Chapter 78.1

Seeing Xie Yanzhao’s indifference, Commander Xie felt like he was about to explode.

Xiao Zhou, fearing Commander Xie’s anger might escalate, quickly stepped forward to block them and looked at the two with determination. “The commander needs to speak with you.”

“Get out of the way.”

Xie Yanzhao’s eyes radiated a menacing aura. His fierce glare nearly overwhelmed Xiao Zhou, who almost stepped aside at his command.

Fortunately, reason prevailed and stopped him.

At that moment, Commander Xie approached.

“Xie Yanzhao, do you even see me as your father anymore?”

“No.”

Xie Yanzhao looked directly at him, his gaze calm, but the hand gripping Ruan Mingfu’s tightened involuntarily.

Commander Xie: “……”

This made him even angrier!

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his fury.

“What are you throwing a tantrum about?” Commander Xie glared at him. “When you were a child, you pushed your aunt Bai downstairs, causing her to have a miscarriage. She can no longer have children.”

“Although I was angry, I didn’t hit you to death. Over the years, your aunt Bai also understood that you were young and ignorant at that time, and she doesn’t blame you. Xie Yanzhao, what are you still being stubborn about?”

“Stop blaming others for your own problems.”

Ruan Mingfu listened in confusion.

What’s wrong with him?

Is this really Xie Yanzhao’s biological father?

If she had a father like this, she wouldn’t be able to stand it for a single day.

Did that scoundrel in his previous life dig up Commander Xie’s grave, and now he’s here to settle the score?

Feeling a pang of sympathy, Ruan Mingfu squeezed Xie Yanzhao’s hand in return.

“Think what you want,” Xie Yanzhao said, showing no desire to talk to Commander Xie. “Step aside, you’re blocking the way.”

Commander Xie shook his head.

“I thought you would realize your mistakes after all these years. But… you disappointed me. You are not like my son at all.”

Onlookers noticed the father-son confrontation and curiously turned to watch. Xiao Zhou hurriedly intervened, trying to usher them away.

“I wish I wasn’t your son.”

Commander Xie frowned deeply.

He was old, his posture hunched, standing beside the tall Xie Yanzhao, almost a head shorter.

“I know you’re upset,” Commander Xie said, his hair turning gray. “but it was your fault. Your aunt Bai is pregnant…”

“Shut up!”

Xie Yanzhao shot him a look that was as cold as a deep well.

“Commander Xie, the nanny isn’t around. Who are you trying to fool?”

Commander Xie let out a light laugh.

His gaze held a trace of satisfaction.

If he hadn’t already given up on this son, seeing how Xie Yanzhao had grown into his current self would have made him proud.

“I understand your feelings.”

Commander Xie stared at him.

“No matter how much you deny it, you’re still my son. Even if we have our differences, to outsiders, we are still a family and blood ties cannot be severed.”

Commander Xie’s eyes fell on Ruan Mingfu standing beside him, and his smile became more and more proud.

“Your future sons and grandsons will carry on my bloodline.”

Xie Yanzhao didn’t react as Commander Xie had expected.

But Ruan Mingfu couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Commander Xie, your shamelessness truly astonishes me. A person like you doesn’t deserve to be a father!”

Commander Xie didn’t get angry. He didn’t even look at Ruan Mingfu.

“I have a business to discuss with you, let her leave.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Xie Yanzhao tightened his embrace around Ruan Mingfu, “If anyone should leave, it’s you.”

Commander Xie scoffed.

“I need your help in the Commander-in-Chief election.”

Don’t even think about it!”

Xie Yanzhao’s gaze was laced with contempt as he looked at Commander Xie.

Though he asked for Xie Yanzhao’s help, his true intention was to undermine the Bai family’s influence. It was unbelievable how thick-skinned Commander Xie was.

“Helping me is also helping you. As the commander-in-chief’s son, your future will be brighter.”

Ruan Mingfu: “……”

She didn’t understand, but she was deeply shocked.

“Commander Xie, you don’t think that Xie Yanzhao got the position of regiment commander because of you, do you?”

Commander Xie tilted his chin slightly.

While he didn’t speak, his demeanor clearly conveyed his answer to Ruan Mingfu.

Ruan Mingfu: ……？？？

“Commander Xie, don’t be too arrogant. If you understood even a little, you wouldn’t say such things.”

That dog man was covered in injuries, several of them critical. If it weren’t for luck, he would have died long ago. As for his promotion to regiment commander, it was because he had made a great contribution last year, and the higher-ups didn’t want to suppress his merits, so they promoted him.

Commander Xie frowned.

“Teach her a lesson. Men’s conversations aren’t for her to interrupt.”

Ruan Mingfu: “……”

Damn it, if this guy was her father, she would smash his head off!

Xie Yanzhao smirked slightly, “I think what she said makes sense.”

“You…!”

Commander Xie was furious, and just as he was about to vent his anger, Bai Qianzhu appeared from nowhere and pounced towards him.

“Old Xie, you came to find Yanzhao and didn’t even let me know. I’ve been looking for you for ages!”

Although Bai Qianzhu was quite old, her voice was like that of a young girl, gentle and lingering, soft enough to make water come out of her. When the two of them got together, Commander Xie once asked her if she could sing opera, and when she answered no, he was disappointed for a long time.

In order to please Commander Xie, Bai Qianzhu specially found someone to learn it from.

But before she could learn it, the movement came…

Commander Xie straightened up slightly, and there was some impatience in his words.

“Why are you here?”

“Of course, I’m worried about you.” Bai Qianzhu looked at Xie Yanzhao with nostalgia in her eyes, “I haven’t seen you for a few years, and Yanzhao has grown so big…”

Worry? What a joke!

