Since Shen Zeyu returned from Germany, he kept appearing in the public eye as usual—attending alumni gatherings, friendly tennis matches, and so on. His circle of close friends still surrounded him, just like before.
On the other hand, Qi Xu hadn’t shown up anywhere.
He’d been back with the Shen family for over half a month, but rumors and speculation about who the real young master of the Shen family was kept spreading outside.
People began doubting Shen Zhuohai’s claim that he treated his sons “equally.”
Rumors once again pushed the Shen family into the spotlight, and Shen Zhuohai was swamped every day dealing with various issues.
On Friday morning, the whole family of four was having breakfast together in the dining room.
Shen Zeyu noticed his father’s pale face and asked with concern, “Dad, haven’t been resting well lately? You look awful. Should I call Dr. Guan to come check on you at home?”
Shen Zhuohai rubbed his temples, which were throbbing from lack of rest. “It’s nothing, just a little insomnia.”
Shen Zeyu had never heard of his father having insomnia before. “Big brother, is something wrong at the company?”
Shen Fengkai poured syrup over the waffles in front of Shen Zeyu. “Nothing’s wrong at the company. You’re just a kid—don’t worry about these things.”
Shen Zeyu was happy his parents and older brother treated him like a child because it showed their love for him. But he also disliked that they kept everything from him—only telling him personal matters, never company business.
If they’re not telling me, are they telling Qi Xu?
“I’m already an adult, not a kid. I’m capable of helping with the family,” Shen Zeyu protested. “You want me to just watch Dad work himself to death? I can’t do that.”
Shen Zhuohai looked at Shen Zeyu’s eyes with growing pride. No wonder this was the child he had personally raised—innocent yet responsible.
“With Zeyu’s concern, Dad will definitely get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
Zeng Yun gave her husband a reproachful glance. “Is our son some kind of miracle cure? Still, it’s better to have old Guan come by just to be safe.”
Shen Zeyu chimed in with a few words, then asked, “Big brother, what’s really going on?”
Shen Fengkai said, “Dad wants Qi Xu to represent the Shen family at the coming-of-age ceremony for the Fang family’s youngest daughter.”
Hearing this, Shen Zeyu’s hand clenched tightly on his pants.
Before, he had always been the one to attend these family gatherings on behalf of the Shen family. Though these were smaller social events compared to business dinners, the attendees were all highly regarded young heirs from major families.
Which people belong in which circles—this was an unspoken rule.
His grip on the pants suddenly loosened, and Shen Zeyu’s face showed no emotion. “Great. They told me they wanted to meet… Big brother, I happen to have something that day. I’ll ask them to take good care of him…”
Shen Fengkai saw that Shen Zeyu had misunderstood and explained, “He’s new here and doesn’t know anything yet. Sending him alone might offend people without realizing it. You should attend with him, he just needs to show his face.”
Their parents didn’t personally arrange a grand event to formally introduce Qi Xu; they just planned for him to attend other families’ gatherings to put in appearances. Clearly, they didn’t take Qi Xu seriously.
Makes sense. A guy who doesn’t even know how to use a knife and fork is just going to embarrass himself.
Shen Zeyu smiled. “Don’t worry, big brother. The people at the gathering are all friends I know well. Even if Qi Xu messes up, they won’t mind.”
Just then, the main party, still sleepy-eyed, came downstairs and took his seat at the table, quietly greeting, “Good morning.”
Zeng Yun had the servants bring Qi Xu breakfast, but he glanced at the Western-style food with little interest and picked at it absentmindedly.
At the table, Shen Fengkai told Qi Xu, “This afternoon you and Zeyu will attend a gathering. You don’t know anyone and haven’t been to one before. Don’t do anything unnecessary, just follow behind him.”
Two seconds later, Qi Xu put down his chopsticks. “If you’re so afraid I’ll mess up, why even make me go?”
These days, they truly had been neglecting Qi Xu. The main reason was that Qi Xu wasn’t close to them; they couldn’t transfer their feelings from the affectionate youngest son to a distant biological son.
