When Fu Hengzhi spoke, everyone's faces darkened. Today was Old Master Fu's 80th birthday, and they wanted the birthday celebrant to apologize...
As expected, Fu Xiong's face turned ashen upon hearing this, and he roared, "You want me to apologize?!"
Liu Yuelian frowned, displeased with her grandson's words. "Xiao Heng, today is your grandfather's birthday, and there's no such thing as an elder apologizing to a younger generation."
Li Rong and Fu Fengjie exchanged worried glances, and the latter said, "We're all family, and your grandfather is just worried... Xiao Heng, you need to be considerate of your elders."
Fu Shuiling didn't speak, but glanced at Zhou Zhou, who was standing there silently, using gestures to coax the child. She turned her head slightly, her expression revealing smugness.
Duan Yun didn't know what to say, because she knew Fu Xiong wouldn't bow down to a junior for this, but she also didn't know how to persuade Zhou Zhou...
In the silence, Fu Hengzhi held Zhou Zhou's hand tightly.
"No need," Zhou Zhou said, breaking the silence. He looked up, glanced at the family, and said calmly, "No need to apologize."
◎Author's Note:
Zhou Zhou: My mind is in turmoil.
Fu Xiaofan: [I dare not speak].JPG
Chapter 117 An Ordinary Little Darling
"Xiao Zhou..." Duan Yun didn't want to wrong him, but the chances of getting the old man to apologize were too slim. Overwhelmed with heartache, she gently patted Zhou Zhou's shoulder, her face full of sorrow, her eyes reddening, and choked out, "It's all Mom's fault..."
I'm sorry you had to suffer.
"Mom," Zhou Zhou called softly, shaking her head without saying anything, but the meaning was clear.
Fu Hengzhi clenched his fists, his eyes meeting those of his grandfather. Fu Xiong breathed heavily; grandfather and grandson were alike, both equally stubborn. The two were locked in a stalemate, and no one else knew how to speak.
Fu Hengzhi's clenched fist was gently enveloped. He glanced at Zhou Zhou, who had a calm expression, and the latter opened his mouth silently at him.
never mind.
Fu Hengzhi grasped the other person's hand in return.
Fu Shuiling watched the interaction between the two, and happened to meet Zhou Zhou's gaze. She proudly raised her chin.
"Hehe." Zhou Zhou suddenly laughed at her, the laughter sounding extremely abrupt in the quiet environment.
"What are you laughing at?" Fu Shuiling frowned, looking at the other person's increasingly bright smile, she felt inexplicably flustered, especially with the other person's face, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
“Aunt, I felt you looked familiar when we met last time, as if we’d met somewhere before.” The laughter stopped abruptly, and Zhou Zhou stared at her quietly, saying each word very seriously, “We’ve met before, haven’t we? At H University.”
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could we have met before? We only met for the first time when you and Xiaoheng got married!"
When Fu Shuiling heard that H University was involved, she quickly explained, her emotions clearly showing a hint of panic. Seeing this, Zhou Zhou became even more certain of his recurring, ancient memories.
“It’s not the first time, Auntie.” Zhou Zhou smiled slightly. “I’m a liberal arts student, and I have a very good memory. I can remember that it was about ten years ago, at H University.”
With the time and place confirmed, only the people involved remained to be announced. Fu Shuiling's pupils suddenly dilated, and her hands, which had been hanging naturally at her sides, gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
Fu Hengzhi didn't know what the other person was talking about, but judging from Fu Shuiling's reaction, he knew that things weren't that simple.
Ten years ago, he was sixteen, Zhou was fifteen, and Fu Shuiling was in her early thirties.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuelian's expression changed drastically, and even Fu Fengjie, who was standing next to her, looked displeased.
"Let's go downstairs and talk. Let your grandfather rest. There are so many people celebrating his birthday today; he hasn't had a break since he got up this morning," Liu Yuelian said hurriedly.
Fu Shuiling followed her mother's words and said, "Yes, let's go downstairs and talk about it. Let your grandfather rest."
This was a reminder of the importance of today's date, and a convenient way to change locations. Zhou Zhou lowered his head slightly, his eyes gleaming, his right thumb rubbing the second knuckle of his index finger, a mocking expression on his face.
I didn't want to bring this up, but he's not the kind of person who swallows his pride and suffers in silence. Having a good temper doesn't mean he can tolerate things again and again.
