Recognized by My Ex After Being Reborn
Chapter 395: My most desired thing is already by my side.

Chapter 395: My most desired thing is already by my side.

Yan Shixiu replied with a "good" before taking Xun Yinghua to the seaside to scout the new resort location. However, when he left Shuangshi, he seemed to notice Tang Ze coming out of Peak, and although Tang Ze was wearing a hat, his figure was unmistakable.

Shi Lan mentioned last night that she would be dealing with the artist today, together with Tang Ze.

But now that Tang Ze was here, where was Shi Lan?

Tang Ze had holed up in Peak all day for fear of being seen by Yan Shixiu, unable to concoct an excuse for the boss. Yet, as luck would have it, he was caught red-handed by Yan Shixiu the moment he stepped out for some air.

Nevertheless, Yan Shixiu didn’t ask Xun Yinghua to stop the car, nor did he intend to trouble Tang Ze.

But Yan Shixiu, with his meticulous mind, needed only to think a little for many things to form a logical chain in his head.

He promptly called Huo Zhao.

At this time, Huo Zhao had just parted ways with Shi Lan. Huo Zhao stayed in Nanqi City to continue the investigation, but the boss was hurrying to Yancheng for fear of being late to pick Yan Shixiu up from work.

"President Yan."

"You’ve been investigating for a few days now, found anything?" Yan Shixiu’s tone was slightly cold.

"Nothing definitive yet. The old Yan Family residence no longer exists, and I’m currently..."

"I don’t believe you’ve found nothing," Yan Shixiu bluntly interrupted him. "Otherwise, why call An Lan over?"

Huo Zhao, standing under the scorching sun with hands on his hips, knew he couldn’t hide the truth anymore and said, "The madam didn’t really want you to know because there was no good outcome found. President Yan, please don’t let down the madam’s painstaking effort."

"Do you think there’s anything I can’t bear right now?"

Huo Zhao was at a loss for words. It was a long while later that he told Yan Shixiu all he had found out these past two days, along with Shi Lan’s speculations.

"Stay put for now. I will ask the Nanqi City police to investigate the artist’s death. Follow up when there’s news," Yan Shixiu instructed and paused before continuing, "There’s no need to tread so carefully around me."

After all, no pain could surpass the agony of losing Shi Lan in that car accident.

Following the call, Yan Shixiu went about his inspections and meetings as usual. When Shi Lan finally called, he was still by the seaside. Then, he told Xun Yinghua to finish for the day, while he waited at the seaside for Shi Lan to pick him up.

When the black McLaren drove into the Seaside District, Shi Lan saw the tall figure standing not far off. Sky and sea melded into one color, but that solitary figure embedded in the vista was heart-wrenchingly lonely.

Shi Lan parked her car and got out. Before she could speak, Yan Shixiu’s arm swept her up into an embrace.

"Shi Lan, have you come to love me this much?"

Startled, Shi Lan looked up at his chin, "Is that not allowed?"

Yan Shixiu held her tightly, whispering above her head, "With you, I have everything I need."

"You found out?" Shi Lan guessed.

"Do you think I care about that sort of thing?" Yan Shixiu let her go and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The two most painful moments in my life were when I believed you died grievously, and when I thought you didn’t want me. Everything else, I’ve long been numb to. So, there’s no need to avoid me. I told you, your man is not as fragile as you think."

"I did it because I finally understood what it means to be truly good to someone."

Yan Shixiu lowered his head and lifted Shi Lan’s chin, kissing her deeply.

"It’s good enough."

The two of them kissed unabashedly on the beach, and then sat in the car, watching the sunset together.

At that moment, Shi Lan suddenly asked, "Do you want to have a child?"

Yan Shixiu, steering the wheel, shook his head, "There’s no need to do this just to care for my sense of security, you still have many things yet to enjoy."

"If you want one, just say the word."

Shi Lan didn’t mind, although the big shot never thought before that he would consider having children—what for? To torment him or to be tormented? But now that she loved so deeply, she wasn’t opposed to the idea of children.

Yan Shixiu smiled, then left the seaside with her.

"What I want most is already by my side."

...

Gu Yingnan faced defeat in her first battle, although she managed to meet Yan Shixiu, they exchanged just four sentences and the encounter lasted less than two minutes.

Gu Yingnan remembered the Yan Shixiu of the past, who, despite being aloof, wasn’t cold. But for some reason, this icy, devoted Yan Shixiu made her heart flutter even more.

When Yan Ziqing found out that Yan Shixiu didn’t give Gu Yingnan even the slightest chance, she immediately felt she had bet on the wrong horse, chosen the wrong person.

Even though Gu Yingnan repeatedly stated that she would find time to arrange a meeting with Yan Shixiu, Yan Ziqing was very clear that the chances of Gu Yingnan softening Yan Shixiu were virtually nil.

However, the company couldn’t wait any longer; if things continued this way, she would have to file for bankruptcy.

Yan Ziqing wanted to go all out, confront Yan Shixiu directly, and encourage the Yan father to come forward and demand an exorbitant alimony, but she had no idea of the odds of success in doing so.

Gu Yingnan noticed Yan Ziqing’s waning enthusiasm and said, "Give me a little more time. If I still can’t communicate with your brother, then we’ll fight it out to the end."

"Will you... stand with us? Aren’t you fond of..."

"Ziqing, you’re my client, of course, I’m on your side," Gu Yingnan replied.

In fact, she didn’t want the case to end up with another lawyer, so she deliberately kept Yan Ziqing’s hope alive. Only by doing so could she have a legitimate excuse to go to Shuangshi and meet Yan Shixiu.

"Alright then... let’s give it another try."

That night, Yan Ziqing returned to the Peak and saw the company was nearly deserted, and she drank a considerable amount of alcohol in frustration.

Han Hao came to collect documents in the middle of the night and saw the light still on in Yan Ziqing’s office. He pushed the door open and found her lying disheveled on the couch, cheeks flushed.

"President Yan, why have you drunk so much? Let me take you home," Han Hao crouched by the couch and said to Yan Ziqing.

Yan Ziqing opened her eyes, saw Han Hao, and said with a laugh, "I don’t want to go home, I don’t want to!"

Han Hao helped her up, then half carried her, "You’re too vulnerable like this."

Yan Ziqing took the opportunity to hook her arm around Han Hao’s neck and said, drunkenly, "Do you want me? I can be yours."

"President Yan, you’re drunk."

"Do you know? My brother, he doesn’t even care about lawyers, what’s he really up to? Do you know how much I hate him? Do you know how much I despise ungrateful people?" Yan Ziqing cried and yelled, then threw herself into Han Hao’s arms, "Only you, you never leave my side, Han Hao, only you."

Han Hao, with beauty in his arms, struggled with his desires, but he still restrained himself and pushed Yan Ziqing away, "President Yan, you’ve really had too much to drink."

"Are you going to leave me too?" Yan Ziqing lunged back at him, "Han Hao, you’re all I have left..."