Chapter 354

Xu Yanfeng listened to the recording over and over, pulled off the earphones and tossed them aside, then went downstairs. The living room was filled with low murmurs; he slowly lifted his eyelids, and Xia Xi's gentle, bright profile came into view, the corners of her mouth turning up as she pointed at a photo in the album and asked Zhong Yinghong.

The sound was intermittent, Xu Yanfeng couldn't make it out. Zhong Yinghong said something, and Xia Xi's smile widened, her laughter spilling out, clear and pleasant.

His eye sockets felt sore and swollen, Xu Yanfeng closed his eyes, wondering how she could endure so much.

Back in college, she acted boldly, did as she pleased, feared nothing, and nothing could stop her. If someone upset her, she wouldn't ask for help—she'd go settle the score herself.

Yet in this matter, she could endure so much.

Xia Xi was engrossed in the photo album, not noticing Xu Yanfeng; with each page she turned, she curiously asked Zhong Yinghong under what circumstances the photo was taken, exclaiming how adorable Xu Yanfeng was as a child, both bossy and cute, so different from now.

Zi Heng's personality still takes after his father more. Anyway, she wasn't like that as a child; she was more mischievous, and with Grandma and Su Jinru busy, she often made Xia Yue stomp her feet in anger.

Zhong Yinghong was amused by her, eyes crinkling with laughter, and the photos drew her into recalling one past event after another.

Xu Yanfeng rushed to the study, didn't knock, and flung the door open forcefully.

The door panel slammed with a bang, hit the wall and bounced back, startling Xu Guanshan, who was inside on a phone call.

Xu Guanshan gripped his phone, brows furrowed, displeasedly glanced at the unfilial son who had barged in, silently cursing him for having lived to no purpose, becoming ever more lawless, forgetting all the etiquette he once learned.

"I have something to attend to; I'll talk to you later." Xu Guanshan's expression darkened, his voice kept steady as he told the person on the phone, hung up, and stared straight at Xu Yanfeng, whose face was stormy.

"Just say what you have to say; no need to put on a look like you want to eat me." Xu Guanshan didn't feel he owed him anything; on the contrary, he had given him the best in the world, and didn't know what else he could be dissatisfied with, coming here just to vent his anger.

Xu Yanfeng stared fixedly at his motionless father; resentment, anger, and hostility burned in his eyes like a volcano ready to erupt.

After who knows how long of staring at each other, Xu Yanfeng seemed to find his voice, laced with hatred: "Seven years ago, it was you who sought out Xia Xi and made her leave me." He spoke each word deliberately, each syllable forced from between his teeth.

Xu Guanshan blinked, his gaze flicking to the doorway, suspecting Xia Xi.

Seeing through his thoughts, Xu Yanfeng's eyes turned gloomy, and he let out a cold laugh: "It wasn't her saying it. When you did this, you never imagined I'd find out one day—I hate you even more than I did at eight, I hate your hypocrisy, I hate your betrayal of my mother..."

A crackling sound, like shattering porcelain, Zhong Yinghong heard it and muttered, "Sounds like it's coming from the study." Her heart raced, she felt uneasy; after a moment she moved the open photo album onto Xia Xi's lap and said, "I'll go check."

Xia Xi turned her head, watching Zhong Yinghong walk toward the study; it seemed a while since she'd last seen Xu Yanfeng. Just as the thought formed, a disorderly footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Xu Junmo jumped down three steps at a time, hurrying, phone in hand, his expression anxious and flustered.

Seeing only Xia Xi in the living room, Xu Junmo glanced around; the space was empty and quiet. He swallowed, voice tight: "Where's Xu Er?"

Xia Xi shook her head blankly.

Xu Junmo was anxious like an ant on a hot pan, sweat beading on his back. He had sent Xu Yanfeng a voice message whose content he himself had never heard; just now, out of curiosity, he opened and listened to it.

If he hadn't listened, he wouldn't have known; hearing it startled him.

Xu Yanfeng's breakup back then was actually orchestrated by Xu Guanshan meddling—how terrifying. Xu Yanfeng's rebellious phase came late, only recently started; now that Xu Guanshan knows, he can't help but explode.

