Chapter 45: The Matters of Young Master Xiang

  Lin Xiaotang let out a soft sigh, gently wiping away Dong Jiayi's tears with her hand. She turned and walked up to the balcony, her hands grasping the railing as she gazed out at the brightly lit Shanghai night scene. A pent-up breath escaped her lips.

  "Ah!" A long wail echoed through the quiet night.

  After a long time, Lin Xiaotang finally lowered his head in exhaustion.

  "Tell me!" Dong Jiayi didn't know when she had already walked to his side, a soft and boneless hand pressed on Lin Xiaotang's back of the hand, a pair of eyes shining brightly in the night.

  Lin Xiaotang forced a smile, took out a cigarette from her pocket, lit it, and said with self-mockery: "Really want to hear? Declaration first, there's some gore!"

  Dong Jiayi nodded, and her eyes seemed to have an irresistible daze. Lin Xiaotang, who had reunited with her, had a more intense mysterious and masculine aura about him, which was an irresistible attraction for her, just like in the past.

  So, Lin Xiaotang started from the fall of Nanjing and talked all the way to his arrival in Shandong with Da Tou. Of course, he omitted the real purpose of coming to Shanghai. This was the most talkative Lin Xiaotang had been in a year, and he didn't know why he said so much, only feeling that there was suddenly someone beside him who could pour out his heart to, at least, facing Dong Jiayi, he felt relaxed and didn't need to consider other factors.

  This feeling, which others don't have, makes Lin Xiaotang feel very comfortable.

  As the scenes of experience were spoken from her mouth, the big stone that had been pressing on Lin Xiaotang's heart seemed to be lightening bit by bit.

  Dong Jiayi's hand always held a handkerchief, the passing of Lin Xiaotang's elder brother and sister-in-law and Fang Rou left her in deep sorrow.

  Lin Xiaotang smiled and patted her shoulder, "Don't be sad anymore, at least I'm still standing in front of you!"

  Dong Jiayi wiped away tears, sobbing as she said: "Before Nanjing fell, my older brother brought me back to Nanyang. Afterwards, I only heard about what happened in Nanjing and didn't know how you all were doing. I asked my older brother to ask around for news of you, but there was no response at all. This time when I came back, I specifically went to Nanjing first, but I couldn't even find the original place - the school had all become ruins, and not a single person I recognized could be found. I had no choice, so I followed my older brother back to Shanghai!"

  Suddenly, a smile appeared on her tear-stained face. "Fortunately, the Buddha blessed me to see you again! That scoundrel Ma Qixiang isn't completely useless after all; fortunately he met you, or else I would have torn down his shop today!"

  Ma Qixiang said that Lin Xiaotang was very curious about the grudges between Dong Jiayu and him. As a result, Dong Jiayu's face changed immediately.

  It wasn't until later that it was discovered that Ma Qixiang had been in a relationship with Dong Jiayu's cousin, who also came from a prominent family in Nanyang. However, Ma Qixiang held no position within his own family and was treated coldly. As a result, the romance between the two was opposed by both families. Before being taken back to Nanyang, Dong Jiayu's cousin had expressed her feelings to Ma Qixiang, saying she would only marry him, but he retreated, unwilling to let the girl he loved quarrel with his family because of him. From then on, they lost contact, and for this reason, a dispute arose between them, causing Dong Jiayu's cousin to leave Shanghai in anger and return to Nanyang.

  After that, Ma Qixiang was devastated and became self-destructive. He started wandering around the Shanghai Bund, indulging in sensual pleasures with various women, trying to forget his feelings for Dong Jiayi. Meanwhile, Dong Jiayi's cousin had a deep affection for Ma Qixiang and upon hearing about his misbehavior in Shanghai, she angrily protested her family by going on a hunger strike, eventually winning their concession to consider the marriage after observing Ma Qixiang's behavior, with the condition that even if they got married, Ma Qixiang would have to become a son-in-law who lived with his wife's family.

