“I’m doing this for her own good. Don’t tell me that the Song family isn’t any better than this filthy kid?
“Who does this filthy kid think he is? He’s just a country bumpkin from a mountain village. Once a country bumpkin, forever a country bumpkin, no matter how much money he earns. That won’t change the fact about what he truly is.”
Uncle Ming was shocked by those words. He fell silent.
Ling Mingshan chuckled at Tang Hao, then turned to speak to Ling Wei. “From now on, I’m taking you off the president’s position. Go home with me, and you cannot step outside of the house for the next half a year. Stay at home until the date of your marriage.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree to the marriage. You still have to get married anyway. This is for the benefit of the family, don’t you know?”
Ling Wei trembled. Her hollow gaze flickered with a hint of life.
There was a sparkle in her eyes. It was a spark that ignited the anger in her heart, which burned like a raging fire.
She could tolerate their accusations that she was immoral or incapable, but she could not tolerate that they treated her as a tool for their benefit.
She took a deep breath and found the courage that she never had before.
She smirked coldly. “What benefit for the family? You sound so noble when you say it. I’m not a tool that you can use like this. Who do you think you are to decide who I shall marry?
“Enough with the lies. If you want to marry, why not get married yourself? I don’t care about the Song family. I’d rather die than marry that Song Linfei.”
She wore a determined expression on her face as she uttered those words.
“You…” Ling Mingshan was livid. His eyes were opened round and wide.
“How dare you talk back to me, you unfilial girl]?” Ling Mingshan roared. He stepped forward and lifted his hand, preparing to slap her on the face.
Ling Wei closed her eyes in agony.
The slap never landed on her face.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Tang Hao firmly grasping Ling Mingshan’s hand.
“What are you doing? Get lost at this instant. I’m disciplining my daughter. It’s none of your business!” Ling Mingshan said angrily.
He tried to pull away, but the boy’s grip was as firm as a metal clamp.
“What are you doing, you bastard? Let go of me now!”
Behind him, Ling Rui was trembling out of excitement, as though he had found the perfect opportunity.
“Quick, you idiots! Why are you still standing there? [Go up and kill that bastard!”
He turned around and yelled at the bodyguards.
Chapter 365 - A Resolute Decision
The bodyguards came to their senses. They surrounded Tang Hao, wearing hostile expressions on their faces.
“Step aside!”
Ling Mingshan roared angrily. He was still struggling. “You bastard, I won’t forgive you for flirting with my daughter.”
Tang Hao’s expression was ice-cold. His right hand was clenched tighter and tighter. Eventually, he could not hold it back anymore and delivered a punch.
The old bastard was as detestable as that Ling Rui. Tang Hao had not gotten even with him for the previous incident yet, and so he was going to settle two things at once.
The punch landed squarely on the man’s face.
Ling Mingshan grunted as his mind went blank. His head was thrown backward. He covered his face.
Someone had punched him. Furthermore, it was a child!
Ling Mingshan had not been humiliated like this ever in his life.
Ling Wei’s eyes widened. Even Ling Rui and the other bodyguards could not believe what they had witnessed.
They did not expect Tang Hao to get physical.
The bar was silent for a long time.
“You… You dare hit me?” Ling Mingshan roared like a maniac as he covered his face.
“This punch is for me. You tried to claim my prescriptions and inventions as yours. Do you think that I’m a pushover?” Tang Hao said coldly while tightening his grip.
Ling Mingshan was shocked. His gaze flashed with a hint of embarrassment. Indeed, the Ling family was at fault for trying to take over Magical Kitchen. However, he did not feel guilty about it. He thought that whatever he did was for the benefit of his family.
Furthermore, such practices were the norm in the business world. He had no qualms for preying on the weak.
Tang Hao grunted coldly. He let go of him, then punched his face again with his right hand.
Bam!
The punch landed on Ling Mingshan’s nose. The bridge of his nose became crooked and blood spilled out.
“This punch is for her. Do you think you deserve to be called a father? You know that she is unwilling, yet you want her to get married. You only want to gain the Song family’s favor. What difference does it make if you sold her instead?
“Yet you say that she is shameless. I think that you are the truly shameless one! You sell your daughter for your benefit. Are you still human? Are all the people in the Ling family animals?”
Tang Hao roared indignantly.
Behind him, Ling Wei looked at him in a daze.
Ling Mingshen stumbled backward and nearly fell on the floor. He steadied himself, but his face was contorted with rage.
“She is my daughter. You don’t have any right to interfere in my family’s matters. You are only an outsider.
“No matter how you put it, I’ve born and raised this unfilial daughter. Can’t she sacrifice herself for the benefit of the family?” Ling Mingshan roared like a maniac.
Ling Rui came to his senses and started yelling at the bodyguards around him.
“Are you all idiots? He punched my father. I want you to break his legs.”
The bodyguards rushed forward, screaming and cursing.
Tang Hao grunted nonchalantly. He spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick to the bodyguard in front. He flew backward like a cannonball and knocked into five other people, who all fell on the floor.
