Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Slap

Yang Jiekai took a can of soda from the fridge and lounged in the single armchair on the other side, sipping leisurely as he said, “No matter what, I am the man of this house. If you have anything to discuss, you can come to me.”

“Does it matter if you say so?” The middle-aged man didn’t want to escalate things too much; after all, Han Ning was still a member of the Han family, protected by two elders above. If things could be resolved peacefully, it would be best.

Yang Jiekai nodded, “Of course. I’m the only man in this house, so naturally, my word is law.”

The middle-aged man quickly responded, “Alright then, have Han Ning hand over all shares and projects of the Ziyu Company. This house and the cars in the garage remain yours, and we’ll consider the matter settled.”

“That simple?” Yang Jiekai took another sip, a playful smile on his lips.

Han Ning, beside him, quickly protested, “Ziyu Company is the blood and sweat of Han Wei and me. No one will touch it!”

Yang Jiekai waved his hand. “My dear wife, in China, the husband is the head of the household. I’m your husband; shouldn’t you listen to me?” After saying this, he grinned at the middle-aged man, “You agree, right?”

“Yes, yes, of course I agree…” The middle-aged man echoed hurriedly, only to be glared at fiercely by the plump woman next to him. Clearly, in their family, his word counted for little—a classic case of being henpecked.

“Then I’ll handle this matter!” Yang Jiekai stood up, stretched his arms, and declared.

“Son-in-law…” Aunt Wang called out tearfully, but Yang Jiekai just waved her off and addressed the middle-aged man, “My wife isn’t very sensible; don’t take it to heart. I’ll take charge today. As for your conditions…”

He paused, then suddenly mocked, “I absolutely won’t agree to your terms. You can’t just talk your way into taking over more than a hundred million worth of assets from our family.”

“Naturally,” the middle-aged man replied. “How about this: I’ll leave you two million in cash. Spend it wisely and you’ll never want for food or clothes.”

Yang Jiekai shook his head, waving a single finger.

“One hundred million?” The middle-aged man was stunned, exchanged a glance with the plump woman, and after getting her approval, said, “Fine, you bring out one hundred million, and the rest stays with you.”

Yang Jiekai still shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. What I and my wife can give you is… a pile of shit!”

“Are you messing with me?” The middle-aged man gaped, then flushed with anger, his mouth twitching furiously.

Yang Jiekai squinted and laughed, “Ah, you saw through it, impressive. Looks like you’re a bit smarter than an idiot.” As he spoke, he moved like a phantom, suddenly flashing across the room. The two bodyguards beside the plump woman didn’t even have time to utter a sound before each took a punch to the stomach from Yang Jiekai. They curled up on the floor, unable to speak.

“What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and—”

The plump woman’s words got stuck in her throat as she stared in disbelief at the two bodyguards writhing on the floor.

Yang Jiekai clapped his hands and smiled, “There’s no hundred million, but I do have a pile of shit. Want it? If you do, I’ll pack it up for you right now.”

“You…” The middle-aged man started to lash out, but seeing the two bodyguards on the ground, he hesitated. Both had been hired at great expense and were known for their strength, yet now they’d been felled simultaneously in an instant. A chill crept into his heart.

“What about me?” Yang Jiekai looked at him.

“You…” The middle-aged man stammered for a while but couldn’t get anything out. Knowing the situation was unfavorable, he swallowed his fury and said to the stunned plump woman, “Let’s go!” He grabbed her and hurried toward the door, glaring viciously at Yang Jiekai. “Just you wait!”

He strode quickly to the door with her, but just as they tried to open it, a powerful force yanked them back by the shoulders, sending them stumbling and landing hard on the floor.

Yang Jiekai hauled the pair up, straightened his foot, and kicked each of them squarely in the face, leaving them dazed and disoriented.

Aunt Wang and Han Ning had thought the matter was settled and wouldn’t escalate, but hadn’t expected Yang Jiekai to act so suddenly.

He yanked the two from the ground and said to Han Ning, “Wife, slap them. Hard. Swing your arm wide!”

Han Ning hesitated, not raising her hand. She had never hit anyone in her life, though at this moment she truly wished she could slap these two “relatives.”

