Chapter 408 - 407: Xia Zhengguang’s Investigation Results

The Xia Family villa.

After several days of investigation, the private detective Xia Zhengguang had hired finally found a few leads.

Looking at the photo the detective provided, which showed Situ Yunliang walking with Situ Wenze, a long-buried memory resurfaced in Xia Zhengguang’s mind.

"So it was her!"

Xia Zhengguang never would have imagined that the woman he’d had an accidental encounter with in a bar twenty years ago was actually connected to the Situ Family.

Because Situ Yunliang had aged so well, and because she was the youngest daughter, born late in life to the old head of the Situ Family, she was only about twelve years older than Situ Wenze.

Situ Wenze was now twenty-eight, so when he walked with Situ Yunliang, they looked just like brother and sister.

Xia Zhengguang hadn’t considered that Situ Yunliang might also be part of the Situ Family; he just assumed she was a mistress Situ Wenze was keeping on the side.

After all, in Xia Zhengguang’s eyes, any woman who would have a one-night stand with him couldn’t possibly be a respectable woman.

’So, this is the root of the problem.’

The reason Situ Wenze targeted the Xia family was that he found out Yun Zijin was his daughter with that woman. That’s why he launched his revenge against him.

That Situ Wenze was ruthless. With a single move, he had ensnared the entire Xia family in his plot.

But the fact that Situ Wenze had renamed the Xia family business to the Yun Family business was something Xia Zhengguang still couldn’t understand.

’Could it be that Situ Wenze actually wants to marry that woman? Did he change the company name from Xia to Yun to curry favor with his future stepdaughter, Yun Zijin?’

The more Xia Zhengguang thought about it, the more convinced he was that his theory was correct.

As a new thought struck him, Xia Zhengguang pulled out his phone and called Yun Zijin again.

As usual, Yun Zijin hung up on the first call. Undeterred, Xia Zhengguang dialed a second time.

This time, Yun Zijin answered.

"If you have something to say, say it."

Yun Zijin’s tone was blunt, showing none of the respect a daughter should have for her father.

Then again, nothing Xia Zhengguang had ever done warranted Yun Zijin’s respect.

"You’ve found your birth mother, haven’t you?"

Xia Zhengguang’s tone was certain. On the other end of the line, Yun Zijin, who was having dinner with Lu Yunque, raised an eyebrow at his words.

"Yes."

It was the truth, and Yun Zijin saw no reason to hide it.

"So, Situ Wenze targeted the Xia family because of her?"

Hearing this, Yun Zijin was slightly surprised. ’He actually managed to find out quite a bit,’ she thought.

"You could say that."

That was indeed the case. Situ Wenze had gone after the Xia Family because of Situ Yunliang, but as for the real reason why, she wondered if Xia Zhengguang would be able to uncover it.

"Situ Wenze has gone too far!"

"If that’s all you wanted to say, I don’t think there was any need for this call."

Yun Zijin didn’t care what Xia Zhengguang had to say. The only reason she answered was to hear how he was doing.

Knowing he was miserable would brighten her mood.

"Since you’ve found her, you must have her contact information. Give me her number!"

Xia Zhengguang was a desperate man now. As long as there was even a sliver of a chance for him to make a comeback, he would never give up.

But upon hearing his demand, Yun Zijin just scoffed.

Even now, at a time like this, Xia Zhengguang still had zero self-awareness.

"And why should I give it to you? Are you planning to go find her, tell her you’ve been looking for her for twenty years, and then live happily ever after together?"

It had to be said, Yun Zijin’s sarcastic jab was spot-on. On the other end of the line, her words silenced Xia Zhengguang.

"Yun Zijin, whether you want to admit it or not, you are still my daughter! Don’t you want a complete family, with a father and a mother?"

Hearing this, Yun Zijin inwardly scoffed at his audacity.

Situ Yunliang might not have settled down yet, but she’d had a constant stream of boyfriends over the past twenty years.

Where on earth did Xia Zhengguang get the confidence to think that the cherished jewel of the Situ Family would be devoted to him, marry beneath her station for him, and let him leech off her?

"I think... her taste is probably not that bad."

If it weren’t for that accident twenty years ago, Xia Zhengguang wouldn’t have even been qualified to meet Situ Yunliang.

"You!"

Xia Zhengguang was stunned that Yun Zijin could be so blunt, demeaning him as if he were worthless.

"Do you want to call another man ’Dad’? Do you have any idea she’s with a man who’s a full twelve years younger than her right now!

If they get married, you’ll have to call a man who’s barely older than you ’Dad.’ Are you really okay with that?"

Xia Zhengguang’s words left Yun Zijin completely bewildered.

’Situ Yunliang is with a man twelve years her junior?’

Yun Zijin suddenly couldn’t even imagine what that would look like.

"Oh. I don’t even acknowledge her as my mother, so of course I don’t have to call her boyfriend ’Dad’."

The implication was clear: whoever Situ Yunliang was with had nothing to do with Yun Zijin.

Hearing this, Xia Zhengguang faltered. It was apparently only just now dawning on him that Yun Zijin not only refused to acknowledge him, but she also refused to acknowledge her own birth mother.

It was safe to say that Yun Zijin’s cold-bloodedness truly took Xia Zhengguang by surprise.

"You... you really don’t want a complete family at all?"

Xia Zhengguang wasn’t ready to give up, so he was probing Yun Zijin’s attitude first.

"When I needed you, neither of you were there. Now I’m an adult, and I can live perfectly well without you.

If you want to meet her, if you want to marry her, I have no opinion on the matter. But... stay out of my life."

’Otherwise, I can make your life even more miserable than it is now!’

With that, Yun Zijin hung up the phone.

Lu Yunque watched as a single phone call ruined Yun Zijin’s mood, and he made a mental note against Xia Zhengguang.

"Don’t overthink it. Even if Xia Zhengguang wants to see Situ Yunliang, it still depends on whether she agrees."

Of course, Yun Zijin knew that. She also trusted that Situ Yunliang wouldn’t be foolish enough to be tricked into marrying Xia Zhengguang in the end.

Soothed by Lu Yunque’s words, Yun Zijin successfully shifted her focus and finished her dinner in peace.

「Villa No. 10, Dijing Yuntian Villa District」

Situ Wenze and Situ Yunliang sat facing each other.

"Aunt, Yun Zijin didn’t accept the shares I offered her."

Even though he had renamed the Xia family business to the Yun Family business, Yun Zijin had never once shown up. At this point, him managing the company was no different than if it were his own.

But Situ Wenze’s original purpose for coming to Hua Country was to open up the market for the Situ Family. He couldn’t stay at the Yun Family business forever, just to watch over the company for Yun Zijin.

Therefore, he had to find someone else to take charge of the Yun Family business.

Otherwise, if he stayed in Hua Country for so long without making any real progress, someone from the family would definitely come to investigate.

Situ Wenze did not want the family sending someone over to criticize his decisions and tell him what to do.

"I understand. I’ll find someone who can take over the Yun Family business as soon as possible."

Situ Yunliang also knew that Situ Wenze couldn’t preside over the Yun Family business indefinitely, or the family would certainly have objections.

However, finding a suitable professional manager on such short notice wasn’t going to be easy.