Chapter 38: Family Affairs

After hanging up the phone, Xie Chenjing stood by the window for a moment before heading upstairs. Chu Yitong’s luggage was mostly packed, though a few stray items remained in the suitcase. Her slippers lay discarded to the side; she sat barefoot, clutching a doll and staring blankly out the window.

He did not disturb her. Leaning against the doorframe, he watched her quietly with a gentle gaze. She remained unaware of his presence as the minutes ticked slowly by.

In stark contrast to the tranquility here, Chu Changyun was in a state of anxious agitation. After leaving Aoshi Bar, he did not return home, wandering the streets aimlessly until he could no longer delay the inevitable, at which point he finally drove back.

Upon arriving home and parking the car, he took a deep breath and walked slowly into the living room. Li Xiaofen and Chu Feiyuan were sitting at opposite ends of the sofa, their expressions unusual. As he entered, their eyes immediately fixed upon him.

"What’s wrong?" Chu Changyun let out a dry laugh, his palms damp with sweat. Although his one-night indiscretion had been an accident, the subsequent events were entirely of his own choosing.

"Husband, you're finally back?" Li Xiaofen rose to greet him, her expression anxious. "Yuanyuan has gotten into trouble."

"Yuanyuan?" His heart, which had been pounding in his chest, settled slightly. Surprised that his daughter had diverted their attention, he asked quickly, fearful that they might press him about his failure to return home the previous night.

"What could I have done? I just ran into a pervert and stepped on him." She had no way of knowing that the foot she stepped on belonged to the young heir of the Rong Corporation.

After leaving the hotel with her mother, she had recounted the incident to her. Neither of them thought it was a big deal, but after dinner, while watching an entertainment program, she accidentally caught sight of a familiar figure and, unable to contain herself, let the truth slip.

"Wife, Yuanyuan only stepped on a pervert; that’s justifiable anywhere." His concern for his daughter was genuine; after all, she was his only child.

"Ask her who she stepped on!" Li Xiaofen sat down on the sofa, fuming. Her daughter was becoming increasingly unruly. Even though she spoiled her, there were limits. The Rong family were the leaders of Linghai City, and indeed, titans of the national business world. One could not simply step on them without consequence; she had acted without a shred of common sense.

"Yuanyuan, who did you step on?" Chu Changyun asked in a gentle, conciliatory tone, pushing the matter of Aoshi Bar to the back of his mind for the moment.

"Dad, I didn’t know! Who told him to touch me? I—" Seeing his reaction, Chu Feiyuan’s eyes turned red, and tears began to well up.

"There, there, Dad knows. It’s alright, don’t cry." He walked over to her, patting her shoulder to comfort her. "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

"Dad!" She reached out to hug his waist, burying her face in his chest. A scent wafted toward him; a strange look flickered in her eyes as she said quietly, "I... I accidentally stepped on the young heir of the Rong family."

Chu Changyun’s body stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. Although the Chu family were not prominent business magnates, given the reputation of the old man, most people would grant them a measure of respect. Furthermore, the fault did not lie with Yuanyuan, so logically, it should not be a major issue. He chuckled softly, "It’s fine. I’m here."

"Really?" Chu Feiyuan looked up at him, her eyes full of joy. It was better to be safe than sorry, and now she felt relieved.

"Husband, are you sure?" Li Xiaofen, sitting not far away, looked at him in surprise, her tone laced with skepticism.

"It’s fine, don’t worry!" Chu Changyun’s confident demeanor finally put both of them completely at ease.

"That’s good. You scared me to death. Yuanyuan, be more careful in the future. And husband, why didn't you come home last night?" With their daughter’s trouble resolved, it was time to question her husband.

"Oh, a friend of mine had some trouble yesterday." He met her gaze steadily, explaining earnestly, "I was afraid he might do something rash, so..."