Xiao Zong wasn’t wrong; the situation escalated even faster than before.

In less than 24 hours, discussions on major social platforms across the Star Network had increased by nearly ten thousand threads. The platform crashed twice, unable to refresh due to the overwhelming traffic. The more people commented, the more the situation snowballed. Even Leng Entertainment’s attempt to suppress the trending topic was futile; not even capital intervention could extinguish the fire of curiosity.

Take Orange Juice Entertainment for example, which had made a comeback. Fang Chi, who had been busy nurturing new talents during this period and preparing for a grand spring gala after the holidays, dropped everything when he saw Leng Haiyun in trouble. Instead of handling his own business, he joined in on stirring the pot with his company’s entertainment reporters.

Fang Chi’s account was already a big deal on the platform. He usually cracked jokes and was very down-to-earth, effortlessly using all sorts of industry jargon and abbreviations related to the entertainment circle. Occasionally, he’d reveal a glimpse of the upper-class lifestyle, which would attract a lot of fans.

On top of that, his good looks didn’t hurt. Handsome and striking, he was a golden bachelor Alpha, very popular indeed.

However, recently he had been slandered with rumors of coercing a newcomer Omega, which earned him a public condemnation from the official Omega Protection Association account. He was scolded relentlessly and couldn’t defend himself, causing him to stay off the platform for quite some time.

In terms of influence, his small-time entertainment company was no match for industry giants, but Fang Chi had another advantage—he was part of the Fang family and the nephew of Fang Runjin.

Fang Runjin was considered an elite in the Omega world. While O-businesses weren’t unheard of, they were rare. She had only appeared in the public eye after her husband passed away when she was 35. Despite the enormous pressure from public opinion, she dove into the business world and was referred to as the “Cliff Rose” for her resilience.

The gender ratio in the Interstellar Federation was 6:3:1, with Omegas making up that 1. They were scarce, so the government provided many benefits, including requiring Alphas to carry strong inhibitors at all times and giving every adult Omega substantial subsidies.

But when it came to employment, no matter how much the government tried to promote fairness, businesses were reluctant to hire Omegas. The law held employers fully responsible for any issues that arose during an Omega’s working hours.

To avoid risks, companies chose not to hire Omegas at all. Even the receptionist at Henghua headquarters was an Alpha.

Fairness, after all, was relative. Excessive protection had made many Omegas sensitive and fragile. They were often better suited for cultural, musical, and artistic pursuits or industries like entertainment, where they could be put on a pedestal.

Omegas from well-off families were okay, but those from poorer backgrounds who missed out on education were often left with only one option: marriage. And usually, they didn’t marry well.

That’s why Fang Chi couldn’t understand how someone as decent as Gu Yin ended up in such a bad situation. If it hadn’t been for his second cousin picking him up, who knows how much bullying Gu Yin would’ve endured?

Now, Fang Chi had his own grievances and Gu Yin was under siege, with his home address nearly getting exposed. Fang Chi was definitely going to settle these new and old scores together.

Young Master Fang was especially eager this time. He knew the entertainment world’s rules inside out, and being from the upper echelons, most people believed what he said.

Fang Chi was bouncing around different platforms like a squirrel in a melon field, while up at Luming Mountain Villa, Xiao Zong hadn’t enjoyed more than a few peaceful days before receiving a call from Dr. Lu.

After the brief pleasantries, Dr. Lu got straight to the point: “When is Young Master Sun coming home this year?”

He had a reason for asking.

Even before Xiao Zong took over as CEO, he was incredibly busy. He skipped matchmaking appointments and didn’t visit Old Master Xiao. The former was understandable, but the latter, to many, suggested that the conflict between grandfather and grandson was still unresolved.

Xiao Zong replied, “What’s going on?”

Dr. Lu sighed. “Ah Zong, someone from the Leng family came by and dropped off some things. They also said Leng Xia would bring Leng Haiyun tomorrow to make a formal apology. The Old Master agreed.”

Xiao Zong let out a cold laugh.

Who was in trouble here—him or the Old Master? The Leng family was just using this opportunity to cozy up at Xian Yun Manor for the New Year.

With Leng Xia backing them, Leng Haiyun had all the time and energy in the world to cause trouble. But Xiao Corporation was counting entirely on Xiao Zong now. He didn’t have time back then, and he certainly didn’t have time now.

This so-called “recuperation” had barely lasted four or five days. He was still catching traitors, attending remote meetings, and managing the stock market—working just as hard as before. The only thing that brought him some comfort each day was teasing Gu Yin.

Wait… why was the little secretary still at the villa?

The silence on the other end of the phone stretched on, and Dr. Lu couldn’t see Xiao Zong’s expression.

From his perspective, the tension between the grandfather and grandson had lasted over a decade, and it was high time they buried the hatchet.

Back then, Xiao Zong’s falling out with the family, culminating in his departure, wasn’t actually because of an Omega—it was about his choice of major.

After Xiao Sinian passed away, Old Master Xiao had mixed feelings about his two grandsons, both of whom resembled his late son.

He ordered a wall-sized bookshelf full of educational materials, poring over them every night while managing the company during the day, trying to figure out how to raise his grandsons.

Xiao Sinian’s mistress would frequently show up, demanding child support, sometimes even threatening to take the matter to federal court, and in some cases, she posed a real threat to the safety of the two children.

Since Xiao Jingchuan was living at the military academy, the Old Master took Xiao Zong under his wing. From childhood, Xiao Zong had to get his grandfather’s approval for everything.

So when Xiao Zong mentioned wanting to major in mathematics, the Old Master shut him down on the spot.

“Math? What, you want to become a mathematician or a teacher at the public university?! Absolutely not!”

