CHAPTER 447: CHAPTER 447: WHO’S TO BLAME? (SECOND UPDATE)

Tang Yue’s eyes almost popped out in shock; Lian Tong’s burst of power was simply astounding.

But what was more shocking was yet to come.

Lian Tong’s moves were even more graceful and efficient than those of the action stars on television. In front of her, the four thugs were like tofu—easily broken with a single stumble.

The four thugs didn’t last even a minute in front of Lian Tong. The blonde youth who dared to gaze at Lian Tong ended up even worse off; Lian Tong in high heels stepped on his body, eliciting a scream of agony.

Tang Yue suppressed the urge to cover her eyes. With that stomp, would that thug still be... humane afterwards?

"You lot, with able bodies, should be earning money, yet here you are bullying girls. Today, I’ll seek revenge on their behalf." Lian Tong’s voice was cold and distant. In the darkness of night, the thugs who had previously been arrogant were now lying on the ground begging for mercy, especially the blonde youth, who was clutching his body in apparent pain.

"Scram, and if I see you again, I’ll cripple you." Lian Tong’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an extraordinary sense of authority that left no doubt about her capability.

The thugs scrambled away, rolling and tumbling in their haste.

Tang Yue stepped forward and said, "Aunt Lian, your fighting skills... they’re even better than Qingyang’s, aren’t they?"

"That softy? What can he even do?" Lian Tong said with disdain. Qingyang looked capable, but in reality, he was lacking in actual combat experience.

Tang Yue fell silent. If Lian Qingyang was a softy, what would that make her, who knew nothing at all?

"Xiao Yue, with your beauty, I should teach you a few self-defense moves in the future," Lian Tong said, patting Tang Yue’s shoulder.

Tang Yue smiled, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she said, "Sure, Aunt Lian, please teach me."

The Siheyuan was quiet and tranquil. Qin Anyu had been staying in the mansion because Grandpa Qin had been feeling unwell for the past few days.

Tang Yue turned on the light and prepared the guest room for Lian Tong, saying, "Aunt Lian, the blankets have been aired out just days ago, and these covers are clean as well."

"Not bad," Lian Tong said, satisfied with the room. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was very clean and warm. The bedding did not feature loud, bright colors but had simple stripes that were comforting to look at.

After her bath, Tang Yue lay in bed, thinking about the scene in the alley, filled with envy. In her lifetime, she feared she could never be that formidable.

In the early morning, when Tang Yue woke up, she saw Lian Tong standing refreshingly in the courtyard, still not quite able to process it, and after a long moment, she said, "Aunt Lian, you woke up so early?"

"It’s not early anymore." Lian Tong was still in yesterday’s leather outfit, minus the purple coat on the outside.

Without the coat, the tight leather outfit outlined her exquisite figure. The thugs weren’t wrong—the Aunt’s body was truly super hot, with curves in all the right places, a particularly slim waist, and a stunning overall look.

*

Meng Family.

Meng Jin hurried back from the research site to Jing City overnight, and upon getting off the train, he headed straight for the Meng Family home.

Mr. Meng was lamenting when he saw Meng Jin; Mr. Meng hurried to his feet but got a little dizzy from several days of poor sleep.

"Dad." Meng Jin put down his luggage and stepped forward to support Mr. Meng, asking, "Have you taken your medicine?"

Mr. Meng shook his head.

After Meng Jin administered medicine to Mr. Meng, he took a seat; in the living room, it was just the two of them— even Qu Feng wasn’t present.

"Xiao Jin, Yanzhi..." Mr. Meng had just started to speak when Meng Jin interrupted him, "Dad, Yanzhi’s case will be judged by the law. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Shall I take you to the hospital now?"

"No." Mr. Meng was as stubborn as a child. He looked at Meng Jin and reminded him, "Xiao Jin, Yanzhi is your adopted son."

"Dad, even if he is my adopted son, if my own son did such things, I could not condone it," Meng Jin said forcefully. "A man must know what he should and should not do. How can he, like Yanzhi, bully the weak and despise everything just because he has your backing?"

"Dad, back then, if you had allowed me to discipline him strictly, Yanzhi wouldn’t be like this now..." Meng Jin heaved a long sigh.

’Slap’

Mr. Meng’s hand heavily struck the small table, making the teacup clang loudly. He said with a stern face, "Back then, if you had been willing to put more thought into it, Yanzhi might not have..."

"Dad, did I not put thought into it back then?" Meng Jin couldn’t help but interrupt him, "Every time I tried to discipline him, it was you, Dad, who stopped me from doing so."

During the first few years, Meng Jin did put a lot of thought into Meng Yanzhi’s upbringing, but every attempt at discipline was blocked by Mr. Meng. Eventually, seeing Meng Yanzhi becoming increasingly defiant, he gradually lost heart. Thinking that the Meng Family was not short of money, he let Yanzhi stay by Mr. Meng’s side for companionship.

Who would have thought...

Seeing Mr. Meng’s weary and worried appearance, Meng Jin’s heart softened at last.

"It’s no use talking about it now, Dad. If Yanzhi truly realizes his mistakes, he should reform himself while inside. After coming out, despite the stain on his record, he is still my adopted son, Meng Jin," Meng Jin said in a softer tone. Regardless of what Meng Yanzhi became, he had still been by Mr. Meng’s side for over twenty years.

Meng Jin said, "Our Meng Family certainly isn’t lacking the funds to support him. In the future, we can find him a wife, he can have children, and life will be good."

"What do you mean by not lacking the funds to support him? Does he have a future after coming out from there?" Mr. Meng lamented. Because of Meng Yanzhi’s issue, Mr. Meng seemed to have aged dramatically, his hair graying, his eyes sunken, and that look of regret mixed with blame.

"Xiao Jin, if you don’t save Yanzhi now, and he ends up hating you, what are we to do when I pass away, leaving just the two of you behind?" Mr. Meng took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair in defeat. "Your mother passed away early, leaving just the two of us. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to raise you. When I knew you were married, I was very happy."

"But during the times of war, Xiaolin and you were separated; one separation lasted over twenty years without news. You refused to remarry, and I could only bring Yanzhi into our family..."

Mr. Meng murmured, "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought Yanzhi into our home. No, I shouldn’t have allowed you to remain unmarried. If you had taken a wife and had your own children, giving Yanzhi a complete family, this disaster wouldn’t have happened today, and Yanzhi wouldn’t have turned out as he has!"

"Dad, it’s not your fault." Meng Jin gripped Mr. Meng’s hand emotionally, saying, "The thing with Yanzhi is my mistake. I shouldn’t have neglected him. Dad, let him suffer the consequences this time so that he will learn his lesson."

Meng Jin felt regret and self-blame. If he had been more diligent, perhaps today’s events would not have occurred.