At the Family Banquet, He Held My Hand in Front of Everyone

Xie Zhaozhou exuded an aura of grievance.

He couldn’t help but raise his hand, rubbing his brow in exasperation.
Then he asked Ning Shixue,
“What are you two doing here?”

“Uncle Chen asked me to bring you dinner.”
Ning Shixue’s beautiful eyes were innocent and obedient.

He quickly put away his phone, pretending nothing had happened.

Xie Yaoyao also snapped out of his sea otter monster sorrow.
He stood on tiptoe and pointed at the insulated lunch box for Xie Zhaozhou, whispering,
“Big Daddy, food food.”

“And this, Teacher Xie,”
Ning Shixue returned the card to him.
“Thank you for the clothes too.”

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t take it.
His brow was cold, his voice indifferent.
“Keep it.”

Ning Shixue’s fingertips curled slightly.
Fine, keep it then.

“There’s a family dinner tonight. I’m not eating at the company. You two should head back,”
Xie Zhaozhou said.

The Xie family could be considered true, established aristocracy.
Their ancestors had been merchants here.
The older generation had set a rule: a family dinner twice a year, and everyone must attend unless absolutely unavoidable.

Liao Yanwan was also a Buddhist.
There was a shrine in the old residence.
Especially after Xie Sui’s death, every year the Xie family had to burn incense and hold a memorial service with her.

Xie Zhaozhou, of course, paid her no mind.
He would at most attend the family dinner.
Only Xie Yaoyao was always brought along.

Liao Yanwan doted on her youngest son.
But once, when Xie Hanzhou was abroad filming a music video and missed a night, delaying his return, Liao Yanwan lost her temper at him for the first time.

Ning Shixue thought this was no different from feudal remnants.
He hesitated, then asked,
“I don’t have to go?”

“No,”
Xie Zhaozhou said.

He raised a hand to adjust his cuff.
On his cool wrist bone, he was still wearing the watch Ning Shixue had given him.

Actually, since last night, Liao Yanwan had been calling Xie Zhaozhou repeatedly, pressuring him to bring Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao tonight.
But he hadn’t planned on telling Ning Shixue.

Now it was almost eight in the evening.
If Xie Zhaozhou ate dinner and then drove to the old residence, he would definitely be late.

Ning Shixue could only take the food back home.

Xie Yaoyao trotted on his short legs, the little bear tail on the back of his overalls wiggling.
They took the elevator with Xie Zhaozhou down to the parking garage.

“Are the clothes suitable?”
Xie Zhaozhou suddenly asked.

“Huh?”
Ning Shixue lifted his eyelashes, startled.
“Yes, they’re suitable.”
After saying that, he couldn’t help asking,
“Teacher Xie, how did you know my size?”

Besides the down jacket, the sweaters and pants also fit perfectly.
The waist was just right.

Xie Zhaozhou’s dark, cold phoenix eyes seemed to curve for a moment, as if deliberately teasing him.
But his tone carried his usual cool laziness.
“I’ve held you. Of course I know.”

Ning Shixue: “…”

My mistake.

Xie Zhaozhou’s cold, sharp perfume scent drew nearer.
Ning Shixue’s cheeks warmed, and he moved away.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t speak again.
He hooked his tie with his finger and pulled it off, winding it around his hand.
His eyelashes were long but not curled, making him look cold and sharp.
There was a faint weariness in his eyes.

Ning Shixue pressed his lips together.

Even if Liao Yanwan didn’t want to see Xie Zhaozhou, she would definitely make Xie Yaoyao come.
And just a few nights ago, Liao Yanwan had lost her temper and lashed out.
He didn’t think she would just let Xie Zhaozhou off like that.

If he didn’t go, Liao Yanwan would only vent her anger on Xie Zhaozhou again.
Even Ning Shixue, who considered himself cold-hearted, felt a bit sorry for him.

The elevator reached the first floor.

“Teacher Xie,”
Ning Shixue thought for a moment, then caught up with Xie Zhaozhou.
“I’ll go with you.”

