Shen Xin’s features closely resembled Shen Dongjun’s. Because he indulged in wine and women and had no idea how to take care of himself, his complexion was paler than most people’s, and he had also developed the characteristic middle-aged paunch.
Even so, he wasn’t unattractive. In fact, by human standards, he was still a rather amiable-looking chubby man. It was clear that the Shen family had truly excellent genes.
“Butler Suxin?” Shen Xin had heard that a young and beautiful female butler had come to Shen Residence, so he had already been mentally prepared. Yet when he saw Suxin in person, he was still stunned by her beauty for quite a while.
After the astonishment came wild delight.
Suppressing his excitement, he gave a brief self-introduction. Then, without bothering with pleasantries, he got straight to the point. “I wonder how much Miss Suxin is paid for working as the Shen family’s butler?”
“It’s decent.” Suxin named a figure. The Shen family was extremely wealthy, and the salary they had offered her was quite substantial.
Shen Xin laughed.
He shook his head. “Last year, my younger son came of age. His mother bought him a car as a gift. It was worth this much.”
He gestured with his hand and smiled. “Butler, how long would you have to work to earn that much?”
Suxin lifted her coffee and took a sip. Its rich flavor made her eyes curve pleasantly.
Shen Xin had chosen this café. He wasn’t much of a person, but he certainly knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.
Shen Xin’s gaze fell on the fingers holding her cup. Everyone praised his daughter-in-law, Han Qingzi, as a rare beauty, but he shook his head. She was nowhere near the extraordinary beauty before him.
When Suxin ignored him and focused only on savoring her coffee, he didn’t get angry. He merely smiled and said, “You should be aware of the situation in my family. The Shen family has only one legitimate heir, Dongjun, and there has only ever been one Madam Shen: Dongjun’s late mother.”
When Suxin finally looked over, he revealed a confident smile. “One of my lovers can casually produce several million to buy a gift for my illegitimate son. Take a guess—how much wealth do you think the Young Madam of the Shen family can control?”
“Would you like to become the Young Madam of the Shen family?”
Suxin blinked.
So that was what he was after.
The more Shen Xin looked at her, the more satisfied he became. Not to mention that his son disliked the women he had found before, even getting past Old Master Shen had been difficult.
But as for the Suxin before him, he had investigated her background. Her education and abilities were excellent, and she was young and beautiful. Putting such an attractive woman beside a vigorous young grandson—what Old Master Shen was thinking was obvious without saying.
He had probably had enough of Han Qingzi, that granddaughter-in-law, too!
“Oh…” Suxin finished the coffee in her cup in one breath and said slowly, “I seem to remember that the Shen family already has a Young Madam.”
Shen Xin didn’t believe there was any woman in the world who could refuse such temptation. He smiled arrogantly. “Since you work for the Shen family, can’t you see the situation clearly? My son and daughter-in-law are a pair of resentful spouses. They’ll split up sooner or later.”
“I think you’re the one who’s too old and blind to see clearly.” Suxin’s expression suddenly turned cold as she scolded him.
Caught off guard by the rebuke, Shen Xin couldn’t react for a moment. He stared at her blankly.
Suxin sat up straight, her tone even more resolute than Shen Xin’s oath-taking speeches back when he was in school. “The Young Master and Young Madam clearly love each other and are deeply devoted to one another. With me here, they will certainly grow old together!”
Shen Xin: ?
Suxin looked at him disdainfully. “You’re an old man over fifty, yet you spend all day staring at the little things between your own son and daughter-in-law. Is there something wrong with you?”
Shen Xin felt that, listening to her, he seemed like some kind of pervert.
No—that was when he came to his senses. His expression darkened.
“Suxin, I kindly wanted to give you a heaven-defying fortune. Don’t be so ungrateful!”
“Even Lili wouldn’t believe you if you said that to her.” Lili was the large golden retriever at Shen Residence. She had a pair of gentle, big eyes and was incredibly adorable.
Suxin mocked him. “You’re simply incompetent. Your own father gave up on you, and you’ve wronged your son. You’re afraid no one will support you when you’re old, so you want to take a crooked path and stir up trouble.”
She shook her head. “Give it up. Shen Dongjun isn’t falling for that.”
Shen Xin’s face turned livid. As Old Master Shen’s only son, he had been flattered and indulged by everyone from childhood to old age. In his entire life, no one had ever pointed at his nose and lectured him like this, much less a junior.
