The scene this family had created was even more boisterous than Ren Shuangmei had anticipated.

Luo Chi hadn’t replied to any messages, so no one in the Luo family expected them to arrive at this time, leaving them no time to make any related preparations. The butler’s face changed when he saw Ren Shuangmei’s car, and he hurried to the door to greet them. “Madam Ren…”

“Quite lively,” Ren Shuangmei glanced inside. “So many people. Are you holding a press conference?”

The butler could hear the tone of her voice. Seeing Luo Chi being led out of the car by Ren Shuangmei, he lowered his head sheepishly, not daring to speak.

Of course, the Luo family wasn’t holding a press conference… but the intention behind creating such a spectacle wasn’t far off. Just like the previous gatherings led by the Luo family, which always aimed to display a facade of family harmony and filial piety, this time, although they had uncharacteristically refrained from having Madam Luo spread those words, the ultimate goal was the same.

The reason they went to such great lengths to put on this show was that this incident had stirred up a lot of trouble. Madam Ren had clearly taken a stand against them, the deal with the multinational corporation had fallen through for all to know, and rumors were already circulating in their social circle. Many people were waiting to see the Luo family become a laughingstock.

According to the family head’s plan, it was simply to publicly explain the “truth” of the initial incident. Then, have Madam Luo cry and apologize to Luo Chi for the past misunderstanding, begging for his forgiveness and for him to come home. After all, in front of so many people, Luo Chi wouldn’t be so stubborn as to insist on clarifying every detail, refusing to let go of a mother whose memory was confused due to pain and despair…

The butler didn’t dare to look at the child being led by Ren Shuangmei, and just lowered his head guiltily, blocking the door. “Madam Ren, we can take the young master in… The master and madam are not available at the moment.”

The butler looked back, wanting to find someone to quickly report the situation, but the person behind him was already intercepted by the people Ren Shuangmei had brought along.

“Not available for what?” Ren Shuangmei was curious. “Am I no longer allowed in the Luo family’s home?”

The butler’s face changed instantly, and he quickly denied it. “Of course not! How could that be?”

Ren Shuangmei nodded. “So you just don’t want to listen to me.”

The butler didn’t know how to explain, and with a pained expression, he lowered his head and shut his mouth, not daring to speak rashly again.

The family head indeed did not want Madam Ren to speak. Every time Madam Ren came, someone would stand up for Luo Chi, and things would always end in a mess.

If Madam Ren hadn’t come, and Luo Chi was still unwilling to come home this time, unwilling to reconcile with his mother and other family members… then things would actually be simpler. If, in front of so many people, Madam Luo went to this extent and Luo Chi still didn’t yield, it would only further prove that he was a cold-hearted child. Although his family’s attitude towards him was cold and they were inevitably biased due to past misunderstandings, it couldn’t be considered a major fault.

In the two years since Luo Chi returned, the labels of “rebellious,” “aloof,” and “perverse” were all fabricated in this way. Those with strict upbringings who didn’t want to get involved in trouble would mostly avoid this child after hearing about his reputation. And many truly idle second-generation heirs would bully Luo Chi, making fun of his past experiences. Those people could see at a glance that the Luo family would not back Luo Chi up. No matter how much they provoked him, it would only be counted as Luo Chi’s fault, so they became even more relentless. And because Luo Chi refused to back down, this only further solidified his reputation for being unruly.

“Weren’t you going to apologize to Huo Miao? How far did the apology go?” Ren Shuangmei asked. “That finding a son for all these years hasn’t been easy for the parents, so it’s understandable? That the Luo family has never lacked for his food or clothing? Or that no matter what, a child should be more understanding, and if he’s been wronged, he doesn’t know how to communicate or explain, and even refuses to come home?”

The tone of these words was mimicked perfectly. The butler had just heard them in the living room and almost suspected someone had come out to inform Madam Ren, making him even more guilty. “Well, actually—”

Ren Shuangmei’s expression turned cold. The butler, catching her glance, suddenly shivered and swallowed all his words.

