Chapter 56 Poison Tongue Goes Online

Chapter 56: The Sharp Tongue Unleashed

Chi Luoxi entered his sophomore year, and just after his class schedule for the first semester was set, February 24th arrived on the tail end of late winter—it was Chi Luoxi's birthday.

Chi Luoxi's official age became 22.

And He Angxiao was less than half a year away from turning 30.

For Chi Luoxi's birthday this year, He Angxiao threw an especially extravagant and grand celebration. It was held in the most upscale hotel banquet hall in Jiangzhou, with gold-embossed invitations and a guest list long enough to wrap around the entire He Group headquarters.

The scale of it was less like a birthday party and more like a semi-public engagement ceremony. The floral arch was built to the standard of a proposal venue, the champagne tower sparkled under the crystal chandeliers, and every detail had a solemn air.

He Angxiao had not only invited his own business partners but also a handful of old friends from his private circle.

Anyone paying attention could tell this was more than just a birthday celebration.

The root of it all traced back to not long ago, when the man whose name He Angxiao almost never mentioned—He Deye, his father—had another child.

He Deye's new wife had given him a younger son, named He Angze. On the day of the full moon celebration, He Deye, perhaps emboldened by the joy of having a son in his old age, actually sent He Angxiao a message with a photo of the sleeping infant.

When He Angxiao saw that message and that photo, his face clouded over, dark as a storm, and he immediately blocked He Deye's number.

He Angxiao told Chi Luoxi that his father was insane.

Chi Luoxi agreed, but the matter didn't end there.

Apparently, later on, He Deye, still oblivious to the consequences, brought the newborn to the He family's old manor, intending to have the child recognized as part of the family. He even sent a full moon invitation to He Angxiao's grandmother.

But Grandma He didn't even let him through the gate, she had the servants turn him and his party away at the door.

The old lady's stance was equally resolute.

When Chi Luoxi and He Angxiao later visited Grandma at the old manor, the maid, A Meng, while serving Chi Luoxi soup, couldn't help lowering her voice and quietly filling him in on the details.

A Meng said that He Deye was truly unworthy of being a son or a father. Grandma had worried herself sick over He Angxiao's irresponsible father when she was younger. Back then, that couple had prattled on about freedom, seeing family as a shackle, causing chaos and turmoil, and finally turning their backs and leaving a mess for the elderly and the child.

Now that they were old, they suddenly wanted to pretend to be a happy family, coming back to harass their son and mother. Grandma was so furious that her old illness acted up, and she had to stay in bed for several days.

When He Angxiao found out, he didn't say a word, just went to a quiet corner and dialed He Deye's number.

Chi Luoxi was sitting at the top of the stairs on the second floor at the time. He could hear He Angxiao's voice from downstairs in the yard, cold and fierce. He couldn't make out every specific word, but he clearly heard the suppressed rage and extreme disgust in his tone.

Especially that one warning, hissed through gritted teeth.

"...Don't think I wouldn't dare touch you! If my grandmother gets so much as a scratch because of you two disgusting people, I swear, you and that new son of yours will wish you'd never been born."

Grandma was He Angxiao's line in the sand.

Chi Luoxi had never heard him speak in such a tone—like a fierce beast whose raw nerve had been prodded, vicious and dark. Chi Luoxi could feel the murderous aura radiating from him.

After He Angxiao hung up, Chi Luoxi ran out, reached up to smooth his furrowed brow, and helped calm him down.

He Angxiao let him do it, but the shadow in his eyes lingered.

He pulled Chi Luoxi tightly into his arms, resting his chin on top of his head, his voice low, heavy with disgust: "How can there be such annoying and shameless people in this world?"

Chi Luoxi pressed against his shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of his neck, and said softly, "Honey, don't be angry. You hate him, and I hate him too. Let's just ignore them."

He Angxiao didn't reply, just tightened his arms around Chi Luoxi even more.

He Angxiao sat on the swing in the yard, and Chi Luoxi sat on his lap, arms wrapped around his neck.

He Angxiao stared at the withered yellow grass in the distance. "Do you think I'm extreme? Saying that to my own biological father?"

He asked, dead serious.

