{"id":8070,"date":"2026-07-22T08:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/?p=8070"},"modified":"2026-07-22T09:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T07:26:23","slug":"a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing-in-the-face-of-melodrama-chapter-79-the-swindler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/2026\/07\/22\/a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing-in-the-face-of-melodrama-chapter-79-the-swindler\/","title":{"rendered":"A Love-Struck Brain Is Nothing In The Face Of Melodrama &#8211; Chapter 79"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When the young man arrived, he also heard what they said, but he did not speak much. He first had the Rolls-Royce parked in the garage, then walked into the villa.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The relatives instinctively gathered around him and crowded him into the main seat at the head of the table.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As they walked, the relatives looked at the young man with curiosity. Although they knew that Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother were attractive and that the two sons were good-looking, the young man seemed different from before, as if he had been retouched abroad.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This made the relatives even more curious about the young man\u2019s past experiences.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When everyone was finally seated at the dining table, they learned what had happened with the news about the young man being imprisoned a few days earlier.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The story started with the embassy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After receiving a call that one of their citizens had been detained, the embassy immediately contacted the local police to prepare for a rescue. However, without a search warrant and with the suspect having considerable local influence, the embassy\u2019s attempts failed multiple times.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This incident attracted the attention of the local news media, and the story quickly appeared in domestic news.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Under both public opinion and diplomatic pressure, the local police obtained a search warrant and promised to rescue the young man soon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">I even watched the rescue video shot by the local police. At first, I only thought the person looked somewhat familiar. I didn\u2019t expect it to be you, brother. By the way, are you psychologically okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young cousin asked, shocked.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">While scrolling through short videos, she had been fascinated by the case, but she did not expect that one of the main characters was her cousin who had run away years ago!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After the rescue video was released yesterday, her cousin had returned to the country today!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The family quickly checked the news on their phones and looked at the handsome young man in the main seat with stunned expressions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He had been imprisoned by a local tycoon. Just from that brief description, they could imagine quite a lot of the situation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Their eyes softened with a hint of sympathy toward him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After the cousin expressed concern, the family\u2014usually fond of small benefits\u2014swallowed the questions about details and began to care about his physical condition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Do you want Aunt to recommend a few psychologists? They\u2019re all from big hospitals abroad, it\u2019s hard to get an appointment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Your Uncle just opened a wellness hotel in Sanya. The sea is right outside, and the stay is comfortable. Plus, it\u2019s mostly elderly people who don\u2019t read the news.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">If anything happens, tell the family. We\u2019re all family, we\u2019ll help when needed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The relatives words also snapped Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother to attention, though their expressions differed from the other relatives.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Oh, what psychological problem? That\u2019s just pretentious boredom. And getting locked up was his own fault, he ran away without a word back then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song\u2019s father waved his hand in the manner of a family elder, while Ye\u2019s mother chimed in, frowning and speaking seriously: \u201cBesides, this matter is not something to publicize. Let\u2019s act as if nothing happened. Let Ye Wangxing stay at home a few more days, don\u2019t go out, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">She glanced at the outspoken little cousin, making her shrink back slightly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But lowering her head, she pursed her lips in disdain. She really could not like her aunt and uncle, who pretended to act for the children\u2019s sake but were obsessed with face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Her aunt could be excused\u2014a top-level teacher, strict with children, which was understandable since teachers often value study.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But her uncle was just an ordinary worker who never even became a class monitor, yet he ordered his top-teacher wife around at home. Her father held the same position and never let her mother enter the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Now he acted domineering in front of the cousin returning in a Rolls-Royce Phantom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Tch, just because she\u2019s the mother, she doesn\u2019t treat the child like a human being,\u201d the little cousin muttered, only to get smacked on the thigh by her mother. She fell silent but still felt indignant, angrily opening her phone. She saw 99+ messages in her friends\u2019 group and began scrolling frantically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun felt frustrated with his parents. They always belittled him in front of outsiders. When something happened, they never sided with their child, always claiming he was at fault.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Normally, he could tolerate it, but this was the first time in long time that Ye Wangxing returned to the country. If he ran away again, they might never find him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And Ye Wangxing now had a fortune worth billions!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun was about to mention Ye Wangxing\u2019s situation, but a calm voice sounded beside him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">There\u2019s no need for psychologists. My private doctor has already checked me, it\u2019s not a serious problem. Don\u2019t pay attention to the news\u2014it won\u2019t spread.