Chapter 364: 364 I’ll think about it.

Yan’s mother, fearing to anger Yan Shixiu, called Yan Ziqing, asking her to restrain herself a bit.

However, instead of heeding the advice, Yan Ziqing demanded that her mother persuade Yan Shixiu to attend the celebrity’s cocktail party.

“Ziqing, your brother agreeing to issue any statement has already been a great favor to you; please do not test his limit.”

“Mom, big brother listens to you so much, as long as you ask, he will surely agree. Moreover, you wouldn’t want to see me embarrassed at the party, would you?” Yan Ziqing pushed further, “With big brother’s support, my career would flourish unimaginably. In such a place as the entertainment industry where connections are everything, it’s nearly impossible to move an inch without them. If you ask big brother to help me this time, I will remember his kindness and will not bother him in the future.”

While the mother and daughter were on the phone, Yan’s father was by Yan’s mother’s side.

Seeing his daughter so ambitious, he instructed Yan’s mother, “Call that disobedient son. He refuses to give us shares or positions, all of which I can tolerate. Now, let him show up to support his sister at the gathering. He has no right to refuse.”

Yan’s mother knew Yan Shixiu’s temperament better than anyone else.

But being unable to withstand her husband and daughter, she called Yan Shixiu late at night.

At that time, Yan Shixiu was discussing the matters of industry heirs with Shi Lan. Seeing the call from Yan’s mother, Shi Lan answered it and placed it by Yan Shixiu’s ear, but she was also able to hear the conversation.

“Shi Xiu… I hope I’m not disturbing you?”

“Perhaps, get straight to the point?” Yan Shixiu did not stop working.

“It’s about your sister’s party again. That day, mom and dad will also attend. Just do it as a favor for your sister, to support her. It’s not easy for her, a girl, to strive alone. Consider it a gift to your sister. Moreover, she said that if you help her this time, she will never bother you again.”

Yan Shixiu did not respond.

“Shi Xiu, also, since Shi Lan has left for so long, you should reconsider your lifelong matters. There will be many ladies at the event. Then, you might as well pick a suitable match. Mom is still waiting to hold her grandchildren.”

“Shi Xiu?”

“Why talk so much? Just tell him he must go,” Yan’s father yelled from the side.

“I will think about it.” Yan Shixiu did not confirm his attendance nor decline outright; he left it vague.

“Then take your time to think. There are still a few days left,”

Upon finishing, fearing an outright rejection from Yan Shixiu, Yan’s mother quickly hung up the phone.

Then, Yan’s father beside Yan’s mother lectured, “Why mention a match? Are we letting him choose his bride? If he finds another Shi Lan, what else can we hope for? These matters, of course, demand a compliant and filial woman.”

Yan’s father still desired control over Yan Shixiu’s marriage rights.

However, Yan Shixiu had already registered his marriage a few days earlier.

Shi Lan took the phone from Yan Shixiu’s ear and said, “After all these years, this family of three indeed hasn’t changed a bit.”

“They must have said even worse things to you.”

Shi Lan faintly smiled and said, “Yan Uncle, who do you think could take advantage of me? But really, we can’t indulge them any longer.”

“Therefore, let’s fulfill their expectations, and then… let them fall from the highest place,” a chill flashed in Yan Shixiu’s eyes.

Shi Lan leaned her head on Yan Shixiu’s shoulder and changed the subject, “I don’t want to work anymore, accompany me to watch a play.”

Yan Shixiu took the laptop away and then turned on the TV, searching for resources for “King Lear.”

“Do you know why I like watching ‘King Lear’?” Shi Lan suddenly asked. “When I was a child and watched it, I always thought, why should the people who tell the truth be punished? Later, after watching it many times, I began to wonder, why did the three princesses who were abandoned by their father still go back to save him?”

“I, until the old man died, was never able to forgive him.”

“Just because the person who harmed you realized his mistake and confessed to everyone, should you forgive the crimes he committed?”

“I won’t forgive.”

“Whether it’s someone close to me or someone related to me by blood, the moment they decide to harm me, they become my enemy.”

“Family, these creatures, are too good at taking a mile when given an inch. The moment you let down your guard even slightly, they can pull a nerve from your body.”

“And when I show myself as cold-blooded, ruthless, and fearless, that’s when they start to show respect.”

“So, Yan Shixiu, I live a life disregarding familial norms. If you still have expectations of them, let me handle it. That way, even if you regret it later, you don’t have to hate yourself. You can hate me.”

At that moment, the old visuals of King Lear flickered in the living room, emitting a dim blue light, while Yan Shixiu held Shi Lan tightly and whispered in her ear, “Don’t think of me as too fragile, you should believe in your husband. You can handle me, but you don’t need to deal with the mess behind me. Did you think you hadn’t suffered enough in your last life?”

“You were reborn just to come back to me, how could I possibly hate you?”

“I have no expectations of that family, I’ve always been like this, and it’s not like you only met me today.”

As he spoke, Yan Shixiu kissed Shi Lan’s forehead and then said, “I now know what’s most important to me, so I won’t let anyone or anything drag me down. You don’t need to keep solving issues for me either, and I certainly don’t want you to sacrifice anything for me. Your very presence makes me feel my heart still beating. So, when you are in my arms, you don’t need to be so strong. Even if I have to be against the whole world in this life, I want you to stand behind me.”

After hearing these words, Shi Lan smiled relievedly and snuggled deeper into Yan Shixiu’s embrace.

Their fates were actually the same, but they chose to become strong in different ways.

Shi Lan thought they were healing each other, but in fact, they both inherently possessed an immense ability to heal themselves.

So, it’s good to shine. Why let indifferent people affect your life?

…

After Yan’s mother called Yan Shixiu, she told Yan Ziqing that he would consider her request, and after hearing this, Yan Ziqing rounded it up in her mind and was convinced that Yan Shixiu had agreed to Yan’s mother’s request.

After returning home, she began to look forward to the party that day.

“It has been a long time since our Yan family held such a grand gathering. Dad, Mom, you must attend in style that day, I want those who look down on me to take a good look, underestimating me is like offending the entire Shuangshi.”

“You also ask around for your brother and see if there’s any suitable debutante, not necessarily from a very prestigious family, but definitely gentle and compliant, someone who knows how to charm a man,” Yan’s father said to Yan Ziqing.

“Dad, I have a few good candidates here, shall I show you their photos another day?”

Yan Ziqing’s so-called candidates were just within her circle of friends, weren’t they?

Actually, the father-daughter duo had the same plan, both aiming to introduce a partner to Yan Shixiu in order to control him.