Chapter 184 - One-Hundred and Eighty-Four: Seen Through
Shi Nian’s expression darkened. Fang Xi noticed Shi Nian’s subtle expression and smiled. “Alright, I think you guys should go home and see who’s messing with us. I’ll go back and ask about what’s going on with Tan Ning.”
Xiang Yang and Yun Nan nodded in agreement. Yun Nan instructed Fang Xi, “Don’t worry too much about Yun Liu’s matters; it has nothing to do with us. Focus on the arrangements for our trip to Lu Town. Fang Xi, I’m leaving it to you.”
Fang Xi nodded, and something suddenly occurred to her. “Isn’t Lu Town part of White City? Huh, this really is a small world!”
“Shi Ke, don’t forget to help me ask my brother for leave!” Ye Kun reminded Shi Ke a little anxiously.
Shi Ke suggested to his wife, “I still have a few days of vacation.
Xiang Yang’s eyes lit up. “Sure!”
Then, Shi Ke told Ye Kun, “Go home and prepare for the trip. I’ll talk to Ye Tang. He won’t say no.”
“Alright!” Ye Kun excitedly replied. “Thank you, Shi Ke!” After saying that, he lightheartedly dragged Fang Xi away, looking well-pleased with himself.
Fang Xi laughed as she walked and commented, “You seem very certain you’ll get your vacation. ”
Ye Kun wasn’t worried at all. “It’ll be absolutely fine. All Shi Ke has to do is say the word, and it’s a done deal. Shi Ke’s words hold greater weight than my father’s when it comes to my brother.”
Fang Xi shook her head. “I really can’t imagine that.”
“You’ll understand when you see them together in the future,” Ye Kun said. “Let’s go home and prepare. I haven’t taken a break in a long, long time. I’m so excited!”
“Aw, poor thing.” The two chatted and laughed as they left.
Shi Ke then asked Shi Nian, “Has our family fallen to the point where we have to rely on marriage alliances to maintain our family?”
Shi Nian looked at his brother exasperatedly. “Have some confidence in me, will you? Why is that the first thing you think of? Can’t it be that their family has fallen to the point where they need a marriage alliance with our family to maintain themselves?”
Shi Ke shook his head and sighed, “I can’t help it; I’m used to examining my own faults first. And you’re not as dependable as you think. Look at you; you’re already married but still attracting unwanted advances and causing trouble for Yun Nan. How can I be at ease?”
Shi Nian petulantly stated, “If you’re so worried, why don’t you retire from the army and take over the Shi Corporation? Then I’ll have time to accompany Yun Nan. I’ll be the man behind her and fade into the background; that way, I definitely won’t be able to attract any unwanted advances!”
Xiang Yang twirled her hair with a finger and slowly said, “Darling, Shi Nian is complaining.”
“Ignore him,” Shi Ke replied. “The older he is, the fussier he gets.”
Yun Nan facepalmed and remarked, “Aren’t you two lovebirds bullying him too much?”
Shi Nian immediately beamed. He held Yun Nan’s hands and said, “Yeah, that’s right. The two of them have always been like this. Finally, someone spoke up for me! Yun Nan, let’s ignore them and go!”
Shi Nian dragged Yun Nan away before she could say anything and uttered, “Let’s go home and check up on Shi Xiu. That silly girl better not have sold herself, or I’ll have to help her clean up her mess.”
Shi Ke and Xiang Yang stood there and watched as they left. Shi Guang sighed, “What should I do with my silly little brother? He can’t even woo his own wife!” “Oh, so you noticed?” Xiang Yang asked, slightly surprised.
Shi Ke raised an eyebrow and answered, “Of course I did. Those two have been married for a while now, and that girl still doesn’t have feelings for him yet. What’s the use of him earning so much money if he can’t even get his wife to fall in love with him?
Xiang Yang defended Shi Nian, “Don’t say that about him. Yun Nan just hasn’t caught on to his feelings for her yet. If Shi Nian puts in more effort, he’ll succeed. He’s in a very favorable position right now, after all. It was a good idea for him to occupy the status of her husband first.”
Shi Ke snorted and uttered, “He’s useless.”
Xiang Yang knew that, out of his two siblings, Shi Ke loved Shi Nian the most. Other than love, Shi Ke also felt guilt towards him. He was the one who had placed the heavy burden of their family business upon his younger brother. Even if the work he was doing now was for the good of the country, it was extremely irresponsible to his family, especially his younger brother.
Xiang Yang smiled and comforted, “Don’t worry, I’ll assist him. I’ll be his wingman—er, wingwoman. I think Fang Xi is quite satisfied with his performance, so we’ll both help him when the time comes.”
She continued, “Yun Nan is quite innocent. She’s destined to be part of our family; no way is she getting out of that. I’m not letting her run away; I like her too much. *Sigh* I have to say, our Shi Nian is very lucky. I heard that she voluntarily walked right into Shi Nian’s clutches. I guess he used all the luck in his life to get himself such a remarkable wife.”
Shi Ke understood Xiang Yang’s intentions and couldn’t help but smile. ‘Alright,’ he thought, ‘I can’t help Shi Nian when it comes to business matters, but I can help my brother woo his wife.’
“Let me make this clear to you first. I have no plans to find a boyfriend, get engaged, or get married! I have two older brothers, and they won’t use me to form a marriage alliance! You’d better get that idea out of your head!” Shi Xiu said to Gu Fei with gritted teeth..