But the new sister, after dinner, asked Qiu Zimin in a low voice, her voice trembling, "Does big brother not like me? Did I do something to upset him?"
She asked Qiu Zimin quietly, but Lingdang overheard her.
Lingdang said from the side, "No, Aunt Xin, my uncle has always been like that."
Guo Xinran blinked, looking like she was about to cry, "But he's so gentle with Lingdang, only with me... I feel like I did something wrong and upset my brother."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Zimin's face immediately fell, and she went to confront Liang Xinzhou, lecturing him, "Can't you smile? Your sister's return is a joyous occasion, why do you still have this bitter and resentful expression?"
Yu Wan, who was sitting and chatting with Sun Meirou, heard this and couldn't help but defend Liang Xinzhou, saying, "Mom, Xinzhou has always been like this, he doesn't seem to have any deep-seated grudges."
"What do you mean, 'no'?" Qiu Zimin glanced at her. "Why are you protecting him? I was talking to him, not you."
That was a bit infuriating, prompting Liang Xinzhou to immediately retort, "Can't my wife protect me?"
He simply spoke up for Yu Wan, but unexpectedly Qiu Zimin got angry as soon as she heard it, "Yes, yes, you two are so good. Your wife always protects you, so whatever I do is wrong, right?"
“I didn’t say that,” Liang Xinzhou said. “You don’t need to overthink it.”
"I'm overthinking it? Liang Xinzhou, what are you saying? Are you trying to say I wronged you? Anyone can see that your cold face today is just for show." Qiu Zimin continued, bringing up both old and new grievances, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Do you think that driving Xinran away will bring Liang Shi back? Let me tell you, it's impossible!"
Liang Xinzhou frowned. "I didn't say that."
Yu Wan, who was standing to the side, couldn't sit still any longer and said coldly, "Mom, how can you say that? Xin Zhou has never targeted anyone."
"Shut up! I'm talking to Liang Xinzhou," Qiu Zimin said sternly. "You have no right to speak."
Yu Wan was furious. "You can't wrong him like that! He works so hard every day. You don't go to the company, and even Dad can leave Haizhou for three days to bring his daughter back. Nobody is unwelcoming to her. Why do you have to make everyone laugh? Liang Xinzhou didn't even smile much when we took our wedding photos!"
Yu Wan and Sun Meirou are different.
Sun Meirou was gentle and delicate. She always spoke to Qiu Zimin with utmost respect, afraid of upsetting her.
However, Yu Wan's family is quite powerful, and as the only daughter in the family, she has always been busy working in her own company. She has a much stronger personality, and because she doesn't spend much time at home, she doesn't usually have conflicts with Qiu Zimin.
But now, in front of the whole family, Yu Wan couldn't stand Qiu Zimin saying such things about Liang Xinzhou.
The two started arguing, and Sun Meirou even tugged at Yu Wan's sleeve, signaling her to say less.
Qiu Zimin was stunned by Yu Wan's words, but as a mother-in-law, she naturally couldn't lose face in front of so many people.
Qiu Zimin then said sternly, "Shut up! Liang Xinzhou and I are talking, you have no right to speak."
"Mom," Liang Xinzhou stood up, blocking Yu Wan's path, "What do you mean?"
"What do you mean?" Qiu Zimin glared at him. "Are you really going to break ties with your family for Liang Shi? We are your blood relatives."
“No.” Liang Xinzhou looked at her and said calmly, “This has nothing to do with Liang Shi now, and she’s not in this house. I’m just asking you, what did you mean just now?”
Qiu Zimin was taken aback. "Are you questioning me?"
“It was just a simple inquiry.” Liang Xinzhou adopted the demeanor of someone negotiating in the business world. “Why doesn’t Yu Wan have a say? Is it wrong for her to speak up for me? Why are you yelling at her?”
"She's the one meddling," Qiu Zimin said coldly. "And you, why are you keeping such a cold face? Everyone else is happy, but you..."
