Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

"No, you're not a member of the Xie family anymore? Because of differing opinions?... You were kicked out?!"

Xie Jing: "My grandfather once said that if my second uncle only wanted to become a local tycoon, the family could help him."

"But if the Xie family forgets its roots and only focuses on money and power, who will remember why those libraries were built three or five generations later, and who will feel it is their responsibility to guard those piles of old papers that can be blown away by the wind?"

"By then, what difference will there be between our branch of the Xie family and those outside who are desperately trying to make money?"

Shang Song asked, bewildered, "Was it because your second uncle didn't listen to your grandfather?"

Xie Jing hooked his little finger around Shang Song's and tightened it, but turned his head to look out the window. "Uncle may have listened to what Grandfather said. He... just chose a different path."

"...Later, my second uncle acted improperly and violated the family rules."

He didn't specify what it was, but beneath his calm tone, something extremely dark seemed to be suppressed: "When my grandfather was still alive, he took the initiative... to remove them from the family genealogy."

After he finished speaking, he fell completely silent, no longer looking at Shang Song, but simply gazing out the window.

No one could see his expression clearly.

But his little finger was still tightly hooked around Shang Song's.

It was as if they were trying to grasp something in the darkness.

Just then, a very faint hissing sound came from the front passenger seat.

Shang Song subconsciously looked up.

Lin Zhou remained seated upright, holding the huge bucket of popcorn in one hand, and raising the other hand extremely quickly to lightly rub his cheek with the back of his hand.

The movements were so fast it was almost an illusion.

But Shang Song was certain he had seen it.

What are you wiping?

Tears.

Fortunately, at that moment, the car slowed down and smoothly drove into Xishan Courtyard, stopping at its usual parking spot.

Xie Jingcai released his little finger from Shang Song and got out of the car with a normal expression, as if the conversation that touched on the past had never happened.

Shang Song took a deep breath, picked up his empty popcorn bucket, and climbed out of the car.

The two walked silently through the courtyard, one after the other.

Dinner was as exquisite and light as ever, but Xie Jing was much quieter, as if he had completely shut himself back into that hard shell.

Seeing him like that, Shang Song wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin. He could only remain silent, listlessly picking at the rice in his bowl.

After dinner, Xie Jing went to the study, while Shang Song returned to Tingyun Residence, took a hot bath, lay on the bed, and stared blankly at the white gauze curtains.

My phone vibrated continuously next to my pillow, and the screen lit up.

Boss: @All members, Fourth Brother, how's the battle going? It's been quiet all afternoon, did you succeed? [Evil grin]

Second brother: Report quickly! Did you manage to get close this time?

Third brother: "Excitedly rubbing hands.jpg" Brother Song, how far have things progressed? Did you follow our instructions and pounce on him in the dark?

Looking at the nonsensical words on the screen, Shang Song's nerves, which had been tense all night, inexplicably relaxed a little, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards. This was the world he was familiar with.

He held his phone, tapping away at the screen:

Don't even mention it, guys, there's too much information, my CPU is fried.

Boss: ? ? ? Explain in detail? What does "too much information" mean? What new world did Professor Xie show you?

Shang Song downplayed the issue: "I've seen the new world, it's too hardcore. But... we did kiss." [Image of someone lighting a cigarette]

The message went viral, and the group chat exploded instantly.

Boss: Holy crap! That's amazing! They really kissed?!

Third Brother: Ahhh! I knew it! Brother Song is awesome! Tell me the details! Was it like we taught you, in the movie theater!

Second brother: Oh? And then what? Did you go any further? Like...do you know...?

Shang Song blushed slightly at the second brother's lewd words and quickly denied it:

No, no! What are you thinking? It's fine as it is.

Second brother: What do you mean by "just like that"? Is there anything else? Professor Xie can't just pretend to be dead after kissing you, can he?

Third brother: Yeah, Song-ge! Tell me! [Curious baby.jpg]

Shang Song watched the group chat buzzing with heated discussions about 108 possible ways to kiss, but instead of replying, he opened his chat with his boss.

There are some things you can't say in a lively group chat, but you might be able to ask your reliable boss.

Song: "Boss, I have a question for you."

The leader quickly displayed "typing..." and then a reply popped up: "What's wrong, Song? Is it inconvenient to talk about it in the group?"

Song: "Well, I was just wondering, do people like Professor Xie, who are... well, extremely wealthy and powerful, all have rather complicated family backgrounds?"

About half a minute later, the boss's reply appeared:

"Why are you suddenly asking this? Did Professor Xie confront you about it?"

Shang Song's heart tightened, and she quickly denied it: "No, no! I was just asking casually! I was just curious!"

The eldest brother clearly didn't believe it, but he didn't press for details, only replying:

"I don't know the specifics either. Professor Xie's level is too far removed from ours."

"However, I vaguely heard Director Fu mention that the Xie family seems to be more than just rich and powerful; the situation is very complex and involves many high-level entities."

"As for whether it's complicated or not, think about it, Fourth Brother. Ordinary families have a lot of trivial matters, so the internal relationships of families that have been passed down for countless generations must be much more intricate than we imagine."

I had just finished reading the boss's message when another one popped up on the screen:

"Song, why are you asking this all of a sudden? Did something happen? Is someone from the Xie family looking for you?"

Shang Song was taken aback. Before he could reply, his boss's message popped up again:

"Could it really be one of those scenarios where they offer you money to leave Professor Xie?!"

Shang Song: !!!

He was holding his phone and almost jumped out of bed. His boss's imagination was just too... reasonable.

After all, isn't this exactly the most common image that ordinary people have of "wealthy families"?

He quickly typed: "No, no! What are you thinking! Nobody's looking for me! And nobody's giving me money!"

Boss: "Oh, that's good. I was just asking casually. I watch too many TV dramas."

But then, another message popped up on the screen, tinged with a joke:

"But speaking of which, Song, if someone really offered you this much money to stay away from Professor Xie, would you accept it?"

The boss sent another emoji consisting of a "1" followed by countless "0"s.

Shang Song looked at the exaggerated emoji and subconsciously pursed his lips.

Did someone offer him money to leave Xie Jing?

This has absolutely no chance.

Xie Jing is the head of the Xie family. Who would, or rather, who would dare to bypass Xie Jing and come to give him money to leave Xie Jing?

Unless they are Xie Jing's parents.

Thinking of this, Shang Song suddenly sat up abruptly from the bed.

Oh right... parents.

Xie Jing... seems to have never mentioned his parents.

Not even once.

Whether in everyday conversation or when discussing family history, people talk about "grandfather," "second uncle," or even "ancestors," but they always avoid mentioning the most direct "parents."

So, where are Xie Jing's parents...?

Will they retire behind the scenes and enjoy their later years like ordinary wealthy families?

Or... is it simply gone?

Is it related to that second uncle who "acted improperly"?

Shang Song felt a chill run down his spine as he was startled by his increasingly terrifying associations.

He shook his head violently, trying to banish these overly dark speculations from his mind.

No, I shouldn't let my imagination run wild.

Perhaps Xie Jing's parents are simply emotionally distant, or perhaps they live abroad, or perhaps there are other hidden reasons.

Xie Jing didn't mention it, perhaps because he didn't want to talk about it, or because he felt there was no need to tell him.

Shang Song lay back down, pulled the blanket over his head, and typed a reply from under the covers:

"If someone really were to give me money, I'd have to ask Professor Xie how much I'm worth to him first. What if I'm worth more? Wouldn't it be a huge loss if I took too little? [doge emoji for protection]"

The eldest brother quickly replied with a string of [laughing and crying emojis] and [thumbs up emojis].