Shang Guozhang only left after accepting his son and He Changning’s invitation to stay for dinner.
During the meal, the three of them had a great time chatting. With He Changning helping to ease the atmosphere, the long-estranged father and son finally managed to have a pleasant and open conversation.
Hearing Shang Yushang call him “Dad” again filled Shang Guozhang with comfort. But what truly made his heart swell with happiness was seeing his son smile once more.
When it came to matters involving the He family, Shang Yushang held nothing back and shared his thoughts in full. Shang Guozhang agreed with his approach and gave a number of helpful suggestions. In his view, the most important people right now were Changning and the two children.
After seeing his father off, He Changning was helped back upstairs. He lounged comfortably on a deck chair on the balcony, soaking in the sun with his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.
Shang Yushang took a call from the old madam. The two spoke softly about the He family’s earlier visit. After Shang Yushang gave her a summary of what happened, the old madam paused, then said, “Yushang, I don’t think Old He has given up on those two kids just yet. You must protect Changning and the children. He’s due in less than two months—nothing must go wrong before then. It’s time to start getting everything ready for the delivery.”
“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ve already prepared a private room in the villa as a delivery suite. Bai Mo has set up and tested all the necessary medical equipment. The medications have already been flown in, and I’ve personally vetted the medical team—they’re all trustworthy. You can rest assured.”
“Mhm, I trust you to handle things. Your father and I may not be able to help much, but if there’s anything you need, just say the word. I’ll support you with everything I’ve got.”
“Thank you, Grandma. In the meantime, please be careful—both you and Dad. If the He family gets desperate, they might do something reckless. I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.”
The old madam chuckled, “You really have changed, Yushang. Becoming a husband does that to a man. I have to thank our Changning—he’s turned that cold and stiff young master of the Shang family into someone warm and thoughtful, even worrying about Grandma and Dad. Now that you’re about to become a father, I’m truly happy for you.”
Shang Yushang was slightly embarrassed for once. “Grandma, I care about you.”
“Well, I feel that in my heart. Take good care of Changning—he’s the greatest blessing our family’s ever had.”
“I will, Grandma.”
They talked a bit more about Changning’s health before hanging up.
Just then, Xiao Wu came in holding a document envelope. “Young Master, Mr. Gu sent this over.”
Inside was a paternity test result. Clearly stated on the report: Gu Cheng and He Changning are biologically father and son. Shang Yushang frowned. How was he going to explain this to the little guy?
He sat beside He Changning, gently holding his hand, softly rubbing it as he gazed lovingly at his sleeping lover. This precious man was like a fallen angel sent to earth—the one he would follow with his life.
He Changning stirred slowly, his sleepy eyes lifting to meet Shang Yushang’s gaze. They crinkled gently at the corners, and a smile curved his lips. “I fell asleep again?”
Shang Yushang handed him a cup of warm water, holding it to his lips. “Drink a little water before you speak, sweetheart.”
He Changning drank about half a cup with his help. The dryness in his throat eased up. “What time is it?”
As he helped Changning sit up, Shang Yushang replied, “Four o’clock.” He placed a pillow behind Changning’s back to make him more comfortable.
“I’ve been sleeping that long?”
“Yeah, you’ve had a long day.”
He Changning smiled, knowing just how much Shang Yushang cared about him. “I’m fine, really. I haven’t let any of this get to me. I believe in you—my man will protect me and our baby. So don’t look so grim all the time. Smile a little—it suits you.”
His soft, teasing tone made Shang Yushang’s heart clench. His deep gaze darkened with emotion. He couldn’t resist leaning in and capturing those tempting lips. He wanted to devour him whole—but the baby in Changning’s belly kept him grounded. This sweet torment had been going on for nearly eight months.
He Changning reached up, looping his arms around Shang Yushang’s neck, tilting his head to meet the kiss. The sound of lips brushing, the tender moans—it stirred up the heat between their young bodies.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, hearts pounding wildly as they tried to calm themselves.
Shang Yushang’s deep, husky voice brushed against He Changning’s flushed ear.
“Baby, your husband’s been abstinent for almost eight months now. Once the babies are born… how do you plan to make it up to me?”
He Changning’s face turned even redder. His bright eyes shimmered with moisture.
“Can you not think about that all the time? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Shang Yushang answered seriously, “Of course I have to think carefully about something that concerns my future benefits. Come on, tell me—how are you going to make it up to me?”
