Reborn to Outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight-Chapter 113 - Accepting Punishment
Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Accepting Punishment
Chapter 113 -113 Accepting Punishment
Ancestral hall.
Spacious and arranged over two levels, it sat within the boundaries of the Gong Mansion, at the highest point of the grounds.
The lofty crossbeams required a fresh coat of gold paint each year, and above the shrine hung a pair of dragons wrought in heavy gold, playing with a pearl, symbolizing the family’s status and might.
In front of the offering table, Old Mr. Gong, who had always upheld a dignified demeanor, now revealed an expression of furious anger for the first time.
He stared coldly at Gong Chen, who stood at the center of the ancestral hall, and demanded, “This time you have greatly disappointed me! Who leaked the contract details?”
Gong Chen’s deep-set features were tinged with a faint detachment, and behind him was a torrential downpour which seemed to have utterly dissipated against the calm chill engulfing him.
“No one, I simply let the Chen Family exploit a loophole carelessly.”
“You!”
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Old Mr. Gong’s eyes bulged in rage, his facial muscles trembling with fury—clearly, this was not the answer he desired.
Someone had to be the scapegoat for this incident!
Otherwise, how would he face the clan, or the judgmental eyes from outside?
Old Mr. Gong took a deep breath, hinting, “Has Lin Zhiyi been to Gong Group?”
Solving this issue could be straightforward.
Lin Zhiyi, meager and ever profit-seeking, had betrayed the Gong Family that had raised her, all for money.
Spoken aloud, people would only condemn Lin Zhiyi’s ingratitude and sympathize with the Gong Family for being backstabbed.
No one would key in on the business blunder.
As long as Gong Chen would speak up…
“She has not been there,” replied Gong Chen, his tone cool.
Hearing this, Old Mr. Gong slammed the offering table forcefully, making the entire atmosphere of the ancestral hall strained and charged with tension.
Father and son exchanged a look; Old Mr. Gong’s eyes twitched twice with irritation before he turned away.
He took three sticks of incense from the desk, his voice stern as he said, “Since that is the case, you should know the consequences of wrongdoing.”
“Mhm.”
Gong Chen began to undo his buttons with an expressionless face.
Chen Jin looked on with a heavy heart, worrying, “Third Young Master.”
“Shut up.”
Gong Chen tossed the outer garment he had removed to Chen Jin, then began to undo the buttons of his shirt, revealing his tightly muscled torso.
The old man’s bodyguard took a whip out of the cabinet, dampened it with water from the courtyard, and with a slight tug, made a spine-chilling sound.
Old Mr. Gong paid his respects to the shrine, and the moment the incense was inserted into the burner, the raised whip descended onto Gong Chen’s back.
Deep welts appeared almost instantly.
Old Mr. Gong turned his back on him, waiting for Gong Chen to bow his head in admission of fault.
But after ten full lashes, Gong Chen, drenched in sweat, did not utter a single word.
Old Mr. Gong stood with his hands behind his back, frowning deeply, his tone hardening with threat, “Gong Chen, I promised you that if this cooperation succeeded, I would transfer your mother’s shares to you. Now, it seems, they will remain in my custody.”
At the mention of his mother, Gong Chen lowered his eyes, a trail of blood flowing from his lips.
Seeing he remained silent, Old Mr. Gong, infuriated, signaled the bodyguard with his eyes.
The bodyguard hesitated for a moment but, not daring to disobey, clenched his teeth and lifted the whip with force.
“Stop!”
Gong Shiyan, accompanied by others, rushed in and shielded Gong Chen.
“Dad, Lao San has just recovered from a serious illness; if you continue like this, it could be lethal. You punished him enough, and Mom’s spiritual tablet is right there. She gave half her life to bear Lao San; you can’t do this to her!”
Mention of Gong Chen’s mother softened Old Mr. Gong’s demeanor slightly.
“Everyone, get out!”
Gong Shiyan immediately turned to Chen Jin and they helped Gong Chen into his clothes and supported him out.
As they reached the door, Gong Shiyan glanced at the bodyguard holding the whip, nodding slightly.
Today, with the Chen Family usurping the deal, Gong Shiyan had foreseen trouble, so he had taken precautions with Old Mr. Gong’s personal bodyguards.
