Chapter 7
Just as the last bowl of soup was placed on the dining table, Father and Mother Lin returned home, right on time.
“It’s these dishes again, with all that greenery every day. Do you take us for rabbits? We give you so much money for living expenses every month, and this is all you come up with? Are you pocketing the rest! I’m telling you, you can stay if you want, but if not, get out right this instant.” Li Lihua pointed at the food on the table with one hand and put her other hand on her hip.
Seeing the four dishes and a soup on the table, Xu Ke didn’t know what had riled her up this time. But to avoid endless bickering, he stood aside, keeping his head down like a mute who said nothing, waiting for her to quiet down.
Li Lihua continued to scold for a while without getting a reaction from Xu Ke. It felt like punching a pillow. “You’re like a stick that can’t be budged. What did the Lin Family do to deserve such a son-in-law in past lives? It’s like eight lifetimes’ worth of bad luck,” Li Lihua shouted.
Lin Mengyao, just entering the house, heard Li Lihua’s piercing scolds and asked, a bit puzzled, “What’s going on?”
It would’ve been better if Lin Mengyao hadn’t spoken; speaking up was like stirring a hornet’s nest, and Li Lihua immediately turned her fury on Lin Mengyao.
“What’s going on? You have the nerve to ask what’s going on! What did I, Li Lihua, do in my past life to deserve such an unworthy daughter? Who do you think you are? Do you think you still have a pillar of support now that your grandpa is gone? And you dare declare resolutions at the board meeting. You think you’re so capable now, huh? How is this different from pushing yourself out of the Lin Group?” Li Lihua exclaimed, turning red with anger.
“Mom, who told you about this?”
“Does it matter who told me? If no one had told me, how long did you plan on keeping this from me, from the family? I won’t agree to that board resolution. You go tell your grandma it doesn’t count, and take it back,” Li Lihua demanded, her face stern.
“Grandma was the one who brought it up, Mom. I declared the resolution in front of the entire board. Do you think I can take it back?” Lin Mengyao said with a bitter smile.
“Beg her! You’re her granddaughter; she can’t deny you completely, can she? Beg once is not enough, then beg twice; twice isn’t enough, then beg three times, beg until she agrees. You’re the only one in this family still working at the Lin Group. You can’t afford to lose this job. You’d rather die at the Lin Group than leave there. If you’re kicked out of Lin, you needn’t return to this home,” Lin Shichang, who had been silent all this while, spoke up.
“Dad!” Lin Mengyao exclaimed, unable to believe such words actually came from Lin Shichang’s mouth.
“If you can’t resolve this, don’t call me dad anymore,” Lin Shichang said darkly.
Lin Mengyao stared unblinkingly at Lin Shichang, trying to see a hint of joking in his expression, but she failed.
Tears uncontrollably slipped from her eyes, and she vaguely felt as if she heard something shatter inside her.
The always clamorous Li Lihua quieted down as she sensed the growing gloomy tension between the father and daughter. At this moment, Xu Ke, standing at the corner of the dining table acting as an invisible man, spoke up.
“Jiahe Group will sign with Lin Group,” Xu Ke asserted confidently.
“Shut up. What do you, a person who spends all day at home cooking, know? Do you even know what Jiahe Group does? Do you know the kind of position Jiahe Group holds in Los Angeles? Do you know how many entities stronger than Lin Group are begging for cooperation with Jiahe? You don’t know anything, so what’s with the nonsense?” Lin Shichang glared at Xu Ke, speaking through gritted teeth.
“I know Jiahe Group will sign with Lin Group,” Xu Ke replied calmly.
“You know nothing! You say Jiahe will sign with Lin, so they’ll sign? Who do you think you are, the owner of Jiahe Group?” Lin Shichang shouted angrily, making Lin Mengchen, who had just returned from school, flinch.
Lin Shichang had never been so unsettled before, not even when he was expelled from Lin. This showed how urgent the situation was now. It was understandable, as during his expulsion, the Lin patriarch was still alive and doted on Lin Mengyao as the sole heir, leading most Lin members to believe that the Lin Group might someday be entrusted to Lin Mengyao. Who would’ve thought things would come to this?
This time, if Lin Mengyao were really expelled from Lin Group, the Lin family would truly be driven out forever, unable to hold their heads up, so no wonder Lin Shichang was anxious.
“What I said is true. Believe it or not,” Xu Ke said nonchalantly.
“Deal,” Xu Ke said.
Xu Ke knew even if he won, the other party wouldn’t keep their promise. But at least for now, taking a stand for Lin Mengyao was enough.
“If Jiahe doesn’t sign with Lin Group, then you’re to leave this house,” Lin Shichang pointed towards the door.
“There won’t be such an opportunity,” Xu Ke said with a calmness that contrasted sharply with Lin Shichang’s agitation.
Xu Ke was wearing the most ordinary white shirt and jeans, even humorously tying a floral apron around his waist. With a composed stance at the dining table’s corner and a face devoid of expression, he was markedly different from his usual demeanor, drawing the attention of the Lin Family.
Xu Ke’s composure was so unnerving that even Lin Shichang, realizing what Xu Ke had just said might come true, became uncertain. However, he quickly rationalized that if Xu Ke really had such a background to decide Jiahe’s cooperation, why would he stay as a househusband being bullied by Li Lihua for three years? Convincing himself with this thought, Lin Shichang dismissed Xu Ke with disdain and turned to go upstairs.
Li Lihua was also taken aback by Xu Ke’s sudden confidence, but it was only for a moment before she followed Lin Shichang upstairs.
Lin Mengchen walked up to Xu Ke, giving a cold humph, “Blowing hot air without thinking, aren’t you afraid the wind will cut your tongue?”
After speaking, Lin Mengchen also turned and went back to her room, leaving only Lin Mengyao and Xu Ke in the dining room.
Although Lin Mengyao was momentarily stunned by Xu Ke’s overly assured tone, she soon realized why he did that. She felt a faint sense of gratitude, “Thank you, don’t worry about the early bet, I won’t let you get kicked out of the Lin family.”
Lin Mengyao’s obvious disbelief but attempt to comfort him left Xu Ke with a wry smile. Originally, he hadn’t planned to reveal his identity to the Lin family so soon.
He knew too well about the Lin family’s nature; they’re like leeches that aren’t easily shaken off once they latch on. But he couldn’t stand seeing Lin Mengyao mistreated, so he uttered those words. Little did he know, the Lin family didn’t believe him at all, leaving him unsure whether to be angry or to laugh.