translator: Eve
editor: kara
On a certain island in the Pacific Ocean, private airplanes landed in an endless stream. It was the liveliest day this island had ever experienced since its formation.
A dignified middle-aged man swept a gaze over the two young men beside the Xiao Family’s madam. His eyes fell on Xiao Yuanmu, and a small smile appeared in his eyes. “You must be Yuanmu.”
Xiao Yuanmu nodded politely. “Mr. Guan.”
Guan Xiongpai patted him on the shoulder. “You can call me Uncle Guan like Baicong does. Guan Zhi mentioned you before. I had never expected you to be Old Xiao’s son. What a coincidence.”
“Dad, when did I ever talk about him?” Guan Zhi snorted from behind him. “I never did that.”
Guan Xiongpai’s dignified expression broke slightly. He glared at his son. “Didn’t you mention Yuanmu after you had come back from seeing your cousin in the Capital?”
Guan Zhi raised a brow. “I had mentioned Zhou Nan from the Zhou Family and Song Xuanhe from the Song Family. When did I ever mention Xiao Yuanmu?”
Guan Xiongpai coughed. He looked at Xiao Yuanmu, his expression unchanging. “Thank you for taking care of Guan Zhi when he was in China. We’ve troubled you.”
Xiao Yuanmu glanced at Guan Zhi and then looked away. “It’s nothing, Uncle Guan.”
Guan Zhi looked over when he felt Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze on him. He had just been about to ask if Song Xuanhe would come when he just so happened to notice Xiao Yuanmu was now speaking to the patriarch of the Xiao Family, who also happened to be his father. Xiao Yuanmu’s head was slightly lowered, and his dark eyes were tranquil and deep. His lips were slightly pursed, and he would occasionally say a few things. He looked calm and harmless. But for some reason, Guan Zhi ended up swallowing his words. He then looked away.
After the small talk, the Xiao Family patriarch had the butler take the Guan Family inside. As their figures grew distant, it also grew quiet around the Xiao Family. Xiao Baicong asked, “Song Xuanhe…is he your boyfriend? Is he going to come today?”
When Mrs. Xiao heard this familiar name, her expression changed slightly. She turned to look in the direction the Guan Family had disappeared to. A few seconds later, she shifted her gaze to Xiao Yuanmu.
Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes fell onto Xiao Baicong’s curious face. A few seconds later, he said in a chilly voice, “No.”
Mrs. Xiao was taken aback. She asked, “We sent the Song Family an invitation. Why isn’t he coming?”
Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze was serene. “I don’t want him to.”
Xiao Baicong smiled brightly. “And, here I thought you really liked that Chinese person named Song Xuanhe. Guess you don’t.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Xiao Baicong’s expression changed slightly. He pouted. “I was wrong, Father. When I found out that Ge liked someone, I had really wanted to see who that person was. I’ve been looking forward to this banquet a lot. I won’t do it again.”
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The butler brought the Guan Family to a specially prepared lounge. Shortly after, the butler returned to where the Xiao Family was. “Sir, Madam, the Hoffman Family has arrived.”
Xiao Lin nodded and looked at the private jet that had just arrived. “Yuanmu, I heard that Jung Hoffman visited your company yesterday.”
Xiao Yuanmu: “That’s right.”
“He wants to partner with you?”
“He wants a monopoly of the new energy source in D Country.”
The complicated expression in Xiao Lin’s eyes disappeared. He shook his head, a difficult-to-read smile appearing on his lips. “He’s asking for a lot.”
Xiao Yuanmu looked at the Hoffman Family, who had already hopped onto the shuttle bus. His tone was extremely flat. “If he manages to fulfill my request, I will agree to the partnership.”
Xiao Lin turned to look at Xiao Yuanmu. “What request?”
“A personal one,” Xiao Yuanmu said, “It has nothing to do with the company.”
Xiao Lin regarded Xiao Yuanmu pensively. His gaze then shifted to the shuttle bus that was getting increasingly closer. He pursed his lips and remained silent.
When Mrs. Xiao saw this, a sliver of worry emerged in her eyes. It might be because he had suffered a lot while growing up, but her eldest son kept them at a distance ever since coming back to them. Even though today was a lavish banquet held for the sake of formally welcoming him home, he seemed as unfeeling as ever. He didn’t look excited nor happy.
Moreover, his apathetic attitude was even more evident when he was interacting with her husband and youngest son. She didn’t know if it was because they were all men, but he treated them even more coldly than he did her. The difference was minute—neither her husband nor youngest son had picked up on it—but perhaps it was the connection between mother and son that allowed her to perceive the indifference Xiao Yuanmu had for the family. It was like he didn’t care about whether or not he had them, like he didn’t need them. She even felt like her eldest son actually preferred to be alone.
