"It really is you, Ling Jing!"
Zhao Huaimin's eyes suddenly widened.
"Why are you pretending? Don't you know he's back?"
Luo Qilan sneered at Zhao Huaimin with a gloomy face.
"I was wondering why you remained so calm after Yan'er died. So it's because this bastard has returned.
Well, you lost one son, but you still have another one, don't you, Zhao Huaimin?
Even though he's the child of a shameless escort, he's still your spawn!
Haha, poor Yan'er, he died so miserably, and his father has already forgotten about him!"
Luo Qilan laughed and cried as if she had lost her mind.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I had no idea he was back!"
Zhao Huaimin's nostrils flared in anger, as if smoke might come out.
He glared at Ling Jing with an displeased expression.
"Why are you here? Weren't you in the hospital?"
This son was the stain on his life. How could he possibly like him?
"Hospital? Heh..." A faint mockery tugged at Ling Jing's lips. "So you knew I was in the hospital? Are you disappointed that I didn't die?"
"You insolent brat! Is this how you speak to me?"
"What attitude do you expect from me? Gentle and respectful? Servile and submissive?" Ling Jing's eyes narrowed. "Take a good look at yourself. Are you worthy of that?"
"I am your father!"
"Hah, where was this 'father' when I, a perfectly normal person, was falsely accused of being mentally ill by this vicious woman and forcibly committed to a mental hospital?
Where was this 'father' when I was being electrocuted, beaten, injected, and force-fed drugs?
Now you want me to play the role of a filial son in your little act? It's too late!
You think I'm still that little boy who followed you around, begging for even a glance?
Heh... That person died long ago!
He died in that tiny room in the mental hospital!"
Ling Jing's words made Zhao Huaimin's pupils dilate in shock.
He glared furiously at Luo Qilan, "Is what he's saying true? He wasn't sick, and you forcibly sent him to a mental hospital?"
"Ha? You're asking me now?" Luo Qilan looked at him with amusement.
"Didn't you tacitly approve of this? Don't tell me you didn't know?
Even if you didn't know, you must have guessed something was off at the time, but you never bothered to ask a single question.
What right do you have to interrogate me now?
Is it because your only son has returned, and you want to play innocent to gain sympathy, so you and your son can reconcile?
Hmph, Zhao Huaimin, let me tell you, don't even think about it!"
Her son was dead, she had lost her support, and if she couldn't be happy, no one else should be either!
A glint of manic obsession flashed in Luo Qilan's eyes.
Zhao Huaimin's gaze flickered.
At the time, he had known that Luo Qilan disliked Ling Jing.
He didn't like him either.
Sometimes he saw Luo Qilan's sarcasm and ridicule towards Ling Jing, but he had turned a blind eye.
Later, when Luo Qilan said Ling Jing had been diagnosed with a mental illness at the hospital and needed treatment, he hadn't questioned it. He thought it was better not to see him, out of sight, out of mind. It was better for him to be treated in the hospital than to have to see that face every day, constantly reminding him that he had once been tricked by an escort who then bore a son to blackmail him.
However...
Luo Qilan was right about one thing. Now that Yan'er was dead, Ling Jing was his only remaining son.
Although he didn't like this son, the Zhao family line couldn't end with him!
Thinking this, he composed his angry and displeased expression and turned to face Ling Jing.
"Ling Jing, perhaps I was wrong in the past. If there are any misunderstandings, we can sit down and talk about them later. Right now, we need to deal with the person who killed your brother first."
Saying this, he turned seriously towards Yun Xiaoxiao, who had been watching the drama unfold with a leisurely air.
"Little girl, it's an indisputable fact that you killed my son. To be so vicious at such a young age, how can I allow such a tumor to exist!"
With that, he waved to his subordinates surrounding them.
"Shoot her! Kill her!"
"Heh, you dare to touch someone I've brought here? Are you not taking me seriously?"
Just as they were about to act, Ling Jing walked in front of Yun Xiaoxiao, shielding her behind him.
They had all heard earlier that this man was the son of the base leader.
For a moment, everyone stopped their actions, unsure of what to do.
Yun Xiaoxiao was also bewildered.
She had been preparing to retreat into her space, leaving the mess for Ling Jing to deal with his father while she took the opportunity to escape.
She rubbed her nose a bit embarrassedly.
Alright, considering how chivalrous Ling Jing was being, she decided to temporarily overlook the fact that he had kidnapped her for no reason earlier.
"Ling Jing, your mischief has limits. This little girl killed your brother!"
Zhao Huaimin frowned and snorted coldly.
"Brother? What brother do I have?
Oh~ You mean that precious son of yours who either scalded me with hot water or forced me to eat dog food?
Doesn't someone like that... deserve to die?"
Ling Jing curved his lips into a wicked smile.
"My little one here was doing a public service. How can you kill her? You should be giving her an award."
"You!"
Zhao Huaimin's face turned ashen, his chest heaving.
"Ling Jing! You bastard! You should have died along with your whore of a mother! Ahhh, I'll kill you both!"
The triggered Luo Qilan grabbed a nearby chair and swung it towards Yun Xiaoxiao and Ling Jing.
"Bang!"
Before the chair could land, it exploded mid-air.
Debris scattered everywhere.
"Ugh... let... let go of me..."
Beneath the debris, Ling Jing's form moved swiftly. Before anyone could react, he flashed in front of Luo Qilan.
He grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.
Luo Qilan's face immediately turned red, struggling to breathe. She frantically clawed at Ling Jing's hand, trying to pry it loose.
"You've lived long enough. Since you miss your son so much, I'll do you a favor and send you to reunite with him."
Ling Jing tilted his chin up wickedly, his light blue eyes gradually becoming bloodthirsty as his grip tightened.
"Let her go immediately, she's your mother!"
Zhao Huaimin was also shocked.
He hadn't expected Ling Jing to be so powerful.
But he absolutely couldn't allow a son killing his mother to happen. It would further tarnish his reputation in the base.
With multiple factions eyeing his position, if he had another scandal, his subordinates would lose even more faith in him, making his situation even more precarious.
So, he couldn't allow this to happen.
He commanded Ling Jing self-righteously.
In his memory, Ling Jing was still that little boy who would obediently listen to him with just a glare.
Although the other's temper had changed to the point where he felt somewhat unfamiliar, a father was still a father!
