Two posts combined, especially thankful for the always rewarding Nuan’s "passionate love," beloved readers~
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Zhou Zhongkang had returned yesterday afternoon. During dinner, he enthusiastically greeted Zhou Mikang, wishing him a happy marriage and explained why he couldn’t attend the wedding—he was accompanying a professor to an important academic seminar in another province, and heavy rain had disrupted transportation. Knowing that his words were just an excuse, Zhou Mikang did not expose him.
In the following time, Zhou Zhongkang behaved as if he were an invisible man. Little did anyone expect, after one night, he would turn into such a character!
Facing Zhou Xikang’s angry questioning, Zhou Zhongkang was not only unashamed but even sneered, "Talk sense with that uncultured barbarian? Do you think I’m a fool?"
Liang Xiaohong, who had been gently trying to mediate, looked at her son in disbelief, "Zhong, do you even know what you’re saying?"
"Isn’t what I said the truth? Everyone is afraid of him, does that mean I have to be afraid too?" Zhou Zhongkang snorted coldly, "Just because a woman dumped him, everyone has to coddle and indulge him..."
Zhou Gangping slapped Zhou Zhongkang heavily in the face, "Get out! Today I will place an ad in the newspaper disowning you. From now on, you take your path, and whatever happens to the Zhou family has nothing to do with you."
"Thank you, Father, for your blessing." Zhou Zhongkang gave a faint smile, wiped the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, bowed to Zhou Gangping, "As for the debt of raising me, I will repay you."
"That’s not necessary!" Zhou Gangping turned away, his eyes full of pain. He always knew his son was aloof, but he had never thought he was heartless!
After all, it was the son he had raised himself. Watching him leave without a backward glance, Liang Xiaohong suddenly broke down, hastened her steps, and grabbed Zhou Zhongkang, "Zhong... Zhong... Zhong..." Unsure of what else to say, she just kept calling his name.
"Mom..." Zhou Zhongkang looked at her calmly, "If you miss me, you can come to see me. I live in the school’s family quarters, and...," he paused, then continued, "I’m also getting married. If you have time, you can come."
"Getting married?" Liang Xiaohong immediately stopped crying, wiped her tears quickly, and asked urgently, "Zhong, why haven’t you mentioned this before? Who is the girl?" While speaking, she stealthily glanced at Zhou Gangping and his wife Zhou Jingping.
"You’ll know when the time comes..." Zhou Zhongkang pried Liang Xiaohong’s grasping hands off him, "You can still see me in the future if you miss me. I have to go back to school now."
"Let him go!" Zhou Gangping roared, throwing a book towards the doorway. Zhou Zhongkang dodged it by tilting his head and glanced emotionlessly at Zhou Gangping before walking out the door without looking back.
"Zhong..." Liang Xiaohong cried and ran after him, but Zhou Gangping, devoid of any emotion, shouted, "If you keep clinging to him, you’re no longer my wife."
Liang Xiaohong involuntarily stopped her steps, turned back, and looked at her husband sorrowfully, "He’s still a part of me, your flesh and blood. Even if we place an ad, is he truly no longer your son? Can the blood bond truly be denied just like that?"
Zhou Gangping stared straight at her, "He’s the one who doesn’t want to be part of the Zhou family, not me dismissing him. I am facilitating his wishes, your son is dying for me to do this!"
"He’s still a child. If he has taken a wrong path, shouldn’t we guide him back?"
"At twenty-five, is he still a child?" Zhou Gangping furrowed his brows, "He’s getting married, yet we know nothing about it. We don’t even know who he is marrying. Do you know why that is?"
"This..." Liang Xiaohong was at a loss for words.
"It’s because the person he is marrying is our adversary. I knew it without him telling me. Why do you think he was so eager to cut ties with us? I bet the other party’s condition for letting him marry into their family was that he sever ties with the Zhou family.
For the sake of his own future and interests, at a critical moment, he disregards his family’s life and death. This is what your flesh and blood son has done. Even if I tried to stop him, could I really have stopped him?
Our Zhou family never forces the unwilling. I, Zhou Gangping, am a member of the Zhou family, and of course, I abide by the Zhou family’s rules!" Saying this, he turned to Zhou Jingping and his wife Lin Yanqiu, "Elder brother, elder sister-in-law, it’s a father’s fault for failing to teach his child well; I apologize on his behalf!"
"Second brother, why bother?" Zhou Jingping stepped forward and supported him, "The child is young, it’s normal to not understand some things. Don’t worry, one day when he realizes his mistake, he will return."