ARBRMW : Chapter 60

 

How could it be him?

 

But when you think about it carefully, it seems to make sense.

 

The person in the photo is wearing a white shirt, around seventeen or eighteen years old, still a bit youthful in appearance, standing under a large banyan tree, exuding the vibrancy of youth. This is probably what many people remember their first love looking like.

 

“Xiang Xiuhe…” Chen Xu stared at the photo for a long time, muttering the name to himself.

 

He recalled that night when Si Ye referred to Xiang Xiuhe. He called him “Xiuhe” rather than “Xiang Xiuhe.” Xiang Xiuhe naturally spoke about things from Si Ye’s past that Chen Xu didn’t know about.

 

Seventeen or eighteen-year-old Xiang Xiuhe did resemble him a bit, especially in the eyes.

 

Tong Jiaxi was right. Si Ye indeed has a “white moonlight” in his heart, and that person is Xiang Xiuhe, Si Ye’s old classmate.

 

“Sister-in-law?” Si Xuezhou’s voice pulled Chen Xu back from his thoughts.

 

“What did you call me?” Chen Xu frowned and asked.

 

Si Xuezhou blinked and said, “Sister-in-law.”

 

In terms of seniority, it wasn’t wrong for Si Xuezhou to call Chen Xu “sister-in-law,” but since Chen Xu is a man, it sounded quite odd.

 

“Just call me by my name.”

 

“But…” Si Xuezhou wanted to say more but was interrupted by Chen Xu, “Just call me by my name.”

 

Si Xuezhou pursed his lips and agreed, “Alright then.”

 

Today is New Year’s Day. Wei Shifeng and Si Jing rarely arrived on time, and Wei Shifeng seemed to be in a particularly good mood, always following behind Si Jing.

 

Chen Xu found it a bit strange and gave them a glance but quickly looked away, uninterested in others’ personal matters.

 

Si Wanping still had a commanding presence, perhaps looking down on Chen Xu, showing no intention of speaking to him. By right, since Chen Xu and Si Ye are married, Si Ye is the head of the Si family, making Chen Xu the mistress of the Si family. Such family gatherings should be hosted by Chen Xu.

 

However, considering Chen Xu’s young age and that he is a boy, Si Ye directly instructed Uncle Zhong not to trouble Chen Xu with these household matters. After arriving, Si Wanping noticed that Chen Xu wasn’t managing anything and, while she verbally criticized him for being immature, she was actually pleased and continued to act as the mistress, directing the servants around.

 

“Why haven’t I seen eldest sister-in-law today?” Si Yaowei asked, flipping through a magazine and not seeing Tao Minzhi around.

 

“She probably hasn’t gotten up yet. Doesn’t she love her beauty sleep the most?” Si Wanping rolled her eyes, “At her age, who is she trying to impress?”

 

As Si Wanping spoke, she didn’t notice Wei Shifeng, who was peeling an orange for Si Jing, stiffen slightly. Speaking of which, Tao Minzhi maintained herself very well, something Wei Shifeng, as her lover, knew all too well.

 

Si Jing took the orange handed by Wei Shifeng and put it in her mouth, casting an indifferent glance at him with a hint of ridicule in her smile.

 

In Villa No. 5, Tao Minzhi sat across from Si Yichen.

 

“Haven’t I warned you not to mess with Chen Xu? Why do you care so much about him? He’s just a small fry; what could he possibly interfere with?” Tao Minzhi sipped her coffee elegantly.

 

Si Yichen licked his dry lips, staring at the always graceful woman in front of him with a clouded gaze.

 

“Grandma, do you really think that way?”

 

“Chen Xu hasn’t been an adult for long, yet he managed to marry father and repeatedly get him to punish me. You say he doesn’t interfere with my matters, but thanks to him, I’ve become insignificant in the Si family. Who knows if he’ll whisper in father’s ear again and have me sent back to the Tao family, just like Pan Qizhi and Tong Jiaxi.” Si Yichen’s gaze tightly locked onto Tao Minzhi’s eyes, “Grandma, aren’t you the one who loves me the most? Will you just watch as I get sent back to the Tao family?”

 

“Chen Xu’s ambition is much greater than you imagine. He wants to get father’s inheritance and definitely won’t let me off. Will you really watch as the Si family falls into the hands of an outsider?”

 

Tao Minzhi’s heart trembled. The Si family absolutely could not fall into the hands of an outsider. She was still waiting for Si Lin to return and for Si Ye to return everything to him.

 

Even if Si Lin really was gone, the rightful heir should be Si Yichen, this child from the Tao family whom she personally raised.

 

Si Ye was already starting to break free from her control, so she should tightly grasp the kite string of Si Yichen.

 

After a moment of contemplation, Tao Minzhi stood up and took out a small locked box from her dressing table, pulling out a photo and handing it to Si Yichen. The photo showed a pretty girl, clearly someone well-protected by her family, pure-hearted.