Xie Zhaozhou turned his head.
His deep black eyes settled on Ning Shixue’s face.
After a few seconds, his tone softened slightly.
“If you don’t want to go, don’t. Don’t worry about it.”

Ning Shixue insisted.
Xie Zhaozhou let him get in the car.
Xie Yaoyao lifted his little head and immediately pouted.
Why were Big Daddy and baby leaving without him?
He shook off Song Li’s hand and pattered after the baby.

Tonight’s family dinner, Xie Zhaozhou’s young aunt, Xie Junrong, had also returned from abroad.

Old Master Xie had two sons and one daughter.
Xie Junrong had been abroad, dancing ballet.
She had previously had a falling out with Old Master Xie and hadn’t come home for several years.

Only after Old Master Xie’s car accident, when he fell into a critical coma, did she start returning once a year.

When Ning Shixue and the others arrived at the old residence, all twenty-plus members of the Xie family were there.
Xie Junrong was sitting next to Liao Yanwan.

Liao Yanwan looked up.
When she saw Ning Shixue, the smile in her eyes faded.
Her lips pressed together coldly.

In front of the Xie family, she had to maintain appearances.

Xie Zhaozhou pulled out a chair for Ning Shixue, put an arm around his shoulder to seat him, then pinched the back of his neck with cool fingertips.
He leaned down and said to him,
“I’m going upstairs, to the third floor. If anything happens, come find me.”

Ning Shixue couldn’t help wanting to dodge the pinch.
He quickly nodded and obediently said,
“I understand, Second Brother.”

“Yaoyao,”
Xie Junrong was only a few years older than Xie Zhaozhou.
Her features were bright and beautiful.
She was wearing a qipao.
She bent down and called Xie Yaoyao over.
“Do you still recognize me?”

Xie Yaoyao’s eyes were blank.
He didn’t remember at all.
Why was this auntie calling him?

He ignored her and instead ran to Ning Shixue, tugging at his sleeve.

Under his overalls, he was wearing the Black Soil Wolf t-shirt Ning Shixue had bought him.
Ning Shixue had later bought him a bunny in the kids’ size, but Xie Yaoyao loved wearing this one.
Before leaving, Xie Yaoyao had even puffed out his chubby face and asked the butler to put it in his little suitcase.

Xie Junrong lifted him onto her lap.
She reached out and felt his pants leg, which was bulging strangely.
Frowning, she lifted it to take a look.

She immediately raised her eyes to glance at Liao Yanwan.
Liao Yanwan’s expression turned cold.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t understand what the looks meant.
His milky voice was soft.
“This, is baby’s Black Soil Wolf.”

They didn’t know who Xie Yaoyao meant by ‘baby,’ and assumed he was talking about himself.

But the clothes were definitely bought for him by Ning Shixue.

Liao Yanwan’s expression soured.
Xie Junrong smiled beside her and lowered her voice.
“Not his own kid, they’re all like this.”

Even though she lowered her voice, it was only for the sake of appearances, not out of consideration for Ning Shixue’s feelings.
Ning Shixue naturally heard, but he said nothing.
He just looked down and played on his phone.

When Xie Hanzhou arrived home, he looked up and met Ning Shixue’s eyes.
His expression instantly darkened.

Ning Shixue’s motorcycle was still listed for sale online.
It had made him a complete laughingstock.
He hadn’t even dared to go to bars recently.

But this was a family dinner.
Ning Shixue was shameless, but he couldn’t afford to be.
He had to suppress his anger and go sit down.

Xie’s father had called Xie Zhaozhou to the study.
Only when they came down did the butler begin to have the food served.

Ning Shixue then noticed that across from Liao Yanwan, next to Xie Zhaozhou’s empty seat, there was a place setting with bowls and chopsticks but no one there.
It must have been left for Xie Sui.

Liao Yanwan picked up her chopsticks and immediately placed a piece of fish in Xie Sui’s bowl.
Then she turned and served Xie Hanzhou, her voice very gentle.
“Xiaozhou, mama thinks you’ve lost weight?”

