<h4>Chapter 443: Don’t Say That</h4>


    In the suburbs of Zhonghai City, within a securely guarded high-end residential area, Ning Guodong had just returned to one of his resting vis not long ago.


    Sitting on a spacious lounge chair, Ning Guodong faced a wall-mounted TV. At this time of day, it was mostly midday news or reruns of the morning news.


    As Ning Guodong flipped through the channels, he couldn''t help but get annoyed when he found that almost every channel was broadcasting the financial battle that had urredst night, with the protagonists being Yu Lei International and Lin Ruoxi.


    "Damn it!"


    Ning Guodong''s eyebrow twitched, and he finally couldn''t contain his anger. He grabbed the remote control and hurled it directly at the TV in front of him!


    With a sharp crack, the remote left a dent in the TV screen, which instantly turned into static.


    Ning Guodong didn''t bother to check the damage. He got up and walked restlessly to a small bar in the room, poured himself a ss of imported Russian vodka, lifted his head, and downed it in one gulp!


    "Ah—"


    The strong liquor burned its way down his throat like a knife, bringing Ning Guodong a brief sense offort. He exhaled a breath, even tearing up slightly from the sting.


    Just then, the doorbell rang.


    Ning Guodong frowned. This was his private residence, known only to his family and a few close associates. If any of them wereing, they would have notified him in advance.


    He didn''t consider it a dangerous situation. Not only would no one dare to harm him, but there were also bodyguards outside. He walked leisurely to the door and opened it.


    To his surprise, standing at the door was none other than his father, Ning Guangyao!


    "Father?"


    Ning Guodong called out in confusion. As far as he knew, Ning Guangyao was supposed to be on his way back to Yanjing to attend the crucial election for the National People''s Congress.


    Why would he suddenly show up here without any prior notice?


    Ning Guangyao looked at his son with an expressionless face. "Aren''t you going to invite me in?"


    "Oh, of course, of course..." Ning Guodong sensed something was off with the atmosphere but quickly allowed Ning Guangyao to enter.


    Ning Guangyao was not only his father and the head of the Ning family, but also the Prime Minister of Yanxia, the one person Ning Guodong had feared since childhood.


    Ning Guangyao instructed his attendants to wait outside and entered the house alone. Ning Guodong wisely closed the door behind him.


    The house was well-insted andpletely soundproof.


    Ning Guangyao walked into the living room and noticed the recently smashed TV. He frowned slightly but said nothing, instead surveying theyout of the room.


    Ning Guodong felt a chill down his spine. He had expected his father to ask about the broken TV, but Ning Guangyao didn''t mention it, which was unusual. He could never guess what his father was thinking.


    "How much did you pay for this house?" Ning Guangyao suddenly asked.


    Ning Guodong was taken aback, a look of difort shing across his face. Finally, gritting his teeth, he said, "It didn''t cost anything. The real estatepany gave it to me."


    Ning Guangyao nodded, seemingly unsurprised. "You''ve received quite a few such gifts, haven''t you?"


    Seeing that his father wasn''t angry, Ning Guodong felt even more uneasy. "Actually, not that many. Dad, I''m not reckless. I know what not to touch."


    "Oh?" Ning Guangyao turned around, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "Tell me, what shouldn''t be touched?"


    Ning Guodong hesitated, unable to meet his father''s gaze. An invisible pressure expanded in his chest.


    "Absolutely nothing that harms the country or tarnishes the Ning family''s reputation," Ning Guodong said through gritted teeth.


    Ning Guangyao asked again, "Do you believe you''ve achieved that?"


    "I..." Ning Guodong pondered for a moment. "No one is perfect. But, Father, I believe that even if I haven''t achieved it entirely, there haven''t been any major mistakes so far. You should know best that I''ve never had anyints in my department."


    "Whether one does well or poorly isn''t determined by whether othersin or petition. It lies in one''s conscience," Ning Guangyao said, his gaze growing colder. "I originally thought I was a sessful father. Although you aren''t particrly talented or wise, at least you''re a dutiful person and an obedient son.


    In this world, anyone aspiring to be apetent leader must first learn to be led. You''ve always humbly epted my leadership, and there''s no shame in that. I appreciate this about you, and other families would envy the Ning family for having a descendant like you.


    But Guodong, why do you refuse to listen to me at such a critical time, in such a matter?"