The bar was silent again.
The bodyguards froze on the spot. Their faces were pale.
‘Oh no! That guy is a martial arts expert!’ They were wailing in their hearts. They would not be able to take him down.
“Why are you all standing there like idiots! Get him!” Ling Rui angrily stamped his feet.
The bodyguards rushed forward reluctantly.
Several grunts and screams later, the bodyguards were all sprawled on the floor, moaning and wailing in pain.
Tang Hao flicked his wrists. He stepped forward while his cold gaze was transfixed on Ling Rui.
Ling Rui trembled. His face was as pale as a sheet.
He was beaten badly in Tang Hao’s office before. Was he going to be beaten up as badly again?
“Don’t… Don’t come any closer. Let me tell you, this is Provincial City. You can’t run rampant here. If you dare hit me, I’ll call the police and they’ll arrest you.” Ling Rui’s voice was shaking.
Tang Hao punched him with an impassive expression. “You dare set me up? I’m not a man if I don’t wreck your face today.”
“What… What? Set you up? Don’t accuse me. You two are the shameless ones who make out in public, and you’re blaming me for this?” Ling Rui said viciously as he stumbled backward while covering his face.
Tang Hao narrowed his eyes and delivered a kick at Ling Rui’s stomach.
Ling Rui cried in agony. He flew backward and struck a bar stool.
Ling Mingshan was instantly worried. He rushed ahead and helped Ling Rui stand up. “Are you OK, my son?”
“You’ve gone overboard, Tang kid. I’ll call the police and sue your pants off!” Ling Mingshan roared at Tang Hao.
“Go ahead! Call the police then!” Tang Hao said nonchalantly.
“You…” Ling Mingshan choked. The kid indeed had a powerful background in Provincial City. He was good friends with the provincial secretary a
nd vice governor. The police might not be able to touch him.
Tang Hao glared at him coldly.
He would have killed the old man if not that he was Ling Wei’s father.
He turned around and spoke gently to Ling Wei, “Let’s go!”
Ling Wei came to her senses. Instinctively, she took a step forward.
“You dare leave?” Ling Mingshan said angrily. “You unfilial girl, if you step out of this door tonight, don’t ever think of coming back to the Ling family. I’ll just treat it as I’ve never had a daughter.”
Ling Wei trembled. Her face turned pale.
She gritted her teeth as she agonized over her next move.
It was a difficult choice for her. After all, the man was her father who had raised her for twenty-three years!
She eventually made her decision. She took a deep breath, then stepped forward determinedly.
“Don’t ever come back again! You brought this onto yourself!” Ling Mingshan roared.
Ling Wei stopped walking at the door. She trembled again and her expression became more agonized than ever. Tears silently flowed from her eyes, down her cheeks and fell on the floor.
She sobbed, then resolutely stepped out of the door.
The city outside was chaotic and bustling. Neon lights adorned the street.
She stumbled forward aimlessly, as though she had lost her soul. Her face was ashen and her gaze was hollow.
She could not stop the tears from falling and ruining her makeup.
Everything had crumbled in that instant. Her life and her career, all destroyed, in shambles.
She wanted to channel her anger into a loud roar against the injustices of life, but the roar turned into weak, sobbing sounds as they reached her mouth.
She let out an ironic laugh.
Tang Hao followed closely behind. He could not bear to see her behave that way.
However, he was at a loss for comforting words, so he only followed her silently.
She continued stumbling forward and nearly stepped on the road.
Tang Hao quickly rushed forward and grabbed her hand.
She came to her senses, turned around, and looked blankly at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao felt sorry for her when he saw her hollow gaze.
She continued sobbing quietly. Suddenly, she crouched down on the ground and started wailing.
Chapter 366 - Living Together
Her voice resounded in the night.
She buried her head in her knees, and her crying became louder and louder.
Tang Hao sighed silently as he watched her and said nothing. He was helpless. After a while, he also crouched down.
The loud wails eventually quietened down and turned into sobs.
She lifted her head. Her eyes were puffy. Tang Hao felt sorry looking at her pitiful expression.
“What are you doing?” She mumbled as she looked at Tang Hao.
“Accompanying you,” Tang Hao said. He handed her a napkin.
Ling Wei took it and wiped her tears, though she was still sobbing. “Just now… Thank you!”
Tang Hao smiled. “I hope you don’t mind me punching your dad!”
Ling Wei shook her head. “I don’t mind it at all! My father has indeed gone overboard this time.”
“That’s good to know!” Tang Hao said with a smile.
Then, they were silent again.
Ling Wei continued to wipe her tears while sobbing. Suddenly, she seemed to have remembered something. “Do I look ugly like this?” She said sheepishly.
“No! You’re still beautiful!” Tang Hao said hurriedly.
“Tch!” Ling Wei rolled her eyes at him. Then, she burst out laughing.
She wiped her tears again and stood up. “Let’s go!” She said.
“Where are you going?” Tang Hao stood up and asked.
Ling Wei was taken aback and did not know how to reply.
