On the other side.
After receiving He Zhiheng’s message that he had already taken Yu Huan home, Zhu Heqing thanked him.
Shortly afterward, he received a message from his mother.
[Son, come to the old residence after you finish work today.]
Zhu Heqing replied that he understood. After work, he drove back to the Zhu family’s old residence.
The Zhu family’s ancestral home was in an extremely prime location. From inside the house, one could see several of Beijing’s famous landmarks. The decorations retained the style of a traditional ancestral residence, with expensive flowers and plants everywhere, along with antique furniture.
When Zhu Heqing arrived, the usually quiet and peaceful Zhu residence was filled with noise.
“Yunshu, you’ve stayed at the Zhu family for so many years. Now that President Zhu has a girlfriend, it would only be appropriate for you to return to the Xu family.”
A richly dressed woman stood elegantly in the middle of the Zhu family’s living room, speaking in an unhurried manner.
“There have already been all kinds of rumors about you. Even after you went abroad, things didn’t exactly get any better. You may not care about your own reputation, but the Xu family and the Zhu family still have their reputations to protect. Don’t you agree, Madam Zhu?”
Shang Ying sat on the sofa beside Xu Yunshu.
Hearing this, she gently patted Xu Yunshu’s hand.
“Yunshu is the goddaughter we’ve acknowledged. She’s a daughter of the Zhu family. What’s wrong with a daughter staying in her own home?”
Madam Xu wasn’t angry. She merely smiled.
“You consider her your daughter, but what she really wants to be—is she trying to become the daughter of the Zhu family, or the Zhu family’s…”
She deliberately stopped there, leaving the rest unsaid.
“How about this?” Zhu Heqing asked calmly as he loosened his tie. “Your Xu family doesn’t treat her like a daughter, yet you won’t allow anyone else to?”
Xu Yunshu saw him, and the emotions she had been desperately holding back finally collapsed. Tears streamed down her face.
Madam Xu’s expression remained unchanged.
“President Zhu, you’re joking. Yunshu will always be our daughter.”
“A daughter you only remember when you need someone for a marriage alliance?” Zhu Heqing sneered, his words sharp. “Then whoever becomes your Xu family’s daughter is pretty unfortunate.”
Ever since Xu Yunshu’s biological mother passed away, the Xu family had done little more than send her money. They didn’t even care whether Xu Yunshu returned home or not.
The year her mother died, Xu Yunshu had been personally chosen by Old Master Xu to be the heir to the Xu family.
Madam Xu had never liked her, and after Madam Xu gave birth to a son of her own, that resentment only grew stronger.
Over the years, Old Master Xu’s health had deteriorated, and his mind had become increasingly muddled. Madam Xu therefore wanted to marry Xu Yunshu off as soon as possible through a marriage alliance, allowing her own son to inherit the Xu family.
“Looks like Yunshu won’t be coming home today.” Madam Xu smiled faintly. “That’s fine. I won’t force you to return. Next Wednesday is your grandfather’s eightieth birthday. Remember to prepare yourself and be there on time.”
“President Zhu, Madam Zhu, I’ll be leaving now. See you at the banquet.”
With that, Madam Xu gracefully walked out of the Zhu residence.
Shang Ying took a handkerchief and gently wiped Xu Yunshu’s tears, her face full of concern.
“The Xu family isn’t entirely under her control. Your grandfather still favors you. Besides, you have your godmother and godfather. No one can force you to marry.”
“Godmother, Brother, I’m really sorry for causing you trouble.”
Xu Yunshu’s eyes were red as she apologized.
Zhu Heqing glanced at her.
“Don’t take what she said to heart.”
“I know.”
Xu Yunshu sniffled. “It’s getting late. I’ll go home first.”
Shang Ying stopped her.
“Stay here tonight. Shenyuan is too far away, and you won’t be safe going back alone. Besides, neither you nor A-Heqing lives here anymore. The house feels so empty without you two. It doesn’t feel lively at all.”
Xu Yunshu subconsciously glanced at Zhu Heqing.
He had already taken off his suit jacket. His long, well-defined fingers rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing a section of his cool, pale wrist.
“Stay here. It’s not safe to go back alone.”
He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
Shang Ying looked puzzled.
“A-Heqing, what are you doing in the kitchen?”
“Making soup. Tomorrow’s the weekend. I’m going to see Fufu.”
“You’ve been dating someone and actually kept it from your family. If someone hadn’t seen you with that young girl at a bar and told me about it, I wouldn’t have known.”
Knowing that her son was finally in a relationship, the faint worry in Shang Ying’s heart finally disappeared.
She knew her son well.
Even if Yunshu truly had feelings for A-Heqing, she would only keep those feelings buried deep inside.
“Yunshu, you’ve met your brother’s girlfriend, right? What is that girl like?”
Xu Yunshu suppressed the bitterness in her heart and answered softly,
“She’s very pretty and has a lively personality.”
Shang Ying became even more interested.
“A-Heqing, bring that girl to the banquet next Wednesday. I want to meet her too.”
Although Shang Ying had made the decision on a whim, the more she thought about it, the more sensible it seemed.
The rumors outside were flying everywhere. Even if one didn’t care about them, every now and then, a word or two would still find its way into one’s heart.
If A-Heqing brought his girlfriend to the banquet, those rumors would naturally disappear.
“I can’t decide that,” Zhu Heqing’s voice came from the kitchen. “It depends on whether Fufu is willing.”
…
“You should’ve seen it. Auntie Zhang had a rolling pin in one hand and her other hand on her hip, standing right outside Grandma Wang’s door. She told her that if she kept talking nonsense, she’d stuff that rolling pin into her mouth.”
Zhou Muyang sat cross-legged on the sofa, controlling Li Bai with both hands as he helped Yu Huan steal the enemy’s blue buff. At the same time, he excitedly recounted Zhang Ya’s heroic confrontation with the neighbors the previous day.
“Uncle Yu was standing right behind Auntie Zhang. Whoever said anything, he’d glare at them. No one else dared to make a sound because they were all afraid they’d be the next person she went after.”
Zhou Muyang had happened to be returning from a friend’s house at the time and witnessed the usually gentle Auntie Zhang blocking someone and giving them a piece of her mind.
Without thinking twice, he put down his things and joined the battle.
His parents even rewarded him 200 yuan for it afterward.
“But who was that guy who took you home yesterday?” Zhou Muyang asked curiously. “Which poor fool got fooled by your looks this time?”
Yu Huan had a popsicle between her teeth as she played Yao, riding on top of Zhou Muyang’s character while using her first and second skills to deal damage.
She successfully secured a triple kill.
“You’re so nosy.”
Yu Huan was in a good mood after getting the triple kill, so she casually explained,
“He’s Zhu Heqing’s friend. It was raining, so Zhu Heqing asked him to take me home.”
Zhou Muyang also knew that Chen Jiahao had gone to meet Yu Huan.
He muttered, “I was nearby yesterday. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Why would I call you?”
Zhou Muyang tapped on the enemy’s crystal.
“You used to call me whenever something happened.”
“That was before. This isn’t before anymore.”
“Heh.”
Zhou Muyang snorted.
“It’s actually better that you don’t call me anymore. I finally don’t have to be your servant.”
There was a square-dance competition in the neighborhood that day, so both families’ parents had gone out early in the morning to participate.
Only Yu Huan and Zhou Muyang were at home.
After finishing another ranked match and successfully gaining two stars, Yu Huan rubbed her stomach.
“I’m hungry.”
“Why are you looking at me? I don’t know how to cook.”
Zhou Muyang glared at her before adding,
“I already ordered takeout. Just wait a little longer.”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.