That was why she wanted to see Song Xuanhe so much. She wanted to see what the only person in this world who was able to make Xiao Yuanmu feel concern and love was like. She wanted to learn more about her eldest son from the lips of his beloved. She wanted to be involved with Song Xuanhe so that she could get closer to her own son through him. Most importantly, she wanted to know if Song Xuanhe was really worthy of being cherished by her eldest son like this.
Therefore, she had fought with her husband. She had disregarded the rule that the Xiao Family patriarch must not have a partner of the same sex and had stubbornly mailed out that invitation to the Song Family.
She hadn’t expected that even after all that trouble, Song Xuanhe wouldn’t be coming.
Mrs. Xiao’s smile faded slightly. Worry and fatigue appeared in her eyes. It had already been some time since they had found Xiao Yuanmu. She had tried all sorts of methods to get closer to him, but they had all failed. Except for Song Xuanhe, she didn’t know what else to do.
“I’m very happy that you could come to tonight’s banquet, Mr. Hoffman.”
The Hoffman patriarch shook hands and hugged Xiao Lin. He then looked at Xiao Yuanmu. He stuck a hand out and greeted him in D Country’s official language. “You’re Xiao Yuanmu, the Xiao Family’s long-lost eldest son, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Xiao Yuanmu met his gaze. He calmly shook his hand and spoke in an unhurried tone using D Country’s language. “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Hoffman.”
The Hoffman patriarch paused. He then smiled. “I’ve prepared a gift for our first meeting. I hope you’ll like it.”
“Thank you.”
The Hoffman patriarch shifted his gaze back to Xiao Lin. In Chinese, he said, “Your son, he’s excellent.”
Xiao Lin was also shocked upon finding out Xiao Yuanmu could speak D Country’s official language. He had never heard the other speak it before. There were also no records of him having ever learned D Country’s language before either. But when he thought about Xiao Yuanmu’s photographic memory and outstanding learning ability, he didn’t think much of it. He simply smiled. “Mr. Jung is also an exemplary young man.”
The Hoffman patriarch nodded proudly. “Although he’s got the family behind him, his company’s progress has exceeded my expectations. But, he’s still no match for your esteemed son. Young Mr. Xiao’s RE has grown rapidly. His research in that new energy source has been a great contribution to the world as well. Compared to him, Jung has a lot of room for growth.”
Jung stretched a hand out towards Xiao Yuanmu. “I apologize for what had happened in the past. It was the Hoffman Family’s fault for failing to provide adequate supervision. But, I have already promised you that I will conduct a thorough investigation, and the results will be out very soon. I hope that we will have the chance to work together after this matter has come to an end.”
Xiao Yuanmu nodded, his tone both polite and distant. “If there is a chance.”
A profound expression appeared on Jung’s stern face. He nodded.
When the butler came to lead them in, he whispered an address into Xiao Yuanmu’s ear as he passed him by.
Xiao Yuanmu’s expression didn’t change. He followed the other with his eyes.
The Hoffman Family’s arrival meant that seven out of the eight major financial groups were now present. The Xiao Family was now only waiting for the James Family.
Soon after, the James Family had arrived. They consisted of a tall Caucasian man and a comparatively petite East Asian woman. The two of them walked over hand-in-hand. After greeting Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Lin, the East Asian woman smiled. “You must be Yuanmu?”
Xiao Yuanmu raised a brow. The people from the other seven families had all called him “Mr. Xiao” or his full name. This was the first time someone had addressed him so familiarly. However, although he was wondering about this, it didn’t slow down his reaction at all. He nodded courteously. “Hello, Mrs. James.”
Mrs. James gave him a graceful smile and hugged him. “I’m Chinese. My Chinese name is Li Nianran. I’ve heard about you. I’m really happy to meet you.”
Xiao Yuanmu paused and then politely returned the hug. “I’m also happy to see you.”
Mrs. James let go and then smiled at Mrs. Xiao. “Both your sons have majestic and dignified bearings. You’re very fortunate.”
Mrs. Xiao had been astonished to see Xiao Yuanmu return Mrs. James’s hug. It took her a few seconds to respond to Mrs. James’s comment. “Thank you.”
Mrs. James’s smile was sweet. She chatted with Mrs. Xiao a bit before looping her arm around her husband’s arm and walking inside.
All of the important guests had arrived. The Xiao Family banquet had also begun without a hitch. After Xiao Lin had made a formal proclamation of Xiao Yuanmu’s identity, he brought him along to introduce him to the guests.
