The Billionaire's Hidden Affection-Chapter 613 - 610: Are you breaking up with me? 5_1

"What kind of difficulties are those?"

Huang Xiaojue didn’t hide anything, directly posing several pertinent questions that hit the nail on the head. Mr. Zhou didn’t say much after listening, but inwardly, he nodded. This young man truly is talented. His abilities aren’t just something his daughter boasted about. More importantly, he hadn’t tried to curry favor. During their first meeting, he showed no hint of sycophancy. In fact, there wasn’t the slightest suggestion of him trying to take credit for anything. His demeanor was perfectly composed, neither servile nor overbearing. Mr. Zhou had built his company into a large enterprise. As a billionaire, he had met countless people. All of them had been either excessively respectful, eager to perform, or quick to fawn over him. Yet, none were like Huang Xiaojue. He possessed a calm composure that belied his age. Mr. Zhou was quite surprised. Mr. Zhou offered no opinions or requests, not even the usual admonitions a parent might give. He simply and completely treated Huang Xiaojue as one would receive a promising up-and-comer.

Zhou Ting, watching from the side, saw everything clearly. Father hasn’t begun to trust Huang Xiaojue at all. For someone in his position, gaining his trust is incredibly difficult. She, however, felt a little uneasy.

While in the car, Huang Xiaojue received a call from his mother. By the time he arrived home, a steaming bowl of soup was already on the table.

Mother Huang was all smiles. "Son, this soup has the cordyceps Zhou Ting sent. It’s very nourishing! You work so hard, so eat up. Zhou Ting is such a wonderful girl—pretty, capable, and most importantly, kind and sweet, not at all like a spoiled young lady. She’s especially warm-hearted. If it weren’t for her help, Yang Wei and the others would never have found jobs. It’s great now; they finally have decent work, and I can finally face your aunt..."

Huang Xiaojue’s hand, holding the soup spoon, paused. "Mom, that’s enough."

Mother Huang, however, was dismissive.

"You know perfectly well what kind of person Yang Wei is," Huang Xiaojue continued. "He has no skills and no education. The only thing he’s good at is playing mahjong. It’s good enough that he now has a job to feed himself. Tell Aunt to keep a closer eye on him and make him straighten up his thuggish ways. If he causes any more trouble, don’t blame me for turning my back on him."

"Son, how can you say such things?" Mother Huang protested. "As the saying goes, ’Fathers and sons fight together in battle; brothers hunt tigers together.’ You and Yang Wei are both only children. If you two don’t help each other, who else can you rely on? If Yang Wei makes something of himself, won’t you also gain an ally?"

Huang Xiaojue said flatly, "I’m just afraid that one day, Yang Wei’s ’help’ will land me in serious trouble."

Before Mother Huang could reply, Father Huang exploded, "Old woman, will you never learn your lesson? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world; everything has a price! Don’t you know what sort of person Yang Wei is? Only you see him as some kind of treasure! You generously use our son’s resources to benefit your side of the family, satisfying your own vanity, but it’s always our son who foots the bill! I’m warning you, if you dare ask Zhou Ting for even one more thing, you can just go live with your relatives. I’m done with you!"

Mother Huang, having never heard her husband—the old man—speak so harshly, was stunned. She stammered for a moment, then fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

「It was a March night, the spring breeze intoxicating.」

Yan Xixi had her window open, allowing petals from the early-blooming peach trees in the grove to drift onto her windowsill. Having passed her exams, she suddenly found herself with an abundance of free time. I could go shopping, watch a movie, or maybe just sit in someone’s lap with a book, idly chatting... The mere thought made her face flush.