Xie Rong was sitting in the living room and was frowning while watching the business news on the tv. The city development project in which Xie enterprises has invested last year is not doing well and if this continues, it will ruin the foundation of the company.

Considering the benefits of the investments, he had placed the biggest bet this time, however, the company is not doing well for a few months. He was hoping this project to do well and rise again in the industry as a big name, however, if this fails, they will become bankrupt for good.

Xinyi who just came downstairs saw him watching the news with a deep frown. He has lost so much weight and was losing his face color due to stress.

She approaches him and takes a seat on the sofa adjacent to him and picks up the remote control to switch off the TV.

Xie Rong frowned and turned to her, " Xinyi, what are you doing?"

She looks at him helplessly, " Dad, you don't need to watch this. Watching the news all day long won't fix anything. We need to find some way to find the solution to the problem and not sit around like this and wait for Liwei to put the company to ashes."

" Rather than staying at home and watching the news, go to the office and try to find some solution. If not, go and beg Liwei to stop his acts. If this continues, we will come on the streets. I don't want to get poor, we can't go bankrupt." She said worriedly while fidgeting with her fingers as she thinks about the situation if they go bankrupt.

He gritted his teeth and snapped at her in frustration, " WHAT CAN I DO? I tried every way I could do, but people keep taking out their investments because of Liwei's provocations and the rumors he is spreading in the industry." he snapped at her in his anger.

"Xinyi, this is all happening because of you. Since the day he has found out about the incident of you accusing Xie Ming of sexually assaulting a guy when in truth, she was the one who got harassed and was bullied. She was the victim but because of your testimony, she was loathed as the bully and an assaulter."

" He was doing this to take revenge for that incident. Because of your stupidity and dirty deeds, the company has to pay the price." he glared at her in frustration and anger remembering about the time he tried to meet Liwei to solve the issue but he sent a message for him through his secretary that he will meet him only when Xie enterprises will go bankrupt and not before that.

It's happening all because of this mother and daughter duo, if they haven't treated Xie Ming this way, he would have been using Liwei's connection to make his business stronger.

Xinyi's expressions turned pale upon seeing Xie Rong's outburst. She was just trying to make him not watch the depressing news but he snapped at her instead. How can he..

Tears filled in her eyes seeing him getting angry at her. He never shouted at her or got angry at her for something as trivial as this, especially when Xie Ming is the one in question. She has been loved and pampered while growing up, his attitude now was something she has never seen.

However, in the last few days, he gets angry easily and even fights with Xie Rouxi more frequently.? Even though he is stressed, how can he get angry at her?

" Dad.."

Seeing Xinyi's teary eyes, he got in his senses and realized what he had done. He felt a heartache seeing her tears but before he could say anything, he heard a worried-dramatic voice.

" Xinyi, what happened? Why are you crying like this? Xie Rong, what did you say to my baby? Huh?" Rouxi who just returned from the backyard after checking on the flower plants was shocked to see Xinyi sitting there while holding onto her tears and was sobbing silently.

She shot a dark glare at Xie Rong who panicked and waved his hand seeing her accusing gaze, " I...I didn't say anything. I was talking to her about the bullying incident. As her parents, we haven't taught her right. How can a girl of 15 years do such a heinous crime? Xie Ming almost got assaulted because of Xinyi's provocation and was even suspended due to her fake testimony."

Xie Rouxi held Xinyi by the shoulders and was rubbing her back caringly, she looked at Xie Rong in shock and said, " Are you crazy? How can you talk to her about that incident? Don't you know how much stress she gets because of it? And do you think Xie Ming was innocent? She must have done something to prove that guy. It's not our daughter's fault that something like this happened to her."

" Your dear daughter ruined my daughter's career and her husband not only fired her from the company but because of the rumors and lies of your daughter, My Xinyi has to face the wrath of the people and was even bullied at work, all because of Xie Ming. Did you do anything to protect her? As her father, you failed to protect her." she said while gritting her teeth, how can he blame Xinyi for all of this?

" You should deal with that bi*ch first before teaching my daughter. Hmph!" She scoffed in anger as she couldn't bear him getting angry at her baby girl. She was already stressed because of that incident, how can he scold her like this?

Xie Rong was speechless upon hearing Rouxi's words. More than that, Xinyi's attitude surprised him. She didn't say anything to her mom but kept crying as if he had something wrong.

He shakes his head helplessly and just as he stood up to go back to his study, a servant came inside, running to him.

He frowned and seeing the man panting, he asked, " Why are you running around like this? What happened?" Xie Rong fixes his specs as he waits for the man to open his mouth and speak fast to not waste his time.

" I...I just saw Miss talking to the guard outside."

He frowned and raised his brows in confusion, " Miss? What are you talking about?"

The servant glanced at Xinyi who was sobbing silently and was now wiping her tears with the tissue paper that Rouxi passed her. He pursed his lips and said, " Elder Miss... Xie...Xie Ming. She is here to meet you."

Xie Rong's eyes widened in shock upon hearing his words. " What? Xie Ming is here?" He was trying to meet her for so long, but both she and Liwei didn't allow them to meet her.

Since the day Xie Rouxi and Xinyi were thrown off by her at her office, he couldn't find a way to contact her without being ignored and told off. Then why is she here, that too without any intimation?

Xinyi who was also sobbing earlier raised her head to look towards the entrance and shut up at once upon hearing Xie Ming's name. A deep frown appeared on her forehead as she glanced at Rouxi in confusion.

-

Xie Rong clasps his hands together as he watches Xie Ming who was sitting opposite to him on the single couch, with her one leg over the other and enjoying her coffee with two sugar cubes slowly and elegantly while everyone waited for her to answer their questions.

It's been more than 20 minutes since she arrived but she hasn't said a single word and was passing the topics every time he brings something up to talk.

He clears his throat and tries again, " Why are you here? That too with no information and early in the morning." He was trying to tone down his frustration and be as polite as he can be but seems like this was his limit.

Xie Ming raised her brows upon hearing his question and took a sip before placing the cup on the saucer on the table. She wipes the corner of her lips with a tissue and glances at the frowning expressions of Xinyi and Rouxi before saying, " Do I have to have a reason to come back to my mother's house? It's been so long since I visited home, so I thought I would surprise you and everyone." she smiled at Xinyi and Rouxi as she said this.

" Also, it's already 11 am. I don't think it's that early, for me to come back to my 'own' home." she smiles at Xie Rong, which caught him off guard. Her words sounded sarcastic but her smile was gentle and pleasing as the spring-breeze.

" Why? Is father not happy with my return?" She asks at which Xie Rong panicked for a moment. Her soft-gentle tone was different from her past self. The way she called him father was sweeter than the way Xinyi calls her 'Dad' these days. Xinyi always tells him to do something about the situation, rather than doing something herself to help the company.

"Of course not. It's your house, you're welcome to come anytime. No need to ask anyone." He responded with a smile, thinking that if he manages to fix their relationship with her, Liwei will also stop bothering them.

After all, their relationship is like a flowery path these days. They are being seen as a lovely-powerful couple. Liwei's money-making skills while Xie Ming's acupuncture skills have become the talk of the town.

Xinyi and Rouxi both glared at him upon hearing his words. Why is being so sweet to her? What's the need for that?

Xinyi frowned seeing Xie Ming's sweet-gentle appearance, what is she planning now? She would not have come here for no reason.