Xie Hanzhou’s already dark expression grew even more rigid.

Wasn’t this all because of that lunatic, Ning Shixue?!

Ning Shixue had been focused on eating.
Hearing Liao Yanwan call ‘Xiaozhou,’ his chopsticks paused.

He found it somewhat absurd.
If someone overheard, would they be able to tell who she was actually calling?

It was as if when Liao Yanwan named Xie Hanzhou, she hadn’t even thought of the child left behind at the old residence.

Liao Yanwan smilingly served Xie Hanzhou, then Xie’s father, and even Xie Junrong.
She even piled more food into Xie Sui’s bowl until it was overflowing.

Xie Zhaozhou barely touched his chopsticks.
It wasn’t that he cared about Liao Yanwan.
He really just didn’t like eating with people.

Ning Shixue remembered the original novel mentioning that this incident had almost become a scandal in Yan City’s upper circles.

It was around the time Xie Zhaozhou was about Xie Yaoyao’s age.
His parents were both working abroad.
Although Xie Zhaozhou lived in the old residence with Old Master Xie, Old Master Xie was busy with the Xie Group.
In reality, it was the old butler and a nanny who took care of Xie Zhaozhou.

For over six months, the old butler was recovering from surgery.
Xie Zhaozhou was left with only the nanny.

The nanny had brought her own child with her.
When she fed them, she fed her own child first, choosing the most delicate and expensive dishes.
What was left for Xie Zhaozhou was just soup and scraps, never enough to fill him.

Xie Zhaozhou had called Liao Yanwan.
But at that time, Xie Sui was participating in an international competition.
Liao Yanwan was busy with him and didn’t have time to listen.
She just told him, gently but impatiently,
“Don’t be a picky eater. Of course you won’t get full if you’re picky.”

The nanny also photographed the meals each day and sent the pictures to Liao Yanwan.
His little bowl was always clean.

Liao Yanwan never imagined a child so young could learn to lie.
She couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

When Xie Zhaozhou called again, her tone was especially stern.
“Mom and Dad are very busy here. You can call if something’s wrong, but you can’t lie. Understand?”

Six months later, the old butler returned to the Xie residence and finally discovered the nanny’s abuse.

But by then, Xie Zhaozhou’s stomach was already damaged.
He was malnourished and spent several months in the hospital.

The story got out, causing widespread discussion.
Liao Yanwan felt guilty and humiliated.
Seeing Xie Zhaozhou became increasingly awkward.
Even her phone calls became much rarer.

Xie Zhaozhou still didn’t really like eating with others.

The nannies and other servants who cared for Xie Yaoyao at home were also changed every month.

Unless he was certain there were no issues.

No child that age wouldn’t miss their parents.
But all Liao Yanwan ever left for Xie Zhaozhou was her back.
When he had a high fever, she forgot to answer his call because she was accompanying Xie Sui to a performance.
When he was a little older, she forgot his parent-teacher conference because she was taking Xie Hanzhou to kindergarten.

Until one day, Liao Yanwan suddenly realized she could no longer look this child in the eyes.

They were phoenix eyes, just like hers, but dark and cold.

She chose to escape.
After all, her eldest son was excellent and sensible, and her youngest son was very clingy.
She was in poor health; worrying about these two already consumed all her energy.

She didn’t need Xie Zhaozhou anymore.

…

Xie Yaoyao lowered his head and gnawed on a piece of meat.
Then he wiggled his little bottom and jumped down from his high chair.

Baby checking in!

He needed to check if Big Daddy and baby were eating properly.

Xie Yaoyao pattered over to stand between Xie Zhaozhou and Ning Shixue.
His little hands gripped the edge of the table as he stood on tiptoe to peek into Ning Shixue’s bowl.
Baby was eating fish fish.

Then he turned his head.
Big Daddy’s bowl had little fried meatballs.
His favorite little fried meatballs.

Xie Yaoyao stared unblinkingly.
His little hands clutched his bib.
He was almost drooling.

Xie Zhaozhou lowered his eyes, his expression very indifferent.
He didn’t pay Xie Yaoyao any attention.

