Chapter 360

Chapter 360 – Whether We Love or Not Is Our Own Matter (7200 words, Extra Chapter for Moon Ticket)

“Uncle Xia, Aunt Yu, hello!”

“Oh… Ah Fang, you’ve become even more handsome!”

Teacher Yu warmly pinched Mei Fang’s face when she saw him, “I watched your Fang Dimension product launch with Uncle Yuan and Father all the way through, I was so focused!”

“Thank you, Aunt Yu… It’s everyone’s effort.”

Mei Fang scratched his head embarrassedly, “Of course, Yuan and You Xi helped me the most…”

He then looked at his future father-in-law, “Uncle Xia, what do you think of this product launch?”

“You’re just a small-town businessman, Xia. You can’t understand the big business young people are doing now.”

Xia Xun coughed and continued, “But you’ve made quite a big move, and remember that a tree that stands out gets hit by the wind. Always be prepared for any situation, make money amicably, and build connections. Don’t cause trouble.”

“I know, Uncle Xia. We have a professional team, and many strategies were planned in advance. I’m very grateful to you for the connections, if you hadn’t recommended Uncle Chen to us, we wouldn’t have developed so quickly.”

“Uncle Chen… Do you call him that at work too?”

“Yes… Usually just Uncle.”

Xia Yuan explained, “We usually use nicknames at work. For example, I’m called Yuanbao, Ah Fang is called Station Master, You Xi is Miss, and Chen is Uncle.”

Xia Xun immediately realized that Lin You Xi wasn’t there today, and seeing these two kids today, he guessed they might reconcile. This slightly increased his好感度好感度 +0.1.

“Speaking of You Xi, isn’t she here today?”

Yu Ling patted her daughter and asked, “How are your relationships lately? Have you fought? I saw on the launch that you three got along well.”

“Fine! Why are you asking suddenly? You Xi is preparing to cook for us.”

“Cooking?”

Xia Xun frowned slightly, “Why go through all this trouble? Didn’t we agree to just find a restaurant?”

“Oh, You Xi has put in the effort, why aren’t you happy?”

Yu Ling nudged Xia Xun, reminding him not to show it too obviously. Xia Xun coughed and said, “I’m not unhappy, I just think it’s too much trouble…”

At this moment, Xia Yuan snuggled up to her dad, “It’s okay, Dad. You Xi respects you and Mom. She’s happy to do this, so stop being shy, let’s get in the car. We’ll be stuck in traffic otherwise.”

“I’m not being shy—”

Mei Fang helped load their luggage into the trunk and they all got into the car. Xia Xun sat with his wife in the back seat, intending to invite his daughter, but Xia Yuan naturally sat in the front passenger seat.

Goodwill -50!

Seeing this, Xia Xun glared at Mei Fang, and the killing aura from behind made Mei Fang uneasy.

What did I do wrong?

We haven’t even started talking about work…

Mei Fang drove to a high-end neighborhood across from Pengda. Lin You Xi was still preparing dinner at home. When Xia Xun and Yu Ling entered, they were warmly welcomed by Lin You Xi.

“Uncle Xia, Aunt Yu, welcome! Please come in… Take off your shoes here, there are spare slippers. Let me take your things.”

“Alright… Thanks, You Xi… But your place is really upscale. I love this balcony.”

“Come, Mom, I’ll show you our rooms—Ah Fang, help me brew some tea.”

“Okay.”

Mei Fang turned to Xia Xun, “Uncle Xia, do you still like Pu’er? We just received a box of good Pu’er. If you like it later, you can take some home.”

“Kid, how do you know my preferences so well?”

Xia Xun was pleasantly surprised and his goodwill towards Mei Fang +0.1.

“It’s been years, I remember.”

“Stop fussing, just pour me some water.”

Xia Xun turned to Lin You Xi in the kitchen, “You Xi, just make some simple dishes. We’re so familiar, no need to be too formal. We won’t finish anyway, right?”

Yu Ling also advised, “Yes, we’re family. You Xi, don’t make too much food.”

“What family are you talking about…”

Xia Xun didn’t understand why his wife suddenly said this, but it seemed to please Lin You Xi. She smiled and nodded, “It’s fine, I’m treating you as I would my own parents. No need to be polite.”

“Speaking of which, it’s been a while since we last saw your parents. Where are they now?”

“They’re traveling in Thailand, sending us photos of riding elephants. Let me show you.”

“Wow… Your dad looks so good, living such a carefree life…”

Mei Fang, ignoring Xia Xun’s nagging, had already brewed the tea and was about to serve it when Xia Yuan pulled him aside and signaled him, “Should we talk about the financing during or after the meal?”

“After would be better, avoid accusations of cheating, eating someone else’s food…”

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang were discussing their plans when Xia Xun inadvertently noticed them.

