Chapter 40: No one can take it freely anymore...
Back at the villa, Xie Kun and his wife looked at their emaciated daughter, who appeared even more frail than they were.
The words of blame that were on the tip of her tongue eventually turned into overflowing heartache and worry.
Looking into her parents' concerned eyes, Xie Shuang felt a surge of warmth that instantly washed away the grievances and stubbornness that had accumulated over the years—no matter how far she went or how painful her falls were, her parents' gaze always led her home.
Xie Tang then called over Li Qing and her son, and Li Qing brought over a lot of nutritional supplements.
The room was filled with people, and a long-lost sense of liveliness and warmth filled the air.
Xie Tang served them fine tea.
Before long, Qin Wu arrived carrying large and small bags of nutritional supplements.
From the moment she stepped into the villa, her expression carried a hint of cautious restraint.
Xie Tang couldn't stand her attitude, so he poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, then sat down next to her. "How do you feel seeing this house back to its old state?"
Qin Wu held her teacup, looked around, and said softly, "When I moved in as a child, I just felt that this house was so big and empty... but I never felt at ease, I always felt that this was not my home. Since I started boarding school in high school, I have rarely come back. To my shame, I don't have much affection for this place."
Looking at this space that holds all her childhood memories, Xie Tang said, "This is where I grew up. I've 'found' it again, just like I remember it."
Qin Wu lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, as if she had made up her mind: "I did do something wrong that day. But... I never told Auntie that you agreed to marry Song Ge because of money and a house."
She looked up, her gaze honest. "That day, Auntie was just worried about you and asked me if Brother Song usually treats you well."
Xie Tang froze, staring at her in astonishment: "...You didn't say anything?"
Qin Wu shook her head, her tone serious: "I can swear."
Xie Tang frowned, feeling a tightness in his head.
If it's not Qin Wu, then who could it be?
Besides those few people from the Qin family, who else knows the details of her deal with Qin Ruhai?
Seeing her changing expression, Qin Wu assumed she was blaming herself and quickly added, "Although you misunderstood that day, I was also at fault... so taking that slap wasn't unjust."
Xie Tang glanced at her sideways, suppressing her doubts: "I'll find out. If I've really wronged you..."
She paused, then said, "I will apologize to you."
Qin Wu seemed relieved and smiled with relief: "It's okay."
"..." Xie Tang looked at the simple-minded, even somewhat "naive" woman in front of her, and then thought of her shrewd and domineering mother, Ji Yan, and couldn't help but sigh again:
Genes can both faithfully inherit traits and unexpectedly mutate.
——————
Stepping back into the Chu family's old residence, Xie Tang's nervousness subsided somewhat.
The room was still filled with people.
After greeting her, Mingwei waved gently at her.
Xie Tang sat down as instructed, and Ming Wei inquired about her mother's health with concern.
"I've already been discharged from the hospital and am recovering well," Xie Tang replied.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Master Chu slowly rose, leaning on his cane, and said, "Come with me to the study."
Chu Song stepped forward and took his grandfather's arm, and the two walked towards the study.
Mingwei patted Xie Tang's hand, her eyes filled with worry, "Go."
Wen Qu's gaze followed Xie Tang closely, a mixture of envy and sympathy.
The study was filled with the aroma of tea.
Chu Song held the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and respectfully presented it to his grandfather with both hands.
Master Chu took the drink, sipped it, and casually inquired about Xie Tang's whereabouts over the past few days.
Xie Tang answered truthfully.
Upon hearing this, Master Chu smiled with satisfaction: "It's good to have filial piety. Ah Song has always been steady and reliable; this time, he left with you without a word..."
His tone was slightly somber. "It was indeed rash."
Xie Tang noticed the displeasure in his words and quickly took the blame: "I'm sorry, Grandpa, I was being willful. I caused trouble for Song-ge and made everyone worry. It's all my fault."
"What's there to be nervous about?" Master Chu smiled tolerantly, his tone gentle as if he were speaking to his younger relative. "I'm not blaming you. Ah Song is willing to go to great lengths for you because he trusts you and cares about you. I'm overjoyed that you two are doing well."
Upon hearing this, Xie Tang smiled faintly.
"Everyone's busy, and it's rare to come back to the old house, so let's stay a few more days."
"good."
Chu Song poured Xie Tang a cup of tea as well, "Grandpa invited us here this time not just to have tea and chat, right?"
Xie Tang had just taken the teacup and hadn't even brought it to her lips when Chu Song spoke, his tone calm yet insightful.
A fleeting look of worry crossed Master Chu's eyes before he regained his composure.
He gave Xie Tang a deep look, then turned to Chu Song after a moment, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Your father and that celebrity's child... is six months old, a boy. No matter what, he carries the Chu family blood..."
Upon hearing this, Xie Tang looked at Chu Song in astonishment. His expression was almost indifferent and calm, as if he had known all along.
"We've decided—the child will be raised by you." Old Master Chu made the decision directly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Xie Tang's gaze was fixed on Chu Song's face, calm as an unfathomable cold night, but she could clearly feel the disappointment and pain surging beneath the ice.
He'll refuse, won't he?
Who would willingly treat the offspring of their father's philandering as their own?
Seeing Chu Song's silence, Master Chu seemed to have anticipated his reaction, and turned to Xie Tang: "Tang girl, you don't have any objections, do you?"