They expected equal emotional returns for what they gave, not just one-sided devotion.
Shen Zhuohai spoke earnestly to him: “Xiao Xu, you’re a Shen family member now, not from Qi Family Village. You need to go out, see the world, and learn more.”
Qi Xu repeated Shen Zhuohai’s words, his tone ambiguous: “See the world, learn more.”
He grabbed a napkin, wiped his mouth, and showed a bit of interest. “Alright, then let’s go see.”
Before the gathering, Qi Xu went out briefly. When he returned, Shen Zeyu had already changed into a refined outfit, with even his hair meticulously styled.
Zeng Yun saw Qi Xu come in late and urged, “Xiao Xu, hurry up and change clothes—you can’t be late.”
Qi Xu grabbed a gift bag and jogged upstairs, then came back down less than two minutes later carrying the same bag.
“Let’s go.”
Zeng Yun hesitated. “Why didn’t you change? Don’t you know what to wear?”
Qi Xu glanced down at his own clothes: a black jacket, casual pants, and sneakers. “I think this outfit’s fine.”
Zeng Yun was about to say something when Shen Zeyu, already in the car, said, “Mom, we’re almost late.”
Qi Xu climbed into the car with the gift bag. Shen Zeyu glanced sideways at his wrinkled clothes and thought it looked like trash.
Neither said a word during the ride—partly because they had nothing to say, and partly because Qi Xu slept the whole way.
Only when the driver said, “Young masters, we’ve arrived at the Fang family estate,” did Qi Xu open his eyes and look around, then got out without a second thought.
Shen Zeyu had been here many times before. Fang Qian, the Fang family’s youngest daughter, was his classmate and often invited them over. Sometimes Shen Zeyu went; sometimes not—it depended on whether Xie Huai attended.
Today was Fang Qian’s coming-of-age party. Invited guests were close friends, classmates, and peers from other families. No one would come empty-handed.
The Fang family servants skillfully retrieved a fine gift bag from the Shen family’s trunk and followed behind Shen Zeyu.
Qi Xu followed the servant leisurely, even casually touching a nearby rose.
The birthday girl, Fang Qian, stood in a custom pink sequin princess dress amidst a sea of flowers, taking photos with her girlfriends. Around her were many familiar friends, all dressed in formal gowns.
Shen Zeyu’s arrival drew quite a bit of attention.
Some time ago, the Shen family’s baby mix-up scandal had stirred up quite a commotion. After that, Shen Zeyu had appeared only within his close circle of friends, nothing like today’s large-scale gathering.
Seeing him, Fang Qian warmly greeted Shen Zeyu, “Class monitor, you’re here.”
Shen Zeyu smiled, “Happy birthday, language arts representative.”
Surrounding them was a circle of classmates they hung out with—usually addressing each other by their class roles.
Hearing those familiar titles felt like they were still in senior year, everyone bubbling with enthusiasm.
“This is the last time we’ll call each other that. Once we’re in college, no more class monitors or language reps.”
“I envy those going to the same university together, keeping our high school friendships alive.”
“The class president and the class monitor? They might even be in the same major, maybe the same class.”
Hearing someone put the class monitor and class president together instantly lifted Shen Zeyu’s spirits.
It was as if they naturally belonged to the same place and status. Even though these weren’t real names but just titles, having a clear connection made him happy.
He glanced at the Fang family servant, who stepped forward holding a gift.
“This is a coming-of-age present from my parents,” Shen Zeyu said, handing over a gift box as well. “This is from me. Hope you like it.”
Fang Qian happily accepted it. “Please thank your uncle and aunt for me, and thank you for the gift.”
Suddenly Shen Zeyu remembered something. “Oh, my second brother is here too.”
The Shen family’s eldest brother was Shen Fengkai, so considering the recent events, who the second brother was was obvious.
Everyone looked around but only saw the servant—no one else.
