Chapter 141: Farewell (Part 1)

The Cheng Family once again held a family gathering, only this time, the gathering was colder and more awkward than before.

Three generations of the Cheng Family sat in their respective seats, all eating without saying a word.

Cheng Honglin looked at Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang, who did not even lift their heads, wanting to speak but holding back.

Previously, he had had a major conflict with his two granddaughters, but the result was that he had been dealt a fierce, silent slap in the face by Chen Che.

So much so that his prestige in the Cheng Family had vanished these past few days, and Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang had both been busy with their own affairs; if not for today's family gathering, he, the Patriarch, likely wouldn't have even seen his two granddaughters.

"Kexin, Kexiang, you two have worked hard lately, eat more."

Hou Huili was the first to speak to break the awkward situation, placing food into her two daughters' bowls.

"Thank you, Mom."

The sisters spoke in unison.

"..."

The scene fell into awkwardness once again.

Hou Huili signaled to Cheng Weijun, but the latter looked helpless; he also did not know what to say.

After all, he had previously stood on the side of his father, Cheng Honglin, and the silent slap had landed on his face as well; at this moment, he had even less right to speak.

Moreover, the structure of the Cheng Family had changed.

Cheng Kexin was the Director of the Inspection Bureau; although it was only an acting position, no one dared to look down on her.

As for Cheng Kexiang, because of the previous project roadshow, the Cheng Family's business partners only recognized Cheng Kexiang and no one else.

Therefore, while Cheng Honglin was still the Patriarch of the Cheng Family, in reality, the Patriarch's power had long since existed in name only.

And for a family head like Cheng Honglin, who was accustomed to wielding power, if the transition and inheritance of power did not proceed according to his wishes, a sense of loss of control and encroachment would arise in his heart; this gap of being sidelined was something he could not accept.

"Kexin, Kexiang, are you two still not planning to speak?"

Cheng Honglin finally could not hold back and spoke, though his tone revealed dissatisfaction and his habitual airs.

"What would you like us to say?"

Cheng Kexin said without lifting her head.

Cheng Honglin was mildly angry and said, "Is this the attitude you have when speaking to me? You two are indeed in your prime right now, but I am your grandfather after all, and I am still the one who calls the shots in the Cheng Family!"

"Everything the Cheng Family has now is because of Chen Che, and the fact that you can still sit here and eat is also because of Chen Che."

Cheng Kexiang had been socializing constantly these days, and her tone and way of speaking had shed their childishness, replaced by sharpness. "Grandfather, you had better stop putting on airs. Chen Che not only defeated the Zhang Family, but he also defeated your prejudice and denial of him!"

"I admit that I misjudged him. These past few days, I have also personally gone to the Qibao Association to check on his condition, thinking of apologizing in person to gain his forgiveness!"

Cheng Honglin said.

"Then how do you intend to apologize, Grandfather?" Cheng Kexin deliberately provoked Cheng Honglin.

"I... I..."

Cheng Honglin was annoyed, and in a fit of anger, he blurted out: "Once his injuries are healed, you invite him to the house, and I will kneel and apologize to him!"

"Patriarch Cheng is too polite. Since that is the case, I shall respectfully comply."

A clear voice rang out, and everyone in the Cheng Family was startled, all turning their heads to look.

Swish, swish, swish...

Eyes gathered at the entrance, and the Cheng family members all widened their eyes, saying in unison: "Chen Che!"

"You... you are alright?"

Cheng Kexin rushed over first, asking with concern.

Chen Che smiled and said, "I am fine. The fact that I could come here without alerting the Cheng Family guards is proof enough that I am fine."

"That is truly wonderful!"

Cheng Kexin said, genuinely happy.

"Sit down, sit down! You came just in time!" Cheng Kexiang also returned to her girlhood side, pulling Chen Che's arm to sit beside her.

Hou Huili recovered from her shock and hurriedly said to the servant, "Quick, add a set of bowls and chopsticks!"

The servant hurried back and forth, placing the bowls and chopsticks in front of Chen Che.

At this moment, Chen Che looked at the dumbfounded Cheng Honglin with a half-smile.

Cheng Honglin's expression was conflicted; he never expected that the moment his words left his mouth, Chen Che would arrive!

For him, an elder, to kneel to a junior—this was too humiliating!

However, thinking of how Chen Che had saved his life more than once, helped protect the Cheng Family from the Zhang Family, and considering everything he had done before... kneeling to apologize was indeed not excessive!

Cheng Honglin steeled his heart, stood up abruptly, and with a thud, knelt down before Chen Che, saying sincerely, "Mr. Chen, I was wrong before. I apologize to you and express my gratitude. Please forgive me!"

