CHAPTER 253: CHAPTER 253 RECIPE(4)_1

"Daddy, do you really not want us anymore?" Shangguan Rou softly spoke, her gaze fixed on Shangguan Hao, filled with conflict. This man—she had always hoped to see his tender love for Shangguan You reflected in his face, a strong paternal affection. However, this man showed nothing but indifference towards her and had never even embraced her since she was a child.

Now, the Shangguan Family faced a huge crisis. At this moment, Shangguan You was the one by his side, yet he wouldn’t even glance at Shangguan Rou. He still refused to acknowledge her. Shangguan Rou’s face twisted, her hands clenched tightly. Even though they were now clarifying their relationship, not long ago, she and her mommy had clingingly tried to return to the Shangguan Family. Now that the Shangguan Family was ruined, they were taking the initiative to leave. It was unkind and shabby, but why couldn’t Shangguan Hao share his fatherly love and give half to her? She didn’t want to die; she was still young, and she also longed for a father’s love. Why did she have none of it?

"Your father is someone else. From now on, you are not entitled to be called Shangguan Rou anymore," Shangguan Hao said coldly, allowing Shangguan You’s small hand to gently hold his, silently offering consolation.

"Sister—no, Li Rou, I hope you find your biological father soon. Also, I wish the Li Family all the best from now on," Shangguan You said faintly, watching Vice Chairman Liu and Chairman Duan Bi sign the divorce agreement.

Her heart, however, was laughing coldly. This was for the better.

"Alright, the divorce is settled. Let’s go take care of the other matters," Li Junjie said with a cold laugh, handing over two prepared divorce certificates to the pair, then leading everyone to another large interrogation room.

"Shangguan Hao, you will regret treating me this way," Li Wanying said coldly as she watched Shangguan Hao’s retreating figure.

"Mommy, does Daddy really not want us anymore?"

"This is just temporary. I, Li Wanying, have never failed to get what I want. As for that girl, after today, she’ll be living a fate worse than death. No one will ever compete with you for your belongings again. Let’s go home and wait for news," Li Wanying said with a sneer, leading Shangguan Rou away without a backward glance.

Inside the interrogation room, the six individuals who had been separated were now gathered together once more. They exchanged glances, each wearing an odd expression.

"Girl, are you alright? Did they do anything to you?" Shangguan Qing hurriedly stepped forward when he saw Shangguan You arrive, visibly relieved to see her unharmed. Then, recalling the recent events and seeing his uncle and grandfather, his heart, which had just settled, tensed up again. "Uncle, Grandfather."

"Father, Grandfather."

Yu Zifeng and Yu Zijin spoke simultaneously; it was unexpected for them to see their grandfather and grand-uncle here. Remembering the questions asked by their interrogators just moments before, they couldn’t help but adopt a wary look.

"Mm," the Yu family patriarch and Yu Jiayong nodded concurrently, signaling the two not to worry. The results were not out yet; for now, they could only wait and see.

"Alright, please have a seat, everyone," Li Junjie said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit. Vice Chairman Liu and Chairman Duan Bi, meanwhile, took their places in the interrogation seats. Li Junjie didn’t have the authority to interrogate officials of Shangguan Zhi, Shangguan Hao, the Yu family patriarch, and Yu Jiayong’s rank, so he merely sat to the side, taking notes.

"Shangguan Zhi, Commander Shangguan Hao!" Vice Chairman Liu’s elderly face flashed with cold intent as he asked sternly, "Shangguan You has been found to possess dangerous items. She is also capable of producing large quantities of materials that threaten society, civilians, and the general populace—materials that could even destroy an entire city! Are you aware of this or not? Do you know, or don’t you? Are you deliberately concealing this information? Are you simply unaware? Or perhaps, you have another agenda?"

They were twisting Shangguan You’s act of saving people into the narrative of her being a terrorist, a threat to society, and at the same time dragging the entire Shangguan Family down with her.

Shangguan You’s lips twitched fiercely. Was there some mistake? She had merely used a sprinkle of poison powder to kill the snakes, and now she was being labeled a world-class terror agent capable of destroying an entire city? It seemed that eventually, she might be accused of being a formidable figure capable of annihilating the entire world!

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked aghast. This slander was indeed vile.

"Vice Chairman Liu, let me be clear: my granddaughter has nothing dangerous on her person. Furthermore, she poses no threat to society or any city. She is merely a sixteen-year-old girl, a high school student, and there’s nothing inherently dangerous about her. The reason she managed to subdue all those snakes was to save people, not to harm them," Shangguan Zhi stated solemnly.

"That’s right! She saved fifty soldiers from the unit, three officers at vice-level or above, and rescued her group of seven people from the snake horde. Her actions deserve our respect, not these accusations of endangering society, civilians, or even cities. What she did should be recognized by the community and honored by the military!" Shangguan Hao declared with pride, strongly disagreeing with Vice Chairman Liu. He stood up from his seat and walked step by step towards Shangguan You, giving her a military salute typically reserved for leaders. This was his expression of gratitude and respect for his remarkable daughter.

His daughter deserved recognition from everyone, not to have her good deeds besmirched and be framed.

"Shangguan You, we are proud of you! You saved us!" Shangguan Qing and the other five spoke in unison, walking towards Shangguan You and also giving her a military salute.

"Young lady of the Shangguan family, you saved the Yu family’s children. This old man thanks you," said the Yu family patriarch.

"That’s right, I also thank you for saving my children," Yu Jiayong said, similarly offering Shangguan You the highest military salute to express their gratitude.

"It’s true she saved people, but her very existence poses a threat to society! She herself just confessed and even revealed the formula," the Li family patriarch interjected heavily, anger surging within him.

"Exactly! She can create lethal weapons and poses such a significant threat. The Shangguan Family, as a prominent military and political family, not only failed to report it but deliberately concealed it. Could there be some grand conspiracy involved? And the Yu Family, once political adversaries of the Shangguan Family, have suddenly reconciled. What unknown secrets are hidden in this abrupt change?"