Suddenly, from the sea of pink and blue flowers, a head appeared, expression indifferent as it met their gaze. “Are you looking for me?”
Dressed in black and blending into the flower backdrop, Qi Xu looked like a shadowy figure. His casual, almost lazy demeanor, combined with amber eyes shaded with detachment and coldness, made his handsome face seem aristocratic.
Those who had met the Shen couple couldn’t help but be amazed.
“He looks so much like Aunt Zeng.”
“He actually looks a lot like Uncle Shen too, same expression, and very much like Big Brother Shen.”
“That’s no surprise—biological sons always look alike.”
Hearing the murmurs, Shen Zeyu gritted his teeth, his gaze burning. “Second brother, this is Fang Uncle’s youngest daughter, Fang Qian.”
When the “second brother” showed up, trouble was sure to follow.
Qi Xu walked over to Fang Qian politely. “Happy birthday.”
Fang Qian, a bit of a looks-obsessed type, was dazzled to have such a handsome guy standing before her wishing her happy birthday. Her smile was unusually bright.
“Thank you for your wishes. Um, handsome, what’s your name?”
After Qi Xu said his name, Fang Qian couldn’t help but say, “Even your name sounds so nice.”
Someone nearby teased, “That’s our Princess Fang. Just a ‘happy birthday’ and you’re done? No gift for the birthday party?”
The speaker was Song Ruoming, second young master of the Song family, usually Shen Zeyu’s closest friend and often part of the same social circle.
With him speaking up, friends who hung out with Shen Zeyu chimed in.
“It’s not that you absolutely need a gift, just a token of thought.”
“Small gifts carry deep meaning—that’s what the textbooks teach.”
Logically speaking, Qi Xu and Fang Qian were meeting for the first time and weren’t familiar with each other. The Shen couple had also prepared a gift for Fang Qian, and his good wishes were included in that.
Yet no one there came empty-handed—either because no one dared to challenge Song Ruoming’s words, or simply out of custom.
The Song family was a medical dynasty. Song Ruoming’s father was the director of the Capital Hospital and had close ties with the heads of many prominent families.
At that moment, Fang Qian realized Song Ruoming was deliberately trying to make things difficult. She frowned and snapped, “Song Ruoming, is it your birthday or mine? Do you think you get to fight for my birthday gifts?”
Shen Zeyu quietly watched the scene unfold. It was actually better that Qi Xu hadn’t prepared a gift. If he had, what could a country bumpkin like him possibly bring? He’d only be mocked.
After tonight, Qi Xu’s lack of manners, etiquette, or worse faults would forever be stamped onto this newly recognized biological son of the Shen family.
Amid all the questions, Qi Xu took an unwrapped gift out of the bag, glanced at the person who had just spoken, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“I thought after the college entrance exam everyone would’ve lost their minds. Didn’t expect some still remember ‘it’s the thought that counts’—though you forgot half of it.”
Fang Qian gasped in surprise, her eyes sparkling. “How did you know I like My Melody? This is a limited edition doll!”
Qi Xu raised a hand and rested it on Shen Zeyu’s shoulder, his expression relaxed but actually squeezing tightly as a warning.
“Of course, my brother told me.”
Each word was cold, the pressure strong enough to feel like he was crushing Shen Zeyu’s shoulder.
Shen Zeyu, who had never told anyone about Fang Qian’s likes, blinked in shock. The pain brought him back to reality, and he quickly slapped Qi Xu’s hand away, gasping in alarm.
Somewhere in the crowd, someone shouted, “Here comes the class president!”
The gift incident was quickly brushed aside as everyone’s attention shifted to the tall, upright figure entering alongside the white-haired person.
Shen Zeyu no longer paid attention to Qi Xu, his eyes locked tightly on the newcomer, unwilling to look anywhere else.
Qi Xu, standing in front of Fang Qian, whispered, “Don’t go to the first-floor lounge.”
Fang Qian was stunned for a moment, and by the time she realized what he said, Qi Xu had already stepped aside.
