The dinner gathering probably ended around 9 pm, and the return trip was still driven by Shen Yu because Huo Mingshan had been drinking.
On the way back, Huo Feng sat alone in the back seat, sullen, his gaze drifting outside the window, staring blankly and losing focus.
That night, the confessions Han Lei made to Pu Sangzhi particularly gnawed at Huo Feng. Especially that phrase, "The one who ends up with her is the winner, everything now is temporary"...
That sentence was outright threatening, making Huo Feng not only uncomfortable listening to it but it also stuck in his mind!
Although Han Lei was sowhat blindly confident, what he said wasn’t entirely devoid of sense.
Indeed, the one who ends up with her is the winner, everything now is temporary.
That phrase echoed in Huo Feng’s head, a sense of unease roiling in his heart.
Thinking: She’s still so excellent, and these two years she’s only beco more beautiful with no sign of getting ugly. If things go on like this, and the quality of n around her keeps increasing, the threat to Huo Feng becos bigger and bigger...
It’s disturbing enough to think about, creating a sense of forlornness!
Sitting in the front seat, the married couple Shen Yu and Huo Mingshan noticed that Huo Feng, who had been so talkative all evening, was now quiet throughout the ride, seeming very odd, which made them vaguely worried.
Shen Yu nudged Huo Mingshan and gave him a look, suggesting he should speak up.
Huo Mingshan understood her intention. He straightened his clothes, quickly took on a fatherly tone, cleared his throat, and began, "The decision to donate the money to the school was a mutual idea between your mother and . We both agree that such a large sum of money is hard for us to swallow and frankly isn’t ours to take in the first place. When you demanded it with such entitlent, with your grandfather present, your mother didn’t speak out of respect for him. In truth, wanting such a large amount of money was wrong, and the principal agreed without bargaining because of your grandfather’s presence. The money should be partially returned to him. Just taking a reasonable amount for compensation would be enough. This suggestion to donate was made to save everyone’s face. That’s all there is to it, being angry won’t help, we can’t accept this money in good conscience."
Huo Feng’s foul mood was sowhat interrupted by Huo Mingshan.
Hearing Huo Mingshan explain it like that, Huo Feng still refused to accept it, "Nice excuses! But tell , was it necessary to give up 900,000? As if my scars and the ones on my neck! Such a big deal settled with just 100,000?"
"Xiaofeng, don’t speak to your dad in that tone."
Huo Feng was rebuked by Shen Yu, "The new teaching building was your dad’s suggestion, unanimously approved by the school board. Your dad was just promoted to associate professor this year, the school issued him a completely new contract. Principal Han holds your dad in high esteem and heavily relies on him, and he had always planned to personally donate so money for constructive asures for the school. So, of the 900,000, your dad personally contributed 100,000. Out of the total 1 million, 200,000 are left for you, and it’s already deposited in a fixed-term account in the bank to be yours after you graduate from college. Don’t be ungrateful, at your age holding onto 1 million is impossible. Any sensible parent wouldn’t hand over such a large sum of money to their child."
"Pfft..."
Huo Feng ended up being chastised and he felt quite downhearted.
From having 1 million to only 200,000, Huo Feng found that he couldn’t say anything in protest.
Whatever the elders say goes, they use it however they want...
What can he do, being just a kid?
"Your dad said, you even had him write an IOU, claiming he owes you 1 million, and you wanted to sever father-son ties. You really did go too far!"
Driving, Shen Yu added, "The reason I didn’t stop you that day and let you, a child, co up with ideas and demand benefits from others, was because I knew about your temperant. I was indulging you, allowing you to vent on your own. Initially, for your sake, your dad had even prepared for the worst outco. He was even considering resigning to fight a lawsuit. It was you who said not to make such a fuss. From now on, you can’t speak to your dad like that again; it’s heartless!"
"Pfft..."
Huo Feng muttered disapprovingly.
"Let’s consider the matter closed."
Shen Yu glanced at Huo Feng through the rearview mirror, "Family shouldn’t hurt each other over money. 1 million isn’t that significant; family is what matters most. You’ve already made your dad nearly bald with worry, do you want to cause him high blood pressure as well?"
"Pfft..."
Huo Feng continued in the sa manner.
After saying this, the silent Huo Feng beside him was truly angry.
