Xie Ninghong’s car accident plot for Xie Ningwan was hasty and full of loopholes. It happened almost right when Xie Ningwan had just investigated him—Xie Ming and the others were anxiously racking their brains for a way to extricate themselves.
“Idiot!” In the Xie Family Old Manor, Xie Ming slapped Xie Ninghong hard on the head. “Why didn’t you hit him harder and just kill him outright!”
“I was aiming for his life. But I didn’t expect him to be so lucky and dodge it,” Xie Ninghong said viciously. “Next time, I’ll make sure he never speaks again.”
“We need to figure out how to clear your name first! Xie Ningwan is ruthless. If he has dirt on you, he won’t let it go easily.” Xie Ming paced back and forth in the room, his face grim.
Xie Ninghong couldn’t hold back. “Since things have already come to this, why not just tear off the mask and find another chance to kill him?”
“You think it’s as easy as saying it?” Xie Ming scolded him and racked his brains anxiously for a solution, pondering in silence.
The very next day, before Xie Ningwan’s people could make a move on Xie Ninghong, Xie Ming dragged him along to personally come and apologize.
Xie Ningwan sat on the sofa, holding a teacup as he listened to their performance.
“Ningwan, just forgive your little brother. He’s young and foolish,” Xie Ming started with the same script as last time. “We’re all family, after all.”
“Your brother was just venting to friends after you misunderstood him over the company incident last time. Who knew those shady friends of his would take it seriously and plot a car accident!” Xie Ming feigned anger.
Hearing this excuse, Xie Ningwan’s lips curved slightly. He didn’t even feel angry—just incredulous at their stupidity.
“Ninghong truly had no idea about this. I’ve already scolded him,” Xie Ming said earnestly. “Your brother is still young. If you keep digging, and he gets dragged in and sent to jail, will that satisfy you? Can you really bear to see that?”
Song Yaoyao sat on the armrest of the sofa next to Xie Ningwan’s hand, listening in with his mouth agape in shock. He could hardly believe there were people with such thick skin who could spout nonsense like this.
Was this the trait of those vicious and stupid villains from novels?
In the original story, this car accident had indeed left Xie Ningwan gravely injured, sidelining him for a long time before he made a comeback.
Looking at the hypocritical and detestable faces of the father and son duo opposite him, Song Yaoyao felt utter disgust.
Xie Ningwan’s lips hooked up slightly, as if their words had amused him too.
Seeing no response, Xie Ming pressed on. “How about this—let your second uncle apologize on behalf of your brother. What do you say?”
Xie Ming put on an elder’s airs, patting Xie Ninghong’s head beside him as he said to Xie Ningwan, “Look at you—you don’t seem hurt at all. What grudge could there be between blood brothers? It was just messing around. Your brother knows he was wrong now, so don’t hold it against him. If family airs it all out, how ugly would that be.”
Family, little brother, messing around? Xie Ningwan let out another scoff.
Song Yaoyao clenched his fists, itching to throw punches. But everyone was seated now, so he had no chance to trip Xie Ming and Xie Ninghong, nor could he do much else for the moment.
Fortunately, he didn’t need to do anything, because Xie Ningwan had no patience left to listen. He set down his teacup, clapped his hands, and several black-clad bodyguards suddenly surged in from outside, surrounding Xie Ming and Xie Ninghong.
“The company matter from last time isn’t settled yet, and now this,” Xie Ningwan said slowly, lifting his eyes unhurriedly. “No need for more words, Second Uncle.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Xie Ming’s face darkened instantly.
Xie Ninghong, who had kept his head down, lifted it too. The two stared fixedly at Xie Ningwan, trying to stand, but were held down by the bodyguards at their sides.
A faint smile lingered on Xie Ningwan’s lips the whole time.
“I’m talking to you nicely—don’t refuse the toast and insist on the forfeit!” Xie Ming said in a deep voice, his tone laced with blatant threat.
Xie Ningwan turned a deaf ear. “Save those words… for yourself.”
