Meng Ting believed him, but at the same time, he felt even more distressed. Finally, he stopped keeping a slight distance between them and nestled into Yan Sui’s arms, hugging him gently. “I knew it would hurt…”
That impact had been so heavy, the sound so loud. Yan Sui was made of flesh and blood—how could it not hurt?
Yan Sui pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond. He stroked Meng Ting’s back, feeling both helpless and incredibly warm inside.
***
Meanwhile, back at the Yan family in F Country, Yu Meixuan was having a difficult day. The previous day, they had held a conversation similar to the one at the Xiao residence. Yan Zhengbo had recorded his discussion with Yu Meixuan and played it for Yan Mu, hoping to make him understand just how malicious and terrifying the woman by his side truly was.
Not only had she sold off her own child, but she had also sold the Xiao family’s youngest son, who had fallen on hard times in Haicheng. Moreover, all these years, she had never felt a shred of guilt, never once thought to make amends for the child she had sold away.
However, Yu Meixuan’s cunning was no less than Wei Xiaoyu’s in the past. Before Yan Mu was summoned by Yan Zhengbo, she had already prepped Yan Mu in advance. She brought up the Meng family, and of her birth mother and father. Yan Mu not only didn’t think Yu Meixuan was in the wrong, but even felt she was pitiful and brave.
Today, when Yan Zhengbo called Yan Mu over again, it was to demand a decision from him. The Yan family in F Country absolutely could not tolerate a woman like this. Yan Shuya might be innocent, but his mother, Yu Meixuan, could no longer hold the position of the eldest daughter-in-law of the main house.
“Dad, Linda is just a helpless woman. She was merely forced into a corner—circumstances drove her to it. It’s not that her heart is truly wicked. She raised Shuya, single-handedly and endured so much hardship. How can you dismiss all her goodness just because of a single word from the Xiao family?”
Yan Zhengbo looked at Yan Mu for a long time without saying a word. But when he finally spoke, his words shocked Yan Mu.
“Now you have only two choices. First, divorce that woman. Second, leave the Yan family with her!”
That Yan Mu could still see any goodness in a woman like Yu Meixuan—Yan Zhengbo was truly utterly disappointed in him.
As if afraid Yan Mu didn’t understand what ‘leave’ meant, Yan Zhengbo explained further, “From then on, you will sever all ties with the Yan family. You will no longer be my son, Yan Zhengbo’s, nor the eldest son of the Yan family in F Country!”
He would lose not only his right to inherit as the family patriarch but also any claim to the Yan family’s assets. If Yan Mu was willing to go this far for Yu Meixuan, then Yan Zhengbo would let him have his way. He would shoulder the Xiao family’s grievances himself.
Yan Zhengbo watched the stunned Yan Mu but didn’t speak further. His expression remained unchanged—more intimidating than any mockery or scorn. It showed that Yan Zhengbo’s words were deadly serious, no empty threat. Once Yan Mu made his choice, Yan Zhengbo would act exactly as he had said.
“I…” Yan Mu stared at Yan Zhengbo, hardly able to believe these were his father’s words to him.
“You must choose. I’ll give you half an hour to decide—right here in this study!”
Yan Zhengbo wouldn’t allow Yan Mu to leave and consult Yu Meixuan again. But what had driven him to this decision was that before summoning Yan Mu, he had also contacted Yan Sui. It was Yan Sui’s opinion that had led to Yan Zhengbo’s current resolute stance. The time he could protect Yan Mu was running out.
In his youth, Yan Mu had been truly rebellious—so much so that no matter what Yan Zhengbo said, he would do the opposite. After turning thirty, he had improved somewhat, understanding Yan Zhengbo’s burdens of being a family patriarch. But now, that rebellious streak was ignited once more.
“I choose… the second option. I’ve already wronged—”
“Enough. Get out!” Yan Zhengbo had no desire to hear his son, who had betrayed him and the family, express deep affection for the woman who had brought ruin.
His gaze toward Yan Mu finally shifted, but the change only made Yan Mu feel even worse—not out of any sympathy for Yan Zhengbo, but from anger. Yan Zhengbo would always be disappointed in him, no matter what he did. That look would never change.
