Chapter 102 - Grandfather

Old Master Gu shared the story about the child.

But after giving it some thought, Lu Ran replied, "I don't quite remember."

At that moment, Shen Xingyu and a few other younger generations entered the room.

Old Master Gu glanced at Shen Xingyu and said, "Xingyu is here too."

He then looked at the others behind Shen Xingyu and invited them, "It's livelier with more people. Help yourselves to some food."

None of the younger generations present dared to decline Old Master Gu's invitation. Regardless of whether they wanted to eat or not, they all sat down at the table and picked out some desserts.

Ji Min was the only one who did not partake.

Even Shen Xingyu took a small, delicate dessert.

Ji Min had originally glanced over casually, but his gaze lingered when he saw the dessert in Shen Xingyu's hand.

In Shen Xingyu's grasp was a lemon mousse.

"I wouldn't have guessed you'd have a taste for this kind of thing," Ji Min remarked.

Shen Xingyu remained silent, his attention fixed intently on Elder Gu.

Elder Gu, however, let out a sigh.

He looked at Lu Ran and said softly, "I genuinely care about Xingran, but the matters concerning the Shen family are too intricate. This time, our Gu family can't offer much assistance."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

He glanced at Shen Xingyu and recalled Shen Xingran's plea to Gu Ningqi earlier. He realized that Grandpa Gu had misunderstood his intentions.

"Grandpa Gu, I came to see you today not for the Shen family," Lu Ran said.

"Hmm?" The elder Gu was taken aback.

On the side, Shen Xingyu wasn't too surprised.

"There's more." Lu Ran didn't avoid the others present and directly corrected, "I'm now called Lu Ran."

This time, the elder Gu was genuinely astonished:

"You haven't changed your surname yet? Your grandfather would probably be so furious that he'd rise from his grave."

They were all younger generations, and only Elder Gu dared to tease Elder Shen in this manner.

The rest kept their heads down, not speaking. Even if they wanted to laugh, they held it in.

Elder Gu casually ate some food.

Then, he turned to pull Lu Ran aside for a chat.

But after looking at the others, he grumbled, "If I had known you weren't here for the Shen family matters, I wouldn't have bothered these youngsters to come over."

Lu Ran: "..."

He had thought that Gu Ningqi was up to something, but it turned out that Grandpa Gu was the one who didn't want to discuss matters concerning the Shen family, deliberately creating a lively atmosphere to prevent any of them from bringing up the topic.

"Then you all continue eating. Xiao Ran, come over here and chat with this old man."

Grandpa Gu stood up with his cane, leading Lu Ran back to the main hall.

As Lu Ran left, he glanced at Ji Min subconsciously.

Ji Min followed suit.

Grandpa Gu observed the two of them but remained silent.

Once they were out of the dining room, he said, "Indeed, if you truly want to help fill the Shen Corporation's financial gaps, you could have just approached Ji Min directly. There was no need to come to me, an old man like this."

Upon reaching the main hall, aside from Gu Qing, there was no one else around.

Only then did Grandpa Gu ask:

"What brings you to see me then?"

Lu Ran pondered for a moment.

Ever since he returned to the Shen family in this life, they had always avoided discussing his past.

As someone who had gone missing as a child, Lu Ran instinctively wanted to ask many questions.

Like why he had gotten lost in the first place.

What had he been like when he was young?

But upon closer reflection, he found those inquiries rather meaningless.

Moreover, although Mr. Gu treated him kindly, he was not his real grandfather after all.

Lu Ran considered this and said, "I've heard that my grandfather used to bring me here often when I was little."

"I also received the photos you sent me, so I was wondering…"

"Are you wondering what kind of person your grandfather was?" Mr. Gu asked.

Lu Ran paused for a moment before nodding.

Mr. Gu sighed.

He looked at the teenager standing before him and felt a pang of sympathy.

A child who had been estranged from their family was inherently disconnected from familial bonds.

After finally returning home, they found that their blood-related parents and siblings were no warmer than strangers.

Though disappointed, he hadn't even bothered to change his surname.

Still, upon seeing photographs of himself with his elders, he couldn't help but seek answers.

Yet, those people in the pictures had long since passed away.

