He couldn’t believe it was just an apology!

Grandpa Fu immediately widened his eyes. So it was all related to Nanxing? He perked up his ears, listening carefully, afraid of missing even a bit of information.

Fu Chengyu’s hands instinctively clenched, and he repeated his explanation, “I just wanted to apologize to Nanxing and wish him a happy birthday…”

Fu Zhiyuan stood up, looking down at him as if to judge him, “Liar! If I hadn’t arrived in time, what else would you have done to Nanxing?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression, though calm, emanated an intimidating force. His gaze lowered, and when he saw Fu Chengyu’s hands, his anger flared even more. The thought that those hands had touched Shen Nanxing made him feel an intense urge to chop off Fu Chengyu’s hands.

“Your filthy hands have no right to touch my Xingbao!!!”

Under Fu Zhiyuan’s intense questioning, Fu Chengyu’s face turned pale with fear. He instinctively shrank back, his voice shaky, “Uncle, I… I didn’t mean to do anything to Nanxing. I was just too anxious!”

Fu Zhiyuan sneered, warning him, “This is your final warning—stay away from Xingbao, or else…”

Fu Chengyu quickly nodded, eager to avoid further conflict. “Uncle, I swear I will never go near Nanxing again!”

“Know your place. You are only Xingbao’s ex-fiancé. There is no chance left between you and him.”

“Also, if I ever catch you using these hands to touch Xingbao again, you can forget about keeping them!”

Every word from Fu Zhiyuan felt like a sharp sword piercing Fu Chengyu’s heart. If it weren’t for Shen Nanxing wanting to keep their relationship private for now, Fu Zhiyuan would have publicly declared his ownership over him long ago.

The atmosphere in the living room was heavy and oppressive. Fu Chengyu was drenched in sweat, desperately wanting to escape but finding no way out.

Meanwhile, Bai Mengqi had just returned home from a gathering with her friends, in a good mood. Seeing everyone still awake, she happily asked, “Dad, why are you all still up? What are you talking about?”

Grandpa Fu pointed to Fu Chengyu, “How could I sleep with all this commotion?”

It was then that Bai Mengqi noticed the strange atmosphere between her son and brother-in-law. With some courage, she greeted Fu Zhiyuan. But when she saw the slap mark on her son’s face, she couldn’t sit still anymore. She immediately shouted, “Chengyu, what happened to your face? Who hit you?”

Fu Chengyu covered his face, unable to explain. Fu Zhiyuan calmly responded, “It was me.”

Grandpa Fu was stunned, wide-eyed. “You must have been really angry! But, well done! Chengyu needed a good lesson!”

Bai Mengqi couldn’t take it any longer and started crying, her voice full of worry, “Chengyu, does it hurt? What did you do to upset your uncle?”

She tugged at Fu Chengyu’s sleeve, signaling him to apologize quickly. She still hoped that Fu Zhiyuan would allow Chengyu to join Fu Enterprises for some experience. She couldn’t let him really make Fu Zhiyuan angry!

Fu Zhiyuan, uninterested in their theatrics, said coldly, “No need for an apology.”

Bai Mengqi’s expression stiffened, but she forced a smile, “Zhiyuan, what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. How can there be no apology when something’s been done wrong?”

Fu Zhiyuan turned his sharp gaze to her, “Big sister, if we’re talking about right and wrong, you have a part in this too.”

“Everything Fu Chengyu did wrong was because you were behind it. If you really want to apologize, then cut off his allowance for half a year.”

“As for him, he won’t see another cent this year!”

Bai Mengqi’s plans fell apart, and she almost fainted from frustration. Fu Zhiyuan had only been in charge of the Fu Group for five years, but he was someone who always got what he wanted, and not even Grandpa Fu could change his decisions.

“Zhiyuan, isn’t this a bit too much…” Bai Mengqi tried to argue, but was immediately silenced by Fu Zhiyuan’s icy glare.

Fu Chengyu kept his head lowered, silent, as though tacitly accepting Fu Zhiyuan’s punishment.

Fu Zhiyuan ignored them further, saying goodnight to Grandpa Fu before leaving the Fu residence. Grandpa Fu was still puzzled and didn’t understand exactly how Fu Chengyu had angered his younger son.

He walked toward Fu Chengyu with his hands behind his back, his face stern. “Cough, Chengyu, what exactly did you do to upset him tonight?”

Fu Chengyu, realizing he couldn’t avoid it, finally told the truth, “I originally wanted to apologize to Nanxing, but I accidentally upset him again. In my impatience, I hugged Nanxing, and my uncle happened to see it…”

Bai Mengqi, hearing this, poked his forehead with frustration, “How could you be so stupid?”

She had asked him to apologize, and yet he managed to make things worse—what a talent!

When Grandpa Fu heard that Fu Chengyu had angered Shen Nanxing again, he snorted coldly, “Why didn’t Zhiyuan slap you again?” One slap on each side—so well-balanced!

Grandpa Fu, wanting to vent for Shen Nanxing, kicked Fu Chengyu with his leg. It was clear he was no frail old man, despite needing a cane to walk; he kicked with vigor.

He yawned, feeling good, and said, “You two should reflect on this. I’m going to bed now.”

Soon, only Fu Chengyu and his mother were left in the living room. Bai Mengqi could no longer contain her anger and scolded him, “What are you good for? I asked you to apologize, and now you’ve brought more trouble on us!”

“Now look at what we’ve got—let’s just wait for the next meal of wind!”

Since marrying into the Fu family, Bai Mengqi knew her husband didn’t love her, but the Fu family had never treated her badly in other ways. She couldn’t even bear to imagine how painful the next six months would be without her allowance.

Adjusting from extravagance to frugality was incredibly difficult. Bai Mengqi was already used to living a life of lavish spending. Each month’s budget was just enough, and she had no savings. After a recent quarrel with Fu Ningjin, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him for money.

Fu Chengyu, however, didn’t care much. “Mom, are you happy now?”

He had told her not to apologize, but she insisted. Now, they were facing economic sanctions.

Bai Mengqi was infuriated when she saw him, “When will you ever understand? I had even planned for your uncle to arrange an internship for you at Fu Enterprises, and now it’s all ruined by you!”

“If you don’t get your act together, neither of us will have a place in this family. Do you understand?”

Fu Chengyu, feeling his own anger rise, shot back, “What would make me successful in your eyes?”

He gave a self-deprecating cold laugh, his eyes filled with resentment as he looked at Bai Mengqi, “This family never had a place for me!”

“I’m not even my father’s son, right?”

Bai Mengqi, frightened, immediately covered his mouth and hissed, “What are you talking about? How can you not be your father’s son? Who said such things in front of you?”

Fu Chengyu coldly glared at her, “Tell me—am I or am I not?”

Bai Mengqi was too afraid to look him in the eye, shaking her head frantically, “You are your father’s son, Chengyu, I say you are, just listen to me and stop overthinking!”

From the panic in her expression, Fu Chengyu understood the truth.

He looked at Bai Mengqi with a defeated expression, then mocked her, laughing bitterly, “Ha… ha… ha…”

“How ridiculous, truly ridiculous…”

Bai Mengqi, tears streaming down her face, looked at him with a pleading expression, “Chengyu, please believe your mother…”

She regretted it deeply now, why had she ever let things get to this point?

Fu Chengyu, indifferent, pushed her away, “Don’t touch me. I find it disgusting…”

He was truly disgusted—he was a product of his mother’s affair.

Bai Mengqi’s face turned ashen, and she cried out in pain, feeling deeply wronged.