Chapter 332: 332 Settlement

“What’s the plan?” Luo Xiyun sat up straight and looked at Chen Xu with hopeful eyes.

Chen Xu said, “The key to this matter still lies with the Youngest Aunt.”

In these past few days, he had realized that Old Mrs. Fang was indeed stubborn; the likelihood of her actively reconciling with her daughter seemed improbable.

Fang Huwen was also stubborn, but there were aspects of her that could be exploited.

He explained, “The last time grandma mentioned the will, the Youngest Aunt seemed very nervous. It’s evident that she cares deeply about grandma. She just can’t swallow her pride. In fact, if they could spend some time together, the emotional knots would naturally untie.”

Unfortunately, Fang Huwen was leaving the country in two days, and who knew when she’d be back.

“Now, someone needs to give them a push and break this deadlock.”

Hearing him beat around the bush without getting to the point, Luo Xiyun hurriedly asked, “What should we do?”

Chen Xu said, “What do you think would be the Youngest Aunt’s reaction if she heard the news that grandma had fallen ill?”

“You mean to feign illness?” Luo Xiyun immediately understood; Chen Xu had used this trick before to deceive her into returning from abroad.

Looking back, she recalled that when she heard of Chen Xu’s illness, her heart had skipped a beat, and her only thought was to return home to see him…

Indeed, it was a good idea.

“But…” she hesitated a little, “Grandma would definitely not agree to feign illness.”

From what she knew about her grandmother, the old lady would certainly not want to do this.

Chen Xu said, “We don’t need grandma’s cooperation. When she’s asleep, you can notify the Youngest Aunt. I’ll distract the Uncle — no, let’s have Yixuan do it.”

He thought Luo Xiyun was probably not up to the task.

“I’ll distract the Uncle for a while, and you can communicate with your cousin.”

Luo Xiyun was still hesitant, “Can this really work?”

“We won’t know if it’ll work until we try,” Chen Xu said.

After hesitating for a while, Luo Xiyun made up her mind. As Chen Xu said, it was worth a try. Deep down, she hoped for a reconciliation between the two relatives. If they missed this chance, who knew when the next opportunity would come.

Soon after, the Youngest Aunt’s family returned. Chen Xu, sticking to the plan, took the Uncle upstairs to talk about some matters, which he genuinely wanted to inquire about.

Next, it was up to Luo Xiyun and Zhang Yixuan’s actions; as for whether it would work or not, he wasn’t sure. In the end, he wasn’t going to get involved; he was an outsider, after all, just offering a suggestion.

After chatting with Zhang Rui for a while, he heard some commotion downstairs.

“What’s happening?” Zhang Rui couldn’t help but say.

Chen Xu shook his head, “I’m not sure.”

Zhang Rui listened carefully again and said uncertainly, “It sounds like someone is crying?”

“It doesn’t seem like it — could you have heard wrong?”

Listening more keenly, Zhang Rui indeed didn’t hear anything else and said in wonder, “But I clearly heard it just now.”

“It might be someone watching TV; don’t worry about it, let’s continue…” Chen Xu took the opportunity to steer the conversation elsewhere.

The two talked for quite some time, with Chen Xu mostly trying to understand the current level of technology in the world. He had gathered some information about domestic affairs and was now inquiring about international matters with Zhang Rui.

Recently, although he had been catching up on various journals and patent directories, there was too much content, and with so little time, he couldn’t get through it all. Talking with someone in the industry was the quickest way to get up to speed.

Zhang Rui was also happy to chat with him, as talking was meaningful when the other person got it. Communication works when, as soon as I say something, you understand — that’s what makes it a conversation.

In the end, Chen Xu nearly forgot about Old Mrs. Fang and Fang Huwen’s affair, finished the conversation and went back to his room. Seeing no news from Luo Xiyun’s end, he went to sleep alone.

…

The next morning, Chen Xu went for a run and didn’t encounter Luo Xiyun until he returned to the villa, ready for breakfast, where he saw everyone gathered.

He could distinctly feel the atmosphere at the breakfast table was different from before. Fang Huwen’s eyes were a bit red and swollen, and the old lady’s demeanor was not as stern as before, showing a touch more of delight.

It seemed the emotional knots had been untied.

Chen Xu turned to look at Luo Xiyun, who was all smiles, indicating that last night’s plan had been successful.

However, no one spoke at the breakfast table, and it seemed no different from usual.

After breakfast, Chen Xu and Luo Xiyun packed their luggage, said their farewells to the Fang family, and left with Zhang Yixuan.

Zhang Yixuan rode in the passenger seat, while Chen Xu and Luo Xiyun sat in the back. It was only then that they had a chance to talk about last night’s events.

Luo Xiyun said that the moment the Youngest Aunt heard her son report that grandma had passed out, she nearly collapsed. Then, seizing back her senses, she rushed into the old lady’s room, sobbing.

The aunt hugged the old lady and wept bitterly.

Mother and daughter, it seemed, were reconciled.

Luo Xiyun’s eyes reddened a bit as she recounted last night’s events, clearly moved by the scene.

“This time, we owe you one.”

“I merely offered a suggestion,” Chen Xu said with a smile.

“Last night, the Youngest Aunt said she’s going to quit her job abroad once she returns and come back to keep grandma company.”

Chen Xu thought no wonder — the only slightly discordant note at breakfast was Fang Zhiyuan.

When Fang Huwen resigned and moved abroad years ago, it was because Old Mrs. Fang showed favoritism, clearly planning to hand the company to her son.

Now, with the mother and daughter reconciled, it was normal for Fang Zhiyuan to be worried. After all, since he became CEO, the company’s performance had started to decline. If Fang Huwen were to return to the company, she might very well take over his position.

If Fang Zhiyuan found out that Chen Xu was behind all this, he might hate him as well.

Chen Xu said, “Since that’s the case, why is Yixuan coming with us?”

“He said he wanted to find a job on his own. Being in our city, he’ll have someone to look out for him,” Luo Xiyun said, hesitating for a moment before adding, “He’s probably doing it for a girl. Once, I accidentally saw his chat history — the girl is in our city.”

“Online dating?”

“It seems like they knew each other in real life, from school,” she clarified.

Chen Xu laughed, “Ah, childhood sweethearts.”

Regardless of Zhang Yixuan’s motives, as his sister, Luo Xiyun naturally wanted to take good care of him. The only dissatisfaction Chen Xu had was that his alone time with Luo Xiyun would decrease.

Previously, after Chen Xu had mercilessly schooled Zhang Yixuan, he couldn’t quite look him in the eye anymore. He wasn’t as annoying as he had been at first.

PS: Only one chapter today, as I have a long car ride tomorrow and can’t stay up late. My driver’s license needs to be renewed, but when someone went to handle it, they said the car looked too busted, and the picture didn’t pass. So, I handled it online, and it got through, but now I have to go in person to sign for it. Such a hassle.