Zhong Yinghong rushed to the study door and just happened to hear Xu Yanfeng say: "Ruthless heart, who can match you? You clearly know that seeing you entwined with that woman at age eight is my lifelong nightmare, yet you used this method to sever my feelings for Xia Xi."

Zhong Yinghong froze, a buzzing filled her ears like many tiny insects, her brain shut down, a blank void, unable to think, only the phrase repeating: "You clearly know that seeing you entwined with that woman at age eight is my lifelong nightmare..."

Entwined with that woman?

At age eight?

When Xu Yanfeng was eight, the thing she remembered most vividly was his falling down the stairs and breaking his arm; she hadn't seen it herself, but hearing of it she rushed back from her parents' home. The little boy sat dejected in a chair, his small face downcast, ignoring anyone who spoke to him, his arm in a cast suspended by bandages around his neck, his cheeks and neck still bearing an undiminished rash. It was said he'd been sent home early by the teacher due to an allergic reaction at school.

Ask him anything and he wouldn't answer, remaining silent; his once dark, bright eyes were now dull and shadowed, lacking luster.

"... Mom?"

Xu Junmo came over, at once seeing Zhong Yinghong frozen like stone; he called her name, she didn't respond, and only when he drew near did he notice her face was deathly pale.

"Mom." Xu Junmo called again, stepping forward to support her.

With someone supporting her, Zhong Yinghong relaxed her whole body, her legs went weak and she staggered backward. Xu Junmo gripped her firmly, steadying her: "Mom? What's wrong?!"

His voice rose, tinged with astonishment, finally causing the father and son locked in confrontation in the study to stop. Their attention simultaneously turned outward, where they saw the panicked Xu Junmo and the dazed Zhong Yinghong.

Inside and outside the door lay a prolonged silence.

The moment Xu Yanfeng turned his face, a flash of red stabbed Zhong Yinghong's eyes, her gaze locking onto his forehead. Blood streamed down, sliding from the brow's end to hang at his temple.

The clean floor now bore several shards of porcelain, the teacup Xu Guanshan often used; it was easy to imagine what had just happened—Xu Guanshan had smashed the teacup against Xu Yanfeng's head, the cup falling and shattering on the floor.

Tears quickly welled in Zhong Yinghong's eyes; Xu Yanfeng's heart fluttered, his mind in turmoil—his mother must have heard. He had kept it secret for so many years precisely to spare her pain, never expecting her to find out anyway.

He hated Xu Guanshan intensely, yet did not want to harm his innocent mother.

Xu Yanfeng licked his lips, unable to utter a word. He didn't know how to mend this situation; any platitudes felt too feeble.

"Go tend to your wound." Zhong Yinghong forced herself to suppress her emotions, her voice still trembling; she looked at the already‑standing Xu Guanshan, her throat tight, and after a pause managed to ask, "Is what Ah Feng said true? Did you cheat?"

Xu Guanshan said nothing.

Xu Yanfeng also didn't move a step in response to his mother's words.

"You all leave." Zhong Yinghong suddenly found strength, pushing away Xu Junmo who had been supporting her, her vision blurred by tears, she repeated, "Both of you, get out, get out!"

A low, hoarse howl, laden with repression and anguish.

With such a commotion, Xia Xi in the living room could no longer stay seated; she set the album on the sofa and rose, heading toward the study.

The family of four, each with their own expression. Xia Xi froze for a second, then nervously grabbed Xu Yanfeng's arm, frowning as she fixed her gaze on the wound on his forehead—a vivid red streak congealed on his cold‑white skin, shocking, with beads of blood still seeping from the injury.

"How did this happen?"

Xia Xi flustered, reaching for something to staunch the bleeding, but Xu Yanfeng seized her hand, lowered his head to glance at her with a reassuring look, signaling he was fine. Then he called to Xu Junmo: "Brother, let's go."

By now, no amount of concealment would help. Their mother appeared gentle and weak, yet inwardly strong; some things she could not utter in front of her sons.

Xu Junmo felt he had caused a great disaster, his heart pounding, and he walked away slowly, moving his hands and feet in unison.