Chu Xiyuan was genuinely stunned. He looked at his friend in disbelief.
Has your partner lost his mind?
Xiao Ji was equally terrified—more than he had ever been before. He had never even raised his voice to his grandfather, much less confronted him openly. Even his uncle had chosen to keep his distance for years.
How did this man dare challenge his grandfather like this???
He wanted to pull Song Liang back, but Song Liang’s hand was still raised. He could only push it down.
Song Liang didn’t resist. He had already shown what needed showing. The rest would be a battle of words.
“You can throw me out. But today, your grandson and I are representing your son, Xiao Yi.”
“Most of the Xiao family’s expenses are covered by the Xiao Group’s profits and dividends. That includes the men you just ordered around—their salaries come from the group too. Without it, do you really think everyone would still jump at your command?”
A deathly silence fell.
Everyone’s head buzzed. They even forgot to breathe.
Xiao Musheng’s aged hand tightened around the dragon’s head on his cane, veins rising beneath the skin. His voice trembled with anger.
“Are you saying the Xiao family can’t survive without Xiao Yi?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
As far as Song Liang knew, some members of the family were self-sufficient, Xiao Yuanchun among them. But apart from a select few, everyone lived off Xiao Yi.
Naturally, that included the old man in front of him.
“I’m just saying Xiao Yi is more reliable.”
Song Liang lifted his eyes toward Xiao Guangjin beside him and added casually, “At least more reliable than that cosplayer of yours.”
“…”
Xiao Guangjin almost raised his cane to strike him.
“Xiao Ji wants to be a dutiful grandson, and Xiao Yi isn’t stopping him. Everyone could be happy. But if you insist on asserting your authority as an elder, I’m afraid that won’t happen.”
Song Liang draped his arm over Xiao Ji’s shoulders again and said lazily, “I’ve talked a little too much. My arm hurts. Darling, take me to your room for a rest~”
Xiao Ji: “…”
He had never imagined today would unfold like this.
His uncle might have refused to come back for the New Year for years, but he had never openly broken with his grandfather. Today, Song Liang had torn away every remaining pretense.
When Xiao Ji didn’t move, Song Liang raised an eyebrow.
“What? Are you deaf?”
“…”
Xiao Ji clenched his back teeth, barely daring to look at his grandfather.
“We… will go to my room first… Grandfather.”
He turned almost mechanically, wishing only to leave as quickly as possible.
But the person beside him couldn’t resist calling out before they left, “Everyone had better attend my engagement! Anyone who doesn’t will have their year-end dividends docked!”
Xiao Ji: “…”
Chu Xiyuan and Xu Bowen: “…”
The others were still reeling from the shock of someone daring to attack the patriarch to his face. That unexpected remark terrified them all over again.
They were about to speak when an angry shout came from the far end of the corridor.
“I don’t agree!”
Song Liang stopped, looked up, and laughed.
Xiao Wenyu was approaching in a wheelchair, his face full of fury. Even his bodyguards couldn’t keep pace, calling after him to slow down.
“Well, if it isn’t Third Young Master Xiao. Out of the hospital?” Song Liang asked with a smile.
Xiao Wenyu wanted to tear him apart. He glared at him, then turned to Xiao Musheng, completely unaware of what had just happened.
“Grandfather, this man is malicious and immoral. He must never be allowed into the Xiao family!”
Song Liang found that entertaining.
“How am I malicious?”
“You kicked me into the hospital!” Xiao Wenyu roared. “Twice!”
The younger Xiao relatives watching the drama drew sharp breaths.
They had known their overbearing third cousin had suffered an accident and been hospitalized with serious injuries. They hadn’t known he had been kicked there.
By this Young Master Song, no less.
Twice!
Song Liang looked delighted by his shouting.
“Since it’s your grandfather’s birthday, I’ll send you back once more later.”
“You… you wouldn’t dare! This is the Xiao family home!”
Xiao Wenyu went pale with fear, furious and alarmed. He looked hopefully at Xiao Musheng.
“Grandfather, you heard him! He has absolutely no respect for you!”
Everyone fell silent.
We knew that before you arrived, they thought. Why not tell us something we don’t know?
When his grandfather merely stood there with a dark expression, Xiao Wenyu faltered. Then he turned to his father.
“Dad! Look at him—”
Xiao Guangjin knew the patriarch was already furious. Every additional word from his son would only add fuel to the fire.
“Shut up!” he snapped.
Xiao Wenyu stared, bewildered.
Hadn’t his father said just two days ago that he would deal with Song Liang? Why had his attitude suddenly changed?
He didn’t understand, but he could now sense that something was wrong with the atmosphere. He swallowed all his curses and settled for glaring fiercely at Song Liang.
Song Liang felt thoroughly refreshed by that glare. With one arm over Xiao Ji’s shoulders, he strode out in grand fashion.
Chu Xiyuan and Xu Bowen knew better than to linger. They nodded to the Xiao family and hurried after them.
Once outside the garden, Xiao Ji—who had been held like a little concubine—threw the arm off his shoulders and glared at Song Liang.
“Have you gone insane? Do you know where you are? Do you know my grandfather could reduce the entire Song family to ashes with a single word?!”
Song Liang replied lazily, “Isn’t your uncle there?”
“My uncle is a Xiao too!”
Xiao Ji was furious at his matter-of-fact attitude.
“And he’s my uncle, not yours!”
“Once we’re married, he’ll be our uncle.”
“…”
Xiao Ji was left speechless.
Naturally, he couldn’t say he had never intended to marry him at all. He only wanted to get through the engagement ceremony and recover the Emperor’s Tear.
If he said that, given this man’s obsession with him, there was no telling what outrageous thing he might do next.
As the two stood facing each other in silence, Chu Xiyuan and Xu Bowen caught up.
Chu Xiyuan immediately voiced his amazement.
“You’re incredible! Going after the Xiao patriarch like that. Is your whole family planning to flee the country tomorrow?”
Song Liang was utterly unconcerned.
“That depends on my father’s luck.”
If they wanted to rise to glory on his coattails, surely they had to pay a little price?
None of them knew what to say.
Then Butler Ye approached, looking tense. He first gave Song Liang a wary glance, then addressed Xiao Ji.
“The master would like to see you.”
Chu Xiyuan and Xu Bowen paused and both looked at Song Liang.
Song Liang smiled casually.
“What are you looking at me for? He asked for him, not me.”
Xiao Ji glanced at Song Liang.
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t wander off.”
Then he left with Butler Ye.
3085’s puzzled voice sounded inside Song Liang’s head.
【Why aren’t you stopping him now?】
Song Liang: 【Why would I? That’s his grandfather.】
【Then earlier—】
【Earlier was earlier. Now is now.】
Song Liang looked with satisfaction at the outrageously expensive watch on his wrist.
He had done his best, after all. He couldn’t stand in the way of their deep grandfather-grandson bond.
At least he had earned the watch someone had given him.
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