After finishing his story, the car was quiet. Hailou glanced at Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan looked shocked and worried, as if he wanted to comfort Hailou but didn’t know where to start. Hailou reached out and ruffled his hair, smiling:
“Don’t look at me like that. You, Uncle Qiao, are already this age—you’re not so sentimental. That’s all old history now.”
Shen Yuan thought for a moment and asked curiously,
“So… you’re illegitimate, yet your eldest brother treats you so well? He’s really tolerant.”
“What are you imagining?” Hailou laughed. He couldn’t figure out what kind of story Shen Yuan had concocted in his head. “My existence didn’t disrupt their family. When I was born, the eldest and second brothers’ mother—Old Master Qiao’s first wife—had already passed away years ago.”
Hailou gazed ahead at the fading lights. Softly, he continued:
“My biological mother was about ten years younger than him. She didn’t love him—she just wanted to be the lady of the Qiao household, living a rich lifestyle. Old Master Qiao was muddling through life at the time. When she got pregnant, she hid away. After giving birth, she came to the Qiao family with me.”
“Of course, he didn’t want me. He still had feelings for his late wife. My mother was a mistake in his life, and I… I was a lifelong blemish. At first, he refused to acknowledge me as his son. He wouldn’t even do a DNA test—he flat-out denied it and wouldn’t let me into the Qiao household.”
“It must have been a huge fight. Eventually, it was confirmed I was his son—he had no choice but to accept it.”
“But he didn’t let my mother claim the title of lady of the house with me as leverage. He gave her a large sum of money and essentially bought me.”
“He never wanted me, so why would he care? Seeing me, he only felt disgust.”
“At that time, my eldest brother was already twenty. He saw me as pitiable, so he raised me, played with me, and taught me to read.”
Hailou reflected:
“My eldest brother treated me very well. He even attended parent-teacher meetings for me without complaint. Later, when he married, my eldest sister-in-law also went to my meetings. As a child, I couldn’t tell father from brother. When sent to kindergarten, I was confused why the men picking up all the other children looked about the same age, and my ‘dad’ was actually my brother. Shouldn’t the man I called ‘dad’ have been grandpa?”
“My second brother was good to me too, though younger and less steady than my eldest.”
Shen Yuan nodded. No wonder Hailou’s relationship with his eldest brother was so close. Though estranged from the rest of the family, he still visited and cared for them. Heart for heart, give and take.
Shen Yuan said clearly:
“Then I’ll treat your eldest brother well too.”
Hailou remembered:
“Didn’t my eldest brother and sister-in-law give you gifts and a red envelope? Open it.”
Shen Yuan opened the envelope to find a check with a lucky number—18.88 million. He gasped. Even though Hailou was wealthy and had said he’d share his assets, seeing such a sum firsthand was overwhelming. Money can’t buy everything, but sometimes it clearly expresses the weight of one’s feelings.
Hailou’s eldest brother clearly cared about his youngest sibling—a magnanimous, reliable man. Many family businesses fail after three generations, but the Qiao family continued growing steadily, largely thanks to him.
Hailou glanced at Shen Yuan, nodding, unfazed by the money:
“Relax. That’s just a number. Later, when I let you manage my savings, don’t freak out. Stay calm—you’re my husband, after all.”
Shen Yuan blushed:
“I haven’t seen much of the world, so what?”
Hailou continued:
“Most people think being with you is my fault. I’m disrespecting my elders, seducing you. Only my eldest brother worried I was blinded by desire, tricked into giving you money. I didn’t tell him about our prenuptial agreement; if he knew, he would have objected.”
Shen Yuan shrugged, unashamed:
“Wasn’t I the one blinded by desire? I cast my spell on you. Was it good? I just wanted your money and to spend it.”
Hailou laughed heartily. He liked Shen Yuan’s straightforwardness—no beating around the bush, no pretenses. With him, love and identity, wealth and personality, were inseparable.
