Reborn to Outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Accepting Punishment

Chapter 113 -113 Accepting Punishment

Ancestral hall.

Spacious and arranged over two levels, it sat within the boundaries of the Gong Mansion, at the highest point of the grounds.

The lofty crossbeams required a fresh coat of gold paint each year, and above the shrine hung a pair of dragons wrought in heavy gold, playing with a pearl, symbolizing the family’s status and might.

In front of the offering table, Old Mr. Gong, who had always upheld a dignified demeanor, now revealed an expression of furious anger for the first time.

He stared coldly at Gong Chen, who stood at the center of the ancestral hall, and demanded, “This time you have greatly disappointed me! Who leaked the contract details?”

Gong Chen’s deep-set features were tinged with a faint detachment, and behind him was a torrential downpour which seemed to have utterly dissipated against the calm chill engulfing him.

“No one, I simply let the Chen Family exploit a loophole carelessly.”

“You!”

Old Mr. Gong’s eyes bulged in rage, his facial muscles trembling with fury—clearly, this was not the answer he desired.

Someone had to be the scapegoat for this incident!

Otherwise, how would he face the clan, or the judgmental eyes from outside?

Old Mr. Gong took a deep breath, hinting, “Has Lin Zhiyi been to Gong Group?”

Solving this issue could be straightforward.

Lin Zhiyi, meager and ever profit-seeking, had betrayed the Gong Family that had raised her, all for money.

Spoken aloud, people would only condemn Lin Zhiyi’s ingratitude and sympathize with the Gong Family for being backstabbed.

No one would key in on the business blunder.

As long as Gong Chen would speak up…

“She has not been there,” replied Gong Chen, his tone cool.

Hearing this, Old Mr. Gong slammed the offering table forcefully, making the entire atmosphere of the ancestral hall strained and charged with tension.

Father and son exchanged a look; Old Mr. Gong’s eyes twitched twice with irritation before he turned away.

He took three sticks of incense from the desk, his voice stern as he said, “Since that is the case, you should know the consequences of wrongdoing.”

“Mhm.”

Gong Chen began to undo his buttons with an expressionless face.

Chen Jin looked on with a heavy heart, worrying, “Third Young Master.”

“Shut up.”

Gong Chen tossed the outer garment he had removed to Chen Jin, then began to undo the buttons of his shirt, revealing his tightly muscled torso.

The old man’s bodyguard took a whip out of the cabinet, dampened it with water from the courtyard, and with a slight tug, made a spine-chilling sound.

Old Mr. Gong paid his respects to the shrine, and the moment the incense was inserted into the burner, the raised whip descended onto Gong Chen’s back.

Deep welts appeared almost instantly.

Old Mr. Gong turned his back on him, waiting for Gong Chen to bow his head in admission of fault.

But after ten full lashes, Gong Chen, drenched in sweat, did not utter a single word.

Old Mr. Gong stood with his hands behind his back, frowning deeply, his tone hardening with threat, “Gong Chen, I promised you that if this cooperation succeeded, I would transfer your mother’s shares to you. Now, it seems, they will remain in my custody.”

At the mention of his mother, Gong Chen lowered his eyes, a trail of blood flowing from his lips.

Seeing he remained silent, Old Mr. Gong, infuriated, signaled the bodyguard with his eyes.

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment but, not daring to disobey, clenched his teeth and lifted the whip with force.

“Stop!”

Gong Shiyan, accompanied by others, rushed in and shielded Gong Chen.

“Dad, Lao San has just recovered from a serious illness; if you continue like this, it could be lethal. You punished him enough, and Mom’s spiritual tablet is right there. She gave half her life to bear Lao San; you can’t do this to her!”

Mention of Gong Chen’s mother softened Old Mr. Gong’s demeanor slightly.

“Everyone, get out!”

Gong Shiyan immediately turned to Chen Jin and they helped Gong Chen into his clothes and supported him out.

As they reached the door, Gong Shiyan glanced at the bodyguard holding the whip, nodding slightly.

Today, with the Chen Family usurping the deal, Gong Shiyan had foreseen trouble, so he had taken precautions with Old Mr. Gong’s personal bodyguards.

…

Upon returning to Gong Chen’s courtyard, Li Huan had also just arrived.