Chapter 185: Chapter 185

Fu Zhengjun was slapped, but he didn’t even flinch. Even though Wei Ronghua used great force, making her palm numb from the impact, he seemed impervious to pain. Only when he heard that name did the agony on his face become evident.

In this world, anyone could mention Xiao Heting’s name, but she couldn’t, and neither was he worthy of mentioning it.

Seeing his expression, Wei Ronghua let out a desolate laugh, which sounded eerie in the empty room: "Fu Zhengjun, you still can’t forget her, thirty years have passed, and you still can’t forget her!"

Fu Zhengjun didn’t want to argue with her pointlessly anymore. He thought they could have a heartfelt conversation, but he had overestimated Wei Ronghua.

"Take care of yourself."

Fu Zhengjun opened the door and walked out, passing through the living room without stopping, heading straight out the front door.

"Dad, it’s almost dinner time, where are you going?"

Fu Feibai, lounging on the sofa with crossed legs while playing games, saw a figure flash by. He looked up to see his father hurriedly stepping out, his expression seemingly not good. Not caring about the game’s outcome, he asked.

Fu Zhengjun didn’t reply, the door opened and closed again.

"What’s going on?" Fu Feibai scratched the back of his head, looking at Fu Yuling who was eating fruit beside him.

Fu Yuling shrugged: "I don’t know."

In the yard, a Mercedes was parked with the keys still in the ignition. Fu Zhengjun got in, started the engine, and sped out of the old house. His heart still surged like a great wave, restless and unsettled.

A quarter past seven in the evening, the Fu Family’s old house was ready for dinner.

The maid served the dishes on the table and went to the living room to call them.

The whole family sat around the dining table, the old man sitting in the main seat glanced around, not seeing his eldest son and daughter-in-law, he asked Fu Jichen why his parents hadn’t come over.

Fu Feibai rushed to say: "My dad went out. I heard the car engine start in the yard, probably something urgent. My mom should be upstairs, she might come down later."

In terms of etiquette, Wei Ronghua had no issues, she rarely kept the elders waiting during meals.

The old man spoke: "Go and see what’s going on."

Fu Feibai moved his chair away, got up, left the dining room and crossed two or three stairs in one step, arriving outside the master bedroom on the second floor. He knocked on the door, no one responded, he held the doorknob and pressed it down, opening the door.

The room was dark without the lights on.

Fu Feibai fumbled for the switch on the wall, lightly tapped it, and as the lights came on, Wei Ronghua turned away, covering her face, wiping tears randomly.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Fu Feibai noticed her secretly crying and hurried over to squat in front of her, placing his hand on her knee, asking with concern, "What happened?"

The moment he finished speaking, Fu Feibai thought of his father leaving before dinner and tentatively asked, "Did you argue with Dad?"

"No." Wei Ronghua, strong-willed, didn’t want to leave an impression of parental discord in front of her child. Wiping her tears clean, she forced a smile, "When have you ever seen me argue with your dad?"

"Then what’s wrong, suddenly crying so sadly?" Fu Feibai wasn’t easily brushed off, he liked to get to the bottom of things, still behaving like a teenager at twenty-six.

Meeting the caring gaze of her youngest son, Wei Ronghua couldn’t help but compare him to Fu Jichen in her heart, and felt even sadder.

After turning ten, Jichen no longer depended on her like other children, he was very opinionated in actions and words. The old man said that the earlier a boy becomes independent, the more successful he will be. She was comforted yet felt a bit of bitterness.

Fei Bai was different, completely opposite in personality to his brother. At seven or eight, she noticed that this child was lively, active, loved to mimic characters from cartoons and TV dramas, was talented in singing and dancing, but couldn’t settle to study, sitting quietly for an hour was difficult.

With one child already outstanding in business, she wasn’t overly strict with Fei Bai, letting him pursue his interests while placing all her hopes on Jichen.

Although both sons were dear to her, she was inherently more partial to her eldest son, believing he was more excellent than other Fu descendants, likely to become the heir.

It turned out she was right.

