Xiao Yufan had never imagined that Qing Yuanfeng could become so utterly despondent, to such an extent that even he felt a pang of reluctance. In the middle of the vast, empty plaza, on a patch of shaded green land, Qing Yuanfeng sat there, surrounded by a haphazard scattering of empty bottles—clearly drowning his sorrows in alcohol…
“If this can truly make you feel better, then forget about others’ feelings and keep wallowing in despair. Could it really come to this? The once-renowned figure in Beijing’s business world, now reduced to seeking solace in alcohol?”
Slowly walking over, Xiao Yufan sat down directly on the grassy patch beside him. Compared to the hurried passersby around them, the two of them seemed unusually out of place.
“Director of a prestigious enterprise, son of the Situ family—surely you didn’t come here just to mock me? If so, I must be incredibly fortunate!” Without even looking up, Qing Yuanfeng instantly recognized Xiao Yufan’s voice. Toward the man who had cost him everything, he surprisingly felt little hatred deep down.
“If it weren’t for my woman, I wouldn’t even bother with whether you live or die…”
Looking at Qing Yuanfeng’s pitiful state, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but sigh. Though only a few days had passed, it felt like ages. Qing Yuanfeng had changed so drastically that the word “unrecognizable” barely described it. His once-handsome profile now bore an air of gloom. Those unfamiliar with him would surely mistake him for a frustrated loser.
Yet who could imagine that this very man had once carved an indelible mark in the business world? Even though the glory of his enterprise had faded, no one could deny that he had lived a legendary chapter of his life…
“Did Lu’er send you here?” Qing Yuanfeng’s lips curled into a bitter smile. Thinking about how even his own sister no longer wished to see him, a strange bitterness welled up inside. Sometimes, even if you gained the entire world, losing those closest to you would leave you with no sense of achievement at all.
The two women he had once cherished most in life both had deep ties to Xiao Yufan. Perhaps this was fate’s doing. Whether Hu Yingluo or Qing Lu’an, both were the most important women in his heart—but both were now the women of the man sitting before him.
He felt no resentment, because it was their choice. Qing Yuanfeng would never force them to change. Compared to Xiao Yufan’s fortune, he indeed appeared tragically pitiful.
“Who else could it be, if not Qingluan?” Xiao Yufan countered, a faint, teasing smile playing on his lips. Regardless of the perspective, he truly didn’t wish to see Qing Yuanfeng sinking further into despair. Losing a rival would leave him terribly lonely.
“True enough. At a time like this, besides my sister, who else would care whether I live or die? Yet because of my selfishness, I’ve even lost the bond of family with her!”
Qing Yuanfeng laughed bitterly and shook his head. He wasn’t as unshakable as he appeared. Perhaps the more he tried to smile bravely, the deeper his inner loneliness ran. He tilted back the last of his red wine, but the dry bitterness in his mouth paled in comparison to the bitterness in his heart.
“You haven’t lost her. You’ve just been too self-righteous. You thought you could arrange her life, dictate her final path—but you were wrong. You don’t even know what she truly wants or what she’s willing to do…”
Effortlessly opening another bottle of red wine, Xiao Yufan raised it slightly toward Qing Yuanfeng and took a small sip. He didn’t elaborate further. Everyone knows their own coldness and warmth. How could he not understand Qing Yuanfeng’s feelings?
“Now I know what she wants, what kind of life she likes. So what? She still refuses to forgive me as her brother!”
“I don’t want my woman to lose a brother who loves her. So I will gradually explain things to her. But if you keep wallowing like this, even if she eventually accepts you again as her brother, I won’t accept a useless brother-in-law…”
Xiao Yufan wanted to help Qing Yuanfeng—not out of pity, but for Qingluan’s sake. After all, the sibling bond between them ran deep. If he ignored the situation, Qingluan would surely carry some emotional burden. He absolutely didn’t want his woman to feel any unhappiness.
“You don’t need to provoke me. It won’t work. The fact remains—Qing Yuanfeng built an enterprise like Fengyun. Naturally, I have the ability to make others look up to me again. I’m just tired right now!”
Qing Yuanfeng’s expression carried an indescribable arrogance. Xiao Yufan didn’t deny it. With the Qing family’s financial resources and Qing Yuanfeng’s personal abilities, restoring Fengyun’s former glory would only be a matter of time. It was just that, for now, he had no desire to do so.
“I believe in your strength, but you lack the fighting spirit. If Fengyun had charged ahead boldly from the beginning, perhaps it wouldn’t have had to rely on the Beijing Club. In this way, you’re very much like Tian Yuan. We, however, are different. I aim to build my very own commercial empire…”
Had these words come from anyone else, Qing Yuanfeng would have dismissed them with disdain. But coming from Xiao Yufan, he couldn’t help but believe them. He had only glimpsed a fraction of the Situ family’s power, yet even that made him feel dwarfed. No one could predict how far Xiao Yufan might rise.
“Perhaps that’s exactly why she fell for you,” Qing Yuanfeng mused, then sighed deeply. His bitter smile widened. Xiao Yufan understood that “she” here referred not to Qingluan, but to Hu Yingluo, who was far away in England.
Xiao Yufan offered no further explanation. If Qing Yuanfeng only knew that their bond had begun a year and a half ago, he could hardly imagine their relationship’s depth. Back then, Xiao Yufan had been just an ordinary man. In over a year, both he and Hu Yingluo had undergone tremendous transformations.
“But now, all of that no longer matters to me. As long as she and Qingluan can be happy, that’s enough. If one day they suffer any injustice, I will destroy everything you now possess, no matter the cost!”
Looking straight at Xiao Yufan, Qing Yuanfeng’s lips curled into a faint smile. Though it sounded like a threat, there was no trace of false bravado in his tone.
“You don’t need to remind me of that. I would never allow my woman to suffer. As for you, maybe your real priority should be finding a suitable sister-in-law for Qingluan.”
Their conversation unfolded like that of old friends who hadn’t seen each other in ages. No one would have guessed that just days ago, they had been bitter enemies.
“Love can’t be rushed. I’m not as lucky as you,” Qing Yuanfeng shrugged, for the first time showing a genuine smile. Then, as if recalling something, he added, “Oh, by the way, watch out for another member of your Situ family. He might still pose a threat to you…”
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