Xia Rou noticed that his expression didn"t seem too good, so she asked, "What happened?"
He was silent for a while before saying, "My father wants to do something else and wants to have me do it. But in that case I would have to leave the fashion company.
She was surprised, knowing immediately what Cao Xiong was planning. He wanted Cao An to run a real estate business. So it was around this time that he had brought up the idea to Cao An. In the end, the matter had been delayed until she had almost finished her first year of college, probably because Cao An didn"t want to accept it.
She remained silent for a while. Translated by The Novelst
Because of Cao An"s resistance, Cao Xiong had used his connections to suppress the fashion company so Cao An had been forced to yield.
But in the end the one to be deeply hurt was He Chengzhe. His career was set back, yes, but he had always held the fashion company close to his heart as his painstaking lief"s work, and he had taken Cao An as a lover but also as an entrepreneurship partner.
But with this he realized that the career that he had put his utmost effort into growing was actually merely a hobby to the fourth young master of the East Commander.
Because of this, Cao An and He Chengzhe had their most serious fight.
Xia Rou stirred the porridge in her bowl, s.p.a.cing out a little.
"Hey! Hey!" Cao An unpleasantly waved his hand in front of her face. "What are you thinking?"
Xia Rou lifted her eyes to look at him, emotions complex. She struggled for a moment, and said, "And you… you"re not willing, right?"
"Of course I"m not, how annoying it would be! I just want to do the things I like," he said carelessly.
"Then have you told uncle that?"
"I did."
"And what did he say?"
Cao An unhappily crushed the salted egg into the table. "What do you think he said?"
Xia Rou then asked, "What about big brother"s answer?"
Cao An was even more frustrated. "You know he always stands with my father."
Xia Rou stirred the porridge again, asking, "And what about you? What do you plan to do?"
"I don"t care about them," Cao An mumbled.
"But when uncle and big brother are on the same side on a decision, you know you can"t defy them," she said, looking directly into his eyes.
He choked.
Because what Xia Rou was saying was right. He himself knew it deep in his heart.
That was why his struggling and defiance were not so fierce. It was just the fourth young master throwing a tantrum.
But the one to be implicated was He Chengzhe.
"Even if you struggle here and there, you still end up listening to uncle," she explained.
"You should know uncle"s character better than me. Once he decides on something there"s no room for you to refuse. Unless you bring big brother to your side, no matter how hard you struggle, all your effort will be in vain."
"If you make uncle angry, he will definitely go against your fashion company. In the end you will still end up listening to him, and Brother Chengzhe would become the unlucky one instead…"
Despite the expression on Cao An"s face turning uglier, Xia Rou still unfolded the truth.
"I know you like to design, but it"s only what you like. Actually, you don"t really cherish the company as Brother Chengzhe does, right?"
"If you force uncle to that step and he touches the company, in the end it"s only a step back for you. But what will Brother Chengzhe do? He has poured his heart and soul into it."
"To Brother Chengzhe, the only thing more important than you is the company."
"Fourth brother, you… better think twice."
Cao An pressed his lips tightly together. The crook of his mouth revealed his anger, but he couldn"t respond.
What Xia Rou was saying was the big fat truth.
Even if he struggled, it would be useless in the end. In the end he would have to return home and obediently listen to his father"s words, like he always did in every other aspect of his life.
Actually he… did not have the courage to defy Cao Xiong.
He was already in his twenties, but in his bones he was still the Cao Family"s youngest son that hadn"t grown.
In the past, Xia Rou was very close to him so she had always helped him find excuses.
In this life, she could see the difference between Cao An and Cao Yang quite clearly.
And that was responsibility.
The oldest and youngest sons were both sons.
But after their mother pa.s.sed, the youngest could be capricious, carefree, and cry.
But the eldest had no choice but to stand up and bear the responsibility of a big brother.
That was why big brother knew to take care of people, shielding a shortcoming or a fault.
Even if her surname wasn"t Cao, he still wouldn"t allow anyone to look down on her.
Any requests she had, he would fulfill.
That was why she came to have "value" in the eyes of others.
In the end, Cao An couldn"t face Xia Rou properly after her lecture, so he angrily stormed off.
She didn"t mind it.
That was how fourth brother was. He never grew up. He could be angry in the morning but still come happily to look for her in the afternoon to reconcile.
She ate breakfast alone, quietly. Translated by The Novelst
Lady Yu stood at the entrance, sticking her head in. Once she saw Xia Rou was alone, she walked in.
After Lady Fang had resigned, Lady Yu was promoted and could be said to be the housekeeper of the Cao Family.
"Xiao Rou, you"re up," she said. "Cao Yang wanted me to tell you that tomorrow is a Sunday so don"t make plans. He wants you to accompany him to buy some stuff."
"Ah?" she found it odd. "Alright."
What did big brother want to buy that he wanted her to come along?
Proofread by: Hannah