Chapter 6.2

“Whether I’m worthy or not depends on what the people in the company say.” Shen Yuanting raised his eyebrow, coldly replied to the person who pointing his finger at his nose. “With Yan Zhao’s recent popularity, endorsing SIOU is completely feasible. Considering his growth potential and the rising trend in popularity, LOFOREVER is not out of the question either.”

This statement was delivered in a business-like manner, as if reporting in a meeting. Not to mention, he hadn’t changed into casual home attire for dinner, still wearing a suit and leather shoes, giving off the aura of a negotiation expert.

“Are you analyzing it for me? Is this the issue I was talking about?” Shen Zhuo was furious, his eyes glaring fiercely through the glasses. He shot a stern look at Yan Zhao. “I was talking about this little fox spirit!”

— Alright, little fox spirit title acquired.

Yan Zhao, who had been cowering, straightened his back and intensified his presence after being called out by such a name in such a manner.

Shen Yuanting was most annoyed by his attitude as everyone owing him money. He frowned, with a hint of irritation in his expression, he said: “Don’t you know how to respect others?”

“What? You want to show your father a bad attitude?” Shen Zhuo kicked his youngest son’s buttocks, ignoring his cries of pain as he hurriedly pushed Shen Zhongkai into his seat. He picked up a teacup and poured it into his mouth, only to be scalded and throw the cup onto the table.

The teacup tilted at an angle, but managed to stabilize itself.

Shen Zhuo covered his mouth, and after the burning pain subsided, he began to complain incessantly. “I told you before, your destiny lacks water, and you should marry a gentle woman. I even found one for you, Jiang Miaomiao, with seven water elements. But who did you bring back? A man! You’ve truly embarrassed our Shen family!”

“Back in junior high, I already felt that something was off about you. When other girls gave you love letters, you didn’t even bother to read them and just burned them with fire…” He grew angrier as he spoke, as if pulling on a rope, tracing back to the source of the mistake. “I shouldn’t have let Yu Wei take you…”

Yan Zhao was listening with great interest, but the voice in his ear suddenly stopped. Shen Zhuo seemed to have stumbled upon something and didn’t continue speaking.

He understood. Yu Wei was Shen Yuanting’s birth mother, Shen Zhuo’s ex-wife. Mentioning an ex-wife was like mentioning an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend, a sensitive topic for most people.

A friend once said that they only wanted to have a sensational reunion with their ex-boyfriend’s or ex-girlfriend’s black-and-white photo at their funeral.

“Why aren’t you continuing?” Shen Yuanting sarcastically curled his lips.

Just as a donkey runs forward upon seeing a carrot, a cat extends its claws upon seeing a mouse, and Pavlov’s dog salivates upon hearing a bell, Yu Wei was the red light in Shen Zhuo’s soul.

Shen Zhuo slammed the table, following the pattern of many irresponsible parents who shifted blame entirely onto their partners: “What’s there to bring up! It’s all her fault anyway. If not for her, you wouldn’t be in this state!”

Shen Yuanting shook his head, finding it amusing: “After all these years, you’re still the same. Bringing her up hits your sore spot, wounds your pride.”

Shen Zhuo’s face immediately darkened, and Tang Jingyan, who was quietly munching on melon seeds by his side, swallowed them whole upon hearing this.

Yan Zhao’s eyelids twitched, and he secretly glanced at Shen Yuanting.

It seemed like the situation was taking a serious turn. What happened to the straight path of the straight father-in-law’s homophobia?

Shen Zhuo was momentarily at a loss for words, holding onto the teacup. The tea lid wobbled, and the cup clinked and clattered: “What nonsense are you spouting? Can you judge the matters between me and Yu Wei?!”

“I can’t? Relatives can judge, doctors can judge, judges can judge. As your son, don’t I have the right?” Shen Yuanting’s tone was slow, with a hint of coldness in his gaze. His emotions were clearly not as calm as he portrayed; there was a touch of hostility.

A storm is brewing.

The relationship between Shen Yuanting and Shen Zhuo is very bad. They argue almost every time they meet, like the intermittent rain during the rainy season, damp and gloomy, with no sunlight for several weeks. But this time it’s a storm, with a momentum to destroy everything in its path.

Anger flashed on Shen Zhuo’s face, and his frustration caused his face to redden: “You were so young back then; you didn’t understand anything!”

“Yes, I didn’t understand.” Shen Yuanting fell silent for a moment, self-deprecatingly smiling. “So, even after a long time, I still don’t understand why she called me your accomplice.”

“Accomplice?!” Shen Zhuo erupted in anger, “Did she say that to you herself? Did I commit a crime by marrying her? Did I force her?! How can she be so ungrateful!”

“It’s true that she doesn’t know what’s good or bad. It’s her honor that the young master of the Shen family wants to marry her. Why should she resist?”

Shen Yuanting smiled faintly, summarizing nearly ten years of memories in just a few words, “You went to great lengths, buying her jewelry, organizing a grand wedding, yet whenever she had the chance, she left you. She didn’t want the family estate, didn’t want a son, didn’t return home for ten years, not even a single letter. Isn’t she too heartless? You were deeply devoted to her, but she was too contemptuous.”

Shen Zhuo initially thought his eldest son was blaming Yu Wei, but listening to these words, he realized it was not a critique against Yu Wei; it was a sarcastic jab at him!

Yan Zhao sat on his chair, feeling as if he was next to a piece of ancient ice, so cold that he was almost shivering. He was stuck in between staying or leaving.

What kind of secret information was this? He couldn’t continue listening; he knew villains who knew such dark secrets always ended up silenced!

Across the table, Tang Jingyan’s face turned pale, lips tightly pressed, looked unwilling. Meanwhile, Shen Zhongkai, sitting beside him, wore the same puzzled expression of “what nonsense are they arguing about,” Yan Zhao actually had a rare emotion of “the same person who has fallen at the end of the world”.

Shen Yuanting’s poking into the dark history completely angered Shen Zhuo. He had always believed that he had kept his conflicts with Yu Wei well hidden, and those around him also avoided discussing it. However, Shen Yuanting openly mentioned the past in front of him, undoubtedly telling him that his portrayal of peace over the years was nothing but self-deception.

True enough, Yu Wei raised him, her blood running through half of his veins, inheriting her rebellious nature just like his mother.

He exploded, “Shut up, you ungrateful child! I’ve provided for you, feed you, clothe you, and is this how you repay me?! When will you ever listen to me?!”

“Oh?” Shen Yuanting smiled, “I’m curious when exactly have I ever disobeyed you?”