The child's curiosity about the past led them to seek help from an elder who was essentially a stranger to them.

"I started my entrepreneurial journey alongside your grandfather when we were young. He was my senior and a great friend," said Elder Gu after a brief pause.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran didn't react much.

Gu Qing, who was standing nearby, awkwardly cleared his throat. He felt that his grandfather had hurt the child's feelings by speaking ill of his ancestor in front of him.

How could one speak ill of someone else's elders in the presence of their younger generation?

One should at least choose some positive aspects to talk about!

Elder Gu glared at Gu Qing when he heard the cough, saying, "A son is the reflection of his father."

"Looking at how foolish your son is, it's evident that you, as a father, aren't much better."

Elder Gu scolded Gu Qing again.

This made Gu Qing even more embarrassed.

With this statement from Elder Gu, not only did he criticize Ning Qi, but he also indirectly criticized Shen Hongyuan.

Lu Ran found it rather peculiar.

He found it amusing and couldn't help leaning in to whisper in Ji Min's ear, "Grandpa Gu is quite interesting. When he's fierce, he even scolds himself."

Following Elder Gu's logic, if Ning Qi wasn't up to par, it was because Gu Qing wasn't good enough. And if Gu Qing wasn't good enough, didn't that mean Elder Gu, as a father, wasn't doing his part?

Elder Gu: "...."

"You seem completely unfazed and even quite joyful."

Sipping his tea, Elder Gu continued, "Your father's actions might be unjust, but having a father like him is inevitable."

"When your grandfather was young, he was quite diligent in business. He worked tirelessly, barely having time to rest on his feet. He built the foundation of the Shen family all by himself."

Elder Gu then turned to look at Ji Min again. "Back then, your Ji family even tried to recruit Old Shen, but he was stubborn and refused."

Pausing for a moment, the elder glanced between Lu Ran and Ji Min before he chuckled and said,

"So... Xiao Ran never had the chance to visit your family, the Jis, when he was young," said Ji Min.

...

There was no need to dwell on such details.

After the lighthearted remark, Mr. Gu returned to the main topic: "It's understandable when one makes mistakes as they grow older. In their youth, things might have been different."

"At that time, the Shen family was on the rise, but your grandfather was aging and suffering from diabetes."

"The Shen enterprise was built by his own efforts, but when it came time to choose a successor, he was highly dissatisfied with your father."

"Your father had ambitions and drive in his younger days, but your grandfather disapproved, forcing him to follow the path he had laid out, turning him into an obedient son."

"But when your father was ready to take over and settle down, your grandfather suddenly thought he was too compliant and incapable."

"It's unclear if your father was genuinely submissive or just putting on an act back then. He obeyed your grandfather without question, earning praise from all for his filial piety."

However, Mr. Shen remained at the helm of the company until he was seventy, never ceding power.

Shen Hongyuan waited until his eldest son had started primary school before he was still left at the grassroots level by Elder Shen.

Elder Shen's delay was so prolonged that some minor newspapers had already begun reporting on the succession of the Shen family.

The more gossip circulated outside, the more determined Shen Hongyuan became to please his father. He eagerly awaited Elder Shen's final decision to pass the torch to him.

But the more he did this, the more displeased Elder Shen became with him.

Until one day, during a business trip, Elder Shen suffered from severe fluctuations in blood sugar levels, leading to a sudden collapse and hospitalization. Complications from diabetes then caused him to lose most of his sight.

The entire Shen family was shaken by Elder Shen's hospitalization. However, this was the long-awaited opportunity for Shen Hongyuan.

Perhaps he had held back for too long, and as a result, his actions in seizing this chance appeared rather ungraceful.

Not only did he hastily convene a board meeting, but even before Old Master Shen had passed away, he moved into the chairman's office of the Shen Corporation.

Everything seemed to be falling into place.

However, just as Shen Hongyuan was settling into his new role, Old Master Shen was discharged from the hospital.

Despite being nearly seventy years old and facing great risks, the elder had undergone an eye surgery.

With the bandages still on his eyes, he entered the chairman's office accompanied by his assistant, ordering that all of Shen Hongyuan's belongings be thrown out.

The scene of the father-son conflict became a huge scandal within the Shen Corporation.

Shen Hongyuan instantly turned into the laughingstock of the entire company.

