Chapter 175 Yin Changhong
The taxi driver who had been hailed saw a gust of wind blow in from outside, followed immediately by a noticeable weight sinking into the back seat.
So the taxi driver instinctively asked, "Where to?"
Rong Yu: "Fengyun Hualou, thank you. Can you go a bit faster? I'm in a hurry."
Hearing "in a hurry," the driver immediately pressed the meter and started the car, stepping on the gas to pull away.
The car had gone quite a distance before the driver asked curiously, "Are you in a big rush, sir? This road has speed limits, so there are some places where I really can't go faster."
"It's fine, just do your best." Rong Yu said.
Driver: "Can I ask why you're in such a rush? I'm just curious, you don't have to answer if you mind."
Rong Yu: "There's a male fox with ill intentions, and I need to bring my loved one back."
Driver: "Ah, so... you're going to catch them in the act?"
Rong Yu frowned: "No, my loved one isn't interested in that male fox, and my loved one doesn't know that the male fox also went to that place."
Driver: "Then why don't you just send them a WeChat message to tell them?"
Rong Yu: "How can sending a WeChat message compare to going there in person, then hugging my loved one and showing off our affection right in front of the male fox? That's much more fun."
Driver: "...I've learned something new." The driver glanced casually at the rearview mirror.
With that glance, he first saw Rong Yu's eyes and brows. The driver asked curiously, "Hey, young man, you look kind of familiar."
Rong Yu was originally wearing a large mask and a pair of black-framed glasses, head bowed while fiddling with his phone. When the driver said this, he subconsciously raised his hand to pull the mask up a bit, covering most of his face: "Do I? Maybe I just have a common face."
However, as he looked up, his eyes met the driver's in the rearview mirror.
With the mask as contrast, those delicate peach-blossom eyes became even more prominent.
Well, they were beautiful eyes, but...
Driver: "Holy shit! Jing Sheng!"
Rong Yu quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no! I'm not! Driver, watch the road! Watch the road! There's a turn ahead!"
Driver: "Holy shit! The voice is exactly the same too!"
Rong Yu: "Coincidence! Pure coincidence! Turn!"
Just as they were about to hit the guardrail, the driver finally remembered he was still driving and quickly turned the steering wheel, getting the car back on track.
They both let out a sigh of relief.
The driver said, "So it was a coincidence. Sorry, little brother. It's just that your eyes look so much like the male ghost from a movie I saw before. I thought I'd seen a ghost. You know, ever since I watched that movie, I haven't dared to drive at night, afraid I might pick up a ghost. Hahaha, does that sound pretty superstitious?"
Rong Yu: "..." Sorry for making you see a ghost in broad daylight.
As soon as they reached Fengyun Hualou, Rong Yu quickly scanned the code to pay, got out of the car, and left the driver with a wind-like figure receding into the distance.
The driver watched his retreating back and inexplicably shuddered. "Hiss, even the back view looks so similar."
Meanwhile, on Yin Chengjue's side, after going out early in the morning, Yin Chengjue first went to the Yin family's old mansion to pick up Old Master Yin.
Seeing his grandson arrive, Yin Changhong's face immediately broke into a smile.
"Chengjue, you're here, sit, sit!" As soon as Yin Changhong saw Yin Chengjue enter, he lifted a hand resting on his cane's dragon head to beckon him.
Despite being covered in wrinkles, Yin Changhong's strong facial bone structure was still evident.
If one were to compare, Yin Chengjue's appearance bore only a slight resemblance to Yin He's—perhaps four or five parts out of ten at most. In contrast, his likeness to a younger Yin Changhong was far more striking, reaching as much as eight or nine parts out of ten. Only upon closer inspection, in the subtlest of details, could traces of Feng Chengda's features just barely be discerned.
Precisely because of this, every time Yin Changhong saw this grandson, it was like seeing his younger self, and his heart couldn't help but feel close to him.
However, Yin Changhong wasn't very good at expressing his fondness for his grandson. So every time they met, Yin Changhong didn't talk much with Yin Chengjue. He would just instruct the butler to bring out all the good food in the house, then give him new cards—various consumption cards for newly opened stores under the Yin Group.
Yin Chengjue also knew this was Yin Changhong's way of showing love, so he never refused. He would just bring Yin Changhong some calligraphy, paintings, or books each time he returned.
Old Master Yin didn't have hobbies like smoking or drinking when he was young, and naturally didn't take to them in old age either. He liked collecting ink treasures and antiques.
These ink treasures didn't necessarily have to be rare, precious ancient pieces; anything that aligned with Yin Changhong's aesthetic sense was acceptable.
So this time, Yin Chengjue had bid for and won several paintings by a painter Yin Changhong had recently taken a fancy to, which were exhibited at a gallery, along with some uncommon antique jade pieces on the market, to give to Yin Changhong as birthday gifts.
"Good, good, Chengjue, you are thoughtful." Yin Changhong sat in his chair, both hands resting on the dragon head of his cane, looking at Yin Chengjue with a gentle expression.
Yin Chengjue sat down across from Yin Changhong and skillfully began brewing and pouring tea for him.
