Just as Le Tong was feeling caught in a dilemma about how to take a stand, or how to maintain a neutral position without hurting either Yang Sheng or Xiao Jing, Yang Sheng suddenly stood up.
"Xiao Jing, I have so business to discuss with your sister and brother-in-law."
Le Tong instinctively felt this was an excuse from Yang Sheng, as Ji Rui had already stood up cooperatively, and even grabbed the laptop placed to the side. Le Tong secretly let out a sigh of relief and stood up as well.
As expected, Xiao Jing looked disappointed, tugging at Yang Sheng’s arm unwilling to let go, "Brother, why are you so busy? You’ve been back for so long and haven’t had ti to spend with ."
Yet Yang Sheng seed not to hear, turning sideways to follow Ji Rui and Le Tong into the study, leaving the forlorn little girl behind with a heavy heart.
"Tongtong, am I being insensitive?"
Just after sitting down in the study, Yang Sheng pinched the bridge of his nose and asked Le Tong.
Le Tong thought for a mont, then shook her head, "I’m not in your position, I haven’t experienced your pain, so I have no right to criticize your attitude."
Every person, standing from their own perspective, may inevitably have an outsider’s clarity when looking at others’ matters.
But every event can only be truly understood by those who are in the midst of it, feeling the inherent pain and helplessness, so she wouldn’t criticize Yang Sheng just because of her sympathy for Xiao Jing.
"Xiao Jing is a good kid, and I know she’s innocent, but she looks too much like her mother. Seeing her always reminds of the suffering my mother endured, so..." Yang Sheng also looked troubled.
Le Tong nodded in understanding, "Brother, if it’s uncomfortable, don’t force yourself to choose. So things can’t be resolved now, but ti will eventually help you make decisions and choices."
Yang Sheng responded with a "hmm," and after a long pause, he added, "Tongtong, I’m sorry for putting you in a difficult position."
Le Tong imdiately shook her head again, "I’m not in a difficult position, you will always be my dearest brother."
The implication was that no matter how the relationship between Yang Sheng and Xiao Jing as siblings ended up, she would unconditionally stand by his side.
For her, in this Yang Family, only two people truly had affection: the Old Master and Yang Sheng. For the Old Master, her grandfather, rather than affection, a sentint of pity was probably more accurate. But her bond with Yang Sheng was a deep friendship forged through trials, more solid and profound than simple sibling love.
Yang Sheng reached out to embrace her, gently patting her.
Only when he sensed Ji Rui’s quietly emitting a low pressure did Yang Sheng release Le Tong.
"Brother, whether love or hate, it requires a reason. I think you’ll eventually find the right reason to handle your relationship with Xiao Jing," Le Tong comforted Yang Sheng.
Yang Sheng got up and walked towards a corner bar, with his back to the two, opening a bottle of red wine.
Knowing that Ji Rui had forbidden Le Tong from drinking, when Yang Sheng returned, he handed one glass to Ji Rui, keeping the other for himself.
"Your second uncle, back then, chose to leave with nothing for their mother and daughter. Maybe it was true love. However, to sacrifice his wife, who toiled alongside him for years, and his underage son, he’s both selfish and ruthless!"
Everyone faces their own difficulties, with so choosing to burden themselves for the sake of love and responsibility, thus helping others.
But so, for so-called true love, decisively abandon everything and betray everyone, just to fulfill their own true love.
From Xiao Jing’s mother and daughter’s perspective, Second Uncle was brave.
From the perspective of Yang Sheng and his mother, Second Uncle was selfish.
Ji Rui raised his glass and clinked it against Yang Sheng’s, "Yang Sheng, no matter what, your dad showed more responsibility than mine, and your mom was more carefree than mine."
Le Tong reached out to grasp his hand, her face raised anxiously looking at him.
Ji Rui patted her hand back, giving her a soothing look.
"Perhaps," Yang Sheng said noncommittally, taking a small sip of wine.
Those rather unpleasant topics quickly ended with the docunt Yang Sheng brought back.
It was the first proposal between the Yang Family and Ji Family for cooperation in the country, setting the stage for them to integrate the logistics industry from north and south respectively, then join forces for a unified logistics industry nationwide.
The three of them began discussing work, with each expressing their opinions as usual without backing down, until Uncle Jing’s voice, following a knock, sounded outside the door, temporarily pausing their intense debate.
"Young Master Sheng, the eldest master and others have returned, and the master wants you to co out to greet them."
Although they said it was for Yang Sheng to greet, Le Tong, as the newly acknowledged mber of the family, naturally also needed to go out and greet the guests, otherwise, those elders might spread unpleasant words or accusations.
Ji Rui, being protective of his wife, certainly wouldn’t let Le Tong go out and be aggrieved.
A few people sat quietly in the living room, contrary to Le Tong’s expectations of a room full of noise and chatter. Besides Second Uncle and Xiao Jing who ca earlier, three older n and won were newly added, and from their similar features, Le Tong could easily guess their identities. However, before she could speak, Yang Sheng had already started introducing her.
"Uncle, Aunt, Fourth Uncle, this is Uncle’s daughter, Le Tong." Yang Sheng introduced Le Tong to the three middle-aged and older sitting there with a blank expression.
In dealing with business clients, he would put on a suitable smile, but in front of these relatives who shared the sa bloodline, he didn’t even bother to fake a smile.
"Uncle, Aunt, Fourth Uncle, hello!" Compared to Yang Sheng, Le Tong’s attitude was much more polite, although her facial expression was obviously just a courteous smile.
"You’re called Le Tong?"
The man addressed as Uncle looked at Le Tong sideways, his gaze full of scrutiny and suspicion.
"Yes."
"Why is your family na Le? Isn’t it Yang? Your mother’s family na is Le?" The man stared at Le Tong with a furrowed brow.
Le Tong pulled her lips into a sarcastic smile, "My father changed his last na, as for the reason, I’m not quite sure."
With a "smack," the man heavily placed his cup onto the coffee table.
"Weikang is truly unreasonable, just because of a few argunts with the old man, he’s even given up his surna? Truly outrageous!"
Le Tong pursed her lips, stubbornly looking at him, finding it amusing. Is he using his age to exert authority? Thinking that by being fierce, he could intimidate her?
If he had the guts, he’d be fierce to her with the Old Master around!
"Uncle, although I don’t know the reasons back then, I think if my father changed his na, he must have had his reasons. One, perhaps the Yang surna embarrassed him, two, perhaps the Yang surna saddened him."
Le Tong’s words were clearly insinuating. If anyone made her father feel embarrassnt or sorrow enough to change his na, it must be blad on the culprits who caused all this. Apart from the Old Master, surely these uncles, who likely fanned the flas from the side, shouldn’t bla her father.
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