Chapter 69: Not Worth It

Lu Yiqi paid no attention to his dissatisfied "oh," and continued as if she hadn't heard it, "You two go ahead. As for me, I'm not coming."

After speaking, she deliberately glanced at Xie Xu, reminding him, "When you get there, have a good talk with Uncle. All the best!"

All the best, really? Who would want to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with that old man? What a joke.

Since Lu Yiqi had made up her mind not to go, neither Xie Xu nor the butler forced her. They only reminded her not to wander off, then departed together.

...

Xie Haocheng waited for Xie Xu in the lounge.

Upon hearing the door open, he turned his head.

After Xie Xu entered, the butler said, "Mr. Xie, Young Master, I'll leave you to talk," and then quietly exited, closing the door behind him.

Xie Xu walked over to stand opposite Xie Haocheng. For nearly half a minute, the two faced each other in silence.

It was Xie Haocheng who spoke first: "Xiao Xu, happy birthday."

Xie Xu replied with distant politeness, "Thank you."

Another long stretch of silence followed.

Who knew how much time passed.

Suddenly, Xie Haocheng asked, "Xiao Xu, today marks your coming of age. Is there anything you want?"

Xie Xu was taken aback, lifting his eyes to glance at him.

Though Xie Haocheng was already in his forties, his successful career seemed to have left no trace of age on his face. In his youth, he was handsome; now, older, he had become an attractive middle-aged man, looking barely over thirty.

Xie Xu turned his head away, refusing to look at him, and replied coolly, "No."

Xie Xu's cold attitude left Xie Haocheng at a loss. He wasn't the sort of man who would lower himself to apologize. Having spent years at the top, it was always others who bowed to him.

Yet Xie Xu was his son, and their estrangement had persisted for years...

It wasn't truly a conflict, more a one-sided cold war; Xie Xu had moved out without a word. At first, Xie Haocheng tried to persuade him to come back, but Xie Xu refused. After several attempts, Xie Haocheng's temper flared.

Neither would reach out to the other. Only during New Year's, when Grandma Xie summoned them back to the old house for the family reunion dinner, would Xie Xu pretend to treat Xie Haocheng with some warmth. After all, if Grandma Xie saw her son and grandson at odds, who knew what she might do in a fit of anger...

Neither of them could afford to bear that responsibility.

Xie Haocheng sighed, searching for topics to ease the tension between them.

He thought and thought, unsure what to say, and finally managed, "By the way, when you go downstairs later, remember to say a few words—thank everyone for coming to your birthday. It's a necessary part of the process..."

"Oh."

"Mm..."

Silence settled again.

Xie Haocheng pressed his lips together, struggling for a long time before finally speaking, "About your mother... I'm deeply sorry..."

At the mention of his mother, Xie Xu's gaze dimmed, and he responded softly, "Mm," waiting for him to continue.

Xie Haocheng gathered his thoughts and spoke again, "I was in Germany handling business back then. As soon as I finished, I rushed back as fast as I could... You've been angry for seven years; I admit it. But can we try to get along now? I believe... Xiaobai wouldn't want us to go on like this."

Xie Xu's mother was named Bai Fangyu; Xiaobai was Xie Haocheng's affectionate name for her.

"Heh." Xie Xu let out a cold laugh. "I'm not angry with you. I just feel sorry for my mother. Someone who claimed to love her so much couldn't even make it back for her funeral..."