"Chengjue, your grandfather is seventy today." Yin Changhong picked up the cup of tea Yin Chengjue had placed on the table, gave it a light blow, and said slowly, "Time, it really passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, ten years, twenty years, just slip by."
Yin Chengjue smiled in agreement: "Yes, time flies. But Grandfather, you don't look old at all. The furnishings at home haven't changed either. Every time I come back, it feels like returning to my childhood, except that things I used to think were very, very tall now seem short and small."
"That's because your height just keeps shooting up. You could hide in that small cabinet before, but now it'd be hard for you to even stick half your body in there." Yin Changhong stroked his beard and laughed.
Just then, greetings sounded from outside the door. Yin Changhong slightly lifted his eyes, and Yin Chengjue also turned to look in the direction of Yin Changhong's gaze.
Thus, when Yin He walked into the hall with the click-clack of her high heels, her line of sight happened to meet the two pairs of nearly identical phoenix eyes belonging to Yin Changhong and Yin Chengjue.
Phoenix eyes, by their very shape, often appear quite sharp. Especially when their owners look at you without a smile, it always feels like being prey locked in the gaze of a bird of prey.
And right now, there were two of them sitting on the sofa...
Yin He unconsciously looked down at her outfit for the day: a red-and-white form-fitting long dress, a golden feather-trimmed shrug, a silver long pendant necklace.
A perfect banquet attire, nothing wrong with it.
"Dad! I brought you a gift, you'll definitely like it!" Yin He walked over with a smile and sat down opposite Yin Changhong, which was next to Yin Chengjue.
"Hmph, finally decided to come back? I thought it would take you a long time to get over leaving that scoundrel." Yin Changhong immediately put on a stern face.
"Dad, what are you saying? Which year of your birthday haven't I come back to see you?" Yin He said.
Yin Changhong: "Oh, so you know to come back for my birthday, but you don't come back on regular, unimportant holidays?"
Yin He secretly nudged Yin Chengjue with her elbow. Yin Chengjue acted as if he felt nothing, still sitting upright, pretending to be part of the background.
Yin He had no choice but to explain herself: "Dad, I have to work, I'm busy!"
"Busy?" Yin Changhong retorted. "Are you busier than Qiushi? He still finds time to come chat with this old man every few days. Chengjue is new to his role, busy running the company, but even he remembers to send me photos or have a video call when he gets a spare moment. And you? The ink on the divorce papers was barely dry before you went running off abroad." While he often struggled for words with his eldest grandson, facing his daughter, the old man freely poured out a bellyful of grievances.
Yin He had nothing to say in response and could only listen obediently.
Ultimately, Yin Changhong's most beloved was this only daughter born to his wife. When she was little, he completely doted on her like a little princess, giving her whatever she wanted, afraid she might bump, knock, or hurt herself.
She was truly cherished as if held in the palm of his hand, for fear she might break; and as if held gently in his mouth, for fear she might melt.
But then, in a single moment of inattention, the precious flower Yin Changhong had so painstakingly nurtured was uprooted, pot and all, and spirited away by Feng Chengda. How could Yin Changhong not be furious? He was so enraged he wanted to take up a cleaver and chop that wild kid to pieces!
If Feng Chengda's behavior all along hadn't been so deceptive, seemingly genuinely good to Yin He, how could Yin Changhong have been willing to entrust part of the Yin Group to Feng Chengda?
So, upon learning that Feng Chengda was a wolf in sheep's clothing, that all these years he had just been using Yin He, solely to seize the money and power of the Yin Group, using a marriage certificate as a ladder to climb upward, Yin Changhong was furious.
He hated it. Hated that he hadn't tested more back then. Hated his own soft-heartedness. And hated that scoundrel whose conscience had been eaten by a dog.
But what's done is done, and there's no use in saying more.
Regret and remorse were buried, leaving only a bit of reproach and displeasure directed at his beloved daughter: Why don't you know to come back and see me more often, silly child? If you had come back to see me more these past years, talked to me more about the grievances you endured in silence, how could you have needed to endure until today?
Yin He also knew Yin Changhong had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Seeing he had finished speaking, she very conscientiously poured tea for Yin Changhong.
For a moment, it was quiet. Although the three had nothing to say, the atmosphere clearly warmed considerably.
The old butler stood not far away, a gentle smile curling at the corner of his mouth, making a gesture from a distance to the servant—don't disturb them now, send the tea and snacks later.
The three enjoyed a leisurely interlude of three generations together, when another round of greetings sounded from outside.
At this time, the person who would come...
Yin Chengjue had a vague idea who it might be and turned to look in that direction.
Thus, when the tall, straight-backed man in the tailored, deep-blue suit entered the room, he was immediately met by three sets of identically shaped phoenix eyes, all fixed directly upon him.
Out of courtesy as a junior, Yin Chengjue was the first to speak, breaking the momentary awkwardness: "Hello, Uncle."
"Ah, Chengjue has grown even more handsome." Yin Qiushi's eyes crinkled with a smile. He then added, "Dad, little sister, it seems I'm late?"
"Exactly," Yin He patted the spot next to her: "Brother, come sit."
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