Chapter 89: Father and Son Confrontation

Inside the study.

Jin Liangjin was sitting in a leather swivel chair behind the desk, his back to the door; he only turned around upon hearing movement. His custom-made suit jacket was taken off to the side, revealing a dark gray vest underneath. He flipped a page of the copy of *Crime and Punishment* in his hands and read lazily from the book: "Once a person with a conscience realizes their mistake, they will feel deep pain. This is also a form of punishment for him."

Jin Liangjin looked up at his son: "Do you think that's correct?"

The air was silent.

Jin Shaoyu stood in the study, tall and upright, clutching a folder in his hands, saying nothing.

In contrast, Jin Liangjin had a faint look in his eyes, not at all surprised that Jin Shaoyu had come to find him at this moment. He put down the book: "I remember that when Ling Wu was young, he liked reading this book very much."

"And you preferred reading fairy tales."

As if he didn't understand the metaphor, Jin Shaoyu slammed the folder onto the desk. Anger seemed to burn through all his reason, and he slammed both hands hard onto the tabletop: "What exactly did you do?! Mom didn't die in a car accident!"

"What on earth are you all hiding from me!"

The moment Jin Shaoyu slammed the table, the AI robot in the study realized the situation was wrong and aimed its gun at him.

Jin Liangjin raised a finger, and the AI robot received the command to retract the gun. At the same time, Jin Shaoyu glared coldly, his lips trembling slightly, his entire aura dejected and resentful.

Jin Liangjin said: "Shaoyu, you must understand one thing: in the entire Jin Family, no one can speak to me like this."

The study was tightly shut. Jin Shaoyu listened to the ticking of the floor clock, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva into his dry throat.

He heard Jin Liangjin say again: "Of course, except for your brother. He will always have preferential treatment from me... It's a pity that he might never speak to me as impatiently as you do."

Jin Shaoyu: "Of course!"

"You've liked him since you were a child! Of course you're willing to give him preferential treatment. You think everything about me is bad, and besides Mom and him, you don't even bother to look at me!"

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the scenes of Ling Wu patting his back and comforting him...

Jin Liangjin, however, didn't even glance at the folder. He pulled out the papers inside and burned them with a lighter; the firelight cast a warm orange glow on both their faces.

The tongues of flame danced in Jin Liangjin's calm pupils.

He sized up Jin Shaoyu's distraught appearance: "It seems you went to ask Ling Wu. How was it?"

"He didn't tell you the truth, did he?"

The firelight burned the paper to ashes.

There was a faint, pungent smell of burning in the air.

Jin Liangjin tossed the lighter aside: "Before you have the ability, everything you want to see is only what I want you to see."

"Just like this medical record; I think it's time for you to know."

Jin Shaoyu refused to give in: "I am Mom's son, I have the right to know the truth. Was it you who drove Ling Wu away back then?"

"I don't believe he would abandon me."

"Ling Wu is the son I cherish most; why would I drive him away to a foreign land? I merely let him leave..." Jin Liangjin crossed his fingers, his seasoned eyes gazing at Jin Shaoyu, and said slowly: "The choices were all his own."

"I can only say that when it came to a choice between two, you were the one who was abandoned."

Jin Shaoyu's fingertips dug into his flesh.

He repeated this sentence over and over, as if he wanted to break the words apart and swallow them into his stomach.

When it came to a choice between two, he was the one who was abandoned.

He was the one who was abandoned!

Jin Shaoyu stood up coldly: "Heh, whether I am the one who was abandoned or not, it only counts if he says so."

"Dad, it's been so many years, you are always like this—heartless, self-righteous, always thinking you can control everything about everyone, manipulate everyone's emotions, always thinking everyone can be your chess piece!"

"Is there even a shred of blood kinship in your bones?"

Jin Liangjin raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Jin Shaoyu continued: "Don't pretend you like Ling Wu so much; he just occupies the title of your son. You don't like me, but you still made me your heir. Likewise, you like him, but it may not be that you like him—you just think he is excellent, that he leads the Jin Family toward a brighter future!"

"We are all just trinkets you use to pursue fame and fortune!"

"The second year after Mom died, you brought that mistress into the house. I observed her for a long time; she is hypocritical, mercenary, vicious, and two-faced. Aside from that face of hers that can barely pass, I really can't see what there is for you to like about her—is it just because of those two bastards?"

"And what is there about her worth you using?"

The more he spoke, the more unwilling he felt.

The more he spoke, the angrier he became.

Finally, all his emotions piled up in one place, forming a sense of grievance.

Jin Shaoyu's eyes uncontrollably turned red: "In all these years, I've never seen you miss Mom, let alone see you shed a single tear for her. Even when visiting the grave, you are the one who is dispensable. You are just this cold-blooded, this ruthless. You turn a blind eye to me, you are like a spectator, indifferent to everyone in this house. You aren't good to anyone; the only person you have ever loved from beginning to end is yourself!"

How pathetic.

Jin Liangjin's expression was cold and unhurried: "Everything in the world is based on personal interest."

"Shaoyu, my time is very precious, not meant for listening to your complaints. For these rebellious words of yours today, it wouldn't be excessive for me to enforce family discipline."

"Did Ling Wu not teach you any principles?"

Jin Shaoyu frowned.

Principles?

Mentioning this, he remembered the cryptic words the other party said when they confronted each other at the villa that day—"Without the strength to match it, do not seek to know the truth of matters beyond your control."

He only hated that he did not have full control over the real power of the Jin Family and could not yet manage to struggle against Jin Liangjin, a man who had experienced half a lifetime of blood and storms.

After a long while.

Jin Liangjin pressed the button on the side of the desk. Steward He quickly pushed open the door, stood quietly at the entrance, and extended a hand gentlemanly: "Second Young Master, please come out."

Jin Shaoyu did not move, still staring at his father.

His eyes were full of persistence.

And Jin Liangjin said: "You should be thankful that you still have an older brother willing to protect you. Look at Jin Bei and Yun Chu at home; do they dare speak to me like this?"

"Do they dare to make such a scene?"

Protecting him?

Jin Shaoyu keenly seized upon these few words: "What do you mean? What do you mean he protected me?!"

"Speak clearly!"

"Then you will have to ask him yourself," Jin Liangjin said, turning his back to him again, "provided he is willing to tell you."

Provided he dares to tell you.

He can tell you.

But Jin Liangjin did not say these last two points; he knew Ling Wu's hesitation all too well. He lowered his eyes to look at his slender fingertips, where there seemed to be a few strands of thread manipulating two marionettes. The face of the puppet under the threads was identical to Ling Wu, and the other face was Jin Shaoyu. Behind him, the thousands upon thousands of threads composed of money and status all had their corresponding puppets.