Chapter 21: Discord Between Father and Son

Luo Yichen felt a pang of distress as he watched his mother busy in the kitchen. He asked, "Why did Dad come back all of a sudden?"

"It seems to be regarding the capital shortage at Luo Corp."

Luo Yichen nodded and headed upstairs to knock on his father’s bedroom door. Upon receiving permission, he entered and said, "Dad, you’re back."

Seeing his son, Luo Shixun said happily, "Yes! Have you been tired from work lately?"

"It's fine. I've been doing this for years; I’m used to it." Luo Yichen’s tone was neither warm nor cold, yet it carried a distinct sense of detachment.

"Don't worry too much about the funding. I have already started arranging financing in the United States, and the problem will be solved soon."

Luo Yichen said coldly, "Don't bother. I can handle my own affairs."

Luo Shixun looked awkward at his son’s lack of gratitude. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Luo Shixun called out, "Come in!"

Yao Minzhi entered carrying a tray with a bowl of porridge and some side dishes. "Shixun, have something to eat first. You two will have plenty of time to talk later."

Luo Yichen, unable to suppress his anger, shouted at his mother, "Mom, can you stop being so submissive?"

Luo Shixun reprimanded him, "Yichen, is that how you talk to your mother?"

"My affairs have nothing to do with you."

Every word Luo Yichen spoke felt like a blade piercing Luo Shixun’s heart.

Yao Minzhi looked at her son helplessly and said, "Chen'er, he is your father after all. How can you treat him like this?"

Luo Yichen was infuriated by his mother’s question. He yelled, "Mom, he never cared for me when I was growing up, so why should he interfere in my life now? That woman has been dead for over thirty years, yet he still can't let her go. Why are you so obsessed?"

Yao Minzhi felt a rush of anger and nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Luo Shixun was nearby and caught her. For the first time in over thirty years, Yao Minzhi fell into her husband's arms. At that moment, she was overwhelmed with complex emotions.

Luo Yichen was terrified and rushed to support his mother. "Mom, don't be angry! I won't bring up the past anymore."

The father and son helped Yao Minzhi onto the bed. Luo Shixun asked, "Minzhi, how do you feel? Do you want me to call a doctor?"

"No, I just need to rest for a while. Chen'er, you’ve been tired these past few days; go back to your room and rest."

Luo Yichen wanted to say more, but ultimately kept silent. After he left the room, Yao Minzhi said, "Don't blame the child for his resentment. All these years, though he hasn't said it aloud, he has missed you deeply."

"I know." Luo Shixun looked at his wife with heartache, his eyes rimmed with red.

Yao Minzhi felt miserable but could not cry. Over the past thirty years, her tears had long since run dry. She asked, "Are you still feeling guilty about the death of Mu Lichen’s mother?"

Luo Shixun said painfully, "Everything was my fault. I caused her death, and in doing so, I wasted your life as well."

Yao Minzhi’s emotions flared. "I wish I were the one who had died; at least then I would have remained in your heart for a lifetime!"

Luo Shixun, fearing she might faint again, urged, "Don't be like this, watch your health!"

"Health? Chen'er is grown now; I have nothing left to worry about. And no one cares about me anyway," Yao Minzhi said desolately. Her eyes were filled with despair.

This look terrified Luo Shixun. He immediately cried out, "I care about you!"

Hope flickered back into Yao Minzhi’s eyes as she looked at him in surprise.

"The reason she went into premature labor back then was because I told her I had fallen in love with you. For all these years, what I couldn't face was the truth that I love you." Luo Shixun blurted out the words he had hidden in his heart for over thirty years. He felt much lighter, the repression in his heart lifting.

Yao Minzhi stood frozen, unable to believe her ears. By the time she gathered her senses, Luo Shixun was about to get up and leave. She grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Can you stay tonight?"

Luo Shixun looked at the traces of time on her face and felt deep tenderness. Facing the woman he loved most, all the burdens in Luo Shixun’s heart were released. They were both over fifty; what was there left to argue about? He hugged Yao Minzhi and lay down on the bed.

Before long, Yao Minzhi heard his breathing become steady. She knew he had fallen asleep. She turned to look at him. Bathed in the light from outside the window, Luo Shixun’s face was clearly visible. There were many wrinkles on his forehead. Time had left deep marks on him as well.

A smile appeared on Yao Minzhi’s face. She felt fortunate to have been entangled with this man for a lifetime. Though she had suffered and hated, this man had ultimately stayed by her side. At this moment, she felt that having someone to lean on was wonderful. Yao Minzhi smiled: she had won this battle after all.

After leaving the room, Luo Yichen felt an indescribable restlessness. He went to the rooftop to drink and encountered Mu Lichen there. Luo Yichen had always cherished his younger brother. He felt that in this whole affair, the boy was the most innocent and pitiful of them all.

