Chapter 342: Chapter 340: Rest Assured, I’m Here
Zhang Yaxuan looked at Jian Xi with honest simplicity. "Honey, he said you haven’t given me proper recognition. I’m already the father of our child, so why do you still have these unwanted admirers hanging around?"
Jian Xi felt a bead of sweat. She didn’t even need to think to know it must have been her parents who saw the news and called Zhang Yaxuan over. It was bad enough that he came, but to say such things! Artists and their words—they always have to say something shocking!
"Director Si, perhaps..."
Si Yuhuan authoritatively pulled Jian Xi to his side and warned menacingly, "Zhang Yaxuan, you’re not fit to be her husband, much less the child’s father! From the moment she gave birth until now, what have you done? What help have you offered? You haven’t even shown basic concern. Do you even call yourself a man?"
Zhang Yaxuan was rendered speechless by the accusation.
Jian Xi took a deep breath. She was determined to leave, and she couldn’t afford to show any hesitation.
She retorted sarcastically, "Director Si, you have the nerve to criticize others? You’re not much better than him—perhaps even worse!"
Si Yuhuan was struck speechless.
Jian Xi went and took Zhang Yaxuan’s arm. "Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment and actually prefer the type who ignores me, hmm?"
With that said, the two of them calmly walked away.
Yan Qing couldn’t help but grumble, "Director Si, what Madam Jian said was truly hurtful. Perhaps you should listen to the Old Master and stay away from her. After all, things have already..."
Si Yuhuan shot him a look, and Yan Qing swallowed the rest of his words.
Once Jian Xi was outside, she immediately expressed her gratitude. "I’m sorry for the trouble just now. It must have been my parents who called you. They don’t know the real situation and assumed..." She took a deep breath. "Next time, you can refuse. If any problems arise, I’ll go and explain."
Zhang Yaxuan helplessly adjusted his glasses. He was dressed in sportswear today, and beneath his usual gentle, gentlemanly demeanor, there was a deeper sense of weariness. "It’s my fault too. I haven’t been paying enough attention to you lately, which has made everyone pessimistic about our marriage. To be honest, my family has started pressuring me to finalize things. I was thinking, if it’s convenient for you, perhaps we could get our marriage license soon?"
Getting a marriage license!
Jian Xi’s heart clenched, followed by a wave of desolation. It felt as if a large piece of her heart had been hollowed out, or rather, gouged out. It ached, yet she also felt numb. She had never imagined that, in this new life, her path would be like this. She truly didn’t know if it was for the better or worse.
Seeing the struggle in Jian Xi’s eyes, Zhang Yaxuan decided not to press her further. He quickly changed the subject to something lighter. "I hear you’ve been making good progress lately and should be able to bring the little one back soon. My art exhibition is also opening soon. If it’s possible, I’d like you to come and see it."
"Okay."
Since he had willingly changed the subject, Jian Xi didn’t continue to torment herself over the marriage license issue.
"I’ll definitely be there."
They had an unspoken understanding.
Jian Xi took a taxi back to the Jian Family Old House to continue watching over Yinyin. After losing Mingming, she had been rushing between countries, rarely spending time with her daughter, and always felt a sense of guilt.
This time, Jian’s Father and Jian’s Mother seemed to have coordinated. As soon as they saw Jian Xi, they immediately took her to Yinyin’s room and began to show her how to prepare formula, how to change diapers, and even had her stay with Yinyin.
"Have you two had a change of heart? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take Yinyin and run off?"
"Nonsense!" Jian’s Mother shot her a look. "Yinyin is your daughter. Don’t tell me we, an old couple, would seriously try to keep her from you for no good reason?"
Jian Xi was speechless. So, her previous assumptions had been wrong! These two must be afraid she’d do something rash, like run back to Si Yuhuan for comfort, and were trying to use the child to keep her tethered.
"Xiaozhang came and explained things to us today," Jian’s Mother continued. "He’s been busy preparing for his art exhibition recently, so he’s been a bit neglectful of the children. But since you’re relatively free, you should look after the children more, especially Mingming. He’s just a little boy all alone in a foreign country. Your father and I have discussed it; we’ll send a private jet to bring him back tomorrow. If you can’t take care of him, we will!"