During that period, several of Shen Hongyuan's cousins emerged, vying for favor in front of the Old Master, hoping to ascend to greatness with a single stroke of luck.

Yet, Old Master Shen didn't choose either of them.

Suddenly, it seemed like he understood the significance of grooming a successor, and he decided to take care of his grandson personally.

This was another slap in the face for Shen Hongyuan, albeit an indirect one.

"Parents tend to become critical of their children when they grow older," Elder Gu shot a sidelong glance at Gu Qing.

He continued, "But your grandfather really has issues. Your eldest brother, Xingyu, seemed like a great choice to me. He's responsible, capable, quick-witted, and at an appropriate age. If we had groomed him for another decade, he would've been ready to take over."

"But your grandfather wasn't satisfied, claiming that the child was too old and had picked up your father's bad habits."

"He then turned to your second brother, but found him too rowdy and mischievous."

Elder Gu clicked his tongue twice, almost directly implying that Old Master Shen was being difficult.

However, after a moment of silence, he sighed,

"As one grows old, it's natural to feel distress when witnessing oneself transition from being capable to being utterly reliant on others, even for the simplest tasks of daily life."

"Your grandfather is indeed picky, but that's because he struggles to accept his own aging."

"After that..."

Looking up at Lu Ran, the elder Gu continued, "Your grandfather took a liking to you because you were the youngest, and your personality hadn't fully developed yet."

"That old fellow wasn't really looking for an heir; he wanted someone to mold into a reflection of himself."

"You were taken in by your grandfather when you were only two. Your mother seemed to have protested at the time, but she couldn't persuade your grandfather."

Lu Ran was surprised by this revelation.

The elder Gu, having grown tired, was helped to his feet by Gu Qing. After a short stroll, he turned to Lu Ran with a smile, saying,

"It's likely that your constant presence as a young child calmed your grandfather down. Having a little baby around seemed to have brought him much peace."

As people age, they often find solace in reminiscing about the past.

Mr. Gu couldn't get enough of reminiscing and pulled Lu Ran to share more anecdotes from his childhood.

It wasn't until lunchtime that Gu Zhi rushed in,

"Dad, are you still chatting? It's already so late, aren't you hungry?"

"Who thinks about eating like you do all day long!" Mr. Gu scolded playfully.

As he spoke, he glanced at Gu Zhi, then at Ji Min, who was sitting quietly beside them. He suddenly leaned closer to Lu Ran and whispered, "Back then, your grandfather and I even arranged a marriage between our families."

"But then you went missing, and Ningqi is such a blockhead. I thought it might be good to balance things out with someone more cunning, so I agreed to let him interact with Ranran."

"Now…" Mr. Gu lowered his voice even further, "I don't think you're interested in Ningqi, but Gu Zhi's age is quite suitable. You used to enjoy playing with him when you were young, so you might want to consider it."

Mr. Gu was earnestly promoting the idea.

Ji Min, who had been sitting quietly by the side, suddenly spoke up, "Grandfather, it's noon. We won't disturb you any longer."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Grandfather Gu glanced at Ji Min with a smile.

"Grandpa Gu, I don't like Uncle Gu," Lu Ran interjected abruptly.

Grandfather Gu was taken aback but then chuckled. "You young people nowadays have such intriguing tastes."

Despite this, he insisted on having the two stay for lunch. It wasn't until they were overcome by drowsiness in the afternoon that he finally allowed Lu Ran and Ji Min to leave.

Rain had fallen lightly a couple of days ago, casting a gloomy atmosphere over the day. Together, Lu Ran and Ji Min left the Gu residence.

The other guests who had been invited also began to depart one after another.

Amidst the bustling noise, neither Lu Ran nor Ji Min spoke a word.

Lu Ran's mind was still digesting what Elder Gu had just told him. Before coming here, when he saw those photographs, Lu Ran had wondered if his own grandfather might have cared for him deeply as well.

Now, after hearing Elder Gu's portrayal of Elder Shen, Lu Ran couldn't quite pinpoint his emotions.

Elder Shen, that controlling "tyrant" who didn't even trust his own son, clearly had an ulterior motive for taking him in as a child.

It wouldn't be right to say he was disappointed, though.

