When He Changning was two months pregnant, Madam Shang came to the Fanjin villa. Shang Yushang had already told her everything beforehand, speaking honestly and openly without hiding anything. Being an elderly woman with years of experience, she accepted the news even faster than most young people would. Not only did she not treat He Changning like some kind of freak, but she was also so overjoyed that she teared up, repeatedly saying how fortunate the Shang family was to have found such a good daughter-in-law. She also said that Shang Yushang must have accumulated great fortune to be favored by He Changning. She was so happy that she was practically rambling.
Since then, Madam Shang visited every few days, always bringing lots of good food for He Changning. Knowing how bad his morning sickness was, she tried many remedies to help, even gathered quite a few folk remedies. But she was afraid they might do more harm than good, so she didn’t dare actually let him use them. With that mix of worry and affection, she stuck by He Changning through it all.
Now that the pregnancy had entered the seventh month, Shang Yushang had completely stepped away from work to stay home and care for He Changning with meticulous attention.
Ever since the start of the seventh month, the morning sickness had eased significantly. He wasn’t throwing up anymore, and his body was doing much better—no more exhaustion, no more frailty. His previously skin-and-bones figure had started filling out again. His appetite had returned, and he ate anything offered to him. His belly visibly grew by the day.
Shang Yushang stayed on edge every day. With He Changning eating and drinking more than ever, he feared it might be too much for his body to handle. He wanted to tell him to slow down and eat smaller meals more frequently, but he was also afraid the babies wouldn’t get enough nutrients. He was constantly torn.
Looking at He Changning’s rapidly growing belly, he worried it was too fast and too big for his body to handle. With his petite frame increasingly disproportionate, Shang Yushang was constantly on edge, afraid he might fall or bump into something and get hurt.
The thinner the skin on He Changning’s belly got, the more visible the veins beneath it became. Shang Yushang’s brows were always furrowed tight with anxiety. He was scared He Changning’s body couldn’t handle the weight of the twins and terrified the belly might rupture. His nerves were stretched so tight, his palms were always sweaty.
And so, every day, the CEO of the Shang Group turned into a bundle of nerves, trailing behind He Changning like a shadow. He wished he could tie them together with a rope or shrink his wife down to carry him in the palm of his hand. Only when watching him constantly could he feel at ease.
To He Changning, this high-alert, always-ready-to-save-someone mode of his was just over the top. He knew his own body well. Although the previous months had been tough, things were clearly better now. He could eat without nausea, he wasn’t constantly tired, and he no longer had to lie in bed all day. He could even walk around the garden, breathe some fresh air, and feel better emotionally. A good mood made for better appetite. He wanted to use the remaining three months to give the babies as much nutrition as possible so they’d be healthy at birth and easier to care for.
But every day, Shang Yushang acted like he was facing a war, which made He Changning both amused and deeply touched. He might be the one suffering through pregnancy, but Shang Yushang wasn’t faring much better—always worrying whether he was too cold, too hot, too hungry, or uncomfortable. He took care of everything but didn’t even take time to eat properly himself. His entire heart was focused on their little family of three. Day and night, he followed He Changning everywhere, helping, holding, supporting him. At night, even the smallest movement from He Changning would wake him. Only after confirming it was just a change in sleeping position would he lie back down, practically sleeping with his eyes open.
After months of this, he had clearly lost a lot of weight, and the dark circles under his eyes had never faded.
He Changning was truly heartbroken. He tried to comfort him, telling him not to worry, not to be afraid—that everything was fine. Shang Yushang would agree, but his actions never changed. Unable to convince him otherwise, He Changning could only try to eat and sleep more so that Shang Yushang would have fewer things to worry about.
That day, after tucking He Changning into bed, Da Zhou called.
“Young Master, someone’s come to the company.”
Shang Yushang knew Da Zhou’s temperament well—he wouldn’t disturb him unless it was something important. “Who is it?”
“He says his surname is He.”
Shang Yushang frowned. “What does he want?”
“He says he wants to see Young Master Ning.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“Around forty, and there’s a young man with him in his twenties. They’re at the company now.”
At a time like this, Shang Yushang had no intention of letting He Changning meet any outsiders. Someone surnamed He? If he guessed right, they were probably relatives from He Changning’s mother’s side. After more than twenty years of no contact, they suddenly show up now? Claiming to be relatives? Like hell he’d believe that. “Send them away.”
