Chapter 329 - 327: Re-entering the Dreamscape (5)

Chapter 329: Chapter 327: Re-entering the Dreamscape (5)

"If you don’t want anyone to find out, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place."

Luo Hongyi shook his head in disappointment. "Do you really think children are too young to understand anything? Shengnan was the one who whispered those things to my mother-in-law. I only found out because I happened to overhear them. And even then, my mother-in-law never said a single bad word about you behind your backs. She was an upright person her entire life. In all these years, I never once heard her speak ill of anyone."

Tang Juanmei: "..."

"Mom, if you all still can’t let this go, then don’t come to Beijing anymore. I’ll make time to visit you back home when I’m free. I used to want to earn more money for Nuannuan’s sake. Now that she’s gone, I don’t care anymore. What’s the point of earning more money or reaching a higher status? Without Nuannuan by my side, none of it has any meaning." Luo Hongyi’s voice was filled with resolve and despair.

"You... how can you be so heartless? Besides your wife and child, don’t you ever think about your parents, your brothers and sisters?" Tang Juanmei was stung by his words, a mix of shock and anger rising within her. But being forceful with this son was useless, and throwing a tantrum wouldn’t work either. In the past, she’d always used a softer approach to win him over, but now, it was clear even that was losing its effect. Unwilling to give up, she thought it over and finally grit her teeth. "Since you’re so dead set on this, I have nothing more to say. If you don’t want to remarry for now, then don’t. It’s fine if you change your mind later. But you have to promise to adopt your eldest brother’s son, Hao Liang. Bring him to Beijing to live with you. That way, you’ll at least have someone to inherit the family business."

"I’ll never agree to that. I’m not without a child of my own. Why should my nephew inherit my assets?" Luo Hongyi refused without a moment’s hesitation. "I decided a long time ago. Everything I have will go to Shengnan."

"You... Are you trying to anger your father and me to death? Shengnan is just a girl! Are you planning to find her a live-in husband who marries into our family?" Tang Juanmei’s eyes went wide as she demanded an answer.

"What good would a live-in husband be? A man like that wouldn’t be worthy of my Shengnan." Luo Hongyi shook his head. "My and Nuannuan’s daughter deserves the best."

"Have you lost your mind? You’re the most successful one in the Luo family! Everything you have should naturally be inherited by someone with the Luo surname. You don’t have a son, you refuse to adopt your nephew to inherit the family fortune, and now you want your daughter to take the Luo family’s assets to another family, handing it all over to an outsider for nothing?" Luo Hongyi’s answer crossed Tang Juanmei’s bottom line. She shot to her feet, unable to restrain herself any longer. "Forget about me—your father would never agree to this either."

"Mom, I wasn’t aware that a single thing I own now came from the Luo family clan or from you. Didn’t Nuannuan and I earn all of it together? Tell me yourself, in all these years, who among you hasn’t benefited from me and Nuannuan? Have we ever been a single cent short on the monthly allowance we give you and Dad? And that villa you, Dad, Eldest Brother, and Fourth Brother are living in—have you forgotten that Nuannuan and I were the ones who paid to have it built?"

Luo Hongyi’s face was cold. "Nuannuan was never stingy with what she could give you. But what about you? How did you treat her? And now you’re already eyeing Shengnan’s future inheritance? If you’re going to force me to turn my back on you all, I can. For starters, I still have quite a few IOUs from Eldest Brother, Second Sister, and Fourth Brother written over the years."

"You... If you do this, what good will it do you if this blows up?" Tang Juanmei couldn’t believe Luo Hongyi would actually dare to turn on his own family.

"What do I have to be afraid of? I haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, I’ve done a lot of charity work these past few years, praying for Nuannuan’s well-being. Even if word gets out that we had a falling out, it won’t have much of an effect on me, Shengnan, or my mother-in-law. On the contrary, once the truth comes out, we’re more likely to gain everyone’s sympathy." ℴ

Luo Hongyi said this nonchalantly. He was deliberately exaggerating. In truth, he wasn’t at fault. Even if his parents and siblings caused a scene, the real impact on him would be minimal, aside from giving people something to gossip about.

But Tang Juanmei didn’t know that. Hearing his words, her mouth fell open. She had been about to throw caution to the wind and start wailing to vent her frustration, hoping to create a scene and force her third son to submit. Suddenly, it felt as if something was caught in her throat.

Luo Hongyi might not care about his reputation, but she had to. She knew her husband and her other sons and daughters had to care, too. Right now, Luo Hongyi was the towering tree that sheltered the entire Luo family. If she angered him and he was no longer willing to protect the clan, wouldn’t that mean she had incurred the wrath of everyone?

If that happened, she was afraid she’d have no place to stand, neither in her husband’s family nor her own.

"Hongyi, I think Auntie and I should just take the train back tonight. What you said makes sense, so I know it’s not right for me to stay the night here. But if we go to a hotel, I’m worried that with Auntie accompanying me, people might find out her identity and get the wrong idea about you. That would be terrible, wouldn’t it?"

Just as the mother and son were at a stalemate, Xia Yaruo sighed inwardly, knowing the purpose of her trip was likely a lost cause. She gave Luo Hongyi a reluctant glance, ultimately deciding that the most important thing now was to leave him with a good impression. ’As long as I live to fight another day,’ she thought. As for what to do next, she would have to wait until she got home and discussed it with her family.

Besides, dragging it out would only mean leaving on the train early tomorrow morning anyway. Staying one more night was pointless. It was far more advantageous to use this opportunity to leave a good impression on Luo Hongyi. So, she made a swift decision, suppressing the deep disgust she felt for Tang Juanmei, and spoke to Luo Hongyi in a gentle voice.

Luo Hongyi didn’t spare Xia Yaruo a glance, his gaze instead falling on Tang Juanmei.

"Fine, we’ll leave tonight." Tang Juanmei grit her teeth. With her third son acting like this, she was anxious to get back and discuss a strategy with her husband. And as for Xia Yaruo, once they were alone on the train, she would find an opportunity to drill into her what she could and couldn’t say.

"Alright. Finish your breakfast first. I’ll go out in a bit and buy some clothes and local specialties for you to take back." Luo Hongyi wasted no more words, lowering his head to eat the meal that was already starting to get cold.

’So it turns out dealing with in-laws isn’t that hard after all. It really just depends on whether the man is willing to do it or not.’ Watching Luo Hongyi handle Tang Juanmei so easily, Gu Nuan Nuan’s spirit sat down in mid-air, an indescribable bitterness welling up in her heart.