To Sink Into You - Chapter 41

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ming Qian and Wen Yuxi visited Quyao Street to spend the day with Wen Jiayang and his wife.

Wen Jiayang had made no progress in his investigation of the Forced High Fever Agent and was now desperately searching for folk remedies to help Wen Yuxi conceive, hoping to atone for his past mistakes.

Wen Yuxi secretly relished his futile efforts, determined to keep the truth hidden. She feigned concern, saying, “Dad, don’t waste your energy. Even if I can’t get pregnant, I’ll accept it.”

“How can you say that?” Wen Jiayang’s eyes widened in alarm. “An Omega who can’t bear children? If you don’t conceive soon, the Ming Family will definitely object. Don’t worry, Dad will find a way.”

Tired of arguing, Wen Yuxi pondered the situation alone for a moment. She realized this was the perfect opportunity—Su Xi’s health had been stable recently. She could finally bring her plan to its conclusion.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the couple left Quyao Street to visit the Wen Family Old Mansion.

The Wen Family Old Mansion buzzed with activity today. Seven young members of the Wen Family had gathered, all except Wen Qingcheng. At lunchtime, everyone crowded around the table, chatting animatedly.

Wen Qingcheng’s parents forced smiles as they greeted relatives, their spirits clearly dampened by their daughter’s absence.

“Jiaguang,” a relative asked Wen Jiaguang, “why didn’t Qingcheng come home for the New Year?”

Wen Jiaguang’s expression stiffened. He was about to answer when Wen Shilin cut him off. “What would that useless Omega be doing here?”

As the family patriarch, Wen Shilin sat at the head of the table, his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. His cold, authoritative voice brooked no argument. “After all the shameful things she’s done, she’d better not show her face here. If she dares, I’ll gladly help her father give her another beating.”

Wen Jiaguang’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

The relatives, having heard rumors, realized they’d spoken too hastily. They chuckled awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. “Grandfather, you can’t say that. Qingcheng is still young. It’s normal to make mistakes at her age. As long as she learns from them, that’s what matters.”

To everyone’s surprise, Wen Shilin erupted in anger. “Made a mistake? If she’d only made one mistake, no one would blame her! Breaking off the engagement was bad enough, but to then get involved with an Omega? It’s utterly absurd, a violation of human decency! Does she even deserve to be a member of the Wen Family?!”

The relatives fell silent, their words dying in their throats.

Wen Jiaguang and Shang Xue, the parents of the criticized daughter, hung their heads in shame, utterly humiliated.

Wen Yuxi sighed, a sudden wave of exhaustion washing over her. She picked up a shiitake mushroom and put it in her mouth, but it tasted like cardboard.

She had never felt any affection for this feudalistic family, and now her feelings had escalated to outright disgust. If only she had made an excuse not to come, she wouldn’t have dragged Ming Qian into this suffering.

Wen Keyu, seated to Wen Shilin’s right, spoke up. “Grandfather, it’s the New Year. Let’s not dwell on unpleasant matters.”

He rose, picked up a bottle of red wine from the table, and poured a glass, smiling. “Try this. I had it air-freighted from overseas. It has a remarkable flavor.”

Wen Shilin’s expression softened slightly. He took a sip and nodded in approval. “Indeed, it’s quite good.”

Wen Keyu smiled modestly. “If you like it, that’s all that matters.”

Ever since Wen Qingcheng fled her arranged marriage, Wen Shilin had been searching for a promising young candidate to groom as his successor. Wen Keyu was the chosen one. A B-Class Alpha, he wasn’t particularly outstanding in any specific area, but his strength lay in his interpersonal skills, allowing him to easily win the old man’s favor.

The atmosphere brightened again as the fine wine flowed. Wen Shilin’s mood improved, and after the meal, he even offered Wen Yuxi a plate of peanut brittle. “Butler Zhang bought this this morning. Try some.”

Wen Yuxi lowered her gaze, biting her lip to suppress a laugh.

Her own grandfather didn’t even know she was allergic to peanuts.

There couldn’t be anything more absurdly comical than this.

Ming Qian frowned slightly. “Yuxi, has your allergy been cured?” she asked, puzzled.

Wen Yuxi shook her head, her smile sweet and understanding. “They probably just got the wrong thing. Grandfather loves me so much—how could he forget I’m allergic to peanuts?”

Wen Shilin’s expression turned slightly awkward. He had never paid attention to Wen Yuxi, so he naturally didn’t know about her peanut allergy. He had intended to show concern for his granddaughter in front of Ming Qian, but his attempt backfired spectacularly.

Ming Qian picked up a piece of peanut brittle and smiled faintly. “Since it’s Grandfather’s kind gesture, I’ll eat it for you.”

The corners of Wen Yuxi’s lips curled upward. “Then thank you, Sister.”

Wen Shilin forced a smile, trying to recover. “Grandfather’s getting old, and his eyes are failing.”

Ming Qian’s expression remained unchanged as she said earnestly, “Yuxi, we should cherish our family. Let’s take Grandfather to the hospital to get his eyes checked soon.”

Wen Yuxi watched Wen Shilin’s face flush with color, barely suppressing a laugh as she replied, “Oh, okay.”

After dinner, Wen Yuxi quietly said to Ming Qian, “Sister, let’s go. I don’t want to stay here.”

Ming Qian readily agreed, “Alright, let’s go home.”

Wen Yuxi quickly made up an excuse to take her leave, and she and Ming Qian left the Wen Family Old Mansion together. Shen Kang, following orders, waited by the roadside to drive them back to Ink Moon Manor.

In the car, Ming Qian turned to gaze out the window at the night scenery, her thoughts drifting back to the past.

Both parents are Betas, so their child will also be a Beta. This was a fact etched into human consciousness, a truth universally accepted by the world.

Consequently, Wen Yuxi had been overlooked since birth. The elders’ attention was always focused on Wen Qingcheng, with everyone expecting her to differentiate into an Alpha and become the next Person in Power of the Wen Group.

Ming Qian first met Wen Yuxi at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet sixteen years ago. The five-year-old girl was huddled in a deserted corner, flipping through a storybook, her chubby face and large eyes filled with dejection.

The twelve-year-old Ming Qian felt an inexplicable pity for her. She asked Ming Yang, “Mommy, why isn’t Yuxi playing with Qingcheng and the others?”

Ming Yang replied gently, “Qianqian, not everyone enjoys playing with others. Some children cherish their personal space.”

Ming Qian looked unconvinced. “But Yuxi looks so lonely.”

Ming Yang tilted her head and smiled encouragingly. “Then why don’t you go give Yuxi a hug?”

Ming Qian’s beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons. “Okay.”

After many years, Ming Qian couldn’t quite recall what she had felt in her heart when she first embraced Wen Yuxi.

Perhaps it was pity, or perhaps heartache.

The other children of the Wen Family were playing and laughing boisterously, but Wen Yuxi remained curled up in a corner, like a little dog abandoned by its owner—pitiful, neglected, and utterly alone.

How could such an endearing child exist?

Wen Yuxi was acutely sensitive to the gazes of others. When she looked up, her eyes collided with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. “Sister, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ming Qian said, gently patting her head. “If you don’t like it here, we won’t visit the Wen Family again.”

Wen Yuxi paused, then beamed a radiant smile. “Okay.”

Ming Qian smiled, her curled lashes fluttering like butterfly wings about to take flight. “Yuxi, I’m your family.”

“I know,” Wen Yuxi murmured, suppressing the wild flutter in her heart. “Sister, I know.”

That’s precisely why I love you so deeply, so irrevocably.