Chapter 254 - Zhou Linfeng (II)
The elders staggered, feeling faint. Until now, they had not spoken a word to him not because they do not want to, but because they were not able to. They were too shocked and caught off guard at the turn of events.
The elders looked at each other in dismay. They have watched Linfeng grow up. He was different from the other kids. When the kids had just learned to speak fluently and count 1-2-3, Linfeng was already learning how to read and write properly. When the kids' favorite stories were fairy tales and heroic adventures, Linfeng was already reciting the Zhou and Xiong families' traditions and history.
All this time, the young kid had never complained even once that he was tired of learning and training, unlike of other butlers of his age. He even surpassed his father's endurance and patience.
When asked what he wished for, he would just answer that he wanted what would benefit the Zhou family, to make the family flourish, and let them all be proud of him.
That young Linfeng was only a five year old little steamed bun when he answered that in front of the elders.
And now this Linfeng had grown up into a promising young man.
They had not expected him to say these words in front of them.
This brought different feelings to the elders.
There were disappointment, confusion, disbelief, and relief.
Grandma Zhou choked with feelings, her eyes reddening. This was the first time she had witnessed Linfeng disobey an order and speak out his own feelings. She felt lost. She wants to uphold the Zhou family and Xiong family like always. But this time, she couldn't choose the customs over her grandson's happiness.
In her eyes, he seemed more like a boy now. A boy who also had desires in his heart.
Among the elders, Grandma Zhou had the most soft spots for Linfeng. He was her only grandchild after all.
Linfeng had learned how to mask his emotions and expression in an early age. This made it harder for the elders to know what he was really thinking about.
One time, they were shocked when Linfeng had not come out of his training after a long time. They had not seen him around either. They searched the mansion and found him passed out on his way to the training ground.
The young Lifeng was only seven back then. Because he never complained with all the training and studying, they thought he was coping well. It turned out that this young child had been sporting a fever in the past few days. His young body was pushed to the limit until his body shut down on him.
This was one of the unforgettable memories of Grandma Zhou. They failed to protect the child they loved and cared for.
From then on, Grandma Zhou always worried about Linfeng.
When this young child was hurting or was sick, who would take care of him if no one finds out? He would only bear with it alone.
Now, her grandson had actually voiced out his feelings and his decisions for once. He no longer resigned himself to bear with it. Grandma Zhou could be finally at ease.
However, as she was about to speak, beside her, Grandpa Zhou's eyes darkened.
After recovering from the shock, he took a step nearer to Linfeng, and slapped him.
The loud slap resounded in the room. Grandma Zhou looked with wide eyes at Grandpa Zhou in disbelief.
Xiong Zhi's eyes turned colder. She painfully gritted her teeth. She wanted to lash out, but she forced herself to calm down. Her knuckles turned white as her nails dug into her palm.
She had known Linfeng for a long time. This was a situation where Linfeng had to face it alone. If she speak out right now when the Zhou elders were still reproaching him, she would just put Linfeng in a tighter spot with his respected elders. The Zhou family matters was for Linfeng to handle.
Old Xiong was for her to handle. She knew that. She had decided to trust Linfeng on dealing with his elders, because he should know them better than she did.
However, seeing her beloved slapped in front of her... Her chest felt blocked, her nose astringent, and she had to forcefully push herself down from erupting at his elders.
She took a deep breath and tore her gaze away with a pale face. For sure, Linfeng would not want her to see him like this.
Because if it was her, she would feel the same.
Xiong Zhi was right.
Linfeng wanted to resolve the matter with the Zhou family on his own. He never wanted Xiong Zhi to get involved in this mess. He also did not want her to see him like this.
He swallowed the shame. Would his Young Miss feel disappointed, seeing him so weak and defenseless like this? But he also did not want to fight back against the elders who had cared for him all these years.
He wanted them to know his reason and understand him. He respected his elders and he was a filial grandson.
If he could not convince them and their wishes did not get along well, then that would be a matter to worry about next.
"Ungrateful brat! Have you trained so hard just to be banished like this?!" Grandpa Zhou was furious. He did not understand why his talented and rational grandson chose such a wrong timing to rebel. His grandson had never disappoint them before, why now?
"Apologize to Master Xiong right now! And take back what you said!"
Linfeng stayed rooted to his spot and did not speak. His intent was clear. He will not take back what he had said.
Grandpa Zhou's eyes now were wide in indignation and disappointment. His grandson did not even follow him now!
He slapped him again, his hand tingling from the heavy blow.
Linfeng's left cheek was now red and it started to swell. From this, one could see that the elder did not hold back his strength at all.
The loud slap seemed to still echo in their ears.
Xiong Zhi felt that she was the one being slapped. However, she felt worst because she would rather take that beating than watched Linfeng getting hurt in front of her.
But she must endure. She doesn't have to act irrationally right now and made Linfeng's suffering come to waste.
Xiong Zhi gripped her hand tightly, blood seeping out of her fist as her nails tore at her palm. She must not look. She must not intervene. She must hold on, or else things would only turn for the worse for her beloved.
She just hoped the elder would stop. If he gave out one more blow, she really would not be able to control herself and block him. Linfeng would not want that.
She put a trembling hand on her chest, and she clenched her jaw to stop herself from speaking out. Her eyes were getting wet, feeling his grievances for him.
At the moment, Linfeng was not just hurt physically, but also emotionally by his respected elders.
It was all because he could not accept this marriage.
Xiong Zhi blamed herself.
She knew it was useless and foolish to blame herself. But she had the greatest contribution on this. She seduced the young Linfeng. She was the one who made the first move. She was the one who supposed to be in his shoes and being reprimanded.
She felt like fate was playing with them. She had saved Lu Yin Ze's life, but another life was taken. Mister Luo* who should have not died in the past died so suddenly. She knew it was futile to blame herself, but she could not help but feel guilty, thinking it was an effect of butterfly wings, which flapped at the moment of her rebirth.
She had an arranged marriage, but she managed to break it in this lifetime. Yet Linfeng, who should not have been promised to anyone, suddenly got an arranged marriage.
Was it not too coincidental?
But even if she was again given the chance to turn back time, she would still do the same course of actions she had done. She had not regretted the changes she had made in this life. She could only bulldoze her way onwards, crushing down all hindrances in her way.
This must be another trial she needed to overcome.
Xiong Zhi bit her lips hard that they bled.
'I hope Grandpa Zhou's angry tirade would stop soon.'
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