Qiao Hailou was shameless—but Shen Yuan couldn’t be shameless too.
After all, Old Master Qiao was Hailou’s father. No matter what, the elder had come—couldn’t someone show some restraint? Shen Yuan suspected Hailou might be doing this on purpose.
Shen Yuan fidgeted nervously, glancing at Hailou, who didn’t even turn his head, pretending not to notice. Then he looked at Old Master Qiao, who was staring at them with a gaze that made Shen Yuan uncomfortable. He hesitated, then awkwardly greeted him:
“Hello…”
Old Master Qiao, annoyed that Shen Yuan was so close to Hailou, ignored him. Enemies’ friends are enemies—he didn’t even acknowledge it.
This, of course, irritated Hailou. Slamming down his chopsticks, he said,
“Are some people so old that their ears don’t work? Someone politely greets them and they can’t even hear it?”
Everyone present, except Hailou and his father, tensed. Hailou’s words were provocative—like throwing a spark into a firecracker pile.
Shen Yuan’s scalp tingled. This was supposed to be a simple, polite family visit—how had it escalated so fast? Under the table, he tugged on Hailou, trying to signal him to be a little more courteous.
Old Master Qiao tapped his cane:
“Hmph. Some people shamelessly play both sides. I’ve already given you face by ignoring it. Dating someone young enough to be your son—how bold of you, flaunting it openly.”
Hailou flashed his wedding ring:
“Why would I feel ashamed? I have the marriage certificate. Shen Yuan and I are legally married. Showing him off—what’s it to you?”
Old Master Qiao hadn’t expected Hailou to marry this young man outright. He froze, then exploded:
“You didn’t even tell me you got married?!!”
Hailou, sitting, had to slightly lift his chin to seem less weak. Then he stood and shot back bluntly:
“Why should I tell you? Didn’t you say you wanted me dead outside? Why would I need to report to you?”
Shen Yuan, fearing the situation would escalate, tugged at Hailou’s sleeve. Hailou ignored him. Then Shen Yuan felt a small hand tugging at his own sleeve. Looking down, he saw Qiao An’an, Old Master Qiao’s granddaughter.
The little girl had clearly slipped over quietly, her brows furrowed in fear from the argument between father and son. She looked pitiful.
Her tiny hand was icy as she gripped his sleeve. She seemed to be silently asking for help, whispering,
“Don’t fight.”
Shen Yuan understood—she wanted him to intervene and stop the Qiaos from arguing. Last time at the hospital, he had successfully stopped a fight between Hailou and Old Master Qiao.
Shen Yuan shook his head, hesitant. Last time Hailou was in the hospital bed, he had the advantage as the patient. Shen Yuan had intervened out of concern. How could he insert himself now?
An’an tugged again:
“Please…”
She was so small, barely reaching the table; no one else noticed her presence.
Shen Yuan sighed, not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to teach her cunning so young. He whispered:
“An’an, pretend to cry. Make grandpa stop arguing.”
Not sure if she understood, the little girl surprisingly let go and rubbed her eyes, starting to cry.
Her crying was soft, barely audible over the Qiaos’ bickering, but that didn’t matter. The moment she cried, Old Master Qiao heard her and realized his granddaughter had quietly wandered off. Despite her small stature and timid nature, she often sneaked around unnoticed. Yet she could also be fearless, hiding silently in corners.
Through her soft sobs, she murmured:
“Grandpa, don’t fight.”
Old Master Qiao’s heart melted, stopping the argument, scolding Hailou instead:
“Look what you’ve done—made the child cry.”
Hailou chuckled:
“You scared her, not me.”
Old Master Qiao approached, trying to soothe her but clearly clumsy with children:
“Don’t cry… why are you crying?”
Shen Yuan admired him—this method wouldn’t really work. The words sounded familiar, too.
Little An’an’s tears fell like tiny pearls, quivering, utterly adorable. Perhaps because Shen Yuan was pregnant and emotions were heightened, he felt especially tender toward the child, wanting to comfort her—even though it was technically his idea to “make her cry.”
Old Master Qiao finally managed to calm her.
But he quickly blamed Hailou:
“Bad luck! Every time I see you, nothing good happens.”
