CHAPTER 61 – Lines That Cannot Be Crossed
The Zhen mansion stood at the outskirts of Z City, a sprawling estate where silence carried more weight than words. Its ancient stone walls rose against the fading afternoon light, stern and unyielding, like the man who had ruled within them for decades.
A sleek black car rolled to a stop before the arched entrance. The engine died, and the door opened with a quiet click. Yichen stepped out alone, his coat collar turned up against the chill breeze. No secretary shadowed him this time—no assistants, no guards. It was just him, as it had always been when he walked into this house.
The doors opened before he could knock. The butler, a man whose hair had long since gone white, bowed with measured courtesy. "Young Master," he greeted softly, the title still lingering even though Yichen had long surpassed youth. "The Old Master is in his study room… as usual."
Yichen's lips curved faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "Of course he is."
The butler lowered his gaze. For years, he had been witness to the cold battles in this house, but it was never his place to speak. He stepped aside, allowing Yichen to stride past.
The corridor was long, lined with portraits of ancestors whose stern faces seemed to watch him with silent judgment. Yichen's steps echoed faintly on the polished floor, carrying him toward the heavy oak doors at the end.
Without hesitation, he pushed them open.
The study was just as he remembered: shelves towering with books, an antique globe by the window, the faint aroma of sandalwood clinging to the air. Behind the massive desk sat Old Master Zhen, back straight, his silver hair neat, his cane resting at his side. His eyes, sharp and calculating, rose the moment Yichen entered.
"You came," the old man said, voice calm, yet weighted with command.
Yichen closed the door behind him, sealing them in. "You summoned me," he replied smoothly. "Would it not be rude to refuse?"
A dry smile touched the old man's lips. "At least you still remember manners."
"Manners?" Yichen's tone carried a trace of mockery. "That depends on how you define it."
The old man's fingers tapped against the desk, steady and deliberate. "You've grown bold since Italy."
"Not bold," Yichen corrected, walking forward until he stood across from the desk. "Just tired of your games." His voice dropped, each word sharp. "Your plans there failed. Every attempt to break me, every knife in the dark—it all crumbled. And now…" His gaze narrowed. "Now I have enough power to stand against you directly."
The old man's smirk thinned. "Power?" he echoed. "Do you think because you clawed your way back here and hold HYU's presidency, you're beyond me?"
"I know I am," Yichen said flatly. "You wanted me ruined, but I grew stronger. You underestimated me, grandfather. You always have."
The silence that followed was heavy, vibrating with unspoken tension.
Then Yichen leaned forward, his expression composed yet cutting. "And since we are tearing off masks—let me be clear. I am no longer married to Celia."
The old man's brows flicked upward, but his face remained stern. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Yichen said coldly. "You should have expected it. It was never real to begin with. You refused to hand me the company unless I had a wife, a family. So I created one. I gave you what you demanded, on paper. A marriage to soothe your pride, to trick the board, to unlock the chains you placed around me." His mouth curved into a bitter smile. "And it worked. HYU became mine. But it was nothing more than a performance. And you know that."
The old man's cane struck the floor, a sharp crack against silence. "You dare admit such a disgrace to my face?"
"Dare?" Yichen's laugh was low, icy. "I have no reason to hide it anymore. The farce is over. Celia is gone, and I no longer need her—or your conditions. And i aren't straight from the beginning. Why are you acting surprised, grandfather?."
The old man's eyes darkened. "Do you realize what you are throwing away? The family's name, its foundation, the very empire you stand on?"
"Your empire?" Yichen's voice sharpened. "No. HYU was never yours. You built it on blood and control putting my dad in charge , but I rebuilt it with my own hands and is charge. Even if you strip me of the title, I survive. I thrive. With or without this family's blessing, I am Yichen." His stare was unflinching, a storm contained. "And you know very well my empire has grown larger than HYU. Mightier. Even your spies must have told you."
For the first time, something cracked in the old man's composure. His jaw tightened, though he said nothing.
Yichen buttoned his coat slowly, each movement precise, as if marking the end of this conversation. "So listen carefully. Stay away from my life. Stay away from my business. If you interfere again—if you dare reach for what is mine—I will not hesitate. I will bring HYU Holdings to its knees with my own hands."
The air trembled with the weight of his words.
The old man's cane quivered slightly against the floor. His chest rose and fell, labored with anger he could not fully disguise. "Arrogant boy…"
But Yichen was already turning, his back to the desk, his strides deliberate toward the door. His hand reached the handle.
That was when the old man's voice, low and deliberate, cut through the silence.
"That boy…"
Yichen froze.
"…Does his mother know you slept with her precious son?"
The world stilled. For one second, Yichen's breath caught, his fingers stiff on the cold brass handle. Inside, something twisted violently—shock, fear, rage—but outwardly, he forced his body still.
He did not turn. He did not allow the old man to see the tremor that threatened him.
When he finally spoke, his voice was cold enough to burn. "Be careful what you say, grandfather."
He opened the door and walked out, each step calm, though inside his pulse thundered.
Behind him, the study door closed with a heavy thud, sealing the battlefield—but the echo of his grandfather's words followed him, like a curse he could not shake.
He knows.
A.N: I will be updating just this chapter today. Update will continue on Monday. Stay tuned reading this novel. It gets messy, the old man might cause a lot.
Sending a big love to all my devoted readers. 💖 Thank you for always supporting me. I'll keep doing my best to give you the very best in every chapter.