The Master Descends the Mountain: My Destined CEO

The members of the Xiao Family exchanged glances, all arriving at the worst possible conclusion.

"Quick, take the cigarette for analysis!"

"Inject Xiao Ming with a sedative! We can't let him smoke anymore, no matter what!"

「An hour later.」

The lab report came back.

The Xiao Family gathered, all of them now aware of the results.

"It's over. Xiao Ming is completely finished this time! Once you get hooked on this stuff, your whole life is ruined!"

"Just as expected from someone who isn't Xiao Ling's flesh and blood. He has zero self-control!"

"Womanizing is one thing, and we could even turn a blind eye to gambling, but this… this is terrifying!"

At this point, only a handful of people remained steadfastly loyal to Liu Loulan.

After all, Liu Loulan had run the Xiao Family for so many years; she was bound to have a few devoted supporters.

But now, even they no longer wanted to endorse Xiao Ming.

After a long silence, someone finally spoke. "Lock Xiao Ming up. In his current state, he absolutely cannot become the Patriarch of the Xiao Family!"

"If he were merely incompetent, we could find ways to help him."

"But like this? Even a god couldn't save him now!"

"I agree. Let's give up on him."

After some time had passed, Xiao Ming woke up.

A member of the Xiao Family furtively entered and offered a cigarette to Xiao Ming.

"Young Master, this is yours. Want a smoke?"

"Smoke!" Despite the sedative, his entire body was unbearably uncomfortable, as if his very bones were itching.

The person immediately brought a lighter to the cigarette.

Only after Xiao Ming had finished one did the person leave and call the others in.

"Xiao Ming, you should have never, ever touched this stuff. From now on, you will stay in this room."

"You can leave when you've kicked the habit. If you can't… the position of Xiao Family Patriarch will never be yours!"

Hearing this, the somewhat euphoric Xiao Ming was jolted back to a degree of sobriety.

But his mind was still foggy, and his body was unusually agitated.

"What did you say? You won't let me be the Patriarch?"

"Who the hell do you think you are? The Patriarch's seat can only be mine!"

"Besides, I'm the Patriarch! What's wrong with me touching this stuff? Don't tell me the great Xiao Family can't afford it!"

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged glances, their hearts filled with complete disappointment.

This was a time when he should have been admitting his mistake.

Xiao Ming looked at their expressions and felt the blood rush to his head.

"What do you mean by that? You want someone else to be the Patriarch, is that it?"

"I'm telling you, that's absolutely impossible! You old bastards, who do you think you are? My mother could crush you as easily as crushing an ant!"

The cigarette had made Xiao Ming exceptionally bold.

He let out all the thoughts he had been suppressing deep inside.

"It was always you old fossils, nagging in my ear day after day. 'Don't do this, don't do that.' What right do you have to order me around!"

"When I become the Patriarch, I'll make you all…"

BANG!

Before he could finish, a loud crash echoed.

Liu Loulan stood outside the room.

Her dragon-head cane had slammed viciously into the door, smashing a large hole in it!

"Shut your mouth! You insolent whelp!"

'Xiao Ming actually dared to say such things! He must be insane!'

Supported by her attendants, Liu Loulan entered the room. She located Xiao Ming and swung the dragon-head cane down.

"You insolent whelp, how dare you say such things! I'm going to beat you to death today! Get on your knees, now!"

"Kneel and apologize! Apologize to your uncles and grand-uncles!"

"I won't!"

Xiao Ming's body was weak, and he failed to dodge in time. The cane struck his arm, and his face twisted in pain.

But the cigarette had dulled his sense of pain, and he could still speak.

"I won't apologize! I'm telling the truth!"

"Why should I kneel and apologize to them? I'm the future Patriarch! They should be kissing up to me!"

"Otherwise, I'll just kick them all out!"

Liu Loulan was so angry she nearly fainted. She opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out. She could only resort to violence again.

This time, Xiao Ming dodged. "All you know is how to hit me!"

His face was full of resentment, every word an accusation. "Let me tell you, I'm not just going to kick them out, I'm going to kick you out too!"

"You damned old hag, why don't you just die already!"

"What can you do besides hit me? What other kid gets beaten every day like I do!"

"When you're unhappy, you hit me. You use me as a punching bag! And you don't let me do anything! You're a control freak!"

The dragon-head cane fell from Liu Loulan's hand, clattering to the floor.

She never imagined that the child she had meticulously groomed for over twenty years would say such things to her.

'Why?'

'Why was heaven so unfair to her?'

'Xiao Ling hadn't left her with a child; he wouldn't even touch her!'

'She could only find someone else—a university student who bore a slight resemblance to Xiao Ling.'

'But the man was full of schemes, intending to use the child to get into the Xiao Family.'

'Liu Loulan had no choice but to be ruthless. She had him killed—kill the father, keep the son!'

For more than twenty years, she had personally raised the child by her side.

She had exhausted every means possible to keep his true identity a secret.

She had been cruel in her teachings only to make him worthy, to make him the Patriarch.

'And in the end… it was all a mistake!'

Xiao Ming was still rambling incessantly.

Liu Loulan couldn't bear to listen anymore. "Go, slap his face!"

SLAP! SLAP!

Two sharp slaps landed.

Xiao Ming fell back onto the bed.

The other members of the Xiao Family had seen enough of this drama and decided to speak up.

"Patriarch, you've seen it yourself. Xiao Ming, like this… he is utterly unfit for the great responsibility!"

"That's right! The position of Xiao Family Patriarch absolutely cannot go to him!"

"Otherwise, our Xiao Family will be in grave danger!"

Hearing this, Liu Loulan's heart filled with both sorrow and rage.

She had done so much and was on the verge of success!

But in the end, Xiao Ming had ruined it all himself!

"Xiao Ming, if you don't kick this habit for me, I'll kill you! I'll have you die with me!"

"You vicious old hag, why should I die with you! I won't quit! You're going to die soon anyway, you can't control me!"

Liu Loulan picked up her dragon-head cane once more. "Today, I swear I'm going to teach you a proper lesson!"

'If I don't beat him now and vent this frustration, I'll probably die from my own anger!'

Listening for the sound and guided by her attendants, she swung viciously toward Xiao Ming!

Xiao Ming shot up and leaped off the bed!

"You just love hitting me, don't you?"

"I'm your own son, and you actually want to beat me to death!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked at her not like family, but like an enemy.

He grabbed Liu Loulan's arm and shoved her forcefully!

"You old hag, go to hell!"