This almost felt like cleaning up my son's mess, but not everyone in the world is easy to fool. This unlucky boy’s success was only momentary.

"Yang Zhi wasn't exactly smart; she genuinely didn't get it. 'Well, what can be done? Later, I’ll think about having his uncle have a serious talk with Yingzi. I, as his mother, might not be tough enough, but someone has to speak up for Yingzi, tell her to treat Wuzi better from now on. Look at how the two kids usually get along—it’s always Wuzi who gets bullied. If it continues like this, how can I face your mother and father? Besides, I watched Wuzi grow up; this simply can't go on like this.'"

Chi Yong looked up at the sky. Heaven is fair; it gave his wife a beautiful, youthful face, but it neglected to give her a flexible mind.

So earnest, so overly sincere with people. This person is best kept safely at home.

Chi Yong said, "Dad’s how old? How high are his expectations for Yingzi? We couldn't be filial in the first half of our lives; we didn't have the means. Now that we’re so far away, can you bear to let the old man worry himself sick at his age?"

Listen to that—every sentence struck right at Yang Zhi’s soft spot. Yang Zhi retorted, "Then let’s just say the two of them clicked. Wuzi was the one who was wronged, and you’re saying I can’t even mention it? What kind of situation is this?"

Chi Yong sighed, "Men in this regard would rather suffer in silence than let others know. Don’t ever bring it up again."

Every time it was mentioned, he felt guilty; it was genuinely hard to process.

"Really? Then I won't mention it. No wonder Wuzi looks so down. We shouldn't let it become a lingering worry. Should we take him to the hospital?"

Psychological treatment didn't really exist then; the concept wasn't practiced. So Chi Yong’s response was spot on: "Which department are you planning to send him to?"

"Forget it," Yang Zhi conceded, and the couple went to sleep.

This issue, Chi Yong had managed to cover up successfully with Yang Zhi.

Chi Wu drove, his whole body aching. His father had used his full strength. Thinking back on the scene, Chi Wu felt a genuine dread.

It was the first time Chi Yong had physically struck someone; he must have been furious, and perhaps it was also Chi Yong’s own dishonorable actions that led to it.

Chi Yong gritted his teeth, his face flushed, "This is the mess you made! This is the kind of child our Chi family raises!"

Chi Wu had no retort. In truth, he hadn't been raised solely by the Chi family; he should credit Chi Yong and Cheng Ying for his upbringing.

When Chi Yong tired of hitting him, he asked Chi Wu just one question: "What were you aiming for?"

Chi Wu looked at Chi Yong and said, "My heart belongs to Yingzi; I’ve never looked at anyone else."

That single sentence silenced Chi Yong. This unlucky boy—who pursues a woman like this? It’s despicable.

Chi Yong relentlessly whipped Chi Wu, "Couldn't you have taken a normal path?"

Chi Wu bit back, "The normal paths were all blocked."

The crucial factor was that Cheng Ying hadn't taken a liking to him and hadn't cooperated; otherwise, how could the paths be blocked? This was the only way.

Chi Yong considered the complex relationships between the two families; a normal approach truly wouldn't work.

But there was also the element of Cheng Ying simply not valuing his son, "So you were forced into this corner?"

That comment was so sarcastic, Chi Yong felt that beating the unlucky boy to death wouldn't relieve his anger.

Chi Wu flushed, "I was forced! Yingzi is mine; no one can take her!"

Chi Yong couldn't even be bothered to hit him anymore; how childish did that sound? Just because you say she’s yours doesn't make it so. Although, at this moment, she truly was his.

Chi Wu shivered violently. When his father was hitting him, he really must have considered beating him to death.

He had never imagined Chi Yong would resort to such violent methods.

Chi Wu got out of the car, walking stiffly. He had spent a long time in the car just trying to ease himself out of the vehicle.

Chi Wu glanced at his own front door. The courtyard really was too small; there wasn't even a proper garage.

Should he perhaps clear out the five mu of nursery stock in the backyard later?

If Fatty Sun had any real capability, why would he need a five-mu nursery to advertise?

Chi Wu was feeling a bit resentful. His father, usually so mild-mannered and never angry with him, showed no mercy when striking him. It was nothing like how his grandmother treated Yingzi; they weren't on the same level at all.

Chi Wu winced as he looked at his courtyard wall. How was he supposed to climb over that?

Given his current state, climbing the wall would be a struggle.

Considering the entire day—from the shocking events in the morning to being covered in bruises by night—Chi Wu didn't know how he had endured it.

His desire for Yingzi had lingered too long, weighing too heavily on his heart. Yesterday, he had drunk too much, and the situation had been too tempting.

It was an obsession, leading to this point. Chi Wu wasn't sure if he would have possessed the courage of that morning if he had to do it all over again.

He collapsed onto the ground at the main gate, wanting nothing more than to stretch out his limbs and just lie there comfortably.

Right now, he had no confidant; he was besieged from all sides.

The main gate creaked open. Chi Wu turned his head, his eyes instantly lighting up. All his recent anxiety vanished.

Cheng Ying came out, just like that morning, bathed in the courtyard lights, coming to rescue him. Everything felt worth it.

Cheng Ying said, "Why are you sitting here? It’s cold. It’s late; come inside."

Chi Wu stood up, his posture slightly awkward, suppressing a groan.

Cheng Ying glanced sideways at Chi Wu’s stance. He’d clearly been beaten.

