On the day of graduation, I was dragged by my rich father to get the certificate

Mrs. Si looked at her grandson's instantly ashamed face and continued, "It's really disappointing that you used this fake video to threaten Mr. Mu and force him to give in and hand over the account book."

After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at Si Yehan.

Seeing this, Mr. Mu quickly said, "Madam Si, calm down. You once unintentionally helped me out and saved me from a dangerous situation. I have always remembered this favor. Now is the time for me to repay you." He pushed the page of the account book back. "Take the account book. Let's end the matter of the children here. What do you think?"

Mrs. Si was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "Since Brother Mu has spoken up and brought up the past, then I will apologize to you on behalf of Ye Han. Is this matter over as you wish?"

"It's over. I'd like to apologize to the Si family on Ruirui's behalf."

"It's just a joke between children, don't take it seriously, Brother Mu."

“Haha, yes, yes.”

Mu Rui stood there, as if all her strength and dignity had been drained away. Her greatest bargaining chip, the trump card she'd thought she could use to control Si Yehan, had been a joke from the very beginning.

The grandfather she revered the most not only did not help her, but also used the favors he owed her that she was completely unaware of to lightly resolve the crisis she had carefully planned.

The account book returned safely to the Si family, and the biggest handle became a false bubble. She stood there like a clown who had been completely seen through. All her calculations were shattered to pieces under the calm gaze of the two old men.

After a brief greeting, Mrs. Si took Si Yehan back to the Si family's old house.

Si Yehan's fingertips traced the yellowed page, its edges slightly curled with age. Half the handwriting on it consisted of clear yet cold numbers and entries, the same ones he'd already seen on the photocopied sheet his grandmother had given him. The other half... was the shocking truth hidden on the back, never captured by the copier.

He read through the pages word by word, the study so quiet he could hear the rustle of the wind through the old banyan tree outside the window. The furrow between his brows, once deep enough to conceal a shadow, gradually relaxed as his gaze drifted across the secret records. It wasn't a sense of relief, but rather a sense of clarity, like the stillness of a world after a heavy rock has finally fallen and the dust has stirred violently. The fog that weighed on his heart was now completely dispelled by this thin sheet of paper.

Old Mrs. Si sat on the rosewood armchair opposite him, slowly twisting a string of agarwood Buddhist beads in her hand. Her voice was as calm as the fragrance, but with the vicissitudes of time. She calmly recounted the dusty past.

"...Nangong Jue's frame-up over twenty years ago was indeed connected to our Si family." She paused, her gaze sweeping across her grandson's calm profile before continuing, "But that was your uncle's doing, behind the Si family's back, deceiving Mu Rui's father, who was quick-witted but not cautious at the time. They secretly committed this evil. One was blinded by greed, the other was gullible. They put on a good show together, but it ultimately led to the Nangong family being blamed."

"After the incident, Mu Rui's father realized that not only had he been used, but he had also completely destroyed the reputation and trust of his former employer, the Si family. That child... had a strong temper. He knew that he had let the Si family down, so he couldn't get over it and committed suicide in an extreme way, thinking that he could put an end to it." There was a hint of regret in the old lady's voice, but more of it was a calm narration of the established trajectory of the past.

"And your uncle," she said in a slightly cold tone, "when he saw the truth was revealed and he could no longer hide it, he completely ignored his responsibility and abandoned your aunt and that mess, disappearing all by himself. To this day, even the police haven't been able to find his whereabouts. Whether he's dead or alive, he's a thorn in the Si family's side."

"At that time, for the sake of your younger cousin Si Mingyuan, in order to prevent him from having a father charged with a crime, your grandfather... finally softened his heart. He used some connections to suppress the matter. The Si family's century-old reputation cannot be ruined by a son-in-law from another family." She sighed softly, with too many complicated emotions entangled in her breath.

"Just when your grandfather was using his connections everywhere, trying his best to make amends and help the wronged Nangong Jue exonerate himself, he unexpectedly... unexpectedly received tragic news. Nangong Jue, such a proud and arrogant man, actually committed suicide in the police station."

The old woman paused for a moment, twisting her Buddhist beads. A clear trace of pain flashed across her eyes. "Your grandfather had always been a strong man, always cherishing his promises and loyalty. He always felt indebted to the Nangong family. Upon hearing this news, he couldn't bear the blow and fell ill... and ultimately died of depression."

She raised her eyes, her gaze clear yet heavy, and looked at Si Yehan. "No matter what, even if it was a servant's doing, our Si family is indeed responsible for negligence. The root of this lies with the Si family. We have shouldered this debt for over twenty years and it's no wonder."

She shook her head slightly, a smile that seemed both lamenting and fateful. "It's true that karma is the law of nature, and no one is spared. Grandma never imagined that you would give birth to Nian Nian with Nangong Jue's granddaughter. Perhaps, it was destined that you would untie this knot and settle this debt."

The old lady gently placed the Buddhist beads on the table, leaned forward slightly, and said slowly and firmly with a look of complete entrustment: "Well. Yehan, you have grown up and are the true helmsman of the Si family. Do whatever you want with this matter. Grandma... supports your decision."

Si Yehan raised his gaze from the account book. All the turbulent emotions in his deep eyes had settled, leaving only a calm and resolute determination. His Adam's apple moved slightly, and his voice was low and clear as he called out:

"grandmother."

Si Yehan came to his senses and got out of bed. He took the account book page and prepared to go find Gu Wan to have things sorted out.

However, man proposes, God disposes. Nangong Xuan was suddenly admitted to the hospital, and Gu Wan, as her daughter, was forced to take over the entire turbulent Nangong family business. She set off for the United States early in the morning to deal with the mess.

For several days, she was almost always busy, and her voice on the phone was obviously tired.

Si Yehan couldn't wait any longer. His knuckles tightly grasped the yellowed page of the account book. His original plan was to fly directly to the United States, find Gu Wan, and sort out the grievances and entanglements of more than twenty years once and for all.

He imagined her relieved expression after learning the truth. Perhaps, the obstacles between them would no longer exist.

Si Yehan held the phone, listening to her brief and hurried responses. Finally, he simply whispered, "Get some rest. We'll talk after you're done."

Change of plan. He looked at the crucial evidence in his hand, his eyes darkening. Since he couldn't meet Gu Wan for the time being, why not go meet the person who had the biggest misunderstanding of the Si family and the biggest objection to him first—Gu Wan's mother, Nangong Xuan.