“Let’s eat!”

Lin You Xi served the final bone broth and accidentally burned herself when removing the gloves. Mei Fang instinctively went over to check her hand.

“Are you okay, You Xi? Let me see!”

“No, no… Just a minor burn. Sit down and eat with Uncle Xia and Aunt Yu. I’ll rinse it—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll buy some burn ointment right away.”

“Really, sit down and eat. Oh, you—”

Lin You Xi’s words contained a tiny complaint.

You don’t need to be so considerate in front of Yuan’s parents…

Sure enough, Xia Xun’s goodwill towards Mei Fang -50.

Everyone enjoyed the meal. Mei Fang and Lin You Xi were very attentive, serving Xia Xun wine and food, making him feel well taken care of.

Xia Xun praised Lin You Xi’s cooking, embarrassing Xia Yuan and her mother who lowered their heads in embarrassment.

After a few drinks, everyone was happy. Yu Ling also expressed her appreciation for the neighborhood.

“Yuan, you picked a great house. Why don’t we buy one like this for you?”

“Um…”

Xia Yuan tugged at her hair, “Buying a house, let’s not rush.”

“Pengcheng’s housing prices are rising every day. If you don’t buy now, they’ll go up even more. Yuan, if you want to stay in Pengcheng long-term, buying a house now makes sense. Renovation takes half a year anyway.”

“Mom, we’re still working hard. How can we settle down so soon…”

“But it doesn’t affect us buying a house, right?”

Xia Xun said, “If you’re not in a hurry to separate from Ah Fang, consider it an investment.”

Seeing his daughter pressured, Mei Fang stood up:

“Uncle Xia, Aunt Yu… I actually have a selfish request—”

Xia Xun and Yu Ling followed Mei Fang’s gaze. He said earnestly, “I want to invite Uncle Xia to join our YuanXi Interactive team.”

Xia Xun and Yu Ling exchanged glances. Yu Ling was about to speak, but Xia Xun stopped her with a gesture. He sized up Mei Fang and asked calmly,

“Is that why You Xi was so enthusiastic today?”

Xia Xun said, “But inviting me means you want me to invest, right?”

Mei Fang nodded, “Uncle Xia, with your experience in the investment industry, you can see through our intentions.”

“But your company is huge now. The investment you’re seeking isn’t small.”

Xia Xun calmly said, “So you heard Yuan wanted to buy a house with cash and thought of this. You seem very confident, thinking I’ll support you because of your relationship with Yuan, right?”

“Dad, what are you saying… Ah Fang’s business is mine, supporting him is supporting me.”

“You silly child… You might be sold out and not even realize it.”

Xia Xun frowned, “You made a lot of money as a web singer, but I never saw those funds. Did you use them all to support his business?”

Xia Yuan looked furious, “Dad, how could you say such heartless things? Without Ah Fang, I couldn’t succeed. My albums, lyrics, and publishing issues were all handled by Ah Fang!”

Mei Fang gently pulled Xia Yuan aside, “Yuan, don’t get angry. Uncle Xia is your father, he’s thinking of you.”

Then he turned to Xia Xun, “Uncle Xia, we signed a partnership agreement. Except for external financing and promises to executives, Yuan and You Xi each hold 33% of YuanXi Interactive. That includes me and them. This will never change.”

Though Mei Fang spoke sincerely, Xia Xun showed no sign of agreement, “But this also means sharing risks. She’s just accompanying you to chase your dreams and sharing your risks.”

“What do you mean ‘accompanying Ah Fang’? My music dreams aren’t dreams? Dad, you’re being unreasonable!”

Xia Yuan angrily shouted at her father. If not for Mei Fang holding her back, the scene would have been worse. Xia Xun clearly felt his daughter’s goodwill towards him -500.

Although he was heartbroken, it was necessary.

Mei Fang grew up under Xia Xun’s watchful eye. Xia Xun knew this child would achieve great things, so he didn’t mind Yuan dating him.

But that didn’t mean he’d fully support his business. In essence, Mei Fang was just a neighbor’s child, at most a childhood friend… and ex-boyfriend.

After witnessing his own hotel’s fate, Xia Xun’s investment strategy now favored diversification. Mei Fang’s request was likely in the millions, conflicting with his strategy.

Even if Mei Fang were his son-in-law, he’d have to think carefully. And he was just an ex-boyfriend.

But despite that…

No matter how he diversified, his daughter would always be his. Xia Xun had only one daughter, and she’d inherit everything.

But Yuan was too naive and honest, fully entrusting her future to Mei Fang after deciding on him.

As a parent, Xia Xun had to apply more pressure to Mei Fang to see if he was truly reliable.

