"Aunt Zhuge gave my mother twenty million to agree to let my father marry her."
Xiao Changyan sneered coldly, glancing at Zhuge Ming's five fingers, feeling even more irritated by Zhuge Ming's earlier words. The so-called wealthy family sounded messy—what did he mean by a lover who could be kept on the side?
When Aunt Zhuge said she wanted to marry Dad, was it a proper marriage?
"…"
Zhuge Ming froze, unable to believe that his mother would be so extravagant for the man she wanted to marry this time. He shook his head frantically.
"Impossible!!"
"My mother cares about money more than anything. Even my father never got any benefits from her. Apart from the monthly allowance she gave him, she never even bought him a house. How could she be willing to give your mother twenty million?"
Was this still his money-obsessed mother?
Wait! Zhuge Ming suddenly realized something and looked incredulously at Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren.
"My mother gave your mother money? Your parents aren't divorced? My mother actually became someone else's mistress?"
Was she that in love? Giving away money and becoming a third party??
This news struck Zhuge Ming like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly bewildered. For a moment, his expression was a mix of complexity and guilt. If that were the case, Xiao Changyan had every right to be angry with him…
"Brother Ming, that's not it! My parents are already divorced. It's just that both my parents are orphans who grew up together since childhood. Even if they can't be husband and wife, they're still like siblings. My father and Aunt Zhuge are truly in love, so naturally, he sees my mother as a sister and wants to give her some money to take care of her~"
Shen Jiaren spoke up appropriately, her words immediately easing Zhuge Ming's worries. As long as she wasn't a mistress, it was fine. Getting married at this age was embarrassing enough—if it were exposed that she was someone else's third party, how would Zhuge Group save face?
"Hmph!"
Xiao Changyan snorted coldly, displeased by Zhuge Ming's speculation about his mother. He could tell that Zhuge Ming and Zhuge Rui didn't seem to get along well, and Zhuge Ming's words also made Xiao Changyan dislike him a little.
"Anyway, no matter what, you don't support your father marrying my mother either, right? My mother and father divorced over a year ago. She's forty-five this year—if word gets out that she's getting married again, how embarrassing would that be…"
He frowned and complained, but Shen Jiaren's smile vanished, her expression turning as cold as her brother's. Xiao Changyan sneered.
"Aunt Zhuge wanting to get married is her own business. As her son, not supporting her is one thing, but now you're speaking ill of her in front of us. I don't like you."
Xiao Changyan was blunt. From yesterday until now, he had rolled his eyes countless times. The thought of his father being bullied after entering a wealthy family made him angry. Now, seeing Zhuge Ming dare to slander his own mother, wouldn't his father be bullied to death if he entered their household?
"Who needs you to like me!!!" Zhuge Ming instinctively retorted, but noticing that Shen Jiaren, who had been smiling just moments ago, had also lost her smile, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Aunt Zhuge treated us to dinner yesterday. She's really nice, beautiful, and full of presence. Zhuge Ming, I don't want to hear you speak ill of Aunt Zhuge. I don't want to have coffee with you anymore."
She stood up immediately, and Xiao Changyan did the same. Cao Ziming, who had been devouring the desserts on the table just moments before, hurriedly rose as well, his mouth still stuffed with sweets. After enjoying the spectacle for a while, he now closely followed the Xiao siblings.
Zhuge Ming hadn’t expected the siblings to have such fiery tempers and quickly got up to chase after them. But Xiao Changyan, with Shen Jiaren in tow, left him behind without hesitation. Cao Ziming’s plump body trailed after them, and he even turned back to stick out his tongue at Zhuge Ming.
Just as Zhuge Ming tried to give chase, a waiter stopped him.
“Classmate, please settle the bill.”
!!!
Fuming with anger, Zhuge Ming had no choice but to take out his phone to pay. To his dismay, by the time he finished and stepped outside, Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren were nowhere to be seen. Jinghai City was so crowded—even if he tried to intercept them at the school gate, how could he possibly catch them again over the weekend?
Xiao Changyan was truly furious, striding forward with quick steps. His mind was filled with Zhuge Ming’s words: “Be my mother’s lover,” “I won’t allow you into the Zhuge family,” “How shameful it is for Aunt Zhuge to marry at her age.” Every word and action had angered him.
The world of the wealthy truly ran deep, and even a fool like Zhuge Ming could act so arrogantly. If Dad really entered the Zhuge family, wouldn’t he be bullied to death?
“Brother! Brother, wait!”
Shen Jiaren, tugging at her brother’s arm, called out to Xiao Changyan. She had originally hoped to glean some useful information from Zhuge Ming, but before she could find out anything substantial, her brother had already lost his temper.
Xiao Changyan subtly slowed his pace, allowing Shen Jiaren to catch up. Cao Ziming followed suit, and the three of them walked in a line into a bookstore. After purchasing several sets of practice exams, Xiao Changyan carried them out, only to have them snatched away by Cao Ziming.
“Changyan, let me carry them for you!”
Not daring to ask more about Uncle Xiao’s situation, the three of them tacitly took a detour home. Along the way, they encountered no more strange individuals. Once in the elevator, Cao Ziming handed the practice exams back to Xiao Changyan.
“I’m heading home now. Call me if anything comes up!”
He waved at Xiao Changyan, relieved just to confirm that his friend had no intention of transferring schools.
Carrying the practice exams, Xiao Changyan finally entered his home with Shen Jiaren. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw the couple, already awake.
Shen Zhaoyue and Xiao Guanyun rushed over to take the practice exams from their son’s hands, with Xiao Guanyun successfully claiming them.
“Changyan, it’s Saturday today. Why not take a break from studying? Staring at practice exams all the time isn’t good for your eyes. How about spending some time with Dad later?”