Xiao Lin introduced Xiao Yuanmu to all of the people he had planned on introducing him to before saying, “Go see your mother. She has people she wants you to meet as well.”
Xiao Yuanmu: “Okay.”
Xiao Lin took in his son’s handsome face. He became lost in thought for a moment. He raised his hand, paused for a moment, and then patted the other on the shoulder. “Go. Since you’ve come home, spend some more time with your mother.”
Xiao Yuanmu’s expression changed slightly. He nodded. “I’ll go find Mother.”
The banquet hall was huge, but it was easy to find Mrs. Xiao. Xiao Yuanmu made a beeline for her when he noticed her. But midway through his trek, his gaze was attracted by the people chatting by the glass dome.
The people who were chatting had also noticed him. Mrs. James waved him over.
Xiao Yuanmu paused and then headed in their direction. “Mrs. James, Auntie Song.”
Mrs. James’s smile grew deeper. She said, “We were just talking about you. Who would have thought you’d come over?”
Li Nianan sized Xiao Yuanmu up. When she saw that he was more-or-less the same as when she had last seen him, she smiled. “Long time no see.”
Kara: Ah…could this be leading to a meeting of the in-laws? (° o°)! Also, I kind of feel bad for Mama Xiao…she just wants to get along with her son, then again, you didn’t even bother looking for him all this time. (￢ε￢ )
xiin: maybe there’s more behind the scenes that we don’t see yet… also, what is up with the chapter titles @_@
The chapter title is weird…
Ahaha Time to meet the mother-in-law~Thanks for the chapter~
all of the title chapters of this novel is never make sense for me…
It kinda creates a cute thread, like titles are creating a rhyme, like this:
“Looking for a friend
Found a Handsome Guy
An icy serious expression
Quiet and doesn’t smile much
Nevertheless my boyfriend
Looking for friends
Found a handsome guy
Expressionless, a heavy expression
A pair of icy cold eyes
Don’t want him to be my boyfriend”
I hadn’t noticed it, but now that you mention it it’s true.As if I were writing a poem with the titles
Woah. I’m mind blown😳
It’s a reference to a Chinese nursery rhyme/song: 找呀找呀找朋友找到一个好朋友敬个礼呀握握手笑嘻嘻呀点点头你是我的好朋友Looking looking looking for a friendFound a good friendTake a salute, shake handsLaugh happily, nod headYou are my good friendThe version that I know is four lines (line 1, 2, 3, 5) instead of five lines. The author is just following this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel.If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end!
Awww that’s so cute
It’s a reference to a Chinese nursery rhyme/song:
找呀找呀找朋友
找到一个好朋友
敬个礼呀握握手
笑嘻嘻呀点点头
你是我的好朋友
Looking looking looking for a friend/
Found a good friend/
Take a salute, shake hands/
Laugh happily, nod head/
You are my good friend
The version that I know is four lines (line 1, 2, 3, 5) instead of five lines.
The author is just following this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel.
If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end!
THIS IS ADORABLE AND IT SCREAMS BIG BRAIN ENERGY o(≧▽≦)o
Cant wait for the next chapter. Thank you for this.
I wanted to reread the part where Mumu got introduced to He Bao’s mom but the chapter titles aren’t helping 😆
Officially meeting the in-laws with his new identity 😙😙
Thx for the chappy
(≡^∇^≡)
Oh Li Nianran is Li Nianan’s sister? So Xuanhe’s aunt? No wonder he hugged her.
I laugh at how the Xiao family just expects him to fall in line and listen to them simply because they acknowledged him as their son >->
And the mom “but I’m your mother” Yeah? But he’s grown as fuck and only the orphanage director ever cared for him.
Thanks for the chapter! <3
+1 Agreed! He’s not obliged to be a small knife that they can wield when they want
A Meet up with mother in law~ Anyway I agree with xiin there must be some behind the scene happening!
Thanks for the chapter<3
I hope SXH came too. 😔
Thanks for the chapter!
Somehow, I don’t feel that bad for mama Xiao. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that someone who managed to raise a child like the younger one won’t be able to handle our ML. I feel like she’s definitely going to end up hurting him while blaming him.
Thanks for the chapter!
Been mentioned earlier:
XYM recalled a memory of past TL where Mama Xiao pressured him using emotions to give up his claim as prospective successor in favour of his younger brother.
So…
Also, earlier on in the story, XYM had half-brother, but later on it was stated that XBC is his biological brother sharing both parents. This is a bit off, so not sure error by author or translator.
