Xiao Wenyao came out from the detention center and parted ways with his lawyer immediately. Thinking of the mess at home, Xiao Wenyao could only feel a headache. So instead of going back to Xiao's villa, he drove to a bar named "Drunk Encounter".
Ever since Xiao Wenyao took over the company, he would only go to high-end private clubs and restaurants. He hadn't been to places like bars for a long time.
"Drunk Encounter" had been open for over thirty years in Hai City and was one of the most iconic bars. For Xiao Wenyao, who hadn't come for nearly twenty years, looking at this familiar yet strange place, it felt like time travel.
Familiar because the bar's location and exterior remained unchanged. Strange because the interior decoration and style were completely different from the past without a trace of similarity.
Xiao Wenyao casually sat at a booth, ordered a bottle of brandy, and quietly watched a group of young men and women furiously shaking their heads to the DJ's music on the dance floor.
To be honest, Xiao Wenyao didn't really like the noisy atmosphere. Maybe because he was getting old, the flashing lights made his eyes uncomfortable, and the blaring speakers seemed to make his internal organs jump, worsening his already irritable mood.
He lifted his glass and took a big gulp. Perhaps he drank too quickly and choked on the liquor, coughing a few times.
Just then the DJ music stopped, and the lights softened.
Hearing the applause and cheers around him, Xiao Wenyao subconsciously looked towards the stage.
A young girl with a ponytail sat on a high stool, hugging a guitar, adjusted the microphone, and then played a mellow tune.
Listening to the girl's gentle singing voice, Xiao Wenyao finally felt a little more comfortable. Leaning back in his chair, fingers caressing his glass, he closed his eyes recalling the past with Jian Hongmei.
When Xiao Wenyao was young, he would often secretly come here to get drunk and vent his emotions. He had met Jian Hongmei here.
At that time, Jian Hongmei was also a resident singer at "Drunk Encounter". She looked sweet but her voice was very soft. She specialized in singing sad love songs.
Whenever he heard Jian Hongmei's singing, it made him feel an unprecedented sense of relief.
Only at that moment could he forget his own identity as an illegitimate child. As time went by, he became addicted to this feeling and fell for the singer.
So Xiao Wenyao, who originally came to the bar just to get drunk, gradually came to meet Jian Hongmei and got drunk because of her.
Then the two developed feelings for each other. Moreover, the Xiao family wouldn't care about an illegitimate son's marriage, so the two got married very smoothly.
The couple had always been very much in love. No matter what Xiao Wenyao did, Jian Hongmei unconditionally supported him.
Likewise, when Jian Hongmei spent money recklessly, Xiao Wenyao was not stingy at all and gave all his cards to her to spend as she wished.
Even when they had conflicts and quarreled, the two could reconcile within a day as if nothing had happened.
Thinking back on the past, Xiao Wenyao's heart gradually filled with sourness.
Such a loving couple with children, shouldn't their family become happier and happier? Why did it become like this now?
Recalling Jian Hongmei's cries today, Xiao Wenyao couldn't help reflecting on himself, "Could it really be my fault?"
Yes, it wasn't just Jian Hongmei's fault that their son was useless, he was also responsible.
If he had spent more time educating his children, maybe Jian Ren and Jian Nan could also be promising like Ye's siblings.
But there was no remedy for regret in this world...
The gentle singing on stage ended and the young girl got off stage, replaced by a rapper.
Xiao Wenyao glanced down at the empty bottle on the table. Unknowingly, he had finished that entire bottle.
He couldn't help but think of Jian Nan's threat in the detention center earlier.
Bowing his head with a sneer, "Huh, since the mistakes can no longer be remedied, why not just give up altogether."
Sever ties? Xiao Wenyao would never sever ties. The Xiao family wouldn't let someone with a criminal record become the heir. Jian Nan was already useless. What's wrong with having another child?
At that moment, Xiao Wenyao felt an unprecedented sense of comfort. Picking up his car keys, he strode out.
Xiao Wenyao had been drinking so he didn't dare drive himself. He called a chauffeur to send him back to the villa. The atmosphere at the Xiao house was still tense.
"Aunt Zhang, where is Madam?"
Aunt Zhang tremblingly replied, "Master, Madam has gone back to the bedroom to rest."
Xiao Wenyao nodded and went upstairs.
Seeing Xiao Wenyao's expression no longer as stern as before, Aunt Zhang thought he was going to apologize to his wife, so she relaxed.
Xiao Wenyao entered the bedroom and saw Jian Hongmei lying on her side with her eyes closed. He tiptoed over quietly.
Seeing the bandage on her forehead and slightly swollen cheeks, Xiao Wenyao felt distressed and silently cursed himself for being inhuman.
He took a shower to rinse off the smell of alcohol then eagerly crawled into bed and kissed the woman's lips.
Jian Hongmei was awakened by the hot kiss that still carried the faint smell of liquor. Opening her eyes to the familiar face, she remembered Xiao Wenyao hitting her today without comforting her before leaving. Angered, Jian Hongmei pushed the man away.
"Don't touch me!"
Knowing he was wrong, Xiao Wenyao sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry, honey. I was wrong to hit you. Do you want to hit me back for revenge?"
Jian Hongmei: ...
Under alcohol's influence, Xiao Wenyao was highly aroused and just wanted to pick up where they'd left off. "Alright, don't be angry anymore. Shall we continue?"
Jian Hongmei's anger reignited.
"Xiao Wenyao, do you even have a heart! Our son is suffering in the detention center and you still have the mood for this kind of thing?!"
Xiao Wenyao scratched his head, "What can I do! I've tried every solution I can think of and it's completely useless. Nan has irrefutable evidence this time. There's no chance he can get out!"
Jian Hongmei cried again, "But...but Nan is our only son! We can't just watch him go to prison and ruin his youth!"
Xiao Wenyao held Jian Hongmei's shoulders and continued to explain, "Honey, listen to me. I'm truly helpless about this. And Nan will only be jailed for a few years at most. I'll try to find a way to get Nan easier treatment so when he gets out, he can still marry and have children to live a wealthy life of luxury."
"But the board definitely won't agree to choose someone with a criminal record as the heir. And Ren doesn't have the capability to be the successor either. So we must have another son immediately!"
"As long as he's born, we'll give him the best education to raise him into a talent. Our Xiao family will definitely be able to regain its peak status."
"So honey, we can't let this break us or waste too much energy and connections. Otherwise, if we accidentally step on a landmine, it could lead to the downfall of our entire Xiao family."
