Shen Yuan hadn’t seen his biological father in many, many years—
The last time was four or five years ago, right after his mother passed away. It wasn’t even seven days after her funeral. He was wearing a black mourning ribbon on his sleeve, went back to school during the week, and on Saturday after class, his father suddenly blocked him on the road. Back then, his dad was already struggling to maintain even a superficial image of respectability—though his clothes were still relatively neat. This was the same man who, when he was young, was a painfully vain pretty boy who cherished his own face more than most women did, obsessively maintaining his looks.
That time, his dad took him to a small noodle shop nearby to talk. At first, he at least knew to pretend to care:
“…I heard your mom had an accident. They wouldn’t let me attend the funeral, sigh… but I’ve been really worried about you. A-Ben, what are you going to do now?”
Shen Yuan had just turned sixteen then—still soft-hearted and naïve in many ways. Even though he had a heavy psychological shadow because of his father, hearing “concern” still made him hesitate to think badly right away. He shook his head, confused, and said, “Uncle said I can keep living at their house.”
Shen Xuanwen froze for a second. “He’s not even your real father, and he’s still willing to let you stay? Then your mother’s inheritance—he inherited it?”
Shen Yuan was stunned. He finally noticed the glint in his father’s eyes and realized what he was really after. His chest turned cold, and he couldn’t speak for a moment.
Acting as if he was advising him for his own good, Shen Xuanwen coaxed, “Your real dad is still alive—why should you live with someone who’s not related to you? Your uncle’s a stingy miser. He’s not reliable. I know I made mistakes before, but I’ve changed. I’m working now. No matter how good another man’s home is, it’s still someone else’s home. A-Ben, come live with Dad. This time I’ll really take care of you.”
Then, sounding “reasonable,” he added, “I’m trying to start a business, but I need some capital. Your mother’s assets should’ve gone to you anyway. Once Dad’s business takes off, we’ll have a good life. We won’t need to look at your stepfather’s face anymore.”
“…So, how much money did your mom leave? Any jewelry?”
Even now, thinking back on it suffocates Shen Yuan. What did he say then? Right—he didn’t hold back and directly asked, disappointed, “You’re not here for me. You’re here for Mom’s money, aren’t you?”
Shen Xuanwen shamelessly said, “How can you say that? Life requires money. I’m not going to sugarcoat things for you—you’re sixteen already. You should understand that life isn’t easy. You can’t survive on air.”
After all these years of his father’s absence, one tends to remember only the good parts of someone who’s gone. Back then, his father had once been a great dad—he’d lift him up, take him to amusement parks and zoos, sing to him. Before the divorce, other kids envied him for having such a handsome dad. In his memories, his father was a beautiful young man playing the piano and singing for him, almost glowing with charm, a father one could idolize.
So Shen Yuan felt both sad and disappointed. He knew his dad had long changed. Teenagers are impulsive, so he’d simply asked sharply, “If you could take Mom’s money without me attached, you wouldn’t want me at all, right? I’m just the dead weight that comes with the money.”
“When Grandpa died, you didn’t show up to take me in. Did you ever visit me? I’ve been living in someone else’s home for years. Only now you suddenly remember?”
Shen Xuanwen’s expression never shifted. He sighed impatiently. “I wanted to visit, but your mother would throw me out every time. I asked around about where you were studying, but they refused to tell me. I finally managed to find out this time, so of course I came right away.”
He even took out two hundred yuan, trying to hand it to him. “I know I’ve wronged you. I’ve really changed. Believe Dad, okay? Take this and buy yourself something.”
Shen Yuan wouldn’t take it—he refused even when his father tried to force it on him. He suddenly stood up, trembling with anger. “You’ve never paid a cent in child support, and you think two hundred yuan makes up for that???”
“You say my uncle isn’t my real father so he’ll treat me badly—but have YOU ever treated me well? Huh? Don’t feed me excuses about not knowing where I live. I’m not that stupid!”
“Forget Mom’s money. I’m not giving you a single cent.”
Having failed with softness, Shen Xuanwen switched to threats. “You’re just like your stingy uncle—money, money, money. I’m offering to take you in, and you question my intentions? I’m your real father. After your mother, I’m the one most qualified to raise you. I can go to court and fight for custody. Your stepfather might not win against me.”
Stubborn to the bone, Shen Yuan said coldly, “If the court really gives me to you, I’ll give Uncle ALL of Mom’s money. I won’t keep a single cent. You’re such a great father, right? I’ll go back to you empty-handed—no money, nothing. You won’t mind, will you?”
Shen Xuanwen was speechless, irritated, face turning dark. “You… you’ve been spoiled by your mother. Not the slightest bit filial.”
Shen Yuan refused to talk anymore. He grabbed his bag and tried to leave.
