They walked a short distance, leaving Qiao Hailou behind, out of sight. Only then did Lin Zhiwei let go of Shen Yuan, exhaling in relief.
Shen Yuan, still confused, asked, “What’s going on? What is it?”
Lin Zhiwei turned back to him, concern flickering in her eyes, hesitant to speak. After a moment, as Shen Yuan began to grasp the situation, she finally said, “Just because you’re a boy doesn’t mean you don’t need to protect yourself… Don’t feel you can’t speak up if someone mistreats you because you don’t want to trouble your elders.”
She had known about this stepson shortly after being with Li Chen. In Li Chen’s words, Shen Yuan was a source of pride—obedient, sensible, capable of handling his own studies and daily life, practically a little adult. But ultimately, he was still a student. And facing a shameless elder while his parents were absent, his sense of responsibility might prevent him from speaking up.
Shen Yuan went silent.
His face flushed instantly—Lin Zhiwei had clearly noticed the awkwardness between him and Qiao Hailou and had assumed Qiao Hailou was the wrongdoer.
Damn that shameless old fox! Now she knew, right? What if she told his uncle? Shen Yuan wasn’t fully sure he trusted her, even if she seemed kind.
He quickly played dumb: “I don’t understand what you mean. Nothing happened—I wasn’t bullied. If I were, I’d protect myself.”
Lin Zhiwei had anticipated this reaction. She sighed softly. “Alright, but if something ever happens, tell your uncle. He’s a gentleman and will stand up for you. Just think it over, okay?”
Shen Yuan wondered uncertainly: She’s not going to tell my uncle, right?
Seeing his hesitation, Lin Zhiwei added gently, “Your uncle told me you’re independent and diligent, that you want to handle everything yourself without bothering others. But some things aren’t meant to be handled alone—when you can’t, tell an adult.”
Her gaze on Shen Yuan was deep, layered with experience, fatigue, and worry. She looked at him, yet seemed to see someone else through him.
Shen Yuan realized she had likely misunderstood, but he couldn’t admit that Qiao Hailou hadn’t forced him—that would imply he and Qiao Hailou were involved. He refused to acknowledge that possibility, so he denied everything outright.
Lin Zhiwei felt she had said all she needed. Shen Yuan was smart and perceptive—pressing further wouldn’t help. She simply said, “Let’s head back.”
Shen Yuan nodded, following her. When he glanced back, Qiao Hailou hadn’t pursued them this time.
Some older couples from the event had joined the dance floor.
Li Chen, seeing the lively scene, took his girlfriend’s hand and went to dance.
Once they were gone, Shen Yuan finally felt safe enough to message Qiao Hailou. His first message was teasing: “Do you know why Aunt Lin took me away? She thinks you sexually harassed me! Hahaha!!!”
He attached a laughing emoji.
Qiao Hailou replied with a face-down emoji: “I’m innocent! You harassed me first—you even paid me 800 the first time, I still have the proof.”
Shen Yuan sent a mischievous reply: “I harassed you, so what? You gonna fight me? Call the adults? Go ahead—you won’t get any help even if you shout your lungs out.”
Qiao Hailou: “Doesn’t matter. Keep bothering me. Don’t stop.”
Shen Yuan, silently calling him shameless, laughed and typed: “Look at you—your reputation is terrible. Everyone would assume you forced me, think you’re an old pervert.”
Qiao Hailou: “So what if I’m a pervert? Proud to be one.”
Remembering something, Shen Yuan added: “Don’t go near her. If you do, she’ll think you forced me.”
Qiao Hailou: “You can handle it yourself?”
Shen Yuan thought of Lin Zhiwei’s worried eyes but felt strangely confident: “I can handle it. Don’t worry—I’ll give the old pervert his comeuppance. Just wait.”
Meanwhile, Xiao Lin, absorbed in his own messages, ignored his brother, feeling a little neglected. Curious about who Shen Yuan was chatting with, he dared not peek because of a prior warning.
Shen Yuan, enjoying the conversation, suddenly noticed the click of a camera. He turned and saw Xiao Lin taking a picture of him.
“Why are you taking my photo?” he asked.
Xiao Lin hummed, “I’m bored. You never talk to me.”
Shen Yuan cleared his throat. “I’m messaging a colleague… What’s up? Still playing games? I remember you were doing a livestream.”
Xiao Lin grinned. “Yeah, I’m still going. I’m pretty popular now. I even earn my own money.”
Shen Yuan laughed. “Really? How much?”
Xiao Lin, modestly: “A few ten thousand.”
Shen Yuan was shocked. His assistant’s salary didn’t come close. Wait, my little brother earns more just by gaming and streaming? He’d known Xiao Lin was skilled and had heard about top online streamers making a fortune, but didn’t expect his brother to be one of them.
A pang of envy hit him. Xiao Lin had it easy—wealthy, clever, a gentle father, smart grades, and only lost his mother to illness. His life was nearly perfect.