"Eh, Grandfather Cheng, I was just joking, you don't have to take it seriously!"

Chen Che caught Cheng Honglin in time and helped him up.

He did indeed want to teach Cheng Honglin a lesson, but for Cheng Kexin's sake, he stopped while he was ahead, a small punishment as a warning.

Cheng Honglin also realized that he hadn't actually knelt on the ground; the second before he knelt, Chen Che had used his foot to cushion his knees.

This gesture preserved Cheng Honglin's dignity as an elder.

Realizing this, a surge of intense shame and admiration welled up in Cheng Honglin's heart.

Chen Che's magnanimity was broader than his own, an old hand in the world; he truly felt ashamed of his inferiority!

"Mr. Chen, I am truly sorry. I prided myself on being clever my whole life, but I never expected that in my old age, I would still be muddled and actually misjudge you!

You are the lucky star of the Cheng Family, a blessing the Cheng Family could not have cultivated in several lifetimes. I apologize to you again for my stupidity, and I ask for your forgiveness!"

At this moment, Cheng Honglin was convinced and heartfelt, expressing his most sincere apologies and gratitude to Chen Che from the bottom of his heart.

"Grandfather Cheng, you are being too serious, please sit down."

Chen Che helped Cheng Honglin sit back in his seat.

Cheng Honglin's eyes were red, and the look he gave Chen Che was very complex, but the smile at the corners of his eyes grew increasingly intense.

"Mr. Chen, my father is right; if it weren't for you, our Cheng Family would truly have been ruined at the hands of the Zhang Family. I also wish to express my apologies to you!"

Cheng Weijun also stood up and bowed to Chen Che, showing his stance.

"Uncle Cheng, you are too polite. I haven't taken it to heart, and calling me 'Mr.' makes things feel distant. You can call me Chen Che, or Xiao Che."

Chen Che laughed heartily.

"Chen Che."

Seeing that Chen Che was so reasonable and broad-minded, Hou Huili's smile was extremely radiant.

"Xiao Che, I didn't understand you before and made subjective judgments about your worth. I am truly sorry."

"Auntie, I did act somewhat inappropriately when I helped Cheng Kexin break off the engagement, so it was only natural for you to misunderstand me."

Chen Che replied.

"Hearing you say that makes me truly ashamed."

Hou Huili looked ashamed, yet the smile in her eyes as she looked at Chen Che did not diminish; the more she looked at him, the more she liked him.

"Xiao Che, the Cheng Family has received so many favors from you, and I don't know how to thank you. How about this: if there is anything you need the Cheng Family to do, just speak up, and we will certainly do it!"

Cheng Honglin had been completely won over by Chen Che, and the words he spoke at this moment came entirely from his heart.

Chen Che shook his head and said, "I don't need the Cheng Family to do anything. I only hope that Grandfather Cheng and Uncle Cheng will no longer make demands of or control Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang. Only when elders are kind can they earn the love and respect of the younger generation. When there are differences, they should be communicated calmly to be resolved in the best way. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Honglin and Cheng Weijun smiled awkwardly and nodded one after another.

"You are right; I was wrong before. Blood ties are not chips for binding or coercion. I am the Patriarch of the Cheng Family, but more importantly, I am an elder, a grandfather."

Cheng Honglin stood up and bowed deeply to Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang, "Kexin, Kexiang, Grandfather was wrong. I apologize to you both."

"Dad was wrong too, and I also apologize to you," Cheng Weijun said sincerely.

Seeing this, Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang both had reddened eyes, and the expressions with which they looked at Chen Che were full of tenderness and emotion.

Facing their burning gazes, Chen Che responded with a smile.

At this moment, he had truly helped them solve their problems; from now on, blood ties would no longer be a shackle or a source of exploitation for them, but rather freedom and kindness.

Being in the midst of it, Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang could feel this even more deeply.

They had originally thought that once the Zhang Family was dealt with and the engagement was naturally dissolved, Chen Che's commitment to them would also come to an end.

They had not expected that even at this point, Chen Che was still thinking of them and had completely solved the problem at its root.

How could this not move them!

"Alright, we are all family, let's sit down and eat."

Hou Huili smiled sweetly; while feeling happy for her daughters, she was also deeply grateful to Chen Che in her heart.

"Auntie, I have already eaten. I actually came here for another matter."

Chen Che looked at the sisters Cheng Kexin and Cheng Kexiang and said, "I have come to say goodbye."

"Ah?!"

Hearing this, the entire Cheng Family was shocked.