Turning around, he scolded him, "When your mother talks to you, what kind of attitude is that! How did I raise such an unfilial son! You’ve cost so much money throughout the years, and now you expect to sign an IOU for 1 million for you! Are you here to collect debts?"
"Don’t worry! I’ll pay you back the money you spent on !"
Huo Feng retorted defiantly, "How much is left? 200,000? Can I buy so respect from you with that? I want you to apologize. You have never respected , Huo Feng, neither have the two of you! With such a major issue and so much money spent, no one consulted ! I heard it from others, and only afterwards you ca to with all these excuses, turning to bla ! If you’d told earlier, prepared to discuss the money with first, would I have been so upset? Are you blaless? You just don’t respect ! Is 200,000 enough to buy your apology and future respect for , Huo Feng?"
At that mont, Huo Feng was incredibly defiant, his deanor imposing, not holding anyone in regard.
Because he didn’t acknowledge the accusations Shen Yu had prepared for him, nor did he think he was as heartless as they claid, and he certainly didn’t believe he was still a child at 18!
In his mind he thought: First, he was of legal age.
Second, it was unacceptable for a family of three not to discuss such an important matter.
Third, they were even shifting the bla onto him, Huo Feng, which was like the pot calling the kettle black!
Therefore, he couldn’t let these elders who didn’t respect him off the hook! Nor could he show weakness, he had to be strong!
Huo Feng had calculated Huo Mingshan’s temper perfectly.
He knew that old Huo, with his explosive temper, definitely wouldn’t apologize to him for this!
He had already prepared himself for a big argunt with old Huo. As soon as the car arrived ho, he would storm out, staging a runaway from ho to let them both see their mistake!
The fully scheming Huo Feng was now ready for battle!
"You little brat, you did such an unfilial thing before, and you still expect us to apologize to you!"
Huo Mingshan in the front seat imdiately got ticked off by Huo Feng’s words, opening his mouth ready to start an argunt, which was exactly what Huo Feng had hoped for!
But before Huo Mingshan could start the argunt, Shen Yu by his side held him back!
As irascible as Huo Mingshan was, once Shen Yu held him back, he shut his mouth...
Seeing this situation unfold, Huo Feng’s eyes narrowed, sensing sothing bad was about to happen!
"Xiaofeng is right. The money was his compensation, and we didn’t consult him before using it. That indeed wasn’t respectful enough towards him."
Shen Yu spoke calmly and slowly, "Mom will apologize to you first. We didn’t respect you enough and still treated you like a child. I’m sorry."
"Mom!"
Huo Feng cried out!
Too humiliated!
How could they apologize so easily!
They’re aiming for the last 200,000!
"Old Huo, as adults, we should lead by example. When we make a mistake, we must admit it. Now it’s your turn to apologize," Shen Yu said to Huo Mingshan with the sa patience.
Huo Mingshan had by then beco as docile as a lamb, tad by her, and while he still had a belly of anger, he awkwardly muttered an apology to Huo Feng, "Yes, we indeed didn’t respect you. Since your mom has spoken, I’m sorry."
"Old Huo!"
Huo Feng couldn’t help but exclaim!
His eyes widened, looking at them both in panic and disbelief!
He was speechless with fright!
They had no scruples, apologizing at the drop of a hat, and with no sign of wanting to argue!
What about his 200,000...
Then, Shen Yu went on to say, "Now that you’ve accepted the apology, you understand the good intentions behind your dad’s decision. With that in mind, the 200,000 won’t be returned to you."
"Mom, mom, mom..."
Huo Feng was truly panicking now, "You...this is..."
Shen Yu pursed the corners of her mouth, revealing a clever smile, "I knew you weren’t concerned about the money. You’re right, respect and apology are more important than money. In life, there are things that must be protected. Spending 200,000 to earn our respect for you was also a lesson for us. From now on, your dad and I will treat you like an adult and will certainly discuss important family matters with you."
"Don’t, mom..."
Huo Feng was almost stuttering, "Can I take it back... I’ll apologize to you guys, I was also wrong... that money..."
Shen Yu smiled, "The money, didn’t you just spend it?"
"I..."
Damn it...
Huo Feng truly couldn’t express his suffering!
...
So, when Huo Feng called Pu Sangzhi that night, he did so with a breathless tone once again.
He spoke in anguish, "I am truly broke now... oh no... another loss of 200,000... oh..."
On the other end of the call, Pu Sangzhi was laughing.
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