Zombie Bodyguard
Chapter 548 - 545: No Home Training!

Chapter 548: Chapter 545: No Home Training!

Li Zhengyang’s voice wasn’t loud, but it resonated through the room like a weighty echo, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

Lin Tian was also startled by his bizarre request. Having just heard that Mrs. Xiao had called for someone, he thought something good might be happening, only to walk into the private room and find himself face to face with the Li Family Patriarch.

What was even more surprising was that Li Zhengyang’s first demand was for Mrs. Xiao to dissolve the Xiao Group. Although he addressed Mrs. Xiao as "little sister," Lin Tian could not detect a trace of kinship in his tone.

"Li Zhengyang..." Mrs. Xiao showed no sign of weakness, bluntly calling out the elder brother’s name with an expressionless face, "No matter how many times you say it, dissolving the Xiao Group is impossible, it wasn’t possible before, and it won’t be in the future!"

"What are you trying to prove? That you can live well without the Li Family? That you can run a big company without the Li Family?" Li Zhengyang’s barrage of questions was forceful, while Li Wenrong, standing behind him, didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

Even the most beloved little princess of the Li Family, Li Xiaoxiao, pursed her lips, and although Li Wenxuan’s expression was cold, the fear in his eyes could not be concealed.

The patriarch’s profound authority and imposing manner awed Lin Tian, who couldn’t help but think Li Zhengyang must be a very stern parent, otherwise his three children wouldn’t be so silent.

The irony, however, was that despite such a strict family discipline, one son was known for indulging in a lavish lifestyle, another harbored resentment against him, and as for the eldest son, his temperament was unknown.

The only decent one was his daughter Li Xiaoxiao, kind-hearted and free of the nasty temperament of a spoilt heiress. Unlike some girls, who didn’t have the life of a princess yet acted like they were afflicted with a princess complex.

"I don’t want to prove anything," stated Mrs. Xiao, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further.

"If you don’t want to prove anything, then why are you holding on to the Xiao Family? If you like doing business that much, you can always come back to the Li Family. How much is the Xiao Group worth? One hundred billion? Two hundred billion? The Li Family can offer you to manage four hundred billion, six hundred billion; what’s a Xiao Group compared to that!" Li Zhengyang possibly felt he had been too severe, and softened his tone briefly.

Wealthy clans are indeed wealthy, casually talking in terms of billions as if it were nothing. After all, a hundred billion is not much for a giant clan like the Li Family. The top five tycoons on the Huaxia rich list are worth hundreds of billions, not to mention an entire family.

Mrs. Xiao finally showed a change of expression, scoffing coldly, "You, as the head of a clan, don’t you find your words laughable? The Xiao Family’s legacy, built by generations, the Xiao Group is the fruit of their efforts, it’s about legacy, not value. Would you give up the Li Family’s generations of foundation if I asked you to?"

"How dare you!" Li Zhengyang suddenly became irate, barking, "What is the Xiao Family to compare with the Li Family!"

Mrs. Xiao didn’t respond but just looked coldly at Li Zhengyang, quietly letting him rage on, and the atmosphere once again grew tense.

Lin Tian only sneered to himself, curious to see which act Li Zhengyang would perform next. The Li Family Head could be stern one moment, conciliatory the next, and suddenly erupt in anger, behaving unpredictably like an ancient sovereign.

But modern society is not the ancient times, where people must comply with every edict. Lin Tian would never believe it if someone claimed that Li Zhengyang was not trying to extract something from the Xiao Family.

And why should he? If he wanted to see today’s success, he should never have fallen out with Mrs. Xiao in the past, driving her away from the Li Family. Had he cordially agreed to Mrs. Xiao’s marriage into the Xiao Family back then, perhaps today she might consider incorporating the Xiao Group into the Li Family.

However, Lin Tian also knew it was impossible. Wealthy families value equal social standing, and marriages are often merely tools for forging alliances, leaving many scions no choice but to submit. Mrs. Xiao, with her strong-willed nature, chose to leave instead.

No one spoke, and the anger in Li Zhengyang’s eyes lingered for a while before suddenly dissipating, which slightly eased the atmosphere in the room.

"This is our father’s wish. You can sever ties with me, your elder brother, but can you also sever ties with our father?" Li Zhengyang returned to his earlier demeanor, speaking in a calmer tone.

"Father..." Mrs. Xiao’s eyes momentarily revealed complexity.

"Little sister, if you would just apologize properly to our father, you wouldn’t have to live as hard as you do now," said Li Zhengyang.

"Apologize?" Mrs. Xiao’s gaze became clear and defiant, "What did I do wrong? Was it wrong for me to pursue my own happiness? If I could go back in time, I would never willingly be a mere pawn in the Li Family’s matrimonial alliances!"

"Happiness... tell your big brother, are you truly happy now? The direct lineage of the Xiao Family has no male heirs left, and it’s all hanging on you. Where is your happiness?" Li Zhengyang scoffed.

Mrs. Xiao did not answer his question but instead said, "Alright, you’ve said what you should and shouldn’t have said. The auction is about to begin, and the Xiao Family welcomes you if you wish to participate. If not, you may leave."

Li Zhengyang opened his mouth to speak again, but Lin Tian suddenly stepped forward, speaking before him, "Mrs. Xiao, was it you who called me up here earlier? Was there something you needed?"

The Miss felt a sense of relief seeing Lin Tian interrupt Li Zhengyang’s speech, though she still glared at Lin Tian for taking so long to intervene.

Lin Tian didn’t want to wait, but hearing about Mrs. Xiao’s past, his gossip-loving heart couldn’t help but want to eavesdrop. Mrs. Xiao, usually so graceful and beautiful, had such a fiercely independent side.

Mrs. Xiao glanced at Lin Tian, speaking softly, "Lin Tian, it’s nothing important, just that Mr. Li Zhengyang wanted to meet you."

Hearing her words, Lin Tian wanted to laugh. Dismissing the demands of the Li Family Patriarch as an unimportant matter was clearly intentional. Heh, Mrs. Xiao could sometimes be rather girlish, but this side of her seemed rather endearing.

Turning to face Li Zhengyang, Lin Tian neither nodded nor bowed, standing tall as he said, "So you are the legendary Mr. Li Zhengyang? A renowned entrepreneur in our Huaxia. I wonder how such a distinguished businessman came to know of me, and what business you have with me?"

"Lin Tian, you insolent man, how dare you be so disrespectful to my father!" Li Wenrong, who had been standing the whole time, suddenly shouted angrily, clearly perturbed by Lin Tian’s lack of deference.

"Li Wenrong, you are the one being insolent. I am speaking with Mr. Li Zhengyang, where do you get off interrupting? Do you have no manners?" Lin Tian retorted with the same volume, shouting back.

This statement, however, was laden with insinuation. At first glance, it seemed reasonable, but on second thought, something was off. If Li Wenrong had no manners, didn’t that imply Li Zhengyang’s poor upbringing? Lin Tian’s words were a roundabout way of criticizing Li Zhengyang.