*****
After finishing their meal at Mrs. Chen's house, Mr. Xian offered to drive Zi to work.
As they drove, the conversation flowed easily, with Zi chatting about his day and Mr. Xian listening intently.
When they arrived at Zi's workplace, Mr. Xian walked him to the door. "Have a good day, I'll pick you up later?" he asked, smiling.
Zi smiled back and nodded. "Sounds good, thanks for the ride."
Just as Mr. Xian was about to leave, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed. "I need to take this," he said, answering the call.
"Hello?" he said, his voice firm.
As he listened to the caller, his eyes narrowed, and his tone turned serious. "Okay," he said before hanging up.
*****
Mr. Xián walked into his parents' house, the opulent living room a testament to their success. His father, Wèi Quán, sat on the couch, his expression stern, while his mother sat beside him, her eyes fixed on Mr. Xián.
"Xián, what were you thinking?" Wèi Quán demanded, his voice rising. "Partnering with a small Restobar? You're wasting your money on a fleeting trend."
Mr. Xián stood tall, meeting his father's gaze. "Father, I know you don't understand, but this is what I want to do. I've been working hard for the company, and the money I'm investing is my own share."
Wèi Quán's scowl deepened. "Your own share? You're still learning the ropes, boy. You think you know better than me? I've built this company from the ground up."
Mrs. Yù placed a calming hand on her husband's arm, but her eyes were on Mr. Xián. "Xián, your father and I just want what's best for you. Maybe you should reconsider..."
But Mr. Xián was resolute. "I've thought this through, Mother. I appreciate your concern, but I'm willing to take the risk. You have to trust me on this.
Wèi Quán's face reddened as he scolded Mr. Xián. "You're wasting your time with this Restobar nonsense. You should focus on the family business, not some fleeting hobby. And speaking of focus, why not you considered marrying Mr. Míng's daughter?"
Mr. Xián's eyes widened in frustration. "Father, that's not what I want. I'm not going to marry someone just to expand the company's fame."
Wèi Quán's expression turned calculating. "Think about it, Xián. The Míngs are influential, and their daughter is a catch. With that alliance, our wine company would skyrocket to new heights. You're not just thinking about yourself, you're thinking about the family's future."
Mr. Xián shook his head. "I understand what you're saying, but I won't marry someone just for business. That's not fair to her, or to me."
His mother spoke up, her voice gentle but firm. "Xián, your father and I just want what's best for you. Maybe this is something to consider..."
But Mr. Xián was resolute. "I've made up my mind, Mother."
With a determined stride, Mr. Xián walked out of the living room, leaving his parents' words hanging in the air. Wèi Quán's face turned redder with anger.
"That ungrateful boy!" Wèi Quán slammed his fist on the armrest. "He's so stubborn! Doesn't he know what's good for him? For the family?"
His wife placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "Wèi, please, don't get so worked up. He's just trying to find his own way."
But Wèi Quán wouldn't be placated. "His own way? His own way is going to ruin this family! I'll show him what's best for him, even if it means taking matters into my own hands."
The air was thick with tension as Wèi Quán's anger simmered, waiting to boil over.
Wèi Quán's anger still simmering, he turned to his wife and said, "I'll make sure Xián sees sense. I'll do everything in my power to make him marry Mr. Míng's daughter. It's the best decision for this family, and I'll make sure he agrees."
His wife looked concerned, but Wèi Quán's mind was already made up. "I'll talk to Mr. Míng, arrange a meeting, and make sure Xián understands what's expected of him. He'll do what's best for the family, even if it's not what he wants."
The determination in Wèi Quán's voice sent a shiver down his wife's spine. She wondered what lengths he would go to in order to get his way.
*****
Mr. Xián walked up to the Restobar, expecting a normal evening. But as he approached the entrance, the guard blocked his way. "Sorry, sir, you can't go in."
Mr. Xián's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's going on? I'm a partner here. Let me in."
The guard looked uncomfortable. "I'm just following orders, sir. The manager wants to speak with you."
The manager emerged from the bar, looking apologetic. "Mr. Xián, I'm so sorry. This is all so sudden, but we need to cancel our partnership."
Mr. Xián's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why? We had an agreement."
The manager hesitated before speaking in a hushed tone. "Your father came to see me. He...made it clear that if we didn't stop partnering with you, the bar would be closed. I'm sorry, Mr. Xián. I have no choice."
Mr. Xián's face darkened with anger and disappointment. He knew his father's tactics all too well.
*****
Mr. Xián stormed into his apartment, still fuming from the conversation with the manager. He dialed his father's number, his anger simmering just below the surface. Before he could even speak, his father's voice was on the other end.
"What do you think of my little arrangement, Xián?" Wèi Quán's voice was smug, almost taunting.
Mr. Xián's anger boiled over. "You had no right to do that, Father! You can't just strong-arm my business partners into backing out. That's not fair!"
Wèi Quán's tone remained calm, infuriating Mr. Xián further. "I'm just doing what's best for this family, Xián. You'll learn to appreciate my decisions eventually."
The line between them crackled with tension, Mr. Xián's anger and frustration reaching a boiling point.
The call ended abruptly, with Wèi Quán's voice still echoing in Mr. Xián's mind. He felt a mix of anger and frustration, but as he stood there, his thoughts began to shift. He thought about Zi, and how he had been a bright spot in his day. He wondered what Zi was doing now, and if he was thinking about him too.
A small smile crept onto his face as he thought about Zi's smile, his laughter, and his sparkling eyes. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, and his anger towards his father began to dissipate. He realized that he didn't need his father's approval to be happy, and that Zi was someone who truly understood him.
As he stood there, lost in thought, his phone suddenly buzzed with a text message. He smiled, hoping it might be from Zi.
Mr. Xián's phone rang, and he answered,
Zi's voice on the other end, filled with concern.
"Are you okay? I just found out your father is Mr. Wèi Quán? Why didn't you tell me?" Zi asked, his tone a mix of surprise and worry. So Your The Only Son of The Biggest Wine Company Owner.
Mr. Xián took a deep breath, trying to process the sudden turn of events. "Zi, can we talk about this later? After your work? I don't want to discuss it over the phone."
There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, Mr. Xián wondered if Zi was still there. But then Zi spoke up, his voice calm. "Okay, I'll call you after my shift. Take care, Mr. Xián."
The line went dead, and Mr. Xián was left wondering what Zi was thinking. Had he overstepped by not telling Zi about his family?
*****
After a few hours, Mr. Xián arrived at Zi's workplace, and they set off towards the park. The night air was cool and calm, with the city's lights twinkling in the distance. As they walked, the silence between them was palpable, but not uncomfortable.
When they reached the park, they found a quiet spot and sat down on a bench. The darkness seemed to wrap around them, making their conversation feel more intimate.
", why didn't you tell me about your family?" Zi asked, his voice low and curious.
Mr. Xián took a deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation. "I guess I didn't want to burden you with my family drama. My father's...influential, and I didn't want you to feel like you had to deal with that."
Zi's eyes sparkled in the dim light, and he nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. But I care about you, Mr. Xián. I want to know what's going on in your life."
Mr. Xián's heart warmed at Zi's words, and he felt a sense of gratitude towards this young man who seemed to genuinely care about him.