Chapter 108: Huo Chen Returns to the Huo Family
After Huo Chengzhang finished establishing his authority, Li Meiqing followed suit immediately.
“Your father is right! Look at how obedient you used to be. Ever since you met that person named Lin, you’ve done nothing but defy your parents and get yourself kicked out of the Huo Group. Not a single good thing has happened!”
She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
“I might have been a bit strict with you, but it was all for your own good! If it weren’t for that strictness during your childhood, how could you have achieved what you have today? You need to learn gratitude. Donât be an ungrateful white-eyed wolf like that Lin person!”
She sat down beside Huo Chengzhang.
The two of them sat side-by-side, staring at Huo Chen like judges presiding over a criminalâs trial.
“Now that youâre back, first, restore the credit cards for your father and me. Then, issue a public statement and an apology. After that, your father and I will find a way to get you back into the Huo Group.”
From start to finish, every word was a critique. Not a single syllable expressed concern for Huo Chen.
The tall man stood in the living room, eventually letting out a cold laugh. The last tiny spark of hope he held for his parents was completely extinguished.
Huo Chen walked straight to the sofa and sat down.
This action clearly provoked Huo Chengzhang, who slammed his teacup onto the coffee table and bellowed, “Presumptuous! I didn’t tell you to sit, so how dare you sit! You have no manners at all! Stand up!”
Huo Chen didn’t move.
He crossed his legs and spread his arms across the back of the sofa, exuding the natural aura of a man in power. “Zhang Qiangâs little stunt… you two were the ones behind it.”
It wasn’t a question.
It was an assertion.
Huo Chengzhang remained silent, but Li Meiqing, acting like a cornered dog jumping over a wall, lunged forward and slapped Huo Chen hard across the face. Her long, sharp nails left a bloody scratch on the manâs cheek.
“How dare you!”
“Did you come back just to interrogate your father and me? You donât care about your parents at all! Is this your idea of filial piety?”
Huo Chen didn’t move. There were no extra emotions in his eyes; he was no longer that child who longed for his parents’ love. He simply looked at the two people called his “parents” coldly, as if looking at two strangers.
“Lin Huaizhi and I will not break up. You donât need to waste your energy.”
Before they could speak, Huo Chen continued, “I didn’t come here today to return to the Huo Group. I came to discuss a business deal with you.”
Huo Chengzhang threw his teacup directly at Huo Chenâs head.
“Doing business with your own parents! Youâve completely lost your mind, haven’t you!”
Fortunately, the tea wasn’t scalding, but the corner of Huo Chenâs forehead was cut and bleeding. The man gracefully brushed the tea leaves off his head and face. From beginning to end, he didn’t show a hint of sadness.
“You gave me life and raised me. Iâll consider this beating and smashing as my way of paying you back. But let me be clear: I have already repaid the money you spent on me a thousand times over throughout the years. I will not return to the Huo Group. Your combined shares amount to twenty-six percent, but the dividends alone won’t satisfy your spending habits.”
“Moreover, the Huo Group is currently a mess. Forget about growing stronger; itâs hard to say if it can even maintain its current state.”
“If you want me to continue giving you money, then stop interfering in my relationship with Lin Huaizhi and stop targeting him. Otherwise, I will only pay the basic monthly alimony required by law.”
“Consider it carefully yourselves.”
Li Meiqing exploded upon hearing this, pointing at Huo Chen and cursing loudly, “Youâve truly rebelled! How did I give birth to a creature like you! Instead of letting you threaten me here, I should have strangled you to death back then!!”
Huo Chenâs expression remained unchanged.
Huo Chengzhang had managed the Huo Group for a while, after all. Even if his abilities weren’t top-tier, his IQ was at least functional.
Seeing Huo Chenâs unyielding expression, he realized the severity of the situation. With a dark face, he asked, “Are you really going to give up your parents for a man?”
Huo Chen countered, “Wasn’t it you two who gave up on me first?”
Huo Chengzhangâs face stiffened. “Nonsense! When have your mother and I ever given up on you!”
Huo Chen looked at him. “If ‘not giving up’ in your dictionary means oppressive education, random beatings, trashing my self-esteem, destroying my freedom, and making me a puppet… then indeed, you never gave up.”
Li Meiqing began to wail and sob.
“A white-eyed wolf! An ungrateful wolf! We were strict with you to cultivate you! To train you! I didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful! How can you be so selfish and cold-blooded!!”
Huo Chen found it laughable.
And he actually did laughâa mocking, derisive sound. “I am a machine. Whatever you gave me is what I am feeding back to you.”
“You are asking for things you never gave me. I canât do it.”
“Itâs impossible.”
Thinking perhaps of Lin Huaizhiâs confession to him, Huo Chen didn’t plan on ever stepping foot in this place again, so he decided to be completely honest with the two people in front of him.
“The moment I walked in, all you gave me were insults and curses.” He pointed to his bleeding cheek and forehead. “I am bleeding, yet you haven’t shown a shred of concern. You only care about venting your dissatisfaction.”
“It has been this way since I was a child.”
“I am indeed selfish and cold-blooded, but isn’t that what you taught me?”
That final question was thunderous. Both Li Meiqing and Huo Chengzhang were momentarily stunned into silence. But people often find it difficult to recognize their own faults.
Parents believe that because they gave birth to a child, they have the right to dictate that childâs choices and life.
Freedom?
That was an impossibility.
They viewed their child as an accessory, something they could mold or crush as they pleased.
Just like Huo Chen.
Li Meiqing continued her screaming curses, and Huo Chengzhang was panting with rage. After a long time, their throats were dry from shouting, but Huo Chen still showed no reaction.
Huo Chengzhang looked at the indifferent man and finally realized that everything had spiraled out of control. The Huo Chen before him was no longer the child they could manipulate at will.
After a long silence.
Huo Chengzhang finally relented.
This time, his voice lacked its previous calm authority, sounding instead like the breath of someone nearing the end of their days.
“Fine.”
Li Meiqingâs voice stopped abruptly. She turned to Huo Chengzhang, grabbing his arm. “What did you say? What do you mean ‘fine’? How can you agree to his demands!”
Huo Chengzhang was beyond annoyed with Li Meiqing and eventually slapped her across the face.
“Shut up!”
“Huo Chen has already made up his mind! Either we leave him and Lin Huaizhi alone, or we have no money to spend! You tell me what to do! If you hadn’t treated him like that when he was little, would he have turned out like this now!”
“This is all your fault, Li Meiqing!”
Translator’s Note: The term “White-eyed wolf” (ç˝çźçź – bĂĄi yÇn lĂĄng) is a very common Chinese idiom for someone who is ungrateful or cold-hearted. It’s ironic coming from his parents, isn’t it? Also, Huo Chen mentions “Alimony/Maintenance” (č´é¤č˛ť – shĂ n yÇng fèi), which in China is a legal obligation for children to support their elderly parentsâheâs basically saying heâll do the legal minimum and nothing more. See you in the next chapter!
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