Shen Yuan bought a bouquet of flowers and headed to the hospital to visit Wang Ziqin.
It wasn’t because he actually cared about the guy—he just wanted to see Wang Ziqin looking miserable in person.
It made him happy. Hee-hee. Shen Yuan laughed to himself.
When he arrived at the hospital, he found that Wang Ziqin was in a deluxe single room.
Shen Yuan walked in and saw him lying on the bed—face bruised and swollen, one leg wrapped in bandages. But the guy didn’t look upset at all; he was casually playing a game on his phone.
Shen Yuan glanced at the bedside table. Nothing on it. No one had come to see him.
Shen Yuan thought, This scumbag—usually surrounded by drinking buddies and hangers-on, but when things go south, not a single person actually cares enough to show up. Pathetic.
He knocked.
Wang Ziqin: “Who is it?”
Shen Yuan pushed the door open. “Young Master Wang, it’s me.”
When Wang Ziqin saw him, he set his phone down. He looked pleasantly surprised, then immediately pretended to be annoyed. “What are you doing here? Did I ask you to come? Who told you to just show up?”
Shen Yuan was used to this routine. “Then… should I leave? I don’t want to disturb your rest.”
Wang Ziqin said, “Well, since you’re already here… and when did I say you could leave? I’m bored anyway. Come keep me company.”
Shen Yuan was curious what exactly Qiao Hailou had done to deal with Wang Ziqin—and whether the rumor about Wang Ziqin being sent abroad was actually true.
So he played along, set the bouquet on the cabinet, pulled over a chair, and sat down.
He pretended to look concerned. “I heard you were hospitalized. I was worried, but I didn’t know what happened…”
Wang Ziqin frowned, waving irritably. “It’s all because of that little slut. I ran into this young model a while back—she looked okay, and she kept trying to stick to me, so I had some fun with her. Turns out she was the mistress of the guy my dad was doing business with. When he found out I hooked up with his mistress, he said I cuckolded him, brought people over, and beat me up… That’s when I found out the little slut was two-timing me! And I wasn’t gonna just stand there and take it—I fought back and split his head open.”
“Then my dad’s business deal fell apart. That old bastard got furious because I messed up his money. Beat me up again. I fought back, and he hit even harder. That’s how my leg ended up like this.”
He added, “But I gave him a few cuts too.”
Shen Yuan vaguely knew about Wang Ziqin’s family. His dad was a notorious womanizer and often beat him. Wang Ziqin called him “the old bastard” all the time like he hated him, but he behaved exactly the same way his father did.
And he was proud of it. Shen Yuan really wanted to roll his eyes in his face.
But he didn’t dare insult Wang Ziqin’s dad, and he wasn’t going to bad-mouth the woman either. It wasn’t worth it… Still, what did any of this have to do with Qiao Hailou? Qiao Hailou said he’d deal with Wang Ziqin, and a few days later Wang Ziqin got into trouble—but Qiao Hailou’s fingerprints weren’t anywhere in this story. Just coincidence? That big a coincidence?
Shen Yuan thought about it, then put on a worried expression. “Does it hurt?”
A faint blush flashed across Wang Ziqin’s face. “This? It’s nothing. Not the first time he’s beaten me into the hospital.”
Shen Yuan said, “Then rest and recover properly.”
He continued acting, hesitating. “Wang Shao, I… I also heard your dad wants to send you abroad to study. Are you really leaving?”
At that, Wang Ziqin’s face soured immediately. “That old bastard wants to ship me off. Says if he doesn’t ‘fix me’ now, I’ll be ruined. I’m already twenty—now he remembers he has a son to educate? Anyway, I’m not going!”
Shen Yuan nearly burst out laughing. He forced a worried tone. “But what will you do if he cuts off your credit cards or kicks you out to force you…?”
That really was his dad’s style. And Wang Ziqin had considered it… but he had no idea. He’d coasted through life on booze, women, and his father’s power, never once thinking seriously about his future. Now that Shen Yuan asked, he still had no answer.
“Whatever,” he said. “I’ll deal with it when it happens.”
Shen Yuan felt relieved. Looked like Wang Ziqin really didn’t stand a chance against his father.
He was thinking that when Wang Ziqin suddenly said, “If I do end up going, he wants me in Country E, studying business… but they’ve got that great jewelry design school there, right? You should come with me.”
Shen Yuan’s scalp went numb on the spot. He almost leapt up and splashed water in his face. What kind of bullshit is this?! Keep dreaming!!
He took a deep breath, politely refusing. “Wang Shao, you give me too much credit. The Royal Institute of Jewelry Design is a top school. I’m not even sure I’d get in.”
Wang Ziqin dismissed it. “Who cares? It’s just money. If you pay enough, what school won’t take you? If your family won’t pay, I’ll cover your sponsorship fee. You don’t need to worry about anything—just come with me.”
Hold on. When did I ever say I wanted to go?! Shen Yuan cursed silently. “Thank you, Wang Shao, you’re very generous. But I think you should focus on yourself first. No need to worry about me so much.”
“I promised I’d look out for you,” Wang Ziqin said. “I keep my word.”
He still remembered how, during college applications, Wang Ziqin tried to drag him into the same university, even saying he’d make Shen Yuan live in his apartment so he could be close by every day. Shen Yuan wanted to punch him—but couldn’t.
