Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 296 - 220: Showdown_1

Chapter 296: Chapter 220: Showdown_1

Originally, when the topic of snakes appeared on two different channels, Old Man Feng only felt annoyed and didn’t take it seriously.

Who knew that the frequency of this topic would increase more and more.

It was when he saw the local TV station’s interview with Feng Chi that Old Man Feng’s face turned green.

This was like trampling repeatedly on his sore spot!

If it had been someone else, it might have been fine, but it was his own grandson!

His mood hadn’t been great lately, and this kid was just adding fuel to the fire.

He instructed his secretary to notify Feng Chi: take it down overnight!

Sweetly enjoying the fruits of his own creation, Feng Chi was suddenly hit with a heavy blow. He had never expected to alert Old Man Feng with such an issue. He was completely stunned at first, not knowing what to do. Now this "big snake" was his pride and joy—how could he give it up? But if he didn’t, Old Man Feng might get angry and disinherit him—what then?

He hesitated indecisively between immediately dropping to his knees and stubbornly refusing to yield.

"I’m going to argue with him!"

What was called "arguing" was actually more like "begging for mercy", for Feng Chi had not yet the courage to confront Old Man Feng directly.

Moreover, Old Man Feng’s temper was becoming increasingly unpredictable, and Feng Chi didn’t have the guts.

With a heavy heart, he made his way to the old house, only to be greeted with a scolding.

Old Man Feng was angry, initially because of the unsightly big snake, but now what he cared about was Feng Chi’s attitude!

To be told to dismantle it and instead come up with so many excuses in front of me!

After the will was amended, there was restlessness in the family and things were a bit out of control. Old Man Feng was already dissatisfied, looking for a reason to throw a fit to intimidate everyone, and Feng Chi walked right into the line of fire.

Late at night.

The Feng family’s third son, Feng Chi’s father, arrived at the old house in his signature extended luxury car.

He seemed to have come straight from a dinner, reeking of alcohol.

Hurrying upstairs, he saw Feng Chi shrinking in the corner and rushed over to give him two slaps on the back.

Feng Chi pursed his lips: "I..."

"You what you!"

Feng Chi’s dad gave him another slap on the head, messing up his hair.

"Go and apologize to your grandfather right now!"

As he spoke, he kicked him, then put on a smile, and went over to pour tea for Old Man Feng:

"Don’t be angry, your health is important, he isn’t worth it. You know what he’s like, utterly confused."

Reeking of alcohol and certain foods, Old Man Feng turned his head away in disgust, and swung his cane mercilessly.

"Get lost!"

Downstairs, Feng Chi’s mother also hurried in, but was stopped by the secretary before she could go upstairs.

"You might as well wait here, Old Master Feng has something to say to them."

Feng Chi’s mother did not force her way up, instead, she forced a smile and then sat down on a nearby sofa. After sitting for a while, she got up and walked back and forth. The clicking of her high heels on the tiled floor indicated her extreme anxiety and restlessness.

The secretary watched.

She obviously hurried here, possibly having received the message while at a beauty salon or somewhere similar. Her usually immaculately groomed face now had a smeared makeup, clearly a sign of the rushed action and lack of time for refinement.

Suddenly, a scream came from upstairs.

Feng Chi’s mother looked towards the second floor with teary eyes, looking helpless and vulnerable.

After a while, she saw the father and son coming down from the staircase. Picking up a small handbag, Feng Chi’s mother threw it at Feng Chi, her voice sharp and shrill:

"You’ve angered your grandfather again! How will he cope with the anger at his age, with his poor health? What if it makes him sick!"

"At such an age", "poor health", "angry sickness"—hearing these consecutive words, Old Man Feng felt choked and bellowed, "Get out! All of you, out!"

Feng Chi’s father immediately raised his voice, "Alright, we’re leaving now, Dad! We’ll visit you again next time!"

After the family of three left, the secretary came upstairs and recounted their reactions and behavior.

Old Man Feng snorted, "Mud can’t support a wall!"

The "mud" family of three, under the watchful eyes of numerous servants, exited the old house in chaos, looking almost as if they were fleeing for their lives as they rushed into their car.

The car windows rose, and the partition between them and the driver closed. As the car drove away, it left the gaze of the old house’s people behind.

Inside the car, the three of them changed moods instantly, as if flipping a switch.

Feng Chi’s mother calmly pulled out makeup from her bag to touch up her face, glancing at Feng Chi, "You were too careless!"

Feng Chi protested: "How was I to know that he would make such a fuss over this! My efforts have been wasted, and I came to plead for understanding only to be scolded like a dog. Weren’t those few who made a big fuss in the past let off without any trouble? Why did Old Man Feng only go after me?"

His father raised his arm, now bruised from the cane, and grimaced, "You just got a scolding, I got hit, see? This is what your dad took for you."

After a pause, his father continued, "Maybe it’s because he hates snakes, and your ’big move’ caught his attention. But even I didn’t expect such a violent reaction, or I would’ve warned you earlier."

Sitting face to face with them, Feng Chi was somewhat downcast, "So what do we do now? Old Man Feng told me to choose one or the other, keep the big snake or lose my inheritance."

"What do you want to do?" his father asked.

"I can’t give it up! It’s a masterpiece that encapsulates my effort and artistic taste!" Feng Chi said with sorrow.

On hearing that last description, both his father and mother showed expressions that were hard to put into words.

Artistic taste?

Masterpiece?

Since he was their own son, and to spare his feelings, they did not speak out to deflate him.

"You really can’t let go? It’s just a model," his father asked.

Feng Chi said, "If Old Man Feng dislikes cilantro and forbids you from eating it too, you can’t be seen eating it for the rest of his life, but he compensates you with that sum of money. What would you choose?"

