I Already Severed Ties With Them. Who Would Bother With Them Now? - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: I’ve Had Enough!

“Zhang Xiaofeng, as a live-in son-in-law, you’re not allowed to sit at the table for meals. Don’t you have any self-awareness? Get down!”

“What are you standing there for? Staring blankly with those egg-sized eyes? Didn’t you hear me? Get off the table! A son-in-law can’t eat at the table!”

An angry shout snapped Zhang Xiaofeng out of his daze. He glanced at the luxurious round table and the guests surrounding it, his face flushing with embarrassment.

He was a live-in son-in-law—technically not married yet, just an intended one. His future father-in-law had no sons, so this arrangement was made. Still, the entire family treated him with no respect at all, constantly criticizing him over trivial matters.

Today, many guests had come to visit. Zhang Xiaofeng thought he could finally eat at the table. After all, how would it look if the son-in-law stood outside holding a bowl? So he took a seat on his own accord.

But now, his father-in-law had asked him to leave the table in front of everyone.

Zhang Xiaofeng came from a poor area in the northwest. He had worked hard in Jiang City and climbed the ladder in a software company, eventually becoming the general manager. The boss’s daughter—Su Yuebai—was his fiancée. They had been university classmates, and upon graduation, he joined her family’s company at her invitation.

Since the Su Family had no sons, they wanted a live-in son-in-law. Zhang Xiaofeng initially resisted, but Su Yuebai persuaded him. For the sake of their relationship, he compromised. He wasn’t interested in their wealth—he simply didn’t want to give up on love.

They got engaged six months ago and planned to marry this month. Three months ago, Su Yuebai asked him to move in. Zhang Xiaofeng hesitated. Her father was always stern, and her mother was the same. As an outsider, he felt he wouldn’t have an easy time living there. But under Su Yuebai’s repeated pleas, he eventually agreed.

Only after moving in did Zhang Xiaofeng realize this was the beginning of a nightmare.

At first, Su Yuebai treated him kindly. But under her parents’ influence, she gradually grew cold, petty, and critical. Sometimes, she would even join her parents in mocking him for being weak and living off others.

They constantly humiliated him, forbade him from eating at the table, and restricted everything. For the sake of their past love, Zhang Xiaofeng chose to endure and kept backing down.

But when he reached his limit and finally argued back, the entire family—including the nanny—would gang up on him. They called him a penniless loser from the northwest, saying they fed and clothed him, and he still dared to talk back.

“Zhang Xiaofeng, are you deaf? I told you to get down from the table! If you heard me, then move!”

Zhang Xiaofeng turned his head with a cold stare. It was Su Yuebai, sitting beside her parents and glaring at him angrily.

Some guests were already stunned by the scene, pausing their meals with awkward expressions. But once they understood what was happening, they weren’t surprised. After all, being a live-in son-in-law was never a dignified role. Though the Su Family was excessive, most felt that any live-in son-in-law would be treated poorly. They sighed, feeling sorry for Zhang Xiaofeng.

Holding his chopsticks midair, Zhang Xiaofeng froze. He had been about to take some food. The chopsticks hovered over a dish of stir-fried green peppers with eggs. He had helped in the kitchen and was starving. Just as he finally sat down, they demanded he leave.

Zhang Xiaofeng looked around at the large table. Despite the empty seats, there was no room for him. He took a deep breath and picked up the piece of stir-fried pepper and egg anyway and placed it into his mouth.

“What!”

“Zhang Xiaofeng, what are you doing!”

“Didn’t we tell you to get out? How dare you still eat?!”

“Who gave you the guts!”

The shouting echoed through the living room. Su Yuebai’s father, Su Qianghai, glared at Zhang Xiaofeng furiously. So many people were watching, yet the son-in-law dared to disobey him. Where was his dignity now?

Su Yuebai’s mother, Wang Dajuan, slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “Zhang Xiaofeng, try eating another bite if you dare!”

Zhang Xiaofeng didn’t even blink. Under the stunned gazes of the guests, he picked up another piece of stir-fried green pepper and egg and chewed it calmly.

If I want to eat, I’ll eat. Why should I obey you?

“You…!” Wang Dajuan was so furious her nose looked crooked. She couldn’t believe she, as the lady of the house, had lost control of even an outsider.

“Xiaoyue, look at the man you’ve chosen. Are you just going to stand there? Teach him a lesson!” Su Qianghai shouted.

The atmosphere in the spacious living room turned oppressive. None of the guests continued eating—they just watched in silence. This scene was shocking to them. Zhang Xiaofeng clearly had no dignity left, yet he dared to go against the family. It was gutsy. But it also made Su Qianghai and Wang Dajuan lose face.

Su Yuebai stood up and walked over to Zhang Xiaofeng. Looking down at him, she said coldly, “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear my parents tell you not to eat at the table? How can you still sit here and eat? Don’t you have any respect for elders?”

Zhang Xiaofeng looked up at her. He couldn’t understand why the once-loving Su Yuebai had turned into this under her parents’ influence. Publicly humiliating him like this—wasn’t this just another outdated custom? Why couldn’t he eat at the table? Was he not human just because he was a live-in son-in-law?

He was burning with anger. He had had enough today.

Ignoring her, he picked up another piece of food—not the cheap stir-fried egg this time, but a prized Yangcheng Lake hairy crab. As he chewed, Su Yuebai, Su Qianghai, and Wang Dajuan were all dumbfounded. How could he remain so calm and shameless in such a situation?

The guests were also shocked. They didn’t expect Zhang Xiaofeng to keep eating so calmly amid the awkward scene. His mental fortitude… was impressive. But clearly, his face was flushed with embarrassment—he was doing this out of spite, showing them his anger.

After savoring the fragrant crab, Zhang Xiaofeng casually picked up a braised pork knuckle. As he ate, he said, “Why can’t I eat at the table? Why should I listen to you? It’s my mouth—I’ll eat what I want. Don’t like it? Then leave!”

“What! How dare you!”

“You are not allowed to eat at the table! It’s a house rule. Live-in sons-in-law can’t eat at the table! That’s the rule!”

Bang!

Zhang Xiaofeng slammed his palm on the table, making it shake violently. It almost toppled, if not for a guest steadying it. Standing up, he shouted coldly, “To hell with that! Am I not human, Su Qianghai? Have you ever treated me like a person? Yes, I’m a live-in son-in-law—but don’t you realize that this is pure humiliation? This is trampling on my dignity! I am a human being—not a dog!”

“This is our family rule! You must obey it!”

Bang!

Zhang Xiaofeng kicked a chair. It flew across the room and smashed into the wall, leaving a visible crack. He roared, “Family rule? You call this a rule? I call it a disgusting custom! Yes, I’m from the northwest, and yes, it’s poor there. But even back home, we don’t have such revolting customs! This city is rich—so why are your ideas so backward?! You look down on me and never once treated me as an equal!”

Su Yuebai stood frozen. She had never seen Zhang Xiaofeng so furious.

With a loud smack, Su Qianghai slapped the table and stood up, roaring, “What did you say?! Who do you think you are, scaring my daughter like that? So what if we won’t let you eat at the table? Tell me, when has any live-in son-in-law ever had status? If you can name one in history, I’ll apologize to you right now in front of everyone!”

Zhang Xiaofeng didn’t take the bait. He shouted back coldly, “I’m asking you today—why can’t I, as a son-in-law, eat at the table? Do you even see me as a person?!”