“Fine. It’s not like you lack sons or grandsons. I’ll take Linda and Shuya and leave now!”
Yan Zhengbo watched Yan Mu storm out and slam the door behind him. The disappointment on his face faded as he composed himself. After a moment, he called the housekeeper. While Yan Mu was willing to leave, Yu Meixuan and Yan Shuya might not be so compliant. But regardless of who resisted or who pleaded for leniency, he was determined to expel the entire eldest house of the family from the household.
This outcome was completely beyond Yu Meixuan’s expectations. She never imagined Yan Zhengbo could be so ruthless—after all, this was his eldest son! How could he just cast him out like this?
“Brother Mu, please go back and tell Dad you’ve changed your mind. I… I’m not worth you sacrificing so much for me.”
Yu Meixuan spoke to Yan Mu with panic in her eyes, but her distress only strengthened Yan Mu’s resolve. He grasped Yu Meixuan’s hand and said very solemnly, “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you.”
Yu Meixuan and Yan Mu looked at each other, her heart racing—not from being moved by him, but from sheer anxiety. Countless thoughts clashed violently in her mind before she finally nodded hesitantly and leaned into Yan Mu’s embrace.
She still couldn’t believe Yan Zhengbo would truly abandon his eldest son. Maybe this was just a test. She couldn’t give up now.
However, what followed shook Yu Meixuan’s conviction even further. The very next day, Yan Zhengbo published a public statement in the newspaper, demanding that all families associated with the Yan family not provide any covert assistance to Yan Mu.
Even more, because they left in such a hurry, they didn’t bring much money with them. Yan Zhengbo hadn’t gone so far as to make them leave the Yan family completely penniless, but the estates and companies under Yan Mu’s name had all been reclaimed.
If they couldn’t find a way to support themselves soon, they wouldn’t be able to afford their five-star hotel stay for much longer.
***
Back at the Yan residence in Haicheng, Xia Country, Meng Ting noticed the slightly odd expression on Yan Sui’s face after he finished a phone call. He studied him carefully for a moment before nestling into Yan Sui’s arms. “Will this really work?”
What Meng Ting wanted to ask was whether Yan Sui’s strategy—pushing Yan Zhengbo to tighten the screws step by step—would truly make Yan Mu see Yu Meixuan clearly.
“Whether it works or not isn’t the point. What matters is that they won’t be able to get close to Uncle. Once Mingya grows stronger in a while, none of their schemes will matter anymore,” Yan Sui explained as he gently stroked Meng Ting’s forehead and cheeks. He had just returned from the lab and was worried the cold might have gotten to him.
“Oh,” Meng Ting nodded. He wasn’t particularly interested in matters over there. After a moment’s thought, he remembered something else he needed to tell Yan Sui. “Mom called me at noon and said Grandpa is going to divide the family.”
That day when Xiao Xuanmin struck Xiao Huimin, he had already violated Old Master Xiao’s taboos. Additionally, the fact that Xiao Zi had been involved with Yu Meixuan also utterly disappointed Old Master Xiao. So, Old Master Xiao decided to directly divide the family. From now on, only Xiao Huimin’s lineage would be considered the main, direct line of the family.
“Mm,” Yan Sui nodded lightly. He truly hadn’t known about this yet. After all, although Old Master Xiao had made the decision in Beicheng, the actual implementation would still take some time, and making it public would also require a process.
However, one thing was certain—the Xiao family in Beicheng was probably still in chaos. That Xiao Xuanmin had been severely provoked, and there was no telling what he might do. As a result, Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin couldn’t come to Haicheng to see Meng Ting for the time being.
Mentioning the affairs over there made Meng Ting recall the scene of Yan Sui getting injured again. He looked up at Yan Sui and added another reminder, “You must not get hurt again in the future.”
“Okay,” Yan Sui nodded, pressing Meng Ting’s head back down before kissing his forehead.
A rare super short chapter.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 086″]
身無分文 (shēn wú fēn wén): penniless (idiom); not have a penny left on one; be flat/stony broke.
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