Mu Lichen opened a can of beer and handed it to him. "Did you get into an argument with him?"

"Yes. Have you seen him?"

"No. Do I have any connection to him?"

Luo Yichen could sense the resentment in his brother’s heart. He advised, "Lichen, being unconnected to him is actually a blessing. I can’t escape it no matter how hard I try."

"Is that so? But the people I am connected to are not my real family." Mu Lichen’s heart ached to the extreme.

Luo Yichen comforted him, "Grandfather will eventually let you return to the Luo family. Now that you have as many shares under your name as I do, it shows he isn't biased."

"Brother, you are the only one in the whole family who treats me like kin," Mu Lichen said, choking back tears.

"Alright! Let's stop talking about unhappy things. Let's drink!"

The brothers went through bottle after bottle until they were intoxicated. Mu Lichen suddenly asked, "What do you like about Shang Qi?"

"I don't know, I just fell in love with her," Luo Yichen mumbled.

Mu Lichen thought to himself: Brother, I’m sorry. For the sake of Guizhen, I must take Shang Qi away. There is only a misunderstanding between you and Guizhen. Without Shang Qi, you two will be happy...

Old Master Luo called Luo Shixun into the study. "I heard you kept Minzhi in your room last night?"

Although Luo Shixun was getting on in years, he still felt embarrassed being asked by his father. He stammered, "Yes..."

"If you had realized this sooner, why would things have turned out like this? Now, the ones most hurt are my two grandsons."

Luo Shixun looked troubled. "Although Yichen argued with me, he did come to see me eventually. But as for Lichen, his door remains firmly shut."

"Regretting it now? Some things take time; you have to give the children space."

Luo Shixun said, "By the way, Dad! Why didn't you stop Yichen’s divorce? We can't let the feud with the Yin family grow any deeper!"

"Hmph!" Old Master Luo grunted angrily. "It's one thing that Yin Guizhen doesn't please Yichen. All she had to do was be a good president's wife and carry on the Luo family line. But they’ve been married for five years without a hint of progress. And Lichen has always been infatuated with her—tell me, could I keep her in the Luo family?"

"What?" Luo Shixun was shocked. "Then she certainly cannot stay."

"Lichen is still very close to her. That boy still resents me for not letting him into the Luo family, so he won't listen to a word I say." Old Master Luo looked helpless.

Luo Shixun complained, "Dad, you really! The child is innocent; why must you exclude Lichen?"

Old Master Luo slapped his son on the shoulder and roared, "Isn't this all the trouble you caused? You ran off to the United States and left Minzhi all alone. If I had brought your illegitimate son into the house, how could she have stayed? For over thirty years, if she hadn't been guarding this place, who would have taken care of these two children?"

Luo Shixun knew he was at fault and said nothing more. Old Master Luo continued, "Since you're back, don't leave again. Mend your relationship with Minzhi. When the opportunity arises, I will let Lichen acknowledge his ancestry. It truly has been unfair to him all these years."

"Understood. Regarding the funding issue, I spoke with Yichen last night, but he said he didn't need help."

Old Master Luo pondered for a moment. "Don't get involved just yet. The Xi family is making things difficult on purpose. If we seek other paths during this struggle, it will be very difficult to raise capital in the future, and that would put us in a very passive position! Yichen is a clever boy; let him try his hand first."

"Very well."

"Also, regarding the marriage of the two boys, you need to pay more attention. I want to see my great-grandchildren before I close my eyes!"

"I understand."

Old Master Luo waved his hand, signaling for his son to leave. Now that Luo Shixun was back, he could finally catch his breath and rest.

Luo Yichen was swamped with work regarding the loan. This time, he didn't even have time to call Shang Qi. She could only occasionally catch a glimpse of him from afar. One day, Luo Yichen was still working past eight o'clock. Shang Qi knocked on the door with takeout. "Have something to eat."

Luo Yichen was hungry, so he took the food and began to eat. Only when he was nearly finished did he say, "So thoughtful today? You even know to bring me food."

"Everyone in the company has gone home. I saw you were still here, so I ordered takeout for you."

Luo Yichen suddenly felt that this "sneaking around" was truly unfair to Shang Qi. At that moment, he stopped worrying about whether she could handle the role of a president's wife; he just wanted everyone to know she was his woman. However, Xi Jingpeng was currently making things difficult for him. If he made their relationship public now, it would only provoke him and make the loan issue worse.

He said, "Qiqi, once the funding issue is settled, I want to introduce you to my family."

Shang Qi looked troubled and remained silent. She felt very strange and fearful toward the Luo family. A wealthy household like that made her shy away. She loved Luo Yichen, and that feeling wasn't something she could just cut off. Therefore, she preferred that they maintain the status quo.

Shang Qi changed the subject, asking, "Has there been any progress with the loan?"