Xie Ming’s face turned sullen. Together with Xie Ninghong, he was “escorted” away by the bodyguards, leaving behind a final “You wait.”
After Xie Ming and the others left, Song Yaoyao sulked with a straight face, fuming.
It was his first time seeing such shameless people. Even though this world was just a novel to him, and all this was mere plot and characters from a book, within this book’s world, they were Xie Ningwan’s own uncle and cousin. Those events were real to Xie Ningwan.
If he had read this book back in the real world, Song Yaoyao would have torn it to shreds!
Of course, once he turned human again, he would tear those villainous antagonists apart with his bare hands too.
Having preliminarily dealt with Xie Ming and Xie Ninghong, the father-son pair, the next matter was the company.
A few days later, Xie Ningwan’s “injuries” had mostly healed, and he returned to the company.
With so many incidents at Xie Corporation lately, everyone was on edge, especially those with ulterior motives. They all awaited Xie Ningwan’s return to gauge his next moves amid the tense atmosphere.
But none of that concerned Song Yaoyao. He only cared that now Xie Ningwan was at the company, he could tag along and sneak snacks in the break room.
The atmosphere at the company was indeed tense. As soon as Xie Ningwan arrived, Assistant Lei came up to him. “President Xie, these are the important documents from the past few days.”
Xie Ningwan sat at his desk, flipped through them briefly, and said coldly, “Notify everyone: meeting in the conference hall in half an hour. Have the secretary prepare.”
Assistant Lei replied, “Yes, President Xie.”
Half an hour later, the executives, each harboring their own thoughts, arrived one after another at the key conference hall.
With Xie Ningwan back from the car accident and immediately calling a meeting, who could say he hadn’t uncovered something and planned a purge of management?
A few executives looked unnatural, exchanging covert glances.
But no matter their inner schemes, they all kept calm facades on the surface. With Xie Ningwan yet to arrive, they took their seats in the conference hall and waited.
Ten minutes passed with no sign of him; everyone maintained their poise in their chairs, some tapping fingers on the table.
Another ten minutes, and some were starting to lose patience when the secretary pushed open the door. Xie Ningwan strode in unhurriedly.
His steps were steady and composed, his expression its usual cold indifference. He went straight to the head seat at the conference table.
All eyes below were on him; some observed his condition closely. He had supposedly been in a serious car accident, yet he showed no trace of injury now.
A middle-aged man seated in the middle of the left side rolled his eyes and shot a look at the person beside him.
Many others reacted similarly—some overtly, some subtly.
Xie Ningwan ignored their little moves entirely. He straightened his suit buttons, sat down, took the folder from the secretary, and said, “Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I was reviewing a report in the office and got delayed.”
As soon as he spoke, the heavy atmosphere in the conference hall lightened artificially. Everyone chimed in: “No, no.”
“We haven’t been waiting long.”
“President Xie just recovered and dove right back into work—now you make us feel bad for saying that.”
“Exactly, how’s President Xie’s health?…”
“…”
Xie Ningwan’s lips curved faintly, neither affirming nor denying their words. He ignored the probes about his condition and simply lowered his eyes to flip through the folder.
Once the exaggerated flattery and false concern faded, he spoke again, settling accounts one by one.
Meanwhile, after riding on Xie Ningwan’s shoulder to the company, Song Yaoyao stayed with him in the office for a bit. When Xie Ningwan got up to head to the conference hall, Song Yaoyao followed out the door and slipped off to the break room.
Since Xie Ningwan had announced the meeting, the secretary didn’t come as usual to ask about refreshments. Song Yaoyao had to sneak over on his own.
The break room was as stocked as ever, the fridge full of sweets and drinks.
With Xie Ningwan’s return that day, many staff didn’t dare slack off or grab snacks; they all stayed dutifully at their desks. So the break room was empty.
Perfect for Song Yaoyao.
He happily circled the room a few times, downing mini cakes one by one, chugging a milk tea, and crunching several cookies.
Only when he was thoroughly satisfied—his soul power unable to digest more—did he turn and float away to find Xie Ningwan.
