Family dinner

The next day at noon.

The two arrived at the old residence. Looking at the extravagantly luxurious mansion before him, Gu Nian'an marveled inwardly. It certainly lived up to the Fu Corporation in the novel. How much must all this have cost?

They entered the old residence and immediately saw five people already seated at the dining table. Everyone looked up as the two came in.

"Oh, why are you late, big brother? The one beside you must be my sister-in-law."

Hearing the mocking voice, Gu Nian'an frowned and looked toward its source.

A man with dyed golden curls and a rakish appearance was sizing them up with scorn and ridicule.

Fu Wensheng merely swept a cold glance over the two of them without speaking up to stop him.

Looking at the man's distinctive golden curls, Gu Nian'an figured he must be the male lead's younger brother, Fu Shirui. In the novel, Fu Shirui had grown up spoiled by his mother, Shang Muxue, and indulged by his father, Fu Wensheng.

He had developed an arrogant disposition, full of resentment toward his older brother, Fu Xiuyuan, who outshone him in every respect, and frequently picked fights with him.

Ever since childhood, he had loved fighting Fu Xiuyuan for his things, from toys and their father's attention to the right to inherit the corporation.

But he really was not cut out for it and had run quite a few companies into the ground, so however much Fu Wensheng doted on him, he was unwilling to hand the corporation over to him.

Not to mention that the male lead now had full control of the corporation.

Seeing the somewhat frosty atmosphere, Shang Muxue stepped in with a smile to smooth things over. "Oh, all that matters is that you're here. We're all family, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. Sit down and eat."

Gu Nian'an glanced at the man with some concern.

Sensing his gaze, Fu Xiuyuan gently stroked the young man's hand to indicate that he was fine, and the two sat down.

The meal proceeded in this awkward atmosphere.

Suddenly, Fu Wensheng put down his chopsticks and said gravely, "Are you really going to spend your whole life with this person? With a man, you can fool around, but you can't get serious."

He had assumed Fu Xiuyuan had only married this boy because of the will, yet today, Fu Xiuyuan had actually brought him home.

He thought of the way the two had interacted just now.

Then he glanced at the boy, who was quietly eating with his head lowered, his expression icy.

He would never allow his son to spend his whole life with a man.

Gu Nian'an's heart sank. The male lead's dad is starting to make trouble. Before he could figure out what to say,

Fu Xiuyuan lightly patted his leg. A flash of malice crossed his eyes as he met his father's gaze coldly and said evenly, "Yes, I intend to spend my whole life with him."

Seeing Fu Xiuyuan's utterly unconcerned expression, Fu Wensheng went livid, his eyes wide with fury as he roared, "Fu Xiuyuan! Are you doing right by your mother?!"

At that, Fu Xiuyuan scoffed, his mocking gaze piercing straight into the other man's eyes as he slowly asked in return, "Fu Wensheng? Did you do right by my mother?"

Under his gaze, Fu Wensheng trembled with rage, glaring fiercely at him.

Seeing this, Fu Wentian rose and walked over to his older brother, gently patting Fu Wensheng's back as he addressed Fu Xiuyuan with a hint of reproach. "Xiuyuan, don't say things out of anger. Fooling around with a man is one thing, but who marries one and brings him home? Look how angry you've made your father. How will you carry on the family line if you don't have children? Are you doing right by Sister Zelan?"

At the mention of his mother, Fu Xiuyuan's expression softened briefly before turning cold again. He said without a care, "My mother wanted me to be happy."

Fu Wentian looked at Fu Xiuyuan as though he were an unruly child. "Xiuyuan, you're a grown man. Don't be as immature as a child."

Struggling to contain his anger, Fu Wensheng pointed at Gu Nian'an. "Fu Xiuyuan! If you stay with this person, get out of the Fu Corporation!"

Finding himself singled out, Gu Nian'an inwardly rolled his eyes. Is the male lead's dad brain-dead? How does he have the nerve to lecture him? Where was he when the male lead was bullied by his younger brother as a child? Where was he when his mother died?

