"You're going to fall out with me over a woman?" Xu Zhengxi's expression grew increasingly displeased. "Do you know how many benefits the Shang family can bring to the company? If you're with Shang Ting, those biotech groups..."
"Is this why you hid your marriage to Zhou Mei from my mother back then?" Liang Yufeng asked mockingly, posing another question that hit Xu Zhengxi where it hurt.
Xu Zhengxi and Jiang Wan were university classmates. They had been in a campus relationship for many years, but Jiang Wan came from an ordinary working-class family and was not a suitable match for Xu Zhengxi. At that time, Xinhe was still in its development phase, and a strategic marriage could help the group grow. Caught between profit and affection, Xu Zhengxi did not hesitate to choose the former.
Not only that, but he had also kept it a secret from Jiang Wan. Jiang Wan was not in Nanjiang City at the time. After Xu Zhengxi and Zhou Mei registered their marriage, the wedding ceremony was held more than half a year later. In an era when the media was not as developed, Jiang Wan was completely unaware of this. It wasn't until Xu Zhengxi and Zhou Mei officially held their wedding that Jiang Wan learned that the man she had loved for years had already registered his marriage with someone else for over half a year.
Moreover, when they married, Zhou Mei was already over five months pregnant. Jiang Wan was so shocked that she fainted. When she woke up, she discovered that she too was pregnant.
As a result, Liang Yufeng was only a little over a month younger than Xu Zhouyue. Every time he thought about it, he felt it was incredibly ironic.
Jiang Wan was severely affected by that incident, but she still gave birth to him. Bearing the stigma and gossip, she gradually fell into a state of depression, which spiraled out of control.
"I wronged her, but that has nothing to do with what we're discussing now!" Xu Zhengxi emphasized to Liang Yufeng. "Men have always prioritized their careers; it's been this way since ancient times."
"Furthermore, do you think that woman you found outside truly cares about you? If you didn't have your current power, would she be with you?" Xu Zhengxi recalled Lan Lan's materialistic demeanor. "Think about it carefully."
"You have two other sons," Liang Yufeng said. "If you need to arrange a marriage, find them. I won't do it."
"Also, don't go looking for her again," Liang Yufeng stated. This was the real reason he had returned to meet Xu Zhengxi. "If there's a next time, don't blame me for not showing you respect."
"You scoundrel!" Xu Zhengxi slammed the table in anger. "I am your father! You're going to fall out with me over a woman?!"
"That Lan Lan, what kind of fickle woman she is, she's only after your money! If she meets someone richer than you in the future, she'll dump you immediately and run off to take money from someone else!" Xu Zhengxi recalled Lan Lan's mention of "bidding," and his face turned pale with anger.
"What I do with her is none of your business," Liang Yufeng said. "Go and sort things out with the Shang family. Once I step in, it won't be so polite."
With that, Liang Yufeng stood up to leave. "I'll give you three days. By next week, I don't want to see any more rumors."
Xu Zhengxi was so angry he started coughing uncontrollably. Zhou Mei came to comfort him but couldn't say anything bad about Liang Yufeng. Nowadays, Liang Yufeng was in charge of this household. If he was unhappy, he could turn around and kick them out.
Xu Zhouyue, who had witnessed the entire conversation between Liang Yufeng and Xu Zhengxi, wore a playful expression.
Liang Yufeng had returned to the Xu family a few years ago. Apart from his mother, who was in a sanatorium, he had never seen him defy Xu Zhengxi so much for anyone else. Lan Lan's status in his heart was likely higher than they imagined.
Therefore, Xu Zhouyue became even more curious about Lan Lan. What kind of woman could make Liang Yufeng so infatuated?
As Liang Yufeng drove back, Xu Zhengxi's words still echoed in his ears, and he couldn't help but smile.
If Lan Lan were truly after his money, it would be easier to handle. But since their relationship began, whenever he gave her gifts, she always acted as if she wanted to settle accounts with him. The bag she received for his birthday last time, if he hadn't warned her, Lan Lan would probably have transferred money to him.
He knew very well that she loved money, but she would never give up her freedom for it and become a caged bird kept by others. Xu Zhengxi had underestimated her.
Liang Yufeng's previous meeting with Shang Ting was merely to prevent Xu Zhengxi from disturbing Lan Lan's life. Now that Xu Zhengxi had already approached Lan Lan first, he didn't need to compromise for this reason.
That evening, Liang Yufeng deleted all of Shang Ting's contact information. Even if he continued to interact with Shang Ting, Lan Lan wouldn't get jealous. He had lost interest and didn't have the energy to deal with it anymore.
After returning home and showering, Liang Yufeng sat in the spacious living room, holding a wine glass, lost in thought. He was accustomed to Lan Lan visiting on Fridays, and suddenly being alone made him feel a faint sense of loss.
It seemed he always got used to her presence easily, both in the past and now.
She didn't like the house to be too quiet, so whenever she came over, she would turn on the TV, even if she wasn't watching it, she would keep the sound on. She also liked to sit in the living room and eat supper, even though she had already eaten the dinner he made, she would still order some snacks to eat, all while worrying about gaining weight and muttering to herself.
Liang Yufeng chuckled self-deprecatingly. After finishing his wine, he couldn't help but send her a WeChat message: "What are you doing?"
Lan Lan replied, "Eating."
Liang Yufeng asked again, "Eating what?"
Lan Lan sent a photo. The background was very familiar; it was the dining table in her apartment, but the dishes on it...
Liang Yufeng was surprised. "You're ordering takeout for your parents?"
Lan Lan: "Can't help it, everyone in my family is terrible at cooking, not as skilled as you."
Liang Yufeng instinctively typed a sentence in the chat box: "Do you need me to come over and help?"
Before sending it, he deleted it himself.
It was unnecessary. How could she possibly let him meet her parents? Perhaps, she hadn't even mentioned him to her parents.
Lan Zhong and Yu Ran had no travel plans recently, so they stayed with Lan Lan. The elderly couple didn't need Lan Lan to take care of them; they enjoyed themselves more than anyone else. Another work week passed, and Lan Lan wanted to take them to a hot spring on the weekend, so she wouldn't have time to go to Liang Yufeng's place.
After receiving Lan Lan's WeChat message, Liang Yufeng didn't reply. He drove directly to her apartment and called her from downstairs.
However, Lan Lan didn't answer.
Liang Yufeng had intended to use the excuse of being downstairs to ask Lan Lan to come down. After more than a week without intimate contact, his body's craving for her had reached its peak. If he didn't quench his thirst soon, he might go crazy.
Just as Liang Yufeng was about to make a second call, he suddenly heard familiar voices. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lan Lan walking with a middle-aged couple. All three were carrying many things, chatting and laughing, with a harmonious atmosphere.
There was no need to guess; he knew their identities.
Lan Lan was joking with her parents when she suddenly saw Liang Yufeng and blurted out, "Why are you here?"
Lan Zhong and Yu Ran also looked over in unison. Upon seeing Liang Yufeng, they exchanged a knowing glance. "Lan Lan, a friend?"
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt," before Lan Lan could answer, Liang Yufeng stepped forward first and greeted the elders.