Han Huizhong – the head of the Han family and a very shrewd and cunning businessman who was just as cruel and merciless in his methods.

To build the Han empire, he had used every tactic at his disposal to reach where he stood now. Nobody had any power over his authority.

Power, money, influence, and threats – There was nothing he didn’t use to eliminate whatever came in his way. The employees in the Han Corps admired him as much as they feared him because they knew one fact deeply etched into their hearts.

The thing Han Huizhong hated the most was weaklings. He despised weak and vulnerable people. There was no place for such people in his life who could be crushed by a single blow by whatever life would throw at them. 

There were many instances where he had mercilessly fired employees just because they hesitated to speak. One moment of doubt, and they were out.

At this moment, that was what Zhiyuan was to him.

Nothing more than a weak man.

Han Huizhong banged his fist on the table, irritated with Zhiyuan’s silence.

“Why. Were. You. Investigating. That. Woman? Answer me!”

Han Mingli and Han Guang jumped in the seat, feeling the scare. No matter whom his anger was directed at, everybody felt a sense of oppression whenever he was this furious.

Siying was too afraid to even look at his grandfather and tightly clutched Xinyi’s arm.

Xinyi panicked and looked as if she wanted to intervene, but Han Huizhong’s one glare stopped her.

Han Guang spoke as she mocked, looking at Xinyi, “Why are you even asking him, Uncle? We all know why Zhiyuan asked for an investigation.”

Han Mingli gritted his teeth and tried to signal her with his gaze.

Don’t talk when Uncle is so angry! You want to die!?

But Han Guang didn’t get his message. Her sharp gaze fell upon Xinyi. “It’s all because of her! Because she entered his life and forced this marriage on Zhiyuan. A pathetic, poor girl with no background became the daughter-in-law of the Han family.”

Xinyi quickly said, “Aunt, please calm down…Siying is here. In front of him-”

“I don’t care about your son!” Han Guang hatefully glared at Siying. “I hate you and Siying!”

Siying’s eyes watered, and he lowered his head, his small body trembling.

“Aunt, that’s enough,” Han Zhiyuan spoke, coldly staring straight at Han Guang, “Not a word against them.”

Han Guang slightly stiffened.

Xinyi patted Siying’s head. “Siying. Go to your room and play inside. I will bring your pastries there.”

“Mama…” He was afraid but very concerned for his parents too.

Han Huizhong was furious with Zhiyuan, and Han Guang was cursing Xinyi, and he didn’t know why.

She smiled. “Mama will be back, okay? Be a good boy and wait in your room.”

Siying reluctantly hopped down from her lap and went inside, peeking behind him from time to time.

Han Mingli nudged her hard and whispered. “Stop it already.

She glared at her husband. “Why should I stop?”

Han Mingli wished to bang his head on the wall.

Can you not see the storm in Uncle’s eyes, you, fool!? We are so dead!

Han Guang then looked at Zhiyuan, “And why do you care about Xinyi and Siying! Why do you pretend as if you care about them?”

Zhiyuan said, “I don’t have to pretend anything. Xinyi is my wife, and Siying is my son. I will not listen to anything against them. I think I have already made myself clear before, Aunt.”

“Then what about Caihong?”

Silence.

Xinyi quietly clenched her fists. The memories came flooding back to her, and once again, it harshly reminded her how she wasn’t the woman in Zhiyuan’s heart.

The mention of Caihong made the temperature drop to below freezing point, and the dangerous aura around Han Huizhong only intensified.

Han Guang probed. “If you care about Xinyi so much, then why are you still searching for her? What do you want to do with her? Admit it, Zhiyuan! If not for Xinyi, then you would have been so happy with-”

“ENOUGH!” Han Huizhong’s voice roared throughout the mansion.

Han Guang immediately shut up. Han Mingli broke out in cold sweat.

Han Huizhong narrowed his eyes at Han Guang. “Han Guang.”

His cold and low voice sent shivers down her spine.

“Since you forgot that it was ME who brought Xinyi into the Han family, it’s time to make that fact drill into your useless brain.”

Han Guang’s heart thudded faster, but she still said, “Uncle, you brought her in this house because she played tricks on you! She fooled you! She only wants the status and wealth of the Han family.”

“Just like you do?” His tone was razor-sharp.

Han Guang widened her eyes. Her brows strained, and her eyes watered, feeling unjust. “Uncle…how can you say that? How can you think of me like that?” She covered her mouth. “I truly care about this family…”

Han Huizhong sneered. “Of course. That’s why you slept with my foolish nephew and got yourself pregnant.”

She froze. Her face flushed in embarrassment. Han Mingli averted his gaze.

“U-uncle, even after all these years, you still misunderstand. It was an accident-”

“A planned accident. Yeah, I know everything,” he mocked, “You have quite the nerve to think that I can be fooled. So, as a reward for your audacity, your credit cards will be frozen for a month, and neither you nor Mingli will spend a single penny of Han Corps.”

The couple looked at him in disbelief. She was about to protest, but he ignored her.

He stood up and picked his cane. Then suddenly, he raised it and struck it hard on Zhiyuan’s shoulder.

“Zhiyuan!” Xinyi hastily got up. She worriedly checked his arm.

Zhiyuan’s brows slightly furrowed, but he didn’t resist.

“I am alright, Xinyi,” he faintly smiled. He had already expected this. It was three years now that his grandfather frequently started to hit him whenever he got furious at him.

“Han Zhiyuan. I don’t want to hear about that Caihong ever again,” he ordered as the final ultimatum. “If I did, then… Siying will face the consequences of your actions.”

Xinyi was aghast.

Siying…

Zhiyuan stiffened, and his aura turned cold. “Grandpa. Don’t bring Siying in between this.”

Han Huizhong sneered. “I will. That’s why it’s wise not to test my patience.”

Then he looked at Xinyi. “After your pastry party with your son is done, bring my tea to my study.”