At the same time.
After receiving the message from He Zhiheng saying he had already sent the person home, Zhu Heqing replied with a simple word of thanks.
Soon after, he received a message from Mother Zhu:
【Son, come back to the old residence after you finish your work today.】
Zhu Heqing replied with a “Okay,” then drove back to the Zhu Family old residence after work.
The Zhu Family ancestral home was located in an extremely prime area. From the house, one could overlook famous landmarks in Beijing. The residence maintained the elegance of an old ancestral estate, filled with rare flowers, plants, and antique furniture.
When Zhu Heqing arrived, the usually quiet Zhu Family home was filled with noise.
“Yunshu, you’ve stayed in the Zhu Family for so many years. Now that President Zhu has a girlfriend, it’s only right—morally and practically—that you return to the Xu Family Residence.”
A richly dressed noblewoman stood gracefully in the Zhu Family hall, speaking slowly and deliberately.
“Back then, there were all sorts of rumors. Even after you went abroad, things didn’t get any better. You may not care about your reputation, but the Xu Family Residence and the Zhu Family still do. Don’t you agree, Madam Zhu?”
Shang Ying sat on the sofa, Xu Yunshu sitting beside her with a pale face.
Hearing this, she gently patted Xu Yunshu’s hand.
“Yunshu is our goddaughter. She is a daughter of the Zhu Family. Madam Xu, what’s wrong with a daughter living in her own home?”
Madam Xu was not angered. Instead, she let out a soft laugh.
“You treat her as a daughter… but does she want to be the Zhu Family’s daughter, or the Zhu Family’s—”
She stopped midway, leaving the meaning hanging.
“Or what? Because your Xu Family Residence doesn’t treat her as a daughter, others aren’t allowed to either?” a cold voice suddenly rang out.
“President Zhu, that’s not what I meant,” Madam Xu said calmly. “Yunshu will always be a daughter of the Xu Family Residence.”
“A daughter you only remember when you need her for marriage alliances?” Zhu Heqing scoffed. His words were sharp and merciless. “Then anyone who becomes your Xu Family daughter is really unlucky.”
Ever since Xu Yunshu’s biological mother passed away, the Xu Family had done little beyond sending money. They never truly cared whether she returned home or not.
She had been designated as the Xu Family heir by Old Master Xu the year her mother died.
Madam Xu had never liked her. After giving birth to a son, that dislike only grew stronger.
Now that Old Master Xu’s health had been declining and his mind becoming increasingly unclear, Madam Xu intended to marry Xu Yunshu off early to secure her son’s inheritance.
“It seems Yunshu won’t be returning today,” Madam Xu said with a faint smile. “Very well, I won’t force you. Next Wednesday is your grandfather’s 80th birthday. Remember to prepare and attend on time.”
“I’ll take my leave. President Zhu, Madam Zhu, we’ll see each other at the banquet.”
With that, Madam Xu walked out of the Zhu Family residence with composed steps.
Shang Ying wiped Xu Yunshu’s tears with a handkerchief, her expression full of sympathy.
“The Xu Family isn’t entirely under her control yet. Old Master Xu still favors you. Besides, your godparents are here—no one can force you into marriage.”
“Godmother… Brother… I’m sorry for causing trouble,” Xu Yunshu said with red eyes.
Zhu Heqing glanced at her.
“Don’t take her words to heart.”
“I understand,” Xu Yunshu said softly. “It’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”
Shang Ying stopped her.
“Stay here tonight. It’s too far from Shen Garden. Stay over and go back tomorrow. You and A He are never home anymore—the house feels too empty.”
Xu Yunshu subconsciously looked at Zhu Heqing.
He had already taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pale, defined wrist.
“Stay here. It’s not safe to go back alone.”
Then he stood and walked into the kitchen.
Shang Ying looked surprised.
“A He, what are you doing in the kitchen?”
“I’m making soup,” he replied. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. I’m going to spend time with Fufu.”
Shang Ying raised her brows.
“You’re dating and didn’t even tell us? If someone hadn’t seen you at a bar with that girl and mentioned it, I wouldn’t even know.”
Hearing that her son had a girlfriend, Shang Ying finally felt the unease in her heart settle.
She knew the child she raised well. Even if Yunshu had feelings for A He, she would only bury them deeply.
“Yunshu has met your brother’s girlfriend, right? What’s she like?”
Xu Yunshu suppressed the bitterness in her chest and answered softly.
“She’s very beautiful… and very lively.”
Shang Ying became even more interested.
“A He, next Wednesday bring the girl to the banquet. Let me meet her too.”
Although the decision was made on impulse, the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Rumors outside were already spreading everywhere. Even if one didn’t care, hearing them occasionally still left a sting.
If A He 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 didn’t see it—Aunt Zhang was standing at Old Madam Wang’s door with a rolling pin in one hand and her waist on the other, saying if she kept talking nonsense she’d shove her mouth shut with it.”
Zhou Muyang sat cross-legged on the sofa, controlling Li Bai on his phone as he helped Yu Huan steal the enemy’s blue buff, while endlessly recounting yesterday’s “battle report” of how Zhang Ya had gone to settle scores.
“Uncle Yu stood right behind Aunt Zhang. Whoever spoke got glared at—no one even dared to breathe too loudly, scared they’d be the next target.”
He had happened to return from a friend’s house yesterday and saw the usually gentle Aunt Zhang confronting people directly. Without hesitation, he dropped his things and joined the scene.
For that, his parents even rewarded him with 200 yuan.
“But hey—who was that guy who sent you home yesterday?” Zhou Muyang asked curiously. “Another poor soul got fooled by your looks?”
Yu Huan was biting a popsicle, playing Yao while riding on Zhou Muyang’s character, using skills to deal damage and securing a triple kill.
“You’re so nosy,” she said lazily, in a good mood after the kill. “He’s a friend of Zhu Heqing. It was raining, so Zhu Heqing asked him to send me home.”
Zhou Muyang already knew about Chen Jiahao approaching her.
He muttered, “I was right near you yesterday. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Why would I call you?”
“You used to call me whenever something happened,” he said, hitting the enemy crystal.
“That was before. This is now.”
“Heh.” He snorted. “Good thing you didn’t call me. Finally free from being your servant.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.