“Yaoyao wants some, give him some,”
Liao Yanwan couldn’t help frowning and complaining.
“You insisted on having Yaoyao’s custody. Is this how you take care of him?!”

She actually also disapproved of Xie Yaoyao calling Xie Zhaozhou ‘Big Daddy.’
She absolutely would not allow Xie Yaoyao to forget who his biological father was.

But Xie Yaoyao wasn’t at the Xie residence.
She had the will but not the power to control him.

Xie Zhaozhou’s expression was cold.
Ning Shixue looked down and saw his hand holding the chopsticks.
That hand was cool and slender, the knuckles distinct.
But the veins on the back of his hand stood out.

Xie Yaoyao swallowed his drool but shook his head firmly.
“Is Big Daddy’s meat meat.”

He wanted to make sure Big Daddy ate the meat.
But Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes were deep and dark, thick as night.
Xie Yaoyao didn’t dare anymore.
He turned and asked the baby to lift him into his high chair.

Over a dozen people sat at each end of the long table at the family dinner.
But now it was silent.
Even the clink of bowls and chopsticks was very faint.

Ning Shixue wasn’t the type to be overflowing with sympathy.
Yet his chest still felt tight.

In a traditional family like the Xie’s, the eldest son and eldest grandson were highly valued.
As the eldest grandson, Xie Yaoyao had been showered with love from birth.
He was truly a little young master born with a silver spoon.

But had anyone ever shown Xie Zhaozhou even a hint of favoritism?

The only reason Xie Zhaozhou took over the Xie Group was that he was in that position.
Even if Old Master Xie died, and Xie Yaoyao died, the inheritance would still fall to him.

Anyone who moved against Old Master Xie or Xie Yaoyao would just be doing Xie Zhaozhou’s work for him.

So if someone wanted the Xie Group, they had to deal with Xie Zhaozhou first.

Since Xie Zhaozhou suspected the car accident was suspicious, it meant his opponents would stop at nothing and were truly willing to kill.

Ning Shixue didn’t know what Xie Zhaozhou’s relationship with Old Master Xie and Xie Sui was really like.

But up until the end of the original novel, Old Master Xie and Xie Yaoyao were people he protected with his life.

And Liao Yanwan was the person in this world least qualified to blame him.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t answer Liao Yanwan.
His expression remained cold.
Liao Yanwan was so angry her hands trembled.

Just then, the butler brought over freshly stewed chicken wings.
Ignoring Liao Yanwan’s furious glare, Ning Shixue reached out and picked up the biggest one, placing it in Xie Zhaozhou’s bowl.

“…”

Xie Zhaozhou stared at the extra chicken wing in his bowl, his eyes widening in surprise.

Ning Shixue continued serving him.
Every dish the butler brought, he served to Xie Zhaozhou.
He completely ignored the rest of the Xie family.
They could eat or not.

Liao Yanwan’s look of disgust towards him deepened.

Absolutely no manners.
The elders hadn’t even touched their chopsticks, and he dared to start.
He hadn’t finished what was in his bowl and kept adding more.
She remembered the Ning family’s upbringing wasn’t this bad?

The original host might have been dramatic, but in front of the elders of both families, he was very well-behaved.
Ning Shixue just didn’t care about rules.
In the orphanage, who followed rules?
If you didn’t grab, you got nothing.

The anger in Ning Shixue’s chest finally subsided.

Until he had piled Xie Zhaozhou’s bowl into a small mountain.
Xie Zhaozhou finally couldn’t help it and grabbed his wrist.

“That’s enough,”
Xie Zhaozhou said quietly to him.
His usually cool voice, lowered, actually sounded somewhat gentle.

Ning Shixue put down his chopsticks.
Before his face could even get warm, he heard Xie Zhaozhou ask,
“Are you trying to stuff me to death?”

Ning Shixue looked down at the bowl.

“…”

Maybe it was a bit much.

The tips of his fair ears reddened.
But before he could feel awkward, Xie Zhaozhou’s dark phoenix eyes curved again, his lips also curved, carrying a lazy teasing.
“If the old man’s gone, will you find another?”

