Chapter 240：These Are My Wishes For You

Xue Jing Yi shrunk into Xue Li Dani's bosom, burying her face in her swollen red hands, afraid to see her father's expression. When the video started, it was like a slap in the face, popping her self-inflated ego and waking her up to reality. Now, she couldn't wait to dig a hole and bury herself. Why did she agree to replace Huang Yi? She must've been under a malicious spell!

"Jing Yi, didn't you say you could definitely do it? If I'd taken you to the Congress Hall tomorrow, I would've become the biggest fool in the capital! Have you lost your mind, ah? Do think this is the kind of thing you can nonchalantly agree to?" Xue Rui exasperatedly questioned.

"She's been bed ridden, where would she find the time to practice. And why are you raising your voice like that? Wasn't it your stupid idea to have her replace Huang Yi? Why are you now pushing all the blame on her head? Quickly call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is your mess, solve it yourself!" Xue Li Dani protectively pushed her trembling daughter behind her back.

Xue Rui's eyeballs almost popped out, he pointed at the colluding mother and daughter for half a day, but couldn't find the words to speak.

Xue Zi Xuan closed the piano lid and said coldly, "Xue Jing Yi, the next time you touch the piano, I'll break your hands."

"What are you saying? You dare threaten your sister! Just because she can't play well now doesn't mean she'll never be able to play! Do you think everyone is like you and Huang Yi, natural born piano geniuses?" Xue Li Dani finished with her husband and started chiding her son.

"She will never play well, her love of music is gone, the only thing left is dirty, selfish lust. You heard her sound just now, you know very well what her current state is like. She had some spiritual connection before, but now there's only malice." Xue Zi Xuan slowly said.

All the blood drained from Xue Jing Yi's face, she gripped Xue Li Dani's waist, stopping herself from fainting. Xue Li Dani opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't find a way to truthfully refute. She was also a musician, she knew how to judge music. Inept skill was negligible, but dedication and love of music was not. Without those two things, the melody would lack soul, and could never touch the listeners. If her daughter couldn't adjust back to her original mentality, she would never attain any musical accomplishments.

But can she adjust back? Comparing her to Huang Yi, it would be harder for her than climbing to heaven. She seemed to have grown accustomed to indulging in the benefits and honors Huang Yi brought her, she'd already lost her heart, and could never find it again. Xue Li Dani hugged her daughter behind her, her heart extremely remorseful. If she'd brought Huang Yi back after the preliminaries, Xue Jia wouldn't be facing such a crisis.

Xue Rui irritably paced two laps, then pointed to his son and said, "Zi Xuan, can't you replace Jing Yi at the performance?"

Xue Rui froze for a moment, then helplessly pulled out his phone and called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' contact to re-negotiate.

"Replace? No, no that's not possible, it can only be Miss Xue, we're not accepting anyone else. No, Mr. Xue is no good either, we need the best."

"Sick? Is it very grave? Good, if it's not serious you can adjust the rehearsal for however long it takes for her to recuperate. The summit is two months away, there's still time. We intend to use 3D technology to recreate Mr. Ivanov's historic patriotic performance, Miss Xue will be performing on the same stage as the great music master. The leaders really like this idea of going back in time, and have already designated this program as the finale for the evening party. If Miss Xue can't perform on stage, we'll be in a very difficult spot, so please be sure to attend. If necessary, we can take responsibility for helping Miss Xue's recuperation, please rest assured, we have the best medical technology. "

"No, no, it's not a problem at all, Jing Yi's chronic weakness is acting up, but it's not serious, she just has to rest for a few days. But I'm worried that her physical condition will be too unstable, and an accident will happen on stage." Xue Rui said.

"Whenever she's in the venue, we will naturally be responsible for her health care. The rehearsal floor will have 24 hr. medical staff on duty, you absolutely don't have to worry. Miss Xue's performance in Vienna was very exciting, anyone who can perfectly interpret 'My Empire' must have a steel will as strong as Mr. Ivanov's himself, we have total confidence in her."

The more the staff applauded Zhou Yun Sheng, the more Xue Rui cold sweated, he realized that there was no room for rejection, so he hollowly laughed along and hung up.

"No wonder you had Huang Yi substitute in the contest for you, it's because you have no talent. Go back to your room if you're not talented, and don't come out to stir up any more trouble. If I'd let myself be fooled by you, I would've had to flee the country in shame." Turning to face his wife and daughter, he furiously scolded.

Xue Jing Yi buried her face into Xue Li Dani's back, sobbing silently. Her father had never used such a disgusted tone to talk to her.

Xue Li Dani glared at her husband, but also recognized that her daughter was in the wrong, so she quickly hugged her and left.

"Mama, when can I have surgery?" After walking some distance, Xue Jing Yi quietly whispered to Xue Li Dani. If she had Huang Yi's heart, how could there be a difficult piano piece she couldn't play? This morbid obsession had taken over her whole mind.

"Not now." Xue Li Dani's eyes darkened gloomily, she muttered irresolutely, "At least a two month wait." Now, her husband would certainly rush out to get Huang Yi, they couldn't touch him until the end of the 10th National Summit, otherwise, who would perform on stage?