The meal was clearly ruined.
Hailou had no intention of flattering his father and didn’t need to. Shen Yuan stood, took Hailou’s hand, and whispered:
“Stop arguing. It’s giving me a headache. I’m not feeling well. Just for me, don’t fight him. Let’s go home.”
Though Hailou hated backing down, he valued Shen Yuan’s feelings more than a petty dispute. Seeing Shen Yuan troubled over a meaningless quarrel, and considering his current condition, Hailou relented. He exhaled and nodded:
“Fine. Let’s go home.”
Turning to his elder brother:
“Sorry, brother, for ruining the meal. We’ll come again another day. I’m heading back first.”
Haixuan couldn’t stop him:
“Be careful on the way.”
Haixuan also bore some responsibility—had he known their father would arrive unannounced, there was no way Hailou would have come today.
Old Master Qiao, seeing Hailou back down, thought he had won the argument. Seizing the moment, he continued:
“That young man… didn’t I tell you last time that Hailou isn’t a good person? And you, siding with someone like him! I thought you were better than that. Turns out… not really. Hailou is unfaithful, unfilial, heartless, and unjust. I advise you to leave him.”
Hailou was ready to tolerate it, but now he was losing patience.
Before he could speak, Shen Yuan cut in:
“Hailou isn’t bad! He’s a good person! Don’t talk nonsense. I’m with him every day—I know him. Just because you dislike him doesn’t give you the right to slander him. The Hailou I love is loyal to friends, trustworthy with business partners, and utterly devoted to me. He cares for me, understands me, and helps me. He’s the best person in the world! I won’t leave him!”
“Every time you advise me, but next time, you don’t need to.”
“I’m not only staying with Hailou, I want to be with him forever, growing old together, loving each other!”
Hailou instantly felt all his anger vanish.
What could be more heartwarming than being protected by his beloved?
He truly didn’t want to argue with the old man anymore. Shen Yuan had his back.
After Shen Yuan’s bold declaration, he pulled Hailou and left.
Everyone was left stunned, watching them go.
Haixuan observed the young man’s vibrant, triumphant energy as he led Hailou away. His previous worries vanished. No wonder his reckless, free-spirited younger brother had been tamed—married to someone so young. Who could resist such sincere devotion?
They left in the car.
Shen Yuan felt a pang of regret. He wasn’t the type to stir trouble—he’d met Old Master Qiao four times, and had ended up scolding him twice. As a junior scolding an elder—it was truly audacious.
Hearing Hailou’s quiet laugh beside him, Shen Yuan glared:
“What are you laughing at?”
Hailou teased:
“You looked so imposing scolding him… then shrank back after. Bold then timid, huh?”
Shen Yuan:
“I couldn’t help it… besides, it was for you! Don’t you have the nerve to say anything.”
Hailou found him adorably flustered, planting a kiss on his cheek:
“I’m just happy, silly. You love me so much, and you said you want to grow old with me, loving me forever. My heart melts.”
Shen Yuan blushed:
“I… I was just… arguing with someone. Don’t say such sappy things.”
Normally, he never spoke like this to Hailou—but now, he praised him.
Hailou teased:
“I’m just repeating what you said.”
Shen Yuan:
“Don’t get smug. Only I can scold him. No one else. I won’t allow anyone to scold you.”
Hailou saw his stubbornness and didn’t press.
“Fine. Only the silly one can scold me. Hailou belongs to Shen Yuan alone. No one else, okay?”
They drove home. Halfway there, Shen Yuan asked:
“You know everything about me, but I know little about your family. Was your estrangement with your father just because you came out?”
Hailou gazed ahead, then said:
“No, my relationship with him has never been good.”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh:
“I didn’t want to marry back then, partly because of the example he set.”
“I used to think some people aren’t fit to be parents… like my parents, like me.”
“I was raised by my eldest brother and sister-in-law. They barely cared for me, only showing up to scold me, wielding the authority of my biological father.”
“So when I learned about your father, I never felt obligated to respect him.”
Shen Yuan felt he understood… and didn’t, all at once.
Hailou paused, then continued bluntly:
“My eldest and second brothers are half-siblings… born out of wedlock.”