The sun was setting to the west, and the sky was gradually darkening. Only the side of the Yang family villa near the east was still basking in the sunlight.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying a desolate feeling.
Yang Wenmin looked at the barren garden and wondered if he had taken the wrong path. After all, his garden didn’t look like this just three days ago.
He raised his head and gazed at the luxurious villa nearby resembling a castle.
Hmm, it looked very familiar.
It seemed like his Yang family’s villa.
Yang Wenmin turned to the side and looked back at the entrance gate of the Yang family and the closed fog outside the gate.
The villa might be similar, but this fog was undoubtedly a unique presence, impossible to be recreated.
Clearly, this was the Yang family.
But... what about his garden?
Yang Wenmin looked at the desolate garden, and a hint of confusion appeared on his usually serious face.
He had only been away for three days; how did his garden turn into this?
Yang Wenmin’s first reaction synchronously matched the eerie suspicion of the bodyguards—he instinctively suspected that the Yang family had been robbed.
But who could rob the Yang family?
And not far away, he could still see the Yang family’s servants watering vegetables...
The steward was directing the servants to water the vegetables when he noticed Yang Wenmin. The steward didn’t expect Yang Wenmin to return so quickly. At the first glance of Yang Wenmin, he guiltily glanced at the garden, now turned into a vegetable patch.
Then he realized and walked shakily towards Yang Wenmin, his tone full of reverence and caution, “Master Yang, welcome back.”
The steward was still there, the Yang family servants were still there—clearly, it couldn’t be a robbery.
Yang Wenmin looked at the steward in front of him, expressionless, and asked, “Where are my flowers?”
“Um...” The steward, feeling guilty, lowered his head and hesitated before speaking, “Well, the flowers, uh, today, the flowers...”
After fumbling for a long time, the steward couldn’t explain clearly. Apparently, he knew but didn’t know how to say it.
Ordinary people wouldn’t dare to uproot his flowers, let alone remove all the flowers in the entire garden.
Given the steward’s demeanor and the situation, it was evident who had given the orders.
It was either Yang Chenjin or Yang Chenyan.
Perhaps both were involved.
Yang Wenmin strode towards the villa, speaking coldly as he walked, “Go and bring those two down for me.”
“Yes, Master Yang,” the steward said cautiously, bowing before hurrying off to fetch the two.
A few minutes later, Yang Chenyan came downstairs with an expressionless face.
Even Yang Chenjin, who had been missing for almost a whole day, appeared.
Yang Chenjin smiled at the man sitting on the sofa, speaking politely, “Father, good afternoon.”
“You’ve worked hard this time,” Yang Wenmin replied.
Perhaps feeling a bit guilty, Yang Chenyan, who never greeted anyone, nodded beside him and greeted, “Father.”
Yang Wenmin, handsome and stern, looked serious but not angry. Despite his imposing demeanor, he didn’t appear old enough to be their father; one might mistake him for their elder brother.
Yang Wenmin’s sharp gaze shifted to Yang Chenjin and Yang Chenyan. “Is there anything you’d like to explain about my garden?”
Though Yang Wenmin’s tone was calm, combined with his stern demeanor, it exuded a strong sense of oppression. It made people instinctively feel awe, more frightening than an ordinary questioning tone.
Most people would have started to panic, but Yang Chenjin remained calm. He looked at the man on the sofa, smiling as he explained, “Father, you might not be aware, but it’s currently the rainy season. Yesterday, there was thunder and rain. When none of us noticed, a lightning bolt struck.”
The steward and servants stood by, dumbfounded. Who would believe such a reason? Moreover, if it was a lightning strike, the ground would be scorched black, easily noticeable. Also, the Second Young Master had never shown such respect for Master Yang before.
However, contrary to the steward’s expectations, Yang Chenjin continued, “The sound was exceptionally loud, and the lightning was unusually intense, to an unprecedented degree. Everyone went and saw it.”
“My younger brother and I found it interesting, so we joined in.”
As Yang Chenjin spoke, his expression became more serious, and his tone heavier. “When we came back, the garden... was gone.”
After finishing his explanation, Yang Chenjin speculated, “Someone must have looted your garden while my younger brother and I were away.”
“After all, your garden is the most beautiful garden in the world. No one can see it without being moved.”
Though the excuse sounded far-fetched, Yang Chenjin’s words were vivid, and his tone was genuinely sincere.
It made people can’t help but want to believe what he said.
