Chapter 10

The Huángguāng Hotel is the best three-star hotel in the county. As Guo Ming followed his mother to the entrance, he saw Guo Zhengze, who had been anxiously waiting for them.

"What took you so long to get here?" Guo Zhengze frowned, as they had been waiting for a long time.

"There were some delays," Yu Xia smiled. She naturally wouldn't reveal that it was because of Guo Ming.

"Let's go in! Oh, this time Yar and Lei did quite well. Ming, you should speak less, understand?" Guo Zhengze's face was grim. Just thinking about it made him feel embarrassed, and he had no way to argue. The fact was that Guo Ming's past performance had always been a target for ridicule.

Guo Ming lowered his head and followed his parents into the family meeting he once detested the most. In the past, he had tried to avoid it. For Guo Ming, every family meeting was a time of being criticized. His elder sister and elder brother had shown no mercy, and these were some of his most shameful memories. In his memory, there was little familial affection among siblings. His uncles were all harsh people, and he had lost all faith in them.

But today was different. He had taken the first step and was no longer someone they could easily criticize. Guo Ming had opened the long-sealed door of his memories. With time, he would surely burst forth to a level they could only look up to, and they would no longer dare to look down on him.

Guo Ming's face carried a faint smile as he lifted his head and said confidently, "Uncle and Aunt, hello."

"Why are you so late?" Guo Ming's eldest uncle said in a harsh tone.

"There were some delays on the way," Guo Ming quickly replied. "It seems you've been waiting for a while. Let's order the dishes. Waiter, bring the dishes."

A waiter looked at Guo Ming in confusion, then nodded. In her eyes, Guo Ming's demeanor and appearance were excellent, and he seemed to have a lot of influence in his family. She then turned and left.

"Hold it, Guo Zhenghui said angrily, pointing at Guo Ming. "In just one month, you've become quite bold. Is this what you've taught him, Third Brother?"

Guo Ming's words had already shocked everyone present. The Guo family was known for its strict upbringing, and Guo Ming's behavior had undoubtedly violated this unwritten rule.

Seeing his eldest brother's cold gaze, Guo Zhengze was also slightly surprised and immediately said, "Ming, what's wrong with you? Quickly apologize to your uncle."

"What have I done wrong?" Guo Ming said softly.

He pulled a stool and sat down, looking at his uncle with disdain. If his earlier actions could be considered unintentional, then this was now open defiance.

"You, you, Guo Zhenghui was furious, and he took large steps toward Guo Ming to teach him a lesson.

Yu Xia wouldn't stand for it. She blocked Guo Zhenghui and said coldly, "Eldest Brother, what are you doing?"

Guo Zhenghui stopped in his tracks. He could act against Guo Ming because they were brothers, but he couldn't act against Yu Xia. She was his sister-in-law, but if she didn't recognize him as her brother-in-law, he would be nothing.

"Sister-in-law, Ming is too disrespectful. I'm just helping you educate him," Guo Zhenghui said, his tone softening.

"If it were before, I wouldn't have interfered, but now he's 16 years old. Apart from me and Zhengze, no one has the right to discipline him. Otherwise, don't blame me for not recognizing family ties," Yu Xia said angrily, recalling all the incidents from Guo Ming's childhood. No matter whose fault it was, it always ended up being blamed on Guo Ming. How could she let herself be pushed around like this?

"Oh, Third Sister, what you're doing isn't right. How can Eldest Brother not have the right to discipline Ming?" Guo Zhenghui's wife stood up with a smile, but her tone was clearly inflammatory. Seeing her husband in trouble, she naturally supported him.

"That's true, but I only have this one precious son, and I can't bear to let him be disciplined," Yu Xia emphasized the words "son."

Lü Xiu's face changed, and she glared at Yu Xia, who met her gaze without backing down. Her son had always been a source of pain for Lü Xiu. After giving birth to Yar, Lü Xiu's health deteriorated, and she could no longer have children. For their conservative family, passing on the lineage was crucial. This was a pain she couldn't express, and now it had been brought up in public by Yu Xia, making her want to tear Yu Xia apart.

"Everyone, sit down. Today we are celebrating Yar and Lei's achievements. This kind of argument is inappropriate," Guo Zhenghou stood up and tried to mediate.

Lü Xiu seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "That's right. Yar is a girl, but she's very ambitious. She should be in the top twenty of her class this time. That's a prestigious high school. Achieving such results is commendable, better than some good-for-nothing kids."

