Chapter 25 Chapter Twenty-Five

"Jane!" Dai Xi exclaimed, and Lin Nianzhen turned around in response, and the shattered phantom reunited into a charming and elegant lady: "What's the matter, Dai Xi?" Dai Xi curled her lips: "I don't want to go to 'Shuangmei 1919', we Get out of here." "Okay, let's pass by its door for a while, anyway." They hurried past the narrow street outside "Shuangmei 1919". Originally, Dai Xi wanted to tell Lin Nianzhen the story of "Yiyuan" and Li Weilian, but now she has completely lost interest. It was not until he was waiting for a taxi on the street that Lin Nianzhen said to Dai Xi: "The cries we heard outside 'Yiyuan' came from the upstairs of 'Shuangmei'."

"Huh?" Dai Xi hugged her shoulders, she felt a little cold. Lin Nianzhen continued: "There used to be no 'Twin Sisters' there. They were all two-story Shikumen houses with an attic on top. Now that the living room on the ground floor has opened, the second floor should still be a bedroom..." Outside the "Guide Hall" on the second floor of the Longhua Funeral Home, people who participated in the memorial service for Xue Zhifan, a great calligrapher, painter, collector and traveler, are leaving one after another.Many social celebrities can be seen in the crowd, including famous writers, people in education and performing arts circles. China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Collectors Association and Tourism Association all sent wreaths and couplets. Fu Shuheng, the editor-in-chief of the classic bookstore who has published many books and a good friend during his lifetime, presided over the memorial ceremony, and choked up several times when he delivered the eulogy, and shed tears.

People are gradually walking away.On the big screen in the memorial hall, the video of Xue Zhifan was still playing.Under his large portrait in the center, Xue Zhifan's only daughter Xue Baoling and son-in-law Zhang Naichi still stand in front of a large wreath of lilies and white roses. Xue Baoling was petite and haggard. The all-black mourning dress on her body was like an iron armor weighing a thousand junctures, which made her even more fragile.Throughout the memorial service, she kept crying and her face was bloodless. Fortunately, Zhang Naichi supported her so that she could not fall down.People who came to express their condolences passed in front of the two of them one by one and expressed condolences to them. They couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion in their hearts: Xue Zhifan, such a romantic figure with extraordinary achievements, failed to leave a rich blood for himself.Since his eldest son died of a genetic heart disease ten years ago, Xue Zhifan has only one daughter, Baoling.As for Xue Baoling, just looking at her appearance, she doesn't look like a strong and blessed person. Otherwise, no matter how many years of marriage, she has not been able to give birth to a man and a woman. It is a pity that Xue Zhifan's family business will have no successors. .

After seeing off all the guests at last, Zhang Naichi breathed a sigh of relief, supported his wife and asked, "How is it? Are you okay?" Xue Baoling leaned her head on his shoulder and gave a weak "hmm". "Then let's go." Xue Baoling half leaned half on Zhang Naichi's arms and walked out of the hall.After the memorial service, there is another very important thing: release Xue Zhifan's will. Zhang Naichi drove his Lexus and stopped in front of Xue's house on Ruijin Road.This is also a very good garden house. Although it is not as large as "Yi Garden", nor as extraordinary and refined as "Yi Garden", it is not as ill-fated as her.During the "Cultural Revolution", Xue Zhifan had the shelter of the upper class, so he was not greatly impacted, and he has never been kicked out.He has traveled around the world all his life, and he also owns real estate in Hong Kong. He doesn't really live here much, but this house is a popular living residence after all, unlike "Yi Yuan", which seems to be cursed and is always in close contact with death. Inseparable.

The relevant personnel who participated in today's will reading ceremony all arrived one step ahead of time, and gathered in Xue Zhifan's study room to wait for the arrival of the most important person.Xue Baoling cheered up a little, let go of Zhang Naichi's helping hand, and walked into his father's study side by side with him. There are still traces of Xue Zhifan here, the bookcases on the entire wall are full of his beloved books, the calligraphy and paintings of celebrities can no longer be hung on the wall, so they have to be randomly placed in the exquisitely carved mahogany bookcases.Almost every piece of furniture that the eyes touch has a history. If you want to estimate the price of the various collections in this study alone, I'm afraid it will be astronomical.

When he stepped into the study door, Zhang Naichi couldn't help but tremble inwardly.Married to Xue Baoling for nearly ten years, he has never been invited into this study.Xue Zhifan looked down on this son-in-law from the bottom of his heart, and believed that he only won his daughter's favor by his appearance.Zhang Naichi has no status in Xue's family. Even if West Bund Chemicals established its Greater China headquarters in Shanghai, after Zhang Naichi came to Shanghai from Hong Kong to work for a long time, at most he would come to Xue's house for dinner with his wife during the holidays.He himself still lives in the long private room that the company booked for him in the five-star hotel.Especially this study, where Xue Zhifan's life's painstaking efforts were gathered, was an absolute forbidden zone for Zhang Naichi, the old man guarded him like a thief, expressing his contempt for him in this way.

