Unaware of the argument she had caused back at the Lu family home, Shen Lan endured the tense silence until the car reached its destination. Massive, intricately carved gates swung open. Clutching her small bag, she stepped out and followed silently behind Xiao Cheng. The Xiao estate was immense. The front grounds alone were easily twice the size of the Lu family’s, featuring sprawling, immaculately manicured lawns dotted with expensive flowers. Encircled by a perimeter of tall trees, the entire property felt secluded and serene. The uniformed staff moved about their duties with a quiet, orderly efficiency. The moment Xiao Cheng appeared, they all stopped, straightened their postures, and greeted him with deference. The display startled Shen Lan. She had always heard that Xiao Cheng was the true master of the Xiao family, but only now did she truly grasp the extent of his authority. She lowered her gaze, keeping her eyes fixed ahead as she followed him into the main hall of the residence. “Um, Mr. Xiao, where will I be…” Before she could finish, a cup came hurtling straight for her face, thrown with vicious force. With no time to dodge, she squeezed her eyes shut, her face draining of color. But the expected pain never came, nor did the sound of shattering porcelain. She cautiously opened her eyes to find a tall, imposing figure standing before her. It was Xiao Cheng. His face was grim, his long fingers wrapped around a delicate white porcelain cup. A chilling hostility radiated from his dark eyes, cold enough to freeze the blood. “You’re getting old, old man,” Xiao Cheng said, his voice low. “Your aim is getting worse. Next time you throw a tantrum, try to aim properly. You wouldn’t want to hurt an innocent bystander.” With a flick of his wrist, he sent the cup flying toward the man on the sofa. It didn’t hit him, but smashed squarely on the coffee table in front of him. With a sharp crack, the white porcelain shattered into a thousand pieces. Xiao Ren flinched, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He shot up from the sofa, pointing a trembling finger at Xiao Cheng. “You animal!” he roared. “You dare raise a hand to me now? Do you even see me as your father anymore?!” “No.” The reply was swift and merciless. Xiao Cheng sank onto the opposite sofa, lounging casually. The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk, but with half his face cloaked in shadow, the expression was unsettlingly sinister. Xiao Ren sputtered with rage, his finger still shaking. “You ungrateful bastard! If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I would have smothered you in your crib!” Xiao Cheng let out a dry chuckle. “When my mother gave birth to me,” he said nonchalantly, “you were busy screwing some woman on the side. You never had the chance to kill me. A real pity, isn’t it?” For a moment, Xiao Ren’s expression faltered, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. But it lasted only a few seconds before his tone softened. “Xiao Cheng, I know you resent me. But your mother has been gone for over a decade. Isn’t it time we, as father and son, put our differences aside and tried to get along? I’m sure if your mother is watching from above, she would want to see us as a loving family, not at each other's throats like enemies.” Xiao Cheng’s only answer was a soft laugh. He clapped his hands slowly, a smile playing on his lips. “How touching. But when my mother was alive, I don't recall you caring much about her feelings. It's only after she's dead that you decide to put on this show.” A muscle in Xiao Ren’s jaw twitched, and for a moment it looked like he would explode, but he reined in his anger and let out a heavy sigh. “I made many mistakes in the past, I admit that. But it wasn't until after your mother was gone that I realized how much I truly cared for her. I've been dreaming of her for several nights now. She told me to take better care of you, that seeing us like this… it breaks her heart…” “So, you miss my mother?” Xiao Cheng cut him off. Xiao Ren nodded eagerly, his eyes filled with a deep, feigned affection. “Yes, I miss her terribly. I think about her constantly. I watch all her old movies over and over, terrified that one day I might forget what she looked like.” “Is that so?” Xiao Cheng drew out the words, rising to his feet and slowly approaching his father. At six-foot-three, his presence was intensely intimidating up close. “Then how about I send you to see her?” “Wh-what?” Xiao Ren stammered, not comprehending. A cruel smile twisted Xiao Cheng’s lips, his eyes glinting with a predator's light. “You miss her, don't you? Then go down and be with her. That would be a true show of sincerity.” “How would you like to die? My hand, or your own? Feel free to make a request. I'll grant it.” Terrified by his son's cold, menacing demeanor, Xiao Ren’s face went deathly pale and he stumbled backward. “Y-you… stay away! Get away from me!” Seeing his father's pathetic display, Xiao Cheng clicked his tongue. “How boring.” Only then did Xiao Ren realize he’d been toyed with. His face hardened, turning ashen with fury. “You’ve gone too far.” “Have I?” Xiao Cheng feigned innocence, a corner of his mouth twitching. “Weren’t you the one who started this disgusting performance? Before you try acting in front of me again, maybe wipe your mouth first. It might make you a little more convincing.” Xiao Ren was stunned into silence. Liu Lin helpfully elaborated, “Zhang Qian from the secretarial department, DJ Wang Yue from Zero Degree Bar, Zhou Yu the dancer from Xinyuan Nightclub… oh, and let’s not forget Wu Le, the sophomore dance major from J University you took on as a mistress just two days ago…” Xiao Ren’s face flushed red then drained to a pasty white. His features sagged, and he seemed to radiate a dark aura of pure humiliation. Liu Lin pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “There are more. Shall I continue?” Xiao Cheng snorted. “Old man, you’ve got enough mistresses to fill a phone book.” “Shut up! That’s enough!” Xiao Ren roared, his eyes burning with shame and fury. Desperate to deflect the humiliation, his gaze darted around the room before finally landing, with cold intent, on Shen Lan.