He Changning gave him a gentle push.
“Stop it, will you?”
“Baby, don’t be shy. We’re married. It’s perfectly normal. I love you so much I want to be with you every single day.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll make it up to you. Happy now?” He Changning knew if he didn’t give in, this man would never let it go.
Satisfied, Shang Yushang planted a heavy kiss on his lips.
“You better mean it, baby. Your husband’s going to hold you to it.”
He Changning wasn’t even surprised anymore by Shang Yushang’s occasional childishness. Sometimes he found it kind of funny. In front of most people, Shang Yushang was cold, aloof, stone-faced—barely spoke more than necessary. Like some celibate old immortal. But the moment he was alone with Changning, he turned into a completely different person—talkative, clingy, quick to smile and shamelessly affectionate.
Before Changning got pregnant, Shang Yushang would tire him out in bed every single time and still never seem satisfied. The contrast between these two versions of him was pretty amusing, honestly. But Changning believed the version he saw in private was the real one—the one who felt joy and anger, who was sweet, petty, stubborn, and vengeful when needed. That was what a normal life was supposed to look like—not one of emotional numbness, like a lifeless machine. He felt lucky that this man had changed for him, had become so captivating that his heart couldn’t help but be pulled toward him again and again.
Changning looked at him with a teasing smile.
“Petty little man. Can’t believe you’re keeping score over something like that.”
Shang Yushang, delighted, held his wife’s hand and leaned into the moment for a bit longer. His gaze drifted as he stared at his beloved, thoughts swirling. There was something he needed to say. Changning deserved to know. Whatever decision he made afterward, Yushang would respect it.
Seeing him hesitate, He Changning chuckled.
“You’re not usually this wishy-washy. Just say what you want to say.”
Shang Yushang smiled faintly and kissed his wife’s forehead.
“I knew I couldn’t hide anything from you. Yeah… there’s something I want to tell you. But promise me, no matter what I say, you’ll stay calm. The kids need you to be steady—don’t let your emotions get the best of you.”
Seeing how tense Yushang looked, He Changning’s expression also turned serious. But after everything he’d been through, he doubted there was much left that could really shake him. And even if it did, he had to think about the babies now.
“Just tell me. I can handle it.”
Shang Yushang held his hand tightly, his eyes locking onto Changning’s.
“Your biological father… has come.”
He watched closely, but Changning’s face remained mostly unreadable—calm, indifferent. Only then did Yushang continue.
“Some of the things about the He family… he’s the one who told me first. We met a few days ago.”
He Changning looked down and said nothing. Truthfully, when Shang Yushang had first brought up the situation with the He family—his vague tone and reserved manner already tipped him off. Someone had clearly given him information beforehand. And the reason Yushang didn’t share everything must’ve been because he was concerned about Changning’s current condition. Or maybe… the one who passed along the information had mixed feelings—wanting to reconnect but afraid to be rejected completely. That would explain the half-truths and omissions. But Changning had already guessed there was more to the story.
“Jianzhi,” he said softly, “I’m not as fragile as you think. I’m a lot tougher than I look. Even though life with the Yin family wasn’t easy, I still stayed—for my mom’s sake. So whatever it is, just lay it out.”
Shang Yushang sighed. His baby always made his heart ache, made him want to wrap him in his arms forever.
“His name is Gu Cheng. He’s the current head of the Gu family. Back then… he was actually a victim too. The one who was supposed to be involved in that ‘arrangement’ was his younger brother. But his brother ran away, and Gu Cheng was forced to take his place. He was drugged by his own father and ended up… with his future mother-in-law.”
“Afterward, he just wanted to live a quiet life, stay out of power struggles. But after what happened, his wife left him. He lost everything. For nearly ten years, he endured in silence until he finally took control of the Gu family.”
“He’s known about your existence for a long time. But instead of doing anything, he watched from afar as you struggled in the Yin family. Maybe it was guilt over what happened with your mother. Maybe it had to do with the Gu family. Maybe it was something else. Whether it was on purpose or just neglect, he never reached out. And after twenty years of guilt and regret… I don’t think he had the courage to face you.”
“If the He family hadn’t set their sights on you and the babies, I think he probably would’ve spent his whole life just watching from a distance.”
“This time, he’ll also be involved in dealing with the He family. In order to completely eliminate the He family’s ambitions once and for all, I need the Gu family’s power and means. Of course, this also gives him a chance to atone—and he’s more than willing.”