Yet Xiao Lin was kind too, not arrogant. Shen Yuan compared him to spoiled rich kids he’d seen, noting how different his little brother was.
Though Shen Yuan had been annoyed by Xiao Lin before, he recognized how lucky he was. Unlike his troublesome cousin, Xiao Lin never took advantage of him and treated him like a true older brother.
Shen Yuan felt genuinely happy for him.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” he said.
Xiao Lin, shy at the praise, brightened. “I haven’t spent it recklessly—I’m saving it all.”
Shen Yuan joked, “Good. Saving it for your future wife?”
Xiao Lin’s ears flushed. “No…”
Shen Yuan ruffled his hair. “Good, frugality is a virtue. You’re growing up, Xiao Lin.”
Xiao Lin glanced at his brother, murmuring, too shy to speak, secretly planning to save enough to buy Shen Yuan the best birthday gift next year—his twentieth, the prime of life.
He’d been saving all summer. Occasionally he saw the gifts their father bought Shen Yuan—expensive. He couldn’t afford such gifts himself, so he decided to earn his own money to give his brother a present even more thoughtful and precious.
Xiao Lin posted the photo he had just taken to his social media, captioned: “My bro.”
The comments exploded:
“Damn! Your bro is gorgeous!! I don’t even know what ugly means anymore.”
“Is your bro a celebrity? So handsome!”
“Ego-sama at an event? Amazing!”
“Your brother is so handsome! You must be too!”
“Post more pics of your bro! I wanna see more!”
【“I only trust the latest movies”】—that was an ad for pirated films.
Most comments praised his brother’s looks, which boosted Xiao Lin’s vanity, but as the compliments kept pouring in, he started feeling uneasy. It was like having something you love: at first, you want others to appreciate it and feel happy when they do—but if too many people like it, possessiveness kicks in, and you don’t want anyone else to notice how great it is.
Xiao Lin quickly deleted the post.
Some people even went to his other posts, asking why the previous one had disappeared.
Xiao Lin felt as if his precious treasure had been eyed by others, thinking, I can’t let anyone see how handsome my brother is…
At that moment, his phone rang. “Bro, I need to take this,” he said, leaving the table.
Shen Yuan was now alone.
Bored, he absentmindedly cracked nuts, but one walnut slipped from his hand and rolled under the table.
Bending down to retrieve it, he was startled to find a little girl crouched beneath the table.
He froze for a moment before realizing she was real—definitely not some ghostly apparition.
The girl looked to be only two or three, unusually cute, her big watery eyes staring at him silently. She seemed startled when she noticed him.
When did she get here? Who’s child is this? Shen Yuan wondered.
He squatted down and held out a hand. “What are you doing here? Come out, okay?”
The girl just looked at him, saying nothing.
Shen Yuan took a piece of chocolate from his pocket. “Want some chocolate?”
After a brief pause, she finally emerged. Standing next to his chair, she wasn’t even as tall as the table, and she silently opened her arms toward him.
Does she want me to pick her up? Shen Yuan thought. He lifted her onto his lap, unwrapped the chocolate, and fed it to her. “Where are your parents? Why are you under the table?”
The girl shook her head.
What does that mean?
Rather than wandering around, Shen Yuan decided to wait. Her parents were probably somewhere in the banquet hall; if they noticed she was missing, they would spot her immediately.
Her pigtails were messy, so he tidied them carefully.
She was genuinely adorable.
After finishing the chocolate, she reached for the nuts on the table and offered them to him. Shen Yuan wisely gave her fruit instead, feeding it to her carefully. She didn’t complain, happily munching a red apple with both hands.
Seven or eight minutes passed without anyone coming for her.
Xiao Lin returned from his call, startled to see a little girl on Shen Yuan’s lap. “Where did this kid come from?”
Shen Yuan shook his head, still puzzled. “I have no idea…”
Feeling his legs numb from holding her, Shen Yuan said, “My legs are falling asleep. Can you hold her for a bit?”
Xiao Lin didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”
Just as Shen Yuan was about to hand her over, the girl panicked, letting out two short cries, then clung tightly to him, refusing to let go.
Shen Yuan: “…”
Xiao Lin: “…”
There was no choice; he continued holding her.
Xiao Lin whispered, “Bro… is this little girl mute?”
Who knew? Shen Yuan thought. She seemed that way—silent all this time—but clearly well-behaved. She even shared grapes with him earlier.
Still, this wasn’t normal. They couldn’t just wait. Someone had to find her parents. Why hadn’t they noticed she was missing?
Shen Yuan stood, carrying the girl, and walked around—colliding with Qiao Hailou.
Qiao Hailou, seeing the child in his arms, laughed, “What’s going on? Where did she come from?”
Shen Yuan said, “I found her under the table.”
At that moment, the girl turned her head, saw Qiao Hailou, and suddenly spoke in a clear, ringing voice: “Daddy!”
Shen Yuan: “…”