But honestly, she didn't feel he deserved any sympathy. He deserved it.

If she couldn't bring herself to strike him, someone else could. Cheng Ying opened her mouth and asked lightly, "Was it worth it?"

Chi Wu listened to the sounds of the night, feeling a chill. Was this Yingzi speaking?

Or did Yingzi already know something? Chi Wu nervously felt his hands begin to tremble. "Worth it," just those two words.

Cheng Ying thought to herself, he deserved a harder beating; he’s still not admitting defeat.

If it weren’t for the complicated entanglement between them, having someone care so deeply would be comforting to anyone else, at least providing a sense of vanity. If only it wasn't this unlucky boy, it would have been better.

To have someone scheming for you, someone fixated on you—that was a kind of blessing, too. Unfortunately, she couldn't accept it.

Chi Wu walked to the window of the east room. "Grandma, I’m back. I’ll sleep soon; you go ahead and rest."

The old lady inside replied, "Ah, good that you're back. Rest early." Only then did she hear the sound of him lying down.

Cheng Ying pursed her lips, watching the interaction between Chi Wu and the old lady. Chi Wu was always so thoughtful towards his grandmother, sometimes doing more than she, the daughter who constantly claimed she would take care of her mother, ever did.

The old lady’s affection for Chi Wu was genuine, too. Compared to Chi Yong, it seemed far more pronounced.

Cheng Ying had to seriously re-evaluate the complex relationships within this family again.

It seemed Chi Wu had firmly rooted himself in this household now.

Uprooting him would be more painful than when Chi Yong took Yang Zhi away—that’s what they called pulling up a turnip with all the mud attached.

Chi Wu stood in the courtyard, beginning to undress. Under the glare of the hundred-watt bulb, the extent of his injuries was visible: red marks, line after line. The beating hadn't been light at all.

Cheng Ying had intended to ignore it, but seeing Chi Wu wince and grimace, she found herself unable to move away.

She had cared for this boy for so many years; the habit was ingrained, an automatic reaction.

Cheng Ying couldn't stand to see Chi Wu injured; habits were truly terrifying.

Cheng Ying quietly went inside, fetched a basin of water—still from her spatial spring, infused with honeysuckle—and then took gauze to clean his wounds.

Chi Wu hissed softly in pain, careful to keep his voice low so the old lady wouldn't hear.

Inside, he was ecstatic. It was worth it; it was truly worth it. He knew Yingzi wouldn't stay angry with him for long.

He knew he needed Cheng Ying to see these injuries. Cheng Ying muttered, "I should have told Uncle to switch to a different, less dense piece of wood."

Chi Wu grimaced, "If it had been thicker, would it have hurt less, or are you feeling sorry for me now?"

Cheng Ying retorted, "I meant that if it were thicker, it would hurt just as much, but there wouldn't be any visible marks on the outside. Wouldn't that have been less troublesome?"

Chi Wu fell silent, now completely convinced that Cheng Ying understood everything. "Why don't you hit me again? Hit me until you feel better."

Cheng Ying casually delivered two hard smacks across Chi Wu’s back. She said it lightly, but something this huge wasn't something solved by one or two beatings. Her reputation, built up over a lifetime, had been jeopardized. Damn this unlucky boy for doing such a despicable thing.

Chi Wu endured it silently, not letting out a single grunt.

Cheng Ying said, "Enough. Get inside and sleep." She dismissed the boy.

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying. "You’re not angry anymore?"

Cheng Ying gasped for breath. "What do you think? How would you feel if you were a rapist? Or a female inmate? I’m probably the first in history! Thanks for the honor; I’ll be famous forever."

Chi Wu lowered his head as far as it could go. This was equivalent to Cheng Ying calling him a rapist. Forgive the boy for his impulse; perhaps his resilience wasn't strong enough. "You, you, I..."

Chi Wu felt hesitant to face Cheng Ying; he was genuinely scared now. Yingzi understood much sooner than he had anticipated. Their betrothal wasn't finalized yet. What if Yingzi changed her mind?

Chi Wu desperately wished he could get Yingzi drunk now and keep her that way until after the engagement ceremony, so she wouldn't wake up until then. But he wouldn't dare try anything with Cheng Ying looking like this.

Cheng Ying couldn't quite articulate what she was feeling. There was a touch of pride; the boy had handled this matter with such meticulous, watertight planning. Look how composed he was. His scheming skills would be enough for maneuvering in a royal harem. But the consequence of his actions was falling squarely on her. If his scheme hadn't targeted her, it would have been better.

Then there was anger—plenty of it. But more than anger, there was a strange sense of pity when looking at Chi Wu. She almost felt like she had forced the unlucky boy into this. Why? Heavens, why? She was the one who had been manipulated; she was the one who deserved pity.

A wave of frustration washed over Cheng Ying, extinguishing even the desire to share her heart with Chi Wu. "You’re a grown man! What kind of expression is that? What did that mean? Are you feeling wronged, huh?" Her voice was loud, genuinely uncontrolled by her anger.

The old lady in the room woke up, and the neighbors who had been watching all day also heard the commotion. "Oh, poor thing! Look at that Cheng family girl; she commits foolish acts, but with such technical skill that she actually snagged a treasure. Chi Wu is the dream husband for every girl in the village! The prize cabbage has been rooted by a pig! Listen to that bellowing voice; she has quite the spirit! Who gave her that confidence? Ah, that poor Chi Wu."

For more novels, visit storyread.net.