Chapter 12: Young Man, Don’t Be So Arrogant

He had followed them back to the Su family merely out of concern that the Wang family might attempt revenge along the way; now that Su Ruoxi was safely home, he had nothing left to worry about.

"Lin Yu…" Su Ruoxi tried to stop him, but he waved her off.

"Uncle Su…"

"My good son-in-law, say no more. This matter must not be discussed further. You only acted to save Ruoxi. If my Su family were to abandon you now out of fear of the Wang family, not only would the great families of Jinling look down on us, but I, Su Tianteng, would die of shame. So you need not blame yourself, nor feel compelled to leave the Su family over this."

Su Tianteng had made up his mind. Even if it meant risking everything the Su family possessed, he would not back down.

"Father, you’re being foolish!" Su Xuanhao stamped his feet in frustration.

"If anyone should leave the Su family, it’s you!" Su Tianteng’s face was livid as he glared at Su Xuanhao, shaking his head in bitter disappointment.

He was utterly disheartened. Time and again he had given Su Xuanhao chances, but now he had to accept that his own son was hopeless. They say a dragon fathers a dragon, a phoenix fathers a phoenix, and a rat’s child will dig holes. For all his status in Jinling’s business world, he had sired a son like Su Xuanhao.

Just then, a Su family bodyguard entered the hall.

"Master, the head of the Wang family has sent a message: there is no enmity between our families. As long as you hand over the culprit, we will remain partners in the future."

"Father, hand him over!" Su Xuanhao was still not giving up. "If you insist on protecting this brat, you’ll ruin decades of the Su family’s hard-earned foundation!"

"Insolence!" Su Tianteng slammed his hand on the table, furious at Su Xuanhao’s stubbornness. "Our family has thrived in business for years by upholding integrity. I am ashamed before our ancestors to have raised a son like you!"

"From this day forth, you are no longer my son. You are to step down from all positions in the Su Group!" Su Tianteng declared harshly.

He knew full well what kind of man Su Xuanhao was. He had given him chance after chance, but the boy was truly hopeless. If the company fell into his hands, it would surely be ruined. Better to make a clean break now.

"Master, Xuanhao is young and foolish. Please don’t be angry," his mother pleaded, pulling him back and trying to smooth things over.

"Take him away!" Su Tianteng said with his eyes closed.

And so, the farce ended with Su Xuanhao being dragged out.

"My good son-in-law, I truly must thank you. I’m sorry you had to witness that scene. Rest assured, if the Wang family seeks revenge, the Su family will not stand idly by. Even if we are crushed like eggs against stone, I will not let them succeed easily."

…

The Wang Residence.

Wang Wan was carried into the grand hall on a stretcher by a group of attendants. He was as limp as a deflated ball, his eyes hollow and lifeless, his body drained of strength—only his eyes could still move.

"My dear son, what’s happened to you?!" Wang Jianshu rushed over to check on him.

"Father, it hurts. It hurts," Wang Wan wailed in agony.

"My boy, don’t be afraid—your father’s here. Someone call a doctor, quickly! My poor child!"

"Father… avenge me… avenge me!" Wang Wan, mustering his last strength, gripped Wang Jianshu’s sleeve and let out a hoarse, furious roar.

"Who did this? Who reduced my son to this state?" Wang Jianshu’s rage made the veins bulge in his forehead.

Soon, someone recounted the events to Wang Jianshu—though naturally omitting the part where Wang Wan had tried to force himself on Su Ruoxi.

"Lin Yu… Lin Yu…" Wang Wan’s eyes blazed with anger as he clawed at his father’s sleeve.

"Don’t worry, I’m here. I promise they won’t get away with this," Wang Jianshu soothed his son.

"Lin Yu… Lin Yu…" Wang Wan kept muttering that name.

He was unwilling!

Of course, he was unwilling! He was the eldest son of the Wang family, heir to one of Jinling’s most powerful clans. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? Any woman he wanted had always come to him willingly. And now, for Su Ruoxi?

He would have revenge! He would make Lin Yu’s life a living hell!

He had to retaliate!

Lin Yu must die. For what he had suffered, tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold retribution would not be enough!

Wang Jianshu looked at his son, barely clinging to life on the stretcher, his expression dark as night. Wang Wan was his only heir; now, seeing him in this state, how could he possibly let the matter rest?

"Don’t worry. Your father will avenge you," Wang Jianshu promised, his face grim.

He had already made up his mind. He would use all the Wang family’s power to destroy Lin Yu.

"Father… you must… avenge me…" Wang Wan’s eyes blazed with unyielding hatred.

He never imagined he would be defeated by an obscure nobody like Lin Yu—and so grievously wounded at that.

He could not accept this outcome, nor would he let it go.

Wang Jianshu gripped his son’s hand tightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He would not allow his son to be humiliated like this, nor would he let Lin Yu get away with it. Lin Yu would pay, and pay dearly.

…

The next day.

The Wang family came to call.

Wang Jianshu could not wait. At first light, he appeared at the Su family’s mansion.

"And what brings the head of the Wang family here today?" Su Tianteng sat in the center of the hall, smiling at Wang Jianshu.

Wang Jianshu snorted and walked straight to a chair, sitting down with a thud.

"Why pretend you don’t know, Su? There’s only one thing for you to do now—hand over Lin Yu, the man who hurt my son!"

"You’re looking for me?" Lin Yu stepped out from the inner rooms and sat down opposite Wang Jianshu.

"Good son-in-law, didn’t I tell you not to come out? Why have you come here?" Su Tianteng’s expression shifted.

He had hoped to delay as long as possible, to avoid letting Lin Yu face them, but he hadn’t expected Lin Yu to come out on his own.

"Uncle Su, it’s fine. A man must answer for his actions. What kind of man would I be if I just hid away?"

Lin Yu had no intention of hiding. He’d been prepared for the Wang family’s arrival.

"So, you’re Lin Yu? You do have some backbone," Wang Jianshu sneered.

"I am. What business do you have with me?"

"Was it you who beat my son?"

"Oh, so you’re the father of that beast Wang Wan! Yes, your beastly son was beaten by me."

"You’re a young man, all right—arrogant and reckless. Don’t you know there are people in this world who could snuff you out with the flick of a finger?" Wang Jianshu’s sneer deepened.