Chris has always had a serious demeanor since he was a child, so it’s rare for him to speak in a playful manner, which always makes people feel particularly amusing.
Chifeiran didn’t want his mother to cry anymore, so he continued Chris’s words, “Well, Caesar is now my son, and I’ve even found a little beauty for him to marry.”
Then he sighed, “It’s a pity he’s a male cat, otherwise, Mom, you’d be a grandma.”
Caesar, who had already been neutered, tilted his head when he heard his name, “Meow?”
Edmond couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Leading the way, his two sons also laughed, and as they all laughed, Xie Man was too amused to continue crying, and could only wipe away her tears.
Her makeup was smudged, making her look a bit embarrassed.
Chi feiran took a tissue from Edmond and helped her wipe her tears. As he wiped, he gently said to her, “Everything will be fine.”
When fate opened its eyes again, everything had already changed.
This time, let them have fewer regrets. The past will eventually be the past, and the future days are still long. May the people they love not be trapped in memories.
It was late at night. After sending the children away, the couple finally had some time alone together.
Xie Man’s eyes were still a bit swollen, but her spirits had improved a lot, and she finally calmed down. She could now turn to comfort her husband, “I’m sorry for just now…”
Edmond interrupted her, “There’s nothing to apologize for. I have plenty of love to give, and I’m willing to give it to you. What’s important is that now you’re returning that love to me, aren’t you?”
Things in the business world can be calculated clearly, but emotions are different. Love is irrational; input and output are never easily calculated.
Years ago, if someone had told Edmond that one day he would love someone enough to be willing to change himself, he would probably have laughed at them.
But when things actually happened, he understood that love could truly change people.
It’s just that such changes can sometimes be good, and sometimes bad. He was fortunate to have encountered the good kind. So what’s the point of calculating how it all started now?
He cared more about the present and the future than the past.
Edmond gently squeezed his wife’s hand. “I will talk to him about it.”
Xie Man shook her head. “No, this time I’ll do it.”
Edmond shook his head at her. “No, I’ve always been the one to contact him. I don’t want this time to be any different.”
He didn’t want to treat this matter with undue solemnity.
Although the children didn’t know, there was still communication between the adults. Chijun would regularly receive photos of the children, videos, and even copies of their report cards.
They would tell him what the children liked and didn’t like.
This was an unspoken understanding between them, carefully maintaining a balance between each other.
When the children suddenly hit their rebellious phase this time and ran off to China saying they wanted to become stars, after a brief hesitation, Edmond informed Chijun.
Everyone understood the reasoning. No matter how the adults felt about each other, the children were more important. It had been years, it was time to move on.
If Xie Man was still holding onto the past, Edmond couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous, though he also knew that the difference was just a step, just one opportunity.
And now, that opportunity was right in front of him.
Because of the time difference, Edmond didn’t have to wait until the next day to contact Chijun; the call was quickly answered.
Chijun’s voice was a strange familiarity. Whenever the two of them talked, there was always an excessive formality, despite many years of cooperation in business, they had hardly developed any personal relationship.
Edmond cleared his throat with some reserve. “Mr. Chi, I suppose you’ve made preparations for Ethan’s birthday on your end?”
When Chijun wasn’t facing his son, he still had his wits about him. He instantly understood what the other party meant. He couldn’t help but feel a bit excited, but he kept his composure.
Chijun also maintained the necessary demeanor and said, “Of course.”
The two men exchanged some pleasantries on the phone, along with some bargaining, and finally settled on the arrangements, somewhat resembling how only-child couples negotiate how to spend Chinese New Year – this year at your place, next year at mine, this festival at your house, the next at mine. They even wished they could schedule Arbor Day celebrations.
In the end, Edmond calmed down first. “We’re just discussing the general plan. Ethan will have to agree to the specifics.”
Chijun immediately responded, “Surely, Ranran will agree.”
With the matters settled, Edmond said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Chi.”
Chijun hesitated for a moment and asked, “Xie Man, what does she say? Does she agree?”
Once the question was out, he realized he might have been overthinking. If Xie Man didn’t agree, what was the point of this call?
Was he expecting Xie Man to negotiate with him about these things?
Edmond smiled faintly on his end of the line, regardless of whether the other party could see it or not, he was going to smile anyway. He said, “Mr. Chi, not everyone is so presumptuous and disrespectful of their wife’s opinions. Anyway, good afternoon.”
