Chapter 328: 328 Educates him

During dinner, when everyone had taken their seats, Chen Xu could feel the awkward atmosphere in the air. Fang Huwen didn’t even glance at Old Mrs. Fang, leaving him to wonder what had transpired between mother and daughter.

The relationship between Fang Huwen and Fang Zhiyuan didn’t seem too good either; the two hardly talked at all.

It looked like she had been coerced by her husband to return home. However, her mere presence to see her mother suggested that her stance had softened, and all that was missing now was an opportunity, which could very likely lead to reconciliation.

It wasn’t until the Youngest Aunt’s husband mentioned it that Chen Xu learned it was Old Mrs. Fang’s birthday. Strangely, Luo Xiyun had never brought it up before.

Suddenly, Fang Zhiyuan asked, “Yixuan must be graduating from college soon, right?”

He was referring to Fang Huwen’s son, formally named Zhang Yixuan.

Zhang Yixuan replied, “Uncle, I’ve already received my diploma.”

“Do you plan to work abroad or return to China?”

Zhang Yixuan stated matter-of-factly, “Of course I’ll return to China. Discrimination is too severe over there; no matter how well you perform, it’s difficult to get ahead. Plus, there are more opportunities in China.”

Unable to hold back, Fang Huwen said, “Nonsense, isn’t your father doing well over there? As long as one is outstanding, they can succeed anywhere.”

Zhang Yixuan pouted and said, “It’s up to you to stay abroad if you wish, but I’m definitely returning to China.”

“You…” Fang Huwen was noticeably upset.

Beside her, Zhang Rui took her hand, and she managed to contain herself without exploding.

At this moment, Luo Xiyun seized the chance to intervene, “Youngest Aunt, Uncle, why don’t you also return to China?”

Fang Huwen didn’t respond, but Zhang Rui said, “We’ll need to think about it.”

After that, the subject was not brought up again.

Chen Xu noticed that throughout this whole process, Old Mrs. Fang hadn’t said a word nor could he discern what her attitude was.

After dinner, Luo Xiyun accompanied Old Mrs. Fang back to her room, while little Fang Hao followed a private tutor to the piano room to practice. Fang Zhiyuan also disappeared to an unknown location.

In the living room, only Chen Xu and Fang Huwen’s family remained, and they naturally engaged in casual conversation.

During their chat, Chen Xu learned that Zhang Rui was in the microelectronics field and was a partner in his company. Fang Huwen herself was a lawyer, also a partner in a law firm she had opened; they were both considered successful in the United States. No wonder she couldn’t leave her career there.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yixuan remained silent, buried in his phone. He hadn’t paid any attention to Chen Xu, seemingly still bothered by the incident at the airport.

Fang Huwen asked, “Chen Xu, what do you do?”

Since his arrival at the Fang family, she was the first to ask this, as neither Old Mrs. Fang nor Fang Zhiyuan had inquired about his work.

“I used to work at the same company as Xiyun; later, I started my own business and opened a noodle shop and an IT company. After that, I opened a few laboratories.”

Laboratories?

Zhang Rui was briefly taken aback but thought that since he owned a noodle shop, it might be related to food. This also indirectly confirmed that his business must be quite substantial.

Fang Huwen commented, “That’s very impressive for someone so young.”

…

That night, Chen Xu spent the night alone in the guest room. Out of respect on his first visit, he didn’t go to Luo Xiyun’s room and slept alone in the guest room.

The next morning, Chen Xu went out for an early jog and bumped into Luo Xiyun on the way.

He didn’t know when she had begun to take an interest in exercise. Unlike him, she didn’t have such remarkable stamina and ran at most two or three times a week.

At this early hour, the sky was just brightening, and the streetlights still shone with their orange glow. The greening within the community was well-kept, with green plants on both sides of the road.

Surrounded by quietness, Chen Xu could hear Luo Xiyun’s slightly labored breathing beside him.

Matching her pace, they jogged side by side on this road, with the slightly chilly wind drying his lips.

After about ten minutes, Luo Xiyun started to slow down, struggling to keep up, panting heavily as she walked. Chen Xu stayed with her.

After a while, when he saw her breathing had steadied, he asked, “What’s the issue between the Youngest Aunt and Grandma?” He hadn’t found the opportunity to ask this question the day before.

Wiping sweat with the towel on her shoulder, Luo Xiyun replied, “After graduation, my Youngest Aunt worked in the Fang Group and soon became a department manager. Then, my Uncle joined the company and quickly surpassed her in position.”

“In terms of ability, my Uncle isn’t as good as the Youngest Aunt. She always felt that Grandma was biased. After my Uncle became CEO, she left in anger and settled overseas.”

Listening to her account, Chen Xu thought how hot-tempered she was. From this perspective, she shared some traits with Luo Xiyun–perhaps it was in their genes.

He felt that there must be more to the story than what Xiyun had said. From what he had seen yesterday, Fang Huwen didn’t seem difficult to get along with. There must be other hidden reasons for her to fall out with her own mother and brother.

However, he didn’t probe further.

Switching the topic, he said, “By the way, why didn’t you tell me it was Grandma’s birthday yesterday? I should have prepared a better gift.”

As they spoke, they had returned to the Fang family villa.

Luo Xiyun asked, “Are you heading back now, or will you keep running?”

“I’ll go for another lap,” Chen Xu replied, as he hadn’t run for long and wasn’t even sweating yet.

He continued his run alone along the community’s pathways until the sun came out. Drenched in sweat, he returned to the villa and saw Zhang Yixuan playing basketball with Luo Xiyun.

An improvised basketball hoop had been set up beside them at some point.

Luo Xiyun dribbled the ball while Zhang Yixuan defended. She faked a move and tried to drive inside, but was anticipated and couldn’t break through, so she took a shot from where she was.

Zhang Yixuan, taller by half a foot, stretched out his hand and blocked her shot, then burst into laughter.

The ball rolled towards Chen Xu’s feet, and he picked it up.

“Chen Xu, teach him a lesson,” Luo Xiyun called out.

Zhang Yixuan looked at Chen Xu with a challenging gaze.

Bouncing the ball, Chen Xu said, “Then, let’s play.”

“Bring it on.”