Chapter Eighty-Three

Yixiao Yu went upstairs to look for Yi Yu.

Yi Yu was playing a video game; when Yixiao Yu knocked on the door, he replied indifferently, “The door’s not locked, come in.”

After Yixiao Yu entered, Yi Yu’s eyes remained fixed on the LCD screen. “I’ve already withdrawn from your company entirely, and I listened to Mom and apologized to you. Are you here to scold me again? Heh, but I guess it’s no surprise—even if I didn’t let go, as long as you said the word, Brother You would return the company to you.”

Yi Yu tossed the controller aside, got up, and stretched. “Mom already talked to me. As long as she’s at peace, I don’t care about competing with you,” he paused, then continued, “Anyway, no matter what I say, you’ll never forgive me.”

“About the company…” Yixiao Yu said with a blank expression, “I don’t want to argue with you any longer. Actually, even if your mother hadn’t persuaded you, I never expected to take the company back from you.”

Yi Yu looked at Yixiao Yu in surprise. “Brother… you mean you don’t blame me?”

“If you want my complete forgiveness, then help Dad run the company well. His health isn’t what it used to be. With your support, he’ll be much more at ease.”

Yi Yu didn’t speak; instead, he strode forward and pulled Yixiao Yu into a tight embrace, so forceful that Yixiao Yu was pushed back a few steps.

“You kid…” Yixiao Yu pushed him, “Why are you so strong? Let go.”

Yi Yu let go with a grin. “With the blood we share, I always knew you wouldn’t stay angry at me forever.”

“Alright, and you still have the nerve to say that.” Yixiao Yu was annoyed but couldn’t help laughing. “Lunch is almost ready. Get yourself sorted and come downstairs.”

“Yeah, I’ll be right down.”

After Yixiao Yu went downstairs, he headed to the kitchen. Pei Xiang was ladling soup near the stove, instructing the maid, “Later, when you go to the living room, tell them I’m not feeling well and won’t be joining lunch.” When she finished, Pei Xiang sighed softly to herself, murmuring, “This way, at least the father and sons can have a more pleasant time together.”

Whenever Yixiao Yu was at the dining table, Pei Xiang would always find an excuse to be absent. Yixiao Yu’s resentment toward her made every appearance together unbearably tense; he never hid his dislike, and his anger would spill over onto Yi Dongjun, whom he treated with cold indifference.

Yixiao Yu watched Pei Xiang’s lonely figure, her back turned to him, and suddenly felt that this woman wasn’t nearly as hateful as he’d imagined.

“Let’s eat together,” Yixiao Yu suddenly said.

Pei Xiang froze, then turned hurriedly. “Xiao… Xiao Yu?”

“It’s been a long time since the whole family shared a meal.” Yixiao Yu’s gaze was calm, his voice gentle. “Even if you don’t do it for me, do it for my partner’s sake. After all, he called you ‘Mom’ when he entered.”

Tears glimmered in Pei Xiang’s eyes. “Alright, let’s eat together as a family.”

This reunion meal was more harmonious than any before; every face was lit with genuine smiles. Yixiao Yu looked at his family, wrapped in the warmth of togetherness, and suddenly felt the place in his heart that had been blocked for years open wide. A gentle, comforting breeze seemed to brush through his chest, and his whole body felt lighter.

Halfway through the meal, Yi Dongjun, in high spirits, suddenly asked Yi Yu, “By the way, Yu, when are you going to bring your girlfriend home for us to meet? The one you mentioned before, who’s a bit older than you—your mom and I only care about her character, that age difference isn’t a problem.”

Before Yi Yu could answer, Yixiao Yu frowned and asked, “You’re dating someone? Really? What does she do? Where’s she from?”

“Uh…” Yi Yu laughed awkwardly. “We’re just seeing each other right now; isn’t it a bit early to ask all that before anything’s settled?”

Yi Dongjun sipped his wine, his expression serious. “Are you just fooling around with her?”

Yi Yu seemed to realize he couldn’t hide it any longer and said, “I want to marry him—I’m crazy about him.” He glanced at Yixiao Yu and muttered, “He’s even more charming than big brother.”