Chi Luoxi paused for a moment, then hugged his neck even tighter, turning his face to press against his sharply defined cheek, his voice steady: "No, honey. Your father was the one who treated you badly first. You're only treating him badly in return. How can that be your fault?"

He Angxiao's lips brushed against Chi Luoxi's cheek, and he asked in a low voice, "So, is your husband a big bad guy?"

Chi Luoxi fell silent.

He blinked in hesitation, then muttered softly, "...Well, at least he's good to me."

He Angxiao found it funny. Was Chi Luoxi really that torn?

He Angxiao's arms tightened until there was no gap between their bodies. He buried his face in the crook of Chi Luoxi's neck, his voice hoarse and low: "Baby, you're my weakness. Everyone else in this world can curse me, despise me, but you can never leave me, okay? Just stick with me, don't leave..."

Chi Luoxi felt a little suffocated from being held so tightly. "I won't leave you. I'm not going anywhere. I'll just cling to you."

Where could Chi Luoxi even go? He Angxiao was his whole world.

He Angxiao seemed to have gotten enough reassurance, but he still refused to let go, until Chi Luoxi gently pushed him and reminded him that Grandma might see them. Only then did he let go, reluctantly.

Chi Luoxi stayed an extra day with Grandma. He Angxiao went to work. After he left, Grandma He slowly spoke up: "That boy Angxiao sure bounced back fast this time. Before, whenever his parents did something, he'd be angry for days. Why is he back to normal so fast this time?"

Chi Luoxi touched his turtleneck, the collar hiding the marks from the night before. He stammered, avoiding her eyes: "Grandma, He Angxiao has grown up now."

It wasn't that he'd matured. It was that last night, Chi Luoxi, his one weak spot, had used every trick he had to soothe him for so long.

Afterward, He Angxiao was content. He had his arm around Chi Luoxi's waist, his chin resting on his head, and said softly, "Chi Luoxi, I wish I had raised you myself."

Chi Luoxi retorted, "You weren't in my village."

He Angxiao let out a low laugh at that. "Forget it. If I had raised you and then eaten you alive, I'd probably feel guilty."

Chi Luoxi imagined that scene for a moment, then stammered, "...Then would I have to call you Daddy?"

He Angxiao was startled by that overly taboo hypothetical. After a long pause, he turned his face away awkwardly, his ears reddening, and muttered, "...Don't say that, babe."

But a person can never truly reconcile with their blood relatives. It's an instinct etched into their genes, a chain He Angxiao would struggle to break his whole life.

Chi Luoxi had no biological mother, only his grandfather, who had raised him for over a decade. Even he could feel how heavy and unbreakable the family bond was for a person.

After his grandfather passed away, Chi Luoxi felt like his whole world had collapsed. The world spun around him, and he couldn't even cry.

He was a radish born from the chance gathering of the world's spiritual energy, without parents, meant to live and die alone in the mountains and forests. It was his grandfather who gave him a name and a home.

He Angxiao was the flesh-and-blood son of his parents. Even if those two were selfish and cold, even if they had brought him endless pain, how could that bond of blood not mean something?

Grandma He said to Chi Luoxi, who was standing obediently beside her with his hands folded, "When Angxiao's mother remarried, Angxiao was still in college. When he got the news, he didn't say a word on the phone, but then he got into a car accident..."

She shook her head, her tone full of nostalgia and pity for her grandson. "Now that he's settled down, he's become a bit more steady. Don't let his usual cold, aloof, icy demeanor fool you. He's actually very caring. He was hurt so badly he had to grow that sharp, cold exterior to protect himself. Those two are a perfect match—every bit as selfish as each other."

"They've already started new lives, have new people. Why do they still keep popping up, finding new ways to get under Angxiao's skin? What exactly do they want?"

Chi Luoxi didn't get it either.

Grandma He looked at him and said, "He Angxiao is very petty. What's his is his, so I cannot acknowledge that child. If I did, I would be betraying my grandson. He came to me when he was so young, and we grew up relying on each other. He is my only grandson."

Chi Luoxi knew that He Angxiao was indeed petty; he could only tolerate being the only man in Chi Luoxi's world.

Sometimes, human nature is so puzzling that it leaves one speechless, even carrying a hint of absurdity with no solution.

