ASPWL Ch14: What Did You Say Mom

The two entangled people were startled by the shout. When they turned and saw so many people, they were terrified.

Simultaneously, the continuous “click, click, click” of flashlights illuminated their rapidly paling faces.

Meeting Mother Xu’s gaze, they both panicked.

Xu Yao hastily began to tidy his clothes.

Father Xu, too, reacted, pushing Xu Yao away, his hands leaving Xu Yao’s body. He didn’t even have time to fix his own clothes as he turned to Mother Xu, his voice trembling, “Zhuang Hua, let me explain…”

Zhuang Hua, Mother Xu, glared at them with reddened eyes, her whole body shaking slightly with anger, “Explain what? Are you going to tell me you were just playing around?”

“Xu Hai, do you think I’m a fool?! Am I blind?!”

Father Xu, Xu Hai, opened his mouth, his face turning from white to red, his neck flushed. He shifted the topic, glaring at the reporters behind Zhuang Hua, “What are you taking pictures of?! Stop it!”

Ye Leyao blinked:

[He’s panicking, he’s panicking!]

Of course, the reporters ignored Xu Hai. If the timing were better, they would have rushed forward with microphones to interview!

The cameraman was pressing the shutter so fast it might catch fire. This big news must be captured entirely! Tomorrow’s gossip headline would be theirs!

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind. Ye Leyao turned and saw Xu Yunzhi and Xu Chen rushing over.

Xu Chen, upon entering, glanced at Xu Hai and Xu Yao. Seeing their pale faces, he looked at Zhuang Hua, puzzled, “Mom, Dad, Brother, what’s going on?”

Ye Leyao looked at Xu Chen speechlessly:

[What’s going on? Your “big brother” is acting fatherly, you fool.]

Huo Yan, who had just arrived, almost couldn’t suppress his smile.

Papa Huo and Mama Huo also had barely concealed smiles.

Father Xu, affected by the spiked alcohol, seemed confused. Seeing more guests arriving, sweat beads formed on his forehead.

Xu Yao calmed down first and directly kneeled before Zhuang Hua with a thud.

“Mom, it’s all my fault, but now isn’t the time to argue…”

[Still calling her Mom?]

[Isn’t it inappropriate? Shouldn’t you call her Madam now?]

Ye Leyao clicked his tongue.

He understood the family ethics clearly.

Qin Yao, standing behind Ye Leyao, struggled to hold back his laughter.

Zhuang Hua, unable to hold back anymore, slapped Xu Yao hard.

The slap used full force, causing Xu Yao’s head to tilt, his face swelling instantly.

Before he could speak, Xu Chen hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Zhuang Hua, his voice loud, “Mom, what are you doing?!”

Next moment, Xu Yunzhi stepped forward and pulled Xu Chen away.

Xu Chen, almost stumbling from the pull, angrily looked up, ready to question Xu Yunzhi, but Xu Yunzhi said in a deep voice, “Mom is catching the mistress, why are you stopping her?”

The information-laden sentence left Xu Chen stunned, “W-what?”

Ye Leyao was excited:

[As expected! Xu Yunzhi knew, meaning Zhuang Hua had also found out long ago.]

[So, today’s banquet and the reporters entering the wrong room were all planned!]

[Invite the tiger to catch the wolf. Mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole is behind! Brilliant!]

The Huo family nodded repeatedly.

Yes, that’s right!

Xu Yunzhi mercilessly tore off the veil of shame. Seeing the varied expressions around, Xu Hai’s face darkened. He, being very prideful, immediately said, “Yunzhi, what nonsense are you talking about?! Disperse the guests now—”

“Slap—”

Before Xu Hai could finish, Zhuang Hua slapped him.

Xu Hai, stunned, with reddened eyes, looked at Zhuang Hua and said, “You—”

“What about me?” Zhuang Hua seemed to regain her calm, her voice low but clear to everyone present, “Xu Hai, you had no shame with Xu Yao, and now you care about your reputation? You want to disperse people now? Did you consider this when you did disgraceful things with him? Did you consider me?!”

Guests who just arrived heard the highly informative sentence and widened their eyes.

Affair?

Between whom?

Xu Hai and Xu Yao?!

Aren’t they adoptive father and son!!

The guests’ eyes towards Xu Hai and Xu Yao were filled with gossip and disdain.