“Baby, don’t be mad that your husband kept this from you. I just wanted you and the babies to be safe. As for whether you want to acknowledge him or not, he said it’s entirely up to you. Although I don’t think much of him, as long as it’s good for you, your husband will unconditionally support you.”
He Changning kissed the corner of Shang Yushang’s lips. “I know you’re doing this for me. I’ll think about it. By the way, why don’t you think much of him?”
Shang Yushang curled his lips.
“A man should take responsibility. He didn’t fulfill his duties as a husband, and he didn’t have the courage to admit his mistake to his mother-in-law. Even if he was passive back then, facts are facts. Using a family setup as a shield, hypocritically shifting the blame to others—that kind of conduct, I can’t agree with. He knew he had a child in the world, and that child wasn’t living well. But what did he do? He used dealing with the Gu family as an excuse to force himself to ignore the child’s existence. That kind of cowardice—I despise it even more. I won’t claim I could’ve done better, but one thing I would give my life to uphold—I would never allow my wife or my children to suffer even a little. That’s why I don’t like him.”
Shang Yushang rarely showed such a strong reaction toward anyone. Perhaps because it concerned He Changning, he couldn’t stand seeing the person he treasured most be ignored so thoroughly. So, the so-called “love me, love my kin” only applied to those he could approve of.
He Changning smiled and reached out to touch Shang Yushang’s handsome face.
“Jianzhi’s so strongly against him probably because he’s blood-related to me. I’m very lucky to have a man who loves me this much. Thank you, husband.”
Shang Yushang’s deep eyes were full of joy and affection. He Changning, gentle and kind on the surface, was a man with principles and pride. For him to acknowledge and trust Shang Yushang so openly was the highest affirmation—and complete trust. How fortunate he was to be loved so wholly by such a person. For someone like this, even going through fire and water would be worth it.
He pressed a deep kiss to those gentle lips he longed for, wanting to exchange breath and affirm that they belonged to each other, for life.
At the hotel, the old master of the He family had been bedridden for three full days before he got up. His haggard face was dark and frightening. He Junsheng stayed as far away as possible in the corner, afraid his grandfather would take his anger out on him. But the more he kept his distance and avoided serving by the old man’s side, the more displeased the old master became.
Over the past few days, he’d vented on him plenty, scolding him as good-for-nothing and useless was the mildest of it. Sometimes, he’d suddenly grab whatever was nearby and throw it without warning. The whole family was on edge, never knowing when the old man would blow up and take it out on someone.
He Mingfan, by comparison, remained much calmer. But it wasn’t really calm—it was helplessness. He had tried to talk sense into his father, but he had still underestimated the old man’s stubbornness and extremism. The old master’s obsession with He Changning’s children had reached an unhealthy, even delusional level.
On the other hand, they couldn’t afford to provoke the Shang family. That century-old clan was not something the He family could shake. To covet their children—they didn’t have the guts, nor the power. Acting recklessly would only bring the He family to the brink of ruin—maybe even erase them entirely.
The suffocating pressure in the room had everyone on edge. The old man’s face was grim to the extreme. He Junsheng shrank in the corner, head lowered. He Mingfan sat at the bedside in silence, then let out a long sigh.
“Dad, let’s go home.”
The old man’s pale face looked ghostly, his clouded eyes filled with a chilling light.
“If I don’t get those two kids, I’m not going back. Call home and have them secretly dispatch the He family’s elite. I must bring those children back to the He family.”
He Mingfan pleaded earnestly,
“Dad, we can’t beat the Shang family. You know Shang Yushang’s character. Once he’s angered, the He family won’t be able to withstand his retaliation.”
The old master dismissed it.
“If the children are in my hands, he won’t dare act recklessly.”
“He’s protecting He Changning too tightly. We don’t have a chance to get our hands on those two kids.”
“Hmph. The He family isn’t made of paper either. How would we know if we don’t try?”
“Dad, the Shang family has a hundred-year legacy, and the forces behind them are deeply hidden. It’s said that Shang Yushang has already taken over as the new leader of that power. He’s formidable enough on his own, and with that force backing him, we’re no match at all.”
The old master fell silent. He Mingfan thought his words had finally gotten through—but once again, he underestimated his father’s obsession.
Old Master He pondered for a moment.
“He family’s strength really isn’t enough to go up against Shang Yushang. In that case, we’ll just bring in someone who can match him.”
