Chi Mingzhou’s hand slowly slid down to rest on Feng Mian’s fragile neck. His rough palm caressed that patch of fair skin, as if he might snap it in two at any moment.
Feng Mian’s body couldn’t help but tremble slightly, and his eyes held a complex mix of emotions as he looked at Chi Mingzhou.
Knock, knock, knock.
A hurried knocking sounded at the door, followed by a servant’s impatient voice from outside: “Feng Mian, lunch is ready.”
Feng Mian was not treated as a guest here, and he had gradually grown accustomed to a life of cold shoulders and disdain.
Chi Mingzhou let go, turned, and left the bedroom, feigning indifference.
The bedroom door creaked open, and the servant outside, seeing Chi Mingzhou walk out, was struck speechless. The impatient expression on the servant’s face froze, and they stared blankly at Chi Mingzhou as he emerged from Feng Mian’s room.
Second Master… How could the Second Master…?
The servant stuttered, “You… Second Master…”
Chi Mingzhou swept a cold glance over them, offered no explanation, and turned to head downstairs.
Feng Mian came out, his face deathly pale, and met the servant’s inquisitive gaze head-on.
The servant looked him up and down, as if about to ask something, but before they could speak, Feng Mian lowered his head and walked away.
In the dining room downstairs, a large table was already full. The Old Master sat at the head. Chi Mingzhou and Feng Mian arrived late; Chi Mingzhou took a seat next to the Old Master, while Feng Mian found an empty spot and sat down, trying to minimize his presence.
As everyone exchanged pleasantries, he felt like a transparent ghost, completely out of place in such a happy, harmonious family. Feng Mian had long been used to being ignored, so his heart felt no great turbulence. Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard his own name. He quickly came back to himself and looked up at the speaker.
Seeing him look up, the Old Master cleared his throat, his tone sounding like he was granting a favor: “About that child from the Feng family—our house has agreed to the marriage alliance you all proposed. You and A-Chen should get to know each other well; we will finalize the arrangements with the Feng family in a few days.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Chi Chen, who was in the middle of eating, froze. His voice rose involuntarily as he shouted, “What?!”
Chi Yunsheng also stopped his chopsticks, looking at the Old Master with a sickly complexion.
The Old Master lifted his eyelids to look at the suddenly vocal Chi Chen and said coolly, “Is there a problem? If you weren’t satisfied, you wouldn’t have kept him here or let him live under the same roof as you. Since you are mutually attracted, you should get the matter settled quickly.”
Chi Chen looked nervously at Gu Ziheng, only to see that Gu Ziheng had also stopped eating and was regarding him with an inscrutable expression.
Chi Chen’s scalp went numb. Without a second thought, he blurted out, “He’s an illegitimate child with nothing to his name how is he worthy of a marriage alliance with me?!”
The Old Master frowned in displeasure. He glanced at the calm-faced Chi Mingzhou beside him, and only then did he relax. He stood up from his chair and sternly ordered Chi Chen, “Get up to the study with me right now!”
Chi Chen gritted his teeth, rose, and followed the Old Master away.
The Old Madam didn’t look too happy either. She curled the corner of her mouth and said to Gu Ziheng, “Please excuse this spectacle, Ziheng.”
Gu Ziheng slowly collected his thoughts, gave the Old Madam a faint smile, and said nothing.
Once Chi Chen followed the Old Master into the study, he immediately said anxiously, “Grandfather, how could you say that in front of Ziheng? You all supported me being with Ziheng. Today, I saw that his attitude toward me had clearly softened. Besides, even if I wasn’t with Ziheng, I should be with a noble family’s daughter who has prestige and looks the part, not a man who is useless, a barren illegitimate child!”
Though he lusted after Feng Mian’s body, he looked down on Feng Mian in every other regard.
The Old Master picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and looked at him calmly. “It is true that Feng Mian is an illegitimate child, but he is not useless. I looked into him; when he was working under Gu Ziheng, his professional competence was very high. He will be an asset to you in the future. Our indulgence of you is one thing, but the Gu family has only one heir in Ziheng, and whether the Gu family would agree is another. Furthermore, Ziheng hasn’t had a partner in all these years. You don’t even know if he likes men or women; his future is too uncertain, and it is not worth wasting any more time on him.”
Chi Chen felt like he had been doused in cold water, his heart full of extreme dissatisfaction.
Clearly, the Old Master’s attitude hadn’t been like this when Ziheng arrived this morning. Why was it suddenly…
He recalled something, and his expression stiffened. He looked at the Old Master sitting not far away with a strange gaze and said slowly, “Grandfather… this was Uncle’s idea, wasn’t it?”
The Old Master lowered his eyes, masking the strange glint beneath them, and said slowly, “No.”
Even though he said that, Chi Chen was no longer a child. Once he realized what was happening, his disbelief grew, and his voice rose higher. “Grandfather! I am your grandson, and my father is your son. How could you be so biased?!”
How could you… how could you ruin my future just to favor Uncle?!
His father had been counting on the marriage alliance with the Gu family to turn things around. In the past, his grandfather had always tacitly approved of such things, but ever since his uncle returned, everything had changed!
Their branch was being completely suppressed, and soon they would have to watch power consolidate entirely under his uncle!
A sense of fury swirled in his chest, so stifling he felt like he had to vent it!
Hearing his words, the Old Master slowly raised his head and looked at him with cool indifference, not denying the accusation.
Indeed, the one who proposed it was Chi Mingzhou. He had always felt guilty toward that child, and he had agreed to this proposal without a moment’s hesitation. To put Chi Mingzhou at ease, he had even announced it during the family banquet right in front of Gu Ziheng, cutting off all of Chi Chen’s delusions and taking the blame upon himself, acting as the villain.
Facing Chi Chen’s questioning, he remained unmoved, saying unhurriedly, “You only hold the position of General Manager because your last name is Chi. Given your capability, what right do you have to make demands of me?”
“You can easily find out about Feng Mian’s affairs. In fact, you aren’t even as competent as the illegitimate child you look down upon. Setting aside immediate benefits, this child will be useful to you in the future.”
His words choked all of Chi Chen’s protests. Chi Chen’s hands at his sides clenched into tight fists, and he looked down, silent.
The Old Master said slowly, “The group is not yours, nor is it mine it belongs to the entire Chi family, and it is the foundation upon which we stand. Having enjoyed the superiority brought by the Chi family, you are obligated to pay for it. If you are truly dissatisfied, then step down from the position of General Manager and try to advance step by step based purely on your own merit. I want to see exactly how far you can get in a company full of talented people.”
Chi Chen had nothing left to say. The Old Master closed his eyes wearily. “Get out.”
Chi Chen lowered his head, his voice heavy. “…Yes.”
He retreated quietly from the study and happened to bump into Feng Mian, who was heading upstairs.
His eyes narrowed, and a strange light flickered within them.
He could only vent his dissatisfaction on Feng Mian.
The Chi family agreed to the marriage; this guy must be overjoyed, right?
His grandfather said Feng Mian would be useful to him; he wanted to see exactly how useful this guy was in bed…
His gaze was too naked. Feng Mian couldn’t help but feel a chill. He took a step back and asked guardedly, “What… what are you doing?”