His tone was almost fawning. Holding his son’s practice exams, his handsome and gentle face was full of pleading.
“That’s right, Jiaren. Didn’t you want to visit the technology exhibition last time? Mom managed to get tickets. Shall we go today?”
Shen Zhaoyue also took out several tickets to the Jinghai City Technology Exhibition to appease her daughter. However, Shen Jiaren didn’t seem particularly thrilled. Instead, she said:
“Mom, Dad, we just ran into Aunt Zhuge’s son outside. He scolded Brother and seems completely against Dad marrying Aunt Zhuge. If you really end up living with Aunt Zhuge, Dad, he’ll definitely bully you!”
Shen Jiaren felt her parents were far too easy to take advantage of and quickly recounted everything that had just happened to her mother. Xiao Guanyun was taken aback by this. Seeing his son’s cold expression, he realized that his son was actually worried about him.
He immediately set down the papers, wrapped an arm around Xiao Changyan’s shoulders, and said gently,
"Changyan, Dad is sorry. It’s because of me that you’ve been wronged. But don’t worry—your Aunt Zhuge said she doesn’t plan to live with her two children after getting married. She’s bought a new villa, and I promise I won’t be bullied then."
Xiao Changyan was only fifteen, and now, belatedly, a wave of grievance washed over him. It wasn’t because he’d been scolded—it was because he was genuinely worried about Xiao Guanyun.
When he opened his mouth, his voice was choked with emotion.
"Do you really have to marry Aunt Zhuge? Her son doesn’t like you—he hates you. He’ll definitely bully you in the future. What if Jiaren and I can’t protect you? Dad, Jiaren and I will study hard, earn money, and make sure you become rich. Why do you have to marry into a wealthy family?"
They say marrying up is like swallowing needles. Even if Dad is a man, wouldn’t he still be at others’ mercy?
Xiao Guanyun hadn’t expected his son to care so much about him, to fear he’d be wronged. Gently, he hugged Xiao Changyan, holding his son close, and sighed.
"But Dad really likes your Aunt Zhuge."
This was the truth. Xiao Guanyun patted his son’s back softly, his voice unconsciously tender, even his face softening with a sweet smile.
"Zhuge Rui is a remarkable person. It seems like every time I’ve met her, I’ve been in a sorry state. Once, at a banquet, I was playing the piano, and my duet partner disappeared. She saw how flustered I was and stepped in to play with me. Only afterward did I learn she was the most important guest invited to that event."
"Later, at a high-end reception, a guest spilled red wine on my suit. It was Zhuge Rui who lent me a new one and even explained the situation to the manager so my pay wasn’t docked."
"And there was that car accident—I got rear-ended, and I had flowers in the car that needed to be delivered urgently. She left her secretary to handle things for me and personally drove me to deliver the flowers. Thinking back, it seems like any trouble disappears as soon as she shows up."
His voice grew even softer, like flowing water. Even Xiao Changyan, held in his arms, could hear the affection in his father’s words. Meanwhile, Shen Jiaren was hearing about Aunt Zhuge and her father’s story for the first time, her face full of astonishment.
"Oh my gosh! This is like something out of a drama! Aunt Zhuge is a real domineering CEO! She can solve anything!"
"Exactly," Shen Zhaoyue nodded seriously, having long understood Xiao Guanyun’s situation.
"Changyan, you know your dad and I both grew up in an orphanage. We’ve always wanted to be the kind of person the other could rely on, but as you can see, we haven’t quite managed it. We haven’t even been the strongest parents."
Thinking of the past, she could understand why Xiao Guanyun was moved.
"Your dad and I have dreamed since we were kids—if only we could meet a strong partner, someone who could protect us anytime and share any burden. Your Aunt Zhuge is the chairwoman of the Zhuge Group. She’s strong-willed, and that’s exactly what suits your dad best."
One excels at protecting and taking charge, the other loves being protected—what could be more perfect?
Finally soothed by his parents’ words, Xiao Changyan gradually calmed down. He pulled away from Xiao Guanyun’s embrace and mumbled quietly.
"I'm not against your relationship, I'm just worried you're marrying into a wealthy family for money. But if you like Aunt Zhuge, I agree to your marriage. Actually, Aunt Zhuge is quite nice."
She liked Mom, and she liked him and his sister too—she was a truly wonderful person.
Hearing his son praise the person he loved, Xiao Guanyun's brain short-circuited again in that moment, and he blurted out without hesitation:
"I knew you'd like your Aunt Zhuge! Jiaren, do you like Aunt Zhuge?"
Shen Jiaren, unaware of the shocking words her father was about to utter, obediently nodded.
"Yes, Aunt Zhuge is very nice. I like her a lot."
Then, in the next second, Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren heard their father's utterly deranged voice.
"Great! Then Dad will marry into the Zhuge family. You two can come with me and marry into your Aunt Zhuge's household, taking the Zhuge surname. As for your mom, I'll beg your Aunt Zhuge—she'll definitely agree to let your mom take the Zhuge surname too!!"
???
Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Dad, have you lost your mind?"
"What do you mean, 'marry into Aunt Zhuge's household' together?"
After questioning their father, they both turned to look at their mother, Shen Zhaoyue, only to find her holding up both index fingers, pressing their tips together in a gesture of bashfulness.
"Don't you think the name 'Zhuge Zhaoyue' sounds really clever?"
…
Had Mom lost her mind too??
What kind of father marries into a wealthy family and drags the whole family along to change their surname??
Xiao Guanyun seemed oblivious to his children's shock and even began fantasizing about their future in the Zhuge family.
"Once you both marry into the Zhuge family with me, if Aunt Zhuge's son bullies me, you can keep protecting Dad! We'll all have the Zhuge surname anyway—who's afraid of whom?"
Author's Note: