My Alleged Husband

Chapter 170: Chapter 154 Get out, the both of you!_1

Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing rose early that morning, stepping into the living room together, they saw Old Master Zhang sitting there, cradling their child. The sight of their baby smiling contentedly in Old Master Zhang’s arms filled them with a sudden reluctance; at times they couldn’t help but wonder: were their actions right or wrong? It was their own child; how could they be so heartless as to abandon him here and leave alone? The moment this thought surfaced in Xia Jing’s mind, she hurriedly snuffed it out. No, she couldn’t allow such thoughts to take hold. Those would only soften her resolve. To achieve great things, to be able to leave, one had to have a hardened heart.

Old Master Zhang looked up and saw Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian standing at the top of the stairs. Assuming they had something to ask him, he waved them over and then said to Aunt Xu, ”Aunt Xu, could you please take the child for a moment? I have something to discuss with Xia Jing and Zhentian.”

Aunt Xu was overjoyed at these words. She had always wanted to hold the adorable child but never had the chance. His grandfather was so attached that she hardly had the opportunity to hold the young master of the house. When she heard Old Master Zhang’s request, happiness struck her unexpectedly, and she hurried over, taking the child from him with a flurry, ”Old Master, rest assured, I’ll take good care of the young master. You can speak with Zhentian and Xia Jing; I won’t disturb you.”

After speaking, Aunt Xu quickly headed upstairs with the child, fearing that Old Master Zhang might suddenly change his mind, which would leave her not only embarrassed but also reluctant to part with the child. Though Aunt Xu was a bit old, she had never married or had children. It was her first time holding such a cuddly infant. As she touched the soft hands of the child, her heart nearly melted.

Xia Jing and Zhang Zhentian approached Old Master Zhang. He addressed Zhang Zhentian, ”Speak up, what is it that you wanted to ask me? Don’t tell me it’s nothing; I saw the way you two hesitated at the top of the stairs and knew you must have something to say. Since Aunt Xu has taken the child, you might as well speak directly, no need to beat around the bush with me.”

Zhang Zhentian suddenly found himself at a loss for words; he looked at Xia Jing, who also didn’t know how to tell Old Master Zhang about their plan to leave the country. In the end, Zhentian spoke up, ”Dad, I want to travel abroad and see the world with Xia Jing. I was thinking of leaving the child here for you to look after. What do you think?”

Upon hearing these words, Old Master Zhang thought he might have misheard. It was the first time in his life he heard of parents wanting to travel the world right after their child was born; it seemed to be the most ridiculous thing in the world.

”Can you explain to me why you have suddenly decided to do this? And, with the child being less than a year old, do you think it’s appropriate to abandon him and travel the world? He is your own flesh and blood; how can you be so cruel?”

Upon hearing Old Master Zhang’s words, Xia Jing shouted back, ”How are we being cruel? We weren’t in any rush to have children; it was you who insisted we give you a grandson. Now that you have him, what more do you want? For Zhentian’s sake, I gave up my freedom. I feel I have given enough. Why can’t you ever appreciate what I do? Tell me, since our child was born, how often have I held him? Only when he’s hungry do you bring him to me, and once he’s fed, you take him away again. Not even at night does he sleep with me. Do you think there’s any meaning for me to be a mother here?”

Old Master Zhang had not expected Xia Jing to talk back to him. He said to Zhentian, ”Look at this, look at this, is this the wonderful daughter-in-law you married? I’m her father-in-law. The way she speaks to me, with this tone? While I’m grateful to Xia Jing for bearing descendants for our family, if you step out of this door today, neither of you should ever dream of setting foot inside the Zhang Family again in your lifetime.”

Old Master Zhang had laid down a ferocious ultimatum to Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing. Hearing these words from Old Master Zhang, Zhang Zhentian realized his father was, in fact, kicking him out of the family home. He turned to look at Xia Jing, hoping she would sacrifice her plans to go abroad for his sake. He did not want to be unable to return home in his old age. But to his surprise, Xia Jing scoffed, ”Hahaha... Do you really think the gates of your Zhang Family are that great? Once I, Xia Jing, leave, I won’t miss entering them at all. If it weren’t for your son begging me to marry him, if it weren’t to spare you any regrets, why would I marry your son? Give you a grandson? Avoid the extinction of your family line? I call you ’Dad’ out of respect for you, because I truly regarded you as family, not to be humiliated or taken advantage of. So I can’t return to the gates of the Zhang Family? Fine, I will leave and never come back in this life. You want a grandson, right? Then take good care of your grandson and live all alone for the rest of your life.”

Old Master Zhang, hearing Xia Jing’s words, was utterly taken aback. He ignored her, turning to Zhang Zhentian instead. ”Zhentian, what about you? Will you choose to stay here with me and your child, or will you fly far away with your wife?”

When Zhang Zhentian heard Old Master Zhang ask him this, he was at a loss for words, stuttering and struggling to speak without actually saying anything.

Old Master Zhang then told Zhang Zhentian, ”Think carefully. If you decide to leave the Zhang home today, you are no longer a member of the Zhang Family for the rest of your life till death. Even if you die out there, you can’t return here, because this place has nothing to do with you anymore. This includes your son when he grows up; he will have nothing to do with you either. It’s the two of you as parents who are choosing to abandon your child, not keeping him in your hearts. If you choose to leave your child today, I will give him a name. Then you can forget about ever seeing him again in your lifetime. If I ever find out that you secretly meet him or do anything sneaky, then I’m sorry, but I, Zhang Mo, even if it costs me my old life, will destroy the two of you.”

Zhang Zhentian knew his father was truly being harsh this time. Although he felt a bit afraid and also a little indignant, what could he say? He was the architect of this outcome, wasn’t he? If it hadn’t been for him, how could he have planned to go abroad with Xia Jing? How could he have agreed to leave his own flesh and blood with her? Nobody would tolerate such a thing happening in their own family. Zhang Zhentian could understand his father’s actions to some extent.

Zhang Zhentian took a few deep breaths and then said to Old Master Zhang, ”Dad, I’m sorry, but I’ve decided to leave with Xia Jing. After all, it’s Xia Jing who will spend a lifetime with me, not my son.”

”Good, very well, both of you get lost. From now on, you’re forbidden from taking even one step into the Zhang Family. Otherwise, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. Starting today, I, Zhang Mo, sever all father-son ties with Zhang Zhentian. Your life and death have nothing to do with me.”

Zhang Zhentian, hand in hand with Xia Jing, walked out of the gates of the Zhang Family. Old Master Zhang, seeing this, passed out from anger right then and there.