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The handsome young man said, casually pouring himself a glass of red wine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He spoke lightly, but the relatives were surprised\u2014it was the first time they had truly encountered someone with a private doctor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Father Song frowned, feeling as if his dignity had been insulted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye\u2019s mother\u2019s scolding was about to erupt from her throat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ah!?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">At that moment, a scream drew everyone\u2019s attention.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Following the sound, they saw the little cousin staring at her phone, her pupils shaking. She then handed the phone directly to Ye Wangxing, sitting at the main seat, and said incredulously: \u201cBrother! That suspect who locked you up before said you\u2019re his boyfriend\u2014his last name is Aldrin! That Aldrin involved in both arms and oil industry!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The little cousin\u2019s words shocked everyone and stunned all the relatives. Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother swallowed their words at once.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They stared at their youngest son, unusually dumbfounded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Shi Xuanzhu had not yet realized which Aldrin had made the little cousin so excited, when he saw the young man take the phone, glance at it, and immediately frown, showing disgust for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You listen to this bastard spouting nonsense!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The handsome young man cursed angrily.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After that outburst, he did not explain his relationship with Chris Aldrin. His expression carried a hint of ferocity. Only after sending a message did he return to a normal look.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yet he remained silent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The relatives wisely did not press further, but their eyes showed some contemplation. The little cousin seemed to realize she had caused trouble, she obediently shrank next to her parents, silent, only lowering her head to pick at her food.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Meanwhile, the young man, seemingly silent but thoughtful, listened as 19 reported the investigation results in his mind.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[&#8230;The host\u2019s situation is as follows: the Shi family has considerable influence in the country. Whether in civil service, other business sectors, or engineering, there are Shi family members everywhere. The entertainment industry is managed by Shi Xuanzhu, and he seems to strongly adhere to the clan\u2019s methods.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">19 recounted the previous investigation results, reporting details on several Shi family members, including tax evasion records and disciplinary violations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">No wonder Shi Xuanzhu seemed normal on the surface, even with the demeanor of an ancient noble, but when listening closely to his words and expressions in the videos, it\u2019s clear why\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing had no intention of letting the Shi family off. As a responsible citizen, once he had the information, he had 19 anonymously send it to the complaint email.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They would wait and see when the investigation team would act.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The investigation will take at least several months. Perhaps by the time our task is completed, they still won\u2019t have gathered all the data, but that\u2019s normal,\u201d 19 reported.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing then shifted the topic back to Shi Xuanzhu and Song Yun.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[If this family is like that, and Shi Xuanzhu trains Song Yun in the \u2018selecting mistress\u2019 manner, it\u2019s no wonder Song Yun became so pathological in the original plot\u2014people would want to lock Shi Xuanzhu up.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In the original plot, Song Yun had stayed at home as a househusband, striving to become the version of himself that Shi Xuanzhu desired.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When the story began, Song Yun had sought Shi Xuanzhu\u2019s help regarding his brother\u2019s supposed death abroad. Shi Xuanzhu readily agreed, allowing Song Yun to collect his brother\u2019s body.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun had initially been happy, but the process was long and troublesome. He returned to the country a day late, thinking it was no problem. But Shi Xuanzhu had exploded in anger.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In the original household, Shi Xuanzhu had been valued but not fully respected until he gained some influence in the entertainment industry. His father still occasionally punished him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This caused Shi Xuanzhu to subconsciously imitate his father\u2019s behavior.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">for instance, this incident almost led him to invoke family law to punish Song Yun physically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Fortunately, Song Yun remained clear-headed and was not manipulated by Shi Xuanzhu. Instead, he stared in disbelief and called 110.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They immediately went to the police station, where Shi Xuanzhu pretended to have come to his senses, promising not to act that way again. Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother naturally sided with the son-in-law who preserved their family\u2019s face, so Song Yun returned home to live normally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Later, Shi Xuanzhu and Song Yun participated in variety shows. They avoided online harassment, but the shows allowed Shi Xuanzhu to meet more industry insiders\u2014and his soulmates.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun noticed this, but unfortunately, Shi Xuanzhu always remained perfect, only spiritually unfaithful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">but his mental abuse toward Song Yun was real.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He would not talk with Song Yun except to assign tasks. If Song Yun showed signs of wanting a divorce, Shi Xuanzhu would contact Song Yun\u2019s parents to help \u201ccorrect\u201d him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun\u2019s parents, benefiting from Shi Xuanzhu\u2019s favors, naturally sided with him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unsurprisingly, Song Yun\u2019s mental state deteriorated. But his intelligence was unaffected, allowing him to devise the best solution:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As long as he controlled Shi Xuanzhu, required him to report every movement, and monitored his actions, Shi Xuanzhu could not escape his control.