“Is that so?” Yang Wenmin, after hearing Yang Chenjin’s explanation, remained noncommittal. Instead, his expression didn’t change as he looked at Yang Chenyan beside him and asked, “What can you say about this?”
Yang Chenyan probably hadn’t lied before. When he received Yang Wenmin’s gaze, he stiffly looked to the side.
Then, with a distorted expression, he spoke, “Yes, the lightning at that time was exceptionally large. Both my elder brother and I didn’t react in time, and the garden was gone.”
Yang Chenyan never called Yang Chenjin his elder brother before, but he did this time.
Clearly, something was amiss.
Moreover, Yang Chenyan’s lie was too obvious. Even those unfamiliar with him could easily see through it.
However, Yang Chenjin, standing next to him, remained calm, as if what he had just said was true.
Yang Wenmin looked at the two with an inscrutable expression and spoke calmly, “Are you expressing dissatisfaction with me?”
Yang Chenjin, with politeness and respect, looked at the man in front of him, “Father, you’ve misunderstood. We have always respected you and have no dissatisfaction with you.”
After a pause, Yang Chenjin continued, “However, the matter of the garden this time is indeed our negligence. My third brother and I are at your disposal for any punishment, without any complaint.”
Beside him, Yang Chenyan nodded, showing no resistance and seeming ready to accept Yang Wenmin’s punishment.
***
As this day passed without any casualties, the previously nervous and fearful guests had completely calmed down.
Some guests inadvertently saw two people standing in the garden on the east side, and it immediately ignited their curiosity. They gathered by the villa windows to get a better look.
“What are they doing? Sunbathing?”
Another guest disagreed with this explanation. “Is it necessary to stand so upright for sunbathing? Looks more like being punished.”
One guest saw Yang Wenmin returning and explained to the puzzled onlookers, “Don’t you know? Master Yang is back. When he saw his garden in this state, these two have been standing there. I guess Master Yang punished them.”
Another guest burst into laughter, “Haha, serves them right. Let them be arrogant. Karma has come!”
“It seems even the most arrogant kids can’t escape their parents. But this punishment of standing is too light. If I pulled out the flowers my parents planted, my father might break my legs.”
“I also think the punishment is too light.”
The sun was setting to the west, and the sky was gradually darkening. Only the side of the Yang family villa near the east was still basking in the sunlight.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying a desolate feeling.
Yang Wenmin looked at the barren garden and wondered if he had taken the wrong path. After all, his garden didn’t look like this just three days ago.
He raised his head and gazed at the luxurious villa nearby resembling a castle.
Hmm, it looked very familiar.
It seemed like his Yang family’s villa.
Yang Wenmin turned to the side and looked back at the entrance gate of the Yang family and the closed fog outside the gate.
The villa might be similar, but this fog was undoubtedly a unique presence, impossible to be recreated.
Clearly, this was the Yang family.
But... what about his garden?
Yang Wenmin looked at the desolate garden, and a hint of confusion appeared on his usually serious face.
He had only been away for three days; how did his garden turn into this?
Yang Wenmin’s first reaction synchronously matched the eerie suspicion of the bodyguards—he instinctively suspected that the Yang family had been robbed.
But who could rob the Yang family?
And not far away, he could still see the Yang family’s servants watering vegetables...
The steward was directing the servants to water the vegetables when he noticed Yang Wenmin. The steward didn’t expect Yang Wenmin to return so quickly. At the first glance of Yang Wenmin, he guiltily glanced at the garden, now turned into a vegetable patch.
Then he realized and walked shakily towards Yang Wenmin, his tone full of reverence and caution, “Master Yang, welcome back.”
The steward was still there, the Yang family servants were still there—clearly, it couldn’t be a robbery.
Yang Wenmin looked at the steward in front of him, expressionless, and asked, “Where are my flowers?”
“Um...” The steward, feeling guilty, lowered his head and hesitated before speaking, “Well, the flowers, uh, today, the flowers...”
After fumbling for a long time, the steward couldn’t explain clearly. Apparently, he knew but didn’t know how to say it.
Ordinary people wouldn’t dare to uproot his flowers, let alone remove all the flowers in the entire garden.
Given the steward’s demeanor and the situation, it was evident who had given the orders.
It was either Yang Chenjin or Yang Chenyan.
Perhaps both were involved.
Yang Wenmin strode towards the villa, speaking coldly as he walked, “Go and bring those two down for me.”
