Chapter 402: Are You Fine With Having Nothing?
Why would Papa Sheng change to how he was before?
That was because Mama Sheng remembered how he had been br.i.m.m.i.n.g with youthful energy when she first met him as a younger man. However, he forced himself to be a mature but unsophisticated old man, even though that character did not suit him.
And even though he had been trying to gain some affirmation from the old man over the years, he never once received any kindness and his insecurities only grew.
Mama Sheng saw all of that with her own eyes.
“Are you fine with having nothing if you don’t divorce me?”
“It doesn’t matter. I would rather be an ordinary husband to you and live plainly as I long as I can be with you. I really don’t want to fight at my age.”
Mama Sheng burst into tears at that and punched Papa Sheng on the chest. “How could you make up your mind only now? I almost left.”
“I’m sorry, Xiao Qin. I would make it clear to Father when we return: I won’t sign the divorce papers.”
Mama Sheng nodded, allowing Papa Sheng to dry her tears. “From now on, our family will be together.”
“Yes, we’ll leave with that h.e.l.lraiser brat of ours… although I’m going to need my pa.s.sport first.”
Smiling, Mama Sheng gave Sheng Xiao a call instead. “Send someone to me… and your father.”
Papa Sheng was unaware what Mama Sheng was up to, and only came to a realization when he found the helicopter landing in front of them. “That’s… from Sheng Xiao?”
“What, did you really think your son is out on the streets like a beggar after leaving the Sheng family?” Mama Sheng grinned. “Old-timer, you just have to follow your son’s arrangement when you’re back at Jianchuan. He told me that he would allow you to regain your pride as his father if you choose me.”
There was a flash of surprise in Papa Sheng’s eyes.
Sheng Xiao should not be so well-off at Jianchuan right now.
Perhaps Sheng Xiao was trying to save his father’s dignity.
Either way, it didn’t matter to him now that he has chosen his wife and son. He would endure a simple life.
Still, he was stunned when he found Sheng Xiao and a group of his lackeys when he reached Jianchuan.
“Boy…” Mama Sheng promptly dove into his arms.
Meanwhile, Papa Sheng was staring blankly and only recovered after half a day.
“Son… what… is going on?”
“Get in the car. You’ll understand soon.” Sheng Xiao pointed at the car arranged for them, and led them to Zhongteng’s tower.
All the employees who saw Sheng Xiao at the entrance greeted him respectfully. “Chief Sheng.”
Papa Sheng tagged along, and soon arrived at Sheng Xiao’s office on the fifty-fourth floor.
He finally understood when he saw the office that was wider than Huang Yao’s. “When did you build another company on your own?”
“It’s been some time. This is Zhongteng, an arms industry enterprise I’ve founded with my father-in-law.”
Papa Sheng went to stand before the window that overlooked all of Jianchuan, his heart boiling right then. “So…”
“So this is a company that truly belongs to our family. Dad, you’ve chosen Mom and that means the family is in your heart and you have true love. As your son, I naturally wish that you two could have a happy and peaceful life, which is why the doors of Zhongteng are always open to you if you so wished.”
Papa Sheng felt hot tears welling in his eyes at that.
Here, he did not have to bear with the old man’s temper or his accusations, or to think who he was making an effort for.
“Wonderful… How extraordinary. You really are my son.”
“I know you have some reputation for specializing in industrial design overseas, Dad, and I incidentally need a specialist contractor.”
Papa Sheng was between laughter and tears. “You knew I’m bad at management, didn’t you?” He said, but soon nodded. “I just don’t know if my old bones still work.”
“Not a problem.” Sheng Xiao chuckled.
That was the first time the father and son had a calm conservation.
Naturally, Papa Sheng could feel clearly that Sheng Xiao had grown. His arrogance was gone, and it turns out that he too could mature and gain composure.
“I would do my best because this is my own family’s business. Don’t worry, your father would definitely prove himself and become Jianchuan’s best industrial designer.”
“That being said, we shouldn’t reveal ourselves since Huang Yao is trying to put pressure on us right now. The Sheng family would know about us when the time is right.”
“Let the old man believe that I’m down and out. That might put off his attention towards us.”
Papa Sheng turned to Mama Sheng and nodded. “I’ve promised your mother to follow all your arrangements, but after leaving the family, she and I…”
“We’re staying at Jing Ting.” Mama Sheng said. “It’s my property. No one is allowed to have a say against that.”
“Alright. Let’s have lunch at noon together, and I’ll take you to the Sheng residence at night to make things clear with the old man.”
“What about Xiao Qi?” Mama Sheng couldn’t help asking, having missed her young daughter-in-law quite terribly.
“She’s at the forensics lab. You’ll meet her in the evening.” Sheng Xiao answered.
Later, Papa Sheng visited the various departments inside Jianchuan. He really could not believe that he could find a real place of his own despite being so advanced in years.
“There would probably be more drama when we go to the Sheng residence later.”
Even though it was rare for Mama Sheng to see her husband regain youthful sparkle in his eyes, she was still worried that her husband would be hurt when they return to the Sheng residence.
“Of course… the old man is always keen on starting a fight.”
“Your father must have hated that too… still, I did not want to give up on him because I’ve seen that he has that side of him too.”
Sheng Xiao put an arm over his mother’s shoulder in quiet consolation.
“Only you could protect Dad at night.”
“Do you even need to tell me?”
***
Old Sheng was very confident that his eldest son would definitely choose the Sheng family.
Why? That was because he has been a good-for-nothing all his life, and there was no way he would give up on his riches and luxury when he is in his middle-age.
To the old man, women were not worth respecting—your wife has left? Just get another, not to mention that said wife was disobedient.
That was why Old Sheng simply did not imagine that the day would come when his eldest son said no to him.
After waiting for an entire day, the old man finally saw the return of his eldest son…
But why was Mama Sheng still with him?
There was a rather unhappy look on the old man’s face right then. “Didn’t I tell you to bring the divorce papers only? You don’t have to divorce that woman right in front of me.”
Papa Sheng turned to glance at Mama Sheng before telling the old man, “I have no intentions of divorcing, Father!”
“No?” The old man sneered. “Are you thinking that I would allow this to slip past me like before? This b.i.t.c.h is leaving the Sheng family.”