Everyone could see how protective he was of He Changning, especially now.
“Understood, Young Master.”
Ever since He Changning’s pregnancy was confirmed, the only people who knew were Shang Yushang, Madam Shang, Bai Mo and her husband, and a few of Shang Yushang’s most trusted aides—including Aunt Qin. All other staff, including those brought from the old mansion, had been dismissed.
Now, aside from security posted around the perimeter, only a handful of trusted people were allowed inside the main house of the Fanjin villa. It was impossible for word of the pregnancy to have leaked. So what was the He family doing here now? Were they really just trying to reconnect? Or did they have another motive? Whatever their intentions, they weren’t going to get close to He Changning or the children.
After being turned away by Da Zhou, the Hes didn’t return to the company. It seemed like the matter was over. But surprisingly, the He family was more persistent than expected. They managed to find the Fanjin villa and were now outside, demanding to see He Changning.
In the bedroom, He Changning blinked his large eyes. “You said the He family went to the company a few days ago, and now they’ve found their way to our house?”
Feeding him a sip of milk and wiping his mouth, Shang Yushang sounded clearly annoyed at the He family’s visit. “Mm.”
“Do you want to see them, baby?”
He Changning shook his head. “Not just because I’m in no condition right now—even if I were, I still wouldn’t want to see them.”
Shang Yushang kissed his cheek. “Alright, it’s all up to you. Leave it to me.”
He helped his husband lie down on the recliner on the balcony to enjoy some sun, tucked him in with a blanket, set a glass of water and some snacks by his side, and instructed Xiao Wu to keep watch. Only then did he go downstairs.
In the living room, two men were sitting on the sofa—one in his forties, the other much younger, maybe in his twenties.
Shang Yushang walked straight over and sat down. His long legs crossed naturally, face expressionless, eyes sharp and cold as he swept his gaze over the two. His deep voice was devoid of warmth. “And who might you be?”
He Mingfan looked up and studied the young man before him. His sharply defined features, commanding presence, and elegant posture made it clear he came from a powerful lineage. Even without trying, his authority and pressure were palpable—definitely someone worthy of being the He family’s son-in-law.
Adjusting his glasses, he spoke politely and with a gentle tone. “Mr. Shang, sorry for the unannounced visit. My surname is He. This is my nephew, He Junsheng.”
He Junsheng gave a slight nod as a greeting. Shang Yushang didn’t spare him even a glance, his eyes fixed on He Mingfan.
His cultured and flowery tone fit the He family’s style. Shang Yushang didn’t bother with pleasantries. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
He Mingfan didn’t seem bothered by the impatience in Shang Yushang’s voice. “I’m here today because I’d like to see my nephew, He Changning.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. He. My partner’s name is indeed He Changning, but he is not your so-called nephew. Pardon me.” Shang Yushang was clearly giving them the boot.
He Mingfan frowned. “Mr. Shang, we wouldn’t have come if we weren’t sure.”
Shang Yushang’s expression didn’t change. “As far as I know, my mother-in-law was an orphan. That means there’s no such thing as a maternal family, and therefore no so-called relatives.”
He Mingfan’s face darkened. “The affairs of the He family are complicated. You can’t make a conclusion based on simple claims.”
“That has nothing to do with me—and certainly nothing to do with my partner.”
“You—” He Mingfan was left speechless.
He Junsheng, being younger, was less able to control himself. Seeing his uncle getting verbally boxed in made him furious. His tone turned stiff. “Mr. Shang, we came to see He Changning. Let him come out and tell us himself.”
Shang Yushang’s cold gaze locked onto He Junsheng. “And who the hell are you to order around my people?”
Under Shang Yushang’s stare, He Junsheng broke into a cold sweat and uncomfortably tugged at his tie. “I’m He Changning’s cousin.”
“Which developmental stage is your IQ at? Didn’t you understand a word I just said?”
He Junsheng’s eyes widened. “You—”
The atmosphere froze. He Mingfan had to lower his posture and speak again. “Mr. Shang, we only wish to meet Changning. That’s all. We have no other intentions.”
“Sorry. My partner doesn’t meet with just anyone who wants to see him.” With a wave of his hand, he said, “Xiao Qi, see them out.” Then he strode upstairs without another word.
He Mingfan and He Junsheng were shown out of the villa without even being offered a cup of tea.