“Isn’t it just blaming this child for finding his way back on his own? For not getting himself lost and never troubling them again?” The female police officer who came with Ren Shuangmei had been monitoring this family and was here today to investigate and collect evidence. She couldn’t help but interject. “They’re about to get their wish. What’s so bad about that?”

The butler, of course, had no face to explain anything. These tactics were too much to use against an innocent child. He certainly knew that, but he was taking their money and doing their work, so he couldn’t say a word.

Ren Shuangmei had already brought the child to the door, clearly intending to settle everything today. There was no stopping her. He couldn’t figure it out either. Why was it this family that tormented the child and wished for him to disappear forever, and now it was also this family that was clinging on and refusing to let go?

The butler had done his best. He lowered his head, minding his own business, and said no more, watching as the child was held firmly by the adult’s hand and led into the living room.

---

Madam Luo’s tearful pleas were abruptly cut short by an injury assessment report.

Madam Luo had never expected her to come. Remembering what she had just said, her face instantly turned deathly pale, and she froze for a long time before finally managing to come to her senses.

Madam Luo opened her mouth, her voice weakening. “Shuangmei…”

“You didn’t do anything, and you don’t know why this child hates you so much.” Ren Shuangmei repeated the words she had just said. “He won’t even accept your apology.”

Madam Luo had completely lost the confidence she had when questioning her on the phone. Her expression was extremely evasive, instinctively avoiding her gaze.

“That’s what I originally thought too,” Ren Shuangmei said. “Before I had the assessment done, I always thought you were very good to him.”

Ren Shuangmei walked closer and asked her softly, “A-Rou, you lock this child up every time for ten days to half a month before letting him out. Is it because you’re afraid people will know you smashed plates on him, stabbed his hand with a dinner fork, and pushed him down from the second floor?”

Madam Luo’s body trembled violently. Her breathing became rapid, and she almost blurted out a denial, but upon seeing the black and white injury assessment, she was suddenly speechless, her face pale as she stood frozen in place.

“What nonsense are you talking!” Luo Chengxiu noticed the change here, his face changing. He put down his wine glass and walked over quickly. “Why are you here?”

Luo Chengxiu didn’t remember inviting Ren Shuangmei, but since she had already made it clear she wanted to hash out the past, she wouldn’t give up easily.

Luo Chengxiu temporarily had no time to ask for details. Standing amidst the various gazes from all around, he said in a deep voice, “She was having an episode back then and doesn’t remember these things. Since you are her friend—”

“A-Rou is sick,” Ren Shuangmei asked. “Is your brain sick too?”

Luo Chengxiu’s body stiffened, and a look of offended fury instantly appeared on his face. “Ren Shuangmei!” He gritted his teeth, glanced at the people nearby, and lowered his voice. “Please be mindful of your status. I’m very grateful that you helped us take care of our child, but this is our family’s private matter. We don’t need you to come and interfere.”

As Luo Chengxiu spoke, he reached out to take Luo Chi away, but grabbed at empty air. Ren Shuangmei pulled Luo Chi behind her, protectively shielding him and not allowing him to touch.

“I am being very mindful of my status,” Ren Shuangmei said. “When I first saw this, I thought about just having someone bring fifty bulldozers over and leveling your house.”

Luo Chi couldn’t help but lower his head, a corner of his mouth twitching, and he let out a soft cough. Seeing that he wasn’t hurt by what these people were saying, Ren Shuangmei felt much more relieved and rubbed Huo Miao’s head forcefully.

“A-Rou is sick, fine. You say she doesn’t remember anything when she has an episode, that’s fine too.” Ren Shuangmei asked, “You and Luo Jun are two adults. Can’t you stop one of her? If I have someone level your house, can’t you two stop it either?”

Luo Chengxiu was left speechless by her questioning, his face growing even uglier.