Who would’ve thought Xu Yao, seemingly such a good child, was involved with his adoptive father?

And Xu Hai… to even lay hands on his adopted son, disgusting! Shameless!

Xu Chen was even more shocked, his mouth agape.

What affair?

His brother and father?

Is this a joke?

Xu Chen shook his head, looking at Zhuang Hua, “Mom, you must be mistaken…”

“Mistaken or not, Mom knows better than you.” Xu Yunzhi interrupted Xu Chen.

Xu Chen felt as if his throat was being strangled, murmuring, “Impossible, Mom… Brother isn’t like that! I believe them, you must be mistaken!”

Ye Leyao shook his head:

[If I were Aunt Zhuang, I’d slap Xu Chen too. What a troublesome child.]

As if she heard Ye Leyao’s thoughts, the next second, Zhuang Hua’s slap landed on Xu Chen’s face. It seemed unsatisfying, so Zhuang Hua gave his right cheek another slap.

Ye Leyao was instantly satisfied: [Good, good, good, symmetrical on both sides, my OCD is pleased! Perfect!]

The Huo family members beside him all bowed their heads.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to watch the drama; it was just that they couldn’t hold back their laughter anymore.

Looking at Xu Chen’s face, it was swollen like a pig’s head.

Honestly, it was quite symmetrical.

Even funnier!

Xu Chen was stunned by the two slaps. Holding his face, he looked at Zhuang Hua in disbelief: “Mom, you hit me?”

Zhuang Hua didn’t even want to look at Xu Chen. She turned her cold gaze to the trembling Xu Yao and the ashen-faced Xu Hai.

In front of everyone, they had lost all their dignity. More and more guests were arriving, including the Huo family. They were completely panicked.

After today, this incident would surely spread. How could they face their acquaintances then?

Xu Yao looked at Zhuang Hua, eyes filled with pleading: “Mom, I’m begging you…”

“Don’t call me Mom,” Zhuang Hua interrupted coldly, “You make me sick. I can’t bear to hear you call me Mom!”

Tears suddenly welled up in Xu Yao’s eyes.

The guests couldn’t hold back any longer.

They were all well-known figures in the business circle and had seen their share of dirty deeds, but this was truly the first time they’d seen something so outrageous.

“Shameless!”

“Truly shameless!”

“Poor Zhuang Hua, raising a white-eyed wolf for twenty years.”

Every word pierced Xu Hai and Xu Yao like daggers.

Xu Hai couldn’t hold back anymore, angrily shouting, “What are you looking at?! What are you photographing?! All of you get out! Out—”

Ye Leyao couldn’t help but take a step back:

[Is he going crazy?]

[Better not involve me!]

Qin Yao and the Huo family also cautiously took a big step back.

Eating melons, safety first.

Xu Hai stepped forward and began pushing the surrounding reporters. The reporters couldn’t fight back and had to retreat. Soon, a group of people were pushed into the corridor.

After pushing the reporters, Xu Hai went to push Zhuang Hua, but Zhuang Hua stood firm. Unable to close the door, he lost his temper and tried to hit her.

Others wanted to help, but Xu Yunzhi, quick-eyed and quick-handed, protected Zhuang Hua, grabbing Xu Hai’s arm and twisting it hard. A crisp cracking sound was heard, followed by Xu Hai’s painful scream: “Ahhh— It hurts! Xu Yunzhi! Are you crazy? I’m your father…”

Xu Chen, hearing Xu Hai’s scream, finally snapped out of it. He stepped forward: “Brother… let go of Dad first…”

Ye Leyao frowned at Xu Chen’s bewildering actions:

[Is Xu Chen brain-damaged?]

[Not helping Aunt Zhuang is one thing, but worrying about the scumbag and his stepfather?]

Papa Huo and Mama Huo nodded in agreement.

Someone in the crowd said, “Xu Chen really takes sides.”

“Looks like Zhuang Hua raised two ungrateful wolves.”

The comments were unrestrained, and Xu Chen’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Xu Yunzhi glanced at Xu Chen, his voice heavy: “At this point, you still want to defend them?”

Xu Chen’s eyes flickered, recalling the shocking things he had just heard. His face showed a trace of embarrassment, but he quickly found his voice: “But they are still Dad and Big Brother. Whatever our family matters are, we can discuss them calmly…”

Ye Leyao commented: [Clueless!]