Mei Fang didn’t blame Xia Xun for his coldness and instead tried to soothe Yuan.

“Yuan, don’t be like this… Don’t blame Uncle Xia. They were saving money for your house. Our sudden idea was inappropriate… Uncle Xia has his own investment plan, it’s not his fault.”

Mei Fang bowed and apologized, “Uncle Xia… Sorry for causing you trouble. Ignore my earlier request.”

“It’s not necessary to say that…”

Xia Xun was about to ask about YuanXi Interactive’s current development when Lin You Xi came over and patted Mei Fang’s shoulder.

“Afang, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out later. I’ll convince my dad to sell the house.”

Lin You Xi’s words shocked everyone. Xia Xun’s embarrassment +100. Mei Fang couldn’t help but laugh — this was unexpected. Borrowing money wasn’t a big deal; he had Bitcoin.

“Why sell the house? Even if we need money, it’s not that much…”

“We’ll contribute whatever we can. My parents won’t be home for a while. We just need to get through these few months. Once the motion capture devices are mass-produced and approved, we’ll have the money.”

Lin You Xi softly added, “My parents trust you, they’ll support my decision.”

Xia Xun’s embarrassment +300.

“But if the A-round negotiations fail and copyrights fall apart…”

Lin You Xi smiled, “Then we’ll work together to pay off the debt. There’s always a solution.”

“You won’t have to work hard…”

Xia Xun’s embarrassment +1000, Xia Yuan’s +3000.

Compared to Xia Xun’s harsh questions, Lin You Xi’s full support was overwhelming. Xia Xun was left speechless, and Xia Yuan, seeing her chance, grabbed Mei Fang’s arm, her eyes red with emotion.

“Afang, don’t give up. I’ll support you too, whether it’s endorsements, ads, or concerts. No matter how hard it is, I’ll find a way to help close the gap!”

“That’s not allowed… You don’t like those things, and I don’t want to see you suffer for me.”

“Now is the time for sacrifice. I’m not tired of it… It’s just troublesome. But we’ve succeeded through our own efforts, and I’ll never be a freeloader.”

Xia Yuan rolled her eyes at Xia Xun, who felt he might lose his daughter forever if he didn’t say something. His wife nudged him several times, but he was still formulating his words when his wife Yu Ling finally stepped in.

“Hey, don’t act like this. It looks like Yuan’s dad wants to part ways. Actually, we discussed how difficult it is to start a business.”

“Enough, dear…”

“I’m not speaking, how will you open your mouth… Your dad said you’re doing great, but you must be short on funds. He even cashed out stable projects to support you if needed… He’s tough on the outside but cares deeply.”

“So you said those harsh things earlier! Do you know your daughter’s dreams? You never cared!”

Lin You Xi watched Xia Yuan reprimand her father, a slight smile forming.

Thankfully, Uncle Xia doesn’t know about Yuan’s wishes.

If he did, he’d skin Afang alive…

Mei Fang tried to calm Yuan, then turned to Xia Xun:

“Uncle Xia, I understand your concern for Yuan’s future. You and Aunt Yu have only one daughter, so I understand your worries.”

“But I promise you, like I said at the product launch, Yuan and You Xi are the most important people in my life. No one can replace them. I won’t let them go hungry or suffer any injustice.”

“Words alone may not be convincing, but we’ve known each other for over a decade. I’m the child you’ve watched grow up, and I’m also the student Aunt Yu taught. If you want to observe me, test my sincerity towards Yuan, you can continue watching. I’ll strive to earn your approval someday.”

“There’s nothing to strive for…”

Xia Xun nodded calmly but was inwardly troubled.

If you proposed marriage to Yuan, how could I not trust you with everything?

But now, every promise seems to involve You Xi…

What if he ends up with You Xi? What will happen to our Yuan?

She likes you so much, will she end up alone? Have you thought about that?

Xia Xun couldn’t bring himself to ask.

And he dared not ask again, having already upset his precious daughter.

Under Teacher Yu’s warm and reassuring presence, everyone could finally discuss the financing.

Mei Fang introduced Xia Xun to YuanXi Interactive’s financial status and presented a prepared draft of the financing plan.

In reality, the overall financial situation wasn’t as dire as it seemed. They were just preparing for the A-round financing discussions.

Moreover, from Xia Xun’s perspective, apart from the familial connection, he should even thank Mei Fang for giving him this opportunity.

To compensate for upsetting Yuan earlier and to support his daughter, Xia Xun directly signed a 30 million yuan financing agreement with Mei Fang.

This surprised Mei Fang, as full payment for a house in Pengcheng was capped around 10 million yuan.

Seeing her husband support Mei Fang’s business, Xia Yuan’s sour expression softened as she nudged her father.

