400: [Bonus chapter]Clear as day

[Bonus chapter]Clear as day

"But that advice came a little late. I felt a little playful the other day and thought I should tease my dearest cousin for a bit."2

Silence instantly dropped and set in the dining hall, eyes wide on Dominic. Even Axel had deep lines between his brows, looking at the calm Dominic with equal surprise and bafflement. The only people who didn't carry the same curiosity were Old Madam Zhu and Lionel Zhu. 

"Hah..." Silas let out a dry laugh before feeling his phone vibrate in his suit pocket. Taking out his phone to answer the call, his expression slowly turned cold as he gazed at Dominic's side profile. 

"It's alright. Save anything you can for tonight," said Silas calmly. "I'll be there later."

Silas stayed on the phone as he listened to the person on the other end of the line, letting out a chuckle while staring at Dominic's side profile. "I see. So you can't save anything, huh? That's alright."

After saying his piece, Silas ended the call and casually put his phone back inside his suit pocket. Even before he could say anything about the brief phone call, everyone in the dining hall already guessed what happened. Some were anxious, holding their breath, while others stayed silent, hoping to avoid being dragged into the situation. 

"Haha. Dominic, my beloved cousin, how can you be so ruthless?" Silas humored, chuckling. "I put so much money on that land, you know?"

Dominic maintained a composed front, sliding his eyes to the corner. "I did it out of the goodness of my heart, Silas. You'll waste more money if you push through it. I was just trying to help."

"Pfft —" Axel covered his mouth to stop himself from bursting out with laughter. He turned his head, facing Silas with a smug smirk plastered on his face. "Silas, you know how my brother is always concerned about the family's well-being."

Axel rested his arms against the edge of the table, looking at everyone playfully. "Grandma always wants us to look after each other. Just like how you look after me, my brother is also looking after you. I feel so at ease to be a part of this family and how we take care of each other. Don't we all feel the same?"

"Haha..." Silas chuckled at Axel's immediate change of mood, rocking his head. "Of course, Axel. We are family, so looking after each other is normal."

"He he... that's right. That's what family is all about, after all!" An uncle at the same table chimed in, laughing nervously. "The results might not be what we want, but well, sometimes, we won't see the goodness of the intention until the perfect times come."

"Perfect time?" Silas sneered, casting the uncle a malicious look. "I already know the result. Dominic already stole the land I was vying for, and it seemed he will do a groundbreaking soon."

He set his glinting eyes back to Dominic. "Congratulations, Cousin. That land will surely generate a fortune."

Silas only mentioned a few keywords, but everyone already grasped what Dominic did. The latter did what Silas had done to Axel, but he took more than he should. Silas lost a fortune just to mess with Axel, but Dominic took advantage of it and was now expecting a return on investment. 

"Thank you." This time, Dominic turned his head, looking at the man sitting on the farthest chair. "Don't worry. If this investment goes bad, at least you got to save yourself from the business loss."

"Heh..." 

Both men stared at each other with their eyes glinting with disdain. They might resemble each other, but at this moment, both men revealed just how different they were.

As silence set in once more, Heaven scanned the table discreetly. She caught Lionel and Ria, who were sitting across from them, looking at each other and sighed. Axel had this smug smirk on his face, as if satisfied with how things turned out. Heaven then moved her eyes to Grandma Zhu, only to see her eating quietly as if she didn't know what was happening in the dining hall.

'If she's being quiet, then that only means she did not need to stop this situation.' A shallow breath slipped past Heaven's nostrils, lips closed. Heaven then shifted her attention to the rest of the people at the same table.

It was obvious some of them disliked Dominic's hypocrisy and methods. However, they kept quiet as they might be the next person Dominic would exercise his authority and power in this family. Even Grandma Zhu wasn't interrupting him, after all. The minority of the relatives seemed a little neutral, though. Or perhaps they already expected such actions from Dominic. 

Even if they were family and shared the same blood in their veins, they were not the current head's brother or parents. Even though Grandma Zhu and Lionel Zhu were still alive tonight, they showed that they could no longer meddle with the current head's decisions and way of discipline. 

"Are you all done with your bickering?" After another long minute of silence, Grandma Zhu's voice pierced the quietness. She wiped the corner of her mouth with a white cloth, putting the cloth beside her empty plate. 

Grandma Zhu rested her hands on the table, scanning the people from either side of the long table. 

"I hosted this party because I want to see how everyone was doing and I'm glad everyone was doing well," she spoke, earning everyone's undivided attention. "I'm glad that Silas has enough money to waste, but you should mature and stop playing around with your cousins. I know you've been once children. However, there were more activities where you can bond together."

"I'm sorry, Grandma." Silas smiled. "I probably played too much, indeed."

"I am proud of Axel for managing a crisis with his own effort, and Dominic… you need to do something with that temperament of yours," she continued, but everyone could tell she wasn't scolding Dominic. 

No one at this table was foolish enough to not discern Grandma Zhu was simply 'scolding' Dominic just for the sake of 'scolding' him. 

"Do not forget, Little Basti is at the same table," she added with a slight huff. 

"Grandma, don't worry. I'm not bothered." Sebastian grinned. "I don't think the conversation is worth my attention, so I am focusing on the food."

Grandma Zhu smiled warmly at him before lifting her eyes back to the adults. "My only wish is that we continue caring for each other because we are family. However, being a family doesn't mean we will condone everything without conditions."

"This family had been through a lot and I entrust everyone to keep supporting Dominic." She rocked her head, scanning everyone ever so slowly. "Betraying him also means betraying the family. Do you hear me, Silas?"

This time, Grandma Zhu's eyes settled in Silas' direction. The latter maintained a kind smile despite having his name stressed by her. 

"Of course, Grandma." He nodded. 

"If that is clear, then I'm going to leave. Enjoy yourselves for the rest of the night." Grandma Zhu nodded in satisfaction, raising a hand to stop Lionel from getting up from his seat to assist her. Instead, she turned her head in Heaven's direction. 

"Little Heaven, are you finished with your food?"

"Yes, Grandma."

"Then come with me. I would love to chat more." Grandma Zhu let out a short chuckle while Heaven's smile stretched wider.

"Can I come too?" asked Sebastian, looking up at his mother and then at Grandma Zhu.

"Of course," Heaven answered, casting Grandma Zhu a look, only to see the latter smiling.

And with that being said, Heaven got up from her seat before helping Sebastian out of his chair. Before going to Grandma Zhu, Heaven planted her head on the backrest of Dominic's chair and bent down to say something to his ear. 

Everyone only saw Dominic nod, watching his wife and son help Grandma Zhu depart the dining area. Butler Fu followed behind them. Lionel and Ria also excused themselves afterward, taking the same route as the other three who left first.

Aside from them, no one dared get up from their seats because Dominic was still there and hadn't got up from his spot. 

The Zhu family still followed old traditions and etiquette. For instance, they couldn't get up from their seats if the head of the family was still seated. Back then, they still considered Lionel Zhu as the head of the family, but tonight, it had grown clear to everyone Lionel doesn't call the shot anymore.

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