In the end, he had to use his uncle as an excuse and choose the jewelry design program instead. Wang Ziqin was annoyed with him for weeks.
Shen Yuan had no doubt—if circumstances allowed, Wang Ziqin really would keep him as a sidekick for life.
The little prince honestly believed the world revolved around him.
Shen Yuan sincerely wished his dad would send him abroad ASAP and turn him into a proper human being.
Enough about that.
Shen Yuan found time to go to the tailor his uncle recommended to get a suit made.
He asked his uncle, “I’ve never ordered a custom suit before. I don’t know how to choose. If I pick wrong, it’d be a waste of money…”
Li Chen reassured him. “Don’t worry. Tailor Zhang has decades of experience. He’ll give you great advice. You just need to pick your favorite option from what he suggests. I might not be able to go with you—I’m busy these days. If we wait for me to be free, you won’t get it in time.”
Shen Yuan’s heart warmed, then cooled, then warmed again. After a moment, he said, “Okay… since you’re busy with work… I’m being too demanding. I’ll go on my own.”
“I’ll have Xiao Lin go with me and help me choose.”
Two days later, Shen Yuan took his younger brother to the shop.
Li Lin wore his school uniform and sneakers. Shen Yuan was dressed casually too. The shop was a small private atelier hidden deep in an alley off the city’s most expensive historic district. A white-walled, black-tiled traditional house with a Western interior—tasteful, not flashy, with an old-Shanghai vibe.
A huge cluster of roses bloomed on the white wall beside the door.
The owner, Mr. Zhang, looked like he was in his forties—tall and paper-thin, skin white as parchment, eyes narrow and fox-like, cool and distant.
He handed Shen Yuan a fabric book, letting him choose a material. Each swatch was a 5×5 cm square of cloth mounted on heavy paper, neatly arranged, labeled with fabric type but no price. Shen Yuan could touch and feel each texture.
Mr. Zhang didn’t rush him. He gave a few timely recommendations, and there was one Shen Yuan particularly liked.
Mr. Zhang said, “This is Scabal’s Gold Treasure collection. Fifteen-micron pure wool woven with platinum threads. It gives the midnight-blue a richer depth. Suits your temperament very well.”
Shen Yuan had a bad feeling. “How much is it?”
Mr. Zhang quoted a price—politely, but high enough that Shen Yuan sucked in a sharp breath.
He went silent. This was Uncle’s money he was spending; how could he splurge like that with a straight face?
Li Lin, however, didn’t think it was expensive at all. “If you like it, just get it. Don’t be cheap, bro.”
Shen Yuan said, “I’ll look at the other fabrics again. They’re pretty nice too.”
He only had one outfit for work—definitely not enough. Shen Yuan thought it would be better to pick a few cheaper materials and have more sets made, just in case.
He selected a few more affordable swatches.
Li Lin said, “I still think that midnight-blue one looks the best.”
“It’s way too pricey…” Shen Yuan muttered under his breath.
“What fabric?” someone asked.
Shen Yuan turned around—and froze. He had no idea when his uncle had arrived. He lit up with surprise.
Li Chen walked over, took the sample book, studied it for a moment, then brushed his fingertips lightly across the swatch. “Nice material. Newly stocked?”
The owner said, “Yes. Not many pieces available.”
Li Chen said, “Use this one.”
Shen Yuan was stunned.
Li Chen added, “Make one for me too.”
Shen Yuan’s face turned bright red. Wouldn’t that make them look like they were wearing couple’s outfits?
Li Lin cut in loudly, “What about me? Don’t I get one?”
“You’re not suited for this fabric,” Li Chen said. “Dad will pick a different one for you.”
Then he chose several more fabrics for Shen Yuan—price not a concern—and ordered two suits for him. He also ordered one for Li Lin and one for himself. Four suits total.
Li Chen told Shen Yuan, “This isn’t something you save money on. Ten cheap suits still won’t match the quality of one good one.”
Shen Yuan, blushing, murmured agreement. He really had been too frugal.
The tailor began taking his measurements. Tape around his neck, pen tucked behind his ear—measure, jot down notes, repeat.
Li Chen stood beside his stepson, speaking calmly and decisively. “British cut. Single-breasted.”
The tailor nodded. “Alright.”
From behind, he examined Shen Yuan’s build—slender, but proportioned well, especially the waist and hips. His hand brushed Shen Yuan’s side by accident, making him squirm from the ticklish touch. Shen Yuan’s face heated instantly; the spot his uncle had brushed felt like it was burning. He heard his uncle continuing, “Waist tapered.”
The tailor said, “Yes. He has a very nice waistline. About the hem—do you want a rounded seat or a tight seat? I recommend a rounded seat.”
Li Chen replied, “Rounded, then.”
Li Lin stood off to the side and suddenly felt… shut out. Even though he’d grown tall recently, everyone still treated him like a kid. When he glanced over, he caught Shen Yuan staring at his father—cheeks pink, eyes fixed on him, full of light, focused as if nothing and no one else in the world existed.
Li Lin froze. A sharp stab of jealousy pierced his chest.
But it passed instantly. Shen Yuan lowered his head, making it seem like Li Lin had imagined it.
After they picked the fabrics and finalized the style, Shen Yuan thought they were done for the day.
But Uncle continued, “Since I’m free this afternoon, I’ll take you to get a haircut. Let’s give you a new look.”
Li Chen ruffled his hair. “It looks too childish like this.”