Papa Huo: Exactly!

Ye Leyao: [If Papa Huo dared to treat Mama Huo like that, I’d be the first to beat him up!]

Papa Huo nodded: Right! Wait!!

Papa Huo: ???

No! Who allowed you to compare me to him!

Can you compare this kind of thing?

Papa Huo clenched his teeth.

Mama Huo smiled contentedly.

As expected, their Leyao was the most considerate!

Huo Yan glanced at Papa Huo and Mama Huo, unable to resist imagining what would happen if Papa Huo really betrayed Mama Huo… Ahem!

He would definitely side with Mama Huo!

Beating up his dad would be something that gets easier with practice!

Luckily, only the Huo family could hear Ye Leyao’s inner thoughts. Otherwise, Huo Yan’s thoughts would surely cause a big laugh.

Then it would be Papa Huo getting the hang of it after a few tries!

“Let go of him.” Zhuang Hua suddenly spoke. Things had escalated as she expected, with more and more guests arriving. This incident would be all over the place by tomorrow. She now felt a bit tired, giving Xu Chen one last faint glance.

Xu Chen felt uneasy under Zhuang Hua’s gaze, suddenly having a bad premonition.

Ye Leyao understood:

[Oh, it looks like Xu Chen will indeed have two dads in the future.]

[Aunt Zhuang’s calm gaze shows she’s completely hurt by Xu Chen.]

[Aunt Zhuang slapping him earlier was probably his last chance. Unfortunately, Xu Chen didn’t grasp it.]

Ye Leyao’s voice was cheerful. He enjoyed seeing Xu Chen, this clueless fool, suffer!

Xu Yunzhi released Xu Hai, who staggered, and Xu Yao and Xu Chen hurried to support him.

Zhuang Hua watched this scene coldly, feeling an unprecedented sense of calm. Looking at this “father-son harmony,” she smiled and said, “Xu Hai, I’ll have the divorce papers drawn up soon and sent to you. According to our previous agreement, if you cheat, you leave with nothing. From now on, you can live well with your two ‘sons’.”

Xu Hai froze, forgetting to cry out in pain.

Xu Chen’s head jerked up. He looked at Zhuang Hua in disbelief: “Mom, you’re abandoning me?”

Ye Leyao was speechless, feeling choked:

[Your mom has been bullied by your dad and your stepfather, and you were just siding with them.]

[Now you still have the nerve to ask if your mom wants you? I knew it, Xu Chen is just brain-damaged!]

The Huo family kept nodding.

Ye Leyao, the mouthpiece of their entire family!

Zhuang Hua looked at Xu Chen as if he were a stranger. She didn’t want to say anything more and just told Xu Yunzhi beside her, “Let’s go.”

Since Zhuang Hua was leaving, the others naturally didn’t want to stay any longer and turned to leave.

At this moment, Xu Yao suddenly shouted sharply, “You—you did this on purpose!”

Zhuang Hua paused: “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Xu Yao had been trapped in panic just now, so he hadn’t realized that he had personally placed the spiked drink on the tray. How did Xu Yunzhi, who should have been affected, remain unscathed, while Xu Hai, who usually had a good tolerance for alcohol, pulled him into this room?

In a flash, Xu Yao understood everything.

Zhuang Hua had known all along!

She had known all along!

A chill ran from head to toe as Xu Yao’s voice trembled: “You knew my plan, you went along with it… just to make Xu Hai leave with nothing?”

Zhuang Hua scoffed lightly, not even turning her head, repeating, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Xu Yao instantly lost all strength and collapsed to the ground.

Xu Chen hurried to help him up: “Big brother, you…”

As the crowd dispersed, Ye Leyao, who was still standing inside watching the drama, suddenly caught Xu Chen’s eye.

Xu Chen trembled all over, looking at Ye Leyao in shame and anger: “You—”

Qin Yao was about to step forward when he heard Ye Leyao’s sharp remark: “Congratulations, now you only have one big brother left.”

Xu Chen choked on his words: “You… you, you—”

Ye Leyao blinked and smiled politely at him. Sorry, but he’s just the type to settle scores on the spot!

Qin Yao watched the boy’s cheerful, bouncing figure and couldn’t help but smile too.