    Ning Guodong felt a chill down his spine. Forcing augh, he asked, "Father, I don''t know what you''re referring to. Could there be some misunderstanding?"


    "Misunderstanding?"


    Ning Guangyao found it amusing, letting out a cold chuckle. "Do you think you can hide it from me? Or have you really be so numb and heartless?!"


    Ning Guodong stood there, stunned and confused.


    Ning Guangyao turned his back, sighing before saying, "Who permitted you to send that kind of information to the national media without authorization?"


    Ning Guodong''s legs trembled, and he swallowed hard, unable to speak.


    "Do you think staying silent will help? Do you think you can just sweep such actions under the rug?" Ning Guangyao turned back, his eyes cold as he stared at his son. "Guodong, do you think the descendants of the Ning family pursue their partners by using such underhanded tactics? Destroying! Attacking! Seeking revenge on a married woman?!"


    Ning Guodong suddenly raised his head, as if realizing something. "Dad! You''ve been monitoring me!"


    It dawned on him that his father must have had people watching him all along. He hadn''t informed Ning Guangyao about his meetings with Zeng Mao or any of his actions regarding Lin Ruoxi. His close associates wouldn''t dare to say anything. The only possibility was that Ning Guangyao had been scrutinizing his every move!


    In an instant, Ning Guodong realized he didn''t truly understand his father. The father who appeared so just and enlightened had such dark and hidden methods?! Even to the extent of monitoring his own son!


    "So what if I did? If I hadn''t, and this matter blew up, do you think I could still cover for you?!" Ning Guangyao, burning with anger, didn''t even mind using harsh words.


    Ning Guodong''s breathing grew rapid. He lowered his voice and asked, "Dad, I''ve always had a question. Why... why do you care so much about that woman?! Even if she is the president of a multinationalpany, so what?! She''s nothing more than a bastard child born from a whore''s affair with another man..."


    "Shut up! Don''t you dare talk about her like that!" Ning Guangyao roared, his eyes zing with fury.


    "Isn''t it true?!" Seemingly having his most sensitive nerve touched, Ning Guodong screamed back, almost hysterically, "Dad! I am your biological son! From childhood to now, I have never dared to defy you! You wanted me to score high in exams, I did! You wanted me to work hard to get into Peking University, I did it on my own!


    You wanted me to join a certain department, I worked tirelessly, going through numerous selections without any help to get in! Even the number of times I could visit family elders, you strictly controlled! I neverined, I never got angry! Because I knew you were doing all this to prepare me to inherit everything from the Ning family!


    But today, I just want to find a woman for myter years. Is that too much to ask?! So what if Lin Ruoxi is married? So what if she is a multinationalpany president?!


    Her marriage didn''t even have a wedding! What''s the difference if she''s married or not?! Is it so rare in our elite circles to snatch a woman?! In a society where even keeping mistresses isn''t a big deal, is it too much for me, Ning Guodong, to want a woman?!"


    "You unfilial son! How dare you say such things! Kneel down!" Ning Guangyao shouted in rage, his body trembling violently.


    Ning Guodong''s lips twitched, but he still knelt down, looking directly at Ning Guangyao, shouting, "I can kneel, but that''s because you are my father, you are the highest official in Yanxia''s government. It''s not because I think what I did is so wrong! I just used methods befitting her status to achieve this!


    If I publicize that medical record, Lin Ruoxi will be exposed as a low-born bastard, and her legitimate right to inherit Yu Lei will be invalidated! She and that dead whore of a mother will lose everything they fraudulently obtained!


    The whole society will despise her, me her for Lin Kun''s death, and for usurping everything from the old chairman! By then, when I take her as my woman, who will care?! Isn''t that the truth?!"


    "p!"


    A crisp sound echoed as Ning Guangyao rushed forward and pped Ning Guodong hard across the face.


    Ning Guangyao''s eyes were bloodshot, and he growled, "I''m telling you, even if you never get married in this lifetime, I won''t allow you to touch a single hair on Lin Ruoxi''s head! And if you dare call Lin Ruoxi a bastard again or desecrate her mother, I swear I''ll have you executed today."


    Whether it was the p that stunned him or the unprecedented harsh words from Ning Guangyao, Ning Guodong stood there, clutching his reddened cheek, utterly dazed, his eyes filled with despair.