Chapter 21: Was There an Unspeakable Secret Behind the Broken Engagement Back Then?

"Do you even deserve to be compared to Qiaoqiao?" Si Chenli's thin lips moved slightly, and his voice was cold as he casually glanced at him, looking him over as if he were appraising an item.

Sang Nanfeng felt humiliated, his hands unwittingly clenched into fists. Since becoming the CEO of Starlight Entertainment, he had never been so publicly belittled.

Unfortunately, the person doing this was Si Chenli, so he had no choice but to swallow the humiliation.

"Ha ha ha, of course, they can't be compared. Are you here to see Mr. Sang Senior, Mr. Si? Let me take you upstairs; their game of chess should be almost over."

Mr. Sang laughed awkwardly, trying to divert the conversation, after all, they couldn't afford to offend Mr. Si.

How could Nanfeng not keep his composure? He was usually so stable; why was he so flustered today?

"No rush." Si Chenli's expression remained indifferent as he strode confidently towards the sofa, his long, powerful legs creating a breeze with each step. Reaching the sofa, he sat down with a carefree posture.

Sang Shen and Sang Jiao, who were originally planning to go home, returned via the same route after receiving their father's text message.

After all, the chance to meet Mr. Si was extremely rare.

However, when they arrived and saw their father bowing and scraping to the man on the sofa and then recognized his face, Sang Jiao's complexion turned pale in an instant.

This newcomer on the variety show was Mr. Si?

She knew the man's identity was not simple, but she hadn't expected it to be to this extent.

Just the thought of someone like him partnering with Sang Qiao on the show, she felt it was too good for Sang Qiao.

"Come, come, come, this is Mr. Si. Mr. Si, these are my second son, Sang Shen, and my daughter, Sang Jiao."

"Mr. Si." Although Sang Shen was also surprised—Mr. Si was the inconspicuous newcomer on the variety show—he quickly regained composure, having weathered many storms before.

"Hello, Mr. Si," Sang Jiao steadied the shock in her heart, continuously reassuring herself. Now that she knew Si Chenli was the small newcomer on the variety show, she must strive to be in the same group as him in the next episode and perform well.

She believed that, compared to Sang Qiao who abandoned him during his dreary days, Mr. Si would surely favor her more as long as she treated him sincerely and cared for him at every turn.

"Mhm." Si Chenli didn't even lift his eyelids, his interest waning, occasionally glancing at Sang Qiao sitting on the other side of the sofa.

Mr. Sang seemed to discern something and interjected, "Mr. Si, the matter of the broken engagement was actually a misunderstanding. Qiaoqiao didn't back out because she despised your circumstances; she had her own unspeakable difficulties."

"Oh? What kind of unspeakable difficulties?" Si Chenli chuckled lightly, his gaze fixated on the young girl with interest.

Sang Qiao: "..." She didn't even know what unspeakable difficulties she had; how could Sang Zheng, a deadbeat dad, know anything?

"That's right, Qiaoqiao was seriously ill at the time and was afraid of burdening you, which is why she reluctantly initiated the breakup."

Mr. Sang spoke as if it were true, and if Sang Qiao weren't the very person involved, she might have even believed his rhetoric.

"Ptuh." Sang Qiao couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Qiaoqiao, recently, we've neglected you at home. Why don't you move back tonight? I've had someone clean out your room for you."

Mr. Sang, fearing his rebellious daughter would not give him face and would expose him, couldn't help but soothe her, offering what she had always wanted.

As long as Sang Qiao could capture Mr. Si's heart, what was one room!

It wouldn't matter much if Jiaojiao was a little put out.

Sang Shen's eyebrows were tightly furrowed as he couldn't help but remind him, "Dad... that's Jiaojiao's room."

"That was originally Qiaoqiao's!" Mr. Sang frowned at him displeasedly, lacking any foresight.

"It's okay, I don't mind where I stay, as long as my sister is willing to come back." Sang Qiao's voice was gentle and weak, exhibiting a yielding posture.

"Jiaojiao really knows what's important," Mr. Sang voiced his satisfaction, as he believed that a sensible child should learn to make sacrifices for the Sang Family.

In the past, Jiaojiao was the more valuable one, and aside from causing trouble, Sang Qiao was good for nothing, so naturally, he was more inclined to dote on Jiaojiao a bit more. But now, the situation had changed.

"There's no need to move back; I'm not interested," Sang Qiao said, finding their attitudes amusing.

Not a trace of joy could be found, and it was the first time she truly recognized the true face of her father.

It was laughably easy for her to want him to stand up for her.

"It's not your turn to be interested, let alone take over Jiaojiao's room. You know why you called off the engagement due to unspeakable reasons."

Sang Nanfeng felt an indescribable displeasure—Jiaojiao had been so yielding, and yet Sang Qiao was still so clueless, sticking to her repulsive way of speaking!

"Dad, weren't you afraid of being exposed when you started spreading lies like this?" Sang Shen also subtly protected Jiaojiao.

With both his sons undermining him like this, Mr. Sang's complexion soured; weren't his words meant to give Mr. Si a way out, all for their Sang Family?

One after the other, his sons were disappointments; first indulging Sang Qiao, and then indulging Sang Jiao.

Unable to provide any other strong testimony, his words came out dry, "Mr. Si, please don't misunderstand; I would never dare to deceive you."

"He's wrong, I really..." Sang Qiao was about to speak the truth.

When she was abruptly cut off by Si Chenli, "I believe Qiaoqiao called off the engagement for unspeakable reasons."

His deep, bottomless eyes seemed to pierce right through people, and his lips still bore a seemingly gentle smile.

Sang Qiao instantly felt overwhelmed; she didn't think Si Chenli truly believed her, he was just playing with her.

And for the rest of the Sang Family, what else could they not understand? Though the truth wasn't as such, if he wanted to believe it, what could they do?

"I'm going upstairs to find Mr. Sang Senior. Make yourselves at home." Si Chenli, having said almost everything he wanted to, stood up with a clear attitude, unhurriedly walking upstairs.

As he passed by Sang Qiao, he paused in his steps, glanced down at her, then continued forward.

Sang Qiao looked up just in time to meet his gaze; her delicate brows furrowed as she found herself increasingly unable to understand Si Chen.

Even if he wanted revenge, there was no need to come to the Sang Family and speak up for her, right? Surely, it couldn't be that he still had lingering feelings for her; she didn't think she was that charming.

"Qiaoqiao, you..." Mr. Sang smiled kindly, trying to persuade her to come back home.

However, Sang Qiao had no intention of engaging further with him and turned to leave immediately.

"Sang Qiao! You stand right there!" Mr. Sang's face darkened instantly as he bellowed after her.

Regrettably, Sang Qiao didn't listen, her retreating figure growing more distant, further embarrassing Mr. Sang.

"Dad surely doesn't still think that Sang Qiao is the sensible and obedient daughter from before, right? Nowadays, it's good enough that she isn't opposing us outright, let alone anything else."

Sang Nanfeng sneered, displeased by his father's recent attempt to make Jiaojiao accommodate Sang Qiao.

"That's only because you two have gone too far! He's Mr. Si, after all. No matter how, we should coax Sang Qiao back. If our families are united in marriage in the future, it would also help the Sang Family."

"If there really is a marriage alliance, I'm afraid Sang Qiao will not only fail to help the Sang Family but will even suppress us."

Sang Shen remarked coolly, unwilling to feed his father any illusions.

Listening to his sons' words, Mr. Sang hesitated, unable to deny that they made sense.

"So what do you suggest we do?"