 

“This is a child from the Jiang family. Her name is Jiang Tingxue. If you can marry her, no one will question your legitimacy.” Tao Minzhi’s words threw Si Yichen into turmoil.

 

Si Yichen knew well what marrying into the Jiang family meant. If he could marry Jiang Tingxue, not only would it be legitimate, but he would also gain a strong ally.

 

“But… the Jiang family has already moved abroad. Do I have to go abroad to find her?” Si Yichen looked at Tao Minzhi in confusion.

 

Tao Minzhi shook her head and explained, “The Jiang family returns to the country every year for the New Year to honor their ancestors. This is your opportunity.”

 

Si Yichen stared greedily at the girl in the photo, picking it up, “Don’t worry, Grandma, I will do it.”

 

“But I still insist that Chen Xu must go.”

 

Tao Minzhi frowned, “If you can marry Jiang Tingxue, why would you still fear Chen Xu?”

 

Si Ye had leverage over her, and she couldn’t quite figure him out at the moment, not wanting to confront him directly.

 

“It will take time to win over Jiang Tingxue. I fear Chen Xu might whisper in father’s ear and have me sent away before I succeed.”

 

“Grandma, are you afraid of father?” Si Yichen asked aggressively.

 

“Si Yichen! Do you know who you’re talking to?” Tao Minzhi’s coffee cup clattered onto the saucer, spilling coffee onto the tablecloth, leaving dark stains.

 

Normally, if Tao Minzhi reprimanded him like this, Si Yichen would back down immediately, but today he didn’t. He stared straight at her, sitting confidently in his chair.

 

“Grandma, we are in this together. As long as Chen Xu is around, I won’t have a peaceful night.”

 

Tao Minzhi noticed his unusual behavior, her eyes narrowing as she sternly warned him, “Si Yichen, don’t forget who made you who you are today. I can make you the heir of the Si family or make you nothing.”

 

Si Yichen sneered, his face twisted with malice, “Of course, I know. That’s why I’ve been like a dog pleasing you. But what have I gotten in return? As soon as you see me as useless, you kick me aside. To you, I’m just a pawn to be used!”

 

Tao Minzhi opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again. Si Yichen had hit the mark. He was indeed just a pawn, and if Si Lin returned, he would have to give everything back to him.

 

“Si Yichen, greed knows no bounds. Don’t forget, without me, your life in the Tao family would have been hard. Everything you’ve enjoyed in the Si family is because of me. Without me, how could you enjoy wealth, fame, and others’ admiration? What right do you have to question me?” Tao Minzhi’s face was cold, her eyes devoid of warmth.

 

This was her true thought, and Si Yichen could see it. He couldn’t help but laugh. His first eighteen years were a joke, and he had been proud for nothing.

 

But so what? Since the Si family adopted him, he was the rightful heir, and everything in the Si family should be his; no one could take it away.

 

“So, you don’t want to help me get rid of Chen Xu?” Si Yichen’s voice was hoarse from anger, his eyes fixed on her.

 

Tao Minzhi certainly wouldn’t do such a thing. Si Ye had leverage over her.

 

A nasty smile spread across Si Yichen’s face as he stared at her, “Then it wouldn’t matter if I told everyone about your disgusting affair with Wei Shifeng, would it?”

 

Panic flashed in Tao Minzhi’s eyes, her hands instinctively gripping the armrest, then she stared at him with a heavy gaze, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

 

“You know better than I do whether I’m talking nonsense. I saw it all on father’s wedding day. I wonder what others would think if they knew you were fooling around with your niece’s husband on your own son’s wedding day.” Si Yichen’s face carried a smile, but his eyes were full of disgust.

 

These words struck Tao Minzhi like lightning. He had seen what happened that day.

 

This was the second time. She should never have let herself go.

 

If Wei Shifeng hadn’t come to her that day, none of this would have happened. She felt a surge of anger toward him, wanting to call him and slap him.

 

Now both Si Ye and Si Yichen knew her secret, but Si Yichen had no evidence…

 

“Oh, by the way, I was so shocked by what you did that I took a photo of you two together.” Si Yichen pulled out his phone, showing her a picture of Wei Shifeng hugging her from behind, kissing her.

 

Fury washed over her. She reached for his phone, but he calmly said, “Do you think I’d be stupid enough to keep just one photo?”

 

“If you don’t help me, these photos will be trending tomorrow. Everyone will see how you cheated on your son’s wedding day with your niece’s husband.” Si Yichen pressed on, making her clutch her chest, almost unable to breathe.

 

She took out her medication, swallowed a pill, and slowly opened her eyes, glaring at him coldly, “Fine, I’ll help you. But just this once, and you must destroy all the photos.”

 

Si Yichen smiled slyly, “Grandma, I’m the one threatening you. What right do you have to negotiate?”

 

His smile vanished, eyes cold and damp as a frozen river.

 

Tao Minzhi, furious and trembling, pointed at him, “You’re good.”

 

“You taught me well.” He smirked sarcastically, “So, please help me get rid of this obstacle, Grandma.”