You Rebellious Child

As soon as Lily Evans and Alexander Hayes heard the news, they dropped their bowls and rushed to the Yu Residence.

Lily was utterly puzzled and asked Simon Yu, "What's going on with Dr. Rowan? Isn't he always protective and especially fond of Quentin? Why would he suddenly beat him?"

Simon Yu was sweating nervously, "I have no idea either! When I entered the study, I overheard Dr. Rowan scolding Quentin. Quentin talked back a few times, and Dr. Rowan flew into a rage, tied him up with a belt, and hung him from the beam to give him a beating!"

Lily panicked at once, waddling faster with her belly, urging Alexander to help her hurry and rescue Quentin.

Lily knew that although Quentin Lin could be mischievous, he was a good kid and would never cross the line. Besides, Quentin was clever; even if he got into trouble, he knew how to keep it in check—never enough to make his father so furious as to tie him up and whip him.

Worry gnawed at Lily. The kid was only six—what if something went seriously wrong?

Today, their mother happened to be out, and with no one to stop their father, Lily could only hope nothing bad would happen to Quentin.

Seeing Lily so anxious, Alexander simply half-carried her, speeding them along.

The trio had just reached the courtyard outside the study when they heard Quentin Lin crying, his sobs echoing through the air.

"Dad, even if you keep beating me, it won't change anything!" Quentin kicked his legs in midair, his big, tearful eyes swollen and red from crying. "Our Lin family's medical skills may be the best here, but there's always someone better out there! What I read in the library is way more advanced than what our family knows!"

Dr. Rowan was trembling with rage, raising his hand to hit Quentin but hesitating at the last moment. He roared, "Quentin, you unfilial child! How dare you insult our family's medical skills with those barbaric foreign books! Do you think you're honoring our ancestors?"

But Quentin was stubborn as ever. "Dad, I'm telling the truth! Those books are really advanced! You haven't even read them, yet you call them barbaric and backward. That's just prejudice!"

Dr. Rowan's hands shook with anger. "You dare talk back to me? You think you know better than your father now?"

Quentin, still hanging in midair, wiped his tears and said, "Dad, I just want to help the family get better. If we keep clinging to the old ways, we'll get left behind!"

Simon Yu quickly stepped in, "Dr. Rowan, please calm down! Quentin didn't mean any disrespect—he's just passionate about improving our family's legacy."

Lily Evans hurried forward, "Dr. Rowan, Quentin's only six. He's just a child!"

Alexander Hayes added, "Dr. Rowan, maybe Quentin's got a point. Why not take a look at those books first?"

Dr. Rowan glared at everyone, but his anger was already starting to fade. He let out a long sigh and finally lowered Quentin from the beam.

Quentin, rubbing his sore arms, managed a weak smile. "Dad, I promise—I'll work hard and make our family's medical skills even better!"