Chapter 29
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In the midst of business flattery, someone, whether intentionally or unintentionally, abruptly mentioned the absence of Qin Yi's eldest son. It occurred as Qin Yi was introducing his younger son to his business partners, outlining the boy's future in the Qin Family. "I don't see your eldest son, Mr. Qin. Usually, the one who inherits the business is the eldest legitimate son. It would be unfair to favor one son over the other."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yi's face turned slightly pale. However, he couldn't let himself show his frustration. He ambiguously responded, "Zhaoyang is being guided by his maternal grandfather. As a father, I can't really offer him much help."
In his explanation, the man concealed a subtle critique against Zhaoyang, underlining that the boy doesn't consider him to be a vital part of his life.
The person who pointed out Qin Yi's eldest son merely chuckled in response, and didn’t say anything further. Everyone knew what the situation truly was.
However, now that the eldest son had been mentioned, Qin Yi couldn’t ignore him. So he turned to Chen Yanyan and asked, "Where is Zhaoyang? I heard he returned, but why haven't we seen him?"
Suppressing her displeasure from the prior conversation, Chen Yanyan forced a smile and said, "He should be upstairs with his friends. I'll send someone to call him down."
After some time, the servant returned, puzzled, "Sir, Madam, when I went up earlier, I couldn't open the young master's door. There was no response when I knocked…”
"What? Let me approach the housekeeper for the spare key." Feigning ignorance, Chen Yanyan went off with the servant to get the key. Already dissatisfied with his elder son, Qin Yi also followed Chen Yanyan upstairs.
"I want to see what that kid is secretly up to!"
After unlocking the door with the spare key, Chen Yanyan was surprised to find no one in the room. She had specifically asked someone to provide a special tool, and was sure that the combination of the tool and the substance in the water would have made it easier for the two inexperienced boys to cross the line.
Could they be in the bathroom?
However, Chen Yanyan's hope quickly faded as she didn't hear any indescribable noises. The next moment, Qin Zhaoyang emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed but dripping wet.
But where was Ling Rong?
"What on earth are you doing? You look like a mess!" Qin Yi questioned his son.
With an indifferent tone, Qin Zhaoyang replied, "I accidentally spilled juice on my clothes, so I was going to take a shower and change. I didn't expect you to barge in."
"You... Why did you lock the door at home? The servant called for you, and you didn't respond."
Wiping his wet hair with a towel, Qin Zhaoyang sneered, "I'm not in my own home. Of course, I have to lock the door when taking a shower, or any kind of monster might just barge in."
These words infuriated Qin Yi. However, at this moment, Chen Yanyan was more concerned about Ling Rong's whereabouts. She remembered clearly locking both of them in the room. A person couldn't just vanish!
"Zhaoyang, where is your friend? Why don't we see her?" Chen Yanyan pretended to ask casually.
Upon hearing her mention Ling Rong, Qin Zhaoyang's eyes suddenly turned cold, his icy gaze fixed on his stepmother.
Taken aback by this look, Chen Yanyan suddenly doubted when Qin Zhaoyang had acquired such a demeanor! It felt as though he could see right through her.
"Where Ling Rong is, I believe, aunt, you would know best, wouldn't you?"
"What?" Qin Yi looked at his wife.
With a guilty smile, Chen Yanyan said, "How would I know? He must be somewhere he enjoys eating."
However, reality struck her hard as a servant soon came over and said, "The young master's friend is... in the second young master's room! And..."
"And what?"
"How could they be in my room?"
The mother and son cried out in astonishment at the same time, which aroused Qin Yi's suspicion.
"Let's go. I want to see what you guys are up to!"
A group of people went to Qin Chaomu's room. The door was ajar, but the moment they pushed it open, they were all taken aback by the scene in front of them.