“Yes, Master Yang,” the steward said cautiously, bowing before hurrying off to fetch the two.
A few minutes later, Yang Chenyan came downstairs with an expressionless face.
Even Yang Chenjin, who had been missing for almost a whole day, appeared.
Yang Chenjin smiled at the man sitting on the sofa, speaking politely, “Father, good afternoon.”
“You’ve worked hard this time,” Yang Wenmin replied.
Perhaps feeling a bit guilty, Yang Chenyan, who never greeted anyone, nodded beside him and greeted, “Father.”
Yang Wenmin, handsome and stern, looked serious but not angry. Despite his imposing demeanor, he didn’t appear old enough to be their father; one might mistake him for their elder brother.
Yang Wenmin’s sharp gaze shifted to Yang Chenjin and Yang Chenyan. “Is there anything you’d like to explain about my garden?”
Though Yang Wenmin’s tone was calm, combined with his stern demeanor, it exuded a strong sense of oppression. It made people instinctively feel awe, more frightening than an ordinary questioning tone.
Most people would have started to panic, but Yang Chenjin remained calm. He looked at the man on the sofa, smiling as he explained, “Father, you might not be aware, but it’s currently the rainy season. Yesterday, there was thunder and rain. When none of us noticed, a lightning bolt struck.”
The steward and servants stood by, dumbfounded. Who would believe such a reason? Moreover, if it was a lightning strike, the ground would be scorched black, easily noticeable. Also, the Second Young Master had never shown such respect for Master Yang before.
However, contrary to the steward’s expectations, Yang Chenjin continued, “The sound was exceptionally loud, and the lightning was unusually intense, to an unprecedented degree. Everyone went and saw it.”
“My younger brother and I found it interesting, so we joined in.”
As Yang Chenjin spoke, his expression became more serious, and his tone heavier. “When we came back, the garden... was gone.”
After finishing his explanation, Yang Chenjin speculated, “Someone must have looted your garden while my younger brother and I were away.”
“After all, your garden is the most beautiful garden in the world. No one can see it without being moved.”
Though the excuse sounded far-fetched, Yang Chenjin’s words were vivid, and his tone was genuinely sincere.
It made people can’t help but want to believe what he said.
“Is that so?” Yang Wenmin, after hearing Yang Chenjin’s explanation, remained noncommittal. Instead, his expression didn’t change as he looked at Yang Chenyan beside him and asked, “What can you say about this?”
Yang Chenyan probably hadn’t lied before. When he received Yang Wenmin’s gaze, he stiffly looked to the side.
Then, with a distorted expression, he spoke, “Yes, the lightning at that time was exceptionally large. Both my elder brother and I didn’t react in time, and the garden was gone.”
Yang Chenyan never called Yang Chenjin his elder brother before, but he did this time.
Clearly, something was amiss.
Moreover, Yang Chenyan’s lie was too obvious. Even those unfamiliar with him could easily see through it.
However, Yang Chenjin, standing next to him, remained calm, as if what he had just said was true.
Yang Wenmin looked at the two with an inscrutable expression and spoke calmly, “Are you expressing dissatisfaction with me?”
Yang Chenjin, with politeness and respect, looked at the man in front of him, “Father, you’ve misunderstood. We have always respected you and have no dissatisfaction with you.”
After a pause, Yang Chenjin continued, “However, the matter of the garden this time is indeed our negligence. My third brother and I are at your disposal for any punishment, without any complaint.”
Beside him, Yang Chenyan nodded, showing no resistance and seeming ready to accept Yang Wenmin’s punishment.
***
As this day passed without any casualties, the previously nervous and fearful guests had completely calmed down.
Some guests inadvertently saw two people standing in the garden on the east side, and it immediately ignited their curiosity. They gathered by the villa windows to get a better look.
“What are they doing? Sunbathing?”
Another guest disagreed with this explanation. “Is it necessary to stand so upright for sunbathing? Looks more like being punished.”
One guest saw Yang Wenmin returning and explained to the puzzled onlookers, “Don’t you know? Master Yang is back. When he saw his garden in this state, these two have been standing there. I guess Master Yang punished them.”
Another guest burst into laughter, “Haha, serves them right. Let them be arrogant. Karma has come!”
“It seems even the most arrogant kids can’t escape their parents. But this punishment of standing is too light. If I pulled out the flowers my parents planted, my father might break my legs.”
“I also think the punishment is too light.”