So she is an overall crappy person. I feel nothing for her anymore. Just because you share blood doesn’t give you the right to hurt people 🙄
She is! Her perspective is that XBC is the child whom she gave birth to, brought up & nurtured him personally, hence was emotionally close to him, where as XYM is a child whom she doesn’t have an emotional connection with other than the so-called biological relation. Hypocritical much! 😤
Wow! Bleep is such a hypocrite! How can she expect him to sacrifice everything because of blood relationship when she isn’t even prepared to truly love him like that. What a waste of a mother!
I don’t know why the page sometimes ignores my paragraph breaks, turning what I wrote into an only, sometimes confusing, paragraph… 😅
Wow you went deep into this huh 🤔
I tend to just ignore them 😂
It’s a reference to the ‘The President and his Seven Boyfriends’ novel, that the chapter titles could be somewhat the ‘original timeline’ but in fact, something else happens – due to the modified timeline. That is, if it was “that novel” it would be going like this. The seven boyfriends would repeatedly think such things about Mumu.
It’s akin to a chant/ memorization technique. We tend to repeat things we want to remember – so I thought it could imply that these chapters were memories to be held on to, either for Xuanhe or Mumu, but most probably Xuanhe because he’s not from this world and ultimately… he has to leave. (which I’m sure would not happen but is definitely an arc or something XD)
AHHHHHH so it can be referenced to the original novel of XYM!!! (‘◉⌓◉’) this kinda makes sense… I’ll check if the amount of ‘found boyfriend’ is 7…
+1 GENIUS, it actually makes sense and I thought the author was just lazy with the titles xD
+1 Makes sense 🥺
Thanks for sharing your theory! It makes sense if it’s a reference to (and reminder of) the original novel. Now I can finally have some peace of mind when reading this novel. 😂
Those were two different ideas because in mobile the paragraphs seem to be mixed, sorry for the confusion to anyone~
It’s a reference to a Chinese nursery rhyme/song:
找呀找呀找朋友
找到一个好朋友
敬个礼呀握握手
笑嘻嘻呀点点头
你是我的好朋友
Looking looking looking for a friend/
Found a good friend/
Take a salute, shake hands/
Laugh happily, nod head/
You are my good friend
The author follows this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel. If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end!
Ohh thanks for sharing this!
oooh, thanks for sharing!
It’s a reference to a Chinese nursery rhyme/song:
找呀找呀找朋友
找到一个好朋友
敬个礼呀握握手
笑嘻嘻呀点点头
你是我的好朋友
Looking looking looking for a friend/
Found a good friend/
Take a salute, shake hands/
Laugh happily, nod head/
You are my good friend
The version that I know is four lines (line 1, 2, 3, 5) instead of five lines.
The author is just following this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel.
If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end!
Now that clears everything up! Thank you~ But what does this mean?
| The author is just following this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel.
Still the number 7 remains OwO
I just think of it as the author using meme song lyrics as their chapter titles lol.
It’s so unsatisfying that the last chapter of the main story didn’t end with the last line of the song though! If I were the author I would combine two chapters into one just so the chapter title cycle will end neatly X-D
Chapter 155-158…you can either use a four-line melody or treat is as 4x echo of the last line of the song I guess. (I was copying and pasting chapter titles and singing the song melody over and over hahahaha) Chapter 155 is the last chapter of the story, and chapter 156-158 are extras.
Anyway, think of it as the author using meme song lyrics as their chapter titles.
i thought mumu’s gonna see sxh this chapter bc of the title 🙁
thanks for the update~
good luck mumu, that’s your future mother-in-law..!!
thankyou for the chapter!!
Thanks for the chapter ❤❤
So only mother song came to the banquet
Thanks for the chapter <3
Since the first chapter, ive always been confuse about the chapter titles hahahah
I feel like theres some profound reason why Xiao Yuanmu is disregarding Mrs. Xiao’s familial affection. Whatever it may be, i still feel bad at the moment.
i kinda wanna see that awkward moment of Song Xuanhe trying to not mention Mumu and his first meeting to Mrs. Xiao. Hahahahah
Thanks for the chappie! ( ˘ ³˘)♡
Knowing Yuanmu’s character something must have happened during his first rebirth for him not to get close to them now. Mama Xiao kinda sus tbh..
Thanks for the update!
Thanks for the chapter! ^^)❤
Xuanhe’s mom came to the party with her sister? Does Xuanhe know about this?!