Seeing her daughter's disappointed expression, she quickly comforted, "I'll take you to do the physical tomorrow, it'll be fine. You can even use these two months to nurse yourself to the best health, don't worry about anything else."

Xue Jing Yi nodded, reluctantly pushing down her restless mood.

———–

Xue Rui changed his suit, then found his son standing in the doorway, "Going to pick up Xiao Yi?" Xue Zi Xuan raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of ridicule and certainty.

"Yes ah." Xue Rui's complexion was livid. Now, except for coaxing Huang Yi back, he had no other options.

"I'll go with you." Xue Zi Xuan put on his white gloves and took the lead downstairs.

The father and son drove to the Xue Clan villa that night, and sat down to wait after being brought into the living room by a servant.

Xue Yan heard the servant's knock and sat up, the naked boy tightly wrapped around him muttered dazedly, "Mmm…where to?"

"Xue Rui's here. I'll go talk to him, you can continue sleeping, I'll be right back."

"I'll give you 10 minutes." Zhou Yun Sheng opened one eye and glanced at the bedside table alarm clock.

"Hmm, I'll be sure to come back within 10 minutes." Xue Yan chuckled and adjusted the alarm clock, then kissed the boy's cute round shoulder. The boy didn't like being too far away from him, especially at night. A few nights ago, Xue Yan woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink water, he was only in the kitchen for a few minutes before the boy ran out without anything on to look for him, his expression panic-stricken, his eyes full of worry, and two lines of tears staining his cheeks. Now whenever he recalled it, Xue Yan felt endless heartache. He'd questioned him for a long time and finally learned that it was just because of a nightmare, then he really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"How did you become so clingy?" Xue Yan's mouth complained, but in fact, he wished he could glue himself to the boy and stay together 24/7.

Zhou Yun Sheng gave a discontented humph, then seemed to remember something and struggle to sit up, rubbing his eyes as he said, "I'll carry you out of bed."

"I can do it myself, you can go back to sleep. Don't forget, before I met you, I bathed, changed my clothes, and got out of bed on my own, you really don't have to spoil me." Xue Yan smiled helplessly and propped his body up, slowly moved to the bedside wheelchair, then pulled on his robe and fastened the belt.

"Yan Ye (Uncle)." Xue Rui and Xue Zi Xuan both stood up.

"Sit down, it's so late, why are you looking for me?" Xue Yan motioned to the servant to bring him a cigar.

"We're here to pick up Xiao Yi." Xue Zi Xuan got straight to the point.

"Why do you want to take him back? To dig his heart out for Xue Jing Yi?" Xue Yan severely puffed his cigar, the dark red fire flaring fiercely, his expression terribly menacing.

Xue Rui immediately broke out in cold sweat, Xue Zi Xuan clenched his fist and calmly asked, "Did you tell this to Xiao Yi?"

"I won't contaminate his ears with this kind of thing. You'd better give up this idea as soon as possible, or I'll have your whole family's hearts dug out as repayment. I assume you're clear on what kind of person I am."

Xue Rui nodded, all too clear on Xue Yan's ruthlessness. He should've guessed, nothing that went on in Xue Clan could remain a secret from Xue Yan, whatever he cared to know, a detailed report would be handed to him within an hour.

Even though Xue Zi Xuan hated Xue Yan, he now couldn't help but want to thank him for protecting Xiao Yi. He looked up at him, then froze.

Xue Yan's silk robe had slightly parted, revealing his strong chest, ambiguous red marks spread from his chest up to his neck. A few bite marks could clearly be distinguished, the other party was obviously a very passionate person.

However, Xue Yan had no woman by his side, nor a man, only Xiao Yi.

Xue Zi Xuan felt like he'd fallen into a frozen lake, his body and mind incomparably cold, feeling a deep sense of despair and disorientation. He dragged his eyes away and noticed the pile of invitations scattered on the table, signed with flashy calligraphy:

Deliver to Mr. Xue Zhao Han.

On Gregorian Calendar October 1, 201X.

We have the honor to set on (Monday) Chinese Lunar Calendar August 16, 201X, a wedding ceremony held for Mr. Xue Yan and Mr. Huang Yi.

Please accept our humble wedding banquet.

We would be honored with your presence.

Sincerely, Xue Yan.

Location: Longquan Mountain. Xue Residence.

A wedding for Mr. Xue Yan and Mr. Huang Yi? They're actually getting married? Two men!?

Noticing his son's horrified gaze, Xue Rui also found the invitation, then almost fell off the sofa.

~~~

These Are My Wishes For You

Sandra Sturtz Hauss

May you find serenity and tranquility

in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known

and the conflict you have experienced

give you the strength to walk through life

facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those

whose love and understanding will always be there,

even when you feel most alone.

May a kind word,

a reassuring touch,

and a warm smile

be yours every day of your life,

and may you give these gifts

as well as receive them.

May the teachings of those you admire

become part of you,

so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched

and who have touched yours

are always a part of you,

even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.

It is the content of the encounter

that is more important than its form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,

but instead place immeasurable value

on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see beauty and love

in the world around you.

Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard

you may be more than compensated for in another.

What you feel you lack in the present

may become one of your strengths in the future.

May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.

Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength

to determine your own worth by yourself,

and not be dependent

on another's judgment of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.