Return of the Celestial King

When Qin Tuo left, a lively crowd of guests saw him out, their attitudes incredibly respectful.

After leaving the hotel, Qin Tuo took out his phone and saw that his parents had called him several times.

He then checked his text messages, and his expression immediately turned to one of astonishment.

’Oh, they actually went back to the old house. What’s going on?’

Without a moment’s delay, Qin Tuo hailed a taxi and rushed back to his old home.

He walked in to find his parents sitting on the worn-out sofa, staring blankly into space.

”Mom, Dad, what’s going on? Why did you move out of Half Moon Bay? Was it uncomfortable living there?”

Qin Hongguo, who was normally a strict man, said nothing, just shaking his head and sighing incessantly.

Seeing this, Qin Tuo grew even more anxious.

”Mom, Dad, what on earth happened? Please, just tell me!”

Luo Xianglan finally spoke, her words coming slowly.

”Son, you just got out of prison. Stop thinking about such unrealistic things. Don’t assume that just because you saved the Chen Family, you can live off their charity. Do you understand?”

Qin Tuo was even more bewildered. ’Why would his mother suddenly say that?’

’Besides, the shift in her attitude is just too drastic!’

He quickly asked,

”Mom, has someone been gossiping to you? You can’t just believe everything people say!”

Luo Xianglan’s brow furrowed, her tone unyielding.

”It’s nothing like that, so don’t overthink it. In any case, give that villa back to them. And from now on, you need to stop seeing that girl, Manni. A wealthy family like that... they’re completely out of our league!”

’Now he was even more certain. Someone had definitely been spreading malicious rumors.’

’Otherwise, his parents wouldn’t have had such a sudden change of heart.’

”Mom, you’re overthinking this. It’s not what you think at all...”

But Luo Xianglan refused to listen to her son’s explanation, continuing on her own tangent.

”You need to find a good job and marry a wife from a family like ours. Your father and I would be very happy with that!”

Hearing his mother’s tone, Qin Tuo knew they must have gone through some sort of ordeal he didn’t know about.

”Mom, tell me. Who’s been whispering poison in your ears? When I find out who it is, I won’t let them get away with it!”

It was a rare sight, but Qin Tuo was genuinely angry now.

’He could take it if they came after him, but manipulating his parents? That was just despicable!’

However, Luo Xianglan now seemed to be getting angry as well.

She said stubbornly,

”Why are you being so difficult? It doesn’t matter if someone said something or not. The facts are the facts. Am I wrong?”

Just as Qin Tuo was about to explain, Luo Xianglan cut him off again.

”If you keep seeing that girl, Manni, then your father and I will move away. And you can forget about ever seeing us again!”

As she spoke, she became overly agitated and broke into a violent coughing fit, her face turning red.

Qin Tuo’s heart clenched. Not wanting his mother’s health to take a turn for the worse, he quickly nodded in agreement for the time being.

”Okay, Mom. I’ll listen to you. Just please, don’t get so worked up.”

Seeing that Qin Tuo had finally relented, Luo Xianglan’s tone softened, and the color returned to her face.

”Son, that girl Zilin should be back tomorrow on her day off. We’ve already discussed it with Aunt Han, and we’ve arranged for you two to meet and talk tomorrow. What do you think?”

Qin Tuo froze. ’Han Zilin?’

He couldn’t help but ask,

”Mom, why are you bringing her up all of a sudden?”

Luo Xianglan smiled, gratified.

”Zilin is a wonderful girl. Besides, you two always got along so well when you were kids. If you two hit it off tomorrow, you could give dating a try!”

Qin Tuo was instantly overwhelmed. ’So *this* was his mother’s little scheme.’

He immediately tried to explain,

”Mom, that won’t work. Zilin is much younger than me! Besides, I’ve always seen her as a little sister. I’ve never thought about her in that way!”

Han Zilin was the daughter of their neighbor, Aunt Han. Her father had passed away when she was young, so Aunt Han had worked hard to raise her all by herself.

She was several years younger than Qin Tuo, and he had always seen her as a little sister.

When they were children, Qin Tuo would often take Han Zilin out to play or walk her to school.

Because of this, Aunt Han had always held a very good impression of Qin Tuo.

Hearing her son’s words, Luo Xianglan frowned in displeasure.

”What’s wrong with it? You two haven’t seen each other in years. The girl is all grown up now. What’s the harm in getting to know each other?”

Qin Tuo waved his hands dismissively and insisted,

”Mom, that’s not what I mean! I’ve always thought of her as my sister. How could I possibly date her?”

Luo Xianglan’s expression hardened. She huffed,

”Childhood was childhood. Things are different now. As the saying goes, a girl can change completely by the time she’s grown. She was always a pretty kid, and now she’s become a real beauty. In what way is she not good enough for you!”

”Mom, this isn’t about whether she’s good enough or not...”

Qin Tuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Seeing the mother and son bickering, Qin Hongguo, who had been silent on the side, let out a dissatisfied snort.

”You ungrateful boy. When you were in prison, that girl Zilin came to look after us from time to time. Now you’re going to be so ungrateful and throw away a good girl like her?”

Hearing Qin Hongguo’s words, Qin Tuo was left completely speechless.

’How is this considered throwing her away?’

’Great. He finally got it. His parents had already decided his romantic fate for him, and arguing any further was pointless.’

Luo Xianglan’s tone was firm as she said,

”I don’t care what you think! I think that girl Zilin is wonderful and would make a good daughter-in-law. I’ve made up my mind, and she’s the one!”

Seeing his mother’s tone growing more resolute and agitated, and fearing she might have another health episode, Qin Tuo felt he couldn’t press the issue any further.

”Alright, Mom, I’ll listen to you both. I’ll make time to meet her tomorrow.”

Hearing their son finally give in, his parents’ expressions relaxed with relief.

That evening, Qin Tuo was reading in his room when Luo Xianglan brought him a cup of tea.

”Son, I know you’re feeling uneasy and still thinking about that girl, Manni. But you have to understand, we’re from two completely different worlds. We could never be their equals!”

Seeing her son seemed sullen and unhappy, the loving mother decided to try and console him a little.

Qin Tuo accepted the tea and gave a wry smile.

”Mom, you’re reading too much into it. The truth is, Chen Man Ni and I haven’t even gotten to that stage.”

Luo Xianglan immediately let out a heavy sigh of relief.

”That’s good. Now you can give things a proper try with Zilin.”

Qin Tuo just smiled and said nothing more.

’He knew he wouldn’t get an answer out of them, no matter how much he pressed.’

’But he had already made up his mind. He would find whoever was instigating this and uncover their true motives.’

Seeing that her son had fallen silent, Luo Xianglan sighed to herself, quietly backed out of the room, and gently closed the door.