Qian Xingxing never imagined heâd be controlled like this.
His mind was a mess as he left the company. He had planned to head to the branch office that very night, but then Qian Duoduo sent him a message, saying he wanted to have a proper talk with him that evening.
He said he admitted he was wrong, and so much more...
Although there was no longer any point in discussing the matter, he was faced with the soft, pleading tone of the man who was once his father. After some thought, he decided to go to the meeting.
He thought he was there to receive an apology, but he never expected...
When the man arrived, his demeanor was utterly imperious.
His previous suggestion of, "Maybe your mother gave birth to two children," had transformed directly intoâ
"Xingxing, Iâm here to inform you, not to ask for your opinion."
Qian Duoduo stood before him, his large frame casting a shadow that enveloped Qian Xingxing. "You must post this announcement."
"Impossible," Qian Xingxing refused immediately.
Qian Duoduo drawled, "Oh, really?"
"I will never acknowledge any of this."
"Youâve got some spine." Whatever he was thinking, Qian Duoduo suddenly sat down in front of Qian Xingxing. "Xingxing has really grown up."
"You used to be like a little child. Youâd never act like this." His voice even held a hint of nostalgia.
âIn the past, hearing such words would have just felt like a sign of his fatherâs deep love for him. But nowââ
âOne moment, heâs reminiscing about the past; the next, heâs trying to shove an illegitimate son into my motherâs womb. How ironic.â
"But Xingxing, growing up comes with a price. Once you become sensibleâyou gain a lot of weaknesses." Qian Duoduo watched him, the corner of his lip curling into a slight smirk. "Youâll agree."
"Iâm certain of it."
Then, Qian Duoduo went upstairs.
Qian Xingxing didnât want to think about any of it. He grabbed his coat and made to leave, but just as he reached the door, he was blocked by the butler robot.
"Apologies. You do not have authorization to leave."
"Rita, move aside."
"Apologies. You do not have authorization to command me."
Only then did he realize heâd been set up.
âHis father hadnât called him back to apologize or negotiate at all. It was to imprison him.â
He rushed upstairs to Qian Duoduoâs room and pounded on the door relentlessly, but there wasnât a single sound from within. He made a terrific racket. Just a single door away, Qian Duoduo sat beside the smart home controller, watching the hallway surveillance feed with his chin propped in his hand.
âThe boyâs grown up now. Time to start guiding him properly.â
Qian Xingxing waited outside the door for two hours. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he returned to his room. He planned to use his terminal to contact Meimei, but when he switched it on, he discovered it was restricted within the house. It couldnât connect to the network, and he couldnât send out any messages at all.
ăThe next day.ă
He tried to find Qian Duoduo to talk, but it was useless. Qian Duoduo was now ignoring him.
Along with his fatherâs silence, the butler robot presented him with a transfer order from the corporation.
He had been stripped of his position at the branch office.
That was the fruit of more than half a year of his blood, sweat, and tears. That branch office had the streamers he had personally nurtured, the work environment he knew so well, the person he longed to see...
The moment he finished reading the notice, the butler robot directly dialed a dedicated line to the streaming company. Qian Duoduoâs refined, scholarly face appeared before Qian Xingxing.
"Xingxing, see the surprise I got for you?"
Qian Xingxing clenched his fists. "How could you do this?"
"And why not?" Qian Duoduo said with a smile. "This is the first lesson Iâm teaching you."
"Donât be so quick to refuse things. It can lead to consequences youâre not willing to accept."