Chapter 365: What Counts

Continuing with their meal had lost its flavor. Yang Chen had managed to finish his large bowl of porridge, while Lin Ruoxi took a few bites before setting her chopsticks down, mirroring Huilin's actions.

Wang Mama swiftly cleared the table like a whirlwind, but she promptly handed over the task of brewing tea to Huilin. Wang Mama clearly felt hesitant to brew tea in the presence of such a distinguished figure.

What puzzled Wang Mama even more was why such an eminent person had suddenly shown up at their home. Could Lin Ruoxi's business have grown so vast that even national leaders felt the need to drop by for a visit?

Yang Gongming was currently examining a painting by a Western artist that Lin Ruoxi had bought. The elderly woman, seeing that Yang Chen and the others were waiting for Yang Gongming, urged him, "Master, we've finished eating."

Yang Gongming turned around with a smile and pointed at the oil painting on the wall, saying to Lin Ruoxi, "This Western painting looks nice, but I still think a photograph is more realistic."

"Hmm," Lin Ruoxi wasn't sure how to respond. Should she say it lacked artistic merit? That would be too blunt. Should she agree? She felt uncomfortable doing so, so she settled for a non-committal sound of acknowledgment.

Yang Gongming didn't mind. He turned to Yang Chen and asked, "Yang Chen, I assume you chose your own name."

Yang Chen nodded indifferently, "It's just a code. What surname, what name—it doesn't matter to me."

"Young man, you shouldn't say things like that. One should not forget their roots, just like loving one's country comes first, then one's family. If you can be indifferent about your own roots, what else would you care about?" Yang Gongming spoke gently.

Yang Chen suddenly felt like his words had hit cotton; the old man's words were soft, and he wore a smile. They say not to bite the hand that feeds you, and now that the old man was speaking so kindly, it wouldn't be right to be confrontational. Besides, it wasn't proper to bully an elderly person.

"Are you here to discuss my name today?" Yang Chen tried to steer the conversation back on track as quickly as possible.

Yang Gongming nodded, "It is indeed an important matter, but I would prefer to discuss it in a quieter place. Would that be possible?"

"There's nothing to hide. Say it here or forget it," Yang Chen impatiently retorted.

"Yang Chen, you can't speak like that!" Lin Ruoxi frowned and shot Yang Chen a glare. This guy was too rude. Regardless of whether the other person was someone she didn't want to see, he was still an elder. Moreover, the tone should be one of discussion and consultation. How could he speak so rudely?

"Mr. Yang, if you don't mind, how about we discuss it in my study?" Lin Ruoxi suggested, attempting to smooth over the atmosphere.

Yang Chen realized he had been a bit too harsh in his tone. Seeing Lin Ruoxi taking the initiative to ease tensions, he didn't say anything more.

Yang Gongming wasn't offended either. He nodded graciously, "Thank you, young lady."

Lin Ruoxi stood up and gestured politely, indicating for Yang Gongming and the elderly woman to follow her upstairs.

Before going upstairs, Lin Ruoxi gave Yang Chen a displeased look that clearly said, "Come up with me!"

Yang Chen felt a bit peculiar in her heart. Usually, she rarely cared about her own affairs, much less the matters of others. But today, why was Lin Ruoxi so concerned about her and the elderly man? Could it be because of the old man's esteemed status?

Actually, Lin Ruoxi herself found this question somewhat strange. She just felt that she should behave better in front of this old man. That was all.

Seeing Lin Ruoxi take Yang Gongming upstairs, Yang Chen knew it was not necessary for him to follow, so he leisurely walked upstairs.

Huiling was downstairs, about to brew tea for Yang Gongming, when she saw the four of them already upstairs. She stood still in anxious anticipation.

At the door of the study, Lin Ruoxi opened it for Yang Gongming, who gratefully said, "Thank you," and entered the study with the elderly woman.

What made Lin Ruoxi feel shy and blush was that the kindly old woman, before entering the study, had smiled and said, "This little girl is so pretty." Although it was a fond compliment from an elder to a younger person, Lin Ruoxi, who hadn't experienced such treatment in years, felt uncomfortable.

Later, Yang Chen also entered the study. Seeing this, Lin Ruoxi intended to close the door and go downstairs.

However, just as she was about to leave, she was called back by Yang Gongming from inside the study, "Ruoxi, come in as well. You have the right to hear these things too."

Lin Ruoxi's delicate body trembled slightly. Yang Gongming already knew who she was? She had the right to hear? What did he mean? Could Yang Chen really be...?

With a bit of nervousness, Lin Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, nodded, and walked into the study, closing the door behind her.

Instantly, the study fell silent. A few strands of early morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, warming up the room and dispelling some of the heaviness.

Yang Gongming looked around and, seeing the shelves full of books, smiled and asked, "Ruoxi, have you read all these books?"

Lin Ruoxi replied softly, "Yes."

