The day before the hundred-day celebration.
Everything that needed preparing had already been taken care of—they were simply waiting for tomorrow, the auspicious day, to arrive.
Madam Shang sat comfortably on the sofa. Shang Guozhang and his wife were there, along with Gu Cheng, and Shang Yushang and his husband, who were both cuddling their sleeping babies.
Shang Yuchen, who had made a special trip back for the occasion, was sitting beside his younger sister, Shang Yuhe. He stretched out his neck and stared at the two little ones, unable to take his eyes off them. His brows furrowed and relaxed by turns, an expression of puzzlement written all over his face.
He had already been told that his older brother now had two sons. At the time, he didn’t think much of it—he only felt that his brother-in-law, He Changning, might be upset. After all, their marriage had been intruded upon by someone else, and no matter who that someone was, even if it was the children themselves, it would naturally make one feel uncomfortable.
But ever since he’d come back and stayed at his brother’s place to help with preparations for the celebration, he had been thoroughly baffled. He hadn’t seen a single hint that He Changning resented those two kids. On the contrary, he doted on them as if they were his own—always eager to hold them, feed them, change their diapers, give them baths, play with them, soothe them to sleep. The affection and tenderness he showed couldn’t possibly be faked—it was genuine. That much was obvious.
And that made He Changning all the more of a mystery to him.
No one could be so generous as to completely and wholeheartedly accept someone else’s children—let alone love them as his own. It just didn’t make sense.
What was even stranger was that the more he observed the babies, the more he felt something was off. Some of their features—especially certain little expressions—struck him as oddly familiar. They looked a lot like He Changning. Almost as if they were… his biological children.
But he was absolutely sure the kids were his brother’s. There was no room for doubt. Grandma had confirmed it herself, and when it came to matters of the Shang family bloodline, no one would dare question her judgment—she would never get something like that wrong.
Still, He Changning’s behavior kept stirring up his doubts. He’d even discussed it privately with his sister, but all she told him was to stay out of things that didn’t concern him. When he asked his mother, she admitted she had no clue how the children had come to be. By the time she found out about them, the babies were already nearly a month old. She didn’t have any say in Shang Yushang and He Changning’s affairs, and it was her first time even setting foot in the Fan Jin villa.
Shang Yuchen had wanted to talk to his father about it, but he hadn’t found a chance. The whole household was so busy with preparations for the babies’ hundred-day banquet that everyone was running around in a blur—his grandmother, parents, Gu Dad, and all the relatives. Even he had been assigned a long list of tasks. The matter had been shelved for now, but the unease in his heart kept growing like a snowball—getting bigger and heavier.
Old Madam Shang beamed as she looked down at her two sweetly sleeping great-grandsons, her eyes glowing brighter than usual.
“They’re a hundred days old now. We can’t keep calling them Little One and Baby anymore. So—let’s hear it. What names have you picked out?”
He Changning gently stroked the baby’s cheek, where a faint smile lingered even in sleep. His eyes were full of tender love.
“Grandma, you’re their great-grandmother—why don’t you name them?”
The old lady chuckled.
“Oh no, no. I thought about it, but I know my limits. The two of you are their parents. You and Yushang—one child each. Perfect.”
“They may call us both Dad,” He Changning said softly, “but the ones who love them most are still you all. You should name them.”
Madam Shang looked at He Changning with kind, affectionate eyes. This child always had such a gentle heart.
“I’ll stay out of it then. How about this—why don’t we let the two grandpas name the babies? What do you say?”
He Changning glanced at Shang Yushang, who nodded in agreement.
“We’ve got no objections.”
Everyone in the room turned to look at the two grandfathers.
Shang Guozhang and Gu Cheng were both visibly moved.
To be given the honor of naming their grandsons—not only was it a gesture of trust, but also a sign that there were no more walls between them and their sons. It was touching, and perfectly natural to feel emotional.
Gu Cheng patted Shang Guozhang on the arm and grinned.
“Well, old friend, looks like we’ve got a serious task on our hands.”
Shang Guozhang’s eyes glistened slightly.
“Yeah… yeah. We better do a good job and not let anyone down.”
Laughter bubbled through the room.
The two grandpas stood up and headed for the study, claiming they needed to consult the dictionary so they could come up with the perfect names.
He Ning held the sleeping baby in his arms, glancing down at the one he was cradling, then over at the one nestled against Shang Yushang’s chest. His eyes couldn’t take them all in at once. His heart was full—sweet but tinged with a bit of sorrow. These were his and Jian Zhi’s children. A blend of both their bloodlines. The continuation of their lives in this world.
