Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

Chapter 1494: Chapter 860: Jiang Xiaosi’s Heartbroken, Prospective Father-in-law’s Worries (Second Update)

The summer heat had already set in, but the air conditioning at the airport was blasting; the chill seeped into your bones, making your whole body feel icy cold.

Jiang Chengsi was completely dumbfounded. Honestly, in all his years, he’d heard every kind of rumor and vicious comment out there and never cared, but this time it was premeditated and meticulously planned, and it even dragged in someone he cared about. How could he not be furious?

Jiang Jinsang looked at the news, and he and the people traveling with him exchanged glances.

They had already discussed how this matter might develop. As long as Yang Yiyi wasn’t exposed as not being Si Qingxiao, there was still room to maneuver.

Two possibilities: Yang Yiyi could out herself, but she was a nobody; even if someone was backing her, netizens might just think she was riding the hype.

And even if she did it, all she could say was that she and Jiang Chengsi were ordinary friends. She couldn’t claim any kind of relationship between them; that would basically be helping him clarify things.

Unless Si Qingxiao directly came out to clarify that the woman in the photos wasn’t her.

That would be equivalent to hammering down the fact that Jiang Chengsi cheated. Si Qingxiao shouldn’t do that; it would mean she’d completely given up on this relationship, especially when things still weren’t clear.

So, looking at the whole situation, they still had time to maneuver. They just didn’t expect that on the day of the wedding, Si Qingxiao would actually show up somewhere...

Even if she’d just gone shopping, it would’ve been fine, but of all places, it had to be somewhere that required her presence for signing and notarization, confirming that it was indeed her in person.

The timing was pinned down with surgical precision.

"Let’s go home first," Jiang Yanting said.

"I’m going to the Si Family," Jiang Chengsi couldn’t sit still. If they kept dragging this out, his wife was going to be gone.

Everyone knew his temper. Once that stubborn streak kicked in, no one could stop him.

"I’ll go with him. You all go home first," Jiang Shiyi said directly.

Both Xiaowai and Xiaoyi were around; aside from him, everyone else had families in tow, which made it inconvenient.

...

Once they left the airport, they split up. Sitting in the car, Jiang Chengsi called Si Qingxiao again, but still no one answered.

"Don’t panic. Miss Si is a smart woman; she won’t be fooled by whatever’s online."

"Even if she doesn’t believe it, seeing it will definitely upset her."

Jiang Chengsi had never been someone who swallowed grievances, and he certainly didn’t want Si Qingxiao to have to swallow any either.

"I’m never flying again. Every time I get off a plane, I feel like I’ve fallen out of sync with the whole world."

Unable to get through to Si Qingxiao, he could only bite the bullet and call Si Yushan. The call connected quickly; he hurriedly cleared his throat, straightened his back, and obediently called out, "Uncle, I wanted to ask, Xiaoxiao, she..."

"Something came up last minute tomorrow. We won’t be coming to the dinner. Help me apologize to the old lady, as well as President Jiang and Mrs. Jiang," Si Yushan said bluntly.

Jiang Shiyi was driving. Even with both hands on the wheel, he was still watching every move his younger brother made.

From the nervousness when the call connected, to the bolt-from-the-blue look, then to going totally blank—this whole process took just a few seconds—and then he turned into a boy with a fake smile.

"Okay, I understand. Given the current situation, a family meet-up between us would indeed be a bit awkward."

Jiang Chengsi had taken this meet-the-parents dinner very seriously. He’d been looking forward to it for a long time, riding a high for several days, and then suddenly got told it was canceled. The huge gap sent his mood crashing straight to rock bottom.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up," Si Yushan said.

"Is Xiaoxiao at home? How is she?"

"What do you think?" Si Yushan didn’t answer him head-on.

"First, I want to say that I really have nothing whatsoever to do with the woman in the photos. Please help me tell Xiaoxiao that from beginning to end, I’ve only ever liked her. I’ll give you both an explanation for this."

After hanging up, Jiang Chengsi slumped against the seatback. It felt like every ounce of strength in his body had been drained. On top of that, he was still hungover from drinking last night, and he was just completely wiped.

"Are we still going to the Si Family?" Even without hearing the full conversation, Jiang Shiyi could more or less guess what had been said.

"We’re going."

"You probably won’t see her."

"That’s fine. I’ll just stay outside her house for a while."

Jiang Shiyi rarely saw him this drained and sighed helplessly.

