In all these years, this was the first time Old Master Xie had seen such an expression on Xie Jingchu's face.
He gently stroked Xie Jingchu's head.
The baby who was once in swaddling clothes had grown up in the blink of an eye.
"You're my son, Xie Chong's son. Of course, you're a member of the Xie family," Old Master Xie said firmly.
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu immediately looked up, his eyes shining.
But soon, the light in his eyes dimmed again. "But Nanny Zhou said..."
"A smart person like you usually, why didn't you see that Nanny Zhou was deliberately found by the eldest today?" Old Master Xie smiled.
Xie Jingchu frowned tightly.
It was indeed strange that Nanny Zhou had suddenly appeared today.
Then, Old Master Xie heaved a long sigh. "Alas, it's all my fault. I've favored you a bit too much on weekdays, which has led to disharmony between you brothers. But do you know why I've done this?"
Xie Jingchu shook his head after hearing this.
Old Master Xie continued, "You've been smarter than your other three brothers since childhood. I've always been cultivating you as the future head of the Xie family.
But the eldest has always thought that as the eldest legitimate son of the Xie family, everything in the Xie family should be handed over to him to manage.
But he's ultimately good - for - nothing. How could I be at ease handing over the family fortune of the Xie family to him?
I thought he would understand me, but I didn't expect him to cause such a scene today."
Just thinking about what Xie Jing had done today, Old Master Xie got angry again.
Even his breathing became rapid.
Xie Jingchu quickly comforted him, "Actually, big brother is not a bad person at heart."
Old Master Xie waved his hand. "You don't have to speak for him."
He knew exactly what kind of person his son was.
To seize power, he had resorted to such dirty means as framing his brother.
However, there should be an explanation for today's incident after all.
His old body couldn't withstand another uproar from Xie Jing.
So, Old Master Xie then said, "Now my health is getting worse. I don't want to see the Xie family in a state of brothers fighting each other in the few days I have left.
So, Jingchu, let the eldest be the head of the Xie family.
Even if the ancestors scold me when I go to the underworld in the future, I'll accept it!"
Xie Jingchu didn't expect Old Master Xie to say such a thing.
A look of surprise flashed across his deep eyes.
However, even though Xie Jing had caused such a scene today, there was no need for the old master to hand over the position of the head of the Xie family to Xie Jing.
The only reasonable explanation for the old master's actions was that he wanted to suppress something.
If that was the case.
What the old master really wanted to hide was...
His origin!
Thinking of this, his pupils suddenly constricted, and there seemed to be two flames burning in his deep eyes.
However, he quickly suppressed his emotions deep in his heart.
He silently withdrew his hand.
Lowering his eyelids, a sneer curled up on his lips. "I'll do as father says."
Old Master Xie looked complicated. He grabbed Xie Jingchu's hand again and said meaningfully, "I'm sorry, son!"
"Father, there's no need for this. If you really feel sorry for me, give me that abandoned tea mountain of the Xie family. As for the rest, I don't want it."
Looking at Xie Jingchu's cold and icy eyes, Old Master Xie frowned. He felt extremely reluctant in his heart.
But even so, he couldn't change his mind.
He knew that if he insisted on handing over the Xie family to Xie Jingchu, then the matter about Xie Jingchu's origin would surely be mentioned again.
He couldn't let Xie Jingchu be in a dangerous situation.
He had promised Yi'er that he would protect Xie Jingchu's safety for a lifetime!
Finally, Old Master Xie nodded heavily with tears in his eyes.
Since Old Master Xie had called Xie Jingchu into his room to talk, Ruan Jiu hadn't seen Xie Jingchu again.
Thinking about all the things that had happened today, she was always on tenterhooks.
"Miss, summer is over. You can't sleep with the window open at night anymore," Chun Tao said as she closed the window of Ruan Jiu's room.
"Just leave it open," Ruan Jiu said absent - mindedly.
After hearing this, Chun Tao stopped what she was doing and then left the room.
Ruan Jiu had no intention of sleeping at all. She sat on the chair, propping her head up.
He should come tonight, right?
But as the night grew deeper, there was no movement by the window.
Ruan Jiu became even more worried.
So, she put on a coat and sneaked out.
As soon as she reached the door of Xie Jingchu's room, she saw that the candle in his room had been extinguished.
She thought Xie Jingchu had already gone to sleep and secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to leave, suddenly, a strong smell of wine wafted through the air.
Ruan Jiu frowned again.
Then she walked straight forward and pushed open the door.
By the moonlight, she saw Xie Jingchu sitting on the ground dejectedly, with several wine bottles scattered around.
"Why are you drinking so much?"
Hearing Ruan Jiu's voice, Xie Jingchu looked up for a moment.
Then he brought the wine bottle in his hand to his mouth again.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu immediately stepped forward to snatch the wine bottle and frowned. "If you drink any more, your head will hurt when you wake up tomorrow."
"A Jiu, my heart aches," Xie Jingchu said hoarsely. His hands hung limply on both sides of his body.
His eyes had lost their former luster and became cloudy.
His eyes revealed deep exhaustion and helplessness, empty and lifeless, like a stagnant pool of water.
It made Ruan Jiu's heart ache.
She didn't know what the old master had said to him to make him like this.
Then, she immediately squatted down and hugged Xie Jingchu tightly.
She said softly, "I'm here."
Xie Jingchu reached out his hand and wrapped his arms around her waist.
He buried his head in the crook of her neck.
The two just hugged each other quietly, saying nothing, but it was better than a thousand words.
I don't know how long it took before Xie Jingchu let her go.
He let out a long breath and pretended to be relaxed. "It's just losing the position of the head of the Xie family. It's no big deal."
"What?" Ruan Jiu was incredulous.
After all, Xie Jingchu's ability was obvious to all.
Xie Jingchu shrugged. "The old master doesn't want to see the brothers fighting each other, so he gave the position of the head of the Xie family to Xie Jing."
After saying that, Xie Jingchu buried his head on Ruan Jiu's shoulder and rubbed it gently.
"However, I'll have to rely on A Jiu to take care of me from now on."
Ruan Jiu was stunned. Xie Jingchu's words echoed in her mind.
Everyone knew Xie Jingchu's ability and means.
It seemed that in Old Master Xie's heart, family harmony was ultimately the most important thing.
But once Xie Jing became the head of the Xie family, would he let Xie Jingchu go?
And what about Xie Xiu?
Since Xie Xiu had muddied the waters of the Xie family, making Xie Jing the head of the family must not be the result he wanted.
The Xie family was probably going to be in chaos.
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu frowned even deeper.
However, according to Xie Jingchu's personality.
Losing the identity of the head of the Xie family was not enough to make him so dejected.
Could it be because of his origin?
Just as Ruan Jiu was about to ask, she heard Xie Jingchu's breathing become heavier. Presumably, he had fallen asleep.
She gently patted Xie Jingchu's back.
"Go to sleep. Everything will be okay."