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">His parents did not advise him to tie down a man\u2019s heart just because Shi Xuanzhu might divorce him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">At first, Shi Xuanzhu naturally resisted, but when Song Yun presented all the evidence of their crimes that he had collected, Shi Xuanzhu silently agreed to Song Yun\u2019s controlling desire.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Years later, in an interview, Song Yun smiled and said that Shi Xuanzhu had helped him escape his parents control, while Shi Xuanzhu said that Song Yun had given him a sense of security, allowing him to heal the wounds inflicted by his father.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">At the end of this mission\u2019s storyline, Ye Wangxing had a full \u201csubway old man\u201d question mark on his face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He had originally wanted to play a song called Mutually Tortured Until White-Haired, but after thinking carefully, Ye Wangxing canceled the BGM.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After all, rather than being mutual torture, it was more like only Song Yun was being tortured.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">From Ye Wangxing\u2019s one-sided perspective, Shi Xuanzhu enjoyed Song Yun\u2019s control\u2014after all, after so many years, Song Yun was just a stay-at-home husband, he had nothing besides the evidence in his hands, and Shi Xuanzhu obediently listened to his control.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But Ye Wangxing did not think this was love, he thought Shi Xuanzhu had simply found the easiest slave to control.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">If Shi Xuanzhu had revealed everything to Song Yun and Song Yun still willingly stayed by his side, Ye Wangxing would not have thought much of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The key, however, was that Shi Xuanzhu never spoke to Song Yun about his family matters.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[\u2026I really didn\u2019t expect the \u201clove-brain\u201d in this world to be the male lead. But the object wasn\u2019t fixed, if someone else struck him, he might even like that person\u2014honestly, does he really have no father-complex?]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing said this and couldn\u2019t help complaining: [And the Qing Dynasty has been gone for over a hundred years\u2014how are there still so many old coffin-dwelling people running around? They live too long.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[Maybe this is what you mean, Host: vested interests protect their own interests.] 19 said flatly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing sighed: [This situation is the hardest to deal with. We can only hope the investigation team hits harder, so that Shi Xuanzhu loses his protective umbrella.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[Besides him, Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother are also accomplices. Song Yun was actually a normal person, forced by them into mental abnormalities, and the original host wasn\u2019t much better.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing sighed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The original host\u2019s life had been rather plain: a shy child belittled by his parents during adolescence, who then rebelled and eventually went abroad to work and backpack.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">His luck was decent, he earned some money, and just as he planned to settle abroad, a stray bullet hit him and he passed away.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In the storyline, after the brother identified the body and returned home, his parents did not even want to hold a funeral for him, thinking he was shameful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They did not dislike his inheritance, however.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Only his older brother, Song Yun, ran around for him\u2014not only buying a tombstone but also remembering to visit him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Thinking about this, Ye Wangxing sighed again, which was also why he had not spoken when he entered and saw Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[19, I start to feel glad that you gave me this irritable persona\u2014at least I can scold back when needed\u2026 though sometimes cursing feels awkward.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing recalled the curse he had spat out a day ago and wanted to cover his face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Although saying it in English removed the mother-tongue shame, the translated meaning still embarrassed him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Especially since he had used it to curse 19.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[It\u2019s fine, Host. You already apologized to me 39 times yesterday, it was just a line.] 19 calm voice soothed Ye Wangxing\u2019s shame.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">[Besides, I will have more extreme lines later, so I hope you won\u2019t mind.]<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Hearing 19 in his mind, Ye Wangxing silently covered his face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Could those more extreme lines also have been written by him?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2018<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>I really never learn from my mistakes.\u2019<\/i> Ye Wangxing looked at his three S and one A ratings and suppressed his embarrassment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Although the lines were embarrassing, they were effective!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This was confirmed by 19 after analysis!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Later, at the banquet, Shi Xuanzhu, after realizing the situation, took on the role of energizing the table, trying to build a relationship with Ye Wangxing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He wasn\u2019t a fool, his brother-in-law was surely connected to that prominent family.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He had just researched Chris Aldrin, who was somewhat the head of the Aldrin family.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The previous presidential election had landed many of their family members in prison, leaving only him to manage the family business outside.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Even so, he had not allowed the family business to shrink, it flourished, clashing fiercely with the head of another old family, reaching a stalemate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Coincidentally, six months ago, at the peak of the stalemate, the other family head died in a car accident, breaking the deadlock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yet the remaining family members stabilized the situation, preventing major losses, and had now started to recover.