The phone call between Tao Rui and Mr. Tao was like the clarion call of war. No one would give in, and no one thought they were wrong.

But Tao's mother didn't dare bet that she was the one who bought the online troll army. The link Tao Rui sent didn't clearly point to her, but she didn't know if Tao Rui would actually release the evidence if she didn't apologize.

What if Tao Rui is really that cruel? Then her reputation as a famous pianist will be ruined. How can she still have the face to show up in the circle?

She didn't dare to gamble.

So when Tao's father was still angry and lashing out, Tao's mother gave in. She firmly demanded that Tao's father go with her to apologize, threatening to make the Tao family look bad if he dragged her down.

If it only involved herself, the Tao family might really stick with Tao Ruigang to the end if they were stubborn, but since it involved the family, they couldn't take any gamble.

That afternoon, they arranged to meet Tao Rui and Ling Jiaxuan. Ling Jiaxuan felt a little uneasy before the meeting. She felt it wasn't a good idea, considering they were Tao Rui's parents. She and Tao Rui were still in a relationship, and it would be too awkward if they stayed together.

Tao Rui said soothingly, "We won't have many chances to meet in the future. This is what you deserve. There's no need to give them face. Even I think they're going too far."

"I'm not a saint. I just heard others say that being together isn't just about two people, it's about two families. I'm afraid it'll get so badly tangled up like this." Ling Jiaxuan paused, pursing her lips. "You're just angry now. Can you really sever ties with them? Impossible."

Tao Rui smiled. "You're right. If you fall in love with someone, remember to think this way. But if it's me, I'm a special case. I just want to sever ties with them and never have any contact with them again."

Ling Jiaxuan was a little surprised and didn't understand, but Tao Rui didn't explain. He just said, "Everyone has their own bottom line. Just because they're family doesn't mean they'll always be that close. Let's go in and hear what they have to say."

Tao Rui took Ling Jiaxuan's hand and walked into the private room of the teahouse. When Ling Jiaxuan saw the cold faces of Tao's father and mother, she subconsciously held Tao Rui's hand tightly.

The two sat down. Tao Rui was the most relaxed person among them. He ignored his parents' sharp gazes and picked up the teapot to add tea for Ling Jiaxuan and himself.

Seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Tao hadn't spoken yet, he glanced at his watch and reminded them, "I have a meeting in the lab later, and Xuanxuan has a meeting with friends, so we don't have much time. Why don't we get started?"

Start what?

Start apologizing?

Both Mr. and Mrs. Tao's faces turned black!

Tao's father scolded him coldly: "Tao Rui! Is this how you treat your parents?"

Tao Rui thought for a moment and said, "Looking back, I've always stuck to the facts and maintained a gentle attitude. It's much better than yours. I really don't understand why you always criticize my attitude, as if you're just looking for trouble to criticize me." He shrugged. "Someone online summarized it this way: some people, when you talk to them rationally, they'll talk to you emotionally, and when you talk to them emotionally, they'll ask what your attitude is. In reality, this is just unreasonable and vexatious."

"You said we were being unreasonable?"

Tao Rui looked at the time again, and Ling Jiaxuan suddenly understood why Tao Rui was annoyed with them. It was obviously they who had the problem with their attitude, okay?

Ling Jiaxuan didn't want them to scold Tao Rui anymore, nor did she want Tao Rui to delay the meeting. Before Tao Rui could speak, she said, "Uncle, Aunt, I think we are here today to resolve the matter, not to discuss or argue. Let's not talk about irrelevant topics."

Mother Tao glanced at her unhappily and said, "Don't call me so affectionate. Are we very familiar with each other?"

This attitude really stirred Ling Jiaxuan's spirit. She smiled and said, "Very well, Mr. and Mrs. Tao, I heard from the lawyer that you need to apologize to me and make compensation. Let's get started. If it's not resolved in three minutes, there's no need for mediation. I will sue you to the end!"

Tao's mother narrowed her eyes, looking at Ling Jiaxuan in disbelief. She simply couldn't understand how a small-time internet celebrity hoping to marry into the Tao family could dare treat her future in-laws like this? And Tao Rui was on Ling Jiaxuan's side, leaving her completely helpless.

Holding onto the last glimmer of hope, she looked at Tao Rui, "Do you really want to humiliate me like this? Now that things have come to this, there are only four of us here. What's the point of you insisting on this? Are you not going to get along well with each other anymore?"

Tao's father threatened, "Don't think your grandfather is just joking. He really intends to kick you out of the family. No family can tolerate an heir who treats his parents like this."

Ling Jiaxuan's heart tightened when she heard the word "heir." She had overlooked a problem. Tao Rui was the only heir to the Tao family. How could Tao Rui truly turn against the Tao family?

But before she could figure it out, Tao Rui smiled and said, "I've already told Grandpa that if that really happens, I'd love it. Don't keep scaring me. If you have the guts, make a public statement. I'm not afraid of losing the family to fight alone. What? Are you afraid of losing an unsatisfactory heir?"

Tao's father was completely enraged. He pushed Tao's mother and said, "Apologize! Do as he says. From now on, we will pretend that we never had this son. I want to see who regrets it!"

