Chapter 22

Li Qing looked at him with an expression full of insinuation, speaking as if she were talking to herself. “He’s extremely generous with his boyfriend. Not long ago, he even gave him a fifty-million luxury car… but they’ve broken up now, so…”

Seeing that Xu Zhou still intended to walk out, Li Qing grew anxious.

“If you could follow him, you’d never have to worry about the rest of your life. Don’t you want that…?”

Xu Zhou was tired of their hints and beating around the bush. He tore through the pretense directly. “If this is such a great opportunity, why don’t you go? Or have your precious son, Xu Chen, go?”

The moment he spoke, Li Qing’s face flushed red and then pale, looking extremely ugly. Xu Wensong, sitting not far away, slammed the table and stood up, scolding, “You little brat! How dare you speak to your mother like that? Xu Chen is still young—what does he know? As his older brother, you should set a good example, instead of running with rich people doing all sorts of shady things. If Xu Chen hadn’t seen it, we wouldn’t even know…”

Li Qing quickly intervened, cutting Xu Wensong off. Though Xu Zhou’s words stirred anger in her, she had to ensure that her biological son, Xu Zhou, would meet Zhang Yu.

Xu Wensong’s eyes blazed with anger. But since Xu Zhou had already severed ties, he had no reason to maintain appearances. There was no need to show deference to someone who bore him such great resentment.

Xu Zhou coldly lifted his gaze to him and snorted. “Need me to remind you? I have no mother, and I have no younger brother.”

For a moment, Xu Wensong’s furious face stiffened. Xu Zhou’s cold attitude only fueled a greater fire in his heart.

The head of the family’s position and dignity had been challenged. He could no longer tolerate it. He should have severed ties with this brat long ago!

“From now on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with us.” He still wasn’t satisfied and continued cursing, “Like your mother, using her looks to seduce people, a useless piece of trash all your life…”

Xu Zhou’s expression shifted from cold to sharp, a faint glimmer of hatred in his eyes.

His mother, Song Qiao, had worked part-time at a bar when Xu Wensong forced and coerced her into marrying him. She never loved him, and even after marriage treated him coldly. Over time, the novelty wore off, and after giving birth to Xu Zhou, her health deteriorated. Without proper care, she developed severe postpartum depression, spending most days in hospitals.

When Xu Zhou was just three, she passed away.

Not long after Song Qiao’s death, Xu Wensong married Li Qing, who was socially and economically suitable.

By the time Xu Zhou understood things, he had almost no memory of his biological mother. Xu Wensong rarely mentioned her at home and certainly didn’t want others to. He only pieced together their past through stories from the old family driver.

Though she hadn’t raised him with love, Xu Zhou was grateful she gave him life. But her giving birth had worsened her condition. She suffered much in life, and even in death, her former husband slandered her.

Xu Zhou’s gaze was sharp and terrifying. Xu Wensong flinched slightly, but still tried to maintain his authoritative posture.

“What are you staring at? Are you planning to fight your own father?”

Xu Zhou spoke each word deliberately. “Don’t let me hear you slander my mother again, or else…”

Xu Wensong turned green with anger. He grabbed a plate from the table and threw it at him.

The plate landed on Xu Zhou’s leg and shattered.

Xu Zhou’s expression darkened as he slowly stepped toward him.

Li Qing was startled by his reaction.

“Uh, Xiao Zhou, your father… Wensong didn’t mean it, don’t—”

“Xu Zhou! You really dare fight your own father? Aren’t you afraid—”

Xu Zhou stopped in front of him, icy eyes fixed. “Are you deaf? I’ll say it one last time—we have nothing to do with each other now. Moral blackmail won’t work. If you throw anything at me again, be prepared to spend a few days in the hospital.”

“…You dare…” Xu Wensong froze. His son, who used to obey him, was no longer under his control. A pang of fear surged.

But for appearances, Xu Wensong widened his eyes and raised his hand to slap him. Before contact, a stronger force grabbed his arm, then threw him into a nearby chair with a loud crash. Pain contorted his face; he didn’t dare say anything more. This son, once smaller than him, was now taller and stronger. Not someone he could hit casually.