  At this time, Dong Jiayi happened to be in a hurry to return home, and her cousin entrusted her to go back to Shanghai to warn Ma Qixiang that he must wash his heart, make a fresh start, and not be discouraged. However, Ma Qixiang's self-esteem was at stake, and he did not want to accept this kind of marriage with a hint of charity, nor did he want to rely on others. Moreover, the Ma family behind him also strongly opposed this way of uniting through marriage. Therefore, Ma Qixiang simply ignored Dong Jiayi's sincere advice.

  Dong Jiayi had no choice but to resort to smashing the store, forcing Ma Qixiang to accept. That's why they had this awkward encounter tonight.

  After listening to Dong Jiayi's account, Lin Xiaotang smiled and said, "What's the big deal? You're just like Young Master Xiang, both of you are so stubborn! If each of you takes a step back, won't everything be resolved?"

  Dong Jiayi pouted, "You know what, my cousin's family has already been very lucky to get this far, it's already a special favor. After all, they're also part of the same big family. Ma Qixiang is just a spoiled rich kid, letting him be the son-in-law is already quite something!"

  Lin Xiaotang chuckled twice, patted his chest and said, "Alright, it's a small matter. Isn't it just that your sister-in-law's family looks down on Young Master Xiang because he doesn't have a position now? Give me one year, I guarantee that he will make a name for himself in Shanghai. By then, neither your sister-in-law's family nor Young Master Xiang's uncle will have anything to say. Young Master Xiang and your sister-in-law can get married with honor and glory, isn't this settled?"

  Dong Jiayi's eyes widened, "Really, you have a way?"

  Lin Xiaotang smiled and said, "What's the big deal? Leave everything to me. If I can't handle it..."

  Dong Jiayi looked at Lin Xiaotang with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, "What if it can't be done? Will you marry me?"

  Lin Xiaotang was extremely embarrassed, this girl, still so careless and thoughtless!

  The two of them chatted and laughed as they returned to the private room downstairs, while Guai Bao, who had been following behind them all along, finally swayed into the doorway of the room, continuing to drink his own wine.

  Everyone saw the two people's appearance and couldn't help but burst out laughing at the same time.

  Ma Qixiang walked up to Dong Jiayi with a smile on his face, "Jiayi, aren't you mad anymore?"

  Dong Jiayi didn't give him a good look, "My senior said he would help you achieve something as soon as possible. As for my cousin's family, just leave it all to me. I really don't know what we owed you two in our previous lives? One of you is shameless and won't marry anyone else, the other one has a bad temper and doesn't strive for self-improvement!"

  Ma Qixiang's face lit up with joy, "Really? Thank you so much!" He said, and then turned around to bow to Lin Xiaotang.

  Dong Jiayi took out her purse, pulled out a checkbook, wrote a check and handed it to Ma Qixiang, "There, smash your store, compensate you!"

  Ma Qixiang hastily waved his hand, "No way, you and Xiao Qi have helped me so much, don't mention three times, as long as things can be done, even if it takes three years, it's no problem!"

  Shen Pangzi's eyes lit up when he saw the check, and as soon as he heard Ma Qixiang refuse, he became anxious and stomped his feet.

  Dong Jiayi burst out laughing and immediately turned serious, "No way, our Dong family has always taken responsibility for their actions, take it!"

  Ma Qixiang refused everything.

  Shen Pangzi suddenly became impatient, his stout body jumping up from the sofa. "Miss Dong let you take it, just take it, why so many useless words!" He said with a flattering smile, taking the check from Dong Jiayi's hand.

  "Shen Pangzi, you...?" Ma Qixiang was so angry that he couldn't speak. "Aren't you ashamed?"

  Look at the amount on the check, Shen suddenly smiled, carefully stuffed the check into his pocket, "Who's losing? I'm also a shareholder of Hero, you even borrowed my money to decorate and haven't returned it yet!"