Whoever was behind this had clearly been planning for a long time. Online, people were saying that Si Qingxiao had gone to see a lawyer about dividing property. That kind of thing definitely wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Si Qingxiao usually spent a lot of time at home making clothes. The person behind this couldn’t be sure she’d go out on the day of Qi Zeyan’s wedding.

Even if she did go out and someone saw her, aside from those industry people who’d attended Madam Si’s birthday banquet, even if others saw her, they wouldn’t necessarily know she was the Si Family’s young lady.

To get her out of the house, they also had to make sure people would know who she was.

And what’s more solid than dividing property, notarizing it on the spot, and having her sign in person?

Everything was linked, and even the timing of the news being released had been precisely calculated. It was clear the person behind this had designed the whole thing long in advance; this was no last-minute scheme.

**

Si Family in Guandong

Si Yushan also didn’t go into the office today. After taking the call from Jiang Chengsi, he pushed open the door to Si Qingxiao’s workroom.

"Dad." Si Qingxiao was in the middle of cutting fabric.

"Don’t just keep working on clothes. Drink some milk and give your eyes a break." Si Yushan set a glass of milk on the table.

"Thanks." Si Qingxiao picked up the milk. Outside, the whole internet was in an uproar over her and Jiang Chengsi, yet from start to finish she remained as calm as a chrysanthemum, still in the mood to sit here working on clothes.

Sewing and cutting both required intense focus, and she seemed completely unaffected by what was happening outside.

"You didn’t pick up that kid’s calls?" Si Yushan found a stool and sat down.

"I was busy, didn’t notice."

"Actually, about what’s online..."

When he’d seen the news that morning, Si Yushan had also been stunned for a moment. Since Jiang Chengsi was dating his daughter, he paid extra attention to anything about him. When the photos were released, he’d felt a flare of anger.

For a second there, he’d wanted nothing more than to drag Jiang Chengsi over and interrogate him.

But right after that, news came out that the woman with him wasn’t his daughter, and people even dug up the fact that she’d gone to see a lawyer.

Once certain things pile up together, the "coincidence" starts to feel a bit much. The way they nailed the timing and controlled the release of information was too precise.

Si Yushan could smell that something was off.

And Si Qingxiao’s reaction was even stranger. She flat-out told him she didn’t want to go meet the Jiang Family tomorrow, like she was sulking.

He had just been about to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with her when she cut him off halfway through.

"Dad, the weather’s getting hot. I’ll make you a summer outfit. Stand up, I’ll measure you again."

Si Yushan stood up as told. Holding a soft tape measure, Si Qingxiao stood in front of him to take his measurements.

"I already told that kid we’re not going to the dinner tomorrow."

"Mm." Si Qingxiao nodded in response.

"He sounded pretty down on the phone. You’re not answering his calls; of course he’s anxious. Whatever it is, it’s better to talk it out. Besides, with what’s happened this time, there might still be..."

"Dad." Si Qingxiao looked up at him.

"What is it?"

"Didn’t you used to not like him? How come you’re suddenly speaking up for him now? If he and I really broke up, shouldn’t you be thrilled? He doesn’t exactly meet your son-in-law standards."

"..." Si Yushan was choked speechless.

To be honest, he already treated Jiang Chengsi as a son-in-law in training. Now if he had to switch to another, he really couldn’t think of anyone more suitable.

Going by his old criteria for choosing a son-in-law, any one of the Jiang brothers would do, but compared to Jiang Chengsi, they all felt a bit... boring.

"And also..." Si Qingxiao reached out to measure his waist.

"Dad, you’ve put on weight recently."

Si Yushan almost choked on his own breath.

Fat... fatter?

He’d always maintained his figure really well. Or was it that after he hurt his back, he’d overdone the tonics?

What was he even worrying about? He’d been afraid she was bottling things up and wanted to comfort her, but this girl—either she was talking back to him or dissing him.

"I came here mainly to pass something on for that kid. He said you should wait; he’ll give you an explanation. And also..." Si Yushan snorted coldly.

"He said he only likes you!"

After he finished, Si Yushan turned and walked out.

"Dad, I’m not done measuring," Si Qingxiao tried to stop him.

"Forget the clothes. It’s not like I don’t have anything to wear." He had originally wanted to help smooth things over between the two of them, but ended up walking away with a stomach full of anger.

Watching him leave, Si Qingxiao tugged at the tape measure in her hand, the corners of her mouth faintly curving up, then she turned back and continued working on her clothes.