Shang Yushang sat in a proper yet relaxed posture, the baby in his arms sleeping soundly and comfortably. His eyes kept switching between the two little ones, filled with joy and contentment. Everything he had ever wanted in life was right here beside him.
He Ning looked up and locked eyes with Shang Yushang. They both smiled knowingly. Then out of the corner of his eye, He Ning noticed Shang Yuchen staring at them with a puzzled, curious expression. He nudged his chin slightly toward Shang Yushang, signaling him to take a look.
Seeing Yuchen frowning slightly, Shang Yushang asked, “Yuchen, what’s on your mind?”
The sudden question startled Yuchen. Realizing it was his older brother asking, he quickly replied, “Oh, nothing. It’s just… I think the babies look a lot like Sister-in-law—I mean, like He Ning.”
He Ning didn’t mind the slip and smiled warmly. “You think they look like me?”
“Yeah,” Yuchen nodded. “The more I look, the more I see it.”
Shang Yushang replied coolly, “There’s nothing strange about that. He Ning is their dad. It’s only natural they’d resemble him.”
“Ah… is that so?”
Old Madam Shang stepped in to smooth things over. “When people spend a lot of time together, they start to look alike. It’s nothing unusual.”
Qiu Huilin chimed in helpfully, “She’s right. Even adoptive parents and children without any blood ties can end up resembling each other in looks and temperament, just like biological families.”
Shang Yushang’s face remained unreadable, his demeanor turning noticeably cold. He Ning quickly reached over to hold his hand and gave a subtle shake of his head—don’t react, I’m fine.
The sudden chill in the atmosphere left Qiu Huilin a bit flustered, unsure what she might’ve said wrong.
Old Madam Shang smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere. “He Ning, the babies’ hundred-day banquet is coming up. After that, you’re heading to ZK headquarters, right?”
He Ning sighed, his voice low and a bit sulky. “Yeah, Grandma. I haven’t even had enough time to enjoy them yet. Once I go, it’ll be months before I’m back… they probably won’t even recognize me by then.”
She patted his arm comfortingly. “You’re a father now. Time to stop being so sentimental. They’re still little, but as they grow up, they won’t forget you that easily. Besides, you won’t be away too long. Your dad told me the company’s running smoothly. A Yin will help you, Yushang will be with you, and your dad will be keeping an eye on everything. You’ll be fine. Whenever you miss the babies, video call them. Talk to them, let them see you. That way, they won’t forget.”
“I know, Grandma. I just… don’t want to be apart from them.”
Shang Yushang pulled He Ning into his arms and kissed his cheek. “We won’t be gone long. Once everything is set up and running well, we’ll come back. Then, we’ll just visit from time to time to handle important stuff. That way, we can spend at least half the year with the kids. Don’t worry.”
He Ning smiled faintly. “Alright. I’ll listen to you.”
Off to the side, Shang Yuhe whispered, “They’re so lovey-dovey… I’m kind of jealous.”
Shang Yuchen overheard and whispered back, “I want to find a wife and be all lovey-dovey too.”
Yuhe elbowed her brother. “Try finding one first, then talk.”
The next morning, the villa was bustling with activity bright and early.
The entire place was decorated festively, with red silk ribbons, balloons, and fresh flowers everywhere. Joyful smiles lit up everyone’s faces.
Shang Guozhang and Gu Cheng had stayed up all night to choose names for the babies. The older twin was named Shang Jinrui, and the younger one Shang Jinyang. Their nicknames were Linbao (Treasure Lin) and Longbao (Treasure Dragon). Everyone in the family loved the names—they were meaningful and carried good omens—so the decision was happily finalized.
Shang Yushang and He Changning came downstairs in their custom-tailored formal wear. Both tall and striking, one exuded a cold and unyielding aura, while the other was warm and refined like jade—they complemented each other perfectly, truly a match made in heaven.
Linbao and Longbao were also dressed up in traditional red Tang suits custom-made by their great-grandmother, complete with jade safety charms hanging from their collars.
Their soft, fair little faces paired with the vibrant red outfits made them look absolutely adorable, drawing laughter and affection from everyone around. The living room became a playful chaos as everyone scrambled to hold the little ones.
