Although Yan Xi was unwilling to plead with Fu Yan Ting for them,
He Ruo's words had already reached this point. If Yan Xi refused to beg Fu Yan Ting again, it would make her seem petty.
Yan Xi frowned. Despite her extreme reluctance, she decided to give He Ruo face.
She walked up to Fu Yan Ting, looked at him, and said indifferently, "Xia Shi Xue is young and ignorant. She attacked me. You want to stand up for me, and I appreciate your kindness. However, I've just returned to the He family, and it's better to avoid trouble. I don't want people to say I'm narrow-minded and pushed my cousin away as soon as I returned."
Fu Yan Ting raised his eyebrows and looked at Yan Xi. He opened his mouth slightly and asked, "Are you serious?"
Yan Xi inwardly grumbled. Fu Yan Ting cared so much about Xia Shi Xue that he had forced Yan Xi not to return to the He family, all to prevent Yan Xi from threatening Xia Shi Xue's status in the He family.
Now, Yan Xi was actively pleading for Xia Shi Xue. Fu Yan Ting should have been happy, but why did he look a little angry?
Was it her imagination?
Yan Xi ignored Fu Yan Ting's anger and said calmly, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Mr. He, standing beside them, showed a relieved expression upon seeing Yan Xi actually go to plead with Fu Yan Ting.
This Yan Xi wasn't so unbearable after all. If she could always be so magnanimous, accepting her back into the He family wouldn't be impossible.
Mr. He liked people who were obedient.
"Xi Xi, you don't actually need to consider other people's feelings. The entire He family, you don't have to care about them. I will back you up. Just do what your heart desires."
Fu Yan Ting could also tell that Mr. He and He Ruo had threatened Yan Xi with a mix of soft and hard tactics. Fu Yan Ting didn't want Yan Xi to be threatened.
He could ensure justice for Yan Xi.
This was not the capital; this was Yan Cheng.
If Fu Yan Ting stomped his foot, Yan Cheng would tremble.
He didn't want Yan Xi to compromise herself so much for the He family.
He Yun felt a pang in his heart upon hearing Fu Yan Ting's words. He wanted to help Yan Xi but didn't know how to speak up.
He was also a member of the He family. If Yan Xi was bullied in the He family, he couldn't openly support her.
Yet, Fu Yan Ting could speak so recklessly and arrogantly.
He Yun's heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions.
When Yan Xi heard Fu Yan Ting say this, she thought she had misheard. Was Fu Yan Ting helping her?
Didn't Fu Yan Ting care about Xia Shi Xue?
When did Fu Yan Ting ever speak up for Yan Xi?
Yan Xi looked at Fu Yan Ting doubtfully, wondering what new trick he was playing.
"No, I'm sincere. Forgive and forget where possible. Besides, I wasn't harmed. Let's just let this matter go. I don't want to make everyone unhappy because of me."
Upon hearing Yan Xi say this, Mr. He and He Ruo breathed a sigh of relief.
Xia Shi Xue stood aside, very unwilling, but didn't know what to do.
Although Fu Yan Ting forgave Xia Shi Xue, it was for Yan Xi's sake.
Xia Shi Xue just couldn't understand what was so special about Yan Xi that made Fu Yan Ting so devoted to her.
Xia Shi Xue was unwilling, but she didn't dare to show it in front of Fu Yan Ting.
Fu Yan Ting snorted coldly. So this woman knew about forgiving and forgetting.
She could be so magnanimous to others, why was she so stingy with him?
Thinking this, Fu Yan Ting felt even more disheartened.
He glanced coldly at Xia Shi Xue, who quickly averted her gaze.
Fu Yan Ting then looked back at Yan Xi and said word by word, "Since you're so generous and want to forgive Xia Shi Xue, then come home with me."
Yan Xi didn't expect Fu Yan Ting to be so shameless and make such an outrageous request.
She glared at Fu Yan Ting indignantly.
Fu Yan Ting, however, said with a calm expression, "Didn't you just say, 'forgive and forget where possible'? Since you genuinely want to let Xia Shi Xue off, then come home with me so I can see your attitude clearly. If you just say it, how will I know if you're sincere?"
Yan Xi didn't expect Fu Yan Ting to threaten her so shamelessly.
As Yan Xi was about to refuse,
He Yun spoke first, "Yan Ting, you and Xi Xi are already divorced. Xi Xi is now part of our He family. I told you, I will protect Xi Xi's safety. You keep hurting Xi Xi like this, I won't let Xi Xi go back with you."
Protect?
Was this how He Yun protected Yan Xi?
When He Ruo and Mr. He were using both soft and hard tactics to deal with Yan Xi, He Yun stood by and didn't dare to utter a word.
Fu Yan Ting's lips curved into a mocking smile upon hearing He Yun's words.
He Yun also knew what Fu Yan Ting was smiling about.
He was also aware that he was not in a position to say such things.
He Yun's eyes darkened.
If Fu Yan Ting insisted on taking Yan Xi away, Mr. He wouldn't dare to say no.
Now, all the decision-making power rested with Yan Xi.
Mr. He also knew very well that if Yan Xi stayed with the He family, given Fu Yan Ting's concern for Yan Xi, it would be effortless for them to use Yan Xi to deal with Fu Yan Ting.
Mr. He finally couldn't hold back. He knew that Yan Xi and Fu Yan Ting had been married before.
He was worried that Yan Xi would still be lingering over Fu Yan Ting and leave with him.
Mr. He said, "Xi Xi, your father has had a difficult life. Now that he's in such a confused state, if you leave him at this juncture, what will happen to him in the future? And your mother..."
Mr. He knew Yan Xi was curious about how her parents separated and what happened back then.
He deliberately said this to pique Yan Xi's curiosity and make her stay with the He family.
As expected, upon hearing Mr. He's words, Yan Xi knew that Mr. He knew the truth of what happened back then.
Yan Xi glanced at Fu Yan Ting and shook her head, saying, "Fu Yan Ting, I really can't go with you."
"Why? Weren't you just pleading for Xia Shi Xue, saying to forgive and forget? Are all those words you said false? In your heart, you don't actually intend to forgive them?"
Yan Xi was rendered speechless by Fu Yan Ting's words.
He Ruo didn't want to leave the He family and quickly grabbed Yan Xi's hand, afraid she would change her mind.
She pleaded, "Xi Xi, your aunt has never begged anyone in her life. I'm begging you today. You can't ignore your sister's life or death."
Yan Xi looked up at Fu Yan Ting. Fu Yan Ting gave her a look that conveyed, "If you don't come home with me, then Xia Shi Xue is as good as dead."
Yan Xi didn't care about Xia Shi Xue's fate, nor did she want to go home with Fu Yan Ting.
Most importantly, Mr. He knew the reason why her parents separated back then.