"No."
The word was sharp, final and it came from Yuhan, who'd stepped forward so fast he was standing directly in front of his father.
"I said no," he repeated, his voice steady and strong. "You can't make her do anything. And you won't touch her family. Not while I'm alive."
Li Zhenhua's face turned red with fury. "How dare you speak to me like that? I am your father!"
"You are," Yuhan said, his voice never wavering. "And I respect you for everything you've done for our family. But I am not a child anymore. I get to choose who I love, and I get to choose how I live my life."
"Choose her over your family? Over everything we've built?" Li Zhenhua shook his head in disbelief. "You're throwing away your birthright, Yuhan. Do you have any idea what that means?"
"I do," Yuhan said firmly. "It means I'll have to work harder. It means I'll have to build something of my own. But I'd rather do that than live a life of wealth and privilege with someone I don't love."
He turned to Meiying, his eyes softening even as his father stood beside him, seething. "And you," he said, taking her hand in his. "You don't get to make decisions like that for me. We said we'd face everything together, remember? That means no more running away. No more giving up without a fight."
Meiying felt tears stinging her eyes again but this time, they weren't just tears of sadness. They were tears of hope, of love, of gratitude that he wouldn't let her push him away.
"I can't let him hurt Yutang," she whispered, looking down at their joined hands. "I can't let him take our home."
"He won't," Yuhan promised. "I won't let him. I have my own savings enough to buy this house outright, so no one can take it from you. And I'll make sure the land stays in your family's name for good. You don't have to be scared anymore."
Li Zhenhua let out a harsh laugh. "Your savings? You think that's enough to survive on? You've never worked a day in your life without the company behind you. You'll be broke in six months."
"Maybe," Yuhan said calmly. "But at least I'll be free. At least I'll be with the woman I love."
He looked at his father, his eyes full of sadness. "I know you think you're protecting me. I know you think you're doing what's best. But you're not. You're just trying to control my life the way you've always controlled everything else. I love you, Father. But I won't let you control who I love."
Li Zhenhua stared at his son for a long moment, his face unreadable. Then he let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face like he was suddenly exhausted.
"Do you really love her that much?" he asked quietly.
"More than anything," Yuhan said without hesitation.
Li Zhenhua looked from Yuhan to Meiying, then to Yutang, who was watching the whole scene with wide eyes. He saw the way Yuhan held Meiying's hand like she was the most precious thing in the world. He saw the way she looked at his son with trust and love and fear, all mixed together.
"I came here to make you choose," he said finally. "But I see now that you already have."
He walked over to the table and sat down heavily, looking older than he had just a few minutes ago. "Your mother… she was from a small town too. Not as far as this, but not wealthy. Not 'good enough' for my family."
Meiying and Yuhan both froze, looking at him in surprise.
"My father hated her," Li Zhenhua continued, his voice softening. "He said the same things I just said to you she was trouble, she'd ruin me, she'd take everything I had. But I loved her. And I married her anyway. We were happy, Yuhan. Happier than I've ever been in my life."
He paused, looking down at his hands. "She died when you were little. After that… I told myself I'd never let emotion get in the way of business again. I told myself I'd make sure you never made the same 'mistake' I did."
Yuhan walked over and sat down beside his father. "You thought you were protecting me," he said gently.
"I thought I was protecting you from pain," Li Zhenhua said, looking up at him with tears in his eyes. "But I was just protecting myself from remembering. From remembering how much it hurt to lose her."
He turned to Meiying, and for the first time, his eyes weren't cold. They were warm, full of understanding.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "For what I said. For what I threatened to do. I was wrong. You're not trouble. You're just a young woman in love and that's not a bad thing. It's a beautiful thing."
Meiying felt a huge weight lift off her chest. She walked over and sat down across from him, her hands trembling slightly.
"I know I'm not what you expected for your son," she said softly. "I know I don't have money or connections. But I love him, sir. I'll do everything I can to make him happy."
Li Zhenhua nodded slowly. "I can see that. And that's all that really matters, isn't it? Not money, not power just making the person you love happy."
He looked at Yuhan, a small smile touching his lips. "I'm not going to cut you off. The company is still yours when you're ready to come back. But I understand if you want to take some time first. Build something of your own. Prove yourself."
Yuhan stood up and pulled his father into a hug. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for understanding."
Li Zhenhua patted his back gently. "I'm your father. I'll always love you no matter what. Even if I don't always show it the right way."
After Li Zhenhua left, the house was quiet for a long moment. Then Yutang stood up and walked over to Yuhan, holding out his hand.
"Okay," he said quietly. "You can stay. But if you hurt her, I'll never forgive you."
Yuhan laughed, pulling Yutang into a hug. "I'd never dream of it."
Meiying stood there watching them, tears of joy streaming down her face. It hadn't been easy. There had been pain, and heartbreak, and fear. But they'd gotten through it together.
Yuhan walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead gently.
"I told you we'd face everything together," he said softly.
Meiying looked up at him, smiling through her tears. "You were right. We can do anything as long as we're together."