Ning Shixue: “…”

Damn it, he really wanted to take Xie Zhaozhou down with him.

But he felt that if he did, Xie Zhaozhou would just shamelessly ask him,
“Does Teacher Xiao Ning want to die with me that badly?”

Xie Zhaozhou looked down at the exaggeratedly piled bowl.
The corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

The gloom in his eyes also faded slightly.

He turned his head and leaned close to Ning Shixue’s ear.
But before he could speak again, Ning Shixue suddenly grabbed his hand under the table and gave it a little shake.

The tips of Ning Shixue’s ears were still a bit red.
His moist peach blossom eyes looked up at him, as if asking him to stop.

Xie Zhaozhou had drunk a little wine that night.
He thought he must be a bit dizzy.
That little shake made half his body feel numb.
He finally stopped deliberately teasing him.

He spoke quietly with Ning Shixue.
No one else could hear.
But everyone saw the two of them huddled together.

Xie Hanzhou’s face darkened.
When had Ning Shixue ever treated him with such disregard?

Xie’s father also frowned deeply.
This flirtatious behavior was disgraceful, utterly shameless.

Until Xie Junrong suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
“Zhaozhou, your aunt wants to ask you something.”

The smile in Xie Zhaozhou’s dark eyes was hidden away again.
He looked up, his gaze still cold.

“When will you finally let me see your grandfather?”
Xie Junrong demanded.

After Old Master Xie’s accident surgery, he had been in the Xie family’s private hospital.
For three years now, besides Xie Zhaozhou himself, not one member of the Xie family had been allowed into that hospital room.

They were all blocked by the bodyguards Xie Zhaozhou had arranged.

Even when she insisted on going, several bodyguards followed her closely, only letting her look through the glass of the ICU.
This afternoon, she had driven there.
She hadn’t even reached the corridor before she was stopped by the bodyguards.

“The hospital is open to the public,”
Xie Zhaozhou said calmly.
“Anyone can go.”

Xie Junrong sneered.
“I doubt anyone even knows if your grandfather is alive or dead now. Since no one can see him, you’re the only one who can say, aren’t you?! I’m telling you now, no matter what, I’m seeing him tomorrow.”

Xie Zhaozhou’s tone was indifferent.
“As you wish.”

Xie Junrong’s breath quickened.
She dug her nails into her palm, forcing herself to meet Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes without flinching.
Why should she be treated like a criminal?
Why couldn’t she see her own father?

But she had no real leverage.
She didn’t dare force her way into the hospital either.

“This is illegal confinement,”
Xie Junrong said through gritted teeth.

Xie’s father chimed in.
He had long been dissatisfied with Xie Zhaozhou.
This was just like Xie Zhaozhou suspecting all of them of being murderers.
How could he swallow that?

Ning Shixue couldn’t help it.
He interrupted Xie Junrong.
“Why don’t you call the police?”

Xie Junrong was taken aback, then angered.
“What did you say?”

“Auntie, I said, call the police,”
Ning Shixue kindly repeated.
His eyes were innocent.
“Don’t you have suspicions?”

What was Ning Shixue? Some nobody?
How dare he call her ‘auntie’?
Xie Junrong’s disgust was plain.
“Who gave you the right to speak in the Xie family?!”

“…What do I do now?”
Ning Shixue seemed to suddenly realize his mistake.
His pale cheeks showed guilt and pitifulness.
He covered his mouth.
“I already said it. Can’t swallow it back.”

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

The corner of Xie Zhaozhou’s mouth couldn’t help twitching upward.

Xie Mengyuan stepped in at the right moment to smooth things over.
“Alright, alright. We’re still at the family dinner. The rules the old man set: no fighting. Stop arguing. Junrong, eat first.”

Liao Yanwan had originally wanted to scold Ning Shixue about the parenting show incident.
But now, just seeing his face annoyed her.

She didn’t want Xie Yaoyao staying with Ning Shixue.
She lowered her head and said to Xie Yaoyao,
“Yaoyao, come to grandma.”

