"Then tell me, how did you meet Professor Na?"

The young man’s pair of aggressive eyes shone brightly in the dark night, like two burning flames, making Zhou Rong feel deeply ashamed.

Zhou Rong instinctively wanted to evade, but Rong Xianning simply wouldn’t give her that chance.

Since meeting Na Amo tonight, Zhou Rong’s heart had been in suspense, and now being pressed by Rong Xianning, she was utterly exposed, her heavy emotions ripped open by those flames, like an uncontrollable flood once the dam broke.

"She was my former employer, and you ask how we met?"

Zhou Rong shouted angrily.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

But on second thought, Rong Xianning would find out sooner or later, so she might as well take the initiative.

"Professor Na was your former employer? You worked as a maid for the Gu family?"

Rong Xianning’s sharp eyes fixed on Zhou Rong’s face, not missing a single subtle expression.

Zhou Rong had hidden it too well; Rong Xianning had never heard anything about it before. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Zhou Rong sighed, her face timely showing a hint of sadness.

"You know what your dad’s like. To earn money and support the family, I asked a friend in Jingzhou to help find a high-paying job, and coincidentally, I ended up working as a maid for the Gu family. The pay from the Gu family was generous; if nothing unexpected happened, I could continue working there. But then one day, Na Amo lost a necklace and accused me of theft. Despite my countless explanations, Na Amo wouldn’t listen and was adamant it was me who stole it."

Zhou Rong became increasingly indignant as she spoke.

"No matter how desperate I am, I wouldn’t steal from my employer. Na Amo is insulting me."

Rong Xianning frowned: "Professor Na isn’t someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong; maybe there’s some misunderstanding."

These words from Rong Xianning immediately provoked Zhou Rong: "You’ve only known her for a few days and are already siding with her? You’re such a little traitor."

Zhou Rong cursed and suddenly laughed strangely, "You think Na Amo isn’t that kind of person because you don’t understand her. No matter how capable she is, she is still a woman with jealousy."

Rong Xianning squinted: "You mean, Professor Na is jealous of you?"

Zhou Rong lifted her hand to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, her gestures exuding a hint of seductive self-absorption.

"I was much prettier than Na Amo when I was young. Gu Chengzhao merely glanced at me a couple of times and talked to me a bit more, and she thought I was trying to climb into her husband’s bed, constantly finding trouble for me. Unable to find faults in my work, she accused me of stealing her jewelry to get me kicked out of the Gu family. Her plan succeeded. I couldn’t compete with her, so I had to return to my hometown, but I’ve never been able to swallow this anger; that Na Amo went too far."

Zhou Rong took a deep breath and gently patted Rong Xianning’s shoulder, speaking earnestly: "In the past, Na Amo was kind to you, but that’s because she didn’t know you were my son. Now that she knows, do you think she’ll treat you the same? Don’t be foolish, listen to your mom—cut ties with her from now on, and it’s best not to see her again. We can’t afford to provoke the Gu family, but we can avoid them."

Rong Xianning spoke calmly: "Yet when I saw your reaction upon meeting Professor Na just now, you didn’t seem angry; rather, you appeared somewhat—guilty."

Zhou Rong’s heart skipped a beat, and Rong Xianning’s sharp gaze seemed to penetrate everything, making Zhou Rong nervous.

But she quickly calmed down, sneering: "Was I guilty? That was fear; after all, they’re the privileged class. With just a little finger move, they could crush the three of us, particularly you, my son. You’re my weak spot now. I’m really afraid that Na Amo’s old grudge will harm you, so listen to your mom—avoid her from now on; we’re mere citizens that can’t afford to provoke."

Zhou Rong took Rong Xianning’s hand and led him home.

Rong Xianning gazed at Zhou Rong’s back as she walked ahead, his eyes tranquil and deep.

Rong Xianning replayed in his mind the reactions of Zhou Rong and Na Amo upon meeting.

Zhou Rong was shocked and guilty; besides being shocked, Professor Na seemed more eager to learn something from Zhou Rong.

Rong Xianning didn’t know if Zhou Rong had stolen Professor Na’s jewelry, but the reactions of Zhou Rong and Professor Na seemed to confirm the truth of Zhou Rong’s "story" about the theft.

Of the things Zhou Rong said earlier, perhaps only her having worked as a maid for the Gu family was true; he didn’t believe a single word of the rest.

What secret is concealed between her and Professor Na?

As they were about to enter the community gate, Rong Xianning shook off Zhou Rong’s hand.

Zhou Rong frowned: "We’re home; come inside with me, your dad misses you."

Rong Xianning sneered: "Didn’t you say he’s in the hospital?"

Zhou Rong hesitated, snapping: "I called you countless times since you’re not answering your phone, look at how many calls I made."

"Did he gamble again?"

Rong Xianning hit the nail on the head.

Zhou Rong’s face turned ashen, whispering: "He is your biological father after all..."

Rong Xianning looked into the empty night, his voice calm and emotionless, colder than a winter’s night.

"What I said last time wasn’t a joke. Either you behave or we all go to hell together."

Leaving these words behind, Rong Xianning turned around and walked away, his silhouette quickly disappearing into the night, leaving Zhou Rong alone in the wind, bewildered.

But Zhou Rong couldn’t afford to think too much now; she quickly turned and rushed home.

Rong Yuhe was lying on the sofa watching TV, the room filled with smoke, the ashtray on the coffee table piled with cigarette butts.

Zhou Rong, disgusted, covered her nose, "If you smoke any more, get out."

Rong Yuhe immediately extinguished the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, eagerly looking for something behind her.

"Where’s the kid? Didn’t he come back with you?"

Zhou Rong walked to the window to open it for ventilation, the smoke dissipating with the breeze, clearing her head from the dizzying smoke.

Rong Yuhe pursued: "I asked you, where is Rong Xianning?"

Zhou Rong went to the TV, picked up the remote, and started searching.

"Brainstorm," a very popular variety show, was currently topping the recommended list. The close-ups of Rong Xianning and Shen You’an were on the show’s promo page; the handsome man and beautiful woman drew much attention.

Zhou Rong clicked on the variety show to find the latest episode.

Rong Yuhe snapped: "Are you deaf?"

Zhou Rong ignored him, sat down, and started watching attentively, leaving Rong Yuhe puzzled.

Until Na Amo, under the host’s grand introduction, made her entrance, Zhou Rong watched the elegantly refined woman on TV, her fingernails digging into her palm.

Rong Yuhe stared at Na Amo for a while, initially thinking this woman, though older, had quite a noble demeanor, much more upscale than Zhou Rong, who was a bit past her prime, stirring an itch inside.

But the more he watched, he felt this face looked somewhat familiar, somewhere he’d seen it before?

Rong Yuhe racked his brain, suddenly jumping up to point at the woman speaking eloquently on TV, in disbelief: "It’s her!"