Linbao and Longbao weren’t afraid of the crowd at all. Being passed around didn’t bother them—they just giggled and laughed. The old madam of the Shang family beamed with delight, occasionally wiping their drool and playfully scolding the overenthusiastic relatives fighting to hold the babies.
Inside the spacious business-class car, the old madam fed the babies and changed their diapers. She and Aunt Qin gently rocked them to sleep.
Across from her sat He Changning, who reached out to hold her hand. “Grandma, thank you for everything. You’re already up in years, yet you’re still helping us take care of the babies.”
The old madam patted his hand with a smile. “Silly child. I might be old, but I can still handle two little ones. Besides, I’m not doing it alone—we have Aunt Qin, your father, your father-in-law, and even two new nannies. If you think about it, I haven’t done all that much. And yet I get all the credit for being worn out. Honestly, I feel a little guilty.”
“Grandma, don’t say that. Yu Shang and I are truly grateful. We know how much you adore these two, but we just don’t want you to tire yourself out. That would make us feel terrible.”
“Grandma knows you two are good kids, and I know my limits. Don’t worry, I won’t push myself too hard. In fact, I’m hoping to live a long life—if I can see these two get married and settle down someday, that would truly be a blessing.”
“You will definitely live a long and healthy life. Linbao and Longbao’s futures still need you to keep an eye on things—we won’t feel at ease otherwise.”
The old madam chuckled. “Alright, then Grandma will borrow your good luck and live to a ripe old age.”
Shang Yushang wrapped an arm around He Changning’s shoulder and kissed his earlobe gently. “Don’t worry, Grandma knows what she’s doing.”
Before long, the convoy arrived at a five-star hotel owned by the Shang Group. Today was the twins’ hundred-day celebration, and Shang Yushang had reserved the entire hotel. For one, there were far too many guests—every banquet hall across two full floors was packed, with hundreds of tables making it a grand event like no other. Secondly, many of the attendees were of high social standing and considerable wealth, so security had to be airtight.
Besides Shang Yushang’s own team of bodyguards, Gu Cheng had also brought in most of his forces from overseas to ensure nothing went wrong.
Bai Mo even sent in some of his people to reinforce security. The entire hotel was locked down tighter than a drum.
The Shadow Unit was assigned to closely guard Linbao and Longbao, while He Changning also had personal protection on him at all times.
Security personnel were stationed in hidden positions around the perimeter, and nearby high-rise buildings that could potentially serve as sniper vantage points were already locked down by Shang Yushang’s people. Everything was done with meticulous care to ensure the celebration would go off without a hitch.
Luxury cars poured into the hotel plaza one after another, the scene resembling an extravagant car show.
Shang Yushang and He Changning personally greeted each guest at the entrance. Everyone arrived with bright smiles, offering sincere blessings and generous gifts without hesitation.
At exactly ten o’clock, the banquet officially began. Both floors of the grand ballroom were filled to capacity. On the massive holographic screen, the hosts—Shang Yushang and He Changning—stood side by side on stage as the emcee skillfully worked the crowd with his quick wit and humor, quickly drawing warm laughter and enthusiastic energy from the guests.
After delivering a detailed recounting of Shang Group’s history and lavishing praise on its president, the emcee beamed and announced, “Now, let’s welcome the president of Shang Group, Mr. Shang Yushang, to say a few words. Please give him a big round of applause!”
The guests responded with generous, thunderous applause.
Shang Yushang adjusted his cuffs, then walked gracefully to the microphone with calm composure. The room instantly quieted.
“First of all,” he began, his voice steady and clear, “I want to sincerely thank all of you for coming to celebrate the hundred-day banquet of my children.” He then extended a hand toward He Changning, who smiled and placed his hand in Yushang’s palm. Shang Yushang gently pulled him closer. “Allow me to introduce my partner, He Changning—he is also the father of our children.”
A ripple of shock swept through the room. Though not loud, the murmurs and whispers clearly betrayed the crowd’s astonishment. Some guests leaned close to exchange hushed, curious conversations. Most people in their social circle had heard vague rumors about Shang Yushang marrying a male spouse, but few paid attention—many assumed it was just a convenient arrangement, a passing formality.
What no one had expected was for the president of Shang Group to publicly acknowledge and introduce He Changning in such a high-profile setting. This wasn’t just a casual reveal—it was a formal declaration of recognition. From this moment forward, He Changning was no longer a vague figure in the shadows; he was officially acknowledged by the Shang family.
He was the father of the future heir to the Shang family.