Xie Yaoyao couldn’t understand any of this.
He had also gotten used to this tense atmosphere by now.
He focused on gnawing his meat.
These days, he was very clingy with Ning Shixue.
He kicked his little feet and snuggled against him.

Liao Yanwan suddenly called him.
Xie Yaoyao clutched his bib, a little pout forming.

“Do you want to go?”
Ning Shixue asked him.

Xie Yaoyao hesitated.
His chubby little hands tightened a bit.
Finally, he shook his head.

Liao Yanwan’s voice deepened.
“Yaoyao, come here!”

Ning Shixue’s beautiful eyes also turned cold, like a wintry pool.
“He said he doesn’t want to go.”

Liao Yanwan was thoroughly provoked.
Had this Ning Shixue gone mad?
Was he deliberately opposing her tonight?!

And she never imagined Xie Yaoyao would rather stay with Ning Shixue than come to her.

Her ears rang.
She grabbed whatever was at hand, not even looking, and threw it at Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue dodged.
Only then did he see it was a dinner knife.

Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes instantly darkened.
After confirming Ning Shixue was unharmed, he stood up.
His expression was stern.
Everyone fell silent, afraid to breathe.
Even Xie Junrong turned away, not daring to speak further.

Liao Yanwan’s hands were shaking.
She was still frightened, but refused to lower herself to apologize to the likes of Ning Shixue.

“Doctor He will come tonight,”
Xie Zhaozhou said, looking at Liao Yanwan.

Doctor He was her primary physician, working in the psychiatry department at a Yan City sanatorium.

Liao Yanwan looked up in disbelief.
Her eyes instantly reddened.
“For this Ning Shixue, you’re sending me to that place?”

“For treatment, that’s all,”
Xie Zhaozhou said.

His voice was calm, but brooked no argument.
Even Xie’s father didn’t dare object.

Old Master Xie had been diplomatic and smooth.
Xie Sui had been very gentle.
Only Xie Zhaozhou was cold and unapproachable.
Since he had spoken, there was no room for negotiation.

Xie Zhaozhou raised his hand and rapped his knuckles on the table.
His eyes were cold and sharp.
“This family dinner ends here. It doesn’t need to be held again.”

“…”
Xie’s father’s lips moved, but in the end, he couldn’t speak.

Old Master Xie was still alive.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t have the authority to change these rules.
But no one dared to say anything.

Xie Zhaozhou pulled Ning Shixue up and said quietly,
“Let’s go.”

Ning Shixue also took Xie Yaoyao’s little hand.

Liao Yanwan could only watch Xie Zhaozhou’s retreating figure.
Her eyes instantly reddened.

Late at night, the moonlight overhead was bright.
Ning Shixue followed Xie Zhaozhou to the parking lot in silence.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t speak.
Ning Shixue didn’t know what he was thinking.
Their shadows were stretched long.

The driver had already come to pick up him and Xie Yaoyao.
He walked to the car door, turned, and asked,
“Teacher Xie, aren’t you coming home tonight?”

“What’s wrong? You want me to come back?”
Xie Zhaozhou half-lowered his eyes, meeting his gaze.

Ning Shixue didn’t know what to say.

He had just asked casually.

But he did kind of want Xie Zhaozhou to come home.
At least at home, he’d probably sleep better than at the company, right?

After all, Xie Zhaozhou had bought him a down jacket.
He couldn’t keep biting the hand that fed him.
He should at least show some concern.

“So clingy?”
Xie Zhaozhou seemed to laugh softly.

Ning Shixue’s ears itched.
Finally, embarrassed into anger, his fair cheeks flushed crimson.
He glared at Xie Zhaozhou.
“So what if I’m clingy? Can’t I be?”

Xie Zhaozhou walked over to him and reached out to open the car door for him.
Just as Ning Shixue was about to get in, he heard Xie Zhaozhou’s voice, laced with amusement, speaking slowly.
“Understandable. We are legally married, after all. Being clingy is only natural.”