Most outrageous of all, who was this woman? What right did she have to say such things to him?
Was she sick?
“Why am I scolding you?”
Zhu Yin couldn’t be bothered to continue talking to him. She rose and told him, “When you investigated my background, didn’t you find out that I’m a shipper for the Young Master and Young Madam?”
Shen Xin: ???
Who the hell would investigate something like that?
No, wait. His son and Han Qingzi had shippers?
Zhu Yin paid no attention to how Shen Xin felt inside the private room. She checked the time. It was still early, and she had taken the entire day off today. She couldn’t waste it!
…
The Shen family.
Shen Dongjun listened to the information sent back by the private detective.
The details of Zhu Yin and Shen Xin’s conversation had also been relayed in full.
He wasn’t surprised in the slightest that Shen Xin had said those things.
Shen Dongjun sneered. That old bastard had been using these disgraceful tricks for years without the slightest improvement.
Zhu Yin’s words, however, had stunned not only Shen Xin. Shen Dongjun had also been shaken for quite some time.
She was a shipper for him and Han Qingzi?
What the hell?
Shen Dongjun had no doubts about Zhu Yin’s abilities, nor did he believe the private detective had been capable of deceiving her.
Since the information had been sent back, the only explanation was that these words were things Zhu Yin had intended for him to hear from the beginning.
He sat there for quite a while before continuing to read.
His butler had had an exceptionally fulfilling day. At noon, she had gone to eat at a famous seafood restaurant. After that, she had gone to a themed amusement park, conquered all the game stalls by herself, and won more than a hundred stuffed toys of various sizes, along with a long string of balloons. She had hired four college students working part-time to help her carry everything. She had even rented a cotton-candy machine and a stall, where she made cotton candy for visitors free of charge…
In the end, she had given away all the toys. He heard that all the children in the amusement park had chased after her, asking to call her “Mom.”
Shen Dongjun: …
Once again, he wondered whether someone like this had really come to the Shen family to plot some kind of scheme.
.
Shen Xin returned home with a gloomy expression.
Wen Qiuye brought him a glass of water, helped him sit down on the sofa, and then skillfully massaged his temples.
After a whole series of gentle maneuvers, his expression improved considerably.
Of all his many lovers, Wen Qiuye was the one who had accompanied him the longest. He was very fond of her gentle and ingratiating nature. The daughter and son she had given birth to were also Shen Xin’s most beloved children.
His eldest daughter, Wen Jian, had gone abroad to study years ago and had stayed overseas to work ever since. She had rarely returned in recent years.
His younger son, Wenzong, was nineteen and still in school.
Only after seeing that his mood had improved somewhat did Wen Qiuye speak softly. “Xiaozong called today. He said that at the company, he can only do odd jobs. It’s exhausting, and he isn’t learning anything. His lower back aches all over by the end of the day, and he feels terribly wronged.”
Shen Xin shot her a glance. “I told you before. How old is he? He should be enjoying his youth at school. You were the one who insisted that the boy was ambitious and asked me to send him to Shen Corporation for training.”
Wen Qiuye looked aggrieved. “I didn’t know he’d be doing odd jobs every day and wouldn’t be able to learn anything.”
Shen Xin sneered. “What kind of people does Shen Corporation’s headquarters hire? Interns have to be master’s graduates from prestigious universities at the very least. He got in through connections because his father paid to send him there. What position does he expect to get?”
Wen Qiuye was unconvinced and blurted out, “Shen Dongjun followed Old Master Shen directly into the company back then…”
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she had gone too far. Sure enough, when she turned back, she saw Shen Xin watching her with a half-smile.
“Qiuye.” He reached out and caressed his lover’s well-maintained, still-smooth cheek.
Wearily, he pulled her hand down and said heavily, “Wenzong is your and my child. He’s an illegitimate son who can’t even be entered into the Shen family genealogy. Looking at him all these years, he doesn’t seem particularly promising either. For him to have a life of material comfort without worry is already quite good.”
“No matter how much I dislike Shen Dongjun, I have to admit that he is the sole legitimate heir of the Shen family, the one in whom Old Master Shen has placed his hopes. He’s stronger than I am—a person who can lead the Shen family farther.”
Only if the Shen family prospered could his own wealth and status continue.
His gaze swept over his lover’s pale face, and he said gently, “A person must know their own limits. Don’t covet what doesn’t belong to you. Do you understand?”