Zhiyuan looked at the man standing in front of him. He could hardly believe that Xiaosi and he were once best friends once upon a time.

Those young and warm memories gushed in his heart but then it enveloped in pain as he remembered Xiaosi’s dark and cold gaze filled with hatred for him.

Once again why…he had no answer.

There were so many questions that were left unanswered to him. Nobody told him anything.

Why did Caihong leave me?

Why did Xiaosi start hating me?

Why did they marry?

Everybody knew about his relationship with Caihong, so he failed to understand how Xiaosi suddenly took her with him one day.

Why does Grandpa hate me too?

Why does he get angry whenever I am with Xinyi?

So many questions… seven years ago and seven years later too. But no answers whatsoever which was akin to a curse to Zhiyuan considering his personality.

He silently clenched his fist.

But today, I will get my answers. If not all, then at least some of them. He glanced at Caihong and then lowered his gaze.

Mu Chuanli curiously asked, “It seems like you two know each other.”

Xiaosi chuckled. “Know? We just don’t ‘know’ each other. In fact, we are best friends, right Zhi?”

Zhi…

Xiaosi used to call him that during college days as an endearment.

“Caihong, Zhi, Xinyi, and I have known each other very well since college days, right my dear wife?” He looked down at Caihong and smiled. “We share a veryyyy close bond.”

Caihong awkwardly stiffened.

Mu Chuanli brightened. “Oh, I see! What a small world! So four friends have reunited again.”

“Yes. Zhi and Xinyi would be so thrilled with this reunion. How did you like my surprise?”

Zhiyuan smiled, hiding the pain beneath his eyes. “Yes. I am… absolutely thrilled. Such a pleasant surprise.”

Xiaosi grinned. “Great. I thought you would be angry since Caihong and I suddenly left.”

Xinyi and Zhiyuan froze while Caihong was trying her best not to flip out. She inhaled sharply.

“But we had no choice,” Xiaosi narrowed his eyes. “Circumstances forced us to leave our dear friends here.”

Zhiyuan stared at his indecipherable gaze. The mocking, the sneer, and his hatred were clear to him.

What circumstances? Zhiyuan thought.

Xiaosi leaned and hugged him hard. “But I am so glad we are back together. What’s more, we will work on the same project. I see happy times ahead.”

Then he slowly whispered in his ears, “or maybe your doom, Zhiyuan.”

Zhiyuan didn’t change his expression but the cold tone of his once best friend shook his heart. Xinyi was getting more and more strained with this conversation.

Xiaosi then looked at Xinyi. “I am so glad to meet you too, Xinyi.”

Her smile faltered a bit. “Same here.”

“I must say your marriage took me by shock. There were no signs at all.”

Xinyi stiffened.

Zhiyuan quietly looked at him and then at Caihong. He smiled. “So did yours with Caihong, Xiaosi.”

Mu Chuanli laughed. “Haha. I am so glad. Now, working with you two will be even more enjoyable! I am looking forward to it. Everybody, cheers for the Han and Zhu company!”

Loud and cheerful claps resounded in the hall. They raised their toast.

While it was an oppressing atmosphere between the four of them, there was another gloomy cloud looming on the children’s side.

Chyou was pale the whole time. As she realized that the boy was none other than Xinyi’s son and the Aunt who she began to like a lot, fear and panic gripped her chest.

All kinds of worst-case scenarios flooded her brain. Once again, she was furious that Caihong was talking so lovingly to him. Then she was afraid that Siying was just going to tell them that she had pushed him.

She trembled and tears rimmed her irises. Her tiny fists clenched her dress.

If Aunt knows that I pushed him then she will get mad at me. Then she will hate me too…

Siying was so terrified that he couldn’t even move from his spot. He wanted to run to Xinyi’s side but he stood rooted to his spot. She was older than him, so he felt that seniority in age, and then again, she had looked really menacing at that time in the school.

All in all, both were completely terrified for completely different reasons.

Chyou peeked at him and saw that he looked pale as well. She bit her lip and turned towards him. Siying jolted in fear.

“You. D-Don’t you say anything to Mama or Aunt! Or I will hit you again!”

She figured threatening was the only way to make him listen to her.

Siying paled even more. He trembled and his eyes watered. “Y-You are mean…You-you are bullying me…Your Mama is so nice but you are bad…” He looked towards his parents teary-eyed and wanted to run towards them.

“Don’t!”

Siying suddenly burst into tears. He was convinced that she would really hit him if he called Xinyi or Zhiyuan, so he ran in the opposite direction towards the exit of the hall. Chyou’s eyes widened and she panicked.

She looked between his retreating back and her parents. She wasn’t supposed to go anywhere without informing Xiaosi, but Siying’s sudden departure scared her to the wits.

W-what if he does something stupid or gets lost?

That would bring double responsibility on her if he got harmed in any way. She quickly chased after him and stepped outside the hall.

Over at Xinyi’s side, the introduction and toast were finally over and Mu Chuanli announced that a lavish dinner would be set up soon. Until then, everybody else was busy socializing.

Zhiyuan was about to say something but Xiaosi held Caihong’s wrist and smiled. “Let’s go wifey. I am damn hungry.”

He gave Zhiyuan no chance to talk to them. His gaze shifted to the side and he narrowed his eyes. He looked around. “Where is Chyou?”

Zhiyuan frowned.

Chyou?

Xinyi looked in that direction and blinked her eyes.

“I don’t see Siying either.”

Zhiyuan said, “He might be somewhere here only.”

But even after looking through the entire hall, they didn’t find them.

Xinyi panicked. “Zhiyuan! Siying is not in this hall!”