Chapter 188: Chapter 123: Confronting My Father
"Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I’m back!" Luo Ye said cheerfully, sitting next to Grandpa Luo and asked knowingly, "Who is Dad angry with?"
Grandpa Luo indulgently patted his granddaughter’s hand: "Your dad, well, he found out his little girl has grown up, afraid she’ll be snatched away, acting like a child."
Luo Zhenggang with a dark expression responded: "Dad, why do you put it like that? Wen Xin and I are just worried about her."
Wen Xin looked worriedly at her daughter: "Ye’er, indeed Ye Xuan is a very nice boy, but what exactly is going on between Ye’er and him, we should be clear."
"Moreover, considering his age, being the eldest grandson, his family definitely won’t wait for Ye’er given their grandfather is eager to see a great-grandson too. Your father and I are just worried you’re too young, inexperienced in relationships, and might get hurt in the future!"
Luo Ye, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, turned to Grandpa Luo: "Grandpa, are you also worried about that?"
"No, I believe my granddaughter knows exactly what she’s doing. I have been trying to persuade your parents for a long time, but they just can’t settle down and still treat Ye’er as an ignorant child."
"Grandpa’s the wise one!" Luo Ye happily hugged Grandpa Luo, acting spoiled. Seeing her father’s dissatisfied glance, she quickly restrained her smile: "Mom and Dad, don’t worry, what you’re concerned about won’t happen. Dad, can I talk to you about something in the study?"
"What is it that can’t be discussed in front of everyone?" Wen Xin glanced at her daughter: "You also learned from your dad how to be so secretive!"
"Hehe, Mom..." Luo Ye affectionately hugged Wen Xin: "Mainly because I’m conveying a message, it’s about Dad’s work, and if Dad doesn’t mind, I can speak in front of everyone."
Her dad was showing a long face as if he was sulking at her, right? Then she’d just give him a tough problem to solve and see how he’d explain to his own father and wife. Humph...
Grandpa Luo could tell from Luo Ye’s expression what his granddaughter wanted to discuss with his son and felt relieved yet didn’t want his son to be in a difficult position, so he stood up: "I’m off to rest in my room. I’m old, and my body isn’t as strong."
Luo Zhenggang did indeed have reservations out of respect for his father. He didn’t want his father to mistake his intentions, resigned to his daughter putting him in check, and now his father had tactfully made himself scarce, he breathed a sigh of relief and glared at his daughter: "Go now!"
Luo Ye let go of Wen Xin: "Mom, I’m off!"
"Go on, then!" Wen Xin was also worried the night before and felt emotional. Seeing her husband in a difficult spot, she regretted it, and now that her daughter gave her a way out, she quickly took it.
"Ye’er..." Luo Feng whispered to his sister, "A true hero doesn’t suffer in front of obstacles."
"Little rascal, what are you talking about?" Luo Zhenggang had very keen hearing, and he turned to glare at his son disappointingly.
"Dad, I was just telling my sister not to annoy you, your health is what’s most important!" Had this been before, Luo Feng would have been shaking in fear, but now he was calm, though it did seem a bit forced.
Luo Ye secretly gave a thumbs up, and Luo Feng’s eyes instantly sparkled. Wen Xin, who had witnessed the entire scene, shook her head with a smile: "You two..."
...
It was past ten when Wen Xin saw Luo Zhenggang go back to their room. She noticed his cheerful demeanor and smiled: "You look quite happy. What exactly did you talk about?"
Luo Zhenggang embraced Wen Xin tightly: "Our daughter... she’s quite something, my wife, thank you!"
Wen Xin, a little short of breath from the hug, quickly prodded Luo Zhenggang: "Hey, hey, hey, what’s this about? You’re not making any sense. Can you please clarify?"
"I’ll take a shower and change, and then I’ll tell you. It’s a long story!"
"Then hurry up..." Wen Xin pushed her husband: "I’ve already warmed the water for you, and I’ve put the clothes you need to change into in the wardrobe."
"Thank you, wifey!" Luo Zhenggang kissed Wen Xin on the forehead and quickly went to the bathroom.
Wen Xin’s eyes shimmered with a soft glow, touching her forehead and giggling for a long while. Her husband had always treated her like a treasure, but affectionate moments like this had been rare. It seemed he had finally let go of his burdens. What exactly did Ye’er tell him?
It was only about fifteen minutes, but to Wen Xin it felt like several hours had passed. Seeing Luo Zhenggang wiping his hair as he came out, she hurriedly got out of bed. Luo Zhenggang waved his hand: "No need to dry it, I can just sleep on it after talking, it’ll dry on its own."
Wen Xin obediently sat back down upon hearing that, and Luo Zhenggang leaned beside his wife with a light sigh: "Wen Xin, we have really underestimated our daughter. We always knew she had changed a lot, but we never really knew the true extent of her abilities. It’s embarrassing!
She once asked me about work, and I brushed her off. In fact, that girl knows everything, she’s been secretly investigating. This time Jiang Zheng came, she formed an alliance with Jiang Zheng and Ye Xuan behind my back, and obtained a large amount of evidence, feeling that it was time to close the net, before approaching me for a talk!"
Wen Xin looked at her husband, puzzled: "Zhenggang, I always knew your work wasn’t going too smoothly, but why does it sound so confusing?"
Luo Zhenggang hesitated for a moment: "Wife, what do you think of Liu Zhengxing?"
