Chapter 38

Ruan Tang showed no mercy; even though Ruan Xi had already fallen to such a state, he never considered backing down. He sent out the lawyer’s letter immediately, suing Ruan Xi for defamation and slander, as well as the hired trolls for personal attacks and spreading rumors.

In the interstellar era, the Empire’s bureaucracy was efficient; in less than two hours, Ruan Xi, his hired trolls, and some online haters who had passionately cursed Ruan Tang and not deleted their posts all received court subpoenas from the lawyer.

Ruan Tang hadn’t just been talking; he had really sued them.

Even if passionate insults and public opinion attacks weren’t considered major offenses, Ruan Tang insisted that they pay a price for their words and actions.

The haters and trolls who received the subpoenas were stunned; they hadn’t expected that after running rampant and running their mouths online for so long, someone would actually sue them.

Most of the haters and trolls came from average family backgrounds. Looking at the court subpoenas in their hands, thinking about the substantial amount of interstellar currency they would have to compensate Ruan Tang if they lost the lawsuit, their faces fell and they could no longer laugh.

News of Ruan Tang suing these people quickly spread on social networks. Immediately, many relatives and friends of the trolls and haters secretly began to steer the narrative, claiming that Ruan Tang’s actions were too cold-hearted—he was a noble with so much money, yet he was targeting ordinary citizens over a few insults, dragging them to court to gain sympathy and public support.

But thankfully, most netizens were normal people capable of independent logical thinking.

When keywords like #RuanTangLawyerLetter# and #RuanTangSues# hit the trending tags, most people applauded and supported online rights protection.

“Serves you right! Just because he’s rich and a noble, he should suffer your online violence and be freely insulted before the facts are clear? You fools who believe every rumor, you deserve to be sued!”

“So what if he’s a commoner? So what if it’s online? Do you think being weak makes you right? Just because you’re weak and insulted him, why can’t he sue you? Ruan Tang’s lawsuit is good, well done!”

“I’ve long been disgusted by these people who casually trash others, spew dirty words, and vent their life misfortunes online. Now someone’s finally teaching them a lesson and showing them their place!”

“These people run rampant online, bullying strangers and spraying trash everywhere. They’ve finally met their match.”

“Trolls used to get away because no one had the time or energy to bother with them. Now they’ve finally met someone serious. Support Ruan Tang’s rights protection. Good job, Ruan Tang.”

…

No one sympathized with the trolls or Ruan Xi or thought Ruan Tang was aggressive. Seeing that public opinion was completely against them, the trolls’ relatives and friends all shut up and stopped speaking.

This battle surely taught them never to randomly trash others online again.

It was the first time Ruan Tang had so unreservedly insisted on himself, asserting his rights with the attitude of “I think it is, not you think it is.” He didn’t care whether others would talk about him or hate him.

He only felt that this move brought him immense comfort and made him feel extremely exhilarated.

Meanwhile, the First Research Institute, based on the results from the “Intellectual Property Arbitration Tribunal” and Ruan Xi’s defamation and slander of Wen Run and the institute, directly announced its decision to fire Ruan Xi, declaring that he was no longer a member of the First Research Institute. Moreover, Ruan Xi’s widespread defamation and rumor-mongering online had deeply affected the institute’s reputation…

The First Research Institute would also file a lawsuit against Ruan Xi, accusing him of defamation and harming the reputation of the institute and Chief Wen Run.

Ruan Xi was still lying in the hospital when he received countless court subpoenas.

And after this battle, with the First Research Institute—the spiritual pillar of the Empire’s research units—taking such a stance, even if Ruan Xi got out, he would probably never be able to work in the industry again…

Which research institute would dare to hire someone fired by the First Research Institute?

This time, Ruan Xi was thoroughly ruined, his reputation destroyed.

The entire research industry would have no place for him at all.

…

Just as Ruan Tang was feeling exhilarated, his personal terminal suddenly rang.

It was his father, Ruan Ming.

