Chapter 6: Hero Returns to the Nest (2)
His Second Brother was stunned: "Okay."
As soon as he gripped the steering wheel, Zhuifeng's heart immediately became active. Although he understood that Second Brother genuinely cared for him, he still didn't dare to demonstrate his racing skills in front of his Big Brother. Uncle Wang only knew that he was learning to drive, unaware that he was practicing racing. Suppressing the inner urge, he slowly drove the car onto the highway.
"Brother, how... how did you...?"
"You mean how did I know you can drive, right? I told you, I genuinely care about you. If I didn't even know what the person I care about was doing, how could that be called caring? I think it started about two years ago when I noticed you were a bit different. You came home very late every day, covered in sweat! At that time, I didn't know what you were doing and was worried you might be involved in something illegal. One day, I secretly followed you! After school, you didn't go straight home but went to Uncle Wang's house. Soon after, I saw you drive out in an old car. That's when I understood you were learning to drive. Somehow, I lost track of you. It frustrates me when I think about it. I remember I was driving a Honda, right? How could I not keep up with an old car? By the way, it's been a few years, why did you come back so late last night? Are you still learning?" He looked at Zhuifeng, feeling very puzzled.
Even if you drove a Ferrari, if you don't know how to race, it would've been the same: "Well... um, yes, I'm still learning. I'm not very good at it!" After thinking for a moment, he still didn't dare to tell the truth.
"That can't be right. The way you're driving, it's really impressive."
"No, it's not like that. You know, I just turned eighteen yesterday, so I want to practice more to pass the driving test on the first try."
"Is that so?"
"Brother, do you know what Mom and Dad want to see me about?" Feeling guilty, he quickly changed the subject.
Zhuifeng, you still don't trust me, huh? But I guess it's not his fault. I think if anyone lived in a family like Feng's they would've been the same, thought his second brother: "You'll know when we get there," he didn't pursue the question further.
"Oh!" Zhuifeng didn't know what else to say.
In his excitement, Zhuifeng never imagined that where he was heading would be one of the most important turning points in his life, a carefully planned turning point...
"Brother, I..." Looking at the building in front of him, Zhuifeng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
"Don't worry. You know how Mom and Dad didn't like you coming to the company before? But now they're asking you to come to the office. What does this mean? It means they've accepted you. Alright, Mom and Dad's office hasn't changed. You go ahead first, I'll join you after I park the car." Hoping that his guess wasn't wrong, otherwise Zhuifeng would become even more... The Second Master watched Zhuifeng's lonely figure, feeling incredibly distressed.
"Hello, young master..."
"Hello!"
Although Zhuifeng didn't like to talk much and rarely came to the company, he mysteriously had good relationships with people. Along the way, he forced himself to wear a smile and calmly greeted every employee enthusiastically, but his heart was in turmoil!
After raising his hand for what seemed like ages, he finally knocked...
"Who is it?"
"Dad, it's me... Zhuifeng."
"Come in!" The voice that had some emotion in it suddenly turned cold again.
After hesitating for a moment, he took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door: "Hello, Dad, Mom!" At this moment, he was completely different from the Zhuifeng on Shangxin Street last night: one was as timid as a mouse; the other was bold as brass.
"My... brother... said you called for me. Do you have something to discuss, Mom and Dad?"
His question was greeted with silence, as they ignored him and continued working.
But Zhuifeng wasn't someone who enjoyed silence, as it made him even more anxious.
"Yes, we do!" They finally looked up from their documents.
Slowly taking off his glasses and wiping them, his dad asked, "Zhuifeng, you're eighteen now, right?" He put his glasses back on and looked at Zhuifeng's mom.
"Yes." Zhuifeng's heart leaped with joy, thinking his parents hadn't forgotten his birthday.
"Don't stand, sit down. Feng... would you like something to drink?" His mom stood up, took a few steps, then stopped and turned back to ask.
"No... no need, I'm not thirsty." Zhuifeng, who had just sat down, quickly stood up again and hurriedly replied. Are these the same parents who usually ignore me? The happiness came too suddenly, and Zhuifeng wasn't prepared at all.
"Well then, I'll step out for a moment."
Mom left without looking at him again. But Zhuifeng was already content. This was enough. He didn't know that as soon as his mom left the room, she started crying silently.
