At this moment, Xu Zhenguo was gazing at Xu Ke with a stern, silent expression.

Xu Ke remained resolute, meeting his father's eyes.

In his view, his relationship with Wong Qifu had actually started after they were kidnapped at the factory. Before that, he had been constantly thinking about how to get out of the engagement. It was only afterward that he truly wanted to give Wong Qifu a future. Therefore, he believed the kidnapping was the catalyst for their romance! But how could he possibly tell his parents about being kidnapped? Since he wouldn't lie, he could only omit it.

The silent staring contest between Xu Zhenguo and Xu Ke was suffocating.

Just as Shen Fen and Xu Zhentai couldn't stand it any longer and were about to intervene…

Xu Zhenguo suddenly spoke. "Fine."

"You're my son. I believe you."

A smile touched the corners of Xu Ke's mouth. "Okay."

Hearing Xu Zhenguo say this, Xu Zhentai and Shen Fen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, they couldn't help but be amazed.

When had Xu Zhenguo ever been so easy to fool?!

But Xu Ke already understood why his father had believed him so readily this time…

Seeing that Xu Zhenguo had finally let Xu Ke off the hook, Shen Fen looked at her husband. "I told you our son wouldn't cheat."

"You just wouldn't believe me!"

"When did I ever say I didn't believe you?" Xu Zhenguo retorted confidently.

"You clearly…"

Shen Fen was about to argue.

Xu Ke interrupted them with a laugh. "Dad, Mom, let's drop it. Let's think about what to have for dinner."

When he said this, Shen Fen had a sudden realization. "Right, aren't we meeting Qi Fu tonight? Is this outfit too informal?"

"Then you'd better see what's in the suitcase," Xu Zhenguo said, tilting his head.

Shen Fen hurriedly got out of bed.

As the old couple began rummaging through their luggage, Xu Ke suddenly turned to Xu Zhentai. "Uncle, I want to talk to you."

Xu Zhentai was startled for a moment, then nodded. "Alright…"

「In the corridor.」

Xu Ke and Xu Zhentai stood in the quiet emergency stairwell of the Felice Hotel.

It was utterly silent.

"Go on. What did you want to talk to me about out here?" Xu Zhentai asked, pulling out a cigarette and offering it to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke waved his hand, indicating he didn't smoke. "I wanted to apologize to you. And thank you."

Xu Zhentai chuckled, putting the cigarette away without another word.

"Back when I married Siao Jia, you scolded me," Xu Ke began slowly. "I was very defiant and talked back to you. I'm truly sorry for that."

"That's the first thing."

Back then, his uncle, Xu Zhentai, had strongly opposed his marriage to Siao Jia. Xu Ke had felt that his uncle was being too merciless and had talked back to him in front of everyone.

SNAP.

Xu Zhentai lit his cigarette and took a silent drag, smoke curling into the air.

Xu Ke continued, "The second thing. When I was a kid, you were the relative I disliked the most because you were always so blunt and disrespectful to my dad."

"I'm sorry for that. I even complained about you to my desk mate back then."

Xu Zhentai's hand trembled slightly as he smoked. "You even did that?"

Xu Ke nodded.

Xu Zhentai laughed.

"The third thing," Xu Ke went on, "is that I want to say thank you."

"I'll remember your generosity of 150,000 for the rest of my life."

"And I'll work hard to earn back the ten million I promised you."

At this, Xu Zhentai let out an exasperated laugh and clapped Xu Ke hard on the shoulder. "Stop with all the formal talk. I've never seen you be so polite."

"The ten million was a joke. Why the hell did you take it seriously?"

Xu Ke smiled.

Xu Zhentai took another drag from his cigarette. "Back then, I saw you being deceived by a scheming woman like Siao Jia, and I scolded you out of pure frustration that you weren't living up to your potential."

"Of course, my words were too hurtful, so I should apologize to you for that, too."

The things Xu Zhentai had said back then were brutal, with every word like a piercing blow.

Xu Ke waved his hand. "Uncle, you don't have to say that."

Xu Zhentai grinned. "We're men. As long as we've cleared the air, there's no need to dwell on it."