Without thinking, Ruan Tang knew what Ruan Ming would say to him at this moment, but he stared at the incoming call, hesitated for a moment, and still chose to answer.

“Ruan Tang, you’ve gone too far! What do you mean by making such a big fuss over you and Xi, making it known to everyone? How much further do you want to disgrace us?” Sure enough, the moment the call connected, Ruan Ming’s accusatory voice came through.

It was a head-on barrage of accusations and complaints against Ruan Tang.

As if Ruan Tang owed him something.

Ruan Tang had long been tired of such accusations, having heard them all his life.

In the past, he had been dependent on others and had to submit, but now he was no longer afraid of Ruan Xi.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Tang sneered and retorted: “Father, you’d better get your facts straight. The one who made this known to everyone isn’t me, it’s Ruan Xi. He started it first, and I’m just responding normally… If you want to accuse someone, you should at least know who to accuse—go to Ruan Xi’s hospital room and accuse him.”

“Even if Xi was the one who provoked you, even if he was wrong. Why did you have to make such a big deal out of it, ruining his reputation and getting him fired from the institute…” Ruan Ming hadn’t expected Ruan Tang to dare speak to him in such a tone. He immediately frowned and exploded in anger: “He’s your younger brother. Family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public. What good does it do you to smear his name?”

Ruan Ming as a father was different from the others who defended Ruan Xi and targeted Ruan Tang. As the head of a large family that had risen from decline and from the bottom,

Ruan Ming never said things like “because Ruan Xi is kind and weak, why do you bully him? It’s your fault” or other unreasonable accusations like Zhou Yao, Shen Mozhi, and the earlier Wen Run, who stubbornly believed Ruan Tang was wrong and had a vicious heart.

He never cared about the truth of what really happened between Ruan Tang and Ruan Xi… His favoritism was blatant and completely unreasonable.

Even if he knew in his heart that Ruan Xi was at fault, he still forced Ruan Tang to endure again and again because of his bias. When Ruan Tang couldn’t take it anymore and retaliated, Ruan Ming never accused him of being vicious like others, but instead accused him of not considering the bigger picture, of making a fuss and affecting family interests—very sanctimonious.

In the years of conflict between Ruan Tang and Ruan Xi, his favorite tactic was to favor Ruan Xi and try to smooth things over, turning big problems into small ones.

“I’ll say it again, Father. The one who made this public and aired family scandals isn’t me, it’s Ruan Xi.” Ruan Tang sneered: “As for what good it does me to ruin his reputation, it does me a lot of good. I’m very happy now!”

Today was different from the past. He was not his elder sister, who could forever yield to this domineering father who seemed wise but was actually selfish…

Ruan Ming hadn’t expected him to dare speak like that. He was so angry he choked: “Even if Xi was the first to make a scene, you shouldn’t have joined in the mess and made it even bigger, to the point it can’t be resolved… Are you brainwashed? To push so hard and make things like this, don’t you care about the family’s reputation at all?”

As the head of a large family, Ruan Ming valued face above all, and second came the so-called family honor.

He was an Alpha with extremely strong clan concepts, treating it as a golden rule that the entire family should be united, sharing glory and loss together.

Anything that slightly went against his wishes was considered gravely wrong…

Ruan Tang, from childhood to now, had endured countless times for the sake of so-called family honor, but now he didn’t want to endure any longer.

He asked Ruan Ming coldly: “If I care for the family’s reputation, who will care for my reputation?”

He hadn’t been successfully brainwashed by Ruan Ming. He was far from having the spirit of his elder sister Ruan Yue, who would sacrifice herself completely for family honor. He loved his family, but he loved himself more.

“You should consider the bigger picture and uphold the family’s honor. The family shares glory and loss with you… When the family is strong, it will naturally protect you and increase your own leverage.” Ruan Ming said with a self-righteous tone, somewhat like a father teaching his son: “Don’t think that just because you’re married now, with Auston backing you, you’re something special. Do you think you could be the duchess without the family’s support?”