Tao Rui immediately reminded him, "The agreement requires two people to apologize. Don't put everything on Mrs. Tao. Would she do these things alone without your consent?"

The two were so angry with him that they didn't want to sit there anymore and were about to apologize.

But even if they have thought it through and made a decision in advance, when the moment comes and they face the person involved, they cannot open their mouths.

They have never apologized to anyone in their lives, and they can't bring themselves to apologize to a small internet celebrity whom they look down upon and who they once took advantage of.

But Tao Rui raised his wrist threateningly and clicked his watch, and they were both so angry that their chests were blocked!

Mother Tao gritted her teeth and whispered, "I'm sorry—"

"Bang--" The teacup next to Tao Rui fell to the ground and broke.

Tao Rui said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I made some noise and I didn't hear you. Could you please speak louder? Talk to Xuanxuan."

Mother Tao's face turned pale and she said in a deep voice, "Miss Ling, I'm sorry. I apologize to you for everything I did before!"

Mr. Tao also had a sullen face, but he suppressed his anger and said, "Ms. Ling, I apologize for what I did. I'm sorry. This is our compensation for your mental damages."

He placed the check for one million on the table and pushed it in front of Ling Jiaxuan. Unable to bear it for even a second, he immediately stood up, stared at Tao Rui and said, "Don't regret it."

Tao Rui shrugged and smiled.

Tao's father and mother glared at him fiercely for the last time, then strode out of the door. They no longer wanted to stay in this humiliating room. It would be more painful than killing them!

Ling Jiaxuan looked at the check without moving. Tao Rui asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Ling Jiaxuan slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest. "I thought I'd be upset, but... when I saw them apologizing to me despite feeling extremely aggrieved, I actually felt a little happy. When they gave me the compensation, I suddenly felt relieved. It's not the money that matters, it's what it represents."

This is compensation, proof that they have put the hurt they caused me on the line. I can't help it, I'm so happy now!

Tao Rui said with a smile: "Then don't control yourself. Didn't you make an appointment with Lin Shan? If there is something good, you can celebrate with your bestie."

"But do you think I'm mean?" Ling Jiaxuan turned around and took his hand, saying a little worriedly, "They are your parents, and yet I see them gloating over your misfortune..."

Tao Rui shook his head. "I told you this is what you deserve. No matter how this turns out for me, it's a good thing for you. You should definitely enjoy and celebrate it. Your previous way of trying to smooth things over isn't working. So, try a more straightforward approach. Don't compromise or feel wronged. Just be happy about everything. Only then will everything get better."

Ling Jiaxuan nodded heavily and hugged him emotionally.

In fact, she knew that Tao Rui didn't need to do this. Tao Rui insisted so much because he wanted to seek justice for the grievances she had suffered before and to untie the knot in her heart.

Lin Shan had previously said that if she tolerated and forgave him like that, she'd eventually become depressed. She hadn't taken it seriously until today, after receiving an apology and compensation, when she realized she'd long harbored a grudge against Mr. and Mrs. Tao. And today, that grudge had finally been untied. She felt a surge of lightness and joy, a state of mind she'd never known before.

These were all given to her by Tao Rui. She closed her eyes and said sincerely, "Thank you for everything you have done for me."

Tao Rui smiled and patted her back. "If I really get kicked out of the house, I'll have to ask you to support me, Miss Ling."

Ling Jiaxuan laughed out loud. Even though she knew he was joking, she still agreed from the bottom of her heart.

The Tao family was truly enraged, or perhaps Tao Rui had deliberately provoked them. They could not tolerate Tao Rui challenging their authority like this, humiliating them and not fighting back. So, as soon as the apology was over, they announced that the Tao family had disqualified Tao Rui from being an heir, and that from then on, Tao Rui had nothing to do with the Tao family.

There had actually been some signs of this before. When they jokingly suggested letting Tao Rui go out and gain experience in society, some people had guessed they were disciplining the child. Now it was clear that the two sides had fallen out, to the point of severing ties.

Although there was no legal way to sever ties, in this circle, their words were absolutely binding. Tao Rui's name would never appear in their wills, and thus nothing in the Tao family's possessions would have anything to do with Tao Rui.

There are many scientists, and even more PhDs, but not everyone can enter this circle. Without the support of a family, if one is not strong enough to be taken seriously, then he will never come back.

Many in the industry secretly lamented. Tao Rui was a rare talent with a promising future. How could he have so foolishly given up such a great opportunity? The Tao family's financial resources and connections were no longer relevant to him. Even if he and his girlfriend did eventually marry, what would it matter? Wouldn't it be a pity that he didn't reach a higher level in his career?

Moreover, such a realistic future often erodes feelings and turns even a cinnabar mole into mosquito blood. So, why bother?

Yeah, why bother? Not only were those in the upper class baffled, but even Ling Jiaxuan's best friend, Lin Shan, was baffled. Netizens who had heard the news were even more baffled. They all had the same thought: Could Ling Jiaxuan really be that good? Had they overlooked something, failed to recognize that Ling Jiaxuan was a hidden gem?