When Ren Shuangmei acted as the decision-maker for the Ren family, she was of course sufficiently calm and steady, but this was not just a public matter. If he really angered her, Luo Chengxiu was not at all confident about what she might do. The Ren family did have a lot of business in the construction industry… If Ren Shuangmei wanted to, and wasn’t afraid of them all making the news together, she was really capable of doing something like that with her temper.

Luo Chengxiu was even more surprised that Luo Chi not only didn’t reply to his messages and told Ren Shuangmei about this matter, but would also stand on the opposite side, just listening as Ren Shuangmei slandered his family.

He became more and more annoyed. His gaze towards Luo Chi became stern and cold, and he could barely resist scolding him. Sensing the increasingly strange gazes from all around, he gritted his teeth again and forced the words back down.

“You told me you would take good care of this child.” Ren Shuangmei said, “Your care is watching A-Rou torture him when she has an episode, denying that he is her own child, and trying to destroy him like a madwoman.”

Luo Chengxiu couldn’t speak, his face only getting darker as he looked at Luo Chi, who was still standing behind Ren Shuangmei.

He and Luo Jun had always believed that Luo Chi’s mother fell ill because of him, that this was what Luo Chi owed his mother—but this truth undoubtedly turned everything into a ridiculous joke.

“If you’re just here to vent his anger, that’s about enough.” Luo Chengxiu looked at Luo Chi. “Are you done talking? If you’re done, I have something to say to him.”

Of course Ren Shuangmei wasn’t done. “…And then you told this child not to tell Auntie Ren, that Auntie Ren and Mom are good friends, and it would be very difficult for her to be caught in the middle.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Luo Chengxiu’s expression darkened, and he asked coldly, “Isn’t that how it is?”

“Don’t we want everyone to live in peace?” Luo Chengxiu stared at Luo Chi, his tone becoming even more severe. “Now it seems that’s not the case—do you just wish for your Auntie Ren and your mother to fight? For them to no longer be in contact after so many years of friendship, just because of you?”

They had said these things to Luo Chi many times, but Luo Chi just didn’t know how to let things go, which was why things had escalated to this point.

Luo Chengxiu was about to scold him again when Ren Shuangmei interrupted him. “It has nothing to do with the child.”

“It’s me who doesn’t want to be in contact anymore.” Ren Shuangmei said, “I will not have any more contact with your family in the future, including your wife—and all business dealings with your family, I will sever them all within a month.”

Luo Chengxiu’s expression changed abruptly, and he looked up at her. “Are you kidding?”

“No.” Ren Shuangmei shook her head. “The only thing Huo Miao did wrong was being too sensible and believing your words too much, not telling me about this sooner.”

“I have already asked the police to investigate. A copy of the injury assessment has been made. You can take your time to look at it.” Ren Shuangmei said, “I’m bringing him here today to get his things. We’ll go home after we’re done—you can continue your party, don’t mind us.”

“Ren Shuangmei!” Luo Chengxiu stared at her in disbelief. “Do you know what you’re saying?” He gritted his teeth. “Are you trying to make our two families break off completely? Aren’t you afraid the Luo family will target your family in the future? Your family’s business isn’t without its loopholes, is it? For you to suddenly make such a big move, if our two families fall out, it won’t be good for either side—”

“It will be good for my child,” Ren Shuangmei said. “That’s enough.”

Luo Chengxiu was left speechless, frozen in place.

“Business is business. Competing on strength is no big deal. If I lose, it’s because my skills are inferior,” Ren Shuangmei said dismissively. “If I win, it means the head of the Luo family is somewhat of a failure.”

Luo Chengxiu had never been contradicted so directly to his face. His expression was so cold it was almost ice. He moved forward in shame and anger, but was suddenly stopped by the young man in front of him.

Luo Chi stood in front of Ren Shuangmei, his arms spread to block him, not allowing him to get closer, and looked at him without a word.

“Get out of the way!” Luo Chengxiu shouted sternly. “What do you want? Do you really not want to stay in this family anymore?! You—”

“Yes,” Luo Chi said.