A beautiful young boy beyond gender was curled up in a corner, squatting on the ground, hugging himself tightly, as if feeling that this was the only safe measure. Noticing some noise, the boy who originally hung his head in ambiguity, anxiously lifted it, revealing two obvious trails of tears on his fair, delicate face. Mysterious tears hung at the corner of his eyes, neither falling nor evaporating, his reddened eyes were a heartbreaking sight to behold.
Most alarming was that the stunning boy's previously intact clothes were now torn at one shoulder, revealing his jade-like fair skin quite conspicuously. Coupled with a few red marks on the upper part, everyone instantly understood what had transpired prior.
"Ling Rong!" On seeing Ling Rong in such a state, Qin Zhaoyang's heart clenched, his face reddening instantly. He quickly took off his newly-changed clean coat, tightly wrapped Ling Rong, and held him in his arms.
He hadn't seen him but for a moment, how could he suddenly become like this?
Just as his anger was irrefutable, he suddenly felt a slight itching sensation from his palm, hinting at movements from within his embrace. Given Ling Rong's indicative glance, Qin Zhaoyang seemed to understand something.
Could it be… Ling Rong pretended to be like this and required his cooperation?
Ling Rong was trembling non-stop in Qin Zhaoyang's arms. The moment she looked up and saw Qin Chaomu, the tears welled in his eyes came streaming out. He appeared even more agitated, scrambling behind Qin Zhaoyang as if wanting to get as far from Qin Chaomu as possible, all the while repeatedly voicing out, "Don't come over... Don't!"
His vulnerability was particularly heartbreaking.
Recognizing his signal, Qin Zhaoyang promptly roared at Qin Chaomu, "What did you do to him!? He is my friend, have you gone mad?!"
The absence of the host of the banquet led the guests below to search, and Qin Zhaoyang's furious shout drew many people over.
"What happened?" The guests began to whisper amongst themselves.
"It looks like we have some gossip to enjoy."
"Isn't that the friend Qin's eldest son brought back? Indeed, a beauty, but why on a sudden burst into such a heartbreaking cry?"
"That child looks so good; even if he's a boy, it's not surprising if someone harbors ulterior motives. Aren't the noble families entangled in such nasty matters, and this seems to be related to Qin's illegitimate child?"
"Hmph, indeed an illegitimate child, not worthy to be on the stage."
Qin Chaomu, shaking with anger upon these words, lost his cool, pointed to Qin Zhaoyang, and said fiercely, "I haven't seen Ling Rong since a while ago. How could I have done anything to him! Moreover, I wanted to ask how he ended up in my room!"
Ling Rong sobbed while tremblingly voicing, "I came to the second floor looking for Zhaoyang, but as I approached a room's door, suddenl… I was pulled into this room. Then, he…"
His voice behind the words was trembling as if he was too scared to recall, he could no longer continue speaking, merely hiding in Qin Zhaoyang's arms, crying silently.
The system watched in shock as the host made a series of dramatic moves. In just this short time, the host had directed and acted out such a grand drama! And it looked like no one harbored any suspicion?
"I didn't expect you to be that kind of host."
"Silence!"
Ling Rong's words were unclear, but it was this vague feeling that left a space for everyone to let their imagination run wild. A lavish young master saw a handsome boy, used his elder brother's name to lure the boy to his own room's door, and then forcefully dragged him into the room intending to commit indecent acts...
An unspeakable script appeared in everyone's minds instantaneously, and the gazes toward Qin Chaomu changed drastically.
The pointing and whispering of the guests also made Qin Yi lose his face. Without thinking further, he blamed Qin Chaomu harshly, "You unfilial child! Are you trying to anger me to death?"
He also didn't forget to scold Chen Yanyan by his side, "Look at the good son you've birthed!"
"I didn't!" Qin Chaomu hurriedly denied, "Dad, wasn't I with you and Mom just a while ago? How could I have the time to do such things? Clearly, Qin Zhaoyang is trying to frame me!"
"Whether I'm framing you, you know in your heart," Qin Zhaoyang said frankly, turned his head, and gently comforted Ling Rong, who was still sobbing. Just looking at this scene, everyone had their judgment.