"Please don’t, Mom and Dad. It’s better if I go back instead."
Jian Xi was genuinely scared. Faced with her parents’ misunderstanding, she didn’t dare offer a single word of explanation. She forced herself to swallow her grievances. Suddenly, her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Alright, then you go back," her mother agreed.
After lulling Yinyin to sleep, Jian Xi gazed at the little one’s face and sighed deeply. "My dear daughter," she murmured, "just wait. Mommy will bring your brother back soon."
Watching Jian Xi’s retreating figure as she went to her room, Father Jian and Jian’s Mother murmured to each other. "Doesn’t our daughter seem a bit haggard?" Father Jian wondered. "Why was she in such a hurry to come back? Should we look into it?"
"Yes, let’s ask our eldest. He should know," Jian’s Mother replied.
"First, let’s send her back. Keep her away from Si Yuhuan to ensure her safety," Father Jian said.
"That fellow," Jian’s Mother added, "she can’t get entangled with him again. Who knows how his fight with Tianyao Group will turn out? We can’t let our Xixi get caught in the crossfire."
"Old man, you have such foresight. It’s settled then," Jian’s Mother said to Father Jian with a smile.
They exchanged a smile, both cherishing the hard-won peace of their current lives. Little did they know that beneath this calm, turbulent undercurrents were surging.
Jian Mingcheng suddenly received a call from his parents. It started with an interrogation right away.
"Out with it! Has something happened to your sister?" his mother demanded. "Don’t hide anything from us. If we hadn’t sensed that something was amiss, we wouldn’t be calling you."
Jian’s Mother raised her eyebrows at Father Jian, seeking praise. Father Jian, understanding perfectly, immediately gave her a thumbs-up, complimenting his wife.
Feeling even more smug, Jian’s Mother pressed, "Jian Mingcheng, what exactly is going on with that girl, Jian Xi?"
Jian Mingcheng had intended to flatly deny knowing anything. But when his mother suddenly mentioned the child, his heart skipped a beat, and he found himself hesitating.
Silence hung in the air.
Jian’s Mother had a sinking feeling. "Jian Mingcheng, something has happened to your sister, hasn’t it?"
Father Jian immediately tensed up, listening intently.
"Jian Mingcheng, what on earth has happened to the child? Say something! Are you trying to worry me to death?" Jian’s Mother urged.
Jian Mingcheng’s phone went BEEP BEEP BEEP as he received a text message.
Hiding around the corner, Jian Xi overheard her mother on the phone and panicked.
Jian Mingcheng saw it was a message from Jian Xi and quickly opened it. It read: Mom’s bluffing you! Big brother, save me! Please, please!
"Mom, what are you talking about? The signal was terrible just now!" Jian Mingcheng said quickly.
Jian’s Mother almost choked with exasperation. And here she thought something terrible had happened! She’d nearly reached for her Quick-acting Heart-saving Pills!
"Mingming is alright, isn’t he?" Jian’s Mother asked. With Yinyin beside her, she wasn’t worried about her, but she always had a nagging feeling Jian Xi was hiding something, and she feared it concerned Mingming...
"He’s doing very well, recuperating at Saint Seymour. Didn’t Little Sis tell you?" Jian Mingcheng replied.
"She did, she did. I was just too busy and wasn’t paying close attention. Alright, you get back to work," Jian’s Mother said.
After hanging up, Jian’s Mother finally felt completely relieved.
"Old Jian," Jian’s Mother said to her husband, "I still feel uneasy. Even though our eldest says Mingming is fine, I’m still worried. How about this: I’ll go back to Saint Seymour with Xixi tomorrow, and you can take care of things at home."
"Me? Take care of Yinyin all by myself?" Father Jian sounded a bit nervous.
"What are you afraid of?" Jian’s Mother said, her eyes sharp. "I gave birth to so many children, and you always managed to take good care of them!"
Jian’s Mother’s gaze sharpened, and Father Jian quickly nodded. "No problem! You can count on me."