At five o’clock, the blue BMW screeched to a halt in the large parking lot outside the ‘Empire Grand Hotel’. A courteous male attendant approached to open the door, and Ye Ye stepped out. What a coincidence, this was one of Dean’s properties, and Uncle Xiong’s birthday banquet was being held here. Entering the hall, Xiong Shaogang was already waiting for her. Seeing Ye Ye approaching gracefully, Shaogang shed his usual cool demeanor, smiled, and approached her in a good mood, looking handsome and steady in his dark iron-colored suit. “Why so late?” Xiong Shaogang asked. Ye Ye smiled, “A girl has to get ready before she leaves, right?” She extended her right hand, politely linking arms with his left. “Is that so?” Xiong Shaogang smiled noncommittally. Even with minimal makeup, Ye Ye was breathtakingly beautiful, not to mention now that she had dressed up. He was utterly convinced that Ye Ye could capture any man’s heart… Outside the grand double doors, faint sounds of laughter and chatter could be heard, while two hostesses and a line of neatly arranged bodyguards stood guard. Seeing Xiong Shaogang and Ye Ye, the bodyguards respectfully bowed slightly, “Young Master Shaogang!” Ye Ye’s identity was kept confidential; aside from being a core member of the Thousand Night Gate, others were unaware. Xiong Shaogang gave a cold, slight smile, his grip on Ye Ye’s hand noticeably stiff. As they neared his family home, his heart grew increasingly tense. The deep-seated family conflicts had been buried in his heart for many, many years, and he had never participated in any family celebrations or returned home. Now, standing outside this door, his emotions were mixed. Feeling his tension, Ye Ye squeezed his hand encouragingly, “Let’s go, you’re not thinking of running away, are you?” Her tone was teasing, encouraging, as she smiled at Xiong Shaogang’s obviously awkward face. “Of course not!” Xiong Shaogang frowned. Since he was here, he would do it not just for the old man but also for the two more kisses he owed Ye Ye, pushing forward through that door! The doors opened with the hostesses’ smiles. Inside, as expected, was a grand scene filled with guests, clinking glasses, and a dazzling array of lights…主动拉起熊少刚，搜寻着今晚的主人……很快，夜烨在主礼台附近看到了众人包围的熊叔一家。“熊叔！”夜烨越过人群，拉着少刚，不让他退却，直直的走到熊叔面前。“夜烨来了。”熊婶婶开心的看着夜烨，又转而带着期待的看着熊少刚：“少刚……”眼中满是欣喜。熊叔也直直的看着多年不曾这么面对面的大儿子，激动之情溢于言表，却碍于场面，不好太多的表露，沉声道：“臭小子，终于肯来了！”佯装怒气的说。“熊叔，夜烨代表全家祝你福如东海，寿比南山！”夜烨圆场的递上礼物。而后用手肘推推熊少刚，示意他开口。熊少刚努努嘴，一脸别扭：“……爸，生日快乐……”虽然不情愿，虽然心中芥蒂仍在，但是看着眼前自己的亲人，再硬的心还是不免稍稍的柔软了一些。熊叔微微一笑，严峻威严的脸上满是柔和，接过夜烨的礼物：“谢谢你，夜烨！”他看出来了是夜烨劝服了他倔强叛逆的儿子出现的，而后又对着熊少刚说：“回来了，就不要再由着性子走了！”语气虽然很是很硬，但却蕴含了一个父亲对儿子的关爱。“熊叔呀，其他事情呀，宴会结束，你们一家人好好联络，呵呵，少刚哥，你说是吗？”夜烨尽职的敲边。“嗯！”熊少刚犹豫着，但是还是碍于夜烨请求的目光，答应了。熊叔很明显的释然一笑，这时候，一男一女两个少年走了过来：“大哥！”两人齐齐的喊了句，满是惊喜和思念。“少毅、少然。”熊少刚大手一张，与自己的异母弟、妹拥抱了一下，虽然对自己的父亲有怨言，但是血浓于水，对于这两个弟、妹，他是很有感情的。“哥，你别再离家不回了，爸爸妈妈都好伤心的，我和二哥也想你！”15岁的少然红着眼睛抱着自己大哥的手臂说。可爱甜美的脸上满是恳切。“是呀哥，我和少然在瑞士念书，平时家里只有父母，你如果再不回去，他们会冷清的。”17少毅也说。高大的身躯，俊逸的脸蛋，和熊少刚有着六分相似。“我……”熊少刚面对弟、妹的真诚有点不知道怎么回答。 “Shao Gang, over the years, your father and I have really missed you. We’ve tried to find you many times, but you… sigh, now that you’re back, please don’t leave again. If there were any misunderstandings in the past, let me apologize to you, okay?” Aunt Xiong said sincerely, always treating Xiong Shao Gang like her own son. “Auntie…” Xiong Shao Gang stood there, somewhat at a loss. His resentment was only towards his father and had nothing to do with anyone else… he had never blamed this aunt or his sister-in-law. “Alright, today is Uncle Xiong’s birthday, and since the whole family is here, let’s not get too emotional. Uh… If I accidentally cry, don’t blame me for spoiling the mood!” Ye Ye timely adjusted the atmosphere. Hehehe—everyone burst into laughter at Ye Ye’s pitiful