  Dong Jiayi stood up and bid farewell. Tomorrow morning, she still had to follow her family back to Thailand to deal with some matters and also help Ma Qixiang settle things.

  When she left, she solemnly warned Ma Qixiang and Shen Pangzi that Lin Xiaotang was now in their care. Two months later when she returned, if a single hair on Lin Xiaotang's head was missing, the two of them would be held responsible.

  Dà Tóu suddenly became displeased, "Second Brother, what about me? Am I not considered a person? Alright then, please investigate how many strands of hair Old Seventh has before you leave, it'll be convenient for us to settle accounts when you return!"

  Dong Jiayi's face turned red with anger, and she made a gesture as if to hit him. Da Tou dodged away, laughing loudly.

  Lin Xiaotang escorted Dong Jiayi to the door, during which time Dong Jiayi continued to hold onto Lin Xiaotang's arm. Although Lin Xiaotang felt somewhat uncomfortable, she did not shake her off.

  Before getting on the bus, Dong Jiayi looked at Lin Xiaotang with a reluctant gaze. After turning to see that everyone else had boarded, she softly asked Lin Xiaotang: "Aren't you going to say something to me before we leave?"

  Lin Xiaotang just smiled and said, "It's been two months since I returned, we'll be able to meet soon."

  Dong Jiayi's face turned red again, and she scolded: "Still the same, a block of wood!" After finishing speaking, she quickly gave Lin Xiaotang a light kiss on his cheek, then dodged into the car.

  Lin Xiaotang touched her face, feeling a bit feverish, and gazed thoughtfully at the starting car.

  Suddenly, Dong Jiayi stuck her head out of the car window, "Lin Xiaotang, now that I've found you, I won't let you leave me again!"

  Back in the private room, Lin Xiaotang's lipstick print on her face made everyone laugh, Ma Qixiang put his arm around his shoulder, "Sister-in-law, nothing else to say, from now on we're all one family, you have to take care of me!"

  "Get out!" Lin Xiaotang kicked him back onto the sofa, pointing at him and saying: "I vouched for you in front of Dong Jiayi, within a year, you must make something of yourself, or else I won't be able to vouch for you either!"

  Shen Pangzi had a sly smile on his face, "Seventh Young Master, I didn't expect you to have such skills, actually deceiving the Dong family's precious daughter into your hands. Impressive! The Dong family is wealthy enough to rival a country! Haha, we must take good care of them in the future!"

  Lin Xiaotang was taken aback. He only knew that Dong Jiayi was a Nanyang Chinese, but he really didn't know anything about her family background.

  Lin Xiaotang's confusion was evident, and Ma Qixiang gave him another lesson. Dong Jiayu's father, Dong Zunnan, was the leader of the Nanyang Chinese community, originally from Thailand. It is said that during the Xinhai Revolution, he fully supported the late President Sun Yat-sen, and even the current Chairman Chiang Kai-shek was his junior, with a deep connection to the Chongqing faction. Her older brother, Dong Jiacheng, was the current head of the Dong family, actively expanding the family's various businesses in China, with great influence in Shanghai, and good relations with Britain and the United States. Dong Jiayu was the only daughter of Dong Zunnan, and her father and brother were extremely fond of her.

  Listening to Ma Qixiang's explanation, Lin Xiaotang was a bit dazed. Ma Qixiang patted his shoulder and said, "So, brother, it's not just me who needs to work hard, you do too! I heard that old man Dong is quite temperamental, if you want to be with Dong Jiayue, you'll need some real skills!"

  Then, Ma Qixiang burst out laughing, "But it doesn't matter, I think that tigress has already fallen deeply in love with you, and even if you use a stick to drive her away, she won't leave, haha!"

  As for Ma Qixiang's words, Lin Xiaotang could only smile wryly. Could he really accept Dong Jiayi's feelings? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but press the handkerchief in his arms forcefully.