"Why didn't you say so sooner..."
Secretary Xing was at a loss for an answer.
After an unknown length of time, Xi Yan finally stopped coughing and slowly looked up. A strange light shone in his dark eyes, as if he had seized upon something, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Do you think this child could be mine?"
Author's note: Hehe, Fourth Master found out! Next he's going to drag him back, hahaha, drag him back and spoil him rotten!
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Chapter 21
The study in the Xi Family's old residence was so quiet that a pin could have been heard dropping, and the atmosphere was tense for some reason.
Old Master Xi turned around with his hands behind his back, a look of surprise appearing on his face for the first time.
"What did you say?"
Xi Yan's expression didn't change. "I said I want to marry the Bai family's eldest son."
Old Master Xi sneered. "Nonsense!"
Xi Yan showed no sign of panic at the rebuke. He said unhurriedly, "I'm not joking."
His tone sounded somewhat impolite for someone speaking to an elder, but there was no trace of disrespect on his face, as if he were simply giving a serious answer.
Of course, Old Master Xi knew he wasn't the sort to say something like that without reason, so he frowned slightly, trying to figure out why he was acting so strangely.
"Has something happened with the second son again?"
Xi Yan shook his head.
"Then why?"
As soon as Old Master Xi finished speaking, he saw the corners of Xi Yan's thin lips curve upward. He seemed to be in an excellent mood.
As if something had occurred to him, he frowned slightly, his expression shaken. "Could it be... that child everyone's talking about is yours?"
Of course, he had heard the rumors about the Bai family's eldest son these past few days, but he hadn't paid them any mind. Now, putting them together with Xi Yan's sudden announcement that he wanted to marry him, he had been around for decades and had some discernment. How could he fail to understand?
At those words, a faint smile appeared on Xi Yan's pale face, and even the chill in his dark eyes seemed to ease somewhat.
When had Old Master Xi ever seen him look like that? He stared blankly for a moment, but after coming to his senses, he couldn't help pouring cold water on him. "How can you be so sure that child is yours?" he asked coldly.
Although he hadn't said it outright, his meaning was clear enough. Xi Yan was disabled, so how could he possibly have gotten into bed with someone?
Secretary Xing, who had been standing behind them all this time, felt his heart tighten and looked at Xi Yan worriedly. He saw no particular emotion on his face.
"That isn't the only way."
Old Master Xi understood what he meant. He turned away again and fell silent for a long while.
"I'm old, and I can't change your mind. Since you've already decided, it wouldn't do any good even if I objected. We'll do as you wish."
He paused, then added, "But after this child is born, a paternity test must be done before the child can be entered into the Xi Family genealogy."
If the child really was a member of the Xi Family, that would be a pleasant surprise.
Xi Yan didn't take his words to heart. He nodded, and seeing that the old man had agreed, gestured for the person behind him to push him out.
Just as he reached the door, Old Master Xi suddenly called out to him, unable to resist asking once more, "Have you really thought this through?"
Xi Yan raised the corners of his mouth slightly. Old Master Xi's gaze wavered, and before he could react, Xi Yan had pushed the door open and left.
He came back to his senses and walked onto the balcony with his hands behind his back. To be honest, Xi Yan's attitude toward the child had taken him somewhat by surprise.
There was no way Xi Yan didn't know that if there were a healthy child, the position of family head would certainly pass over him and fall to that child.
Yet Xi Yan seemed not to care, which struck him as rather incredible. He had seen for himself how ambitious his grandson was. He didn't believe Xi Yan would give up a position within easy reach for something like this, unless he had some other plan.
A few days later, the Xi Family suddenly invited prominent figures from every family in their circle to a banquet, seemingly to make an announcement. Everyone had already guessed at it: most likely, they were going to announce a marriage alliance with the Bai family.
In the magnificent hall, melodious piano music drifted through the air as elegantly dressed men and women gathered with glasses of champagne, speaking in low voices.
"Look, the Bais are over there. Hurry and go talk to them, or it'll be so awkward if no one pays them any attention."
"I know. It's because of that, right? Oh, true, they find it disgraceful too. If we went over, they'd feel uncomfortable."
"What did you hear? I heard that the Bai family's son was, you know, with someone, and then got pregnant."
"Really? How come I heard that he went to a bar and fooled around with someone, then accidentally got pregnant?"
"That's why people shouldn't get too smug. Wasn't Mrs. Bai always showing off to everyone that her son-in-law was Fourth Master? And now something's gone wrong straight away."
"Say, is the marriage alliance between the Bai family and the Xi Family settled?"
"It's almost certain. The Xi Family most likely invited everyone here today to announce it."
In a corner, Bai Huizhang and Chen Suqiu pretended not to notice the curious and mocking looks those people cast their way.
"Those gossips..."
Chen Suqiu spoke indignantly. Although those people were talking quietly and deliberately keeping their distance, she had heard every word.
An expression of displeasure appeared on her face. She had completely forgotten how much she had enjoyed discussing such gossip with others before. Now that she herself had become the subject, she found it unbearable.
Bai Huizhang shot him an angry glare. "Shut your mouth."
Chen Suqiu's face fell. She felt that Bai Huizhang had nowhere else to vent his anger and was taking it out on her. She felt aggrieved too. A few days ago, she had been proudly showing off to others that her daughter was marrying into the Xi Family, but now something so humiliating had happened, and even her daughter's situation was being dragged out for discussion.