The main hall.
The cheerful atmosphere from earlier had vanished, replaced by a suffocating tension.
Hu Long and Sun Yi stood in the middle of the hall.
Hu Chengwen and He Yanling both looked at Sun Yi. Their gazes were no longer as warm as they had been when they'd viewed her as their future daughter-in-law. Now, they regarded her with scrutiny.
That was because Hu Long had just told them the whole story.
"Xiao Long, go back to your room and rest for a while."
He Yanling released Mother Liu's arm, her tone already cool.
Wendys stepped forward silently and supported Hu Long by the arm.
Hu Long didn't refuse. He simply turned and left.
He had never been interested in dealing with these messy, entangled social niceties, so leaving suited him just fine.
Once he had disappeared at the end of the corridor, the habitual smile on Hu Chengwen's face receded like a tide, leaving not a trace behind.
He turned toward Sun Fuqian, Sun Yi's father, who was seated nearby. His lips twitched into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Old Sun, since Xiao Yi has someone, why didn't you let us know? It's not very friendly of you. After all, I've watched her grow up. In the future, you should let me know when you have plans."
"Well... what are you talking about!"
Sun Fuqian's face was terribly grim. He hurriedly turned to his daughter, who was standing off to the side with her head bowed and saying nothing.
"She's just a kid throwing a tantrum, speaking without thinking, aren't you, Xiao Yi? Xiao Long's only just started feeling better. Don't let your temper get the better of you and upset him again!"
Sun Yi's nails dug almost into her palms.
She suddenly raised her head. The color drained from her face, then rushed back, but her eyes held a stubborn resolve, as if she had decided to risk everything.
"Everything Hu Long said is true. I already have someone I like."
Her voice trembled, but her words were unusually clear.
"Uncle, Auntie, I'm sorry for what I've done, but marriage can't be forced. It's not like it used to be. Nowadays, people believe in free love. I..."
"Don't call us that."
He Yanling cut Sun Yi off immediately.
The warmth she had shown her guest had vanished without a trace. All that remained in her expression was a detached scrutiny.
"We're not worthy of being called 'Uncle and Auntie.'"
Sun Yi had never been treated with such blunt coldness and mockery.
Her face flushed red, then went pale. She opened her mouth, tongue-tied, unable to get another word out.
"All right."
Hu Chengwen slowly rose to his feet.
"We still have matters to take care of at home, so we won't keep you any longer."
His tone was even, but his intention to see them out was unmistakable.
All the conciliatory words Sun Fuqian had prepared caught in his throat.
In the end, he simply said,
"I'll get to the bottom of this and give you an explanation."
With that,
he left with Sun Yi and Mother Sun.
Smack!
As soon as they got home, Sun Fuqian could no longer hold back. He spun around and slapped Sun Yi hard across the face.
He hadn't held back at all. Caught off guard, Sun Yi staggered backward. If Mother Sun hadn't hurried to support her, she would have nearly fallen to the floor.
"Why are you hitting her!"
Mother Sun cried out, both angry and alarmed.
Sun Yi covered her cheek. Her eyes were red as she stared at her father in disbelief.
In all her life, this was the first time her father had ever hit her.
"I'm an adult now. Don't I even have the right to choose who I like?"
Sun Yi's voice trembled.
"His family may be richer than ours, but does that mean you have to 'sell your daughter' like this?"
"Shut up! How did I end up with a daughter like you!"
Sun Fuqian slammed a hand down on the table, shaking with anger.
He was furious for more than just the fact that Hu Chengwen's family was wealthy.
If that were all, he wouldn't have lost his composure like this.
What truly frightened him was that he knew, vaguely, there was more to the story. The Hu Family had complicated ties, and there were even connections to the Yu State government behind them.
He had counted on using Sun Yi to build a relationship with the Hu Family. Now, not only had that hope fallen through, but they might have offended them in the process.
If the Hu Family took offense and decided to bankrupt his family, it would be all too easy.
"I don't care what method you use,"
Sun Fuqian said, pointing at Sun Yi, his voice cold and resolute.
"you have to get Hu Long to forgive you. Otherwise, I'll pretend I don't have a daughter!"
That night, the streetlights cast a soft glow.
A figure jogged at a steady pace along the running track in the residential complex, drawing closer.
Sweat trickled down his forehead. His black T-shirt was soaked through and clung to his body, faintly outlining his firm, well-proportioned muscles.
It was Hu Long.
The residential complex had only a few buildings, but it covered a vast area. On one side, it even had a hundred-acre tea garden and orchard reserved for the residents.
There weren't many people living there, so it was quiet, but that suited Hu Long perfectly.
The open space was ideal for exercising in peace.
Feeling his body grow stronger by the day, Hu Long finally understood why working out could become addictive.
There was something truly captivating about the increasing sense of control that came with getting stronger.
Hu Long knew nothing about what had happened after Sun Yi and the others had left his home that day.
Even if he had known, he wouldn't have given it a second thought.
After a few more laps, he slowed to a walk and returned to his villa.
He hadn't even had a chance to shower when he stepped through the door and saw the butler, Wendys, approach him.
"Second Young Master, the master asked me to tell you to go to the study when you get back."
"All right, I know. I'll take a quick shower first."
Hu Long's gaze shifted slightly as he nodded.
He quickly showered in his room, changed into clean clothes, then followed Wendys toward the study.
Not long after,
Hu Long arrived at the study door.
He watched Wendys walk away.
Hu Long reached out and pushed the door open.
The study was brightly lit.
Hu Chengwen was sitting in front of the computer, working on something.
When he saw Hu Long come in,
he beckoned him over at once.
"Come sit down. It's been a long time since we've had a proper chat, father and son."
Hu Chengwen said.
Hu Long's thoughts stirred. He couldn't figure out what the man was up to.
In truth, of everyone in this family, the person he least wanted to spend time with was this man, his father in name.
Hu Chengwen seemed kind, but Hu Long felt that he was a man with a deep mind.
Though that was what he thought, he didn't let any of it show on his face. He said nothing and went to sit down nearby.
He played the original Hu Long's expected distance and estrangement to perfection.
"You've become quite well-behaved lately."
Watching him, Hu Chengwen couldn't help finding it amusing.
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"You handled yourself very well earlier. In the past, you never would have said any of that. Looks like you've grown a lot."
"Everyone grows up."
Hu Long replied coolly.
"That's true!"
Hu Chengwen gave Hu Long a long look.
"Do you still resent me for sending you to Morning Light Psychiatric Hospital back then?"
Before Hu Long could answer, he continued.
"I didn't have any other choice at the time.
"I also asked people from the main family to look into the strange things happening to you.
"They all said that if the examinations came back normal, then it didn't seem like an ordinary illness. It seemed more like... you'd been afflicted by some evil spirit, or someone had put a curse on you. If that was the case, there was no way to solve it.
"If we kept you at home, our whole family would suffer along with you."