Xie Tang waited in vain for Chu Song's rejection.
She thought, it's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he can't.
Just like how Master Chu disregarded Mingwei's wishes and forcibly brought Chu Yi back to the Chu family back then, Chu Song was deprived of his right to choose and could only accept it.
Her gaze shifted to Grandpa Chu, filled with confusion: "Grandpa, I don't understand. Why insist on putting it on Song-ge's side?"
He clearly has so many grandchildren!
If you can't bear to see Chu Zhi's flesh and blood scattered outside, you can arrange for them to be given to someone else.
Why Chu Song in particular?
Why should he suffer the same injury twice?
Why not even ask him if he's willing before making a decision?
Mr. Chu was not angered by her questioning, nor did he treat her as an outsider. He patiently explained, "Because A-Song is the future heir of Huasong Group and the head of the Chu family. It is most appropriate for the child to be raised under his name, and it can also eliminate any potential problems."
“But Brother Song…” Xie Tang wanted to argue urgently.
"A-Tang." Chu Song interrupted her, his voice low and firm, as if unwilling for her to contradict her grandfather. "Go out and wait for me."
Xie Tang pursed her lips and looked at him, her heart filled with mixed feelings, and a surge of anger for him rose up.
On what grounds?
Just because he's the future head of the family, he should be broad-minded and deserve to clean up the mess left by his philandering father and raise his illegitimate child.
"Go ahead," Chu Song said, softening his voice.
Ultimately, he was an outsider. Xie Tang suppressed his surging anger, gave Master Chu a polite nod, and turned to leave the study.
The door closed softly, and the study fell into a long silence.
Old Master Chu sighed heavily: "Ah Song, I know you're not happy. But that child... is still your father's child. Being left out in the wild is like a ticking time bomb. I can't ignore it. Do you understand? This child is a blank slate right now, he can become the new bloodline of the Chu family..."
As the heir of the Chu family, Chu Song was well aware of the cold calculations and endless shackles behind this "bloodline".
He raised his eyes, his gaze no longer calm as usual, but deep and unfathomable like the turbulent depths of the sea, clearly reflecting his grandfather's figure and his unwavering resolve at that moment.
He carries the heavy burden and expectations of his family, but that doesn't mean he has to unconditionally swallow all the bitterness.
"I have two requests."
Master Chu stared at him silently, and in a daze, he seemed to see the shadow of his deceased wife.
The silent pressure made his throat tighten. Thinking of all the things his grandson had endured for the family over the years, his sense of authority as an elder softened a little.
His tone softened, with a hint of concession: "Tell me, I'll agree to anything Grandpa can do."
This promise is more like making up for past shortcomings.
Chu Song did not speak immediately. He slowly picked up the cup of tea in front of him, which had long since gone cold, his hand with its distinct knuckles steady without trembling.
This brief silence was more powerful than any words.
He then clearly and calmly stated his conditions:
“First,” he said sharply, his gaze fixed on his grandfather, “the 5% stake in the group under my father’s name shall be transferred immediately, in full, and irreversibly to my mother’s name. The legal documents shall be signed within a week.”
Master Chu choked abruptly, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
This demand directly addresses core interests and is also an effort to secure tangible compensation and protection for his mother who has suffered so much humiliation!
This is no longer a silent rebellion by young people, but a mature leader's direct allocation and redistribution of family resources and benefits.
He remained silent for a long time, the air almost frozen, and finally, he nodded very slowly.
The gesture carried a heavy weight, like someone cornered: "...Okay."
The word "good" acknowledges that Chu Song now possesses the power to shake the interests within the family.
“Second,” Chu Song put down his teacup, making a soft but clear clinking sound.
He looked directly at his grandfather, the sharpness in his eyes undiminished, but rather even more resolute. "This is the last time."
The last four words, spoken with unwavering resolve, conveyed a determination to sever ties with the past: "I will keep my promise and do everything in my power to care for that child. But please remember—"
He paused deliberately, emphasizing his words, "Please understand that raising someone is not the same as acknowledging them as family. He is not my responsibility, and never will be. My responsibility ends with him becoming the heir of the Chu family."
Master Chu stared at him, as if seeing his grandson for the first time.
The powerful will and clear sense of boundaries hidden beneath that calm exterior shocked and...awestd him, an old man accustomed to being in control of everything.
This is not just a requirement, but a red line drawn by Chu Song that no one, including his grandfather, can cross.
After a long while, he finally nodded slowly and with difficulty.
It was already asking too much of Chu Song to accept this humiliating arrangement.
The power and undeniable control that Chu Song displayed at this moment made him realize that this grandson was no longer the boy who could only passively accept arrangements and endure in silence.
He is a sharp sword that has been drawn from its sheath, its edge fully revealed, and no one can underestimate him, nor can anyone arbitrarily control his life.
——————
The sun was shining brightly, and Mingwei took Xie Tang for a walk in the garden.
The two walked slowly along the path, a gentle breeze blowing by. Mingwei's voice carried an unyielding heaviness: "In the study... were they discussing that child?"
"Mmm," Xie Tang responded softly.
“That child… was born to Ah Song’s father and that celebrity… outrageous!” Mingwei’s face turned deathly pale, her stomach churning as if she had swallowed a fly. “A thirty-two-year age gap! He could easily be her father!”
Xie Tang was so shocked by this secret of the wealthy family that she was speechless.
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