The Young Urban Doctor

Chapter 653: Chapter 653 Negotiations Between Two Men

After a moment of sorrow, comforted by Luo Ziling, Xie Enhua and Ling Ruonan finally held back their tears and started discussing lighter topics.

Ling Ruonan did not tell Xie Enhua about the troubles Luo Ziling had encountered, nor her own issues; she feared her mother would be saddened and angered.

Besides, she believed that with her abilities, she could resolve these issues without her mother having to step in.

Soon after, Ling Mingrui also returned.

Ling Mingrui’s serious face immediately disrupted the warmth that had settled among the three. When Ling Mingrui arrived, dinner was ready, and Xie Enhua quickly invited Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling to eat first and then talk about the issues and to check on their health.

Though Ling Ruonan did not mention the troubles she had encountered, during dinner Ling Mingrui brought up the topic.

...

In front of Xie Enhua, Ling Mingrui asked sternly, “Ruonan, I heard you’ve been transferring a large amount of the Northern Group’s assets?”

Upon hearing Ling Mingrui’s words, Xie Enhua’s face instantly changed color.

“Dad, that’s just some people’s malicious slander. How could I possibly turn the Northern Group’s assets into my own private property?” Ling Ruonan explained with an indifferent expression, “The Northern Group’s financial system is extremely strict; nobody can take away any property from the company privately, not even me as the President.”

“That’s good,” Ling Mingrui didn’t say much more and glanced at Luo Ziling, who was eating earnestly, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

“Grandpa, I have something I want to say,” Luo Ziling put down his chopsticks and spoke earnestly to Ling Mingrui, “In the time after I arrived in Yanjing, I feel that my mom and I haven’t initiated any trouble, but the problems we have encountered are endless. Could it be that some people have too much free time on their hands, thus they keep stirring up these issues, wanting to take revenge on my mom and me? Just a few days ago, there was a post on our school forum saying that Yang Qingye and I fought over a beautiful woman, and that woman ended up pregnant, no one knows by whom. Today, such an email appeared in my mom’s company. Don’t you think this is just dark-hearted people, maliciously slandering us?”

Ling Mingrui, Xie Enhua, and Ling Ruonan were all startled by Luo Ziling’s words at the dinner table.

But Luo Ziling didn’t seem to care and continued, “These past two months, those who do not wish for us to live well have used endless means, turning us into lambs to be slaughtered. I think, Grandpa, what you need to focus on is not what wrongdoings we may have committed, but to seek justice against those who have committed these dark deeds. Why are they not pursued when they do bad things?”

Seeing Luo Ziling’s stubbornness flare, Ling Ruonan desperately gestured with her expression, asking him not to act impulsively.

Xie Enhua also gave him a look, urging him to endure and not to argue with Ling Mingrui.

Seeing both women giving him looks, Luo Ziling finally stopped talking and picked up his chopsticks to continue eating.

Ling Mingrui didn’t respond much but simply said, “Let’s eat first!”

The atmosphere at dinner was spoiled by the few words exchanged between Ling Mingrui and Luo Ziling; Luo Ziling did eat quite a lot, but Ling Ruonan and Xie Enhua did not eat much.

After the meal, Xie Enhua said, “Old man, I certainly hope no one bullies my daughter and grandson again. If they get hurt, I, as an old woman, will not let it go so easily. Bullying my daughter is like slapping me in the face, and I will not stand for it.”

“Mom, it’s okay,” Ling Ruonan felt extremely grateful inside seeing Xie Enhua and Ling Mingrui about to argue, but she still urged her mother, “I’m used to it by now; don’t worry, I can handle it.”

Ling Mingrui did not show much reaction. As he stood up from the dining table, he asked Luo Ziling indifferently, “Do you play chess?”

“Chinese chess or Go?” Luo Ziling countered with a question.

“Either Go or Chinese chess will do.”

“Then I’ll play a round with Grandpa,” Luo Ziling did not refuse and agreed readily.

Xie Enhua immediately went into the study, preparing the Go board for the two men, while Ling Ruonan made tea for them.

“You two go out and chat for a while. Ziling and I will have a game,” Seeing that Xie Enhua and Ling Ruonan both wanted to stand by and watch, Ling Mingrui frowned slightly and directly asked them to leave.

After exchanging glances, Xie Enhua and Ling Ruonan left the study.

With the two women gone, the old and the young men laid out the Go board. Out of respect, Luo Ziling took the black stones and played first.

Luo Ziling placed his first stone on a star point, and Ling Mingrui did the same, occupying another star point.

Luo Ziling played very quickly; he hardly seemed to think before placing each stone.

Knowing that Luo Ziling was skilled at Go, Ling Mingrui did not dare to be careless and thought carefully before each move.

“Still feeling wronged?” Ling Mingrui was a bit surprised when he saw Luo Ziling boldly place a black stone invading his territory. He didn’t respond immediately, but instead asked Luo Ziling a question. After asking, Ling Mingrui then made his move, preparing to counter Luo Ziling’s invasion.

“It’s not about feeling wronged, but being angry,” Luo Ziling played his stones just as quickly, and his offense was aggressive, “Being bullied for no reason naturally makes one angry. If I find those who bullied my mother and me, I will definitely fight back, and I’ll hit back hard enough so they’ll never dare to provoke us again.”

“That’s quite bold talk,” Ling Mingrui’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, but his eyes were on the board, “Do you think you can solve all problems just by fighting?”

“Sometimes, the simplest and most brutal method is the best way to solve a problem,” Luo Ziling continued to play rapidly, without much deliberation. “For those who want to take on my mother and me, I wish they’d come at us directly instead of resorting to such despicable tactics—it’s disgusting.”

“Foolhardy,” Ling Mingrui scornfully uttered the words, then intercepted Luo Ziling’s stones with a white stone, seemingly cutting off Luo Ziling’s recent offensive move.

Luo Ziling didn’t mind. After glancing briefly at the board, he continued to play rapidly.

Ling Mingrui’s pace also quickened, the time he spent considering his moves decreased significantly, but he remained decisive.

“Grandpa, if one day I do fight back, I hope you won’t blame me,” Luo Ziling continued to play quickly, speaking somewhat impolitely, “I will never keep quiet and swallow insults in the face of any form of bullying. A man often lives for his pride, to say nothing of them bullying my mother. As a son, I must protect my mother at all times. Unless I die, I will never submit. Whoever wants to challenge us, I’ll fight them to the death.”

As Luo Ziling spoke, he slammed down another stone and then pointed at the board to Ling Mingrui, “Grandpa, your big dragon is dead—it only has one eye.”

After carefully examining the situation on the board, Ling Mingrui found that the large dragon on the edge really could only make one eye, and he couldn’t help but be a bit stunned.