Shen Yuan pressed on:
“But you still haven’t explained why you and your father fell out.” He felt a twinge thinking about Hailou’s rumored elopement with another man. Now he might finally get clarity. “Tell me everything. You kept so many things from me before marriage; now hurry and explain.”
Hailou shrugged:
“I’m telling you. There’s a lot, and I can’t say it all at once. I’ll say what comes to mind.”
He continued:
“When I was in middle school, I learned my true parentage. You, Uncle Qiao, were young once too. During my rebellious phase, I didn’t know when Old Master Qiao’s first wife passed. I thought she was my mom and wondered why I wasn’t allowed to visit her grave. Later, I understood.”
“Middle school—finally aware of my origins.”
“My eldest brother was remarkable. Even when I was immature and angry, he patiently endured and taught me. When I came out, though he struggled to accept it, he didn’t humiliate me like Old Master Qiao did. He researched, understood, and guided me.”
“Later…” Hailou sighed, “in university, my biological mother found me.”
“I couldn’t understand. She never raised me—why would I consider her my mother?”
“She had used the money obtained from me to do business, failed, and lost it all. Finding out I was well-treated in the Qiao household and doing well academically, she tried to demand money again.”
Shen Yuan commented:
“Your mother is a lot like Shen Xuanwen.”
Hailou laughed bitterly:
“Exactly. So I never felt she deserved sympathy. Why should mere biological ties demand filial piety? I don’t buy it.”
“But I’m not finished…”
“Later, another huge quarrel happened, and I witnessed it all. Old Master Qiao, frustrated, complained to my eldest brother: ‘I should have sent him away back then. Let someone else raise him. Keeping him here disturbed the household.’ He also made it clear I wouldn’t inherit anything from the family.”
Shen Yuan held his breath.
Hailou continued:
“I was furious. If he didn’t want me as his son, I didn’t want to acknowledge him as my father. After another argument, I ran away. My eldest brother tried to convince me to return, but I didn’t want to. Staying with that old man any longer would have driven me insane.”
“That’s pretty much it.”
Shen Yuan nodded, feeling sympathy for Hailou.
Finally, they reached home.
Shen Yuan asked directly:
“How should I comfort you?”
Feeling ashamed, he added:
“I realize it’s always you comforting me; I never comfort you first.”
Hailou took the chance to praise him:
“Don’t be silly. When I was hurt, you comforted me many times, especially at the hospital. Thinking about it now, I feel it wasn’t enough.”
Shen Yuan blushed furiously:
“Ugh! I wanted to comfort you sincerely, and you tease me! Can’t we just speak properly?”
He hesitated, then muttered:
“I… I’m pregnant, early stages… shouldn’t… you know… maybe I can just touch you?”
Hailou felt as if a jar of honey had been spilled in his chest. He lifted Shen Yuan onto his lap, kissing him softly:
“I’m joking. Too dangerous—I wouldn’t risk you losing even a little.”
Shen Yuan felt that something in Hailou’s story was missing, but he couldn’t pinpoint it.
Two days later, Professor Haywood informed them their team was ready, and Shen Yuan could prepare to depart. Everything was set.
The day before leaving, Shen Yuan, restless from pregnancy and anxious about traveling abroad, went shopping with Hailou. They laughed and chatted as they strolled through the store.
Suddenly, a surprised voice called from behind:
“Hailou? Is that you?”
Shen Yuan turned to see a handsome, refined man in his thirties.
Hailou’s friend? Shen Yuan initially didn’t think much, but his instincts warned him to dislike this man.
Hailou ignored him, coldly staring.
The man looked at Shen Yuan briefly, then back at Hailou:
“Long time no see, Xiao Hai. What a coincidence. I heard you got married and sent my congratulations via text—but perhaps I got the wrong number. Didn’t seem like you received it.”
He glanced at Shen Yuan with a slight smile:
“Is this your new husband? So young…”
Shen Yuan finally realized—this was the man named “Rui Xia.” Damn it! Hailou had only mentioned the name once, and he remembered it.
Rui Xia forced a smile, with faint sadness:
“You seem happy now, finally moved on, married…”
“I… got divorced…”