This is my family! Guo Ming sighed softly. He used to think his eldest uncle was a bad person, but now he realized his second uncle was also a talent. Was he trying to mediate? This was clearly fueling the fire and further escalating the conflict. Having such relatives was truly 'lucky'!

Even a fool could understand Lü Xiu's hidden meaning. Yu Xia had no way to respond. Guo Ming stood up, pulled out a chair, and let his mother sit down. He then calmly sat down and looked at his aunt. "Aunt, may I ask what the purpose of this family meeting is?"

"Of course, it's to celebrate Yar and Lei," Lü Xiu said without hesitation.

"What about me?" Guo Ming poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and asked.

"You? Ha ha," Lü Xiu laughed. Even Guo Ya and Guo Kun burst out laughing, finding Guo Ming's question hilarious.

Only Guo Zhenghui and Guo Zhenghou didn't laugh. They looked at their nephew with shock. With their years of business experience, they had some ability to read people. At his age, Guo Ming was too calm, almost frighteningly so. Young people are often impulsive, but Guo Ming, at 16, was showing a level of composure that was abnormal, almost demonic.

Guo Ming's face always carried a faint smile, and even he didn't know why he was so calm. What he didn't realize was that the mysterious old man's water technique had already subtly influenced his character.

The water technique was a mysterious method that still needed to be explored. Once he reached the highest level, he would achieve a state of oneness with all things, and his heart would be as solid as a rock, immune to external influences.

Even the most pleasant things eventually fade, like a joke that can make you laugh for a minute or ten, but not for a day. Their mocking laughter eventually subsided, replaced by a terrifying silence. They finally sensed that something was different about Guo Ming. He was not the same as before.

Guo Ming stood up, hands in his pockets, and said calmly, "Is mocking me really that amusing? Do you know who I am? I'm not some stray cat or dog. I'm Guo Ming, your nephew, the younger brother of Yar and Lei. If you think this satisfies your twisted desires, then continue, but I want to say that I have no feelings for you. I never did, and I never will. From today on, no matter where I am, I no longer need your pity or your ridicule. I am completely cutting ties with you."

His words left everyone speechless. After speaking, Guo Ming smiled faintly, pulled out his chair, and walked out calmly.

Yu Xia looked at her son with pride, glanced around, and coldly huffed before leaving.

Guo Zhengze also stood up. He hadn't expected this to happen today. He had no reason to blame his son, and he even felt a sense of anticipation. This is my son, Guo Zhengze.

"Zhengze, look," Guo Zhenghui said awkwardly.

"It's fine. Maybe it's just a moment of anger. But perhaps he's been suppressed for too long. You continue celebrating. I'll go home and check on things," Guo Zhengze suddenly felt a deep disgust for the place. Even the elaborately prepared banquet seemed cold and heartless. He preferred the simple days of eating noodles with his wife and children, which were filled with warmth and affection.

Guo Zhenghui wasn't a fool. He naturally heard the dissatisfaction in Guo Zhengze's tone. He quickly got up, grabbed Guo Zhengze, and said apologetically, "Eldest Brother really didn't mean it. You know his personality; he just likes to show off. He didn't expect this to happen today."

Guo Zhengze's heart stirred. He knew his eldest brother was a very face-conscious person. He doubted he had any ill intentions. When his business was in dire straits, his eldest brother had even cut his workers' wages to support him, almost causing his own business to collapse. Every parent wants their children to succeed, and boasting is inevitable when comparing them to others. Guo Ming had indeed been a disappointment, becoming a target for ridicule over the years. This could be seen as a habit.

With his eldest brother bowing to him in public, Guo Zhengze couldn't leave.

In the taxi, Guo Ming looked at his mother, Yu Xia, and said softly, "Mom, I'm sorry."

Touching his head, Yu Xia said gently, "You're my son. What are you apologizing for? This is what a mother should do. I only hope you can truly grow up. Only when you have the strength will others truly respect you. Do you understand?"

Guo Ming nodded. He even had an impulse to share his extraordinary experiences with his mother, but he quickly abandoned the idea. His mother was an ordinary person, and she was happy now. It was better to keep the unknown to himself.

Perhaps every mother hopes her son is a genius, and with his current abilities, he could easily be one. If so, let him remain a mystery in his mother's heart. Some things are better left unsaid.

The sky was dark, and cars were passing by. Guo Ming looked at the bustling outside and felt a sense of reflection. The world of flowers and willows, the world of luxury and excess, was not something he truly owned. Money was not the only thing, nor was power. For Guo Ming, these were not important. He knew there was a more mysterious world behind this prosperity, and he already had the key to open it. Now, he needed to push it open with effort.