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At this time, the teachers were all in their classrooms, leaving the office empty.
Zhang Zhiyuan accompanied Zhuang Zi’ang to the door. “You two go ahead and have a good talk. I’ll be right outside; just call me if you need help.”
Zhuang Zi’ang nodded. “Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhang.”
After saying that, he took a deep breath and opened the door.
Zhuang Wen Zhao was sitting in Zhang Zhiyuan’s chair, his face ashen.
Qin Shulan stood beside him, arms crossed.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Zhuang Zi’ang’s expression was impassive.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, you’ve grown wings and dared to run away from home! Do you even have me, your father, in your eyes?” Zhuang Wen Zhao roared.
“When you slapped me without asking for clarification, did you have me, your son, in your eyes?”
In contrast to Zhuang Wen Zhao’s furious outburst, Zhuang Zi’ang remained exceptionally calm.
There is no greater grief than a dead heart.
He had given up on any hope for this father.
My leaving home gave you a happy family of three—shouldn’t that make everyone happy?
Why are you looking for me now?
Qin Shulan interjected, “Zi’ang, your dad was a bit agitated at the time. He was worried you might do something to harm Yu’hang. If you hold a grudge against your dad over such a trivial matter, that’s just too immature.”
Her words sounded like advice but dripped with a hint of sarcasm.
She didn’t mention any wrongdoing on Zhuang Yuhang’s part, yet she was sowing discord between Zhuang Wen Zhao and Zhuang Zi’ang’s father-son relationship.
Having dealt with this woman for over ten years, Zhuang Zi’ang had long experienced her veiled tactics.
“Aunt Qin, please don’t interrupt while I’m speaking with my dad,” Zhuang Zi’ang said coldly.
“What kind of attitude is that?” Qin Shulan shot a glare at Zhuang Wen Zhao. “Look at the son you’ve raised—he shows no respect for his elders.”
Zhuang Wen Zhao exploded in anger. “I’m your father! It’s only natural for me to discipline you; you deserve it.”
“How can you speak to your Aunt Qin like that? Apologize to her immediately.”
“You don’t even know how to respect your elders—what’s the use of all that studying?”
This series of rebukes instantly escalated the conflict.
The air crackled with tension.
“Elders?” A mocking smile played on Zhuang Zi’ang’s lips.
“Just because you bring a woman home and force me to call her ‘aunt,’ does that make her my elder? What relation does she have to me?”
Besides stirring up trouble and speaking indirectly, what else can she do?
For over ten years, Zhuang Zi’ang had endured this woman and her pig-like son.
Even if the Jade Emperor himself came today, he wouldn’t acknowledge her as an elder.
“Dad, if you’re here to fight with me, you can leave now. This is a school, not a place for you to act out,” Zhuang Zi’ang’s gaze was icy.
“You must come home with me today! Your grandfather heard you ran away, and his old illness flared up. Because of your stupidity and selfishness, you’ve caused so much trouble for the family!” Zhuang Wen Zhao reprimanded.
Zhuang Zi’ang scoffed. “I figured as much. It seems grandfather forced you to take me back; otherwise, you’d be at the mahjong parlor right now.”
“One question: are you coming home or not?” Zhuang Wen Zhao shouted.
“I’m not going back,” Zhuang Zi’ang’s eyes were resolute.
Having finally escaped that suffocating home, why would he be foolish enough to go back?
He knew very well that Qin Shulan and Zhuang Yuhang would definitely not welcome him back.
They’d be overjoyed if he died outside and never appeared again.
In three months, they would get their wish.
Zhuang Zi’ang’s defiance left Zhuang Wen Zhao feeling humiliated.
He scanned his surroundings, seemingly looking for a weapon, muttering curses, “You little brat, I can still handle you!”
Zhuang Zi’ang showed no fear. “Dad, leave now. At least I’m still willing to call you ‘Dad.’ Let’s save some face for both of us.”
When he was five years old, not long after Zhuang Wen Zhao divorced Xu Hui, he frequently drank outside.
He would often come home drunk, pick up the sleeping Zhuang Zi’ang, and beat or scold him for any reason.
He would scold him for looking like his mother, saying it made him furious just to see him.
He would berate him for having a mouth that cost money to feed.
Later, when Zhuang Wen Zhao began dating Qin Shulan, he concealed the fact that he had a son.
He sent Zhuang Zi’ang to the countryside to be cared for by his grandparents, where he attended kindergarten for six months.
Eventually, his grandparents insisted on sending Zhuang Zi’ang back to the city for better education, and Zhuang Wen Zhao reluctantly agreed.
As a stepmother, Qin Shulan was constantly critical of Zhuang Zi’ang, her disdain evident on her face every day.
Two years later, when Zhuang Yuhang was born, Zhuang Zi’ang’s position in the family became particularly awkward.
It was like being a concubine’s son in ancient times, especially one without a mother.
Zhuang Wen Zhao was nominally Zhuang Zi’ang’s guardian, but in reality, it was his grandparents in the countryside who raised him.
They would regularly deposit living expenses into Zhuang Wen Zhao’s account, which he then transferred to Zhuang Zi’ang.
As the middleman, Zhuang Wen Zhao would often pocket a margin whenever luck was on his side.
Zhuang Zi’ang, who had always been docile, had become exceptionally rebellious in the past couple of days.
Zhuang Wen Zhao felt his authority challenged and was extremely enraged.
Even in the school’s classroom office, he wanted to roll up his sleeves and fight.
“Stop it!” Zhang Zhiyuan rushed in just in time.
Zhuang Wen Zhao glared angrily at Zhang Zhiyuan. “How does your school educate students? To raise him like this? I think he’s become utterly defiant.”
“You haven’t even attended a single parent-teacher meeting. Of course, you wouldn’t know what kind of person your child has become,” Zhang Zhiyuan glared back, equally furious.
He had been standing outside the door just now. While eavesdropping was impolite, the father and son’s argument was extremely loud.
He felt sorry for Zhuang Zi’ang for having such an overbearing father.
Total Score: 689.
Class Rank: 1.
Grade Rank: 1.
Next, he picked up the second report card, which was from the first monthly exam, and Zhuang Zi’ang was also at the top.
The third was from the mid-term exam, the fourth from another monthly test, and the fifth was from the final exam…
After reviewing all the report cards, Zhuang Wen Zhao’s expression turned uncertain.
Without exception, Zhuang Zi’ang’s name was firmly nailed to the top line, unshakeable.
Qin Shulan beside him also finished looking at all the report cards.
She murmured, “Is it really that difficult to be first in your school?”
Zhang Zhiyuan shot her a look as if she were foolish. “There are 22 classes in the entire grade with over a thousand students. What do you think?”
How could such an outstanding child be seen as worthless in your eyes?