Where could she go? She could not return home, and she did not have any money or cards on her. She had left her handbag inside the bar.
She could not turn back and retrieve it after walking out so resolutely.
She searched her body for any money but was embarrassed when she found none. Her findings had made her sad.
Only moments ago, she was still the president of Tai An Group. Now, she was penniless and destitute, without a home to return to.
She felt more sorrowful the more she thought about it. She started sobbing again.
She lifted her head and looked sheepishly at Tang Hao. “Well… How about you take me in? I don’t have a home now, and I don’t have any money. I hope you don’t abandon me now!”
Tang Hao felt a little awkward.
He dared not to take in a beautiful woman like President Ling. The last time, he only allowed her to stay over one night for her safety.
It was not very appropriate for a single man and woman to live together!
Ling Wei seemed dejected when she saw Tang Hao’s awkwardness.
“You don’t want me anymore!” She bit her lip. She started sobbing again and looked more pitiful than ever.
“It’s not that I don’t want you, but… we’re still single. It’s not appropriate!” Tang Hao said helplessly.
Ling Wei pouted and gave Tang Hao a side-eye. “Do you dare to do anything to me though?” She asked matter-of-factly.
“I don’t!” Tang Hao smiled sheepishly.
He was telling the truth. He already had Sis Xiangyi. Furthermore, he had a little incident with Officer Zhao before this, which had already made him immensely guilty. He would not want to do anything to Ling Wei.
“So that settles it!” Ling Wei said.
Tang Hao laughed drily. “Alright then, you can stay at my apartment!”
Ling Wei smiled smugly, though there was still a hint of melancholy in the corner of her eyes.
“How long do you plan to stay?”
“I don’t know!” Ling Wei said.
“Oh, then we should get some clothes and toiletries!”
Tang Hao brought her to the mall. He bought her clothes, underwear, toiletries, and any other items that she might need in her daily life.
They finally stopped when they could not carry the bags anymore.
“I will repay you the money in the future!” Ling Wei said sheepishly.
Tang Hao smiled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not a lot of money.”
“That won’t do. See, I’ll be relying on you for my food, clothes, and accommodation. If I don’t pay you back, won’t that be just like you keeping a sugar baby?” Ling Wei said.
Tang Hao smiled. “If I can keep a sugar baby with so little money, that’s totally worth it!”
Ling Wei blushed and glared at him.
When they returned to Tang Hao’s apartment, Ling Wei went to tidy the guest room.
“Are you hungry? I’ll cook something,” Tang Hao said. He saw that it was already ten o’clock.
“Oh, alright!” Ling Wei replied from the room.
Tang Hao went to the kitchen. He boiled some soup with the sea dragon meat and added noodles along with some medicinal herbs with calming effects. Soon, a fragrant bowl of noodles was ready to be eaten.
“Oh! This smells so good!”
Ling Wei was surprised when she saw the bowl of noodles on the table.
“Only one bowl? Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not hungry,” Tang Hao said with a smile.
Ling Wei was silent. Tears brimmed in her eyes again.
She was moved by Tang Hao’s kind gesture. Soon, her vision was obscured by tears.
She thought that he was cooking for both of them, but did not expect that he would specially cook a delicious meal for her.
Her tears could not stop falling as she looked at the steaming bowl of noodles on the table. She quickly wiped those tears away, thinking that she was embarrassing herself.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Hao was shocked.
“It’s… It’s nothing!”
Ling Wei shook her head. She sat down next to the table and took a whiff. “This smells so delicious!” She exclaimed. She picked up some noodles with chopsticks, took a bite, and immediately looked shocked.
She started crying again as she ate the noodles. She noticed that Tang Hao was looking at her. “Why are you looking at me? The steam got into my eyes!” She said, pretending to be angry.
Tang Hao smiled.
He cleaned up for her after she finished eating. “You should go and rest soon.”
“Mm!” She replied and returned to her room.
After doing the dishes, Tang Hao returned to his room and started crafting jade talismans.
Throughout the night, he could hear soft sobbing sounds coming from the next room. Tang Hao felt sorry for her when he heard that.
He did not know how long he would allow her to stay in his apartment. He would have to take it day by day.
The sobbing eventually stopped at about two o’clock in the morning. What replaced it was steady breathing sounds.
She finally fell asleep.
Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy when she woke up the next morning. She also seemed dispirited. After eating breakfast, she went back to sleep.
Tang Hao prepared some dishes and rice for her for lunch, then went out to attend his classes at university.
He returned to his apartment that afternoon.
He was surprised when he heard cooking sounds coming from within the apartment. Then he heard a shriek and a pot lid falling on the floor.
There was a mysterious scent in the air.
Tang Hao was curious when he smelled it.
‘Don’t tell me… she’s cooking?’
From what he heard and smelled, he could imagine the state of the kitchen at that moment.
Chapter 367 - I Think I Like You A Little Bit
Another scream was from inside the apartment, followed by the sounds of kitchenware falling on the floor.
The Mightiest Little Peasant c1-799 Page 164