“Yu Wan just said that,” Liang Xinzhou scoffed. “I didn’t even smile when we took our wedding photos. I’ve lived for over thirty years, and I barely smiled when I married my wife. Why should I smile just because she’s back? Am I a giggler?
The more he spoke, the more off-topic it became, carrying a chilling questioning tone.
Liang Xinhe told Sun Meirou to take Lingdang back to her room, away from this war without gunpowder. But as Lingdang went upstairs, she pouted and said, "It's because Aunt Xin thinks Uncle's cold face means he hates her, but I've already explained."
Lingdang snorted coldly, "That's just how Uncle is. I didn't even say he hates me. Humph."
Sun Meirou immediately covered Lingdang's mouth and carried her upstairs.
Lingdang's words drew everyone's attention to Guo Xinran, but Guo Xinran looked at Qiu Zimin with teary eyes, "Mom, that's not what I meant."
When Qiu Zimin saw her like this, she felt extremely distressed and immediately said, "Mom knows, don't cry."
Qiu Zimin then made Liang Xinzhou and his wife, as well as Guo Xinran, apologize.
The more Liang Xinzhou listened, the more outrageous it seemed. He said coldly, "Do you really think I'm a gigolo?"
Qiu Zimin was furious, but she shifted the blame to Yu Wan, "It's your wife who corrupted you. What kind of 'selling smiles' is that? How can you use such an offensive word when the family is being so harmonious?"
"What does this have to do with Wan?" Liang Xinzhou stood firmly in Yu Wan's defense. "Why don't you say that you went too far? She's coming back, and I'm throwing her a welcome banquet. Do I have to go and coax her? Is that really necessary?"
Just then, Qiu Zimin's phone rang. She answered it, but her finger accidentally touched the speakerphone button, so the voice on the phone was heard by everyone.
The butler said, "Madam, the villa in Repulse Bay has been sold for thirteen million. Could you please check if the money has been deposited into your account? We've already informed Miss San; she'll be here on Sunday..."
Qiu Zimin suddenly panicked and hurriedly hung up the phone.
But everyone has heard what they were supposed to hear.
Repulse Bay?
Isn't that where Liang Shi lived?
Liang Xinzhou was shocked. He asked coldly, "You sold the wedding house that was given to Liang Shi?"
Qiu Zimin was still a little guilty, but when she heard him ask that question, she immediately said unhappily, "Can't I sell my things? It's just a house. If she's so capable, let her buy it herself."
"You..." Liang Xinzhou was speechless with anger, "What...what are you saying?"
Qiu Zimin felt emboldened. "I'll let her buy it herself. Doesn't she feel wronged staying in the Liang family? Doesn't she feel that I haven't treated her well all these years? Then I might as well solidify this bad reputation! I've gone to great lengths to be good to her and coax her, and all I get in return is a bad reputation. So let her go by herself. Anyway, she doesn't want to stay in the Liang family anymore."
"You raised her like that, and now you want her to struggle on her own?" Liang Xinzhou laughed angrily. "What are you thinking? Mom, are you out of your mind...?"
"Smack—"
Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Zimin slapped him across the face, her eyes already red with anger. "Liang Xinzhou, what did you say to me?!"
Liang Xinzhou's glasses were knocked off and landed at Yu Wan's feet.
Yu Wan was taken aback. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, so she could only hold Liang Xinzhou's hand tightly.
A moment later, Yu Wan's voice trembled with anger as she angrily accused, "Look at yourself now, you've been bewitched!"
Qiu Zimin was so angry that she raised her hand to hit Yu Wan, but Liang Xinzhou stopped her arm.
Liang Xinzhou glared at her fiercely and said coldly, "Enough!"
Chapter 82
Of the four children in the Liang family, Liang Xinzhou was the most composed.
As the eldest son, he learned the most from a young age. After his younger siblings were born, he received less attention, but he would still take the initiative to help take care of them.
