"It's normal for our son to have things to do outside. He's an adult. You should talk to him nicely. Don't get angry with your own son."
Wen Shiqian was sitting on the sofa, and a feather duster was placed on the coffee table beside him.
Jiang Ruanqing was stroking his arm, speaking gently while keeping her eyes fixed on the window the whole time.
Last night's incident couldn't be concealed after all, and the news reached Wen Shiqian's ears.
Wen Minhao didn't come back all night. Early in the morning, Wen Shiqian skipped breakfast and sat on the sofa waiting for him to return.
The servants outside the courtyard were standing in a line. The atmosphere in the living room was too tense, so they didn't dare to stay inside.
"Master Wen is back," whispered the servant closest to the door.
All the heads turned in unison like sunflowers.
The hungover Wen Minhao got out of the car reeking of alcohol. He tossed the car keys into the servant's arms and sauntered casually towards the living room.
As soon as he entered, he saw the two serious - looking people on the sofa.
"Mom, Dad, what are you discussing here?" Wen Minhao said with a big smile as he walked over.
Jiang Ruanqing's eyes were almost rolling back, but Wen Minhao didn't notice her warning look at all.
"Where did you go fooling around all night?" Wen Shiqian asked.
Being used to being spoiled, Wen Minhao still behaved casually in front of Wen Shiqian. He lay on the sofa, lifted his leg, and put his foot on the coffee table. "Just chatting with some friends in a bar."
"About what?" Wen Shiqian asked again.
Wen Minhao looked at him and nudged Jiang Ruanqing's arm. "Mom, what's wrong with Dad today?"
"Lao Wen, the kid just got back. Don't keep bombarding him with questions. There are still things to do in the company. It's getting late. Don't delay your work." Jiang Ruanqing shook off Wen Minhao's hand and half - leaned against Wen Shiqian.
Seeing the mother - son act in tandem, Wen Shiqian's anger flared up even more. He mercilessly pushed Jiang Ruanqing away, grabbed the feather duster on the coffee table, and pointed it at Wen Minhao. "You brat, do you think I don't know what you've been up to? I think you're a disaster. Sooner or later, you'll ruin Wenshi!"
The feather duster hit the table, scaring Wen Minhao into taking his foot off. He wriggled his body, looking confused. "What do you mean ruin Wenshi? I don't understand what you're talking about."
He just went out for a drink last night. Could it be that Wenshi was so fragile that he wasn't even allowed to drink?
Wen Minhao got up impatiently from the sofa and deliberately walked around Wen Shiqian. "Mom, I'm going upstairs. Please talk some sense into Dad. Don't keep thinking that Wenshi is going to go bankrupt."
He said all the wrong things, and Wen Shiqian shot up from the sofa and rushed in front of him without a word.
The duster landed on his shoulder, and Wen Minhao yelped in pain and spun around on the spot.
"Dad, are you crazy!"
Seeing this, Jiang Ruanqing rushed to push Wen Shiqian away in a hurry. She pulled down Wen Minhao's shoulder clothes. "Does it hurt?"
The whole shoulder was red from the blow of the feather duster.
Jiang Ruanqing turned around accusingly and glared at Wen Shiqian. "He's your son, not your enemy. Do you have to be so cruel?"
"Mom, it hurts so much," Wen Minhao whined as he nestled into Jiang Ruanqing's arms like a baby.
He was a man in his twenties but still hiding in his mother's arms. Seeing Jiang Ruanqing's doting look, Wen Shiqian reached out and grabbed Wen Minhao by the collar and pulled him out. "Even if you scream your lungs out today, your mom can't save you."
He kicked Wen Minhao's knee, and Wen Minhao's weak knees gave way, making him kneel on the ground.
Jiang Ruanqing wanted to step forward to stop him, but before she could even touch them, Wen Shiqian dragged and pushed her onto the sofa.
"Mom, Dad's crazy. You have to save me." Wen Minhao waved his limbs frantically and was almost crawling away.
When she fell, her foot hit the leg of the coffee table. Jiang Ruanqing covered her foot and limped towards Wen Minhao.
"If you come any closer, I'll deal with you too!" Wen Shiqian warned.
He usually rarely intervened in his son's affairs. Whether Wen Minhao caused trouble or made mistakes outside, Jiang Ruanqing would always clean up his mess. A little mischief was one thing, but he had the audacity to provoke Mr. Lu.
Thinking of the call he received yesterday afternoon, Wen Shiqian brought the duster down hard on Wen Minhao's back.
As he swung the duster, it made a tearing sound on Wen Minhao's clothes. Wen Minhao lay on the ground, wriggling left and right like a centipede to avoid the blows.
After several swings, Wen Shiqian was exhausted.
Wen Minhao was in so much pain that he couldn't make a sound. He lay lifeless on the floor.
"Minhao!" Jiang Ruanqing cried and rushed over. Her hand hovered in the air, not knowing where to touch him.
Wen Shiqian threw the feather duster on the ground and warned the two below. "Stay at home properly. If I find out that you provoke the Lu family again, it won't be just a few punches like today."
He stepped over Wen Minhao and left with his anger still smoldering.
"Minhao?" Jiang Ruanqing knelt on the ground and gently touched his cheek with her finger. "Does it hurt?"
"Mom," Wen Minhao said, but the movement tugged at his wound, and he gasped in pain for a long time.
Jiang Ruanqing wiped his cheek with a handkerchief. "It's okay. Your dad has gone out."
She helped him to the sofa. The servant brought some antiseptic medicine, a basin of water, and a towel.
"Is Dad crazy today? I'm his own son," Wen Minhao said, with the corner of his mouth twitching. He pushed the servant's hand away impatiently. "It hurts so much. Can't you be gentler?"
The servant retracted her hand nervously.
Jiang Ruanqing took the cotton swab from her hand. Looking at the servants in the way, she said, "Okay, go and do something else. Don't be in the way here."
"Mom, what's wrong with Dad today?"
"It's all because of the Lu family. You've annoyed Mr. Lu by provoking Wen Sining these days. There was supposed to be a small project from the Lu family for Wenshi, but Lu Luochen called your dad yesterday afternoon and canceled the cooperation."
"And then?"
Jiang Ruanqing threw the cotton swab in the trash can and looked up at the curious Wen Minhao. "Your dad waited for you all night last night. He was so angry that he skipped breakfast. I've reminded you before that Wen Sining is no longer part of our family. You can't treat her the way you used to. Now look, you've angered the old man."
After applying the medicine to the wound, Wen Minhao moved his arm. "She won't be happy for long. Once I get hold of her weakness, I'll make everyone know the consequence of provoking me."
Slap!
Jiang Ruanqing slapped Wen Minhao on the shoulder. "You brat. If you cause more trouble, your dad will really kick you out."