Standing up and walking to the window, his dad lit a cigarette. After a while, he turned back.
"Zhuifeng, do you know who founded the company?"
"Wasn't it you, Dad?" Zhuifeng was a bit confused.
Nodding with a hint of pride, he extinguished the cigarette and sat down far from Zhuifeng. "Mm, do you know when I founded the company?"
"...I don't know!" He lowered his head in shame.
"You don't know?" His voice rose an octave, then suddenly lowered again. "Let me tell you, I established the company when I was 20. Although it was small then, it was my life's work! At that time, Xiao Xuan (Mom) wasn't even with me yet! The money to start the company was all earned by me working outside. Do you know how old I was when I started working? 16, just 16! It was then that I..." He suddenly fell silent, as if remembering something, his eyes becoming distant.
"Dad, Dad!" Zhuifeng didn't know what had happened, but couldn't resist his youthful curiosity and called out boldly.
"Oh, right, where was I... Oh, my work! You know, it's not that your grandparents didn't have money. In fact, they were very wealthy at that time! If we talk about shares in the current company, your grandparents would definitely own over 55%! So why did I have to go out to work and use my own money to start the company when we had money? It was because they wanted me to learn to be independent! And now you're eighteen! Do you understand?"
He shook his head, looking confused.
"You don't understand?"
Did Zhuifeng really not understand? No, he was just stunned! Completely stunned! He had originally thought his parents had changed, had finally accepted him, and would treat him better in the future. But now...
In the past, Zhuifeng might not have said anything, but the words his big brother had woven a not-so-good dream in his heart! But this was once again rejected by his parents, and more violently and fiercely than any previous disappointment!
"You really don't understand? Then I'll be direct..."
"No need, I understand. But I want to ask you one question, and then I'll leave." Although his heart was in immense pain, Zhuifeng's face remained very calm.
"Ask." Unable to meet his son's eyes, he inconspicuously looked elsewhere.
"Why do you despise me?"
"I don't understand, I really don't understand! I don't know what I've done to make you and Mom treat me like this. Not only did you not give me a surname, but... Don't speak, don't lie, don't use excuses like 'this is just to teach you independence' to brush me off! This is just your excuse, I don't want to hear it, and I'm not interested in hearing it!" Suddenly, Zhuifeng exploded, completely disregarding the presence of his father, whom he feared the most.
Looking at his son in front of him, his father was confused. Was this the same son who used to obey him without question? "Zhuifeng, don't get excited! I just want you to go out and learn what independence means. To survive in this society, you can't rely on us so much."
"Rely? Haha... Rely!" Zhuifeng became even more frantic: "When have I ever relied on you? Even my school fees and living expenses, haven't I earned them myself? To get money, I had to put in the corresponding sweat, working at the company myself! Didn't I buy everything myself? Is this also reliance? Then what do you call what my two brothers do? Have they ever been independent? Do they have to exchange work for money? Haha... It's all fucking excuses! Don't explain anymore, I really understand, but you haven't answered my question yet. Answer me, and I'll leave! I'll leave the Zhu family immediately! You want me to be independent, right? I'll show you independence. In your lifetime, I will never set foot in the Zhu family again! Quickly, give me the answer. I don't even want to stay in this place with the Zhu surname anymore." Without realizing when, tears had already carved two 'streams' down Zhuifeng's face, his eyes red as he glared at his father, waiting for an answer he had long wanted to know.
"...There's no reason. I'm tired..." His mouth twitched, but in the end, he gave the answer Zhuifeng least wanted to hear!
"Haha...
The person who can't even give a reason is actually my father, and even my biological father! I'm truly ashamed!" Zhuifeng laughed again, continuously sarcastic, though his voice sounded more like he was sobbing rather than laughing.
"You... you can go!" Whether it was because of a guilty conscience, or genuine dislike, or some other reason, his father turned his back on him.
"No need for you to chase me away! Although I didn't get the answer I wanted, I definitely won't stay here anymore. Goodbye...! I hope I never see you again!"
He glared fiercely at him one last time, then turned to leave. Just as he was about to open the door, it suddenly opened, and he collided head-on with someone.
"Ugh..." He involuntarily let out a groan.