Wen Xin thought for a while: "He has been quite helpful to our family, always lending a hand, but something always feels off. Uncle Liu tolerates others bullying Dad, pretending not to understand. Though, it is understandable to some extent, since he’s helped us out."
"Actually..." Luo Zhenggang paused for quite a while, hugging Wen Xin close: "Previously, I didn’t allow Ye’er and Feng’er to reveal our family background. Watching them timid and scruffy without questioning, knowing they are bullied and not letting you intervene, claiming it was a form of training—you’ve gotten used to listening to me, so you didn’t refute, but you must have had your own thoughts about it, right?"
Wen Xin nodded: "Yes, but I knew there had to be good reason behind your decisions, so I followed your instructions completely. You’ve worked so hard to make progress, and the kids and I didn’t want to create any more trouble for you!"
"Wen Xin, marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life, but I was also wrong back then. Only now do I truly realize that if Ye’er hadn’t changed, our family might have ended up breaking apart..." Feeling Wen Xin tremble, Luo Zhenggang comforted her with a pat: "Don’t worry, it’s all okay now. Let me continue. The help from Liu Zhengxing comes with strings attached; that is, I have to be on his boat, follow his command, including influencing the operations of the bid-winning companies. With the recent New District affair, the reason I have been so troubled is precisely this.
It should have been a good thing, but he asked me to give the contracts to companies he designated—those companies are completely unqualified, and all their documents are obtained through connections. Think about it, if something goes wrong with the projects, would I have any way out?
Recently, I’ve been troubled by this matter. Jiang Zheng noticed something was off during his last visit, and had a talk with me which you know about. After I told him about it, he promised to help me.
A while ago, the sudden promotion of Song Fangzheng and his taking charge of the New District, must have been because Liu Zhengxing suddenly found out you were the daughter of the Wen Family, and also considering Ye’er’s and Ye Xuan’s potential marriage, he decided to switch the scapegoat at the last minute.
And Song Fangzheng knows well about his character. He came to have a deep talk with me last time, about Liu Zhengxing. The evidence in his hands could get Liu Zhengxing locked up for dozens of years, but we can’t control the possibility of accidents, and the two of us have been discussing the right timing.
However, the evidence Ye’er showed me tonight truly shocked me. What she had obtained could get Liu Zhengxing a life sentence, and together with what I and Song Fangzheng have, immediate execution is certain.
Ye’er confessed everything because she was worried that I might get involved. She told me to hand over the evidence to her, and let Ye Xuan and Jiang Zheng handle it externally. This way, Liu Zhengxing’s matter would have nothing to do with me... Wife, don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s all alright now."
Wen Xin’s face was pale, and she cried silently. She always knew her husband’s life wasn’t easy, but she never imagined it almost reached that point. She hated herself; why didn’t she open her heart to recognize her parents earlier, with them around, others would have had to show some consideration. If it weren’t for Ye’er’s influence on her husband’s character and her subsequent involvement, the consequences would have been unthinkable!
"Ye’er... How did Ye’er find out about all this?" Wen Xin finally calmed down and hurriedly asked her most pressing concern.
"That girl has admitted wrongdoing, she overheard a phone call where I was being threatened by Liu Zhengxing. I wondered why she went to the study to hide that time; turns out, she was looking for evidence. The little girl managed to deceive even her dad..." Luo Zhenggang was caught up but Wen Xin hurriedly interrupted his frenzy: "Don’t rush into anger, keep going!"
"Alright, it’s just this girl who managed to get me so worked up!" Luo Zhenggang said, laughing: "But really, who does she take after to be so clever? Ever since that phone call, she started to secretly investigate Liu Zhengxing’s matters. Interestingly, when she went out with her classmates, she discovered the secret villa of Liu Zhengxing and Liu Song. Those two, I tell you..." Luo Zhenggang shook his head: "It’s beyond imagination and repulsive. Also pitiable that this young girl has had to deal with these matters.
The little rascal went clam digging in the middle of the night last time, it was actually to lead Jiang Zheng and Ye Xuan to the villa for verification. Through that incident, she opened up to Jiang Zheng and became the eyes for Jiang Zheng and Ye Xuan here.
Xiao Wang also played an indispensable role. The little girl even sneakily gave Xiao Wang two recording pens, making him record everyday conversations of the carpool drivers for her. Wife, can you believe this is our daughter? Thankfully, it is our daughter—if it were someone else’s kid, it’d have been a big trouble!"
Hearing Luo Zhenggang’s purposefully talking to himself, Wen Xin finally showed a smile: "How come you’re willing to tell me all this now?"
"This matter is already a done deal, there’s no need to keep you guessing and worrying anymore. I didn’t say anything before because I was afraid it would implicate you all. Wife, it’s been hard on you!"
"What’s the point in saying all this between old husband and wife." Wen Xin sighed: "Ye’er might have made it sound easy, but her transformation process must have been very difficult, and the reason for all this is because we kept everything from her in the name of love, yet we almost made a huge mistake!"
Luo Zhenggang looked guiltily at Wen Xin: "From now on, I will share everything with you unless it’s absolutely confidential. There’s one more thing I need to confess, the reason Liu Zhengxing threatened me was because of what happened years ago to save my younger brother. Wen Xin, I’m sorry!"
Nu’an had corrected and re-sent the bug report. Thanks to the classmate for catching it.