His eyes lit up, like a drowning man suddenly seeing a straw to clutch—visibly excited.
He Mingfan sighed silently.
What is happening? Has he really become so obsessed there’s no cure left?
The Shang family has been passed down for generations. In the business world, no one can match them, and in the shadows, their power makes people tremble.
Who in their right mind would dare go up against such a family?
Who would abandon a peaceful life to loop a noose around their own neck and risk everything?
“Dad, no one will take this job. The Shang family isn’t to be trifled with, and Shang Yushang is ruthless. Behind him is a mysterious, unknown force. No one would risk their life to provoke someone like that. Even with a high price, no one would accept it.”
“Under heavy reward, there will always be someone brave enough. There are always people who like to challenge limits. Someone will take the job. Call your brother immediately. Tell him to start looking for people. They must arrive before He Changning gives birth.
As long as the plan is detailed and thorough, we’ll definitely get the children in our hands.”
Trying to persuade him further was pointless.
He Mingfan simply closed his mouth. The He family’s survival or destruction was no longer something he could change.
Just as Old Master He was still dreaming his grand dreams, the He family had a major incident.
Several high-ranking He family members were suddenly found to have accepted bribes, abused their power, caused wrongful deaths, and were taken into custody for investigation. The most serious cases had already been officially filed for prosecution.
Within just two days, the case progressed dramatically.
The evidence was solid, and the number of people implicated was countless.
In an instant, the He family’s influence, which had been built over years in officialdom, was uprooted entirely.
So-called government-business ties—if the “government” is hit, the “business” naturally won’t escape.
All of He family’s businesses and industries came under investigation.
Several publicly traded companies saw their stocks plummet to rock bottom.
He Group employees were in a panic. Top executives were getting dozens, even hundreds, of resignation letters a day.
The company’s operations collapsed, cash flow was cut off, and bankruptcy was looming.
Competitors took advantage of the chaos. Old and new clients were stolen away.
Partners rushed in to terminate agreements, and those owed money came to collect debts.
It was the classic case of “when the wall falls, everyone pushes.”
That was the He Group’s current state.
Caught off guard in politics, defeated in business, and pushed to the brink of collapse, the He family was on the edge of ruin.
When Old Master He got the call, his already graying hair turned completely white overnight.
He no longer cared about fighting Shang Yushang for the children—he rushed back to the He residence, still recovering from illness.
Even after using all the connections he could and throwing out enormous amounts of money, he still couldn’t save the fallen family members.
Those handling the case said big figures were watching from above.
No one dared to accept favors from the He family.
Even those with previous ties had shut their doors, clearly unwilling to get involved.
Watching his descendants face sentencing, the He family could do nothing.
The He Group, dragged down, was also placed under investigation.
One issue after another came to light.
In the business world, few are truly clean.
It all depends on the scale and impact.
But clearly, the He family’s problems were massive.
Several companies were found to be involved in illegal smuggling and were sealed off.
Financial irregularities led to formal investigations by disciplinary departments.
The results of the investigations were soon made public.
Several major He companies had engaged in severe tax evasion and fraud, with huge sums and deeply damaging consequences.
The involved personnel were already detained and awaiting trial.
He’s construction firms were also found to have major quality issues.
Both completed and half-built projects were ordered to stop pending investigation.
Heavy fines were certain—adding insult to injury for a family already teetering on bankruptcy.
In the old He residence’s living room, the entire family gathered, faces gloomy and defeated like wilted eggplants, silent.
In fact, when things first started to spiral out of control, He Mingfan had already suspected someone was behind the scenes.
The goal was obvious: uproot the He family entirely.
The methods were vicious and thorough, with no mercy.
This kind of lethal strike only made sense if they were truly provoked.
There were few with this much power and a grudge against the He family.
Ruling out opponents who didn’t need to go that far, only Shang Yushang remained.
Trying to snatch his children—if he didn’t retaliate, he wouldn’t be Shang Yushang.
But even so, He Mingfan never imagined the strike would be this fierce.
With Shang Yushang’s strength, it wasn’t impossible to take down the He family.
But after all, the He family was still He Changning’s maternal family.
No matter how angry, they thought he’d show some leniency out of consideration.
Clearly, they had overestimated their place in He Changning’s heart.
They also underestimated He Changning’s vengeful nature.
For the sake of his mother and his children, he would never tolerate anyone who tried to harm him.