look, wrinkling his nose… “Yes, yes, let’s go drink and eat!” Aunt Xiong, holding Ye Ye’s hand, led the way to the buffet… [From Passion to Burning Passion: Seventy-six, Weekend Birthday Party 3] “Thank you, Ye Ye!” Aunt Xiong genuinely thanked Ye Ye, watching Shao Gang and Shao Yi, who were standing beside Uncle Xiong, greeting the guests. Although Shao Gang was still somewhat cold and silent, at least he was standing by his father’s side as a son. For now, that was enough… wasn’t it? “Our Ye family and Xiong family have always been like siblings. Easing the relationship between Brother Shao Gang and Uncle Xiong is what I should do.” Ye Ye took a sip of her favorite 1982 Lafite red wine… “Mom, I think Brother likes Sister Ye Ye. Otherwise, why didn’t our persuasion work for so many years, but Sister Ye Ye managed to make him surrender so easily?” Shao Ran blinked her clear eyes and said. “Little girl, what do you know? This was all my charm and persuasion!” Ye Ye tapped Shao Ran on the head, laughing. “Ouch—” Shao Ran rubbed her forehead, complaining, “I still think he likes her!” “Hehe, Shao Ran, you shouldn’t say such things. If your Brother Long hears it, he might skin your brother alive!” Aunt Xiong teased. “Oh? Does Brother Long like Sister?” “Absolutely!” Ye Ye said without any hesitation, her face full of pride… Look, even the number one bachelor in Chinatown, Long Shao, is hers. Isn’t Ye Ye amazing? “But why haven’t we seen Brother Long today?” Shao Ran looked around expectantly. “He’s in Dubai and hasn’t returned yet, but he sent gifts through Si Yan!” Aunt Xiong explained. “Oh—”
“Would you dance with me?” As the three women were chatting, Xiong Shao Gang suddenly walked up to Ye Ye and invited her. “Sure.” Ye Ye put down her wine glass and glided into the dance floor with Xiong Shao Gang.
“Still won’t admit that Brother likes Sister? I think he does!” Shao Ran wrinkled her nose, watching the handsome man and beautiful woman dancing in each other’s arms, which was indeed a sight to behold. Ye Ye, wherever she goes, is always the center of attention… “Silly girl, I’m afraid your brother doesn’t have that kind of luck. Your sister is destined for someone else!” Aunt Xiong said with a sigh, “Her relationship with Brother Long is very, very good…”
While dancing a beautiful waltz, they chatted, “Thank you, Ye Ye.” “No need to thank me. I’m happy you’re home.” Ye Ye smiled up at Shao Gang, “If you could let go of your grudges with Uncle Xiong, I would be even happier!” “It’s not something that can be resolved overnight…” Shao Gang said with emotion, thinking of his mother, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Actually, the past is dead, the present is alive, why should you burden yourself with what’s gone?” “But, that was my real mother…” Shao Gang couldn’t hide the pain in his eyes. “Shao Gang, I believe when your mother died in Uncle Xiong’s arms, she was content… because she took that fatal bullet for love…” “So what? When she was alive, he never even gave her a proper status, and now engraving her name on a tombstone after death, what’s the use?” “Don’t blame Uncle Xiong. If your mother were alive, I believe he would have married her eventually. It’s just that fate wasn’t on their side…” Ye Ye patted Shao Gang’s shoulder gently, comforting him. “Ye Ye…” “My mother also died to save my father… so I understand the loneliness of losing a mother. I was only 5 when she died, but at least you had Aunt Xiong who treated you like her own, whereas I had five overbearing brothers watching over me all the time… You don’t know, even my first love was chased away by my brothers and father together! Ugh…” Ye Ye deliberately changed the topic, but realized that her first love hadn’t crossed her mind in a long time…