As Qin Chaomu tried to argue back, a servant suddenly remembered something and spoke, "The young master indeed dismissed all the servants on the second floor at the beginning of the banquet, and particularly instructed us not to go upstairs if not necessary..."
"And during that period, we don't seem to have seen the young master at the banquet."
This sudden supplement left Qin Chaomu speechless because that was precisely the time when he was discussing plans with Chen Yanyan, an explanation he couldn't give to anyone.
Chen Yanyan glared at the servant viciously, as if she wanted to strangle her. Blame had to fall upon Chen Yanyan herself for not being popular among the household staff, so naturally, no one would side with her.
"You still have the nerve to talk! How could you do such a disgraceful thing!" This time, Qin Yi had also confirmed his guilt. In his rage, he was looking around for something to hit Qin Chaomu with.
"Father, since the facts are as they are, I ought to stand up for my friend. I request Father to seek justice for Ah Rong and me." Qin Zhaoyang added in time, "Ah Rong is not suitable to stay here any longer, I will take him home, my dear uncles and aunts, goodbye."
The young master's polite demeanor quickly accumulated a wave of goodwill. The guests looked at Qin Zhaoyang more amiably. Indeed, a child from the Huo family has qualities a illegitimate child cannot compare with.
With the situation blown up to this extent, the banquet couldn't continue. Qin Yi reluctantly suppressed his anger and apologized to everyone, "I am sorry for today's drama, it is my fault for not disciplining my child strictly. Let's end the banquet here, once I have handled this matter, I will make amends to everyone."
Everyone present was crafty and knew when to leave. After bidding their farewells to Qin Yi, they left the Qin mansion. However, once these people left, the bad reputation of Qin Chaomu's questionable morality was thoroughly passed around the upper-class society, and washing it clean would be no easy task.
Once everyone had left, Qin Yi immediately instructed the butler, "Bring my punishment stick from the study, I must teach him a lesson today!"
"Honey! You know very well what kind of child Xiao Mu is, he couldn't possibly have done this!" Chen Yanyan tried to persuade her husband, pulling him back.
The face-fallen Qin Yi no longer cared about the actual truth of the matter. All he knew was that his youngest son, the one who had caused trouble today, had ruined the banquet. Moreover, if it were suggested that his youngest son was completely unrelated to this incident, Qin Yi would absolutely not believe it.
Soon, the punishment stick was brought forth. With no hesitation, Qin Yi took it and swung it down.
"Hiss——"
Feeling a wave of intense pain from his back, Qin Chaomu clenched his teeth so hard that his palms bled, muffled groans escaping from his mouth.
Qin Zhaoyang! Ling Rong! He swore to be at odds with them!
________________________
Sitting in the Huo family's car, seeing that the handsome young Qin Zhaoyang had already wiped away his tears, Ling Rong couldn't refrain from raising her voice, "You almost scared me to death today, do you know that? No matter what, you can't hurt yourself like this!"
"As long as I can get justice for you, none of this matters." Ling Rong casually waved her hand, leaning leisurely on the back seat. After all, she barely knew anyone from high society, and no one would remember her, so doing all this wasn't a big deal.
Feeling a warmth overwhelm his heart, Qin Zhaoyang decided to indulge once, tightly holding his hand, a deep sigh escaping his lips.
Ah Rong, what should I do?
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Author's Note:
The extra update is here. I can't save the pacing of this world. I thought too much when I was outlining the plot, so it's a bit slow. I will continue to write according to the previous outline, but I will try to write more every day to finish this world as soon as possible. Thank you all for reading.
Actually, I thought of a bug in the previous chapter. Are there doors nowadays that can be locked from outside but can't be opened from inside without a key? I searched a bit and it seems there are... Ah, if not, please ignore this. Let's just assume there are such doors, yeah.
TN: I know Ling Rong's pronouns are confusing. It can't be helped, unfortunately. Expect to see a lot more of that T_T
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Thanks for the translation!
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