"The past is the past. We're family; there's no need to draw lines between us."

"Your parents treat Xiao Yi like their own daughter, and I've always thought of you as my own son."

"Uncle knows you have a secret. Otherwise, that Yuk Dalong wouldn't have been so terrified of you."

"But I won't ask what it is. As long as you make something of yourself, your parents and I will be happy for you."

"Just know that."

His words fell on the quiet air.

Xu Ke was stunned.

Xu Zhentai could actually see that Yuk Dalong was genuinely afraid of him. He wasn't just acting subserviently in room 208 because of Wong Qifu.

Xu Zhentai changed the subject. "Xiao Yi is coming back to China soon. You should let her come and learn from you."

Xu Ke played along. "Sure, but I don't really have much to teach."

"There's plenty you can teach," Xu Zhentai said with a raised eyebrow. He then stubbed out his cigarette on the trash can. "Come on. The cigarette's finished, and our talk is over. Let's go back."

With that, Xu Zhentai walked out of the stairwell first.

"Alright."

Following behind him, Xu Ke discreetly pulled out his phone and transferred 150,000.

Xu Zhentai's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and smiled but didn't refuse the money. "Uncle will take it for now. Just remember to treat your parents well in the future."

"I know."

Xu Ke put his phone away and nodded.

At half-past twelve, Xu Ke urged the three elders to get some rest.

He himself ran back to the emergency stairwell to call Wong Qifu.

"Qi Fu, should I bring my parents to meet you tonight?" he asked, getting straight to the point as soon as the call connected.

Wong Qifu was silent for two seconds before replying, "Okay. Are you all at the Felice?"

"Yes," Xu Ke confirmed.

"I'll come to you," Wong Qifu said.

Xu Ke shook his head. "It would be better to eat at the Wang Family's hotel. You'll be safer there."

This time, Wong Qifu's silence was even longer.

Seeing that she wasn't speaking, Xu Ke was puzzled. "What's wrong? Is it really inconvenient on your end?"

Wong Qifu finally spoke. "...Won't your parents think I'm putting on airs?"

Xu Ke was taken aback.

Wong Qifu has this side to her? The Wong Qifu I know is always decisive, domineering, confident, and unstoppable. I never thought she'd be so hesitant and cautious when faced with something like this...

"My parents won't think that. Don't worry," Xu Ke said with a smile.

"...Really?"

"Really!" Xu Ke affirmed.

Wong Qifu thought for a moment. "Alright, let's go to Wangjiang Hotel, then. The atmosphere is quiet, it's easy to secure, and the chefs are excellent."

"Sure, you decide."

"I'll have Uncle Wu come pick you up."

"No need, we have a driver here."

"What do your parents like to eat?"

"They aren't picky."

"What should I wear?"

Xu Ke couldn't help but chuckle. "I really wish I could see the look on your face right now. I bet it's interesting."

Wong Qifu was silent for a long moment. "...Are you looking to die?"

Xu Ke: "My bad."

「At six-thirty in the evening, in front of Wangjiang Hotel.」

Xu Ke got out of the car. "Dad, this is the place!"

Shen Fen and Xu Zhenguo were both a little nervous and hadn't said a word the entire ride over.

Seeing this, Xu Zhentai laughed. "Brother, Sister-in-law, are you two going to meet your daughter-in-law or going to a job interview? Why so stiff?"

Xu Zhenguo let out an exasperated laugh. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Dad, Mom, relax," Xu Ke said with a smile.

He was a bit nervous himself.

But thinking about Wong Qifu's uncharacteristic behavior at noon and his parents' current grim expressions, he somehow didn't feel nervous anymore!

"Okay," Shen Fen nodded.

They then walked forward and entered Wangjiang Hotel.

"Hello, I'm Xu Ke. We have a reservation for room one on the top floor," Xu Ke said, approaching the front desk.

But when the receptionist heard the name, she faltered. "You're Xu Ke?"

"That's right," Xu Ke nodded.

Just then, a grating voice came from the stairwell. "Sorry, we don't serve anyone named Xu Ke here."

At those words, the expressions on Xu Ke's and his family's faces changed instantly.

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