Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It was almost 11:00 PM when the party ended.
The lights on the street were off, but the Wen Family’s mansion was still brightly lit.
The clicking sound from the clock on the wall was especially clear in the silent room, like an evil and nerve-racking voice from hell, penetrating people’s mind and torturing their eardrums. Slowly, the clock struck twelve.
Old Mr. Wen stood in front of the glass window and looked up at the sky. A galaxy of stars gleamed, like a river flowing in the dark.
At this moment, a beam of light flashed across the window. Old Mr. Wen moved his stiff body slightly and clenched his fist.
Wen Haowen put his arm around Ning Shuqian’s waist, and they walked into the living room together with Wen Yuya five steps behind, as she didn’t want to disturb her parents.
Wen Haowen and Ning Shuqian were slightly surprised upon entering the brightly lit living room. Then they caught sight of Old Mr. Wen standing beside the window. “Father, why are you staying up this late?” asked Wen Haowen.
Old Mr. Wen didn’t reply but stood there with a solemn expression.
Ning Shuqian was concerned. “Father, you’ve been busy with the party in the past few hours. You must be very tired. Why not go and rest early?”
“Hmm!” Old Mr. Wen ignored Ning Shuqian.
Wen Haowen trembled at the snort which carried a note of aggression. Deep down, he feared his father more than he respected him. “Father, Shuqian and I are both tired. We are going to have a rest.”
As he spoke, he held Ning Shuqian’s waist and headed towards their courtyard.
“Wait!” A simple word with undeniable authority.
Wen Haowen froze on the spot as a beam of light from the chandelier shone on him and made him shiver. He forced a smile and said, “Father, do you have anything for me? It’s very late now, and I’m really tired after the party. Can we leave this for tomorrow?”
Old Mr. Wen turned around slowly with a stern expression. His face was so serious and stiff that his wrinkles seemed less obvious than usual. However, anger could be detected through his closed lips. “I have to make myself clear today. Xinya is coming back tomorrow, and I don’t want to see chaos in the family once she’s here.”
Ning Shuqian turned pale and forced a smile. “Father, you want to talk to Haowen? I will go upstairs, then.”
It must be the sudden appearance of Zhang Guang and his wife that made Old Mr. Wen furious. And a wise man like him would know that Ning Shuqian was the one behind this. Haowen had a bad temper, he would certainly blame her if Old Mr. Wen was angry with him.
Wen Haowen had a rough idea of why his father was so angry but didn’t think he was in the wrong. Although he was fearful, he was confident that he made no mistake.
After Ning Shuqian had left, there were only Wen Haowen and his father in the living room. Wen Haowen asked nervously, “Father, you can be straight with me!”
Wen Haowen was not close to his father as Old Mr. Wen was always busy and barely had time to look after him since childhood. In his memory, father always had this solemn look on his face. The only communication between them was when Old Mr. Wen scolded Wen Haowen for getting into trouble or failing exams. He was scared of his father but wanted to resist father’s control. So, he often went against his father.
“You disgraceful child! Even a monster would not hurt its own children. You invited Zhang Guang and his wife to Xinya’s homecoming party to embarrass her. Do you think our Wen Family wouldn’t be affected if Xinya is embarrassed? Others will think that our Wen Family is having a father-daughter war, waiting to laugh at us.”
Old Mr. Wen was disappointed about Wen Haowen’s behavior tonight. He blamed himself for neglecting his son because of work. He felt that he owed Wen Haowen. So he pampered Wen Haowen, trying to make it up to him. It never occurred to him that Wen Haowen would be like this today.
However, Wen Haowen didn’t think he had done anything wrong. “Father, how can you blame me for Xinya’s past? I’ve told you to send her overseas. You didn’t listen and still organized this homecoming party to let the whole Wen Family be embarrassed with her. Now you wanna hold me responsible.”
Wen Haowen didn’t reflect on himself but pushed the blame to someone else. Old Mr. Wen said furiously, “She is your daughter! You treat a foster child better than your biological daughter. I’m disappointed in you.”
“Father, how could you say that? Yuya has lived in the Wen Family for 15 years. I’ve watched her grow from a baby, and I always see her as my own daughter. As for Xinya… she led a wandering life for 15 years and had an unglamorous past. I don’t have such disgraceful daughter.”
Wen Haowen didn’t like Wen Xinya at all. Firstly, Wen Xinya was too rude when she first came back to the Wen Family. Secondly, he was stubborn and didn’t want to look bad. Under the influence of Ning Shuqian’s pillow talk, he disapproved of Wen Xinya.
“Pah!” A hard slap. The sound echoed in the empty living room.
Wen Haowen felt a surge of pain in his face. The slap was like a sudden clap of thunder, crushing his mind and breaking down his world. “Father, you hit me for Wen Xinya?” His pupils dilated.
Old Mr. Wen’s hands were trembling. Staring at Wen Haowen, he didn’t feel one bit of regret. Only remorse. He blamed himself for pampering Wen Haowen and raising a heartless son.
Old Mr. Wen was totally disappointed. “I don’t care whether you recognize her or not, she’s the only descendant of the Wen Family, and this is an indisputable fact. If you haven’t lost your conscience, for Yunyao’s sake, don’t create any more trouble after Xinya comes back to the Wen Family. You owe it to Yunyao.”
He turned around and left, hands still trembling.
Leaving behind hatred and coldness in Wen Haowen’s eyes.