Wen Zhiyan chuckled, "Father, isn't it better to watch the show from the darkness?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. And starting tomorrow, you're going to work at Wen's, or you know the consequences."
"I know," Wen Zhiyan said airily. "You're just going to tell everyone I'm not the chairman of Wen's, right?"
Hearing this, Wen Renhe on the other end of the line sighed helplessly, "We're all a family, why make things so unpleasant? Just assist Zhi Jia, and Zhi Jia won't treat you unfairly."
"Okay, whatever Father says goes."
"Also, your mother is having surgery this afternoon, and your whole family needs to be there."
"An An has school."
Wen Renhe frowned, "Missing school for one day, it's no big deal."
"Father," Wen Zhiyan's voice deepened, "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Alright, alright, you and Fang Miaomiao just need to come this afternoon."
Wen Renhe hadn't forgotten that with Fang Miaomiao around, their family would experience great fortune.
This was also the fundamental reason why he had asked Wen Zhiyan to marry Fang Miaomiao.
"Miaomiao needs to pick An An up; she's busy."
"Wen Zhiyan, she's your mother, not your enemy. You used to just turn a blind eye, so why are you targeting your mother now? Your mother went through a difficult childbirth for you."
Wen Zhiyan rubbed his forehead, "I'm back, and Miaomiao needs to pick An An up."
"Fine, fine, I can't control you anymore. Do as you please. However, starting tomorrow, you will go to the company and work as Zhi Jia's deputy."
"Mm."
After hanging up the phone and returning to the dining room, Wen Yan'an had already finished breakfast.
"Dad, did something happen to Grandma?"
"Do you remember when I told you Grandma was sick?"
Wen Yan'an nodded, "Grandma told me. Are we going to see Grandma tonight?"
"Does An An want to see Grandma?"
Wen Yan'an nodded emphatically, "Being sick is painful. Grandma must really want to see me."
"Okay, after class this afternoon, we'll go to the hospital to see Grandma together."
"Mhm, Dad, I need to go to school."
Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Xin Xuan coming to pick up Wen Yan'an for school.
After the two left, Fang Miaomiao also managed to get out of bed.
"Why are you up so early today?"
Fang Miaomiao shook her head, "It's nothing. Maybe I slept early yesterday, so I woke up early today. Just now, I faintly heard you mention mother?"
"Mm, she's having surgery today, and Father wants me to start working at Wen's tomorrow."
Fang Miaomiao knew that Wen's was on the verge of collapse. In the past, she used to wonder why the Wen couple treated Wen Zhiyu with indifference and Wen Zhiyan with coldness or even disgust, yet doted on the incompetent and clueless Wen Zhi Jia.
Now she knew. Heh, one could only say that fate was truly blind.
"Then what about you and Third Brother?"
"If he's not involved, I'll ensure he has a peaceful life. If he's connected to the kidnapping incident, I can only apologize."
Fang Miaomiao thought to herself, perhaps he really didn't know.
"What about me?"
"You stay home obediently. I'll go check first."
Fang Miaomiao nodded, "Okay. If anything happens, you must tell me, alright?"
"I know."
Wen Zhiyan had breakfast with Fang Miaomiao before heading straight to the hospital.
Upon seeing him, Ran Lian on the hospital bed snorted and turned her head away without speaking.
"Ahem, when he wasn't here, you complained. Now that he's here, you have nothing to say. What's the point of this?"
Ran Lian glanced at Wen Renhe.
"Dad, you can't say that. Perhaps Mother just wants to see Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law together?" A stunningly beautiful woman in a green cheongsam said with a smile, "Right, Mom."
Ran Lian patted Hong Lu's hand, "It's Hong Lu who understands what Mom is thinking. When I was hospitalized, you and Wanqing ran around for me. But Fang Miaomiao, she hasn't even come to the hospital to see me. A daughter-in-law like that, only Wen Zhiyan would want her."
"Mom, you can't say that. Miaomiao is an actress and usually doesn't have much free time."
"Hmph, I don't know what future an actress has. It would be good if she were like Wen Lan, but look at her, so many people curse her."
"Mother, if I recall correctly, Miaomiao only got a marriage certificate with me. Even at the family banquet, you had a falling out for some reason," Wen Zhiyan said calmly.
Ran Lian opened her mouth.
"Also, Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law are recognized daughters-in-law of the Wen family, listed in the clan genealogy and have Wen's shares. What about Miaomiao?"
"Since you don't consider her a daughter-in-law of the Wen family, why should she consider you a mother-in-law?"
Hong Lu's eyes darted, and she supported Ran Lian's shoulder, "Fourth Brother, you can't say that. Miaomiao does take a million dollars from our Wen's every month. That's not a small amount."
"But didn't you think she was embarrassing and cut off her living expenses? The money she gets every month is from me. I haven't said anything, so on what grounds are you speaking about my wife?"
Wen Zhiyan sat in his wheelchair, his imposing aura making even the standing Hong Lu fearfully avert her gaze.
"Fourth Brother," Hong Lu forced a smile, "You know I didn't mean that. I just felt that since she's your wife, and your mother is sick, your wife should visit."
"My son coming is enough. Unfortunately, Miaomiao is the one earning money to support our family now," Wen Zhiyan spread his hands. "Miaomiao is the pillar of our family; she doesn't have the time to run around and gossip."
"Enough!"
Wen Zhiyan met Ran Lian's gaze, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his leg, and chuckled, "Tell me, when will our mother-son relationship be completely depleted?"
Those eyes, though identical to before, sent a chill down one's spine.
Ran Lian opened her mouth, speechless.
Severing ties with Wen Zhiyan, wasn't that what she wanted most?
But why, when she looked into those eyes, could the words "I wish for it" not escape her throat?
"Zhiyan."
Wen Zhiyan turned his wheelchair and moved to the side, nodding slightly towards Wen Renhe and Xie Wanqing, who were standing by the door and had likely been listening for a while, "Father, Second Sister-in-law."
"Your mother is having surgery today, don't upset her. I said, go to the company tomorrow."
A flicker of coldness crossed Hong Lu's eyes, but she remained silent.
"Whatever makes you happy. I just want to say one thing: Fang Miaomiao is not in the clan genealogy, nor does she have shares. She doesn't owe you anything. On the contrary, Father, you owe her a favor, don't you?"
Wen Renhe's body stiffened. He didn't know how his usually cold, quiet youngest son, who barely spoke a few words a year, could now speak so rapidly and sharply, like a laser gun, and yet he had no idea how to retort.