Thanks for the chapter!
wait, Mrs. James’ Chinese name is LI Nianran, meanwhile Aunt Song is LI Nianran…
I know in the Chinese it’s different, but why author why don’t you make a different one when you already have ton of characters in this novel, even passerby has distinct name… why not add one more…
I believe they are sisters. Li Nianran is Mrs. James and Li Nianan is Auntie Song.
aish, I just repeated what you said when my point was the difference in their names with the “R” Li Nian Ran and Li Nian An.
ay, why am I suddenly forgetting such a simple probability like that? 😂
It’s so easy to just say he had time growing up but these rich people couldn’t probably imagine what it’s like to grow up without parents and the emotional and financial support they could’ve had provided.
I wonder what’s the real deal? Maybe that’s the reason why Mumu’s kinda cold to them… And then they’ll see how he’ll interact with future mom-in-law~
Thank you for the update! 💕
I can’t come to like any of XYM family.
Thanks for the great translation ♥️
Haha Xiin, welcome to the chapter titles hell, where it’s impossible to search for past chapters 😂😂😂
Omg is He Bao here as well?!
Awww he only care about his babies mom
In case you don’t know already (and sorry for the spam comments on this page), the chapter titles are a reference to a Chinese nursery rhyme/song: 找呀找呀找朋友 找到一个好朋友 敬个礼呀握握手 笑嘻嘻呀点点头 你是我的好朋友 [Repeat] Looking looking looking for a friend/ Found a good friend/ Take a salute, shake hands/ Laugh happily, nod head/ You are my good friend The author follows this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel. If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end! The melody just repeats ad nauseam. (Okay I was too lazy to check whether they strictly adhere to that format alllll the way through, but you get the gist.)
找呀找呀找朋友 找到一个好朋友 敬个礼呀握握手 笑嘻嘻呀点点头 你是我的好朋友 Looking looking looking for a friend/ Found a good friend/ Take a salute, shake hands/ Laugh happily, nod head/ You are my good friend
The author follows this 5 lines x 7 characters format from the first chapter to the last chapter of this novel. If you want, you can sing all the chapter titles from beginning to end! The melody just repeats ad nauseam. (Okay I was too lazy to check whether they strictly adhere to that format alllll the way through, but you get the gist.)
i’m laughinggg. the maternal aunt who is always described as “the daughter of the li family who got married into one of the eight major financial groups” is finally here. in 2(?) of the earlier chapters, she is always described like that everytime she is menyioned i can’t help laughing now that she actually appeared.
The chapter title is more like Mom Xiao finding her in-law (Aunt Song)
Ah no wonder he hugged Mrs. James (´･ω･`)
And thanks to all the comments the titles are finally making sense. Those ideas are really interesting 🤔 especially about the original novel with the 7 boyfriends
Thank you for the chapter 😘💕💕💕💕💕
Im also curious on why the chapters are titled like this. I feel that there must be something in the previous life that make Yuanmu indifferent to the Xiao family. I think if Yuanmu and the little brother fought… Mama Xiao will choose the little brother since he grew up with her…🤔
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for your hard work!
Thanks for the chapter!^^
Whats up with Mrs. James? 🤔
I feel bad for the mom 😞 like the Xiao family would fuck him over in a heartbeat probably but like I can’t help but feel a little bad because it’s not like she can see the future and is (at least currently) making some honest attempts to reconnect.
I really want to know what this family did to XYM in previous life.
The chapter titles are so random, I can never remember which chapter i was reading last by looking at them
Oho~ The mother in law is in the house, yo!
Thank you for the chapter!!
exactly. i feel bad for her but there’s a reason xym was in an orphanage all this time
xiin, the author tends to repeat chapter titles. qaqmyheart had an interesting observation that they pointed out.
Oh my goodness, the number of comments take up more than half the chapter!
Xiao Baicong smiled brightly. “And, here I thought you really liked that Chinese person named Song Xuanhe. Guess you don’t.”
Why did he say “that Chinese person”, isn’t he also Chinese himself
The chap titles were nonsense for me at first but got an idea from the comsec and reading it now it was too cute to handle omg😍 Thank you for the chapter😁
Mr Hoffman talking to XYM using his own language is so rude. Oof, Mama Song is in the house!
Wowwww so Li Niannan sister married into one of the 8 families which is the James one? I remember them saying “even though it is a branch of the 8” but here it seems she kinda married into the main branch? Or did Xiao Lin didn’t put much attention to Mumu’s welcoming party that he is okay with side branch representative???
With all those resources, how is it the Xiao Family never ‘found’ XYM in the orig and current timeline? Considering he is the eldest son of the direct line, plus a traditional family Hahaha
Xiao family always manage to rub me the wrong way. Like they all have the money and means but they didn’t use that to search for XYM all this years until they just found him by accident when investigating about him cuz they want a peace of pie he had
Thank You for the chapter (๑˙❥˙๑)