Ch 21: Family Ties On Thin Ice

“Lacking beauty, lacking money, lacking power, influence, and background, a penniless woman like you, unable to even bear children, what qualifications do you have to marry the excellent Ling Yun? Do you know how many women are a thousand times more beautiful than you, more powerful, lining up to marry him?”

Zhong Lingxiu watched Xiao Yao’s anger rising in her eyes, continuing to sneer: “Angry? Shouldn’t we be the angry ones? Secretly deceiving our Zhuang Family’s man into marriage, without even the most basic self-awareness, do you intend to cause the Zhuang Family to die out?”

“Whether or not it dies out, what does it have to do with you?”

Just as Xiao Yao was trembling with anger, on the verge of an outburst, the bathroom door was suddenly violently kicked open.

Zhuang Lingyun, wearing only a pair of shorts and his bare upper body still covered in water droplets, strode out.

His complexion was terrifyingly cold, an anger Xiao Yao had never seen before.

His protective intent was obvious. He quickly stepped forward, pulling her behind him, glaring at Zhong Lingxiu and the cold, low-voiced man sitting on the sofa: “Since you’re afraid the line will end with me, why don’t you have more children? You’re both still young. Since Father doesn’t mind a wife who’s like another daughter, why would he mind if I have a brother or sister who’s like a son?”

Zhuang Hao suddenly rose, grabbing the water cup on the coffee table and smashing it violently on the floor. Shattered porcelain pieces and hot water scattered everywhere.

The glass shattered at Zhong Lingxiu’s feet, causing her to scream and jump back in fear, glancing at the furious Zhuang Hao, then at Zhuang Lingyun, who was shielding Xiao Yao in his arms and glaring back.

Zhong Lingxiu’s heart pounded. Zhuang Lingyun truly knew how to pick a fight. If Zhuang Hao still had the ability to have children, he wouldn’t care about whether he would cause the Zhuang Family to die out.

Moreover, she had provoked Zhuang Hao to come here, not really to make them turn against each other.

Zhong Lingxiu glanced at Xiao Yao hiding in Zhuang Lingyun’s arms, her fists clenched, anger surging through her limbs. She took several deep breaths to suppress it.

Hurriedly walking to Zhuang Hao’s side, she softly soothed him: “The doctor told you not to get angry, why don’t you listen? Take care of your health! Besides, didn’t you come here to quarrel with Ling Yun?”

Zhuang Hao panted, cursing: “Disobedient son! If he still cared about my health, he wouldn’t humiliate his father in front of outsiders. He’s so ill-mannered!”

“Xiao Yao is not an outsider, she is my wife. Besides, a son’s bad behavior is the fault of the father. Father should be grateful that I met Xiao Yao first; otherwise, I might have followed in my father’s footsteps and found a wife twenty years younger than me.”

Zhuang Hao’s face turned pale with anger, “Zhuang Lingyun, are you deliberately defying me? Do you think you’ve grown wings and I can’t do anything to you? I’ll tell you plainly, you marrying a woman who can’t bear children is unacceptable. Our Zhuang Family doesn’t recognize this daughter-in-law. You’d better separate from her and marry Su Ya. Otherwise, after I’m gone, I’ll donate all of the Zhuang Family’s assets rather than leave you a single cent!”

Xiao Yao anxiously watched the father and son arguing furiously, understanding their intentions. No wonder he hadn’t informed his father to attend the wedding. She hadn’t expected their attitude towards her to be so harsh.

But she clearly remembered him saying he had seven brothers. How did it become only one? Xiao Yao worriedly looked at the man holding her tightly, only to see a sneer play on his lips.

“After all these years, Father, haven’t you figured it out yet? It’s never been me who wanted your assets. Don’t worry, even if you gave me everything, I wouldn’t want it. Besides, whether the Zhuang Family recognizes her or not, do you think it really matters to us? We live our own lives, not with you. Father, take your wife and go back. Don’t make a fool of yourself here, lest my wife looks down on me because of you.”

Xiao Yao suddenly looked up at him. How could she look down on him? It was just that their father-son relationship had reached a boiling point, and Xiao Yao was a little worried.

Zhuang Hao’s finger trembled as he pointed at Zhuang Lingyun, speechless with anger, collapsing back onto the sofa.

Zhong Lingxiu hurriedly comforted Zhuang Hao, then turned to angrily rebuke Zhuang Lingyun, “How can you speak to your father like that? Zhuang Lingyun, for a woman, you’ve made the family a mess. Is it worth it?”

Zhuang Lingyun laughed, his sharp gaze filled with sarcasm, “Yes, for a woman, it’s truly not worth it.”

Zhong Lingxiu’s face froze, her nostrils flaring slightly. She took several deep breaths before swallowing the resentment about to spill out. However, she quickly redirected her anger towards Xiao Yao, “It’s all because of you, you vile woman! Their father-son relationship had improved, but now because of you, it’s back to being precarious. If Ah Hao’s health is affected, you won’t have a good life either. You’ll spend your lives burdened with guilt!”

Xiao Yao was speechless, not knowing what to say. It was indeed because of her that they were arguing; she was indeed culpable.

Zhuang Lingyun felt utter disgust towards Zhong Lingxiu. He released Xiao Yao, stepped forward, and snatched her backpack. Zhong Lingxiu was startled, “Ling Yun, what are you doing!”

“Don’t call me that, you don’t deserve to.” Zhuang Lingyun sneered, pulling out the key to his house from the backpack and shaking it. “Don’t secretly make copies of my house keys again. This is the last time. If I find out there’s another time, you’ll regret it.”

Zhong Lingxiu’s face flushed red, “I was just trying to help you clean the house, so it would be more comfortable for you when you returned.”

“Oh really? I have a regular cleaning service; I don’t need your help.” With that, he turned and pulled Xiao Yao upstairs. “I’ll have Doctor Zhao come and get you. Don’t come here to make a fool of yourself again. I don’t need your help with my affairs. If I find out that any of you have harassed Xiao Yao, I will not let it go.”

Xiao Yao looked at his hand, the veins on his knuckles bulging. He must not have realized how hard he was squeezing her hand. Xiao Yao winced in pain, “You’re hurting me.”

He belatedly loosened his grip slightly, “Sorry…”

Xiao Yao shook her head. Was it worth it for him to protect her like this, even turning against his family?

Zhuang Hao’s lips were now purple, his heart condition clearly aggravated. He clutched his chest, veins throbbing on his temples, “This disobedient son! Why did I have such a child! If I’d known I’d be driven to death by him one day, I should have strangled him at birth!”

Zhong Lingxiu, too, had been rebuffed, furious inside, but she maintained the image of a virtuous wife and mother in front of Zhuang Hao. She knelt slightly beside him, softly comforting him: “Don’t say such things. If you didn’t care about him, why would you come here and suffer? Don’t worry, I will absolutely not let the Zhuang family die out.”

Zhuang Hao looked at her, “What do you plan to do? Can’t you see? That boy treasures her. If you dare to touch that woman, he’ll tear you apart.”

Zhong Lingxiu smiled faintly, “I’m not stupid. As long as you support me, it’s fine. Otherwise, no matter how much I do, it’ll be called meddling, which is heartbreaking.”

“Go ahead. Even if he resents and hates me, I’ll accept it.”

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