But it resulted in an estrangement between mother and son, evolving into a situation of harsh words.

Remembering Jichen’s accusations and questions on the terrace, she felt chills.

The way Jichen looked at her lacked respect and closeness to a mother, only coldness.

"Not really fighting, just a few words with your dad, Mom’s fine, I’ll be okay soon." Wei Ronghua came to, half-heartedly answering Fu Feibai’s question.

Fu Feibai stood up, placing his hand on her shoulder: "Then wash your face and come downstairs to eat, Grandpa is still waiting in the dining room."

Wei Ronghua had no appetite, nor did she want to face the family with swollen red eyes, especially Fu Jianfang, who would inevitably mock her.

"You go eat." Wei Ronghua smiled faintly, trying to act normal, "I’m not very hungry, if I get hungry later, I’ll have the maid prepare a snack."

"But..." Fu Feibai looked at her worriedly.

Wei Ronghua pushed her youngest son’s arm gently, softly urged him: "Go ahead, don’t keep your grandpa waiting." She added, "After you go down, don’t mention I cried, no need to worry them. If someone asks, say I caught a cold this afternoon and want to sleep more."

Fu Feibai couldn’t persuade her, so he could only go downstairs to eat.

In the dining room, the old man started eating, and the others began too, not waiting for Wei Ronghua. Seeing Fu Feibai come down, Fu Jianfang was the first to ask: "Did your parents fight? One goes out during dinner, the other stays upstairs, what’s the conflict?"

Fu Feibai said: "No. My mom caught a chill this afternoon, she’s resting upstairs, told us to start eating."

Fu Jianfang curled his lips, continued eating without further questions.

No conversation started at the table, everyone ate quietly, the atmosphere wasn’t stiff, the sound of cutlery clinking occasionally sounded, feeling harmonious.

The phone rang suddenly, everyone paused their eating, looked towards the ringing sound in unison.

Fu Jichen placed his chopsticks on the ceramic rest beside him, pulled a napkin to wipe his mouth, picked up his phone to check, it was a call from his father. He pressed the answer key, and a stranger’s voice came through, urgent in tone.

After hearing the words, Fu Jichen, who was always calm and composed, lost his composure, a hint of panic showing on his face.

"Which hospital is it? Okay, I’ll be there right away."

As the call ended, Fu Jichen stood up, the stool abruptly sliding back, scraping the floor with a slightly piercing noise.

"What happened?" The old man in the main seat showed a worried expression, hearing "hospital" in the conversation, with family members absent, couldn’t help thinking of bad things.

Sure enough, Fu Jichen’s next words confirmed his fears: "Dad had a car accident on Fuzhou Road, he’s been taken to Renhe Hospital for emergency treatment, the doctor in the ambulance called me saying his condition isn’t good."

Everyone’s expressions changed, even Fu Jianfang, usually quick to jest, was speechless, looking surprised.

Fu Jichen had no time to consider whether they were shocked or worried, he grabbed the car key by the entrance cabinet and walked out, there was no time to call a driver, he got into the driver’s seat and turned the car around.

Like an arrow from a string, the car sped out of the old house’s gate.

Others came to themselves, with no mood to eat, they left their chopsticks and headed out, went to the hospital in different cars.

Car engines roared consecutively in the yard, making people uneasy.

In the upstairs bedroom, Wei Ronghua lay sideways on the bed, naturally hearing the noise, a surge of unease rose without reason, thinking over and over, finally unable to remain indifferent, she got up and put on a cardigan, heading downstairs.

The dining room was empty, only the steaming exquisite dishes remained, someone’s cup had overturned, juice flowed along the table edge to the floor.

The chaos before could be imagined.

Wei Ronghua’s anxiety intensified, she called the maid aloud, asking: "Where did everyone go?"

The maid thought the lady had left with the others, surprised seeing her still here, quickly replied: "Young master received a call, sir had a car accident, he’s been taken to the hospital for emergency treatment."

Wei Ronghua’s legs went weak instantly, nearly falling, she raised a hand to support the nearest chair, barely stabilizing her shaky posture.