章 24: Inherits the company?
Hearing his grandson's response, Grandpa He smiled broadly, a wave of relief washing over him. He felt content knowing he had fulfilled his promise to an old friend. His attention then shifted to his eldest granddaughter, Qi Jianyi.
"Xiao Yi, what about you? Have you thought about becoming the heir? If not, come to Grandpa, and I'll give you half of my property," Grandpa He offered with confidence, his tone light yet serious.
The other family members exchanged glances and shook their heads at the old man's words. They didn't pay much mind to the inheritance; after all, Grandpa He had ensured that each of his children had already received their fair share.
Qi Jianyi's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change in conversation. She parted her lips to respond, but before she could speak, her father, Mr. Qi, interjected sharply. "Dad, don't trouble yourself. Jianyi will inherit my business in the future," he said firmly, making it clear that he didn't want Grandpa He trying to entice his daughter away.
Hmph! Mr. Qi thought to himself. His daughter would soon inherit the entirety of the Qi family's wealth. As for his two sons? Let them fend for themselves!
"Did I ask you? Shut up!" Grandpa He barked, clearly displeased with his son-in-law's interference.
Mr. Qi, however, remained unfazed. He had been part of the family for many years and was well aware that his father-in-law rarely meant what he said in moments of anger.
"Xiao Yi, tell Grandpa, what are your plans after graduating? Do you really want to take over your stinky father's business?" Grandpa He asked again, his tone softening noticeably, a stark contrast to the way he had spoken to Mr. Qi.
Qi Jianyi found herself in a dilemma. She didn't even know what she wanted to do with her future, but she knew better than to express such uncertainty. After all, elders detested nothing more than ambiguity about one's future.
"Well, I don't have any plans to take over the family business..." Qi Jianyi muttered, her voice barely audible as she glanced nervously at her father.
"What?!" Mr. Qi's voice rose in disbelief, his shock evident.
Meanwhile, Grandpa He's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Then, what do you want to do?" he asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.
"I have a few plans... but it's a secret," Qi Jianyi finally replied, opting for the safest route.
Not wanting to pressure his granddaughter, Grandpa He nodded in understanding. "Alright, alright, it's good that you have plans for the future. Grandpa won't pry anymore."
But while Grandpa He was content, Mr. Qi was not. He stared at his daughter, still in shock. "Why don't you want to take over the company? Who am I supposed to pass it on to?" he demanded, his voice tinged with desperation.
Qi Jianyi couldn't help but chuckle at her father's despairing expression. What was wrong with him? Didn't he have two sons to inherit the company?
"Dad, you have them," Qi Jianyi said, pointing to her two brothers.
Mr. Qi turned to his sons, his face clouded with dissatisfaction. How could these troublesome boys possibly compare to his capable daughter?
Feeling his father's disdain, Qi Jinlu bristled. "Dad, you're so biased. Be careful, or you might not live long enough to see your grandchildren," he muttered, sulking.
Realising he had messed up yet again, Mr. Qi clicked his tongue in frustration and turned to his wife for support.
Unfortunately for him, Mrs. Qi had grown weary of her husband's repeated blunders. She deliberately ignored him, deciding to let him handle the mess he had created. She was curious to see how he would comfort his two sulking sons.
Qi Jianyi touched her nose, embarrassed by her father's antics. She couldn't fathom how the original Qi Jianyi had managed to remain so aloof despite her father's behaviour.
"Ah, Xiao Yi, how's university life treating you?" Qi Jianyi's youngest uncle broke the tense silence, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
For once, Qi Jianyi was grateful for the distraction. She had been struggling with how to respond to her father's desperate, pleading gaze. She offered a smile and replied, "Third uncle, my life there is good. Though, it's quite different from high school, but I'm adjusting."
Qi Jianyi vividly recalled her own first experience stepping into university in her original world. The university was a daunting 300 kilometres from her home, far from the comfort of her family.
That was the first time Qi Jianyi truly felt like a crybaby. She called her mother every day, complaining about how difficult campus life was, though deep down, she knew it was mostly her way of expressing how much she missed her family. Her constant calls and emotional pleas nearly convinced her mother to transfer her to a university closer to home.
The sudden resurgence of those memories brought a soft, nostalgic smile to Qi Jianyi's lips. Though that time in her life felt like it was just yesterday, the reality was that she could no longer see her mother.
She realised that dwelling on such sorrowful thoughts wasn't beneficial, especially not in front of 'Qi Jianyi's' relatives. Therefore, Qi Jianyi quickly composed herself and steadied her expression, pushing aside the wave of melancholy to maintain her composure.
Despite her efforts to mask her emotions, Qi Jianyi couldn't entirely conceal her feelings from her mother, Mrs. Qi, who had been more observant of her daughter's moods lately. Mrs. Qi noticed the fleeting look of nostalgia on Qi Jianyi's face and was puzzled by the sudden shift in her demeanor.
However, she chose to remain silent, deciding not to press for details. Perhaps her daughter was simply reminiscing about someone important, she mused, respecting her daughter's privacy and choosing to let it be.
The third uncle, He Shu, chuckled in agreement. "Yes, I remember my own experience quite well. Ironically, university wasn't all that different from high school, but somehow it felt entirely different, if that makes sense," he said, tapping his chin and laughing, clearly reminiscing about his own good memories.
Qi Jianyi nodded in understatement, "It really does feel like that sometimes."
With the third uncle's intervention, the atmosphere around the dining table gradually returned to its usual warmth, easing the earlier tension from the father-and-son dispute.
Qi Jianyi observed her so-called relatives. They were kind and cheerful, effortlessly sharing stories and laughter despite their daily interactions. Yet, as she watched them, a sense of loneliness began to creep into her heart. She felt an unsettling disconnect, as though she didn't truly belong among them.
She attempted to brush off these feelings. After all, she didn't actually belong to this family. Still, the sense of alienation lingered, persistent and uncomfortable. It felt as though the emotions weren't entirely her own but rather remnants of the original Qi Jianyi's feelings—echoes of a past that continued to affect her.
"If you care about your family, then where are you?" Qi Jianyi questioned silently within her heart. The sudden wave of sadness felt foreign, not entirely her own.
After some contemplation, she realised that this emotional pang was likely a reaction to the past memories of the original Qi Jianyi—memories of feeling isolated and unable to fit in with her family. It was as though her body was resonating with the loneliness and sense of displacement that had once been part of the original Qi Jianyi's experience.
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