Chapter 33 It's just an apology

"Young Mistress, you're awake?"

The old butler standing by the side of the sofa glanced towards the staircase, his face expressionless.

Zhao Yanan couldn't help but shiver, forcing herself to walk into the living room with heavy, slow steps.

As she approached, she lowered her head timidly and greeted Chu Xiaotian, "Grandfather..."

Chu Xiaotian didn't even look at her, calmly picked up the teacup on the table, and took a small sip.

The meaning was obvious—he didn't acknowledge Zhao Yanan at all.

Zhao Yanan stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or leave.

After a while, the old man picked up the cane beside him, walked around to stand behind Chu Zhiqing, and scolded angrily, "You're over fifty years old, and all you know is indulgence and pleasure! Four children, and not one turned out well! Is this how you raise them?!"

As he spoke, he struck Chu Zhiqing hard on the back with his cane twice.

Chu Zhiqing supported himself on the floor with his hands, muttering, "Dad, I know I was wrong..."

This scene left Zhao Yanan stunned, and she couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Chu Zhiqing.

It's bad enough that his son doesn't respect him, but at his age, he still has to endure beatings from his own father... Sigh.

The old man took a few steps forward, stood behind Chu Yuxuan, and with a hint of mockery in his tone, said, "You've certainly learned well from your father, haven't you? Hmm? Almost thirty years old, and all you're good at is spending money. I should never have agreed to let you return to the Chu family! Useless thing!"

Chu Yuxuan took the two hits solidly, his body as still as a statue. Just as the old man was about to let him go, this guy suddenly chuckled and remarked cheekily, "No strength!"

Zhao Yanan: ...

"You little brat!" The old man swung the cane again, hitting him hard seven or eight times, scaring little Mengli so much that she shrank her neck, tightly closing her eyes, her body trembling.

"Old man," Chu Yuxuan still knelt straight, smiling wickedly, "You really are getting old. Ten hits now don't hurt as much as one hit used to when I was a kid."

"Still holding a grudge?" The old man's voice grew even colder. "Or are you just waiting for me to die?"

Chu Zhiqing looked at his son and said, "Yuxuan, don't anger your grandfather..."

Chu Yuxuan curled his lips, "Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural order. Whether I wish for it or not, what difference does it make?"

Zhao Yanan was once again hit by the tension in the room...

The butler stepped forward, standing beside Chu Yuxuan, and said angrily, "Young Master, you really need to be disciplined." With that, he swung his arm wide and slapped Chu Yuxuan hard across the face.

"Slap!"

Chu Yuxuan turned his face, glaring at the butler with a cold, wicked gaze. He licked the blood off his lip and spat it on the ground.

"And you think you're fit to fight for the family inheritance? Heh... Compared to your brothers and sisters, you're still a long way off, you useless thing! Ahem... Let me tell you, stop disgracing the Chu family in public!" Chu Xiaotian scolded, stepping forward to stand in front of little Loli, saying, "Chuli, show me your hand!"

The little doll immediately burst into tears, saying pitifully, "Grandpa... I won't put bugs in your teapot again, you have my word!"

The old man was both amused and exasperated, holding her tiny hand, he smiled and said, "Come on, accompany grandpa to play chess! Hehe... Little one, don't catch bugs to play with anymore, be careful they might bite you, understand?"

"Grandpa, I want a hug... Waaa..." Little Mengli, with tears in her eyes, grabbed onto the expensive jade ring on Chu Xiaotian's thumb, pouting, "I want this toy..."

Without hesitation, the old man took off the ring and placed it in his granddaughter's palm, doting on her, "Grandpa can't carry you anymore, sweetie... Alright, alright, stop crying, Grandpa will hug you!"

Indeed, no man in the world can escape the charm of his little girl.

As Chu Yuxuan watched the old man's staggered figure, his eyes flickered with a complex emotion.

He didn't dare get up until the old man had left the room.

