Chapter 52: Exclusive to Jinjiang 1/2

In the evening, Shi Zhang received a message from Shi Zhenglin. He said his car was already downstairs at the university office building.

Shi Zhang instantly felt a distant and familiar sense of powerlessness, one that had been a nightmare for him to escape during his childhood.

For so many years, it seemed like Shi Zhenglin had granted him freedom, but as long as he wanted to investigate, tracking his children’s whereabouts was a piece of cake.

The luxury car was parked downstairs, and Shi Zhenglin sat in the wheelchair, looking as thin as a stick, emitting an air of decline.

However, upon seeing Shi Zhang, a flame of hope suddenly surged in his dark, deep pupils.

“Xiao Zhang,” he called out with a hoarse voice.

Shi Zhang stopped a few steps away, gazing at him coldly.

The person next to him, whether a bodyguard or secretary, gestured invitingly towards the car: “Mr. Shi, we’ve prepared dinner.”

“No need,” Shi Zhang refused without hesitation. “If you have something to say, say it here. If not, I’m leaving.”

After waiting for a few seconds, Shi Zhang turned around and walked away.

“Shi Zhang!”

Shi Zhenglin shouted.

Shi Zhang symbolically paused, then heard Shi Zhenglin ask behind him, “Xiao Zhang, do you know who provided the funding for your recent research project?”

This sentence successfully made Shi Zhang turn his head, his sharp eyes staring at Shi Zhenglin.

“The company donated it, but I requested it to be anonymous. The funds that reached you are listed as official grants. I think your project is excellent and has significant implications for social development, so I gave a little help.”

Shi Zhenglin spoke slowly, ending with a slight smile. “I know you don’t want to accept anything from me, so I didn’t tell you.”

His words sounded noble, but Shi Zhang heard the underlying threat.

He still treated his child as he did before, being both good and bad, making it unclear whether his actions were out of paternal love or other motives.

“Why are you telling me now?” Shi Zhang sneered. “Is there something I have to agree to, or else you’ll stop my experiment?”

“Of course not,” Shi Zhenglin said. “Any amount spent on scientific research is worthwhile.”

He looked very sincere, as if he were a philanthropist with a heart for the world.

Shi Zhenglin smiled at Shi Zhang. “Shall we continue talking here?”

This was the front entrance of the office building. In these few minutes, it was rare for no one to pass by, but usually, teachers and students would come and go.

Looking at the luxurious car blocking the way, Shi Zhang frowned expressionlessly, coldly saying, “Let’s go to my office.”

He said this and walked inside, hearing the bodyguard’s shoes fade away and the light sound of the wheelchair sliding across the floor.

Shi Zhang changed the sign at the door to “Do not disturb,” and the bodyguard pushed the old man into the office, then discreetly closed the door, leaving them alone.

In the office, there were only two people facing each other. Shi Zhang’s biological father sat in the seat usually reserved for students.

In any situation, Shi Zhenglin possessed the ability to control the scene calmly. He chatted very pleasantly, inquiring about Shi Zhang’s research progress, with a naturally kind and benevolent expression on his face.

The cold and indifferent response of Shi Zhang, treasuring each word, could not break through his benevolent demeanor.

If a stranger witnessed all this at the moment, they would think Shi Zhenglin was a good father, and Shi Zhang was his unreasonable and unfilial son.

While Shi Zhenglin continued to talk about Shi Zhang’s contributions to the academic community, Shi Zhang calmly interrupted him, saying, “Get to the point.”

The air fell silent for a moment, and Shi Zhenglin smiled gently, straightforwardly stating, “Xiao Zhang, I want to give you all of our family’s assets.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Zhang furrowed his brow directly.

This was absurd.

Shi Zhenglin and his wife had a daughter and a son, genuine members of the Shi family. Yet he wanted to give all the family assets to an illegitimate son?

Shi Zhang couldn’t help but find it laughable, bordering on ridiculous.

So, Shi Zhang burst into laughter—a mocking laugh.

“Mr. Shi, with such a generous offer, what do you want me to do?” he asked sarcastically.

Shi Zhenglin didn’t respond directly. Instead, he spoke like an ordinary father: “Xiao Zhang, a man should establish himself by the age of thirty, both in career and family. You have already made a name for yourself, and it’s time to start a family.”

Shi Zhang remained silent, his expression cold.

“For so many years, I haven’t seen anyone by your side. You keep playing with childish things, never changing. It’s time for you to take on the responsibilities of a man,” Shi Zhenglin said tolerantly. “So, for you, this is a natural thing, without any loss. Dad won’t trouble you.”

Shi Zhenglin clasped his hands on the table and continued, “Marry the girl you like, have a chubby child, and I’ll give you the entire Shi family’s business.”

“You don’t have to learn about business; the company will have dedicated people to manage it. You can just enjoy the dividends, and there will be professionals to raise your children.” Shi Zhenglin believed his plan was a perfect blueprint.

A strong wave of disgust surged within Shi Zhang. He stood up directly, walked a few steps to the door, and opened the office door, saying, “Get out!”

Shi Zhenglin’s face immediately turned ugly, slamming the table suddenly. “Shi Zhang, how dare you talk to your father like this?”

Without saying another word, Shi Zhang walked out, intending to ask his bodyguards to escort this idiot away.

“Shi Zhang, are you gay?” Shi Zhenglin suddenly raised his voice behind him, questioning. Shi Zhang suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Are you gay like your useless brother?” Shi Zhenglin asked sternly.

