Gong Zheng had thought about just leaving Gong Mingrui here.

"Dad, I want to stay here," Gong Mingrui said softly to Gong Zheng.

Although he felt very rejected here, as long as he wasn’t trying to please his uncle, there wouldn’t be any problems.

There were so many books here, and he was surprised and delighted to find that there were even foreigners teaching Gong Ruini and the others.

Of course, Gong Zheng thought about letting Gong Mingrui stay here, but he also needed money.

"Son, you don’t have household registration here," Gong Zheng thought for a moment and gave up. Without money in hand, why would he be willing to spend such a large amount?

Is household registration really the issue? Gong Mingrui didn’t know who Gong Zheng was talking to, but hadn’t they said that the other party was very powerful before?

"Find them? They’re only powerful in Yangcheng," Gong Zheng didn’t know if their influence would work here in Beijing.

But if they were really that powerful, they would have forked out some money; in the end, it’s just about money.

"Why don’t I leave, and you stay here?" Gong Zheng’s real intention was this, but he couldn’t say it upfront; otherwise, the boy would definitely be furious.

See, he’s expressing his true feelings. For days, he’s been pacing and sleepless, all because of this idea. People, they are just this hypocritical.

But Gong Mingrui had no choice but to agree; otherwise, he would have to go to Yangcheng.

So, taking advantage of an excuse to visit a classmate, Gong Zheng transported his luggage bit by bit and boarded the pre-purchased train ticket, heading south.

Gong Ruini looked at Gong Mingrui standing innocently in the room with a face that said he was abandoned and didn’t know what to do, feeling speechless.

Hadn’t they warned their father about this before? How could he just not take it seriously?

Gong Ruini looked toward Gong Ruwen, wondering what he thought of the situation.

What could Gong Ruwen do, "Isn’t Third Uncle coming in two days? We’ll take him to the Wu Family."

A father could be so heartless, and you couldn’t expect others to generously take care of his son.

What, really? Doesn’t this go against what they had imagined; weren’t they supposed to just accept him?

Surprised, right? "Using shameless methods will only make people dislike you, and we won’t accept anyone or anything that could harm our family."

"We know the mission you carry. We already disliked you even before we knew you were going to betray us at every opportunity. Would we keep you?" Gong Ruini smiled, indicating they had long known about it.

What, really? Weren’t they unaware? How did that good-for-nothing Gong Zheng even negotiate, making Gong Mingrui so angry?

Now that everything was exposed, he was the one who ended up unlucky.

"You think that by relaying the message, you’re going to have a good outcome?"

"Once we’ve identified the culprit, do you think the Wang Family behind your dad will back you up?" Gong Ruini stared at Gong Mingrui.

How did they know about the Wang Family? If he could comfort himself before, thinking that Gong Ruini was just bluffing, mentioning the Wang Family was a different matter.

It really was the Wang Family, "By then, you’ll be the unluckiest one. The Wang Family and your dad will gain benefits, and you’ll have no future."

"By the way, do you know what benefit your dad will get?"

Would the Wang Family be generous? If it weren’t for the Family Head looking out for himself, feasting while forcing allies who had developed with the Wang Family to distance themselves.

"They’ll give your dad two apartments in Yangcheng, and then your stepmother, Gong Zheng’s wife, will get a good job."

"Look at that, all you worked hard for, only to benefit others," Gong Ruini was just trying to confuse Gong Mingrui.

This kid was smart and could trick people, but after growing up in that small area of the Wu Family, how far could his vision extend?

Apart from some petty tricks, he really had no development potential. It was baffling why Gong Zheng would even consider pushing this son out.

"Even if something happens to you, it doesn’t matter. Your mom has a new family and children. Your dad is successful in his career and has another son. What do you think they’d feel without you around?"

"They would only feel relief, believing they’ve gotten rid of a burden that once served as a tangible reminder of their youthful mistakes."

"Perhaps only when they’re old and occasionally think of you will it matter no more."

"Stop talking." Gong Mingrui wasn’t stupid; he knew they were trying to drive a wedge between him and the Wu Family and Gong Zheng. But were they wrong?

Not at all, when his mom cared for him as a child. Otherwise, during the divorce, she wouldn’t have wanted to take him along. But she went away for college, got married, and became a mother again—his uncle got married, and his granddad and uncles all disliked him.

Gong Zheng’s side is even worse, hardly covering his living expenses, only occasionally remembering him, giving him money and sending some gifts, treating him like a child they could abandon at any time.

How could they care about his thoughts or have deep feelings for him? They wouldn’t; absolutely not.

"If I go back, I won’t have a good life," Gong Mingrui said helplessly.

"What else can I do but be obedient?"

"If possible, I’d also want to attend school."

Gong Mingrui cried, heartbroken, "Why me, why me?"

Cai Meina and the others felt truly heartbroken; no matter the reason for Gong Zheng and Wu Rui’s divorce, the most wronged party now was Gong Mingrui.

"Then go find your dad; that’s his responsibility, not ours," Gong Ruini looked at a devastated Gong Mingrui and felt there was nothing much to grieve.

Gong Mingrui was innocent, but should their family bear this responsibility?

"Your father told mine back then that he would take responsibility. My dad took me, gravely ill at that time, to the Northeast," Gong Ruini held back tears; on the way to the Northeast, that little sister passed away just like that.

Gong Tao and his wife didn’t know, but Gong Ruini could never forget.

"Now it’s your dad’s turn to take up the responsibility."

"Dad, buy a ticket to Yangcheng; that’s where your responsibility lies."

"But I, I..." Gong Mingrui knew that no matter how pitiful he made himself sound, even if he persuaded many to sympathize, the person before him wouldn’t have a shred of compassion for him.

"You should go find your dad, and are you willing to let your things be taken by your brother?"

"Imagine working hard for so long only to end up with nothing good, and the benefits all go to others."

"Do you think that even if you stayed here now, we would take care of you? Help you find a school? Let you live like a noble young master?"

Gong Ruini knew the comfortable life they had here was why Gong Mingrui wanted to stay, "I can tell you, it’s impossible."

"Because you have no money, and we do."

"We have no obligation to take care of you."

"Even if you tell outsiders how heartless we are, no one would sympathize with you because you have parents."