Li Yingfeng's gaze was vacant as he stared at the child, his hands stiffly reaching out as if beyond his control.
The moment Chu Qilin was caught in his arms, the boy wrapped his arms around his neck and hooked his little legs around his waist, crying out with innocent excitement, "I have a father now! I finally have a father! Father, I missed you so much! You don't know—everyone else has a father, but I never did. I was so sad! But now I finally have a father, and I'm not afraid of being bullied anymore!"
Yesterday, when he heard there was a child who looked exactly like him, Li Yingfeng had been shocked and skeptical.
Today, he had come specifically for this child!
Yet, looking at this miniature version of himself, his usually cold and composed heart suddenly blazed like a fire, the flames roaring fiercely as if they would melt him entirely.
Excitement—that was only natural. Even he hadn't noticed how captivating the smile curling at the corners of his lips was.
But upon hearing his son's elated words, the smile at his lips stiffened, and his burning heart felt as if scorched, aching with a dull, suffocating pain.
His son had been bullied?!
"Father, can you take me out to play? I want to go out with you and let everyone see that I have a father now!" Chu Qilin suddenly pleaded.
"…Mm." Li Yingfeng snapped back to reality, and as if subdued by the boy, his feet moved toward the door of their own accord.
As he turned around, Chu Xinrao saw her son wink at her.
She gave a sharp twitch of her lips, then shot her son a thumbs-up.
Not bad for her boy—well done!
"Master, aren't you going to follow and see?" Caier, watching the young young master being carried off, hurried inside to ask.
"No need."
"The young master's father doesn't seem like an ordinary man. Aren't you afraid he might take the young master away?"
"Heh heh!" Chu Xinrao couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He was her son—how could she not understand him?
She only hoped her son would stay sensible and not drive his own biological father to the brink…
…
On the other side, Li Yingfeng went out to "show off his father" as his son requested.
However, once on the street, he was dragged by his son into various shops.
Fine silks from Yunlan Pavilion, expensive jewelry from Fuman Tower, cosmetics and powders from Shangxian Zhai…
At every store, he picked nothing but the newest and most expensive items.
Yang Xing and Li Hui followed behind the father and son. At first, they thought the young heir was merely curious and amused by these things, but as several thousand taels of silver notes went out, not only did the two men's expressions sour, even the prince's own face grew somewhat cold and grim.
Watching the little one turn a pair of gold bangles over and over in his hands, Yang Xing couldn't help but step forward, bending down to speak to him, "Young master, these bangles aren't suitable for you to wear. If you like these gold and silver trinkets, why not pick something else? I see there's a gold lock over there that would suit you quite well."
Chu Qilin glanced at him, then looked up at Li Yingfeng, his eyes suddenly turning red. "Father, can't we buy them? But I just want to buy this pair of bangles for Mother. All these years, Mother and I have depended on each other, enduring the scorn of the world. Especially Mother—she raised me alone, never willing to eat the good food herself. In the bitter cold, she would rather fall ill herself than let me suffer the chill. Now that we father and son are reunited, I just want to buy some nice things for Mother. Is that not allowed?"
His clear eyes shimmered with tears, on the verge of spilling over, pitiful enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings.
Yang Xing immediately shrank his neck, wishing he could slap himself.
Li Hui quickly pulled him aside and said in a hushed voice, "Did you see that? The young master is so filial. A child this thoughtful is truly rare! Our master isn't short on silver anyway—why are you butting in?"
Yang Xing looked at the little one and felt deeply ashamed.
Yes, the young heir already knew to care for his mother at such a tender age—clearly, that woman had raised him well.
And thinking of how the mother and son had depended on each other all these years, with no man to support them, how miserable must their lives have been?
Seeing the tears his son was holding back, Li Yingfeng turned to the shopkeeper and said, "Wrap up this pair of gold bracelets!"
Back at the residence.
Chu Xinrao had no idea that her son had swept through the finest goods of every major shop in the city in just half a day.
Having traveled all night without sleep, she ate, bathed, and then caught up on rest in her room.
She slept until the sun had set.
Darkness had already fallen beyond the window. She was just about to get up and light a lamp when she suddenly noticed a dark figure sitting by her bedside.
"Ah!" She cried out and sat up abruptly, her hand instinctively reaching under the pillow.
Hidden there was her weapon for self-defense!
"You really can sleep!"
A low, cold, and hard voice reached her ears.
She was startled. "You… how are you here?"
"Woman, have you forgotten the wicked deed you did to me?" The man reached out and precisely gripped her chin.
In the dim light, Chu Xinrao couldn't make out his expression, but she could feel the vengeful intent radiating from his entire being.
She bit her lip and asked, "What must you do to forgive me?"
The man's cold breath brushed against her cheeks as he uttered word by word, "Naturally, to repay in kind!"
Chu Xinrao's eyes flew wide open.
But quickly, she lowered her gaze and whispered, "Is that all? Then… fine."
"Take it off!"
"…!"
Realizing he was determined to have his revenge tonight, Chu Xinrao hesitated no longer and decisively unfastened her undergarment.
As his tall frame pressed down upon her, she felt both shame and fluster, nervously pressing both hands against his chest. "You… don't be so impatient…"
"You were far more impatient back then than I am now!" Li Yingfeng tore her hands away and, mimicking her old roughness, yanked off her bodice.
"You… mmph…" Chu Xinrao tried to say more, but his breath landed on her lips in an instant, swallowing every word she had.
She knew this debt had to be repaid!
But back then, she had been under the influence of drugs, and many details were hazy to her.
Now, she was fully awake, and with every move he made, all her senses were indescribably sharp and intense.
Her only hope now was that he would "finish quickly" and wipe away this shameful debt she couldn't bear to recall.
However, what followed did not go as she wished.
The man was like a flood unleashed—a ferocious beast—not even giving her a chance to beg for mercy. Just as she had once "roughly plucked the flower," he seemed bent on draining her dry.
That night was like a violent storm, tinged with the heat of kindling meeting dry firewood. Chu Xinrao was like driftwood on a lake, helplessly battered by the crashing waves…
The next day.
She was in a deep sleep when she heard Caier urgently calling, "Milady! Wake up! Someone has come from the Prince of Yunan's residence!"
She peeled open her eyelids and looked weakly at Caier. "What Prince of Yunan's residence… who's come…"
"It's the Prince of Yun'an's mansion! I heard the Prince has returned from the capital and even sent someone specifically to escort you there!"
"…?!" Chu Xinrao was somewhat more awake now, but her drowsy eyes were filled with confusion.
Why would a prince want to see her?