing special. He's almost thirty, and his family has never held a birthday party.
Sure enough, Xia Hengyuan, who always respected his daughter's opinion, continued to persuade her: "This year is different. This year you are graduating from university and you are a big girl now. You can get to know some of the friends who often visit our family."
Ke Shurong added, "There won't be too many people coming. You can invite your friends to join us. Just treat it as a party."
Since her parents had said so, Xia Wenxi didn't object and nodded in agreement.
She thought that perhaps her parents had other considerations.
Xia Wensheng did not express any opinion on the matter, but immediately went to the study to find Xia Hengyuan after finishing his meal.
"Dad, do you have something in mind?"
After Xia finished speaking, he noticed that his father was staring at him without saying a word, which made him feel uneasy.
"dad?"
"Fine, I'll tell you sooner so you can prepare earlier. I'm planning to retire."
Xia Wensheng asked, puzzled, "Retired? Aren't you retired now?"
"I mean complete retirement. While you're still able to get around, you should go out and travel more with your mother."
"Okay, so from now on I'll be going to work all by myself."
Xia Hengyuan ignored his words and continued, "If your mother and I are often away from home in the future, you should take good care of your sister. I see that you two have been getting along quite well lately."
“She’s such a grown woman, and I still have to take care of her…” Xia Wensheng hadn’t finished speaking when he received a glare from his father, so he quickly changed his words, “I know.”
However, Xia Wensheng still didn't understand. His father meant that he would be in charge of the company from now on, but what did this have to do with Xia Wenxi's birthday party? Even if a birthday party was to be held, it would have to wait until his birthday.
However, it seemed that Xia Hengyuan did not intend to speak for the time being, and waved his hand to let his son leave.
At the same time, in another part of the city, Lin Shen was also in his father's study, but the atmosphere between the Lin family father and son was not as harmonious as that between the Xia family father and son.
"Your second brother wants you to get Junying into the company, why don't you agree?"
Lin Shuyu kept his eyes on his son while he spoke.
Lin Shen said bluntly, "You should know your grandson's skill level much better than I do, right?"
Lin Shuyu was no longer young, but his eyes were still sharp. He stared intently at Lin Shen and asked, "Is it just because of this? Isn't it because he offended the Xia family's adopted daughter?"
Lin Shen scoffed upon hearing this. He knew it; a foolish grandson like his father wouldn't care.
Lin Shen asked his father in return:
"Lin Junying can't even handle the most ordinary position in the company. Do we need any other reason to not let him join the company? As for the matter you mentioned, I will naturally give the Xia family an explanation."
"Hmph, I never expected my son to be such a romantic. That girl is not suitable for you, and I will not allow her to enter the Lin family."
Lin Shen watched his father speak with a blank expression, and he even felt like laughing when he heard what his father said.
It was as if people were extremely eager to enter the Lin family's house.
You're overthinking it.
"Is that so? In that case, take some time to meet your Uncle Mu's daughter and settle things as soon as possible. That way, your mother and I can feel at ease and hand over the company to you completely sooner."
Lin Shen understood his father's underlying meaning: his tone was persuasive, but it was actually a threat, using the right of inheritance to threaten him.
"If you have a suitable candidate, I can submit my resignation to the board of directors immediately."
Lin Shuyu's face darkened. "Are you threatening me?"
Lin Shuyu was not angry about his son's threat, but because he really had no one else to rely on. He had several sons, but the only one who was useful was a disobedient one.
Lin Shen did not answer, but this silence revealed his thoughts—even if it was a threat, Lin Shuyu could do nothing about it.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Lin Shen had just come downstairs when his mother stopped him again, "Shen, did you make your father angry again today?"
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