His father followed, pulling him back. “Don’t go. Come home with Dad. Just come once, you’ll see I’ve changed. I even prepared a room for you—new blankets and everything.”
“I don’t want to! I’m not going!!”
“You look down on me because I’m poor? I’m not a Li—of course I’m not rich. So you’d rather be someone else’s dog son than stay with your real dad? Ever heard ‘a child doesn’t despise a poor home’? Your mom judged people by money, and now you’re the same? He’s not your real father—I AM!”
“Shen Xuanwen?”
A furious male voice thundered from nearby.
Shen Yuan turned and saw his uncle.
Li Chen strode over, eyes sharp with anger. “Let go! Who allowed you to touch my kid?”
Shen Xuanwen shrank like a cornered rat but still didn’t let go. “Your kid? He’s my flesh and blood—his surname is Shen. His real mother is gone. What’s wrong with him living with me? I’m his biological father!”
Li Chen didn’t argue. He forcibly slapped his hand away and pulled Shen Yuan behind him protectively. “If I see you harassing him again, don’t blame me for what comes next.”
Shen Xuanwen finally dropped the act and snapped, “Oh? You want to fight?”
Li Chen didn’t back down. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong, solid arms. “Sure. I trained in judo. You really want to do this?”
Shen Xuanwen didn’t expect the mild-looking Li Chen to actually be trained. He instantly chickened out. “Fighting in public is illegal, okay? I’m not stupid.”
He hissed, “So having money makes you special? You think you can steal someone else’s child? Watch me take this to court. Shen Yuan is MY son. He’s coming with ME!”
Shen Yuan spent days terrified, afraid the court would actually force him to live with that man, and also afraid his father would retaliate and hurt his uncle. His uncle had been nothing but good to him—what if he got dragged into trouble because of him?
But Uncle told him not to worry, said his father wouldn’t bother him again.
And he never did. He probably never even filed anything. That was the end of it. After that… he never saw him again.
Until today—
At first glance, Shen Yuan almost didn’t recognize him.
How could his father have aged this much in just four or five years?!
If he remembered correctly, Shen Xuanwen was only in his early forties. Yet he now looked sixty—sparse hair, sallow and dark skin, ghastly complexion, and a mouth full of bad teeth.
He looked diseased, corroded.
His clothes were sloppy, even stained. How had he fallen this far? Shen Yuan couldn’t believe it. If his father stood next to Qiao Hailou—who was about the same age—you’d think they were two generations apart.
Even Qiao Hailou’s father might look healthier.
Facing him, Shen Yuan didn’t know what to say. After a while, he managed awkwardly, “Come outside.”
Shen Xuanwen answered meekly, “Okay…”
The counselor glanced at them curiously. He’d met the “uncle” before—the tall, refined man who was clearly wealthy. But this so-called “father”… looked like this. And Shen Yuan seemed to avoid even standing too close to him, like he was embarrassed by his father’s poverty.
Didn’t Shen Yuan’s family seem well-off? His clothes and demeanor never suggested he lacked money. What was going on?
Shen Yuan only brought him outside because he didn’t want the counselor staring. But the campus was bustling—no truly private place to talk. And because he was a well-known student, people kept turning to look.
Since they’d already been seen, hiding would only make it worse. So he simply stopped by the roadside walkway and spoke there. He was known as a gentle, approachable upperclassman, so he couldn’t show the hostility he truly felt. Trying to stay calm, he asked, “So? Why are you here?”
Shen Xuanwen said, embarrassed, “I… I’m really short on money. I can barely afford food. A-Ben, can you lend Dad some money?”
“How much?”
He knew if he asked for too much, Shen Yuan would explode, so he tested carefully. “Three thousand…”
Shen Yuan frowned. “A thousand at most.”
His father looked up at him. The light hit his eyes, and his pupils shrank to a needle-like point—strangely hollow, unfocused, eerie. Shen Yuan froze. A chill crept up his spine. Something instinctively felt off, but the thought slipped away before he could pin it down.
Trying to negotiate, Shen Xuanwen said, “One thousand is too little… how about two thousand?”
“A thousand five,” Shen Yuan said. “That’s all I have. Take it or leave it. You’re asking me for money. I’m not expecting you to pay it back, so don’t push it.”
“…Fine. One thousand five, then. Can you give it to me now?”
Shen Yuan took out his wallet and pulled all the cash from it—exactly fifteen hundred—then handed it over. “Don’t come looking for me again.”
Seeing the branded wallet in his son’s hand, Shen Xuanwen cursed silently: Damn it. I’m starving, and my kid is walking around draped in luxury.
He pocketed the cash and then said, “I’m still your dad. You’re supposed to provide for me. You should be giving me a monthly support payment.”
Shen Yuan replied flatly, “Then go sue me. I’m still in school, and you’re not even at retirement age. Support for what? If the court orders it, I’ll pay.”