Commander Xie has become increasingly impatient with Bai Qianzhu’s attitude recently. She felt uneasy and needed to keep a close eye on him to feel at ease.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t even look at her, he just pulled Ruan Mingfu and left.

“Stop!”

“I don’t have time to listen to your singing, get out of the way.”

Commander Xie finally managed to stop Xie Yanzhao, so how could he give in? For a moment, the atmosphere between the two was tense.

“Can’t you two stop acting like roosters squawking at each other as soon as you meet?” Bai Qianzhu pulled Commander Xie and tried to persuade him. “Let’s sit down and talk it out. We are all family, there is no problem that cannot be solved.”

Commander Xie was furious and his voice was very loud.

“Look at his bad behavior. Does he treat us as a family?”

“Yanzhao is just angry with me…”

Ruan Mingfu’s eyes were almost rolling up to the sky.

She held Xie Yanzhao’s hand and said distressingly, “It’s hard for you.”

Watching these two drama queens go on like this every day, occasionally putting on a show for everyone to see. If they’re not tired of it, then the rest of us are.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t say anything, but just reached out and touched her head.

“It’s okay.”

He had long understood what kind of person Commander Xie was, and his expectations of his father had diminished over the years.

“…Yanzhao, you should apologize to your father. What’s there that can’t be discussed between father and son?”

“Didn’t those slaps teach you how to behave?”

Ruan Mingfu turned to see Mrs. Ruan standing a short distance away, accompanied by Luan Rong.

“Mom!”

Bai Qianzhu nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the formidable woman walking toward them, wishing she could disappear on the spot.

“What did I teach you?” Mrs. Ruan stared at Commander Xie. “For those who can’t understand human language, just hit them directly. Why waste your breath?”

Commander Xie: “…”

Don’t think he didn’t realize she was insulting him!

“You… you…”

“Speaking in fragments is a sign of a stroke,” Mrs. Ruan raised an eyebrow. “Go get a physical checkup when you have time and stop annoying people.”

Her gaze landed on Bai Qianzhu.

Before Mrs. Ruan did anything, she began to tremble. If it weren’t for the need to maintain her status as the commander’s wife, she would have wanted to hide behind Commander Xie and curl up so that this female devil wouldn’t notice her.

This woman was terrifying.

While others might think of hitting as just a threat, Mrs. Ruan would actually go through with it!

Bai Qianzhu tugged at Commander Xie’s sleeve. “Old Xie…”

Her intention to back away was evident.

If she had known this disaster was here, she would never have come.

Mrs. Ruan looked Commander Xie up and down with a haughty look and a mocking smile.

“Come with me.”

“Hey!”

With her mother present, Ruan Mingfu moved quickly.

She took Xie Yanzhao’s hand and followed Mrs. Ruan. Xiao Zhou didn’t dare intervene. If this fierce woman could hit Bai Qianzhu, what would she do if she lost her temper with him?

Commander Xie’s face darkened as he watched their retreating figures but didn’t speak up to stop them.

Once they were out of sight, he snorted coldly.

“Let’s go!”

….

After resolving matters at the hospital, Luan Rong appeared to be in much better spirits. However, she still clung to Mrs. Ruan, following her everywhere.

In recent days, Mrs. Ruan has gone to great lengths to help her regain her health. While the results weren’t immediately obvious, Luan Rong’s complexion visibly improved.

Ruan Mingfu benefited from it as well.

She touched her chin and pinched the flesh at her waist, her pretty face showing a hint of concern.

“Do you think I’ve gained weight?”

“Ah, yes, you have indeed gained weight, looking as chubby as a pig…”

Before Gu Yilin could finish, a piece of cloth was thrown at him by Ruan Mingfu, hitting her squarely.

“I haven’t talked about you yet.” After Gu Yilin’s interruption, she stopped worrying about her weight. “Why haven’t I seen you around lately… Tell me! Who’s the little brother you’ve been visiting?”

Gu Yilin looked guilty.

“W-who says it’s a little brother?”

This was suspicious!

Ruan Mingfu leaned closer. “Come clean!”

“It’s nothing,” Gu Yilin stood up and shook off the fabric stuck to her, “I told you there’s nothing. Really, nothing!”

“Hmph!”

Ruan Mingfu didn’t believe a word of Gu Yilin’s denial.

Since she didn’t want to confess, Ruan Mingfu decided not to pry further.

After all, this sly fox’s tail would eventually be revealed.

Then she would laugh at her mercilessly!

Ruan Mingfu adjusted the fabric in her hands and picked up another pre-sewn piece.

“Not bad, this color looks nice.”

Gu Yilin leaned in to take a look. “This is the size… It’s not made for you, right?”

“For my cousin.”

Luan Rong didn’t have any luggage.

Recently, she had been wearing Ruan Mingfu’s old clothes, which made her feel a bit embarrassed. Since she had plenty of fabric, she decided to make a few shirts for Luan Rong.

“Sister, when are you going to make me a few?”

Ruan Mingfu replied, “…”

She shot a disapproving glance at the shameless Gu Yilin.

“Get lost!”

“Humph!” Gu Yilin pretended to be upset, “If you won’t do it, I’ll just make them myself.”

My plastic friend is really becoming more and more stingy.

When she goes back, I will make seventeen or eighteen pieces of clothing for her as my plastic friend, making her look so embarrassed!

Gu Yilin was busy petting Wangcai the dog when she noticed Li Xiaoyue and Li Xianglan entering together.

“Sister-in-law.”

“You’re here! Come in, come in.”