Liang Xinhe is lively but kind-hearted, and has been mischievous since childhood.
Liang Wanwan, perhaps taking after someone else, has always been introverted and quiet since childhood. She prefers to sit in her room drawing or gazing at the sky alone.
The nanny took her out, but she just sat on the lawn and pulled weeds.
Let's not even mention Liang Shi. He started rebelling in his teens and only recently has he shown signs of improvement.
It's also possible that he changed his mind after learning that he wasn't the Liang family's biological child.
Liang Xinzhou is only three years older than Liang Xinhe, so they grew up together and have a sense of growing up together.
But Liang Shi was different.
When Liang Shi was born, Liang Xinzhou was already old enough to understand things. Liang's father was always busy with work, and Qiu Zimin was sometimes lazy and didn't pay much attention to the child.
So Liang Xinzhou often helped take care of her.
It can be said that Liang Shi was raised by Liang Xinzhou.
Aside from regular school days, Liang Xinzhou was not at home. But on his days off, besides attending extracurricular classes, he would spend time playing with Liang Shi.
Even as a child, Liang Shi was sensible. Like a little bean sprout, he wore a princess braid and a floral dress, and followed Liang Xinzhou in a wobbly manner, calling out in a childish voice, "Big brother, brother."
By the time Liang Wanwan was born, Liang Xinzhou was already in high school and didn't have much time to take care of the child.
Therefore, he and Liang Wanwan were not very close.
Liang Xinhe was alright; he was used to being carefree and didn't care about any of his sisters. He loved them all the same.
I have never shown favoritism.
It was probably his experience of having troublesome younger siblings that led to Liang Xinzhou's precocious development; he almost never went through a rebellious phase.
He had everything planned out clearly, including what to do at each stage, and lived his life step by step.
I went to school, graduated, joined a company, and got married, except for having children, which was a step behind.
The rest can be described as template lives.
So he was never beaten at home.
Liang Xinhe was a naughty child, often playing with a group of troublemakers and gambling. When Qiu Zimin found out, she brought him home, and the couple worked together to educate him.
Liang Xinhe was badly beaten.
Liang Xinzhou was different. He never acted out of line. He always scored very high when choosing a major in the college entrance examination, then discussed with his family which university to attend, which year to do as an exchange student, and which university to apply to for study abroad upon graduation. He was always the one who satisfied his family the most.
In just half a month, Liang Xinzhou was beaten twice because of this incident.
And it was a slap in the face.
His shout startled everyone, even making Liang Wanwan, who was sitting on the sofa, shiver.
Liang Xinhe said timidly, "Big brother..."
I want to offer advice, but I don't know where to begin.
Liang Xinzhou took a deep breath. "This place was originally yours, so let's move out."
"Liang Xinzhou!" Qiu Zimin roared, "What did you say?"
Liang Xinzhou threw her arm down, saying, "I said we're moving out, and you can live with whoever you want."
"And another thing." Liang Xinzhou pulled Yu Wan and turned to leave, but stopped halfway, paused, and added, "Don't say things like you have no right to speak. Yu Wan married me, so she has the right to speak equally with everyone in this family. Have you forgotten the most basic thing you taught me: respect between people?"
After saying that, he pulled Yu Wan upstairs. Only then did Liang's father step in and stop the farce, saying, "What are you all doing? Do you want to turn this family into a complete mess?"
"Liang Xinzhou, what do you mean?" Liang's father said, "Can't we just have some peace and quiet tonight? Why do you have to cause trouble?"
"You didn't take a single word I said to heart," Liang Xinzhou sneered, his icy gaze sweeping over Guo Xinran, who immediately lowered her head.
Liang Xinzhou said coldly, "Then you can go ahead and live your lives. I don't want to be a laughingstock in this house. I'm already exhausted from work, and I don't want to come back and have to face this kind of meaningless socializing. Morality is for restraining oneself, not for advising others."
Afterwards, he took Yu Wan upstairs to pack their things and left the old house that very night.