"I understand, thank you, Grandpa. But I can only try not to think about them. Every time I do, I feel like a daughter who has failed them."
"Even though they only raised me for Ji Nian, I'm still very grateful to them."
"I'm sorry for not fulfilling my filial duties." Shi Xin Xin lowered her head, her expression visibly moved.
"I'm also grateful for the superior genes my parents gave me, which prevented me from going astray in a quagmire like the Su family."
Speaking of this, Shi Xin Xin smiled, a little mischievously, and a little with relief.
"The Su family is truly 'lucky' to have met you." Shi Yuan watched his granddaughter try to mask her emotions with a joke, and his heart ached.
"Alright, girl, Grandpa has to get busy. Remember to take care of yourself, and move into the new place as soon as it's arranged. Those three little brats are not to be trifled with!"
The old man snorted and hung up the video call without waiting for Shi Xin Xin to persuade him further.
Shi Xin Xin put down her phone, and the smile and gentleness on her face were gone, replaced by a chilling coldness.
The Su family was indeed just a scapegoat. To truly find out the truth, she would still have to rely on the Sheng family.
She couldn't make any moves in front of her grandfather now.
It seemed like it was time to visit Su Bei Cheng in prison and play the emotional card.
Shi Xin Xin smiled with ill intent.
She picked up her phone and replied to Sheng Chen Jin.
[Do you have time now? I'll treat you to lunch.]
Sheng Chen Jin replied quickly.
[Okay.]
No wasted words.
...
"I have something to do this noon, you don't need to follow me."
Normally, Sheng Chen Jin would not be involved in anything before a meeting and would stay at the company preparing for it.
"President, there's a meeting at two o'clock this afternoon."
Bai Feng, hearing that the President was going to leave the company before a meeting, thought Sheng Chen Jin had forgotten and reminded him.
Sheng Chen Jin pondered. It shouldn't take until 1:50 PM.
Anyway, if there were any unexpected circumstances, the meeting could be delayed. Shi Xin Xin was quite difficult to get a hold of.
Bai Feng fell silent. Seeing such an unconventional move, he knew who the President had encountered.
Shi Xin Xin arrived at the restaurant and shared her location with Sheng Chen Jin.
Since it was just the two of them, a private room would be a bit wasteful. She chose a restaurant they usually frequented for business collaborations, which offered good privacy.
"Miss Shi, I apologize for being late. I haven't treated you to a meal yet, and here you are, treating me first."
Sheng Chen Jin smiled, making people mistakenly believe he was a naturally warm person.
Shi Xin Xin could never have imagined that the rumored cold-faced prince would turn into this.
"No need for pleasantries. It's all the same who treats."
Shi Xin Xin was too lazy to listen to his polite talk.
"Mr. Sheng, please order first." Shi Xin Xin handed him the menu.
"Aren't you afraid I'll be extravagant?"
"Mr. Sheng seems to be talking a lot today."
Shi Xin Xin appeared to have no patience for this man at all, her usual politeness completely gone.
"Then I won't be polite. Feel free to order whatever you like."
Shi Xin Xin listened to Sheng Chen Jin speak with surprise. She was paying, so of course, she wouldn't be modest.
Sheng Chen Jin smiled mysteriously, saying nothing.
While waiting for the food to arrive, Shi Xin Xin hadn't figured out how to start the conversation, and Sheng Chen Jin was also waiting.
Suddenly, both of them felt a flash of white light.
They had been photographed!
They both turned their heads in unison, instinctively looking outside the glass wall.
A little girl was running away in a hurry, her steps hurried.
"I was photographed?"
Shi Xin Xin said uncertainly.
"I was too."
Sheng Chen Jin picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, as if nothing had happened.
That little girl looked like an ordinary person who couldn't cause any major trouble.
Sheng Chen Jin smiled indifferently.
"You're quite at ease? I'm not afraid of being photographed. I'm afraid of someone stirring up trouble, and the public misunderstanding, thinking I'm deliberately trying to tie myself to the Sheng family's crown prince. This is obviously big news."
Shi Xin Xin rolled her eyes at Sheng Chen Jin, a rather unladylike gesture.
Looking at the spirited and natural expression on the face of this person she temporarily called a girl, Sheng Chen Jin couldn't help but purse his lips and smile.
The curve of his lips was not large.
Suddenly, he knew how to start the conversation.
"Your three children probably don't bother you at home, do they? You really can't tell you're a mother of three children in the workplace."
Shi Xin Xin knew he was making small talk.
"Yes..."
"They're very well-behaved and obedient. I don't have to worry about anything."
"Instead, they have to worry about me."
Hearing this, Sheng Chen Jin nodded subconsciously, as if his subconscious agreed that Shi Xin Xin not worrying was the right thing.
"Have you thought about finding the children's biological father?"
Sheng Chen Jin asked tentatively.
"Did the results come out?"
Shi Xin Xin was more direct.
Sheng Chen Jin's hand tightened unconsciously.
"Yes, the results are as you expected."
"So, what do you think?"
His gaze inadvertently carried a hint of nervousness.
"Sheng Chen Jin."
Shi Xin Xin looked up at him, her gaze direct and unwavering, as if trying to penetrate his inner thoughts.
"I'm not questioning your abilities, but are you truly ready?"
"I don't care about whatever our relationship is, but the children must not be harmed. You must ensure that they are not implicated by being with you."
Shi Xin Xin would not compromise an inch when it came to the children.
"I..."
Sheng Chen Jin indeed didn't know what to do. Of course, he would acknowledge the children, and he could accept Shi Xin Xin. However, the internal power struggles within the Sheng family were frequent, and it wasn't suitable to bring the children back to the Sheng family yet.
He couldn't guarantee that the children would always be within his sight, and therefore couldn't guarantee their safety by his side.
"To be honest, it's that I'm not ready yet."
"When we were at our most difficult and helpless, the children's father never appeared."
"I don't blame you, but at least for now, I can't accept you taking them away from me."
"I'm sorry, I need time."
Shi Xin Xin blurted out her thoughts in one breath and then fell silent. Talking about the children reminded her of that difficult period.
"I'm sorry, I know that anything I say now is pale and weak. Just give me a chance."
Sheng Chen Jin looked at Shi Xin Xin's emotional shift, feeling somewhat flustered.
How should he make amends to the children and their mother?
For so many years, they must have suffered a lot. As the children's father, he had done nothing.
It was only at this moment that he realized how heavy his responsibility was.
"Forget it, I won't trouble you with this. More importantly, I want to ask if you know about your parents' affairs back then."
"No matter how much you can tell me, I want to know."
Shi Xin Xin had to find a breakthrough from Sheng Chen Jin!
"Do you really want to know?"
Sheng Chen Jin had begun investigating the cause of his parents' charcoal-suicide as soon as he took over the group's affairs.