Lu Ran even felt that this was more normal.

In a family like the Shens, with such a background, it seemed unlikely that there would be a doting and indulgent grandfather who cared for him deeply.

Lu Ran was deep in thought.

But Ji Min suddenly spoke up, "What Old Master Gu said was only his own judgment. With his age, he might have simply misremembered."

Lu Ran was taken aback.

He leaned against the back of the wheelchair, bending forward to look into the man's eyes, and asked with a smile, "Boss, are you trying to comfort me?"

Ji Min choked on his words.

"Mind your own business," he said.

Lu Ran remained leaning on Ji Min's wheelchair.

Then, he suddenly reached out to touch Ji Min's hair.

Ji Min caught his hand and sighed. "Tell me, what did I do to offend you? Why do you always want to pat my head?"

The young man was held by his wrist and didn't try to break free.

He simply said, without any context, "Boss, you're like a teddy bear."

"..." Ji Min fell silent for a moment before asking, "Is this some new form of insult?"

Lu Ran: "..."

"I mean the kind that's very pleasant to touch," he explained.

Ji Min: "..."

He couldn't quite associate himself with such a description.

Exiting Gu Jia's garden, they found the outside world quite bustling.

A group of middle school students were on a spring outing, crowding in front of a narrow gift shop to choose souvenirs.

Shen Xingyu and the others also emerged from the garden.

Shen Xingyu caught a distant glimpse of Lu Ran and proactively approached, asking, " Aren't you coming with me?"

Lu Ran was just about to get into Ji Min's car when he heard this, raising an eyebrow in response.

Shen Xingyu spoke calmly, "I thought you'd want to go back home after hearing what Elder Gu had to say."

"No need," Lu Ran replied.

Suddenly, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention, causing him to withdraw his foot that was already inside the car.

He exclaimed eagerly, "Please wait a moment, Boss."

With that, he crossed the road and made his way to the bustling gift shop on the other side.

With nothing left to discuss with Ji Min, Shen Xingyu returned to his own car.

Ji Min didn't get into the car either.

His wheelchair was stationed by the roadside, as he gazed at the young man who had forcibly squeezed his way into the gift shop across the street.

Suddenly, Ji Min asked the driver, "Why hasn't he been asking lately?"

"Huh?" The driver didn't understand.

Unlike Butler Chen's telepathic abilities, he could only respond with a puzzled syllable.

Why hasn't he been asking... if I like him.

But Ji Min didn't voice this thought.

In truth, when listening to the conversation between Elder Gu and Lu Ran earlier, Ji Min hadn't been as composed as he seemed.

The Gu family was evidently fond of and friendly towards Lu Ran.

Elder Gu even doted on the young man, seemingly familiar with the precious moments of his childhood.

Although Lu Ran didn't speak much, it was evident that he was enjoying the conversation.

In that moment, Ji Min couldn't help but think... Lu Ran and Gu Zhi seemed to be a perfect match.

The child could reside in the familiar Gu household, accompanying Elder Gu with daily conversations.

Gu Qing's generation was also very fond of children. If Gu Zhi could restrain himself, he was actually quite a decent person.

Given Gu Zhi's seniority, Gu Ningqi had no way to cause trouble for Lu Ran.

As Ji Min evaluated this earnestly, his heart was torn to shreds.

He even wondered...

If he had been too selfish by speaking up to take Lu Ran away.

Across the street, Lu Ran emerged once more from the crowded gift shop, cradling a stuffed teddy bear in his arms.

The little bear had soft black fur and wore a blue bowtie around its neck, resembling Ji Min's tie.

The teenager, clutching his teddy bear, eagerly dashed across the road once the pedestrian light turned green, panting heavily.

Upon reaching the median, he raised the bear and waved at Ji Min, "Look, Boss!"

Suddenly, a piercing engine roar pierced the air.

A car, previously waiting at the red light, abruptly accelerated and headed straight for Lu Ran on the road.

Ji Min's pupils dilated in shock.

Both Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo turned their heads simultaneously to witness the scene.

In that fleeting moment, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the atmosphere. All surrounding noise became distant and muffled, leaving only the distorted, slow roar of the approaching vehicle, the screams of pedestrians, and the indistinct thud of a heavy impact.