Shi Zhang quickly understood. So, Shi Zhenglin’s legitimate son, raised in privilege, probably mingled with men in some foreign place, and despite Shi Zhenglin’s efforts, he couldn’t control him. Hence, he placed his hopes on his illegitimate son.

Shi Yan had given birth to two daughters, but in Shi Zhenglin’s eyes, they couldn’t continue the family line because they took their father’s surname and couldn’t be considered part of the Shi family.

It was clear that Shi Zhenglin was desperate. In his final moments, he only wanted to continue the “pure” bloodline for himself and was willing to give away all his wealth.

He probably didn’t even bother to investigate; Shi Zhang had already married the man he loved.

In an era where same-sex marriage was legal, there were still people with similar thoughts to Shi Zhenglin.

It was laughable and pitiful.

A disdainful smile emerged from the depths of Shi Zhang’s heart. He ignored Shi Zhenglin and found his bodyguards at the end of the corridor.

“Shi Zhenglin is unwell; take him to the hospital quickly,” Shi Zhang said.

The bodyguards’ faces changed upon hearing this, and they rushed back to the office, only to see Shi Zhenglin in a furious state.

Shi Zhang pulled out a piece of paper from the drawer, respectfully placing it in Shi Zhenglin’s dry and trembling hands.

“A renouncement of inheritance declaration,” Shi Zhang said slowly and emphatically, his tone respectful yet cutting. “I’ve signed it. I don’t need your filthy money.”

“End of the family line. This is the blessing you’ve accumulated in your lifetime.”

Shi Zhenglin stared at the paper in his hands, then looked up at Shi Zhang. Perhaps triggered by a certain word, he suddenly started gasping for breath uselessly, like a broken bellows.

The bodyguards were truly panicked now, pushing him out.

Shi Zhenglin coughed haphazardly, his waist bending like a shriveled shrimp.

He glared at Shi Zhang, squeezing out a sentence between coughs: “Whether you have someone by your side or not, whoever it is, do you think if they knew what you used to be like, saw Professor Wenya’s true face… would they still be with you?”

Shi Zhang’s face turned pale instantly, as if slapped hard.

Shi Zhenglin seemed to emit a distorted, hoarse laugh from deep within his throat.

The bodyguards bowed respectfully, inquiring if they should go home. Shi Zhenglin waved his hand casually, indicating that they should leave.

Song Fuzhi leaned against the car door, chewing on flavorless gum that had lost its taste long ago.

His gaze was indifferent, fixed on the entrance of the building, watching people come and go.

Song Fuzhi had been standing here for almost an hour. He wanted to smoke, but this was a university campus, and smoking was prohibited.

So, he bought a box of mint-flavored gum from the convenience store, threw two pieces into his mouth, and went from the icy stimulation to the tastelessness. From sunset to the darkening night, Song Fuzhi remained unaware.

This group of people almost ran out of the building.

Bodyguards briskly pushed a wheelchair, and an elderly person was sitting in it, looking very unwell.

Song Fuzhi even forgot to chew the gum, frozen in place, watching them return to the luxury car, which then disappeared into the distance.

This afternoon, Song Fuzhi encountered too many secrets about Shi Zhang. He was having trouble processing it all, his mind in chaos, unable to make any reasonable deductions.

Before he could fully grasp the situation, he saw Shi Zhang walking out of the building alone, staring in the direction the car had left, his figure blurred in the faint night.

Shi Zhang turned around and suddenly froze.

Song Fuzhi was also stunned.

Their eyes collided in midair, never before so awkward and difficult.

In fact, Song Fuzhi had initially wanted to quickly get into the car, but he couldn’t move as he watched Shi Zhang’s tall and lonely figure.

In the end, it was Shi Zhang who walked step by step towards Song Fuzhi, stopping about three steps away from him.

There was a silent distance between the two, and neither spoke.

The cold and sarcastic expressions from earlier had disappeared. Shi Zhang now felt his heart trembling, and it seemed like a bucket of ice-cold water had been suddenly poured over his head, from head to toe.

Like the fear of standing on the edge of a cliff.

“Did you… see everything?” Shi Zhang spoke hoarsely.

Song Fuzhi nodded in silence, wanting to say something but only managing to exhale a faint breath.

He cleared his throat before saying, “I entered the school with that car.”

Shi Zhang opened his mouth to explain in a confused manner, “He is my biological father. He came to find me because—”

Song Fuzhi didn’t let him finish. He simply stepped forward, opened his arms, and hugged Shi Zhang, strong and warm.

“Alright, that’s enough.” Song Fuzhi patted Shi Zhang’s stiff back and spoke gently, “Let’s go home.”

Throughout the journey, Shi Zhang tried to speak several times, but each time Song Fuzhi stopped him with a few words.

Both anxiety and fear were written on Shi Zhang’s face. When had Song Fuzhi seen Professor Shi so distressed?

As they waited at the red lights, Song Fuzhi would reach his hand towards Shi Zhang, quietly holding his hand in a comforting gesture.

As soon as his hand touched Shi Zhang’s, his eyes welled up with tears.

“In fact, I wanted to tell you—”

“Don’t tell me now. Let’s talk at home.” Song Fuzhi gently interrupted him. “Let me drive in peace first.”

So, Shi Zhang carefully sealed his lips.

Actually, Song Fuzhi himself was unsure, but now was not the time to panic.

They could talk when they got home; there was nothing that couldn’t be resolved.

Why rush? There was nothing to rush about.