The more he spoke, the more he felt he was right and Ruan Tang was too foolish: “If you don’t care for the family now, just wait until you have a disagreement with Auston—see who will stand up for you then!”

In his eyes, even though Ruan Tang was married off, a married son was still a branch of the family’s prosperity.

He had never seen a branch like Ruan Tang who cared so little about the main family’s prosperity…

Hearing this, Ruan Tang suddenly laughed: “Father is joking. You say it as if you and the family would really stand up for me if I had a dispute with the duke.”

The family had never given him any warmth or support, so what right did they have to demand his loyalty and sacrifice?

Ruan Ming choked immediately: “You—”

He was used to scolding Ruan Yue and other married Omega sons, but he had forgotten that Ruan Tang’s situation was different from theirs; when he married out, he had already become almost a pawn of the family.

“Father, is there anything else? If not, I’ll hang up first.” Ruan Tang sensed Ruan Ming’s anger but didn’t mind making him angrier.

The only reason he answered Ruan Ming’s call was to talk back to him. Making Ruan Ming lose face was a source of joy for him…

Ruan Ming frowned, his breath catching. He hadn’t expected this son to be so insolent now. He wanted to curse him out, but considering Ruan Tang’s current status and Auston’s favor toward him, he forced himself to hold back and said: “…I’m calling to inform you that my birthday banquet is in a few days. Remember to attend, and don’t cause any trouble at the banquet.”

He loved face the most. Even though the father-son relationship with Ruan Tang had long deteriorated to this point, he didn’t want to completely tear apart, end in ugliness, or cut ties. He hoped that at his birthday banquet, everyone would be present, with no one missing.

Especially now that Ruan Tang was so favored by Auston.

This was also why he hadn’t made much trouble for Ruan Tang when he agreed to let him take his ex-wife and eldest son and daughter, and had even given Ruan Tang so much money to maintain their relationship.

Although Ruan Tang was unfilial and didn’t please him, he was still his child… Ruan Ming considered himself a kind father who had never skimped on what he should give Ruan Tang.

“…Alright, I understand. I won’t cause trouble unless provoked. I’ll be there on time.” Ruan Tang gave a preemptive warning, thought for a moment, and then readily agreed to Ruan Ming’s request.

Although Ruan Ming was not good to him, it wasn’t so bad that Ruan Tang had to sever ties with him.

Seeing that his tone had softened a bit, Ruan Ming suddenly thought of something and asked: “Also, that Wen Run, is he really your elder sister’s son?”

With things having blown up like this, even he had learned from others that Wen Run might be his grandson.

Now, money was the last thing he lacked. He vaguely remembered that his eldest daughter had indeed avoided him and had a child with that poor guy back then. He had turned a blind eye and not made a fuss. Now that his daughter had become like this, he felt quite guilty toward her. He had always planned that if that child really existed and showed up, even if he couldn’t acknowledge his grandson for the sake of family honor, he could still give him a large sum of money to send him away, ensuring that child would be financially secure for life…

Unexpectedly, the conflict between Ruan Tang and Ruan Xi had brought out the mystery of Wen Run’s background.

If Wen Run, the empire’s most eye-catching young chief researcher of the First Research Institute, was indeed the child Ruan Yue had back then, then Ruan Ming would naturally have to reconsider and acknowledge this accomplished grandson.

However, now that Ruan Xi was lying in the hospital unconscious, he didn’t know whether Wen Run was truly his grandson or not…

Hearing Ruan Ming’s tone, Ruan Tang knew exactly what his father was scheming and thinking. He immediately sneered: “Father doesn’t even know if Wen Run is Sister’s son—how would I know, since I wasn’t even born back then? If you want the answer, you might as well go ask Wen Run directly.”

Ruan Ming’s face turned livid. He was about to say that he was the one who broke up Ruan Yue and his father back then; if he could have asked, he would have done so long ago, so why would he need this?