Fu Xiong's tightly furrowed brows hadn't eased since earlier. He was puzzled by Zhou Zhou's sudden recollection of the past, but it was better than all the nonsense that had happened before. Rubbing his temples, he glanced at the conspicuous red mark on the other's fair skin. Perhaps feeling guilty, he waved his hand and said, "No need to go down. Let's talk here."
Upon hearing this, the three men's expressions turned even uglier. Fu Xiong was old but not senile, which made him even more suspicious. He then remembered ten years ago and said in a deep voice, "Ten years ago, weren't you still abroad? You stayed for five or six years. We told you to come home, but you didn't. What were you doing at H University?"
“I had something to do at the time, so I came back for a few days…” Fu Shuiling suddenly stopped and shut her mouth.
What do you mean by "something's wrong"? Even if something's wrong, you can't go back to the country, you don't even go home or see your parents. Her answer not only failed to dispel Fu Xiong's doubts, but instead added fuel to the fire.
But that was ten years ago. Fu Xiong glanced at Liu Yuelian, who didn't speak. Fu Fengjie also remained silent, while turning his gaze to Zhou Zhou.
"Make things clear. What happened at H University ten years ago? Stop being mysterious and just say it all at once."
"..." Zhou Zhou's eyes were looking somewhere, but he could see out of the corner of his eye that Fu Shuiling was looking at him with an almost pleading look.
"Xiaowen, take Xiaofan out and close the door." Zhou Zhou didn't finish speaking as Fu Xiong asked right away. Instead, she handed the obedient Fu Xiaofan to Fu Wen. Fu Wen felt that what had happened today was too complicated and not suitable for her to be present. She had long since given up on getting involved, so this opportunity was just right.
"Okay, sister-in-law."
The study door clicked shut, and Zhou Zhou continued.
"Ten years ago, in the teachers' lounge of H University's teaching building, I wonder if my aunt still remembers it?" Zhou Zhou's face darkened slightly, and he looked troubled. "It's impossible for her to forget. Even I, as a witness, have a deep impression of it. You, as the person involved, should know very well."
Ten years ago, Zhou Hongping and Yang Peixue were both professors at H University, one in the Department of Literature and the other in the Department of History. They would often visit the university together, occasionally bringing their son, who was still in high school, to experience the university culture in advance.
Zhou Hongping has a refined appearance and is gentle and polite in his dealings with others. His lectures are lively and interesting, and he is deeply loved by his students. Even though he has a family, some people still have other intentions.
In fact, Zhou Zhou had met Fu Shuiling many times at H University, but when he explained, he specifically chose the one that left the deepest impression on him.
After finishing her explanation, she added, "Is this why my aunt is targeting me?"
'Bang!'
"You bastard! Is this how I taught you?!"
The pen holder on the desk was thrown and hit Fu Shuiling's arm. The pain made her cry out, but she saw that her father was about to slap her again.
"Old man, don't hit her! Shui Ling was just being immature back then!"
"Bullshit! You're over thirty and still so immature! You all knew about this, didn't you! You all kept it from me!"
The study was in chaos. Fu Hengzhi was still reeling from the story Zhou Zhou had just told. Duan Yun hurriedly went up to persuade her father-in-law, but after taking a few steps, she turned to her daughter-in-law, who was bowing her head and remaining silent, and her son, who was still processing the events.
"Why don't you go downstairs first... or leave early... Ugh, what a mess this is all about."
Fu Hengzhi realized what was happening, ignoring Fu Shuiling who was crying her eyes out, and took his wife's hand to walk outside. When they opened the door, Fu Wen was still leaning against it, while Fu Xiaofan stood beside her with wide eyes, looking at his fathers who were walking out side by side.
"Brother..." Fu Wen had heard everything she was supposed to hear, but she never expected that her strong-willed aunt would actually have gone out of her way to become a mistress who broke up other people's families.
"Go downstairs, don't get involved in this upstairs." Fu Hengzhi waved him away.
"Daddy, let's go home." Fu Xiaofan hugged Zhou Zhou's leg, looked up and said in a childish voice, with a hint of sadness in his tone.
"Aren't you going to stay here any longer?" Zhou Zhou picked him up.
Fu Xiaofan shook her head and buried her face in the other person's neck, "They don't like Dad... I don't like them anymore either."
