Before he could devise a plan, his father-in-law arrived. The old man’s face darkened as soon as he got off the plane. “Why are you the only one here? Where’s Xiao Zhe?”
“Xiao Zhe—I can’t reach Xiao Zhe.” Fang Tiancheng sensed the old man’s hostility.
Could his son have called for reinforcements?
“Call Xiao Zhe right away. We’ll have a family dinner tonight.”
“Dad, you’ve been on a long flight. Rest tonight, we’ll eat tomorrow.”
“What tomorrow? I want to see my grandson tonight!”
Director Fang looked embarrassed. “I think you’ve heard something. Xiao Zhe and I are at odds. I’m afraid I can’t call him.”
The old man laughed, “You finally admit it? What’s the issue? Is it about his girlfriend?”
Fang Tiancheng’s teeth itched at the thought of Xia Yuluo. “She’s no ordinary girlfriend. She’s so cunning it’s impressive. Xiao Zhe even self-harmed in front of me yesterday, cutting two large gashes on his hand!”
“What?!” The old man stopped laughing. “He’s gone too far. I need to talk to him!”
“Exactly. You can’t indulge him! I’m determined to teach him a lesson this time!”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I won’t let him win!”
The old man sneered, “Good thing I’m back. Otherwise, would I just be collecting my grandson’s body?”
Past Wounds
When Fang Tiancheng’s business was just starting, he offended people by opening a nightclub. A group of thugs attacked the store, and his wife was unfortunately struck on the head with an iron rod. She lay in the hospital for a year before finally leaving him and their son.
Since then, Director Fang felt guilty towards his father-in-law, who had lost his wife early and had only one daughter. This deep sense of guilt made him avoid facing his father-in-law for a long time.
Eventually, the old man softened, saying a person’s life is predestined, and what’s past is past. Only then did Fang Tiancheng kneel before his father-in-law and swear never to remarry, treating him like a father from then on.
Fang Yuezhe had never appreciated his father’s apology because, although he didn’t remarry, he didn’t stop seeing other women.
Fang Yuezhe first discovered his father’s infidelity by crying at his mother’s grave. He then went to live with his grandfather in the United States until he understood matters between men and women, which helped him somewhat understand his father, before returning to the country.
Understanding aside, the pain of losing his mother due to Fang Tiancheng was unforgivable. His mother had strongly opposed opening the nightclub, and they had even argued about it. Her warnings went unheeded, and she ultimately paid a terrible price.
Fang Tiancheng also felt guilty towards his son. As Fang Yuezhe said, before the incident with Xia Yuluo, his father had indulged him no matter how extreme his actions were. Yet, this time, for something he didn’t consider extreme at all, he suffered a devastating blow.
Fang Yuezhe went to the hospital to dress his wounds and then went back to make Xia Yuluo cry.
“Are you crazy? Who hurts themselves like this!”
“If I don’t do something drastic, my dad won’t soften.”
“If he still doesn’t relent, are you going to commit suicide in front of him?”
Fang Yuezhe hugged his girlfriend playfully and said: “No way, I love life. Besides, if I die, I’d be leaving you to others, and that would be a loss for me!”
“Anyway, don’t do such stupid things. Your father won’t be moved by force!”
Just as she finished speaking, Fang Yuezhe received a text from his father with six words: Come home for dinner tonight.
Fang Yuzhe received a text from his father, thought for a moment, and called back.
“Dad, are you asking me to come home for dinner?”
“Hmm.” Fang Tiancheng responded reluctantly.
“Then I’ll bring Xia Yuluo back with me.”
Xia Yuluo’s expression immediately stiffened, and presumably so did Fang Tiancheng’s on the other end of the phone.
Mr. Fang couldn’t hold back his anger and burst out: “Don’t think I’m compromising. Your grandfather has come to see you. Either you come back yourself, or don’t come back at all!” The phone beeped and went dead.
“Why are you talking to your father like that?” Xia Yuluo also thought he was going too far.
“Strike while the iron is hot, don’t you understand? If I don’t talk to him this way, he’ll think I’m compromising!”
“Just when he had softened a bit, it’s all ruined!”
“Don’t worry!
” Fang Yuzhe suddenly became confident, “My grandfather is here, we still have a chance.”
Sure enough, not long after his father hung up, another call came through, this time from the home landline.
“Xiao Zhe, your grandfather has come, and you’re not coming home?”
Fang Yuzhe winked at Yuluo, speaking in an intentionally serious voice, “It’s not that I don’t want to come back, it’s that my dad won’t let me.”
“Come back and bring your little friend to meet your grandfather – but we’ve agreed, no being tough with your dad. What kind of son fights with his father like that?”
“What if he hits me or hurts Yuluo?”
The old man laughed on the other end of the phone, “Brat, with your grandfather here, would he dare to lay a hand?”
Fang Yuzhe hung up the phone and spun Xia Yuluo around, making her dizzy – “Help! I’m going to be sick!”
“Yuluo, watch how I handle my dad. I’ll definitely get you into university!”
“Do I still have a chance to go to university?”
“Of course! Absolutely! Whatever university you want, even studying abroad in the US is no problem! Just show how much you love learning tonight, and my grandfather will definitely support you!”
“How can you be so sure?”
The text contains several irrelevant details that don’t contribute to the main plot, particularly descriptions of character interactions and background information that do not directly advance the narrative. Here’s the edited article:
“Because he’s my grandfather, because I know him extremely, extremely well!”
Let’s not talk about that right now. Grandpa just came back, and the whole family should have a reunion dinner, okay?” He then turned to Xia Yuluo, “Yuluo, don’t be shy. After dinner, we’ll have a private chat.”
“Are you advising separation or reconciliation?” Fang Yuzhe asked anxiously.
“No matter what I advise, this is your fault, and I’ll settle the score with you later!”
The dinner was a simple home-cooked meal. It was cramped, and Xia Yuluo accidentally knocked over the soup bowl, soaking her top and dress.
“It’s okay, I’ll help you change,” Fang Yuzhe comforted her, wiped her clean with a tissue, and then led her upstairs.
“Wait a moment, I know something you can wear,” Fang Yuzhe looked at Xia Yuluo wearing his shirt and suddenly remembered a suitable outfit.
While they were changing upstairs, Fang Tiancheng complained to his father-in-law, “Old man, you’re not keeping your word. Didn’t you say you’d help me educate Xiao Zhe?”
“I did educate him. Didn’t I say it was his fault?” Yu Yexiong played dumb.
“You call that education?” Fang Tiancheng muttered under his breath.
“Don’t just blame the child. You’re not right either. The college entrance exam is such a big deal that determines an ordinary person’s fate. How could you so casually ruin it?”
“Dad, look, does she care? She now understands that catching your grandson is much more beneficial than getting into college!”
Fang Tiancheng was convinced that Xia Yuluo was a manipulative expert, resenting that Yu Yexiong couldn’t see through this young girl’s true nature.
“I think the young girl is quite innocent. She’s a year younger than Xiao Zhe. What schemes could she have?”
Fang Tiancheng shook his head, knowing that no matter what he said, this old man was blinded by appearances.
“You’re the one who’s not simple, so you see complexity in everyone! Even if she has some schemes, isn’t your son not a fool?”
