Proofread by He Li

Thinks carefully, she finds that Gong Siming hasn’t been home for several days. Does he hate her so much that he even stays away from his own home?

Shaking her head with a bitter smile, Si Wan looks extremely disappointed.

The big villa of the Gong Family keeps quiet and occasionally a few busy people bustle about. Grandfather Gong sits in the front hall, holding a huge book and enjoying his reading. Suddenly some noise comes, after which grandfather Gong knits his brows.

The servants of the Gong Family have always been well-trained and well-behaved, such jabbering is what they would not do in the past. Grandfather Gong puts down the book in his hand and then picks up his crutch on the side of the sofa, going upstairs following the noise.

“Young host stayed out again? Look at this bed. I think it’s not used.”

“That’s right. Young host hasn’t been home for several days. Only young hostess has some clothes to be washed.”

Despite his old age, grandfather Gong still has good hearing. After hearing the voices of two maids, he feels a little unpleasant.

What is Gong Siming, the brat, doing recently? Getting more and more out of line, he even doesn’t come back home now. Being displeased, grandfather Gong feels a breath, neither going up nor going down, stuck in his throat.

“Don’t tell these to grandfather Gong. It is not worth his attention, otherwise he may fall ill because of anger.”

Hearing the voices from upstairs again, the anger stagnated in grandfather Gong’s heart causes his cough, which is heard by the servants upstairs who immediately stop their conversation. With constant coughing, grandfather Gong gets up the stairs slowly and finds the two servants carrying clothes to be washed.

“What are you talking about? Young host and young hostess? Tell me about this.” With a severe cough, grandfather Gong looks extremely serious. Looking at grandfather Gong with embarrassment, the two maids find his expression worse and worse, so they just explain in a low voice, “We didn’t say anything…”

“Humph! Didn’t say anything? I’ve heard your conversation. You servants dare to hold out on me! The brat leaves behind his family. Where is he on earth?”

Being extremely angry, grandfather Gong beats his crunch on the ground, “Today, you must tell me the truth!”

Looking at each other, the maids hesitate to speak, “Young hostess told us not to mention this to you. Please don’t get angry even if you have already known. To be honest, we don’t know where young host goes, either.”

Finding the servants are in a hard time, grandfather Gong gives a snort. He knows that Si Wan will absolutely hold out on him. The Gong Family owes her too much as she suffers a lot here.

Grandfather Gong gives a sigh and gestures towards the phone. Although Si Wan tries to conceal for Gong Siming, after knowing this he will not allow Gong Siming to act casually as he likes.

After the servant fetches the phone to him, grandfather Gong gives a call to Yan Xiuya. As a mother, she is responsible for her son’s misbehavior of staying out.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Father.” Yan Xiuya’s soft and graceful voice comes from the other side after the phone is answered. Grandfather Gong gives a sneer and directly questions her.

“You are such a good mother! Don’t you know that your son recently stays out all night?”

Grandfather Gong’s voice is stern, and a person as wise as Yan Xiuya certainly understands his meaning. It seems that he then moves to somewhere else to answer the phone as a noise comes from the other side.

“Father, you mean Siming? As a mother, of course I can’t control him since he has grown up. But he is not a child anymore, so you don’t have to worry about him.”

Despite her smile on the face, Yan Xiuya knows clearly what her father-in-law implies. But Siming doesn’t like Si Wan, even if he is forced to be at home, he won’t do anything with Si Wan. Yan Xiuya is uneasy in her heart: her father-in-law is intent on making a match between the two and has been exerting pressure on her, but now Siming does all that he can to revolt against them, it's hard for her to stand in the middle.

As expected, after hearing her words, grandfather Gong becomes angrier instead of cooling down, “Why do you say ‘I don’t have to worry’? Of course he is not a child any more, but he’s a family man as well. As a mother, how could you turn a deaf ear to your son’s misbehaviors? Do you know how people around us will think of our family?”

Rubbing her forehead, Yan Xiuya feels a slight ache on her temples. People in the Gong Family are all stubborn: when they get angry, they won’t be persuaded easily. “Father, let’s talk about this after work, right now I’m outside and inconvenient to deal with this matter.”

“OK, you come back at once!” Angrily hanging up the phone, grandfather Gong sits on the sofa with his crutch, waiting for Yan Xiuya.

It is his indulgence on his family members in daily life that contributes to today’s unhappy situation. It is not a big problem if only Gong Siming doesn’t care about Si Wan. But if other family members don’t stand by her side either, people will say that the Gong Family is a great bully.

Shortly after the call, Yan Xiuya comes back with Gong Yanshen. Seeing the tall figure behind her, the face of grandfather Gong turns a little gloomy. This woman is so wise that she knows after bringing her husband back, as father-in-law, he won’t blame her too much. But this time, grandfather Gong is determined to give them a lesson; otherwise no one in this family will take notice of him in the future.

“Father.” The couple stand in front of their father respectfully. Without looking at them, grandfather Gong says coldly, “What? You’re on the same line? Let me tell you, if there is no good solution, you are not allowed to leave today.”

“Father, why are you so angry? The kids have grown up and we can’t control them. Why do you insist on forcing them to be together?” Looking at his father and wife, Gong Yanshen feels kind of powerless. He was attending a meeting when being called to return home. On the way home he got to know that it is because his father is angry at Gong Siming who stays out all night. Apparently he is too busy to deal with such family matters.

“Well, you think you are reasonable, don’t you!” Stamping his foot, grandfather Gong angrily shouts, “Isn’t Si Wan your daughter-in-law? Marrying Gong Siming is not for a hard life! Take a look at your son brought up by you! As a family man, he has no responsibility and still stays out all night!”

Being extremely indignant, grandfather Gong stares at them. Worrying about his health, Yan Xiuya quickly explains, “Please cool down. I am bound to give that brat a lesson, your health is more important.”

The couple feel worried about his health when grandfather Gong coughs. As soon as they walk forward to support him, grandfather Gong pushes them away, “I don’t need you. Just take care of your own son!”

Gasping on the sofa, grandfather Gong still wants to say something, and then he sees Si Wan coming back from work.

After changing her shoes, Si Wan walks into the front hall. Finding the nervous atmosphere, she feels a little uneasy in her heart. After seeing Yan Xiuya’s expression in her eyes, she makes her response and smiles to grandfather Gong, “What’s wrong, grandfather? Before dinner, there is still some time. How about playing chess together?”

Holding his arm in hers, Si Wan is so warm to grandfather Gong, which makes him bitter in his heart as the Gong Family owes her too much.

“Si Wan, you silly girl…” Grandfather Gong is about to say something to her but then hesitates. Si Wan can absolutely tell him the fact that Gong Siming stays out all night, but she chooses to conceal it. Her kindness is always used on something wrong.

Considering this, grandfather feels distressed and his face turns serious, “Si Wan, follow me to the study room.”