Chi’s dad hesitated for a moment, "No way!"

Cilantro is the soul! It’s the touch of God!

To him, many dishes without this soul, without this touch, become utterly dull and unattractive.

Giving up cilantro is impossible.

Moreover, just hearing Old Man Feng’s full-throated roar, he is likely to live a long time.

But he couldn’t give up cilantro for that long!

The bit of wealth allocated to Feng Chi was not enough to make him abandon his favorite delight!

Suddenly, he understood how Feng Chi felt.

"Sigh!" Chi’s dad exhaled.

Feng Chi slumped his head, "I finally felt a sense of accomplishment..."

The car fell silent, each lost in thought.

Chi’s mom was typing on her phone.

Chi’s dad’s phone vibrated, and after reading the message, he exchanged a confirming glance with Chi’s mom.

After a while, Chi’s dad said, "Here’s the deal, pretend for a bit longer, delay for a few more days. I have a big project I’m negotiating, once I close the deal, we won’t need the Old Man’s share of the money."

Chi’s mom also added, "The targets I’ve invested in are yielding good returns, we won’t starve."

Feng Chi looked at his parents, touched, "Are we, like, going to confront Old Man Feng?"

Chi’s dad said sarcastically, "In Old Man Feng’s eyes, only his eldest son and grandson matter, the rest of us are tools, mere watchdogs. A confrontation is inevitable. Why can’t he understand, he’s old! Is an aged tiger’s teeth still sharp? Yet he still plays the big shot!"

Both husband and wife knew that this time Feng Chi had really invested his heart and soul, and if they quashed his spirit in this matter, his enthusiasm would be deflated.

If they endured it now, Feng Chi would approach his career timidly, always on edge, constrained, and unwilling to invest himself wholeheartedly.

What good would come of that?

This was the age when he should have that spirit and drive!

His parents would be there to back him up!

Chi’s dad looked at Feng Chi, "If you had Feng Yi’s talents, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams! I’d even dare to confront Old Man Feng openly!"

The real relationship between Feng Chi and Feng Yi couldn’t be hidden from their parents, and during their school days, when their abilities were limited, it was often their parents who helped them cover up.

"Feng Yi is impressive too, haven’t you seen how Old Man Feng can’t do anything to him. Of all the Fengs, he’s the only one who dares to stand up to Old Man Feng."

Listening to his dad’s words, Feng Chi said, "Ah, I wish I had his abilities! I asked Brother Yi about it, he said it’s a talent, and talent boils down to genetics, doesn’t it? In the end, it’s on you two."

Chi’s dad and mom: "...Your allowance for next month is gone."

Feng Chi nearly jumped up, "That’s the hard-earned money I get for covering for you guys out there!"

Chi’s dad said, "It’s been paid, we won’t miss a month."

Seeing Feng Chi’s expression change, Chi’s dad inhaled sharply:

"I remember the bonus money I gave you at the beginning and end of the year, it adds up to quite a bit too! You haven’t spent it all, have you? You can’t squander money under this pretext! You can’t rip off your own parents like that!"

Chi’s mom’s sharp gaze swept over him, "Don’t lie to me! Your ’artistic masterpiece’ wouldn’t cost that much money!"

Feng Chi said, "I also... gave Brother Yi a gift, it was slightly... more expensive... ish."

Feng Chi defended himself, "This wasn’t after seeing those comments online about Brother Yi being down and out, and getting mad about it? I gave him an expensive gift to maintain appearances."

Chi’s dad became serious, "How do you know he’s out of money? Did he hint at that to you?"

He was worried that his son was being fooled by someone smarter.

Feng Chi said, "No, that’s not it, I’m not foolish to that extent."

Chi’s dad was half convinced, "What did he say when you talked about the online comments?"

Feng Chi said, "He said he had money."

Chi’s dad, "...You don’t believe it?"

Feng Chi was even more surprised, "You guys believe it? With money, why would he work so hard out there? That’s not making money!"

"Who knows how much stuff your aunt may have left him! No one knows what he has now, I only know about that Cui Lake estate. Many people coveted that house back in the day, you couldn’t keep it without some clout, and in the end, it was firmly in your aunt’s hands. Now it’s with Feng Yi, and I refuse to believe there’s nothing to it."

"Speaking of aunt...," Feng Chi probed, "is it really true that Old Man Feng had a terrible relationship with her?"

Chi’s dad said, "I don’t know too much, just know she’s a thorn in Old Man Feng’s side. Why does Old Man Feng detest snakes so much? Because your aunt loved snakes! Why does he despise Feng Yi? Because he looks like your aunt! Why does he fixate on everyone else, but chooses to make a big deal out of your little missteps?"

Feng Chi intuitively picked up the thread, "Because the model was a snake! It offended his eye!"

"Exactly!" Chi’s dad said, "So, you just have to take this one on the chin. Why did you choose a snake rather than something like a Tyrannosaurus or a quadruped beast?"

Chi’s dad remembered something, "Have you finished reading the book I gave you last time?"

"...Not yet."

"Have you not finished it, or have you not started it?"

The couple eyed Feng Chi.

"Err..." Feng Chi averted his gaze. All his energy had been spent on the "Ancient Serpent," he hadn’t had time to read. Especially finance books, they put him to sleep instantly.

"You...," Chi’s dad raised his hand as if to hit him, but hesitated for fear he’d make things worse, "After we confront the issue, what do you plan to do? Continue crafting your next masterpiece?"

Feng Chi thought for a bit, uncharacteristically coy, he scratched his face and said, "What do you think about me going into show business? There was a time when I contested for the title of Yang City’s K-Brother King, and I’m decent-looking. I’d rank in the top three among the Fengs of my generation."

Chi’s dad and mom were silent for a long while before saying, "You can give it a try, just don’t become a director."