Heartless

"Fine! If you're so eager to leave, I'll let you go!" Lu Zhenhua's face was twisted with rage, veins bulging on his forehead as he pointed a trembling finger toward the door.

Without a word, Shen Yi swiftly packed a few simple clothes into his bag, grabbed his textbooks, and tore a page from a notebook. The sound of the paper ripping echoed in the room, sharp and final, like the severing of his ties with the Lu family. He picked up a pen and began writing an IOU for 400,000 yuan, the scratch of the pen against the paper sounding like a declaration of his complete break from the family.

Lu Zhenhua stood coldly to the side, his eyes fixed on Shen Yi's every move, his expression as dark as a storm cloud.

After both signed the IOU, Lu Zhenhua stiffly stuffed the paper into his pocket, his movements mechanical and devoid of emotion, as if the paper were the last thread connecting him to Shen Yi.

Lu Xinyi was already in tears, her face wet as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Shen Yi's back. Her voice trembled with desperation. "Shen Yi, I was wrong. Please don't go. Don't say these things in anger… How will you survive without the Lu family?" Her body shook as she clung to his clothes, as if letting go would mean losing him forever.

Seeing this, Lu Zhenhua's anger boiled over. His vision blurred, and a rush of blood surged to his head. "Lu Xinyi! I'm warning you—if you say one more word to defend Shen Yi, you can get out too! Do you hear me?!" His voice was hoarse with fury, echoing through the room.

"See, Lu Xinyi? You'd better let go," Shen Yi said calmly, gently prying her hands away. His tone was eerily detached, as if none of this concerned him. "Otherwise, you'll be kicked out too. You wouldn't want to lose your high-and-mighty status, would you? After all, you're the famous CEO of Lu Corporation." His voice dripped with sarcasm, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

"Dad… why are you being so cruel? Shen Yi is your son too! Why are you so biased?" Lu Xinyi's legs gave out, and she sank to the floor, covering her face with her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her shoulders shook with each cry, her pain and helplessness palpable.

"Lu Xinyi, don't you feel ashamed saying that?" Shen Yi's words cut like a knife, his gaze sweeping over her with disdain. His voice was sharp, piercing her heart.

Lu Xinyi's sobs stopped abruptly, as if someone had choked her. Then she cried even harder, tears flooding her face. Yes, I've treated Shen Yi the same way all these years. What right do I have to say this? Regret washed over her like a tidal wave.

Shen Yi didn't look back. He walked down the stairs with determined steps, his背影孤独却决然.

"Little brat, get out! I don't want to see you for another second!" Lu Zhenhua followed, his finger still pointing at the door, his voice icy and filled with disgust.

"Thanks for the send-off, Mr. Lu. See you never!" Shen Yi waved casually without turning around, his tone light and mocking, as if he were leaving a place of no importance.

"Shen Yi, take this bank card… It's all I can do for now…" Lu Xinyi, tears streaming down her face, rushed after him, pulling a bank card from her bag and holding it out to him, her voice trembling with emotion.

Lu Zhenhua's face darkened. He lunged forward, snatched the card, and snapped it in two with a sharp crack. "Lu Xinyi! I warned you—he's not part of this family anymore! No one outside the Lu family gets to use our money!" His voice was shrill, his anger reaching its peak.

Shen Yi shrugged, his expression innocent. "Wow, what a tycoon. As if you've ever given me any money. Pathetic!" His lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes filled with scorn.

Lu Xinyi felt a chilling coldness, as if she had been thrown into an icy abyss. If I make a mistake, will Dad treat me like this too? "Shen Yi… he's just a kid. Dad, how can you be so heartless?" She crouched on the floor, wiping her tears, but they kept falling.

Hearing this, Lu Zhenhua's rage exploded. He grabbed Lu Xinyi by the collar and yanked her to her feet, his movements rough and violent.

Slap! A loud, sharp sound echoed through the room as his hand struck her face.

Lu Xinyi's head snapped to the side, a red mark instantly appearing on her cheek. She stopped crying, staring at her father in shock and disbelief.

After the slap, Lu Zhenhua's rationality returned. He looked at Lu Xinyi, a flicker of regret in his eyes. This was his proudest daughter, the one managing the corporation. Without her, his comfortable life would crumble. His hands trembled, his lips moving but no words coming out.

Lu Jiang watched in stunned silence, his eyes wide with shock. He even had the absurd thought of leaving with Shen Yi. This father is too cold-blooded. What kind of father hits his daughter for no reason? He felt both fear and confusion.

Even Shen Yi was taken aback. What the hell? How could Lu Zhenhua do that? She's your daughter! And she didn't even say anything wrong! This family is insane. I need to get out of here before I die again! He quickened his pace, eager to leave.

Lu Xinyi's eyes snapped to Shen Yi, filled with shock and fear. What does he mean—die again? Has he died before? What's going on? Why can I hear his thoughts? He's right… What's wrong with Dad? Why did he hit me? What did I do wrong? I just wanted to fix things… Her mind was a whirlwind of questions.

"Xinyi…" Lu Zhenhua released her collar, guilt in his voice, but the words of apology stuck in his throat.

Lu Xinyi sat back on the floor, touching her burning cheek. Her expression gradually calmed. Seeing her father's lack of remorse, a bitter smile tugged at her lips.

"Dad, I'm fine. But have you ever thought that I might be right? Shen Yi is so young. How will he survive without the family? You're too heartless! He didn't do anything wrong, so why did you hit him? Why do you always punish him without reason? What was the point of bringing him home in the first place? Was it just to ease Mom's pain after losing her child?!" Her voice rose from calm to impassioned as she stood, staring directly into Lu Zhenhua's eyes, her gaze filled with accusation. She didn't want to lose Shen Yi, the one she felt so guilty toward. Even if he wasn't her blood brother, they had lived together for years. There had to be some bond. If only she could keep him, she would make it up to him.

Lu Zhenhua's anger flared again. He felt a surge of rage from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He was furious! He could tolerate being insulted and hit by someone he had raised, but his proud daughter was defending Shen Yi, even calling him heartless!

"Fine! Lu Xinyi, you can get out too! You think I'm heartless? I'll show you heartless!!!" Lu Zhenhua roared, his eyes bloodshot, his body trembling with rage. He looked like a wild beast.

"Wait… Dad, what did you just say?" Lu Xinyi thought she had misheard. What does he mean? Am I being kicked out too? Her eyes were filled with confusion and shock as she stared at Lu Zhenhua.

"I said—get out!!!" Lu Zhenhua bellowed again, his voice reverberating through the hall.