Fu Zhiyuan, in front of Grandpa Fu, directly called for the butler to bring over a whip. Calmly, Fu Zhiyuan unbuttoned his sleeve, exposing his well-toned arm, and without mercy, lashed the long whip at Fu Chengyu’s back. Grandpa Fu, seeing Fu Zhiyuan act so decisively, was taken aback. “What has he done this time?”

Fu Chengyu’s face turned pale from the pain, beads of cold sweat covering his body as he began to plead. “Uncle, I was wrong, I didn’t mean to hurt Xia Zimu, I just wanted to teach him a small lesson…”

Fu Zhiyuan, seeing his lack of repentance, gave him another lash.

“Grandfather, please save me!” Fu Chengyu rolled on the floor in pain.

Realizing the severity of the situation, Grandpa Fu slammed his cane down, his face serious as he looked at Fu Zhiyuan and asked, “What exactly happened? What did this brat do to Xia Zimu?”

Fu Zhiyuan paused, coldly replying, “Let him tell you himself.”

“As a reminder, make sure the butler has some quick-acting heart pills ready.”

Grandpa Fu glared at him. “You’re so disrespectful, I’m your father!” He then turned to Fu Chengyu, who was gritting his teeth in pain. “What exactly did you do?”

With the butler’s help, Fu Chengyu slowly stood up, hesitantly explaining what had happened. Grandpa Fu was enraged, his face turning red as he lifted his cane and struck Fu Chengyu’s back repeatedly, shouting, “Where’s my whip? I’m going to beat you to death today!”

“Raising a white-eyed wolf^[1]an ungrateful person who’s been going around ruining the Fu family’s reputation! Call Fu Ningjin and have him come back. He’s always playing that damn piano all day long!” Grandpa Fu yelled until his voice was hoarse.

At this point, Fu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but add a remark, “I did remind you about the heart pills.”

Grandpa Fu, trembling with anger, pointed at Fu Zhiyuan. “Do you believe I’ll give up and pass on tomorrow just to show you?”

The butler quickly intervened, helping Grandpa Fu with his back. “Sir, you can’t speak like that. Your health is just fine!”

Fu Zhiyuan placed the whip down, indifferent. “Your physical exam came out just yesterday. You’ll live to be a hundred.”

Grandpa Fu almost had a heart attack. “This ungrateful child, always thinking of ways to irritate me! I should have never opened that secondary account… but it seems the main account is even worse…”

He sighed and waved his hand. “Call your big brother to come back quickly. He should manage his own son!”

What a mess… Grandpa Fu was completely disappointed in Fu Chengyu. He looked at him, then shook his head with a sigh. “Such bad luck for the family… how did we get a troublemaker like you?”

“You’re always thinking of nonsense. You didn’t appreciate a well-behaved child like Nanxing, and now, after you messed up, you shamelessly tried to get back with him. What grudge do you have against Xia Zimu? Why try to harm him? Can’t you just be content?”

The engagement was like a thorn deeply embedded in Fu Chengyu’s heart. Grandpa Fu’s reproach only made him more frustrated. He became emotional and retorted loudly, “What else could it be? If it wasn’t for Xia Zimu, Nanxing wouldn’t have broken up with me!”

“This is all his fault! He destroyed my relationship with Nanxing!”

Fu Zhiyuan was furious. His veins stood out in anger as he grabbed Fu Chengyu’s collar, his eyes flashing with cold fury. “You made the mistake, and yet you still have the nerve to blame others!”

Fu Chengyu, having given up, let his anger take over his fear. “I’m just speaking the truth! If Xia Zimu hadn’t exposed my relationship with Lin Bai, Nanxing never would have known about it. Nanxing was meant to be with me.”

Fu Zhiyuan’s face contorted in disgust. “You truly have no remorse!”

Fu Chengyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, suddenly laughing out loud. “Well, no one cares about me anyway, so I might as well drag everyone down to hell with me. Xia Zimu ruined me, so I’ll ruin him. What did I do wrong?”

Then, his laughter stopped abruptly as he thought for a moment. “Wait, no… my mistake was not being more secretive about it…”

Grandpa Fu, witnessing this farce, was so angry it almost triggered his heart condition. “You are beyond saving!”

At this moment, Fu Ningjin rushed back. Dressed in an elegant suit, his hair neatly styled, it was clear he had just attended a high-class music concert.

“Dad, what’s going on? Why did you urgently ask me to come back?” Fu Ningjin asked, walking over to Grandpa Fu.

Grandpa Fu snorted. “Look at what your son has done!”

Grandpa Fu finished speaking, and Fu Ningjin was immediately shocked.

He looked at Fu Chengyu with a scrutinizing gaze. “Is what Dad said true?”

Fu Chengyu met his gaze calmly. “Yes.”

Fu Ningjin raised his hand and slapped him across the face. “Chengyu, you’ve disappointed me so much!”

Fu Chengyu, with a heart full of sorrow, covered his slapped face and accused him, “You never had any expectations for me, so how can you be disappointed?” He even wanted to ask him: Is it because I’m not your biological son that you never cared about me?

Fu Ningjin’s face stiffened, then he angrily scolded, “You were spoiled by your mother!”

Fu Chengyu sneered, “And you? Over the years, have you ever fulfilled your duties as a father? Have you ever attended a parent-teacher meeting, sent me to school, or even known what I like or dislike?”

Fu Ningjin was left speechless. Looking into those eyes, which were almost like those of a first love, Fu Ningjin felt a deep pain in his heart. He murmured, “I was wrong, all wrong… I shouldn’t have softened back then. Now, everything is in chaos at home. What a failed life…”

Seeing that Fu Ningjin didn’t respond, Fu Chengyu mocked, “You know nothing. Fu Ningjin, you don’t deserve to be a father!”

Those words struck Fu Ningjin hard, leaving his face ashen, his entire demeanor now looking defeated. “Fine, you weren’t really my son anyway, so I have no right to lecture you!”

“Call your mother back. I want a divorce!” After saying this, Fu Ningjin seemed to have let go of some burden and looked visibly lighter.

Fu Chengyu stood stunned, unable to believe that such a secret was revealed so casually by Fu Ningjin. In his mind, when confronted with his accusations, Fu Ningjin should have felt more guilty. Was it true that he didn’t want him as a son at all?

Grandpa Fu, shocked by this startling revelation, dropped his cane. He opened his mouth and turned to Fu Zhiyuan, who was watching from the side, asking, “Son, did I hear that right? Chengyu is actually not your elder brother’s son?”

Fu Zhiyuan was not surprised in the least. His expression remained calm as he nodded, “You heard correctly.”

This was something that would come out sooner or later, just a bit earlier than he had expected.

Grandpa Fu was greatly shaken by this news, looking as though he couldn’t process it. “This is too surreal! I’ve raised someone else’s grandson for over twenty years…”