Chapter 650: Chapter 650
The dinner gathering probably ended around 9 pm, and the return trip was still driven by Shen Yu because Huo Mingshan had been drinking.
On the way back, Huo Feng sat alone in the back seat, sullen, his gaze drifting outside the window, staring blankly and losing focus.
That night, the confessions Han Lei made to Pu Sangzhi particularly gnawed at Huo Feng. Especially that phrase, "The one who ends up with her is the winner, everything now is temporary"...
That sentence was outright threatening, making Huo Feng not only uncomfortable listening to it but it also stuck in his mind!
Although Han Lei was somewhat blindly confident, what he said wasn’t entirely devoid of sense.
Indeed, the one who ends up with her is the winner, everything now is temporary.
That phrase echoed in Huo Feng’s head, a sense of unease roiling in his heart.
Thinking: She’s still so excellent, and these two years she’s only become more beautiful with no sign of getting ugly. If things go on , and the quality of men around her keeps increasing, the threat to Huo Feng becomes bigger and bigger...
It’s disturbing enough to think about, creating a sense of forlornness!
Sitting in the front seat, the married couple Shen Yu and Huo Mingshan noticed that Huo Feng, who had been so talkative all evening, was now quiet throughout the ride, seeming very odd, which made them vaguely worried.
Shen Yu nudged Huo Mingshan and gave him a look, suggesting he should speak up.
Huo Mingshan understood her intention. He straightened his clothes, quickly took on a fatherly tone, cleared his throat, and began, "The decision to the money to the school was a mutual idea between your mother and me. We both agree that such a large sum of money is hard for us to swallow and frankly isn’t ours to take in the first place. When you demanded it with such entitlement, with your grandfather present, your mother didn’t speak out of respect for him. In truth, wanting such a large amount of money was wrong, and the principal agreed without bargaining because of your grandfather’s presence. The money should be partially returned to him. Just taking a reasonable amount for compensation would be enough. This suggestion to was made to save everyone’s face. That’s all there is to it, being angry won’t help, we can’t accept this money in good conscience."
Huo Feng’s foul mood was somewhat interrupted by Huo Mingshan.
Hearing Huo Mingshan explain it like that, Huo Feng still refused to accept it, "Nice excuses! But tell me, was it necessary to give up 900,000? As if my scars and the ones on my neck! Such a big deal settled with just 100,000?"
"Xiaofeng, don’t speak to your dad in that tone."
Huo Feng was rebuked by Shen Yu, "The new teaching building was your dad’s suggestion, unanimously approved by the school board. Your dad was just promoted to associate professor this year, the school issued him a completely new contract. Principal Han holds your dad in high esteem and heavily relies on him, and he had always planned to personally some money for constructive measures for the school. So, of the 900,000, your dad personally contributed 100,000. Out of the total 1 million, 200,000 are left for you, and it’s already deposited in a fixed-term account in the bank to be yours after you graduate from college. Don’t be ungrateful, at your age holding onto 1 million is impossible. Any sensible parent wouldn’t hand over such a large sum of money to their child."
Huo Feng ended up being chastised and he felt quite downhearted.
From having 1 million to only 200,000, Huo Feng found that he couldn’t say anything in protest.
Whatever the elders say goes, they use it however they want...
What can he do, being just a kid?
"Your dad said, you even had him write an IOU, claiming he owes you 1 million, and you wanted to sever father-son ties. You really did go too far!"
Driving, Shen Yu added, "The reason I didn’t stop you that day and let you, a child, come up with ideas and demand benefits from others, was because I knew about your temperament. I was indulging you, allowing you to vent on your own. Initially, for your sake, your dad had even prepared for the worst outcome. He was even considering resigning to fight a lawsuit. It was you who said not to make such a fuss. From now on, you can’t speak to your dad like that again; it’s heartless!"
Huo Feng muttered disapprovingly.
"Let’s consider the matter closed."
Shen Yu glanced at Huo Feng through the rearview mirror, "Family shouldn’t hurt each other over money. 1 million isn’t that significant; family is what matters most. You’ve already made your dad nearly bald with worry, do you want to cause him high blood pressure as well?"
Huo Feng continued in the same manner.
After saying this, the silent Huo Feng beside him was truly angry.
