Chapter 5

He could not tell whether he was tired or whether it was because he was thinking of Qi Ran.

She had done plenty of foolish things lately. First, returning home to make him chase her. Then, paying someone to kill his mistress.

He was willing to protect her.

But he would have to have a proper talk with her.

Perhaps it was that unresolved matter weighing on his mind, but Yue Feihong could not enjoy the rest of the holiday.

Listlessly, he flipped through Yue Nianci’s homework. The boy struck him as astonishingly stupid.

Why was he nothing like Qi Ran?

At his age, without access to any exceptional educational resources, she had relied on her own efforts to rank first in the city.

And him?

He had the very best education money could buy, yet his schoolwork was still this poor.

Yue Feihong rubbed his forehead irritably. Perhaps he would have to revise Yue Nianci’s education plan when they returned.

Or… simply have Qi Ran give him a second child.

If it were a daughter, would she take after her?

While his thoughts wandered, the main residence in Harbor City was far from peaceful.

Old Master Yue, who had handed the group over to professional management and retired to the mainland, had returned.

Madam Yue greeted him with an ingratiating smile.

“Father, what brings you back?”

He gave a cold laugh.

“Am I not allowed to come back?”

“I… That’s not what I meant,” she said awkwardly.

He threw a folder onto the table.

“Do you know why I treated Feihong differently from the other prospective heirs?”

“Because I saw sincerity, integrity, and a sense of responsibility in him.”

“I believed that a man who could look after his family, even if his abilities were unremarkable, at least knew his responsibilities. Entrust the group to such a man, and even if he achieved nothing great, he could preserve what we have.”

Madam Yue forced a smile.

“You’re quite right, Father.”

“But I no longer think so.”

Old Master Yue opened the folder. Inside was a divorce certificate.

“Take a look at this.”

### 8

When Yue Feihong received his mother’s call, he was stunned.

“Mother, what are you saying? A divorce certificate? How… how is that possible?”

“Have you and Qi Ran made some agreement? Are you both trying to trick me into coming back?”

“Look at the picture yourself!” Madam Yue roared.

He opened the photograph. The embossed seal, the registration number—it was all there.

It really was his and Qi Ran’s divorce certificate.

Yue Feihong leapt to his feet and went outside to find Yue Nianci, who was playing in the sand.

“Nianci,” he said coldly, “tell me the truth. How much do you know about those divorce papers?”

The smile froze on Yue Nianci’s face. He opened his mouth, then said, “I like Mom Lin…”

That one sentence told Yue Feihong exactly what his son had been thinking.

Veins stood out on his forehead. Unable to restrain himself, he kicked Yue Nianci over. The boy screamed and cried on the sand. Lin Xianya hurried over to comfort him.

“Nianci, don’t cry. Don’t cry… Feihong, what happened? Why are you so angry?”

Yue Feihong did not even look at them. He turned to his assistant.

“Book a flight home.”

“What about Miss Lin and the young master?”

“Leave them. We’re going home first.”

Watching Yue Feihong head for the airport without a backward glance, Yue Nianci clutched Lin Xianya’s sleeve in fear.

“Mom Lin, is Dad… Does he not want me anymore?”

She stroked his head, reassuring him as much as herself.

“No… How could he bear to do that?”

The moment Yue Feihong returned to the Yue residence, he went to his grandfather, bringing the cane to submit himself for punishment.

Old Master Yue merely glanced at him.

“Where is that fine son of yours?”

Yue Feihong spoke hastily.

“Grandfather, I’ve already struck him off my list of heirs. From now on, I’ll give him only the most basic maintenance. Nothing more!”

“After doing something so heartless and ungrateful, he won’t be allowed to trade on the Yue family name.”

Old Master Yue gave a cold laugh.

“How decisive of you.”

Yue Feihong had just begun to relax when his grandfather addressed the assistant.

“Go. Apply what he’s just said to his own status as well.”

Yue Feihong jerked his head up, disbelief written across his face.

“Grandfather! What are you saying?”

Old Master Yue took a quiet sip of tea.

“From the day this family built its business, we have relied on responsibility and integrity.”

“And you?”

“As a husband, you were unfaithful and drove your wife away to a foreign country.”

“As a father, you are cold and heartless. Without so much as asking a question, you cast off your son to protect yourself!”

“Tell me, do you possess even a trace of responsibility or integrity?”

“Get out!”

Unwilling to accept it, Yue Feihong protested.

“But… Qi Ran was at fault too!”

“Grandfather, she paid someone to kill first! I had no choice!”