“Lian Cheng!”
Lian Qingfu’s earlobes flushed crimson with humiliation.
Chen Xingjian being willing to accompany Lian Que over today made it abundantly clear that he intended to protect Lian Que.
If Lian Que had come alone today and Lian Cheng was feeling out of sorts, shouting a couple of insults wouldn’t have mattered. But to curse right to their faces like this wasn’t that directly slapping Chen Xingjian across the face?
Lian Que wasn’t particularly angry at being pointed at and cursed like that; he simply lifted his eyes to look at Lian Qingfu.
As for how the label of an illegitimate child had been pinned onto him in the first place, Lian Qingfu should know better than anyone else.
In an instant, the expressions of the people at the dining table shifted differently. Even Li Fangya, sitting at the table, couldn’t think of a way to smooth things over.
“Climbing onto a high branch?” A deep, low vocal tone suddenly rang out.
Lian Que’s hand was suddenly grasped by Chen Xingjian, whose fingers interlaced through the gaps, firmly caging his knuckles.
Chen Xingjian spoke with pointed implication: “If you want to learn how to climb a high branch like other people, you at least need a high branch available to climb.”
Fine beads of sweat seeped across Lian Qingfu’s forehead, leaving him flustered and at a loss: “President Chen, children just bicker and squabble a bit, please don’t take it to heart. Lian Cheng has simply been spoiled rotten by the family; what he says doesn’t make any sense.”
Just moments ago, the few of them had been arguing and bickering for so long that the dishes on the table were either cold or shattered, and shards of broken porcelain from the earlier splashing were scattered across the tabletop.
Lian Xingjian raised a hand to press against his stomach and massage the area, then stood up: “This meal hasn’t been peaceful at all. Director Lian, let’s call off the cooperation matters you brought up previously.”
“President Chen, President Chen? Please give us another chance. My son, a full-grown man, has already been married off to your place—you at least have to give me some face.”
“President Chen, we can renegotiate the specific terms. Won’t you stay just a little longer?”
Lian Qingfu chased after Chen Xingjian in a hurried jog, frantically trying to persuade him to stay.
As Lian Que walked along, he suddenly felt a glaring, dazzling glare pierce from behind him, hot enough to practically scorch straight through his back.
“Lian Que, wait up a minute. As your old man, I still have a few words of advice to give you.”
At this point, Lian Que figured he couldn’t keep playing dumb any longer. He halted in his tracks and turned around.
Lian Qingfu hurried over, bracing his arms against his knees as he panted heavily in huge breaths.
“What do you have to say to me?”
Lian Qingfu caught up, flashing an ingratiating smile toward Chen Xingjian: “President Chen, would you mind stepping aside for a moment?”
Chen Xingjian glanced at Lian Que, then got into the car first.
Lian Que was led some distance away by Lian Qingfu, arriving at a small corner beside the house.
“Xiaojue, all these years Dad has always been busy with work and simply hasn’t had the time to take care of you. You’ve suffered.”
Lian Que wrinkled his nose in disgust. Eighty percent of the hardships he had suffered in his life had a direct connection to the Lian family, and the remaining twenty percent had an indirect connection.
Without the Lian family and without Lian Qingfu, where on earth would he have found so many hardships to endure?
“Spare me the emotional blackmail. If you have something to say, spit it out.”
The moment Lian Que opened his mouth, he shoved Lian Qingfu’s unspoken words right back down his throat.
Choked up for a second, Lian Qingfu forced an awkward smile: “Well, as your old man, I won’t hide it from you. There’s a partnership with the Chen Group coming up, and Dad really wants to secure it. See if you can put in a good word or two beside Chen Xingjian…”
Lian Que appraised Lian Qingfu’s greedy, profit-obsessed face and scoffed, “Put in a good word? Chen Xingjian treats me like a little pet bird to play with what kind of say could an illegitimate child like me possibly have beside him? Are you out of your mind dreaming about money?”
“Xiaojue, don’t speak too early! Regardless of whether you’re an illegitimate child, aren’t you still my second son in name? If the Lian family does well, you’ll stand a bit taller and speak with more backbone in front of Chen Xingjian, won’t you?” Lian Qingfu tried to persuade him with earnest, well-meaning words, having even mapped out how many times a week Chen Xingjian would come visit the family in the future.
The spot where the two of them stood happened to be a wind tunnel, and the cold gale blew straight down onto the top of Lian Que’s head, chilling him from scalp to soles after only a short moment.
Lian Que raised his eyes to look at Lian Qingfu, a wicked, vicious smile playing on his lips: “If you really want me to hold my head high in front of Chen Xingjian, why don’t you go tell everyone the truth about who the real illegitimate child is? Go on, say it!”
“I’m long past that little kid who used to shrink up in the utility room waiting for you to throw him a bone. Back then, you coaxed me into accepting the label of an illegitimate child and now you want to use the exact same trick against me again?”
“Lian Qingfu, you really take me for an idiot.”
Lian Que dropped that chilling final sentence and turned to walk away.
A chaotic flurry of footsteps suddenly sounded from behind, mixed with the rushing sound of wind somehow sounding vaguely familiar, as if he had run into it before back in the Lian household.
Lian Que whipped his head around. A contorted face suddenly appeared right before his eyes, wielding a wooden club as thick as a grown man’s arm, cleaving straight down toward the top of his head.
Lian Que’s pupils constricted to pinpricks. He raised his arm to block, but he was a beat too slow.
A wave of intense, blinding pain erupted from his forehead. Warm, wet liquid streamed down his brow, seeping into his eye sockets until his entire field of vision turned a wash of crimson red.
Lian Que felt his consciousness gradually drifting into a haze. His steps turned weak and soft, his body losing all control as he collapsed backward.
In the very last second before plunging into darkness, he seemed to hear the commotion of Chen Xingjian leaping out of the car and rushing toward his side, shouting his name at the top of his lungs.