“I, I, I, Aunt Xiaofan likes you, you can’t not like Aunt Xiaofan!” Fu Wen hurriedly asserted her presence.
“Then Auntie can come and see Xiaofan whenever she misses her, and so can Grandpa and Grandma…” Fu Xiaofan hugged Zhou Zhou’s neck and looked at her.
"Okay." Fu Wen suddenly felt that her four-year-old nephew was inexplicably mature. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a lingering worry in his eyes.
Fu Hengzhi greeted everyone in the study, then drove away from the Fu family's old residence with his son and wife.
As the car drove slowly, Fu Heng looked up several times a minute to check on his wife through the rearview mirror. She hadn't said a word since getting in the car, only his son's occasional childish words of comfort.
"What's this all about...?"
"What?" the other person suddenly muttered, but Fu Hengzhi didn't hear it clearly.
Zhou Zhou ignored his questions, leaned back in her chair, pressed her right arm against her face to cover her eyes, and continued to mutter a lot.
Fu Hengzhi tried hard to listen, but in the end he could only make out the last sentence.
"Why did you hide it from me...?"
The car suddenly stopped on the side of the road.
[Author's Note]:
Zhou Zhou: Suddenly I realized that I was just an ordinary, pitiful little thing.
Zhou Zhou's parents have a very good relationship. The impact of that incident ten years ago was nothing more than Zhou's father sleeping in the study for a month, hahaha.
Fu Shuiling: Professor Zhou, I...
Zhou Hongping: Don't come any closer!
Chapter 118 Fu Xiaofan Nobody Knows Me
Chapter 118 Fu Xiaofan: Nobody knows me...
What's meant to happen will happen. Fu Hengzhi received a call from Dr. Bai, who said that his aunt had taken away the first test result, which was incorrect.
Coincidentally, the company's upper management was making decisions about the losses of the subsidiary at that time. Fu Hengzhi simply took advantage of the situation and wanted to use this incident to take away the 20% of shares held by his aunt. The Fu Group had quite a few shareholders, and when his uncle went abroad to focus on research, most of his shares were allocated to his younger sister, Fu Shuiling. Fu Shuiling's shareholding ratio was too large.
He instructed Dr. Bai to cooperate with Fu Shuiling on one hand, and to report Fu Shuiling's movements to him on the other hand, but he forgot to tell Zhou Zhou about this.
He did it on purpose; he didn't want the other person to get involved in the company's affairs, big and small, which would only cause them worry and trouble. The other person should focus their energy on their favorite industry.
"Does it still hurt? I'm sorry..." Fu Hengzhi reached out to touch the scar on the other's nose. He didn't expect his grandfather to take action directly. He thought his aunt was targeting Zhou Zhou just because he was a man, but he didn't expect that there would be grudges between the elders.
Fu Shuiling embellished her words without revealing any details.
Unfortunately, he couldn't confront his elders directly, especially Fu Xiong and Liu Yuelian, who were both elderly.
"Grandpa and Grandma will probably be staying with Mom and Dad for a while... If you don't want to, we won't go back to the old house for a while."
"...Fu Hengzhi, as I said before, I hope you will let me know before doing anything." Zhou Zhou felt the other's fingertips gently caressing his wound, and the grievance in his heart intensified. He rarely felt like this. A ball of anger, with nowhere to vent, gathered in his heart and could not be dispelled.
"That's how it was with the blind date last time, and now you and Dr. Bai have teamed up to trick everyone again with this paternity test." Zhou Zhou brushed aside...
His hand, looking at him, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"No, I swear." Fu Hengzhi didn't care about losing face in front of his son; appeasing his wife was the most important thing right now.
"Heh, you seemed to have said the same thing last time." Zhou Zhou smiled insincerely. "A man's words are deceitful."
After speaking, he looked straight ahead, not giving the other person a single glance.
Fu Hengzhi's palms were sweating profusely. He gave his son, who was sitting in Zhou Zhou's arms, a wink. Fu Xiaofan immediately understood what he meant.
Then close your eyes and pretend to be asleep.
I'm sorry, Daddy, I'm also afraid of my dad.
“Wife…” Usually when Zhou Zhou was angry, Fu Hengzhi would at most sleep in the spare bedroom. The two of them would have a good talk and a deep conversation. Now, what kind of situation is it for her to turn her head away and ignore him?