But before he could say anything, Ruan Tang had already hung up directly.

After hanging up, Ruan Tang rubbed his temples, feeling exhausted. Actually, Wen Run’s background was also a question he had been thinking about these past few days.

But judging from Ruan Xi’s implication, Wen Run’s attitude of never denying when he was attacked by online public opinion, and Ruan Ming’s inquiry just now, Ruan Tang felt it should be true.

Towards Wen Run, his former friend, Ruan Tang’s feelings were very complicated. He had long since decided to never interact with him again, even if Wen Run repented, apologized, or even helped him in this incident.

In his eyes, betrayal was betrayal. The relationship was like a broken mirror that could never be repaired.

But now, with Wen Run’s sudden revelation that he might be his elder sister’s son, Ruan Tang was uncertain… He himself didn’t want to reconcile with Wen Run or rebuild their friendship.

However, he thought, if Wen Run really was his elder sister’s son, and his sister was currently undergoing treatment, meeting her long-lost child might help her recovery.

Ruan Tang wanted to find an opportunity to sit down and have a proper talk with Wen Run, but not now, given their strained relationship.

He thought that if Wen Run didn’t come to him first, he wouldn’t take the initiative to ask.

…

Ruan Tang directly hung up on him, and Ruan Ming was so angry he nearly fainted.

Xia Ruzhi immediately stepped forward to support him, asking in a soft, concerned voice: “Master, what’s wrong? Did that child Ruan Tang make you angry again? This child is really…”

Although she was of noble birth, she was the illegitimate daughter of a noble family.

She grew up under the oppression of the legitimate wife, and when she grew up, her father and stepmother sent her to be a mistress to the already married Ruan Ming. Although she was said to be of noble birth, she actually had little backbone and was heavily domesticated.

In the past, before Tang Yun fell ill, she didn’t even have the right to sit at the table to eat.

Ruan Ming immediately shook off her hand and vented all his anger on her, shouting: “Look at the good son you raised! He goes and provokes Ruan Tang for no reason—doesn’t he know Ruan Tang is favored by Auston now? Now that it’s blown up to this point, let’s see how he fixes it… If he weren’t already in the hospital, I’d beat him to death!”

“Xiao Xi didn’t mean it either. He was just too wronged by the slander and acted out of confusion…” Xia Ruzhi immediately defended her son in a soft, weak voice.

But Ruan Ming ignored her completely and directly scolded her: “You tell him, he’d better secure his engagement with Shen Mozhi and the Shen Family. If the Shen Family rejects him because of this, now that he’s ruined and disgraced like this, you tell him to get out of the Ruan Family. Let it be as if I never gave birth to him—I don’t want such a shameful son.”

What he valued most was family reputation and interests.

Now the entire Ruan Family would become a laughingstock because of this. He was angry at more than just Ruan Tang alone.

Ruan Tang was married now, so he couldn’t control him, but he could still control Ruan Xi.

“Master, I understand. I’ll definitely talk to Xiao Xi properly. Mozhi loves him so much, he surely won’t abandon him over such a small matter…” Xia Ruzhi knew Ruan Ming’s ruthlessness best. Back then, he had doted on Ruan Yue and Ruan Yang, but after they had their accidents, he didn’t even go to see them, showing how heartless he could be.

She immediately apologized to Ruan Ming on Ruan Xi’s behalf, afraid that Ruan Ming would truly abandon Ruan Xi and expel him from the family.

Ruan Ming watched her grovel but was unimpressed. He warned her arrogantly: “It’d better be like that. Otherwise, you can forget about being the matriarch. Get out of the Ruan Family with him. There are plenty of people who want to be Madam Ruan. Back when the first wife had her accident, I chose you because you had a good temper and knew how to raise children!”

“Who knew you’d turn Ruan Xi into this?” He was a total straight-A macho Alpha.

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruzhi appeared submissive and humble on the surface, responding obediently, but the moment she lowered her eyes, a dark glint flashed in them.