"Well done. Although ancient wisdom says a woman without talent is virtuous, a woman with education always understands things better. Especially when managing the affairs of a large family, you can't do it well without ink. This is a good thing." Yang Gongming glanced at Yang Chen with satisfaction and continued, "Yang Chen, I'm very pleased with the daughter-in-law you've chosen."

Daughter-in-law?!

Lin Ruoxi's eyes widened suddenly, nearly feeling as if her brain was deprived of oxygen. She awkwardly turned her head and looked at Yang Chen beside her, who remained silent.

Yang Chen furrowed his brows. He hadn't expected Yang Gongming to casually mention their blood relationship like this.

"I never said I had any grandfather. I think you've mistaken me for someone else, old man," Yang Chen finally replied calmly.

Yang Gongming seemed not to mind, as if he hadn't heard Yang Chen's words. His eyes flickered with memories, and his tone drifted vaguely as he said, "Over twenty years ago, in a winter much like this one, my son Yang Pojun and his fiancée Guo Xuehua, who hadn't yet married into our family, gave birth to my grandson."

However, both of them kept it from me because the child was conceived before my daughter-in-law entered our family. They thought I didn't know, but in fact, I knew all along.

Fortunately, they didn't abort the child. If they had, I would have certainly stopped them. Since it was Heaven's will for the child to be born, we shouldn't erase his existence. Even though he hadn't been born yet, he was a life of our Yang family, my grandson or granddaughter.

It's just unfortunate that at that time, I was at a crucial stage of running for the position of a delegate to the National People's Congress. All members of the Yang family, both direct and collateral, totaling over a hundred people, were waiting for my ascension to consolidate our family's position.

It was during the period when our Yang family was rapidly developing in Yan City. Anyone's ascension meant absolute prosperity for the family. However, if I had failed in that election, it would have been inevitable for our deeply-rooted Yang family to face suppression. Many of our state-owned enterprises and local officials connected to our family would have suffered, with nothing left.

At that time, I simply didn't have the leisure to consider the secret birth of my grandson. Moreover, I was well aware that an unwed pregnancy and childbirth would be a scandal for a family like ours in that era.

My son and daughter-in-law were well aware of this as well. So, they placed my grandson in an orphanage. Their plan was to bring him back after I finished my campaign."

As Yang Gongming slowly recounted the story, Yang Chen's expression varied.

Lin Ruoxi also gradually understood the truth of the matter. From initial shock, her gaze softened as she looked at Yang Chen beside her.

So, his background was so tumultuous?

"Later, I lived up to everyone's expectations. With the help of many students and colleagues, I laid a solid foundation for the Yang family's stable development in Yan City. I remember on the day of my election, my first thought was how to bring our grandson back home. How could I have been elected safely if that little guy was suffering in an orphanage? But when my son and daughter-in-law went back to that orphanage, it had been demolished. Those children were gone, and no one knew where they had gone, especially our little guy who was only a few months old at the time." Sadness flickered in Yang Gongming's eyes. The events of that year were vivid in his mind, a burden that weighed heavily on the old man.

Upon hearing this, the elderly woman beside Yang Gongming also looked sorrowful, quietly wiping away tears from her eyes.

Lin Ruoxi glanced at the silently composed Yang Chen beside her. So, he truly grew up without parents from a young age. How did he manage to grow up like this?

At the same time, Lin Ruoxi also understood why Yang Chen said things like "never say beg" to Guo Xuehua, who knelt down that day. It seemed that Yang Chen had known all along, and now she understood the real reason he didn't kill Yang Lie.

"Do you think saying all this is going to make a difference? Since I can remember, there haven't been any so-called relatives in my world. Just like my personal records at the police station, I've forgotten everything before the age of five. Whether I was adopted or sold off, all I have is a surname that someone told me. After five, I went abroad, and until now, I don't even know how I managed to survive to stand here," Yang Chen laughed bitterly. "Even the Monkey King knew he came out of a stone. When I don't even feel human anymore, who can tell me where I came from in this world? Besides the pain of letting go of my body, do you know what it feels like not even knowing who you are? What can your so-called sorrow compare to?"

Yang Gongming was speechless, looking at Yang Chen in silence.

Lin Ruoxi's eyes reddened slightly. At this moment, Yang Chen's usual careless demeanor was gone, replaced by an aura of desolation like an entire person covered by a bleak and lifeless desert, despairing without any vitality.

"My heart is already weary. I have no desire for revenge against anyone, but I hope you won't disturb my life. I just want to live quietly and have nothing to do with the outside world," Yang Chen said, turning to leave the study.

"Wait!" Yang Gongming suddenly shouted.

Yang Chen paused, about to turn back, when he heard a heavy thud on the floor.

That sound? Yang Chen's eyes widened suddenly. Turning around, he saw Yang Gongming kneeling on the ground with a serious expression!

Not only Yang Chen, but even Lin Ruoxi and the elderly woman's faces turned pale!

Whether they were elders or leaders, for Yang Gongming to kneel before his grandson was an unprecedented challenge to everyone's emotional limits!