In the hotel suite, He Junsheng flopped onto the sofa, fuming. “What the hell—completely ungrateful. We came all this way and humbled ourselves just to see him, and he acts like he’s some kind of royalty. If Grandpa hadn’t insisted we meet him, I wouldn’t have bothered. And that Shang Yushang—what an arrogant prick. So what if he’s a young master of the Shang family? He’s not even worthy to shine our shoes in front of the He family.”
He Mingfan, being more experienced, managed to stay composed. “Don’t say that. The Shang family isn’t as simple as it looks on the surface. Though Shangshi Group was just a small family business ten years ago, it’s grown into a massive enterprise today. But the Shang family didn’t earn its status in the world merely through the success of Shangshi Group.”
He Junsheng didn’t understand—some things were beyond his age and position. “What do you mean by that, Second Uncle?”
He Mingfan glanced at him. This nephew of his was rather arrogant, rarely taking anyone seriously because of his status as a He family heir. Today was a good time to teach him that there’s always someone stronger out there. “The Shang family has been around for several centuries. Its heritage runs deeper than the He family’s. The Shang family’s ancestor was once a high-ranking official in the imperial court, second only to the emperor. But he was also a shrewd man. Knowing that his power would one day arouse suspicion, he gradually withdrew from the center of power, advising his descendants never to outshine the ruler for the sake of their own survival.”
He took a sip of tea and continued, “Within a couple of generations, the family had exited the political stage and turned to commerce. Through successive dynasties, not only did the Shang family avoid decline, but they actually thrived.”
“Although they left politics and turned to business, the Shang family was highly foresighted. No matter who ruled the country, no matter how much the Shang family contributed through its enterprises, there was always the risk of being used, taken over, or eliminated. So the ancestor established a secret force to protect the family.”
He Junsheng’s eyes widened as he stared at his uncle, eager for him to say more.
He Mingfan cleared his throat. “After generations of effort, that mysterious force became powerful enough to rival the national apparatus. It’s what allowed the Shang family to survive countless crises and continue to flourish.”
“As the current heir of the Shang family, it’s entirely possible that Shang Yushang has already inherited control of that force. Otherwise, he couldn’t have developed Shangshi Group to its current scale in just eight years.”
He Junsheng felt a chill down his spine and swallowed hard. “But if the Shang family had that kind of power, why was Shangshi just a small business under his father’s leadership? Wouldn’t he have used that power to make it grow? Why wait for his son to take over?”
“That’s the naive thinking of someone your age,” He Mingfan said. “Not every member of the Shang family is qualified to inherit that power. If it weren’t so, the Shang family might have already vanished from history. Every recognized family head has to undergo strict, even brutal training. Only those who meet the criteria are acknowledged. Many heirs become family heads without being chosen by that force, simply because they are the most capable from among the selected candidates. The force lies dormant, waiting for someone truly worthy to lead them—someone with ability, intelligence, and the right qualifications. Only then will it recognize its master and serve the Shang family once more.”
He Junsheng’s throat went dry. “So what you’re saying is… not only is Shang Yushang the current head of the Shang family, but he might also be the master of that mysterious force?”
He Mingfan recalled their meeting earlier. A thirty-year-old man, no matter how ruthless or decisive in business, shouldn’t carry such an overwhelming, commanding aura. That kind of presence would be normal in a battle-hardened veteran, but in someone so young? That was no ordinary person. “I believe so.”
He Junsheng couldn’t stop replaying the look Shang Yushang gave him. His body trembled slightly—that gaze was terrifying. “Maybe you’re right, Uncle.”
The two men fell silent. The whole point of coming to the Shang family was to meet He Changning. The old man had specifically told them they had to see him with their own eyes. They couldn’t guess why, but no one in the He family dared defy his orders. The old patriarch was the backbone of the He family—without him, the family would be nothing.
He Junsheng spoke dejectedly, “Uncle, what now? Grandpa asked us to see him, but it’s not going to happen. Shang Yushang guards He Changning like a hawk. Meeting him is harder than scaling the heavens. But what do we tell Grandpa?”
He Mingfan rubbed his temples. “We tell the truth and see how your grandfather responds.”
They hadn’t expected a simple meeting to become so complicated. No wonder the old man had repeatedly warned them to be humble and respectful when facing the Shang family, not to act out. And if they saw He Changning, they must show no shock or suspicion—pretend like nothing was out of the ordinary. All that mattered was confirming his identity.
His instructions had been cryptic—but now they couldn’t even see the person, so there was nothing more to say.
