I Became Super Rich After Resigning

Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Living Apart in Two Places

Jiang City was about two and a half hours’ drive from A City.

When they arrived at the Huo Mansion it was a little past seven in the evening, just as the sky was growing dim in the summer day.

As soon as Yuan Xi got out of the car, she saw a figure rush over to pick up little Shihuo.

Shi Zhen, holding little Shihuo, kissed his face several times, “My dear baby, Mommy missed you so much.”

Little Shihuo wrapped his arms around Shi Zhen’s neck, “I missed Mommy too!”

Yuan Xi glanced at Huo Shiyuan and went up to greet her, “Ms. Shi.”

Shi Zhen laughed lightly at Yuan Xi, “The baby in your belly should be old enough to see the gender by now, right? Is it a girl?”

Shi Zhen didn’t have a daughter and longed for a little girl she could dress up like a real-life doll.

Huo Shiyuan said, “We haven’t checked yet, a boy or girl, either is fine.”

Huo Shiyuan looked toward Huo Ting coming out from inside the house and called out, “Dad.”

Yuan Xi followed Huo Shiyuan’s lead, “Dad.”

Huo Ting looked Yuan Xi over, “Is this the little Xi my sister used to cry and cling to trees for, refusing to leave, with tears and snot running down her face?”

Huo Shiyuan frowned slightly.

Little Shihuo, in Shi Zhen’s arms, pouted, “Brother also cried when he was little? He never lets me cry, saying that a man shouldn’t weep.”

Shi Zhen said, “Your brother used to cry a lot when he was young. Every time he left Jiang City, he would cry for several days, especially in the first two years when he went abroad for school. He cried every day.”

Huo Shiyuan frowned and said coldly, “No, I didn’t.”

Yuan Xi saw a familiar figure come out of the house, and for the first time she truly felt that Huo Shiyuan was her older brother.

After more than a decade, Grandma Shi had aged a lot, but she still resembled the kindly and elegant old lady from Yuan Xi’s childhood.

Every time Grandma Shi returned to the village, she would bring them gifts, sometimes beautiful dresses, sometimes books, sometimes pastries from A City.

Yuan Xi quickly walked up and said, “Grandma Shi.”

Grandma Shi took Yuan Xi’s hand, smiling kindly, “It’s been over ten years, and you’ve grown so tall and big so quickly, time really does fly.”

Yuan Xi laughed lightly, “After more than a decade, Grandma Shi still looks the same as before.”

Grandma Shi said, “There have been quite a few changes, it’s hot outside, come inside quickly.”

Yuan Xi followed Huo Shiyuan into the house and saw two elderly men sitting on the sofa: one she recognized as Mr. Huo, and the other must be Huo Shiyuan’s grandfather, Mr. Shi.

Both elderly men had an inherent authority about them.

Huo Shiyuan bowed his head and said, “Grandpa, Grandfather, this is Xiao Xi.”

Yuan Xi spoke with a light smile, “Grandpa, Grandfather.”

Mr. Shi said, “Hello, Xiao Xi, we’ve been waiting for you two to come back for dinner. Let’s go to the dining room.”

Inside the dining room, Yuan Xi saw another august personage, Minister Xiao, the father of Huo Shiyuan’s uncle.

Even for Yuan Xi, who was used to grand occasions, the scene was a bit intimidating.

Huo Shiyuan held Yuan Xi’s hand tightly, speaking softly, “There’s no need to be nervous, they all know you.”

Yuan Xi looked up at Huo Shiyuan. It was true they all knew her, but she didn’t know them.

“Aunt, Uncle, this is Xiao Xi.”

Yuan Xi followed suit in greeting, “Uncle, Aunt.”

Aunt Huo said with a smile, “Please, sit down and let’s eat.”

Once Yuan Xi was seated, she tried not to be nervous. After all, she’d seen all sorts of situations during five years of working, but in some sense, this was indeed her first time eating together with Huo Shiyuan’s elders.

Grandma Shi had Yuan Xi and Huo Shiyuan sit by her side and used the serving chopsticks to put sweet and sour ribs on Yuan Xi’s plate, “I remember you loved sweet and sour ribs the most.”

“Yes, thank you, Grandma Shi.”

Grandma Shi looked at Yuan Xi with affection, “Eat more, you’re looking thin.”

Yuan Xi smiled faintly, “Okay.”

Huo Shiyuan used to be chubby as a child, thanks primarily to Grandma Shi’s efforts. She remembered that whenever they visited Grandma Shi’s home, she would also lovingly feed them.

Especially since Shi Lei was very thin as a child, whenever Grandma Shi saw him, she would always find something for him to eat.

With Grandma Shi’s nurturing, Yuan Xi’s feelings of nervousness gradually dissipated.

