Chapter 92
Ye Zhi was scolded into silence for a long time before he softly said, “Dad, I really don’t have that much money.”
Zhou Shaohui’s tone turned harsh, “Then how much do you have right now?”
Ye Zhi recited his bank balance, and Zhou Shaohui was still dissatisfied. “How can it be so little? Can’t you figure out a way to get me three million? Is it impossible to ask your husband for it?”
A sense of powerlessness spread through Ye Zhi, like a heavy stone pressing on his shoulders, making his face pale. The term “family” felt like a nightmare to him, one he couldn’t escape or disperse. He had long stopped expecting fairness from them, but their repeated demands still overwhelmed him. Ye Zhi quietly replied, “I can’t do that, and you know it.”
Zhou Shaohui grew impatient. “Then take out all the money you have now and bring it to me, in cash.”
He provided an address and then ended the call.
Normally, Ye Zhi would have clutched his bank card, withdrawn the money, and obediently handed over all his savings. The money he had painstakingly earned through overtime and frugality would then be squandered by Zhou Shaohui.
But this time, he didn’t want to do it.
The change came when, just as he was about to leave, he saw Huo Youqiao’s shoes on the shoe rack.
Seeing the shoes reminded him of the man and their conversation.
— “When faced with unreasonable demands, you have the right to refuse.”
Ye Zhi didn’t want to condone his father’s bottomless behavior anymore.
He stopped changing his shoes and sat back down in the living room. When Huo Youqiao came home with Huo Ran from visiting his sister, he saw Ye Zhi sitting there in a daze.
Thinking it was his brother’s scandal troubling him, Huo Youqiao felt a surge of frustration. He wished he could cast aside all restraints and follow his heart for once, but reason suppressed the impulse.
Huo Ran over to Ye Zhi, snapping him out of his thoughts. He forced a smile, said a few words to Huo Ran, then looked up at Huo Youqiao.
Their eyes met, and an indescribable emotion flickered between them before they both looked away. Huo Youqiao noticed the bag next to Ye Zhi and asked sharply, “Are you going out?”
Ye Zhi hesitated, then said, “Brother, can I… ask for your help?”
Leaving Huo Ran in the living room to watch TV, the two adults went upstairs to Huo Youqiao’s study. When Ye Zhi mentioned he had received another call from his father, Huo Youqiao’s first thought was that he needed to borrow money. But to his surprise, Ye Zhi said, “This time… I’m not going to agree.”
His tone wasn’t very firm, clearly struggling with the decision.
“Enabling his behavior isn’t helping him. He’ll only fall into more money traps.”
Huo Youqiao responded gently, “You’re absolutely right. I don’t support what you’ve been doing. Whether it’s parents to children or children to parents, unconditional tolerance is a mistake.”
Ye Zhi looked at him anxiously. “Is my decision really the right one?”
Not used to refusing, he had become accustomed to enduring everything, making every refusal difficult and requiring external validation.
Huo Youqiao gave him the affirmation he sought, “It is the right decision.”
Ye Zhi sighed in relief but still felt uneasy. “But he said he owes a high-interest loan. If he doesn’t pay, the consequences will be severe. What should I do?”
His eyes were full of pleading. For someone as reserved as Ye Zhi to actively seek help, it softened something inside Huo Youqiao, stirring emotions he struggled to suppress. He replied firmly, “Here’s my suggestion: tell your mother about this and let her handle it.”