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">That family had nothing to do with Shi Xuanzhu, he only needed to connect with Ye Wangxing, and getting recommended for international films would be a matter of a single word. The only thing he lacked was opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Shi Xuanzhu raised another toast to Ye Wangxing, but the young man in the main seat remained still, calmly observing Shi Xuanzhu as if seeing through his intentions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This embarrassed Shi Xuanzhu. As a top actor, relying on family power to dominate the entertainment industry, he had already drunk five glasses of wine, and the young man still hadn\u2019t responded\u2014did he not value him?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Shi Xuanzhu frowned and adjusted his expression, turning his downcast look toward Song Yun.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Naturally, Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother noticed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing, your brother-in-law toasted you, why didn\u2019t you respond?\u201d Song\u2019s father frowned.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye\u2019s mother looked at her son-in-law with concern: \u201cYe Wangxing, have a drink with your brother-in-law.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">She spoke Ye Wangxing\u2019s name word by word as a warning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song Yun also wanted to speak but, seeing the faint deathly aura on Ye Wangxing and thinking of his experiences, he sided with Ye Wangxing and prepared to quietly explain his experiences abroad to his parents, so they wouldn\u2019t be so aggressive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But Ye Wangxing spoke first.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">My private doctor said I shouldn\u2019t drink. As for what my brother-in-law intends, he should know himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man glanced at Shi Xuanzhu and said: \u201cPlanning to use me to reach the international stage, but only trying to pressure me with a few drinks through my parents?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Even Koreans didn\u2019t draw maps as perfectly as you imagine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">His tone remained calm, yet his words made everyone\u2019s nerves jump.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song\u2019s father slammed the table: \u201cYe Wangxing, you\u2019ve grown bold! How dare you speak to your brother-in-law like that? I am still your father!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ah, almost forgot you.\u201d The young man turned to Song\u2019s father expressionlessly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Were you scolded at the factory?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Everyone paused, then heard him fire off a string of words like a rapid machine gun: \u201c\u2014Seems so. Planning to take out your anger on me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You never cared about me at the factory, but you belittled me a lot. Nodded and kowtowed at work, hit home hard, strong outside, weak inside, flattering above, domineering below\u2014you pick your poison.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Song\u2019s father shouted angrily: \u201cI am your father! Do you think being sent back in a Rolls-Royce Phantom makes you special? I am your father, always have been, and I have the right to control you! And where did that car come from?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young cousin rolled her eyes, itching to intervene.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man did not flinch, instead, he surveyed Song\u2019s father up and down.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You\u2026 want to press filial piety on me? Only a kind father gets a filial son, Mr. Song. Confucius would have slammed the ancestral latch twice for this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man\u2019s sharp words nearly made the little cousin applaud\u2014she even wondered if one kiss from him might poison her.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As Song\u2019s father nearly fainted from anger, stuttering, Ye\u2019s mother took over: \u201cYou dare to talk back? Huh? You\u2019ve been abroad for years and grown wings, huh?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Her voice was angry, but the young man replied in the same calm tone: \u201cResorting to filial piety because you have no reason\u2014looks like you deserves two hits too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Now both Song\u2019s father and Ye\u2019s mother sat in anger. Relatives nearby couldn\u2019t stand it, and before they could intervene, the young man spoke gently: \u201c\u2026Finally, that Rolls-Royce Phantom was given to me by my husband.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The relatives froze. The young man continued in a calm, almost sorrowful tone: \u201cHe passed away last year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Everyone present didn&#8217;t care about being surprised. They immediately turned to look at Song&#8217;s father and Ye&#8217;s mother who had just been cursing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">With a look of contempt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The contempt in little cousin&#8217;s eyes was even most profound.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s bad enough that the parents don&#8217;t care about their children, but they also bully the widow. Bah!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>Support translation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/bePatron?u=25191841\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"217\" height=\"51\" class=\"wp-image-338 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/become_a_patron_button.png?resize=217%2C51\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 217px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 217\/51;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/lajnaa\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kofi3-3.png?resize=185%2C47\" alt=\"This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kofi3-3.png\" width=\"185\" height=\"47\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 185px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 185\/47;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\r\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the young man arrived, he also heard what they said, but he did not speak much. He first had the Rolls-Royce parked in the garage, then walked into the villa. The relatives instinctively gathered around him and crowded him into the main seat at the head of the table. As they walked, the relatives [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250409131120_300_420.jpeg?fit=300%2C420&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8070"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8072,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8070\/revisions\/8072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}