People's hearts tend to compare, and often these comparisons are so cruel that they chill the heart.

Back then, when He Angxiao's parents got divorced, they parted ways easily.

His mother went abroad and gradually lost contact, a clean break. As for He Deye, he was clearly still in the country, right in Jiangzhou city, not far from his son, yet the times he saw his father could be counted on one hand.

This father had never truly thought to spare even a bit of energy to look after this son, his own flesh and blood. His heart and eyes were entirely focused on building his new life and pursuing his own pleasure, as if the son left behind in the past had never existed.

People are indeed free to pursue freedom, new relationships, and new lives—that's understandable. But family and children, from the moment they come into being, carry heavy responsibilities and bonds that cannot be easily severed.

Before deciding to have a family and children, when starting a family and having children, one should think carefully and consider whether one has the ability and willingness to bear that weight.

Unfortunately, some people in this world lack this self-awareness at their core and will never understand this truth.

They act as they please, without restraint. When it's time to take responsibility, they start shirking, even shamelessly saddling others with the mess.

He Deye was also the owner of a company, in a traditional industry with a decent scale, but in the rapidly changing times, it had long shown signs of decline. Naturally, it could not compare to He Angxiao's cutting-edge tech enterprise with skyrocketing valuations, let alone He Angxiao's decisive, efficient leadership style.

That day, Chi Luoxi was home alone, holding Tiger and lounging on the sofa, idly playing with it, when uninvited guests arrived.

The community security was always strict and would never let in any unidentified persons.

The security guard called Chi Luoxi on the phone and asked respectfully, "Mr. Chi, there is a Mr. He and a woman at the gate who claim to be relatives of CEO He. Would you like to let them in?"

Chi Luoxi held the phone, feeling conflicted for a moment.

He didn't really want to let these people in. He wanted to ask He Angxiao's opinion, but He Angxiao was probably busy and didn't reply.

He Deye grew impatient, repeatedly emphasizing his identity, saying he was He Angxiao's biological father.

Chi Luoxi heard the argument growing heated and thought it wouldn't do to let things get too tense. "...Then let them in."

Chi Luoxi, holding the cat, walked to the entrance and opened the door.

He Deye and a woman—gaudily dressed and holding a one-year-old boy in her arms—were standing at the door.

He Deye was also carrying two boxes of gift-wrapped tea and other items.

Chi Luoxi, dressed in a casual sweater and holding the chubby tabby cat, stood blocking the doorway. When He Deye saw him, he was startled. His gaze lingered for a moment on that strikingly handsome face before he asked with scrutiny and doubt, "Who are you?"

He Deye vaguely remembered seeing this young man once from a distance at his mother's place, thinking he was just some relative's child and not paying much attention. Now seeing him again, he felt that this young man was exceptionally good-looking.

Chi Luoxi, holding the cat, said, "Uncle, my name is Chi Luoxi. Angxiao isn't home right now."

He Deye frowned. "You're living with Angxiao?"

Chi Luoxi didn't evade the question. He nodded and frankly admitted.

Tiger lazily meowed and rubbed against his arm.

He Deye had originally wanted to call his son, but found that number couldn't get through at all—probably blocked by his son. So he had to resort to some old connections, taking some effort to find out He Angxiao's current address, intending to come and talk.

Now, facing this incredibly handsome young man who so frankly admitted to living with his son, He Deye was shocked and had mixed feelings. He had never imagined that his usually cold and aloof son would be living with such a young man.

The woman with He Deye now was called Shen Man. Holding her son, she impatiently tugged at He Deye's sleeve and complained in a low voice, "Old He, the person isn't even here. What's the point of waiting?"

Chi Luoxi, hearing the woman's shrill voice, said to them, "Why don't you sit in the living room for a while? Let me try calling him again."

He Deye looked displeased, feeling embarrassed that his son wouldn't answer the phone, and found the situation tricky. In the end, he nodded, agreeing.

The group entered the house.

Aunt Su, having heard the commotion, came out of the kitchen and said to the uninvited guests, "Sir, Ma'am, please have a seat. I'll bring you some tea."