Followed by the jarring vibrations of the collision.

Until the nearby red traffic light turned green.

A dark figure swooped down to Ji Min's feet.

It was the very same black teddy bear that had just moments ago been playfully brandished in the hands of the youth.

"Ahh!"

This is the shrieking of the students from across the street.

Ji Min came back to his senses.

The man fruitlessly maintained a posture of reaching out his hand, leaning forward in vain.

As if desiring to wrench the youth mere meters away towards him.

Yet, his wheelchair bound him tightly, preventing him from getting close.

The speeding vehicle plowed through the guardrail, hurtling into the greenbelt before flipping onto its side.

Ji Min's assistant and driver hurriedly surrounded him, concern etched on their faces as they asked,

"Chairman, are you alright?"

It felt as if someone had a tight grip around Ji Min's throat.

He carelessly waved away their hands, then, after a moment of confusion, remembered to operate his motorized wheelchair.

He headed towards the road.

Suddenly, a pedestrian's voice filled with relief echoed, "He's okay! He's fine! He dodged it!"

Ji Min's heart, which had been gripped tightly, trembled slightly.

Scanning the area anxiously, he finally spotted Shen Xingyu struggling to his feet on one side of the road.

Then, bending down to pick up the teenager who had fallen to the ground.

Ji Min's fingers pressed the controls twice before successfully maneuvering the wheelchair closer.

With a hoarse voice, he finally managed to utter, "Call an ambulance."

Shen Xingyu frowned as he gazed down at the trembling youth in his arms.

When the car collided, Lu Ran instinctively dodged out of the way.

Only then could he rush over and pull the person closer.

Thankfully, it was merely a stumble.

But seemingly frightened, the youth in his arms trembled uncontrollably.

Shen Xingyu gently lifts the person into his car.

But he was stopped by the person in the wheelchair.

Shen Xingyu couldn't help but pause as he gazed down at Ji Min's appearance.

The man's pair of dark eyes shimmered with a hint of red.

It was an indescribable awkwardness.

Ji Min had always been calm and composed.

This was the first time Shen Xingyu had seen him like this.

"Give him back to me," Ji Min said.

His voice was like rough sandpaper being rubbed together, hoarse beyond measure.

Before Shen Xingyu could reply, the man repeated his demand, enunciating each word clearly, "Give him back to me!"

As he spoke, Shen Xingyu witnessed the man pushing himself up from the wheelchair with both arms, as if he were about to stand.

"Boss..."

Hearing Ji Min's voice, the teenager in Shen Xingyu's embrace muttered softly, "I'm fine..."

Shen Xingyu pressed his lips and said, "He's still trembling."

With that, he turned away from Ji Min in front of him.

"He's shaking because he's afraid of you!"

Ji Min shouted hoarsely.

Shen Xingyu froze, the image of the child jumping in fright after being scolded by him flashing through his mind again.

Pausing in silence for a moment, he bent down and gently placed the young man in his arms onto Ji Min's lap.

Only upon feeling the warmth belonging to Lu Ran did Ji Min start to regain a semblance of rationality.

He refrained from restraining the youth's limbs, instead examining them with a near-gentle touch.

He asked in a trembling voice, "What's wrong? Does anything hurt?"

"No..."

Feeling the familiar and reassuring aura of Ji Min, Lu Ran regained some composure.

He moved his limbs to show Ji Min, "I'm alright, I wasn't hurt. Boss, you don't have to worry..."

His words were interrupted by an unexpected embrace from the man.

Lu Ran could sense the intensity of the man's grip.

It was filled with lingering fear, yet he was trying his best to restrain himself, for fear of hurting him.

Lu Ran even noticed the tremors in the man's hair strands.

It was unclear if it was his own trembling transferring to Ji Min, or if Ji Min was trembling on his own.

Lu Ran couldn't help but wonder.

Could someone like Ji Min feel fear too?

"Boss... don't be scared, I'm fine..."

As the words faded away, Lu Ran felt a warm and soft touch gently land on his eyelids, forehead, cheeks...

And his lips.

It was as if the kisses were sensing his presence, landing one after another.

Gentle as petals falling from the breeze, yet carrying the heat and weight of heavy breaths.