The study door creaked open.
Wen Renhe strode out from the study and walked up to Wen Zhiyan, raising his hand to slap him across the face.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed throughout the living room.
He moved so fast that no one had time to react.
"Grandpa?"
"Holy shit, old man, what are you doing?" Fang Zhihuan quickly stood up, grabbing Wen Renhe's arm. "Are you out of your mind? Is your fourth son someone you can hit?"
Wen Renhe glanced at him, then his gaze settled on Xu Lin. "I can agree to your terms. This was a mistake made in a past life. Let our generation put an end to it."
Xu Lin nodded slightly.
"Wenlan, give me your phone."
Wen Wenlan hesitated, but seeing no one else speak, she handed her phone to Wen Renhe. "Grandpa."
"Good girl."
Wen Renhe smiled at Wen Wenlan and answered the call.
"Honglu."
Honglu on the other end of the line paused. "Dad?"
"Come pick me up."
"But, Dad, I'm at the hospital right now," Honglu said hesitantly. "Wanqing hasn't arrived yet."
"I'm asking you, the offer letter you sent to Wen Zhiyan before, did you give it to him?"
"Dad, I'm so sorry, I've been busy lately and forgot to send the offer letter to Fourth Brother."
"No need to send it anymore." Wen Renhe's voice was filled with uncontainable anger. "He won't even visit his own mother, such a person doesn't deserve to work at my Wen Corporation."
"Dad? Did you and Fourth Brother fight again?"
"What else?" Wen Renhe said irritably. "Someone like that doesn't deserve to be at Wen Corporation."
"But..."
Wen Renhe directly hung up the phone.
He looked at Wen Zhiyan with exhaustion. "Can you two give me and Wen Zhiyan some private time?"
Everyone exchanged glances, but they left the living room for them.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the spacious living room.
"Zhiyan."
"What do you want to say?"
"I'm sorry. I know this apology is too late, but I still want to say it to you."
Sorry for letting you lose your most respected elder brother.
Sorry for letting you endure so much coldness and unfair treatment.
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me."
Wen Renhe slumped onto the sofa. "People are always blinded by their eyes and ears, and then make mistakes they can't change in a lifetime. It was like this with you, and it was like this with Zhi Mo and Xiao Wa."
"I owe the three of you."
"Why?"
Wen Renhe let out a bitter smile. "Greed."
He had avoided it his whole life, yet he couldn't escape it. He still had to pay for his mistakes.
If only there were a pill for regret, he would definitely not have met Ran Lian, and would have nothing to do with the Ran family.
"Actually, I've wanted to say something to you for a long time, Zhiyan. You are my pride. You've managed Wen Corporation very well. Your father, your father was incompetent and almost handed Wen Corporation over to the Ran family, making it a tool for their profiteering and illegal activities."
"I thank you, and I thank Fang Zhihuan. As for Wen Corporation, let it go."
After saying this, Wen Renhe looked as if he had aged several years, lying limply on the sofa. He still mustered the strength to say, "You don't need to worry about me going to the Ran family to complain. I, I want to atone."
He wanted to be able to face his Zhi Mo in the afterlife with dignity.
Wen Zhiyan remained silent for a moment, ultimately saying nothing.
"I'm old now, and I talk too much." Wen Renhe waved his hand. "You shouldn't get involved in the messy affairs of Wen Corporation anymore. That slap just now, consider it us severing our father-son relationship. I will issue a statement when I get back, and whether Wen Corporation lives or dies has nothing to do with you."
With that, Wen Renhe stood up. "Wenlan."
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Take me to the hospital."
Wen Wenlan glanced at Wen Zhiyan, then nodded and left with Wen Renhe.
Fang Zhihuan tutted. "So what if you cut ties? What's one slap to Wen Zhiyan?"
Fang Miaomiao shot Fang Zhihuan an unhappy glare. "Can you please not talk?"
Fang Zhihuan shrugged. "You girl, your mouth is really something. I was just worried your husband would be sad."
"Ahem, well, we should be going then."
After seeing everyone off, Fang Miaomiao sat beside Wen Zhiyan and hugged him carefully.
Wen Zhiyan pulled Fang Miaomiao into his embrace, his body trembling slightly. "Miaomiao."
Fang Miaomiao patted Wen Zhiyan's back. "It's okay, I'm here."
She could feel that Wen Zhiyan desperately craved recognition. During the most difficult times for Wen Corporation, he had shouldered the burden without a word, and never complained to his family.
He endured his mother's coldness and mockery, only to be met with repeated rejection.
"It's okay. If they don't want you, I and An An want you. We are here for you." Fang Miaomiao said softly. "Later, shall we go pick up An An together?"
Wen Zhiyan nodded. "Okay, we'll pick up An An together."
Fang Miaomiao gently stroked Wen Zhiyan's head as if comforting a child. She vaguely understood why Wen Zhiyan was so sad. He appeared to be indifferent to everything and everyone, but in reality, he was the most stubborn. He desperately wanted to prove his worth and gain his parents' approval.
Yet, he was abandoned time and time again.
"Miaomiao, An An and I only have you."
Fang Miaomiao rubbed Wen Zhiyan's handsome fingers. "Okay, okay, I won't leave you two."
After finally managing to comfort him, Fang Miaomiao let out a sigh of relief.
The phone rang.
"Sister Nian, what's up?"
Fang Miaomiao was a little surprised to receive Zeng Nian's call, especially since she had barely worked for the past six months.
"Miaomiao, are you okay?" Zeng Nian asked cautiously.
"What's wrong?"
"Master Wen and Wen Corporation... I shouldn't really ask about this, but people at the studio are worried about you, so I decided to call. Miaomiao, don't worry, the studio has signed quite a few promising artists recently. If Wen Corporation doesn't want Master Wen, then let him be the boss at our studio. We think he's great."
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Wen Zhiyan, who was holding her. "Wen Zhiyan, I didn't realize you're so popular with people at my studio."
"Master... Master Wen is here too."
"Yes, he is." Fang Miaomiao smiled and handed the phone to Wen Zhiyan. "Everyone is so concerned about you. Do you want to let them know you're okay?"
Wen Zhiyan took the phone and spoke briefly with Zeng Nian and the others before hanging up.
"Speaking of which, why did Sister Nian and the others decide to call about this?" Fang Miaomiao mused to herself and opened Weibo's trending searches.
The trending topics were: #Wen Zhiyan has no connection with Wen Corporation#
#Founder of Wen Corporation announces severance of ties with Wen Zhiyan#
#Where will Fang Miaomiao go from here#
#Wen Zhiyan suffered a car accident five years ago and became disabled#