"Oh, Zhuifeng, what's wrong..." As soon as his Second Brother opened the door, he heard a 'bang', then saw his brother facing him, crouching down. He hurried to help him up.
"Let go!" He shook off his brother's hand. "Don't bother with me, I'm not worthy of your concern." He turned and ran towards the elevator.
"Dad, what..." Seeing his father's waving hand, Second Brother had to swallow his words: "Then I'll go check on Feng." He ran out too.
His mother walked in silently, looked at his dispirited Father, then turned back to look at the door she had just closed and said softly: "Dear, don't be like this. This isn't what we wanted. Zhuifeng will understand in the future."
"Yeah," his Dad sighed. "I don't know if this kid is a fool or not. Does he genuinely believe it's normal to earn so much from working for us, for merely a month or two? We're discussing millions here."
"To be fair, Feng lacks a proper understanding of how society functions, so his naivety isn't entirely surprising. However, forcing Feng out in this manner - I truly can't fathom what she's thinking! Sigh... I'm concerned about him; he's only 18 after all." Walking to the window and gazing at the vibrant world outside, she continued in a soft voice: "I'm beginning to think that perhaps what Feng truly values isn't the money, but rather the familial care and parental attention we've never provided him."
"Don't worry, since she wants us to do this, Feng will be fine!" Hugging her from behind, his Father also sighed helplessly: "Now we can only hope that Feng can find the warmth of parents and family that he should have had long ago from her!"
"May heaven bless him!"
.....
"Where is he? Have you seen which way Zhuifeng went?" When Second Brother arrived at the lobby, Zhuifeng was already gone. He frantically grabbed someone and asked.
"The young master seemed to go that way."
"Oh..."
Zhuifeng walked stumblingly on the street, tears streaming down his face. The pointing and staring from passersby meant nothing to him now.
"What did I do wrong? Heavens, I've really tried my best to please them, but what's the result?" ...
"Why am I heartbroken and afraid? Haven't I always been alone? Now it's just that he said it out loud, it's no different from before, right?" ...
Standing in front of Chongqing's landmark, Liberation Monument, Zhuifeng looked at the hurrying people around him, feeling completely lost! "If I have to go, then I'll go... It's not a big deal... I don't believe I can't survive without the Zhu family... What should I do now?"
After all, he was only eighteen, a student who had just graduated from high school, a young person without any social experience. In this sudden situation, Zhuifeng couldn't really be as carefree as he thought in his heart. Looking at the sky, he really didn't know where to go. It seemed as if he was the only person in the world. He had always enjoyed solitude at school, but now he suddenly feared this feeling.
Second Brother watched Zhuifeng's particularly lonely figure in the sea of people, his heart twisting with pain.
"Feng... Feng, what happened between you and Dad?"
"Dad? Do I have your Zhu surname?"
"Ahem..." This surname issue had been brought up by Zhuifeng years ago, but he didn't expect it to come up again now: "This, just for this? What's the real reason?"
He turned his head and looked at him coldly, "Nothing! Hasn't he told you yet, from today on, he's no longer my relative."
"What?" He knew Zhuifeng and Dad must have had a conflict, but he never imagined things would turn out like this: "What exactly happened between you two?"
"Do you think I look like Dad's child?" Instead of answering his question, he suddenly asked this question again!
"I... I..." He was at a loss for words again.
"Even you don't think I am, right! After all, I don't even have the right to use his surname as his child, haha..."
Seeing the smile that looked worse than crying, Second Brother felt even more ashamed.
"Tell me what's going on?" He shook the seemingly delirious Zhuifeng hard, hoping he would come to his senses.
"Nothing, they're just asking me to move out, that's all!" There was no expression other than coldness.
"What? Move out?"
"Don't you understand?" He looked at his Second Brother coldly, his lips curling, "That's right! I didn't think you would understand. It means from now on, I'll start living independently, understand?"
"I..."
Seeming to have no face to face his brother anymore, Second Brother imitated Zhuifeng's action, leaning on the railing and looking at the still busy crowd. After a while, he said: "So you really want to move out?"
"What do you think?"
"I still don't believe it. You're going to university next semester, I don't believe Mom and Dad would just kick you out like this. I need to talk to them." He jumped off the railing, ready to leave.