Luo Chengxiu, realizing he had lost his composure in public, was already full of regret. Hearing this, he suddenly froze and looked at him in disbelief.

Ren Shuangmei forcefully rubbed Huo Miao’s head and was about to lead the little one who had stood up to protect her upstairs to Luo Chi’s room, but was gently pulled by Luo Chi.

Luo Chi’s room wasn’t upstairs. He lived in a rather remote corner, in a small room that couldn’t be seen from the outside, not living with his family, and was not allowed to come out during the day. Luo Chi had looked up the information himself and knew that this was also evidence, so he told all of this to the plainclothes police officer.

Ren Shuangmei’s expression suddenly turned cold. She looked at Luo Chengxiu and found that he couldn’t refute a single word, and almost laughed out of extreme anger. “Master Luo.”

Ren Shuangmei handed Luo Chi over to the police officer’s care and asked Luo Chengxiu in a low voice, “Didn’t I tell you that Huo Miao gets stressed in unfamiliar rooms and can’t sleep all night?”

Luo Chengxiu knew about this. He just didn’t think it would be so serious, thinking it was just Luo Chi wanting to go back to his old room and deliberately making a fuss. Now that these things were being said out loud by Luo Chi himself in public, although the people around were still hesitant to discuss too much due to their relationships, there was already a subtle uproar.

Before Luo Chengxiu could feel embarrassed, he looked up at the arrest warrant in front of him in disbelief.

He had not physically harmed Luo Chi, but Madam Luo had caused him serious harm. As a guardian, Luo Chengxiu had severely neglected his duties. Since the evidence was already conclusive, it was inevitable that he would have to spend a few days in a detention center.

Just a few days, it might not seem like much—but it was enough for Ren Shuangmei to take the child away. It was also enough to completely turn the Luo family into a laughingstock in their social circle, and even the tabloids would likely flock to join in the fun.

Luo Chi, holding Ren Shuangmei’s hand, took all the things he didn’t want to leave behind, filling his arms, and then entered Luo Chengxiu’s study.

With such a big scene, many people had already tactfully taken their leave. The business world was not a place where love and hate were so clear-cut as to have immediate consequences. But people have their likes and dislikes, their biases, and when conditions allow for choices, they will make different decisions. After today, how many of these people would be willing to come back, no one could say for sure.

Luo Chengxiu had already vaguely guessed what was going on. His gaze swept over his pale, silent wife, his voice low and cold. “You not only lied to Luo Jun, you lied to me too.”

Madam Luo cowered, her face growing even paler.

The gifts Luo Chi had given to his father and brother were turned by her into gifts from Jian Huaiyi, and the awards he had won were of course also—Luo Jun had never known about these things, and Luo Chengxiu didn’t know much either. But there was nothing she could do. Luo Chi had a teacher found by Ren Shuangmei to guide him, was interested in everything, and could sit down and learn anything. How could he not be more outstanding than Jian Huaiyi? She just hoped that Huaiyi could get more recognition from his father and brother. After all, she could never repair her relationship with Luo Chi, so she had to have something to hope for…

Luo Jun stood in the dispersing crowd, listening to his parents’ words.

Luo Chi jumped up and took back his own trophy.

Luo Chi walked to the bookshelf, and from the most inconspicuous corner, he found the only group photo that included him. He neatly cut out his own part and put it in his pocket. The boy’s movements were methodical. He put the photo back in the frame and placed it back neatly in its original spot on the bookshelf.

Luo Chi seemed to know very well all the traces he had left in this house. He cleaned up everything related to himself, returning everything they wanted back to them, and also returning to them the peace their family longed for.

Luo Jun subconsciously wanted to go over and ask for clarification, but was stopped by Jian Huaiyi who came out of the room, asking what had happened. For the first time, Luo Jun was a little distracted. He gave a cursory reply and looked up out the window.

Luo Chi, carrying all his belongings, was led away from this place by Madam Ren and got into the car to go home.