"But I heard it all. You're not going to silence me, are you?" Zhuifeng teased, sticking out his tongue playfully.
Pu Shan's face darkened as he slapped his waist holster. "They wouldn't dare! Even if they were the emperor himself, anyone trying to hurt the young master would have to go through me and my brothers first."
This guy is really something… Zhuifeng and Qiu Nuo exchanged a helpless glance and shook their heads in unison.
"But, Young Master, do you really not know Uncle Wang's background?"
"It's not just the young master who doesn't know," Qiu Nuo interjected with a faint smirk. "Even Uncle Wang probably doesn't realize what his own son does for a living… Young Master, is that Uncle Wang over there?"
Zhuifeng slowly turned his head, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears. His lips quivered as he tried to speak, his voice choking. "Wang… Uncle Wang…" Memories of the past flooded his mind in an instant.
"You are…?" Uncle Wang adjusted his glasses and squinted, studying Zhuifeng for a long time without recognizing him.
Each step forward felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, but Zhuifeng eventually managed to drag his trembling body closer. His voice hoarse, he stammered, "Uncle Wang… it's me. It's Xiao Feng."
"You…"
Seeing the confused look on Uncle Wang's face, Zhuifeng suddenly remembered the hat on his head. Quickly taking it off, he said anxiously, "It's me, Uncle Wang. Don't you remember?"
"Ah…" Uncle Wang let out a startled cry as he finally got a good look at Zhuifeng's face.
Zhuifeng froze, realizing what had caused the reaction. He was no longer the person he used to be; his disfigured face made him appear more like a ghost than a human. Gently touching the scars on the right side of his face, the bitterness in his heart deepened.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Qiu Nuo and Zheng He, having spent enough time with Zhuifeng, understood him better than most. To them, if they stripped away the Oriental Group's aura of prestige, Zhuifeng was just a pitiful young man—a boy who had never experienced his parents' love or a proper childhood. Now, as an adult, while he had gained the envy of others through his identity and newfound family bonds, his life was short-lived. On top of that, his appearance had been ruined. Zheng He had once lamented when he learned of Zhuifeng's CML diagnosis, "Heaven really knows how to balance things out—giving the young master everything, only to take it all away."
"I'm fine," Zhuifeng said with a bitter smile. "I've finally come to understand one thing."
"What's that?"
With a faint chuckle, Zhuifeng replied, "It's not my fault that I'm ugly, but it's my fault if I go around scaring people."
As he turned to leave, Uncle Wang suddenly stepped forward, his tear-filled eyes locking onto Zhuifeng.
"Young Master… Who did this to you? Was it the master and madam? How could they be so cruel? Even a tiger wouldn't harm its cubs, yet they…" Uncle Wang reached out his calloused hand, gently wiping the tears streaming down Zhuifeng's face. His voice trembled as he said, "Young Master, I failed you. Back then, I thought that no matter what, they were your parents, and no parent would harm their child. But… but I never imagined they'd be so heartless, leaving you like this…" As he touched the scars on Zhuifeng's face, Uncle Wang's own tears spilled over, and his voice choked with emotion.
Zhuifeng's tears fell like a summer rainstorm, uncontrollable and relentless. He had wronged Uncle Wang, and now the realization hit him hard. Looking at the elderly man sobbing before him, Zhuifeng couldn't hold back any longer. Like a child who had suffered countless grievances, he threw himself into Uncle Wang's arms. "Uncle Wang… Uncle Wang…"
"Child, you've suffered," Uncle Wang said softly, lifting Zhuifeng's chin to look at him. His gaze was filled with warmth. "Don't cry, child. If they won't take care of you, I will. I may not have their wealth, but I can still provide for you. Tomorrow, we'll go find them and demand justice together!"
"Uncle Wang… can I call you Grandpa?"
Uncle Wang froze, his body trembling as he looked deeply into Zhuifeng's eyes. In those tear-filled eyes, he saw sincerity and a longing he couldn't refuse. Pulling Zhuifeng back into his arms, he said, "Good… good child. From now on, I'm your grandpa."
"Mm…"
Seeing Zhuifeng refusing to leave Uncle Wang's embrace, Uncle Wang chuckled and patted him gently. "Silly child, have you eaten? Why don't we go home and eat while we talk?" Turning to the maid who had accompanied him, he asked, "Zi Yun, do we still have enough food at home? Should we go buy more?"
"Grandpa, don't worry about it. We've already eaten," Zhuifeng said hurriedly, embarrassed as he remembered the people standing around them. He awkwardly stepped back from Uncle Wang's embrace.
"You all…?" Uncle Wang's aging eyes finally noticed the group of black-suited men surrounding them. They stood at attention but didn't look hostile. However, their sheer presence, combined with the faint movements of others in the shadows, made it clear these weren't ordinary bodyguards.
"What… who are you people? What do you want? Did my grandson owe you money? How much? I'll pay it back!" Uncle Wang exclaimed, immediately shielding Zhuifeng behind him as he stared warily at the men.
Everyone was dumbfounded. What kind of misunderstanding was this? They weren't loan sharks!
Zhuifeng, for his part, was too choked up to explain. The old man standing protectively before him wasn't just shielding him—he was a mountain, solid and unwavering, making Zhuifeng feel safe and overwhelmed with gratitude. His tears, which he had barely managed to stop moments ago, began flowing again.
Feeling the sobs from the boy behind him, Uncle Wang patted him reassuringly and said, "Don't be afraid, Feng'er. Grandpa is here." Then, raising his voice, he demanded, "Why aren't you answering? How much does my grandson owe you? Don't think you can take advantage of us—name your price!"
The sheer force of Uncle Wang's voice left everyone stunned. Even at his age, he had such vigor in his tone.
Standing closest to them, Qiu Nuo could only sigh inwardly. From the way Uncle Wang spoke, it really did sound like they were here to collect a debt. Speechless, the others began wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
"… If you don't answer, I'll call security and have them call the police. China is a country governed by law!" Uncle Wang threatened again.
Hearing this, the security guard was caught in a dilemma. He didn't know who Uncle Wang was, but from his demeanor and the high-end security that usually surrounded him, it was clear he was someone important. On the other hand, the young man standing behind him, scarred as he was, was also clearly a figure of importance, surrounded by men in black suits and with a fleet of Hongqi sedans parked outside.
What kind of mess was this? The guard cursed inwardly and glanced at Zhuifeng, silently pleading for him to clear up the situation.