Turning around, he scolded him, "When your mother talks to you, what kind of attitude is that! How did I raise such an unfilial son! You’ve cost me so much money throughout the years, and now you expect me to sign an IOU for 1 million for you! Are you here to collect debts?"
"Don’t worry! I’ll pay you back the money you spent on me!"
Huo Feng retorted defiantly, "How much is left? 200,000? Can I buy some respect from you with that? I want you to apologize. You have never respected me, Huo Feng, neither have the two of you! With such a major issue and so much money spent, no one consulted me! I heard it from others, and only afterwards you came to me with all these excuses, turning to blame me! If you’d told me earlier, prepared to discuss the money with me first, would I have been so upset? Are you blameless? You just don’t respect me! Is 200,000 enough to buy your apology and future respect for me, Huo Feng?"
At that moment, Huo Feng was incredibly defiant, his demeanor imposing, not holding anyone in regard.
Because he didn’t acknowledge the accusations Shen Yu had prepared for him, nor did he think he was as heartless as they claimed, and he certainly didn’t believe he was still a child at 18!
In his mind he thought: First, he was of legal age.
Second, it was unacceptable for a family of three not to discuss such an important matter.
Third, they were even shifting the blame onto him, Huo Feng, which was like the pot calling the kettle black!
Therefore, he couldn’t let these elders who didn’t respect him off the hook! Nor could he show weakness, he had to be strong!
Huo Feng had calculated Huo Mingshan’s temper perfectly.
He knew that old Huo, with his explosive temper, definitely wouldn’t apologize to him for this!
He had already prepared himself for a big argument with old Huo. As soon as the car arrived home, he would storm out, staging a runaway from home to let them both see their mistake!
The fully scheming Huo Feng was now ready for battle!
"You little brat, you did such an unfilial thing before, and you still expect us to apologize to you!"
Huo Mingshan in the front seat immediately got ticked off by Huo Feng’s words, opening his mouth ready to start an argument, which was exactly what Huo Feng had hoped for!
But before Huo Mingshan could start the argument, Shen Yu by his side held him back!
As irascible as Huo Mingshan was, once Shen Yu held him back, he shut his mouth...
Seeing this situation unfold, Huo Feng’s eyes narrowed, sensing something bad was about to happen!
"Xiaofeng is right. The money was his compensation, and we didn’t consult him before using it. That indeed wasn’t respectful enough towards him."
Shen Yu spoke calmly and slowly, "Mom will apologize to you first. We didn’t respect you enough and still treated you like a child. I’m sorry."
How could they apologize so easily!
They’re aiming for the last 200,000!
"Old Huo, as adults, we should lead by example. When we make a mistake, we must admit it. Now it’s your turn to apologize," Shen Yu said to Huo Mingshan with the same patience.
Huo Mingshan had by then become as docile as a lamb, tamed by her, and while he still had a belly of anger, he awkwardly muttered an apology to Huo Feng, "Yes, we indeed didn’t respect you. Since your mom has spoken, I’m sorry."
Huo Feng couldn’t help but exclaim!
His eyes widened, looking at them both in panic and disbelief!
He was speechless with fright!
They had no scruples, apologizing at the drop of a hat, and with no sign of wanting to argue!
What about his 200,000...
Then, Shen Yu went on to say, "Now that you’ve accepted the apology, you understand the good intentions behind your dad’s decision. With that in mind, the 200,000 won’t be returned to you."
Huo Feng was truly panicking now, "You...this is..."
Shen Yu pursed the corners of her mouth, revealing a clever smile, "I knew you weren’t concerned about the money. You’re right, respect and apology are more important than money. In life, there are things that must be protected. Spending 200,000 to earn our respect for you was also a lesson for us. From now on, your dad and I will treat you like an adult and will certainly discuss important family matters with you."
Huo Feng was almost stuttering, "Can I take it back... I’ll apologize to you guys, I was also wrong... that money..."
Shen Yu smiled, "The money, didn’t you just spend it?"
Huo Feng truly couldn’t express his suffering!
So, when Huo Feng called Pu Sangzhi that night, he did so with a breathless tone once again. Dıscover more novels at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
He spoke in anguish, "I am truly broke now... oh no... another loss of 200,000... oh..."
On the other end of the call, Pu Sangzhi was laughing.