Then he rudely hung up the phone and muttered to himself, “Sorry, it slipped.”
Edmond finished his performance on his end of the call while the two brothers were secretly discussing matters on the other end.
Chris asked, “Ethan, can you fully trust me?”
He was serious, and Chifeiran couldn’t help but become serious too. Without hesitation, he nodded, “Of course.”
If he didn’t trust Chris, he wouldn’t have mentioned the rebirth matter, nor would he have made him the only person besides himself who knew.
Chris looked at his brother and said, “What I’m about to tell you might scare you, but I hope you’ll believe me.”
Chifeiran held his breath, waiting for him to continue.
Chris said, “I plan to give you a car for your birthday.”
Chifeiran’s body was covered in goosebumps almost instantly, as if this fear had been etched into his bones.
But he knew Chris wasn’t the type to deliberately scare him, and he quickly regained his composure. He widened his eyes and looked at Chris, “You found out?!”
Chris, feeling somewhat awkward, pursed his lips. It was really difficult to tell his brother what he had found out. Was it all because of a self-righteous lunatic?
Chris said, “I need to confirm a few things first. Once everything is certain by your birthday, then I’ll tell you, okay?”
Chifeiran didn’t hesitate and nodded, “Okay.”
Chris couldn’t help but rub his brother’s head vigorously, “Once this period passes, everything will be fine.”
Of course, Chifeiran believed so too. Everything would be fine. Otherwise, what would be the point of having a second chance at life?
Chifeiran earnestly said to Chris, “Although I’m a useless younger brother, if you need anything, you must tell me.”
Chris replied, “I will, but for now, you should go to sleep.”
Chifeiran: “…”
After communicating with his brother, Chris’s next task was to wait. He had already arranged what needed to be arranged.
Then, the next day, he received a communication request from Andre Auden.
When he saw the communication request, Chris’s indifferent face became filled with coldness. He resembled a beast that had set a trap, ready to devour its prey at any moment.
Taking a deep breath, Chris told himself it wasn’t enough, it wasn’t enough yet, he needed to wait a little longer.
He composed his expression before answering the communication. Andre’s face appeared on the screen, clearly displeased.
Andre frowned, “Aren’t you in charge of the acquisition in the western region? What’s going on?”
Chris calmly replied, “Nothing much, Ethan has returned, and we as a family decided it would be better for him not to pursue a career as a star. Edmond plans to let him practice in the western region.”
Andre almost became frantic, “What?! What are you saying! How dare he!”
Chris looked at Andre’s distorted and ferocious face and clenched his fists slightly. “Edmond also discussed it with me. I’ll be Ethan’s assistant. It’s good for the whole family.”
Andre almost seemed to bark madly, “Good for what?! What’s so good about it?! Is that all you agreed to?!”
Chris carefully pondered how he would react in this situation and then replied, “Compared to all that, I think family is more important to me.”
Perhaps because he was so angry, Andre actually laughed, “Family? If you consider me family, why don’t you inherit the Bonnet family?! What kind of thing is that brat?!”
Chris remained silent. Just because he had raised Ethan, did that mean he should give him everything?
Ignoring the fact that Ethan had never thought about inheriting the Bonnet family, Chris himself didn’t think it was a matter of course. He was no longer a penniless orphan; he was fully capable of creating everything for himself.
As Andre laughed, his eyes were glued to the screen, fixed on Chris’s face.
Gradually, he calmed down and asked, “So you just gave up like that?”
Chris replied, “There are many things in this world more important than money and status.”
Chris was fortunate that his brother, Ethan, shared his thoughts. If all that was left between family members was fighting for power and profit, then that would be the most pitiful.
He changed the subject, saying, “I plan to give Ethan a car. The eighteenth birthday is important. Would you like to help me with some suggestions?”
Andre leaned back in his chair, looking at Chris with a hint of indescribable disdain, as if a brand-new toy had fallen into the mud.
Andre said, “Chris, you’ve disappointed me.”
Chris furrowed his brows but didn’t respond.
And Andre didn’t need his response either. He directly ended the communication.
Chris sighed, showing a look of disgust, and then he pressed the intercom, asking someone to confirm if the car he wanted was available.
The hunter’s trap had already been set; it was just a matter of how the frenzied beast would charge into it.