Fu Xiuyuan sneered, casually crossing his legs as he said with a hint of mockery, "Father, haven't you forgotten who actually controls the corporation now?"

Everyone at the table wore a somewhat peculiar expression at those words. Ever since Fu Xiuyuan had taken control, their standing had declined by the day.

Now they all depended on him for their livelihoods. They had invited Fu Xiuyuan over for dinner this time in the hope of appealing to his sense of family.

But they had never expected him to bring along the boy he had married and make the old patriarch so furious that they no longer knew how to broach the subject.

Fu Xiuyuan casually glanced at the expressions around him, knowing exactly what they were thinking. He gave another mocking smile and said gravely, "None of you should forget why you're able to sit here dining with me in all your finery.

"I only came this time to let you meet my partner. Nothing more."

He swept another icy glance over the indignant Fu Shirui and said coldly, "Of course, if I discover that anyone has done anything to my partner, Gu Nian'an, don't blame me, Fu Xiuyuan, for disregarding our past ties."

Fu Wensheng viciously hurled the bowl beside him, scattering shards across the floor.

"You unfilial son! How dare you treat us like this! How could your mother rest in peace if she knew?!"

Fu Xiuyuan casually pulled out a tissue and wiped his hands, then turned sideways and asked gently, "Have you had enough to eat?"

Gu Nian'an looked up and gave a slight nod.

Fu Xiuyuan then took Gu Nian'an's hand and headed for the door, leaving them with, "We're finished, so we'll be going. Enjoy your meal."

Watching the two leave, the others were about to say something when Fu Xiuyuan suddenly turned back with a mocking smile.

"Fu Wensheng, when you were caught having an affair with my mother's younger sister, did you ever think about how you'd wronged my mother?"

Everyone was startled and looked toward the man sitting at the head of the table.

Fu Wensheng trembled all over, his eyes bloodshot and his fists clenched. He stood and swept all the dishes onto the floor, roaring repeatedly, "You unfilial son! If you walk out that door, you're never allowed back!"

At that, Fu Xiuyuan waved dismissively and turned to leave without looking back.

Watching him go, Shang Muxue instinctively pressed her lips together, wanting to call him back. But after glancing at the angry man beside her, she withdrew her gaze.

Only silence remained in the room.

The glow of the setting sun spilled through the glass onto the floor.

Standing upstairs, Gu Nian'an looked at the man leaning wearily against the sofa, a trace of concern flashing through his eyes.

What had happened today had still affected Fu Xiuyuan. Anyone would feel hurt if their father spoke to them that way.

Thinking of Fu Xiuyuan's father, Gu Nian'an inwardly marveled. It took a special sort to cheat with his wife's younger sister. The male lead's mother, Shang Zelan, had already been in poor mental health because of her husband's repeated affairs.

Born into a wealthy family, Shang Zelan had suffered little hardship growing up. She had fallen in love with Fu Wensheng at first sight and married him, believing him to be a good man.

Instead, he had affair after affair during their marriage. Worse still, the Shang parents had been caught in a plane crash.

Her parents' deaths and her husband's infidelity had dealt this wealthy young woman a severe psychological blow.

Yet he had gone and cheated with her younger sister, Shang Muxue, when Shang Zelan's mental state was at its worst, driving her mad until she jumped from a building.

After Shang Zelan died, he had put on a show of deep devotion, only to marry her younger sister, Shang Muxue, soon afterward.

He had neglected the male lead, allowing his second child, Fu Shirui-the illegitimate son born from his affair with Shang Muxue-to bully him.

Growing up in such an environment, the male lead had developed a cold disposition. After taking control of the corporation, he had ruthlessly suppressed all manner of relatives from his father's family.

As a result, the Fu Corporation Main Family had long harbored resentment toward the male lead, while Fu Wensheng had paid no heed to any of it.