Zhao Yanan also let out a sigh of relief and hurried over to help Chu Zhiqing.

"Aiya, Nannan, I'm sorry you had to see that today!" Chu Zhiqing, his legs weak and numb from kneeling for so long, gently pounded on them with his hands.

Zhao Yanan didn't know how to respond, so she chose to stay silent.

"Son, is your face okay? That butler really doesn't know how to hold back!"

Chu Yuxuan licked his lips, his eyes flickering, but he didn't respond.

After a while, he glanced at Zhao Yanan with a half-smile, "Shall we go?"

Zhao Yanan nodded and bid farewell to Chu Zhiqing.

Once in the car, neither of them spoke.

Chu Yuxuan rubbed his temples, lost in thought.

Zhao Yanan started the car, glancing at Chu Yuxuan's chest, and asked, "Is the wound... okay?"

Chu Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with suspicion, "Guilt? Or fear?"

Zhao Yanan pursed her lips, feeling a bit embarrassed, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Chu Yuxuan was even more puzzled. Given Zhao Yanan's extreme reaction last night, it seemed like she wanted to kill him on the spot. How could she suddenly apologize? This wasn't like her at all.

"If you're worried I'll cause trouble for you and file for divorce, there's no need. I'm not that petty."

Zhao Yanan's lips moved slightly, "That's not what I meant."

Chu Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, "Then?"

"I'm just apologizing, purely."

"Heh... It's not necessary. We're not close."

Zhao Yanan: ...

As the car drove out of Phoenix Manor, Zhao Yanan finally remembered to ask, "Where are you going?"

Chu Yuxuan, staring lazily out the window, said, "Emerald Lake."

After a pause, he added, "If it's too much trouble, just drop me off by the roadside, I'll take a cab."

Zhao Yanan remained silent.

If it were in the past, she wouldn't have hesitated to pull over and kick this dog of a man out of the car.

It was clear that Chu Zhiqing's earnest talk last night had taken effect immediately.

Perhaps out of guilt, Zhao Yanan asked, as if on a whim, "Is your face okay?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

Chu Yuxuan was visibly surprised, furrowing his brow as he scrutinized Zhao Yanan, suspiciously asking, "Are you... possessed? Why are you talking so much today?"

Zhao Yanan replied coldly, "Then I'll shut up."

"Heh? Is this... concern?"

"Chu Yuxuan, behave yourself."

"I don't know how to behave, but I'm quite good at loving."

"Go to hell! Disgusting!"

Any newfound goodwill was instantly killed in its cradle.

Just as they were bickering, Chu Yuxuan received a call from his second brother.

"I've got the details on Chen Ting's situation. Two months ago, she was scammed by a scumbag who took her money and cheated her. In the confusion, she borrowed money from a loan shark. It was the people from the loan company who assaulted her. There were four of them. They were all arrested the night before last, but due to lack of evidence, they were released again last night."

Chu Yuxuan clicked his tongue, "Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"New Year's Eve, hard to get information."

After a moment of silence, Chu Yuxuan said in a cool tone, "I need all the information on these four people, including the loan company."

"Give me half an hour."

After hanging up, Chu Yuxuan's expression darkened. "Stop the car."

Zhao Yanan glanced at him and pulled over.

Chu Yuxuan got out of the car, dialing Chen Qiang's number as he did, and said to Zhao Yanan, "You can go back now. I'll take a cab."

Zhao Yanan didn't know who had called him or what had happened, but following the "not close" principle, she didn't ask any questions and left Chu Yuxuan alone.

Chen Qiang's phone only connected on the second attempt.

Feigning ignorance, Chu Yuxuan said, "Qiangzi, is your food stall open? I'm craving your lamb spine."

There was no response from the other end.

"Hello? Qiangzi?"

"Is the signal bad?"

"Qiangzi?"

Chu Yuxuan called out several more times, just about to hang up and call again when a woman's sobbing voice came through, "I'm his wife... He... he's in