My Alleged Husband

Chapter 940: Chapter 833: Exciting Recap_5

Old Master Zhang slept comfortably, but Zhang Zhentian didn’t. After being caught drinking by Old Master Zhang, he had to return to his room and perform a handstand. It was a family rule: if caught sneaking alcohol, you had to do a handstand for the entire night. Even while performing the punishment, Zhang Zhentian’s mind wandered as he thought about where Xia Jing might have gone. He recalled that if he hadn’t been so distracted that day—accidentally scalding his father with hot water—he would’ve certainly found out who Xia Jing went to see at the company.

”Sigh, it’s all my fault. I should just accept the punishment and deal with this properly. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Dad again about it. Yes, that’s the plan,” Zhang Zhentian decided.

With a furrowed brow, Zhang Zhentian gazed at the sky outside. He was waiting for morning to come. Handstanding like this, every passing minute felt as long as a century.

Late night.

Zhang Zhentian grew so tired that even while maintaining the handstand, he drifted off into a haze of sleep. Time seemed to fly while asleep. Moment by moment, the night passed, and the sky finally began to brighten.

The morning sun rose, casting a beam of light into Zhang Zhentian’s bedroom. The glare pierced his drowsy eyes, and he groggily opened them to see the sun already risen. He immediately sat up straight, exclaiming, ”Morning’s finally here! Time really flies while you’re asleep—one blink and it’s daylight!”

Overjoyed, Zhang Zhentian threw open his wardrobe, pulling out a set of casual wear: gray pants, a gray shirt, and a white t-shirt. Once dressed, he hurriedly ran downstairs. Seeing his father sitting on the sofa, he walked over and sat beside him.

”Dad, have you had breakfast yet?” Zhang Zhentian asked cautiously.

Old Master Zhang shot him a glare and replied unhappily, ”Why do you care whether I’ve eaten or not? Had enough alcohol, have you?” Rather than answering, Old Master Zhang rebuffed Zhang Zhentian outright.

Hearing his father’s tone, Zhang Zhentian realized his father was still angry with him. Needing to find out about Xia Jing, Zhang Zhentian had no choice but to swallow his pride and admit his fault.

”Dad, I know I was wrong. Please don’t stay angry. I promise I’ll never sneak alcohol again,” Zhang Zhentian vowed earnestly to Old Master Zhang.

Seeing Zhang Zhentian’s sincere attitude in admitting his mistake, Old Master Zhang finally spoke up, ”Alright, tell me—what is it you’re looking for me about?”

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Zhentian quickly asked, ”Dad, the thing I asked you about the other day—can you tell me now?”

Though Old Master Zhang already knew Zhang Zhentian was asking about Xia Jing, he hadn’t expected such directness. Zhang Zhentian didn’t even bother with tact.

”What exactly was that thing from the other day?” Old Master Zhang feigned ignorance.

Zhang Zhentian froze. Could his father have forgotten so quickly? His father’s memory was excellent—even events from years ago were clear in his mind. How could he possibly forget something from only days ago? Was his dad testing him to see if he was genuinely remorseful?

”Dad, it was... it was about the day I accidentally scalded you with boiling water,” Zhang Zhentian timidly admitted.

”Oh, you scalded me with boiling water? I had no idea,” Old Master Zhang continued pretending he didn’t remember, carefully observing Zhang Zhentian’s reaction as he spoke.

Seeing his father act this way, Zhang Zhentian had no choice but to press on, ”Dad, I was wrong that day. I shouldn’t have been so absent-minded. I shouldn’t have lost control of my emotions and said hurtful things to you. I’m sorry. Please, forgive me.” Lowering his head, Zhang Zhentian apologized.

”So you do know how to say sorry, huh? Zhentian, do you really see me as your father? Ever since you’ve been with Xia Jing, all you have on your mind is Xia Jing. I bet you no longer have room for your father in your heart, do you?” Old Master Zhang replied coolly.

Zhang Zhentian felt utterly stumped by his father’s sudden question. What could he say? Should he admit to the man who raised him for decades, ”Dad, you’re right—I no longer have room for you in my heart”? That would only hurt his father. But if he said, ”Dad, you’re wrong; you’ve always been the most important person in my heart,” his father likely wouldn’t feel as upset anymore. However, if Xia Jing ever found out he said that, she’d no doubt be angry. Torn, Zhang Zhentian didn’t know how to respond in a way that felt right.

Old Master Zhang seemed to sense Zhang Zhentian’s hesitation and said, ”Don’t bother coming up with some diplomatic answer to appease me. If I’m asking you, then I want you to speak honestly.”

Hearing his father’s words, Zhang Zhentian found it even harder to speak.

”Dad, I...”

Suddenly, Old Master Zhang stood up and slapped Zhang Zhentian across the cheek. ”Are you a man or not? When someone asks you a question, answer directly! The thing I despise most in life is people like you—wishy-washy and indecisive. You’ll never amount to anything like this! How do you expect to get anywhere? Honestly, I can’t fathom what Xia Jing sees in a timid man like you. If I were Xia Jing, I wouldn’t come back to someone like you for a lifetime. Hmph!”

Old Master Zhang, shaking with rage, left Zhang Zhentian stunned. This scolding struck a nerve, and Zhang Zhentian shouted back immediately, ”That’s right! All I care about is Xia Jing, and yes, I am timid with how I do things. But I’m still your son—nothing can change that fact!”

While the first half of Zhang Zhentian’s retort didn’t hurt Old Master Zhang much, the second half made his face redden with anger.

”You want to know whether Xia Jing went to the company that day, don’t you?” Old Master Zhang said nonchalantly.

”Yes, I do! But I’ve asked you multiple times and you still haven’t answered me. I know I was careless and wrong for scalding you with hot water, but haven’t I already apologized? What more do you want from me?” Zhang Zhentian roared.

”Alright, since you want to know, I’ll tell you now. You’re right—Xia Jing went to the company that day in part to look for you. But the other reason was to meet me,” Old Master Zhang finally revealed Xia Jing’s purpose.

”So Xia Jing really did go to the company for me... but I missed her because of my petty mistakes,” Zhang Zhentian muttered to himself.

Seeing his son in this defeated state, Old Master Zhang didn’t know what else to say. Just as he turned to leave, Zhang Zhentian spoke up.

”Dad, you said Xia Jing went to the company also to meet you?”

”Yes, that’s correct. Is there a problem?”

”Dad, can you tell me why she went to meet you at the company? I suspect you know where Xia Jing went.”

Hearing his son’s question, Old Master Zhang’s expression remained unchanged, his face stern as ever. But inwardly, he felt pleased: ”Finally, he’s asking the right question!”

Fixing his gaze on Zhang Zhentian, Old Master Zhang remained silent. Seeing his father like this made Zhang Zhentian feel even more suspicious.

”Dad, be honest—do you know where Xia Jing went?”

”Zhentian, why would you even ask such a thing? How could I possibly know where Xia Jing has gone?” Old Master Zhang responded with a question of his own.

”You definitely know,” Zhang Zhentian affirmed.

You wouldn’t expect this, but we’ve all been through similar things. Don’t you feel that your life has been far luckier than mine?

My son, learn to find joy in contentment!