Xu Zhou sneered. “Then let’s see if I dare.”

He didn’t glance at them again and turned to leave.

At the door, hand on the handle, ready to open it—

It was pushed from the outside.

A hoarse voice entered. “Looks like my timing isn’t too bad, huh?”

The newcomer looked wealthy at a glance. His slightly overweight face had small eyes, a pale complexion, and a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Xu Wensong quickly masked his expression, stepping forward with ingratiating politeness, ignoring the pain in his hand for the sake of the company.

“Director Zhang, you finally arrived. I almost forgot to come out and greet you.” He glanced at Li Qing beside him, scolding, “And you didn’t remind me either.”

Li Qing quickly snapped out of it. “Sorry, Director Zhang. What would you like to eat? I’ll get it right away—”

“No need.” Zhang Yu waved dismissively, eyes fixed on Xu Zhou’s calm but striking face.

An extraordinary specimen.

Though slight, his features were stunning, his skin like fine porcelain, eyes long, deep, and bright, exuding a cold and proud aura—just like the woman Zhang Yu had dreamed of.

“Who is this?” Zhang Yu asked, gesturing to Xu Zhou, eyes barely hiding his wicked interest, scanning him up and down.

Xu Wensong’s remaining anger evaporated at once, thinking Xu Chen would soon be free from this person’s interference.

“My son,” Xu Wensong sighed. “We’ve had a few disputes over the years. He refused to come home, and now he wants to sever ties. What can we do?”

Zhang Yu took a step closer to Xu Zhou, reaching out to pat his shoulder. Up close, he seemed even more striking. Unable to resist, he licked his lips.

Xu Zhou sidestepped, sneering. “Director Zhang, aren’t you afraid of being taken advantage of? I have nothing to do with them.”

He cast a cold glance at the two behind him, full of irony.

Xu Wensong looked pained. “Xiao Zhou, I know you misunderstand us deeply, but I am your biological father. Even if you’re willful, you shouldn’t sever ties…”

Xu Zhou clicked his tongue. Acting so well. Thinking of the thirty million he had just given them, he suddenly changed his mind. He didn’t need to repay people like them.

He strode over, grabbed the card on the table before they could reclaim it.

“What are you doing?” Xu Wensong’s face turned red with anger. He hadn’t expected Xu Zhou to take back the money, but then thought—Zhang Yu had seen him, looked satisfied and excited. The company wouldn’t be suppressed anymore, and thirty million was nothing.

Xu Zhou ignored him, eyes instead on the lecherous man in front of him, considering how to extricate himself.

Zhang Yu watched everything unfold. Clearly, father and son were in conflict. Seeing Xu Zhou about to leave, he quickly grabbed his arm.

“There’s no such thing as overnight hatred between father and son. Whatever happens, it should be discussed carefully. Don’t rush decisions—you might regret it later. Don’t you think so—”

His words cut off when he noticed the dense marks on Xu Zhou’s neck. Experienced enough, he knew exactly what they were.

His gaze immediately turned cold. So this so-called innocent-looking boy had already been played with. And he still dared to pretend in front of him.

Xu Zhou shook off his hand and moved to open the door.

He pushed it open and saw four men in bodyguard attire blocking his path.

Zhang Yu chuckled, stepping closer, eyes full of obsession. “I originally wanted to play with you slowly, but it seems unnecessary now. How about… staying here with me for a bit?”

Xu Wensong and Li Qing were stunned, seeing the burly bodyguards. Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, they swallowed hard in shock.

“Uh… Director Zhang, we—”

Zhang Yu waved toward the door. “Let them out.”

The bodyguards stepped aside. Once the others exited, they blocked the passage again.

Xu Zhou frowned. Outnumbered, he couldn’t win physically—he had to outsmart them.

This time, he had underestimated the situation.

He held his phone, tapping it lightly, uncertain if he could reach the call he wanted…

“Close the door,” Zhang Yu ordered the bodyguards.

Being paid handsomely, they complied.

Xu Zhou felt slightly relieved.

For someone drained of resources to dare to stay alone with him… he wondered whether Zhang Yu truly misunderstood him, or if he simply underestimated him.