That title alone meant He Changning’s status in the Shang family was unshakable—he wasn’t someone who could be dismissed or replaced at will.
An unspoken understanding quickly spread through the room: He Changning, as a man, had become the second head of the Shang family, and his position was now untouchable. He was no longer someone anyone could look down on—or afford to offend.
Shang Yushang swept his gaze across the hall, and silence quickly returned.
“Now,” he said clearly, “please welcome Mr. Gu Cheng, president of ZK Group.”
The crowd buzzed again with surprise.
“ZK? That’s a massive conglomerate! Since when did Shang Group have ties to ZK?”
“There are lots of powerful guests here today, but only he gets to speak on stage?”
“You clearly don’t understand—ZK is a heavyweight across multiple industries and has deep ties with the government. But their CEO is extremely low-key. Almost no one has seen him in public. For him to show up at Shang Group’s banquet—that’s huge.”
“There wasn’t a single leak beforehand. Shang Group’s secrecy is airtight.”
“You thinking of cozying up to ZK too? Forget it. Everyone wants that connection, but do you really think anyone’s going to beat the Shang family to it?”
“Tch, I’m so jealous!”
“Well, being jealous won’t help you now.”
Gu Cheng, dressed in a custom-fitted suit with a subtle, confident smile, strode to the podium with poise. “It’s my great pleasure to attend the hundred-day banquet of my two grandsons today.”
The hall fell into stunned silence for a split second—then exploded into shocked chatter.
“What did he just say? Isn’t this the Shang family’s hundred-day banquet? Why did the ZK president call them his grandsons?”
“Exactly! What the hell’s going on? Is he trying to steal the babies?”
Gu Cheng raised a hand, signaling for the guests to quiet down. The buzzing gradually faded.
“Although my grandsons carry the Shang surname,” he said calmly, “my son is married into the Shang family. So, naturally, his children are also my grandsons.”
You could practically hear jaws hitting the floor.
Gu Cheng reached out a hand toward He Changning. Changning looked back at Shang Yushang, who leaned down to kiss his forehead and whispered, “Go on.”
He Changning walked over to Gu Cheng, who gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “This is my biological son, whom I was separated from for twenty years. Today, on the occasion of my grandsons’ hundred-day celebration, we are officially acknowledging our reunion.”
He gave Changning’s shoulder a reassuring pat.
“After today, Changning will formally take over as the new president of ZK Group.”
The reaction was instant—gasps, murmurs, a glass or two knocked over in shock. Both banquet halls descended into a whirlwind of noise. People were chattering all at once, none of it coherent.
He Changning turned to Shang Yushang with an exasperated smile. “Did I just ruin our sons’ hundred-day banquet?”
Shang Yushang, entirely unfazed, replied with a small smirk, “Not at all. If anything, it was a hit.”
It took the emcee everything he had to restore order in the banquet hall. Once the crowd settled down again, it was time for the stars of the day to make their entrance.
The old madam of the Shang family led the way, followed by Shang Guozhang and his wife, along with Gu Cheng. Two nannies carried Linbao and Longbao, with Aunt Qin walking alongside them.
A fresh wave of excitement stirred through the banquet hall. The twin babies were simply too adorable to resist. Despite the packed room, they didn’t cry or fuss at all—wide-eyed and curious, they looked around, soaking in the sea of unfamiliar faces.
Dressed in bright red Tang suits, with soft, fair cheeks and big expressive eyes, their tiny mouths puffed out little bubbles from time to time. Their cuteness could have melted steel.
The women in the crowd were practically swooning, some of the unmarried girls even more so.
“Oh my god, they’re adorable! I’m dying! If I gave birth to something that cute, I’d be content for life!”
“Same here. I want one too—so badly!”
The old madam waved her hand, signaling Shang Yushang and He Changning to come forward. Each of them took one baby and stood beside her.
“Thank you all so much for coming to celebrate the hundred-day banquet of my great-grandsons,” the old madam said warmly. “I hope these two little ones grow up healthy, happy, and loved. And I also wish that my grandson Yushang and his beloved Changning spend a lifetime together in happiness and harmony.”
The banquet ended on a perfect note. The Shang family, Shang Group, and ZK International were once again the hottest topics of discussion in the city. And Shang Yushang and He Changning? They weren’t just a power couple—they were the couple everyone was talking about.
But just as people were still buzzing about them, the very next day after the hundred-day banquet, the couple quietly boarded a plane to the U.S., beginning a new chapter of their life abroad—together.
