"You child, we didn't say anything to you," Wen Renhe glared at Fang Miaomiao, feigning ferocity. "Strangers would think we were bullying you."
"Father is joking," Fang Miaomiao shook her head. "This matter is not up for discussion."
"I am his grandmother, and everything I do is for his own good."
If he didn't work hard now, how could he bear the heavy responsibility of the Wen Group in the future? She certainly didn't want the Wen family's industry to always be in Wen Zhiyan's hands alone.
"Mother, what you're saying makes it sound like I don't exist. Since I am his mother now, everything about him should naturally be managed by me. I say which kindergarten he goes to, and that's which kindergarten he goes to."
"Fang Miaomiao!"
"I'm here."
"Mother, An'an must be managed by Miaomiao."
"On what grounds! He clearly..."
"Mother, be mindful of your words. He is my son, Wen Zhiyan's son, and naturally belongs under my and Miaomiao's care." Wen Zhiyan sternly interrupted Ran Lian's words. "Father, if you only asked us to come over tonight to lecture us, I don't think we'll need to come so often in the future."
"Wen Zhiyan, I am your mother."
Wen Zhiyan looked at her without speaking.
"Alright, are you two ever going to stop?" Wen Renhe rubbed his temples wearily. "Do you have to argue every time you meet? You are mother and son, not enemies."
"I'm doing this for An'an's good," Ran Lian said with red eyes. "You know how those people talk about An'an. I feel for An'an, and I want to give An'an the best. What's wrong with that?"
"An'an is Zhiyan's child. Educating children is their business. Aren't you tired of worrying about so many things all day?"
"Not tired."
"Father, Mother, it's getting late. We'll be heading back now."
With that, Wen Zhiyan gestured for Fang Miaomiao to push him away.
"You guys!"
Ran Lian watched their retreating backs, two adults and one child, her body trembling with anger.
Wen Renhe shook his head and said nothing.
He didn't know why, but Ran Lian seemed to be regressing with age. She was gentle and understanding when she was young, but now? She was petty, spoke indirectly, and was overbearing towards her own child.
His Ran Lian, when did she become someone he no longer recognized?
"Stop making a fuss."
"You think I'm making a fuss too? Wen Renhe, do you know what you're saying?"
"Then do you really think I don't know what you're thinking?" Wen Renhe looked at Ran Lian calmly. "You resent me, you resent Zhiyan. Do you think we ruined you, or do you think Zhiyan ruined Zhimuo?"
"Don't mention Zhimuo to me." Hearing the name, Ran Lian faltered and collapsed onto the chair. "You are not worthy of mentioning Zhimuo. If Wen Zhiyan felt any guilt, he shouldn't have gotten married. He should have atoned for Zhimuo with his entire life."
"That's enough."
Wen Renhe suddenly stood up, slammed his hand on the table, and glared at Ran Lian, his eyes wide with anger. "Are you satisfied only when Zhiyan leaves us completely?"
Ran Lian flinched in fear but still forced herself to say, "Wen Zhiyan dares to. He owes me, he owes Zhimuo, he owes An'an. He hasn't atoned for his sins. Let him try to leave the Wen Corporation."
Wen Renhe looked at Ran Lian, her face filled with resentment, and a sense of disorientation washed over him.
After a moment, he shook his head, picked up his cane, and turned to leave.
Ran Lian watched Wen Renhe's retreating figure, then sank helplessly into the chair. She regretted it. She shouldn't have agreed to Wen Renhe's suggestion to give the premature baby An'an to Wen Zhiyan back then. Now look, the Wen Corporation was in Wen Zhiyan's grasp, and even An'an was.
Wen Zhiyan was greedy for the Wen Corporation's power, so he wanted to ruin his own son, An'an, so that An'an would not be able to successfully inherit the Wen Corporation when he grew up.
Wen Zhiyan was a jinx.
Ran Lian sat in her seat and began to sob softly.
Meanwhile.
The three of them returned to the apartment.
After Fang Miaomiao put Wen Yanan to sleep, she pondered for a moment, then carrying a glass of milk, she knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
She pushed the door open, but the light was not turned on.
The faint blue glow of the computer illuminated Wen Zhiyan's handsome yet slightly颓废 face.
"Can you turn on the light?"
"Of course."
Wen Zhiyan's voice was hoarse.
She turned on the light.
He closed his eyes, unaccustomed to the sudden brightness, and opened them again after a moment.
"Why isn't Miaomiao asleep yet?"
"I guessed you weren't happy, so I wanted to see you."
The book only mentioned that Wen Zhiyan was not favored in the Wen family, but the author offered no textual explanation for the reason. At first, she thought it was because Old Madam Ran disliked Wen Zhiyan's indifferent personality.
After the scene just now, she felt it might not be the case.
"I'm fine," Wen Zhiyan shook his head. "Miaomiao, don't be afraid. I won't let you and An'an return to Imperial Garden for unnecessary holidays in the future."
As for him, he was used to it.
"Do you think I care about that?"
Wen Zhiyan lowered his gaze and remained silent.
"It's getting late, you should rest early. Even though you don't have work tomorrow, you can sleep in."
"Miaomiao." Wen Zhiyan called out to Fang Miaomiao, who was about to leave, his tone tinged with a hint of pleading. "Can you... stay with me for a while?"
Fang Miaomiao turned around and looked at Wen Zhiyan with a smile. "Let's watch a movie."
"Hmm?"
Before Wen Zhiyan could react, he saw Fang Miaomiao walk towards him and push him into the living room.
"Whenever I'm in a bad mood, I watch horror movies to vent my sadness," Fang Miaomiao said while searching for horror films. "At that time, I feel like there's nothing sadder in the world than watching a horror movie."
Once you start watching a horror movie, you're too scared to feel sad.
"Found it."
Fang Miaomiao turned on the projector, set up the movie, and then sat next to Wen Zhiyan. "I just found this, the super terrifying kind. Thailand, for all its faults, makes excellent horror films. They always give me goosebumps."
She wouldn't even dare to go to the bathroom.
"Miaomiao likes watching horror movies?"
"Not really," Fang Miaomiao said, engrossed in the projector. "Emotional transfer. When your emotions are transferred to something else, you'll find you have no energy to be sad. Don't talk, the main feature is starting."
As she spoke, an ethereal singing voice began.
Fang Miaomiao unconsciously leaned closer to Wen Zhiyan.
Following the sound, the film entered its climax. Several students were frantically running down a hallway.
Bang.
Bang!
The sound of a bouncing ball.
Footsteps.
And a girl's laughter.
Fang Miaomiao swallowed and leaned against Wen Zhiyan, her eyes fixed on the projector.
"Ah!"
Fang Miaomiao trembled and instinctively buried her head against Wen Zhiyan. "Did that ghost thing leave?"
Wen Zhiyan watched expressionlessly as a little girl on the projector used her own head as a ball. "It's still here."
"What's the scary scene?"
"A little girl in a red dress."
"That's it?" Fang Miaomiao asked, skeptical.
"Mhm."
Fang Miaomiao peeked out. The image on the projector was so terrifying that she almost jumped off the sofa.