Chapter 409 Man Up

The next day, Long Hui was discharged from the hospital. His injuries looked nasty, but they weren't life-threatening.

What relieved him the most was when the doctor told him that his peroneal nerve was only hurt but not permanently damaged. The doctor warned him that if just a bit more force than what he was hit with was used, he would've ended up with chronic leg pain or numbness. Worst case scenario would be leg paralysis.

Both he and Jiang Ying Yue paled when they heard what the doctor said. Now Long Hui had developed a deep trauma for oranges. He would never eat oranges for the rest of his life ever again. It also deepened his resentment towards his younger sister, Iris, and to her fiancé, Jin Liwei.

Mixed with the resentment and other negative emotions like envy and insecurity was the feeling of guilt. After getting some sleep, albeit a restless one, he realized just how crazy he acted last night. He totally lost control of himself.

He was ashamed of his uncharacteristic behaviour. He felt sorry for all the insults he threw at his own sister, but the pride of being the firstborn prevented him from apologizing first. It also didn't help that he was still feeling threatened by Iris' growing prominence and support within the clan.

Nevertheless, he didn't want to become enemies with her. After thinking about things more clearly, he concluded that it would be extremely difficult for him to win against her if she seriously began competing in the Long clan's battle for succession.

All of these conflicting emotions were stressing him out. It was causing him great confusion. He needed some time to carefully analyze everything before choosing the best course of action.

That was why he didn't return to Gold Heights with Jiang Ying Yue. The condo unit was given by Iris to his son. Staying there would make him constantly think of her and would only worsen his already troubled state of mind.

As a result, he returned to his primary residence at the Long ancestral compound instead. He tried persuading Jiang Ying Yue to come and live with him and their son, but she refused. He wasn't surprised, but he couldn't help but be disappointed.

He didn't force her, however. The last thing he wanted was to worsen the invisible wall between them. Perhaps this temporary living separation would help cool off the tension between them. He hoped that they could restore their previous happy relationship when they decided to live together again.

When he left Jiang Ying Yue and his son at Gold Heights, he didn't bring any of his clothes or things with him. This was a clear indication that he still planned on returning to them.

The question was…when?

He didn't know.

###

Long Ancestral Residence, Eastern Wing.

The eastern wing was Long Hui's personal residence. Like the rest of the compound, the undeniable ancient aura could also be felt here. However, it had more modern elements compared to the main wing where Long Tengfei and his wife lived.

Long Hui opted to use modern furniture, appliances and decorations instead of using the original antique ones that his ancestors used for centuries. As a result, only the building itself retained the ancientness in this wing. Everything else inside was modern.

His father and some of the relatives, especially the elders, disapproved of his interior design choices. However, they couldn't really do anything to stop him because it was his space. Although Long Tengfei didn't like the overly modernized place, he allowed Long Hui the freedom to decorate it as he pleased.

The day he returned to the eastern wing, it seemed that the servants reported his pitiful appearance to his father because Long Tengfei and Yang Jiahui immediately visited him.

"Who did that to you?" Long Tengfei asked as soon as he saw his son. Hiseyes darkened with cold fury.

Which stupid person dared to beat up the son of him, Long Tengfei?

"Little Sister Xiulan and her fiancé, that wild man, did this to me," Long Hui replied in a sullen tone.

Long Tengfei was caught off-guard that he didn't know how to react for a few moments.

It was his wife, Yang Jiahui, who reacted first.

"What?! Xiulan and Liwei beat you up?! Why?"

She looked shocked, then skeptical. It was hard for her to imagine that Iris and Jin Liwei could beat up a family member so badly like this.

"Hmph! He deserves it!" Meimei's voice sounded from the doorway.

The young woman looked pale and exhausted. Her eyes were red, decorated by dark circles and heavy eyebags. She had been working on her webtoon in her room for hours before taking a much-needed break. The servants informed her that Long Tengfei and Yang Jiahui left to visit Long Hui who just returned to the eastern wing.

Meimei already learned what happened from Dom, Clover, and even some tidbits from Jiang Ying Yue herself. Needless to say, it angered her as Iris' friend.

She immediately followed her aunt and uncle to the eastern wing.

"Big Brother Hui insulted Xiulan, so of course Big Bro Liwei beat him up! If I was there, I would also beat you up, Big Brother Hui! Hmph! I can't believe you would do that to Xiulan! She and Big Bro Liwei have been so nice to you and your little family, but this is how you repay them?! Gah! I'm so mad!"

"Xiao Mei, calm down," Yang Jiahui told her niece.

"You insulted your sister? What did you say to her?" Long Tengfei asked his son in a cold and strict voice.

Long Hui didn't answer.

Long Tengfei turned to Meimei, silently asking her instead.

"I don't know exactly what Big Brother Hui said. All I know is that he insulted Xiulan, that's why Big Bro Liwei beat him up," she answered. Then she turned to Long Hui and challenged him. "Man up, Big Brother Hui! Tell us exactly what you said to Xiulan! Don't be such a coward!"

"Xiao Mei, that's enough," Yang Jiahui warned her.

"Hmph!" She crossed her arms over her chest.

Meimei had no idea that her "man up" challenge worked on Long Hui. It effectively pricked his machismo.

"I'm not a coward!" he hissed at Meimei. "Fine, I'll tell you what I said to her!"

He told them how he used Wei Lan's reputation as a social climbing, gold digging slut to insult Iris. All three were horrified after he finished speaking.

Yang Jiahui: "Oh no...."

Meimei: "What the hell?! Did you really—"

"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO YOUR OWN SISTER?!!!" Long Tengfei roared.

His voice was so loud and fearsome that everyone, including Long Hui, Yang Jiahui, Meimei and the nearby servants, all flinched and were frightened.

Long Tengfei rarely raised his voice in fury like this. So when it happened, everyone shut up and froze. They were afraid to say or do anything that would anger him even further.

Long Hui just sat there and accepted his father's harsh scolding. He didn't defend himself.

"Go apologize to your sister and make up with her! Then return to your son and fiancé! Stop hiding here!" Long Tengfei punctuated his scolding.

Then he marched out of the eastern wing with his wife and Meimei, leaving Long Hui alone with his extremely chaotic thoughts and emotions.