Separated by both time and distance, the Old Master was unaware that Xiao Zong had slowly begun to harbor grievances against Xiao Sinian and the Xiao family. The Old Master continued to act solely according to his own will.

Thus, the domineering family head clashed with a rebellious teenager in the throes of adolescence. It was like a comet crashing into the Earth—total chaos ensued.

The final result? Five years passed without Xiao Zong returning home.

“You think you’re better than everyone else? If you want to leave, then leave! Call that Leng kid over! I don’t believe it—I’ve raised many sons, and you’re not irreplaceable. Without the family’s backing, you think anyone would still treat you like a young master?!”

That single statement almost severed the relationship between grandfather and grandson for good.

In his rage, Chairman Xiao cut off his grandson’s financial support, and Xiao Zong, equally stubborn, earned his tuition and living expenses by working odd jobs.

During his student years, he used his maternal grandfather’s surname, “Fitzgerald.” When the Old Master found out, he was so furious he nearly passed out. That’s when he began personally grooming Leng Haiyun.

One was strong-willed, the other was stubborn—neither would back down, not until the Xiao family ran into trouble.

Even after all these years, old wounds still festered in the Xiao household. Bringing up the past often led to arguments, so eventually, both grandfather and grandson stopped talking about it. The few people who knew the full story wisely kept their mouths shut.

Old Master Xiao was turning ninety after the New Year—how many more years could he have left?

The old man had lived through turmoil, war, hunger, and the rebuilding of interstellar society. His character had its flaws, but his achievements were unparalleled, even among Alphas.

Dr. Lu had been with the Xiao family for over thirty years and had watched Xiao Zong grow up. With his father’s passing and his mother buried in her career, Xiao Zong was raised under his grandfather’s strict, militaristic rule. He learned early on to deal with his emotions alone.

All the old subordinates felt sorry for Xiao Zong, but who could expect a ninety-year-old man to change his personality? They were just employees, paid to do their jobs, and all they could do was occasionally play peacemaker between the two.

Leng Haiyun, on the other hand, filled Xiao Zong’s place by entertaining the Old Master and growing close to Xiao Jingchuan. It was during those years that the Leng family rose to prominence.

Xiao Zong had always been busy. He would rather bury himself in academic references than waste time with family drama. As a result, his visits home became even rarer. Unless Fang Runjin personally stepped in, communication with the Old Master was about as frequent as at last year’s birthday banquet.

Dr. Lu sounded a bit worried: “This time things have gotten really unpleasant, and the Leng family is well-prepared. Leng Xia even brought back an Omega and is setting up things for that gentleman.”

Leng Haiyun had a thick skin. He wasn’t much younger than Xiao Zong, and when Xiao Yan pushed Xiao Zong to get married, Leng Haiyun took the initiative to find a partner and introduced them to the Old Master. If things progressed quickly, they might have a great-grandchild by next year.

The early death of Xiao Yan’s son had always been a shadow over the Old Master’s heart. Xiao Jingchuan had made huge sacrifices back then, marrying a high-ranking military Beta to stabilize his political position, entering into a marriage of convenience.

Xiao Jingchuan’s personality was cold, and his military Beta wife was equally rigid. They had no emotional foundation, their relationship as icy as it was respectful. Seeing his eldest grandson in such a situation, the Old Master was at a loss.

The one thing in Old Master Xiao’s life that had gone perfectly was meeting his true love while still young. Xian Yun Manor’s “Yun” was named after Xiao Zong’s grandmother, Luo Yun.

Grandmother passed away a year or two after her second son’s car accident, but she and the Old Master had shared a lifetime of deep affection.

She was a gentle Omega, and when young Xiao Zong hadn’t seen his father for a long time, he would ask about him.

Luo Yun would sit him on her lap and point to the brightest star in the sky, telling him that Daddy was on a research mission at the space station and couldn’t come home this year.

“Daddy has sacrificed a lot for the family. Can Ah Zong forgive him?”

“I can.” Little Xiao Zong, not understanding the weight of adult words, replied, “As long as I have Grandma with me, it’s okay.”

Grandma smelled of lilies, and he snuggled in her arms, unaware that Luo Yun was silently wiping away her tears.

After Luo Yun passed away, Xiao Yan buried her in the valley at Xian Yun Manor and had lilies planted all over the mountainside. After that, the Old Master rarely left the manor.

It had been a long time since Xiao Zong had returned there. Xian Yun Manor was the place where he had grown up.

Xiao Zong made a call to his assistant.

“No problem, I’ll inform the family,” Wei Mian responded without hesitation after hearing Xiao Zong’s instructions.

Wei Mian was a textbook example of a career-driven Alpha. Holiday gatherings were social occasions for him, and getting an invitation to visit the chairman’s home was an opportunity countless people in the Federation would fight tooth and nail for.

Wei Mian chuckled. “Just give me some time off after the holidays, boss.”

Xiao Zong, his expression deadpan, replied, “Don’t go taking some earth-shattering vacation again. I don’t have enough lives to spare for your holidays.”

Wei Mian burst into loud laughter.

Xiao Zong had gone through several assistants before, but Wei Mian had lasted the longest, thanks to his resilience and optimistic personality. Like Fang Chi, he appeared carefree, but he was reliable when it came to work.

“Oh, by the way,” Wei Mian suddenly said, “Aren’t you planning to bring Yin Yin along to charm the Old Master?”

Thinking about the situation with the Gu family, Xiao Zong’s mood dipped a little.

“Probably not,” he said. “He has to prepare for the spring exams and spend time with his family.”

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Next chapter is super duper loooong~
Be prepared~