Chapter 62: Protected

The atmosphere in the living room dropped to freezing point.

After nearly half a minute of silence, Elder Shang spoke again. "Except for Qingyuan, I will never allow anyone else to step foot into the Shang family. I will not agree to the two of you being together. Your background and reputation are entirely unsuited for the Shang family. The most important virtue for a person is self-awareness."

"Can you speak for Shang Meting?" Lin Ting asked.

Ever since Qi Youfan mentioned Qi Qingyuan last time, she had deliberately done some research.

Shang Meting had no romantic intentions toward Qi Qingyuan whatsoever and had explicitly rejected her. These were all things that could be found out.

With a single sentence, Elder Shang was once again struck into silence.

When the elder first laid eyes on Lin Ting, he had assumed she was just a little girl who would be easy to handle, maintaining a rather detached and effortless demeanor.

But now, his expression was exceptionally grim.

Lin Ting had not said many words, yet every single one of them pierced straight into the elder's heart.

Qi Qingyuan was still watching Lin Ting.

Lin Ting glanced back at her, finding her behavior rather strange.

Another period of silence ensued.

Just as Elder Shang was about to speak again, the sound of a car stopping abruptly came from outside.

The car had halted in a rush, the brakes screeching harshly.

All three people in the living room looked out through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

They watched as Shang Meting stepped out of the vehicle.

When Lin Ting saw Shang Meting outside, she froze for a moment.

He had gone out?!

Her skincare routine had taken a bit longer than usual.

She had applied a sheet mask, blow-dried her hair, and then lingered in the walk-in closet for a while.

However, she had never expected that Shang Meting would have already gone out by this hour.

Shang Meting got out of the car and walked toward the house.

Lin Ting watched him. After a few seconds, she cast a sidelong glance at Elder Shang, then stood up and walked toward Shang Meting.

Shang Meting walked straight into the living room without even bothering to change his shoes, moving in a hurried flurry.

Lin Ting walked up to him and slammed on the brakes just in time to avoid crashing into each other.

Shang Meting looked down at Lin Ting.

For the first time, Lin Ting saw an expression of worry and anxiety on his face.

These emotions, etched across his features, only made his inherent aggressiveness even more pronounced.

"Is your grandfather's health alright?" Lin Ting asked softly first. "Would it hurt to make him mad?"

"Hmm?" Shang Meting was puzzled, but still answered, "His capacity to endure is quite strong."

Upon receiving this answer, Lin Ting took a step forward, wrapped her arms around Shang Meting's waist, rested her face against his chest, and said, "Shang Meting, I'm sorry, I've caused trouble for you again. Don't worry, I'll move out as soon as possible so I won't put you in a difficult position."

She spoke with a sob in her voice, yet loud enough for everyone to hear.

Anyone could tell she was doing it on purpose.

Regardless, she had just been mistreated and needed an outlet to vent.

Elder Shang's expression instantly grew even uglier.

Meanwhile, Qi Qingyuan looked over at Shang Meting once more.

Shang Meting was momentarily stunned by Lin Ting's embrace, then reacted a beat too late and wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her head.

Qi Qingyuan watched him stroke her hair.

Lin Ting let out a feigned, pitiful sniffle.

Shang Meting looked directly at Elder Shang and said, "This is my residence, and no one has the authority to make her leave."

Hearing his words, Lin Ting gave his lower back a playful scratch with her hand. With her face still buried in his chest, she whispered, "Take it easy, he's getting old."

"Shang Meting, is that the tone you use to speak to me?!" Elder Shang shouted sternly.

Shang Meting remained silent for two seconds before saying, "Grandfather, I will not marry someone I don't love. Aside from Lin Ting, I will marry no one else. You are getting older, so you need to take better care of your health and stop exhausting your mind."

"Shang Meting, don't forget your identity! Don't forget who gave you everything you possess today! Without the Shang family, what are you?!" Elder Shang declared. "With my approval, you are the head of the Shang family! Without it, I can replace you at any moment!"

Lin Ting's eyes narrowed slightly.

Qi Qingyuan hurriedly hurried over to the elder's side, patting his back and slowly helping him smooth his breath. "Shang Grandpa, please don't get angry. Brother Ting didn't mean it that way. He is merely stating his stance. We can discuss everything calmly."

"Does he look like someone willing to compromise?" Elder Shang retorted.

"As you wish," Shang Meting replied indifferently.

"As I wish?" Elder Shang let out a cold, scornful laugh. "Without the Shang family, do you think anyone would look at you as a human being? Who would respect or revere you? Even this little girl will dump you in a heartbeat! Don't assume you are the only one left in the Shang family and act as you please. Right now, I can still strip you of your inheritance! What do you think you are? If it weren't for the blood of your father flowing through your veins, do you really think I would have let you take over the Shang family?"

"Shang Grandpa, enough, let's not say anymore," Qi Qingyuan urged.

"If it weren't for you, your father would still be alive and well today!" Elder Shang continued relentlessly, ignoring her. "It was precisely because he was saving you that both your parents are gone! It is all because of you that my son is gone! You are indebted to the Shang family; what right do you have to say no to my arrangements? You could never repay the Shang family in this lifetime!"

"Shang Grandpa..." Qi Qingyuan tried to stop him, continuously attempting to dissuade him.

Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Ting suddenly pulled away from Shang Meting's embrace, walked right up to the elder, and said calmly, "Whatever grievances you have, direct them at me."

Shang Meting had heard these words countless times since he was a child.

He had long since grown numb to them and no longer cared at all.

Yet he never expected Lin Ting to react so fiercely.

Before he could even process it, she had already rushed to stand in front of the elder.

Seeing her little posture, baring her claws to defend him, Shang Meting raised an eyebrow.

"You? If not for him, what qualification do you have to stand before me?" The elder sneered.

"Elder, this is the twenty-first century. The Qing Dynasty fell long ago, and the feudal monarchy has ceased to exist," Lin Ting said. "Me wanting to stand in front of you is effortless."

The elder let out another dismissive scoff.

Lin Ting continued, "Elder, the Shang family has been in business for generations, with a rock-solid foundation and immense status, which is truly remarkable. However, you cannot deny everything Shang Meting has done. The expansion of the Shang family's scale and the elevation of its influence in this era and over these recent years are entirely due to Shang Meting's contributions. That is something you cannot deny!"

The elder fell silent.

Lin Ting pressed on, "Conquering an empire is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. Shang Meting is so capable and so young; even without the Shang family, he could easily build an empire from scratch and make a comeback. But what about the Shang family? You know best what would happen to it without Shang Meting. I'm afraid even your retirement life would be severely affected."

Qi Qingyuan looked from Lin Ting to Shang Meting.

She could see appreciation in Shang Meting's eyes, along with the quiet enjoyment of being protected and the joy of being praised.

Elder Shang was left speechless.

"And one more thing," Lin Ting added. "How old was he when his parents passed away? Uncle Shang loved him so dearly—if he knew that the father he respected so much was constantly hurling vicious abuse at his most beloved son, I wonder if he would be turning over in heaven with anxiety."

Elder Shang's pupils shrank violently.

His entire body seemed to tremble.