After the meal, Huo Shiyuan was called into the study by Mr. Shi and Mr. Huo.

Yuan Xi chatted with Grandma Shi and Granny Huo in the living room downstairs, with the two elderly ladies most concerned about the child in her womb.

Yuan Xi didn’t find it tiresome at all; after all, it was her first time having a child, and she ought to listen to the elders’ experience.

Shi Zhen walked up beside Grandma Shi and wrapped an arm around her neck, saying, “Mom, I finally understand why you like Xiao Xi so much. She really has a good temper and doesn’t show any impatience when you two go on and on.”

Grandma Shi chuckled, “Only you would be impatient. You’re fifty years old yet still act like a five-year-old child, looking for affection.”

Shi Zhen said, “Even when I’m old and grey, as long as you’re here, I can still act spoiled.”

Grandma Shi laughed, “You’re already a mother-in-law, and soon you’ll be a grandmother. You should be a bit more dignified.”

Shi Zhen replied, “Who says a grandmother has to be dignified? I’m going to be the coolest grandma who becomes best friends with her granddaughter.”

Granny Huo looked towards Yuan Xi, her eyes brightening slightly, “Is it confirmed to be a girl?”

After all, Granny Huo’s grandkids were all boys, and she hadn’t liked Xiao Yun’s previous daughter. She hadn’t had much interaction with Zhen Guying either, and she really hoped for a great-granddaughter.

Yuan Xi shook her head, “We haven’t checked the sex yet, but we should be able to find out at the next prenatal checkup.”

Granny Huo smiled, “It’s fine. If this birth doesn’t yield a daughter, you can have another child next time.”

Yuan Xi pursed her lips slightly. In truth, she had no plans to have a third child, and Huo Shiyuan likely didn’t either.

However, Yuan Xi wouldn’t declare this openly in front of Old Mrs. Huo and simply smiled, “Okay.”

No sooner had Yuan Xi returned to Huo Shiyuan’s room than Huo Shiyuan walked in, though he did not look pleased.

Yuan Xi asked Huo Shiyuan, “What did Grandpa and Grandfather talk to you about?”

Huo Shiyuan said, “They want me to formally take over Shiyi Group.”

Yuan Xi asked, “Don’t you want to take over?”

Although Huo Shiyuan had Shixi Finance, which he started himself, Shiyi Group was still a century-old family business for both the Huo and Shi families and was important to him as well.

Huo Shiyuan replied, “Shiyi’s headquarters are in City A. It’s not easy to move to Jiang City.”

Yuan Xi said, “Actually, Jiang City and City A aren’t too far apart. By car, it’s only a two or three-hour drive, and it’s even faster by high-speed rail, barely over an hour. We could live in different cities and meet on weekends…”

Huo Shiyuan frowned, “Let’s talk about this later.”

Yuan Xi asked, “By the way, why didn’t your mom and dad inherit Shiyi?”

Huo Shiyuan said, “When they were young, neither would yield to the other. They detested each other, guarding against one another, afraid that the partner would seize Shiyi, and forced the company’s executives to take sides, leading to endless internal strife. My grandfather and your grandfather couldn’t bear to watch it and kicked them both out of Shiyi.”

Yuan Xi looked at Huo Shiyuan, “How could they bear you if they disliked each other that much?”

Huo Shiyuan smiled lightly, “Actually, they were childhood sweethearts, and they knew from a young age that they would marry each other someday. But in high school, they each had other boyfriends and girlfriends, with whom they had tumultuous, passionate relationships. However, due to family obligations, they were still forced to marry. My grandfathers only required them to have a child who carried the blood of both the Huo and Shi families; beyond that, they did not care whether they divorced or what happened to them. So, my father had me before he was even of legal age to marry.”

“But you make a point. They could also manage Shiyi Group. Now that they get along and with Shiyi Group’s well-established system, letting them manage it for a few years wouldn’t cause any significant problems. They can’t really be expected to live off their elders forever.”

…

The next morning, Yuan Xi followed Huo Shiyuan to pay a visit to the adjacent Fu Mansion.

Currently, only Old Madam Fu and Qian Qingqing were living in the Fu Mansion.

Mr. Fu and Fu Yadong, the current head of the Fu Family, lived elsewhere.

Tomorrow a wedding was to be held in the Fu Mansion, and today the old mansion was bustling with activity, as the wedding company had already been decorating Fu’s Mansion.

Yuan Xi followed Huo Shiyuan to a brightly sunlit room on the first floor, facing east. Her gaze fell on the man lying on the bed, who seemed to be sound asleep. His fingertips occasionally twitched lightly.

Yuan Xi turned to Huo Shiyuan and said, “His fingers are moving!”