Seeing Han Ning hesitate, Yang Jiekai suddenly took matters into his own hands. The villa hall rang with crisp slapping sounds and cries of pain.

Each received more than twenty slaps from Yang Jiekai, their faces swollen and purple like pig heads. Only then did he stop, glaring at them, “Those slaps were for my wife. What did you call her just now? Oh yes, you dared to insult her as a little slut. If I, as her husband, don’t slap you, what kind of man am I?”

He glanced at Aunt Wang, then turned back to the two whose faces were now grotesquely deformed. “You also insulted Aunt Wang as an old hag. These slaps are for her!”

Again, the hall echoed with sharp slaps, though this time there were no screams. Even with some restraint, these two, softened by years of privilege, could not withstand such treatment and were left numb and speechless.

“Get out! If I see you again, I’ll beat you again!” Yang Jiekai flung open the door and tossed the pair and their two bodyguards out like chickens, then turned, grinning mischievously at Han Ning. “Wife, wasn’t your husband impressive just now? Did I look like the master of the house? Shouldn’t you—hey, wife, why are you crying? Still not satisfied? Wait, I’ll go out and drag those two back for you to slap until you’re happy. Hey, don’t cry…”

Seeing Han Ning weeping, Yang Jiekai stood helplessly to the side, pacing back and forth. All these years, he’d never known how to deal with a woman’s tears—especially those of a beautiful woman, and especially when they were moved because of him.

Only this time, Yang Jiekai was mistaken. Han Ning’s tears had nothing to do with him.

A gentle woman’s prime years should be spent carefree, dressing up, shopping, dating, yet because of her family background, she had to shoulder burdens far beyond her capacity, managing a vast business empire. Others only saw her dazzling halo, thinking it her fortune, but none knew the sacrifices and pain behind it.

After she poured her heart and soul into making the mighty Xia Corporation flourish, her family, in order to safeguard their own interests, ruthlessly stripped her of everything that rightfully belonged to her. Those relatives who once flattered her now turned into scavengers, ready to devour her, their greedy eyes set upon her Ziyu Company.

Was being born into such a family a blessing or a curse?

“Aunt Wang, I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to rest.” After choking back her sobs, Han Ning calmed herself, wiped her red eyes, and ascended the stairs without looking back.

Yang Jiekai, left awkwardly on his own, asked Aunt Wang, “Aunt Wang, I know I acted a bit manly just now, but does my wife really have to be so moved?”

Aunt Wang sighed, “I watched Ning grow up. No one knows her heart better than me. I think she’s missing her father.”

“Her father?” Yang Jiekai looked puzzled.

Aunt Wang nodded. “Yes, Ning’s father. When he was alive, he doted on her. She was always smiling back then, but later…”

“What about her mother?” Yang Jiekai guessed at something and pressed further.

Mentioning Han Ning’s mother, Aunt Wang’s eyes flickered with sorrow. She sighed, “After the old president passed, the lady was devastated, fell ill, and soon followed him. Poor Ning, for the sake of her father’s dying wish, had to bear the weight of the Xia Corporation. Though she seems cold, she’s actually more fragile than anyone. She never liked the scheming of the business world, preferring a free life, but fate made her the head of the Xia Corporation, for her father’s last wish, and for the family.”

“At that time, the Xia Corporation was on the decline. No one in the family wanted to help, afraid of being implicated. After Miss Ning put the company back on track, they all flocked back. This time, taking advantage of your situation, I never thought they’d be so heartless…”

Yang Jiekai listened quietly, his expression growing unusually calm. A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes—not only out of sympathy for Han Ning, but because he thought of himself. Only an orphan knows the happiness of having parents; only an orphan understands the pain of being alone.

Aunt Wang finished her tale, sighed deeply, and went back to her room.

Yang Jiekai stood there in a daze for a long moment, then hurriedly picked out the biggest bananas from the fruit plate and went into the kitchen…

Soon, Yang Jiekai emerged carrying a plate. On one side were neatly sliced bananas; on the other, a small dish containing a mix of wasabi and chili sauce. After arranging the banana slices into a cute Pikachu shape, he nodded with satisfaction and headed up to the third floor.