“Really, why didn’t you say so? I thought you disliked Ah Fang!”

“I wish I could dislike him…”

Xia Xun was about to say more when Xia Yuan suddenly hugged her father tightly.

“Thank you, Dad.”

“Thank you for believing in us.”

“Thank you for standing with me.”

Xia Xun’s previous dissatisfaction vanished in the embrace.

“Though, no more arrogance, understood?”

“What’s arrogance?”

Mei Fang and Xia Xun’s couple reached an agreement. For the next three days, they drove around Pengcheng, sightseeing, and visiting parks.

During this time, Xia Yuan accompanied them alone, while Lin You Xi stayed busy with work. As a return for the financing, she gave the couple a three-day son-in-law experience card. With his local knowledge and wealth, Mei Fang served them diligently, ensuring they had a good time.

Once everyone was satisfied, it was time to send the couple back.

In the car, Mei Fang and Xia Xun chatted intermittently about work, while Xia Yuan talked with her mom about household matters. The family of four was happily close.

Yu Ling appeared cheerful, but as a mother and teacher, she had always paid attention to their interactions. Finally, she couldn’t help but voice her concerns:

“Afang, Yuan said you and You Xi broke up recently. Can you tell us the reason?”

“This isn’t new… It’s because—”

Yu Ling interrupted Xia Yuan, “Yuan, your explanation doesn’t count. I want to hear from Afang.”

“You Xi said the reason was work getting busy. Uncle Xia and Aunt Yu, you know our group is in a crucial period—no room for mistakes…”

“Mei Fang, don’t forget, I was your elementary school teacher.”

Mei Fang was waiting at a red light when Yu Ling patted his shoulder and poked his cheek when he turned around, “This is how You Xi told you. Aunt still wants to hear your thoughts.”

“Mom, why are you forcing Afang to answer this? It sounds like you’re interrogating him.”

“No, you’re both grown-ups. As长辈, I should ask. Do you like Yuan? I think you still do. You also have feelings for You Xi, growing up together…”

“But whether Yuan or You Xi breaks up with you, you seem too calm and natural.”

Yu Ling tapped her chin, closing her eyes in thought, “You either don’t love anymore, or the breakup was expected…”

Xia Xun, as a traditional male elder, couldn’t participate in the younger generation’s love life. Now, he could only pretend to sleep and listen intently.

Mei Fang, feeling relaxed after securing the investment, didn’t expect his beloved elementary school teacher to suddenly bring this up.

If he answered poorly, it might expose their ambitions and jeopardize the Xia family’s support.

After some deliberation, Mei Fang cautiously replied, “Our breakups were expected… Because no matter whether it’s with You Xi or Yuan, we always feel guilty toward the other.”

Xia Yuan nodded, “Exactly… I broke up because I felt sorry for You Xi being alone.”

“But this isn’t about sympathy… If you can’t decide your future, you’re delaying someone else’s happiness, right?”

Mei Fang bit his lip, unable to give a direct answer.

The truth was clear.

Their destinies were intertwined.

But this was something he couldn’t say directly.

At this moment, Xia Yuan mumbled, “Mom, don’t say that. It sounds like I can’t compare to You Xi… I don’t want Afang to choose, because I’ll be the one left behind.”

“Yuan, don’t say that… Liking someone isn’t about superiority. In my eyes, you’re just as outstanding as You Xi.”

Mei Fang fell silent for a moment, then said, “It’s all my responsibility… Teacher Yu, I’m being honest. I can’t make a choice. We’re not just friends for a year or two, but companions for over a decade. Yuan and You Xi are parts of my life.”

“Your feelings are indeed good… I understand…”

Yu Ling sighed lightly and smiled, “But if you don’t want to choose, maintaining this relationship isn’t a bad thing…”

“Wait, what are you saying? Are you letting Yuan be alone forever?”

“Not at all… I’m just saying… Don’t you think they’re more affectionate than ordinary couples? If childhood friends can maintain this, it’s not lonely, right?”

“But without a marriage certificate, how can you guarantee the relationship won’t break down?”

“In the end, a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper. Whether we love or not is our own affair, isn’t it?”

Yu Ling smiled at Xia Xun, “That’s what you told me when we got married, remember?”

“Those kinds of things shouldn’t be discussed with the younger generation…”

“My husband is so cute, blushing even at this age.”

“My dad is so cute, hahaha!”

“Both of you… Forget it, you’re nagging.”

Xia Xun closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Xia Yuan and her mother laughed, exchanging a knowing glance.

She knew her mother wouldn’t probe further. This idea of her mother’s was a step closer to their trio arrangement.

Xia Yuan sighed, then turned to her beloved.

Her eyes were filled with sweet, loving smiles.

[Chapter End]