Chi Luoxi, holding the cat, stepped aside and watched this family of three with a young child, who seemed harmonious but struck him as oddly discordant. He felt uneasy, wondering how He Angxiao would react when he returned.

Soon, He Angxiao called back.

As soon as the ringtone stopped, the man's low, steady voice came through the receiver.

He Angxiao's voice came through: "What's wrong?"

Chi Luoxi: "Honey, your father is here."

There was silence on the other end for about two seconds. Chi Luoxi could imagine He Angxiao frowning, his face cold and stern at that moment.

Then, He Angxiao's voice came again: "You let him in?"

Chi Luoxi: "...Mm, they... they're also holding a child."

That child was very small, held in the arms of the gaudily dressed woman, staring around with big, dark eyes, looking timid.

He Angxiao obviously knew that Chi Luoxi was least skilled at dealing with this kind of messy family affairs, let alone dealing with his father.

He let out a low sigh and said to Chi Luoxi, "Baby, don't bother with them. Have Aunt Su pour them some water and send them away. You stay on the second floor, don't go anywhere, and don't talk to them. I'll be right back to see what they really want."

They even found out where he lives? It seemed they were determined to set their sights on him this time.

Chi Luoxi obediently said "okay" and hung up. He didn't go downstairs either; instead, he pressed against the wall at the top of the stairs, pricking up his ears. He really couldn't handle this kind of situation.

Not long after, the sound of a car engine turning off came from the yard, followed by the dull thud of a car door closing. He Angxiao was back, having pulled smoothly into the yard.

Chi Luoxi peeked out from behind the stair railing, and soon indeed heard the sound of He Angxiao and He Deye arguing.

The air was thick with tension, echoing in the empty living room.

He Deye's voice was the first to ring out, accusing He Angxiao: "When did you start liking men?"

His tone made it sound like something unforgivable.

He Angxiao: "Do I need to send you a personal announcement to inform you of who I like? Then why didn't you notify me when you were dating?"

He retorted.

He Deye was momentarily speechless, his tone becoming somewhat exasperated and angry, asserting his paternal authority: "How dare you talk to your father like that?"

He Angxiao wasn't buying it at all. His voice turned cold: "Don't pull that on me. You brought this woman and child and barged into my house without my consent. Did you notify me in advance?"

Shen Man's somewhat shrill voice rang out, with a fawning yet unmistakably bossy tone: "CEO He, you can't say that. After all, I am your elder, aren't I?"

He Angxiao glanced at her and sneered: "With all due respect, aside from being older, you really don't deserve the title of elder."

Those words instantly infuriated the woman. Chi Luoxi could even imagine her face turning red, unable to speak for a while.

The child, who had been held by Shen Man all along, seemed to sense the tension in the air and the adults' unstable emotions, and let out a piercing shriek.

He Angxiao turned a deaf ear to the crying; his patience had clearly run out. "Just say it—what do you want? Did you have to come here and kick up a fuss?"

He couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush anymore and went straight to the point.

After a brief silence, He Deye's voice sounded: "...Angxiao, my company has been having some problems lately—cash flow issues. Your little brother is still young and at an age that costs a fortune..."

Finally baring their fangs.

He Angxiao's caustic and precise words rained down like rapid-fire barbs: "You had the money when you were having the kid, but now you don't when it's time to raise him?"

The words cut straight to the heart, stripping He Deye's hypocrisy and incompetence bare for all to see.

Chi Luoxi, pressed up against the stairway, heard everything clearly. At first, he was on edge for He Angxiao, afraid that his deadbeat dad might say something harsh or do something out of line.

But upon hearing He Angxiao's sharp and merciless retort, he thought to himself: He Angxiao's mouth is really something—he comes up with a string of comebacks, each hitting the mark, leaving no room for rebuttal.

Originally, he had stayed here fearing that if they were backed into a corner, He Angxiao might act impulsively; he thought if He Angxiao were truly ganged up on by those two, he absolutely couldn't stand by idly and could still help him.

Looking at it now, he had really worried too much.

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Author's note: Sharp-tongued President He is online.

Next chapter: Our young couple gets engaged.

I plan to write a bonus chapter about He Angxiao raising Little Radish. If you want to see it, just let me know. If it doesn't bother you, go ahead and check it out—I personally think it's great.