…
Upon returning to Gong Chen’s courtyard, Li Huan had also just arrived.
Seeing the blood dripping onto the ground, he frowned and said, “Hurry inside so I can check.”
Inside the room, Gong Chen wordlessly lay down on the bed.
Li Huan lifted the coat that was covering him and gasped sharply.
Even though the bodyguards had intentionally pulled their punches, the first three lashes were definitely delivered with a lot of force.
Especially the whip that had been wetted, it struck into the flesh like it had grown barbs.
“How come they beat you up again, just like that? Before, it was because of Lin Zhiyi and you…” Li Huan began, but he instantly realized something, “It’s her again? Did she specifically come to be your nemesis?”
Gong Chen gave him an icy glance.
Even Gong Shiyan, who was nearby, coughed twice, clearly dissatisfied with his assessment of Lin Zhiyi.
Embarrassed, Li Huan closed his mouth, donned gloves to clean the wounds, and eventually heaved a long sigh of relief.
“Besides the three deep wounds, the rest are not serious. The person who beat you also deliberately avoided vital areas; you’ll be fine with some rest.”
Having said that, he took an anti-inflammatory drug from the medicine box and handed it to Gong Chen.
Gong Chen stood up to take the medicine when the continuous vibration of Gong Shiyan’s cell phone could be heard.
“Second Brother, answer it.”
Gong Shiyan took out his phone and glanced at it, responding indifferently, “It’s not important. Are you feeling any better?”
“Mhmm.”
Gong Chen sat still, his face a shade of ashen gray, emanating a feeling of being a thousand miles away.
Li Huan packed up the medicine box and got up, saying, “Second Young Master, let him rest for now. Let’s go first.”
Gong Shiyan hesitated to speak but ultimately nodded and left the room with the others.
As they went downstairs, Li Huan called out to Gong Shiyan.
“Second Young Master, it takes the person who tied the bell to untie it.”
“Sigh… I understand.”
Gong Shiyan shook his head and walked away.
On his way back, he happened to see Chen Sulan and Gong Yan directing the servants to drag suitcases outside.
Thinking of Gong Chen’s condition made his blood boil.
“Stop there!”
Both of them turned around.
Chen Sulan immediately put on a light smile, “Lao Er, Gong Yan and I plan to stay at my parents’ house for a few days.”
“Oh? Planning to run after reaping the benefits?” Gong Shiyan said displeasedly.
“Second Brother, what do you mean? If you are talking about the Chen Group and the Luo Feike Family’s cooperation, that was something the Chen Family secured. As the saying goes, to the victor belong the spoils. You have to accept it. Lao San is simply too young.”
Chen Sulan said this with a smile, her eyes filled with mockery.
Gong Shiyan clenched his fist, ready to rebuke Chen Sulan angrily.
Gong Yan stepped forward to protect her.
“Second Uncle, we truly didn’t know about this. If you want a thorough investigation, then start from the beginning; we’re willing to cooperate.”
A profound and meaningful smile hung on his handsome face.
As if he was mocking Gong Shiyan for not daring to conduct a real investigation.
Because one thorough investigation would inevitably bring Lin Zhiyi into the picture.
Just as Gong Yan felt he had everything under control, Gong Shiyan raised his hand and brutally slapped him.
“This slap is from me as Zhiyi’s stepfather! She trusted you so much! And this is how you treat her!”
Immediately after, Gong Shiyan delivered another slap.
“This one is from me as your Second Uncle! Your parents didn’t teach you how to behave, I will teach you! If it wasn’t for Lao San letting you off, could you still stand here so comfortably?”
Gong Yan raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, sneering, “Why should he let me off? He lost!”
Gong Shiyan laughed, “He lost? Fine, I want to see if the Chen Family can really soar to the skies! No one who pretends to be something they’re not ends up well.”
“You…”
Chen Sulan, displeased, was about to retort but was pulled back to reality by Gong Yan.
“Mom, stop arguing. Second Uncle is just spouting nonsense. Grandpa is furious right now; we shouldn’t disturb him.”
“Mhmm.”
The two of them hurried towards the main gate.
Gong Shiyan also snorted coldly and left.