Be on guard, be on guard... Zhang Naichi stood in the middle of the study and took a deep breath: Didn't I still come in?And from today, everything here is mine... Seeing them coming in, Xue Zhifan's specially hired lawyer Chen stood up: "Since everyone is here, let me announce Mr. Xue's will." Xue Baoling and Zhang Naichi sat down next to each other on the sofa. The other people in the room were Fu Shuheng, two distant relatives of the Xue family in Shanghai, and Qin Hui, the general manager of the East Asia travel company run by Xue Zhifan. Lawyer Chen began to read out the will. As everyone expected, Xue Zhifan distributed some insignificant properties to two distant relatives, donated a considerable part of celebrity calligraphy and paintings and precious collections to museums, and collected all the royalties from his works. Donated to the Red Cross Foundation, and left all the rest of the property, including two properties in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the East Asia Travel Company and the remaining collections, calligraphy and paintings after the donation to his daughter Xue Baoling.

"But..." Attorney Chen's words changed: "For Miss Xue Baoling's inheritance, Mr. Xue has a supplementary statement." Zhang Naichi looked at his wife in surprise, Xue Baoling's eyes were also a little confused, She stared at Lawyer Chen intently, but Zhang Naichi's heart suddenly felt cold, he had a premonition of something... The supplementary explanation is this: Although Xue Baoling inherited most of the estate, these estates will be managed by a special foundation, and Xue Baoling can only use her own property conditionally through the foundation.The foundation is jointly managed by Fu Shuheng, Attorney Chen and Qin Hui, all of whom have understood and accepted Mr. Xue's entrustment.There are only two situations in which Xue Baoling can revoke the foundation and take full control of her own property. These two situations are-Xue Baoling becomes single; or Xue Baoling gives birth to a child.

After the supplementary explanation was read out, Xue Baoling and Zhang Naichi were stunned.The two distant relatives withdrew first, and Fu Shuheng walked over and gently supported Xue Baoling's shoulders, and said: "Baoling, if you have anything to do, come to Uncle Fu, take care of yourself." Then he left.Qin Hui then left, and Lawyer Chen stayed at the end and asked, "Miss Xue, is there anything else I can do?" "No...thank you." Xue Baoling replied mechanically. Only the husband and wife were left in the house.Zhang Naichi looked around in dismay. The room was full of books, scrolls and banners, jade and carvings... everything seemed to be mocking him. His eyes fell back to his wife's face, and she was also looking at him with great fear.Zhang Naichi smiled: "Bao Ling, you'd better divorce me now."

"No!" Xue Baoling blurted out, rather than denying him, he was declaring himself, "Why should I divorce you?" Zhang Naichi said in a nonchalant tone: "Why? Because your old man wants you to get a divorce? Didn't you hear? You need to be single again to control your own property. He treats you like a three-year-old, hahahaha..." He finally broke out into a burst of laughter, and the humiliation gathered in his eyes, giving off a cold light. Xue Baoling stretched out her hand pityingly, stroking her husband's cheek: "Naichi, Dad has some prejudice against you, don't take it to heart. I will never leave you because of this, I swear..."

"You won't leave me..." Zhang Naichi said in a daze, "Then you will never get your father's property. Are you willing to spend your whole life like a beggar asking those three outsiders for money?" "I..." Xue Baoling lowered her head, "Actually, we don't need those properties. You are the business director of West Bund Chemicals, and I'm also the director of East Asia Travel Company. We don't lack money, not at all." Zhang Naichi stared at his wife with wide eyes, "Really? That's because you don't need money, not me! Baoling, you know my dream, right? You know what I really want to be is Li Ka-shing. , not a wage earner who has worked for a multinational company all his life! You know it!" "I know..." "So money is very important to me! With money, I can show my talents and realize my dreams, but what about your father, he will die and refuse to help me!" Xue Baoling said weakly: "Actually...in fact, he is worried that you are with me for money..." "What is it with you?!" Zhang Naichi stood up abruptly, looking down at Xue Baoling condescendingly, "I just married you, right? Then what do you think? Well, Baoling? What do you think of me in your heart? What about you?" He sat down again, face to face with his wife, his voice full of violent indignation and feigned enthusiasm: "Why don't we have a baby? Didn't your father's will say it? As long as you have a baby, You will have full control over your property... Boling, let's have a baby, I've always wanted a baby..." "Naichi!" Xue Baoling screamed, covering her face with her hands and sobbing. Zhang Naichi sneered: "See? This is the truth! If I divorce you, I will get nothing, but if I don't divorce you, I will get nothing! Why? Why is this the result, Pauline, don't you love me? As a woman, do you love me like this?" Xue Baoling threw herself on the sofa and burst into tears. Zhang Naichi didn't look at her again, stood up and walked away. Xue Baoling cried for a long time alone in the study, and gradually the crying became intermittent. She stood up with difficulty, took out a small medicine box from her bag, took out the pills and put them in her mouth.Then she leaned on the back of the sofa, and it took a while for her breathing to slow down. She picked up the phone and stared at the number on it for a long time. Tears flowed down again unknowingly and fell on the back of her hand. She made up her mind to press it. No answer, she called again, still no answer.Xue Baoling was holding the phone in a daze, suddenly the phone rang, and she grabbed it with all her strength as if rescued: "Hey, William, where are you?" "I'm busy, what's the matter?" "..." Xue Baoling's tears overflowed her eyes again: "I miss you." There was silence in the microphone, and Xue Baoling knew that Li Weilian was about to disconnect, so she hurriedly said, "Can I find you?" "But I've been so busy these days that I don't even have time to sleep." "It doesn't take a lot of time, I just want to see you..." Xue Baoling said out of breath, she felt that she was going to faint, "Please..." He was silent for a few more seconds: "Go to Singapore this weekend, I will be there. It's still mandarin oriental." The phone was hung up, but Xue Baoling's eyes regained vitality, and her life seemed to have hope again.