The boss has no descendants, but he encounters four smaller versions of himself

Wen Xiaoman stayed in the dark room as Qiao Siyue had instructed.

About ten minutes later, noise finally came from the next room.

Her heart leaped into her throat, and she immediately leaned closer to the small window, peering nervously through it.

Qiao Siyue walked in first, followed closely by Qiao Sinian.

He was wearing the same shirt he had changed into earlier; he was slender and upright, and his face... was not wearing a mask.

That face, identical to Qiao Siyue's, yet strikingly different due to its calm demeanor, was exposed to the light without any concealment.

Wen Xiaoman's body stiffened instantly, her gaze fixed on Qiao Sinian as if drawn by a magnet, her eyes unblinking.

This seemed to be the first time she had seen his true appearance so clearly since she had truly "met" him.

A wave of sourness welled up uncontrollably in her nose, but she bit her lower lip hard, forcing back the tears, and continued to stare intently at the room next door.

She wanted to see what Qiao Siyue wanted her to see and hear.

The next room is a study used for handling family affairs.

The furnishings are elegant, with a huge bookshelf on one side and some important documents stored on the other.

Qiao Sinian had been here before, usually to hand over some external matters that required Qiao Sinian's intervention.

Therefore, when Joss invited him over under the pretext of discussing official business, he came.

The two first exchanged views on several important multinational projects and the situation of external competitors.

Although the two brothers were secretly at odds, they were surprisingly united in their stance on protecting the overall interests of the Chemosey family and resisting external enemies.

No matter how much they dislike each other, the foundation of the family must not be shaken by outsiders in the slightest.

This was a consensus between the two brothers.

In Qiao Sinian's view, Qiao Syue was outstanding in ability, ruthless in methods, and had strong execution ability. He was an extremely useful tool in many external affairs.

If this younger brother weren't so ambitious, and didn't always think about killing him and taking his place, he would be a great partner.

Unfortunately... Joss wanted too much, and his older brother, who was frail and sickly but held the parents' favor and core power, became his biggest stumbling block and an insurmountable obstacle in his heart.

After the business was concluded, the conversation turned to personal matters.

Before Qiao Sinian could speak, Qiao Siyue couldn't help but ask, "Brother, I'm getting married in a few days. You'll be attending, right?"

He still called him "brother" on the surface, which seemed very friendly.

Qiao Sinian's reaction was calm and unfazed. He replied indifferently, "Well, we'll see."

I neither said I would go nor that I wouldn't go.

Qiao Siyue seemed surprised by his composure and took another step closer, her tone clearly probing: "So, you don't have anything to say to my fiancée?"

Wen Xiaoman's heart jumped into her throat, and she stared intently at Qiao Sinian.

Qiao Sinian's gaze remained fixed on a document in his hand, his head not even lifting, his tone devoid of any emotion: "No."

Joss walked around to face him: "But I had someone investigate her background. During the time you disappeared... you were with her, right? She was your girlfriend back then."

He deliberately slowed his speech, "I've investigated your relationship thoroughly."

After she finished speaking, Wen Xiaoman noticed that Qiao Sinian's fingers, which were flipping through the documents, paused for a moment.

He finally reacted.

However, his response plunged Wen Xiaoman into an icy abyss.

Qiao Sinian did not deny it, but simply replied, "Yes, you are right, but that is all in the past."

That's all in the past...

Wen Xiaoman gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Is that so?"

Qiao Siyue seemed to sense the reaction from the dark room, and a smile crept onto his lips as he continued to fan the flames: "It's only been two years, how can you just dismiss it with a casual 'it's all in the past'?"

He feigned emotion, "Brother, you've never had a woman by your side before. I thought Xiaoman was very special and important to you."

"Snapped!"

A crisp click of the hinge rang out.

Qiao Sinian slammed the document shut in his hand, the movement carrying a hint of force.

He finally raised his head, his gaze falling on Qiao Siyue's face. The coldness and oppressive feeling in his eyes made Qiao Siyue feel a little uneasy for a moment.

"Si Yue, now that you've found out, why are you still provoking her?" Qiao Sinian's voice wasn't loud, but it was very authoritative.

Qiao Siyue was almost intimidated by this aura, but he was not afraid of this sickly guy at all. Faced with his questioning, Qiao Siyue said in a glib tone, "Brother, what are you saying? Who can control feelings?"

He shrugged, looking innocent yet affectionate. "I never imagined I'd fall in love with your ex, brother. What do you call this? It's called love that arises without warning and deepens with time. Anyway, I've decided she's the one for me, and I won't marry anyone else."

He changed the subject: "But brother, I was feeling quite guilty at first. It's not a good thing for a younger brother to steal his older brother's woman. But now that you've said it's all in the past, I feel much better. I'm sure... you, my magnanimous older brother, won't blame me anymore, right?"

After Qiao Siyue finished speaking, he waited patiently for Qiao Sinian's reaction.

Wen Xiaoman, in the dark room, also held her breath.

However, the expected anger, arguments, and even the slightest bit of lingering affection did not materialize.

Because Qiao Sinian was very calm, almost excessively so.

It was as if no matter what Qiao Sinian said, it could not cause any reaction to him.

After a while, he slowly said, "Of course I won't blame you. I have no feelings for her anymore. You don't need to feel guilty, and you certainly don't need to... use her to threaten me."

He paused slightly, looked up at Qiao Siyue, his eyes deep: "Because there's no need."

He laid his cards on the table, the second half of which was both a reminder and a warning: I gave you a chance, so don't push your luck.

Wen Xiaoman, in the dark room, turned ashen-faced in an instant.

"I have no feelings for her anymore..."

Every word was like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into her heart, causing her so much pain that she could barely breathe.

She felt all the strength drain from her body in an instant, her face turning deathly pale, as if she had been sentenced to death.

Qiao Siyue was also stunned, not expecting Qiao Sinian to react this way. He stared at Qiao Sinian's face carefully, trying to see if he was lying.

But his older brother was unusually calm, remaining completely unfazed and unmoved.

It's impossible to discern any of their true inner emotions.

Joss was a little unsure. His lips twitched involuntarily, and with a hint of frustration, he said dryly, "Big brother is indeed heartless. But only someone as unemotional as you can shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Chemosi family. In this respect, I, as the younger brother, am still ashamed of myself."