Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Yu Jingmo’s response was flawless.

But in a merchant family, no words remain effective forever. Madam Du understood this well—people’s hearts are inscrutable. Who could put up with someone else’s flaws forever?

Even she, who had once gone abroad for love, found that decades later, the spark between her and her husband had dimmed, now it’s just polite civility.

"Are you really not marrying him because he’s easy to handle?" Madam Du wasn’t fooled and cut right to the chase.

Yu Jingmo remained unruffled. Madam Du had indeed touched upon the crux of the matter.

Sure, that was part of why he married Tian Ruan. He didn’t see the problem—marriage was just a contract, one that required mutual adherence to endure.

Yu Jingmo was strict with himself but believed he treated Tian Ruan with relative leniency—just look at the estate staff—he barely paid them any mind.

In the Yu household, Yu Jingmo only paid close attention to Tian Ruan and Yu Shang.

"Some oversight is expected—as his husband, that’s my job," Yu Jingmo said calmly. "But calling it control is pushing it. First and foremost, controlling someone requires them to be of some benefit."

Yu Jingmo glanced at the cluelessly sweet guy next to him and curved his lips. "What’s there to even want from him?"

Tian Ruan: "What do you want from me?"

"You?"

"..." Tian Ruan's face flushed again.

If Yu Jingmo kept talking, he might really misunderstand. Typical businessman—few words, but every one packed a punch, sending hearts racing.

Tian Ruan felt a little awkward. Why did everyone treat him like some helpless victim? As if marrying Yu Jingmo meant he’d been deceived? They didn’t even understand Yu Jingmo.

"Madam Du, my marriage to my husband was a decision I made after careful consideration," Tian Ruan said earnestly. "And this is my family matter."

Madam Du shifted uncomfortably. "I overstepped."

They moved on to casual chatter. Madam Du wanted to speak with Yu Jingmo privately, so she had the butler Dew take Tian Ruan and Lu Qiuyan on a tour of the villa—which really just meant checking out Madam Du’s art and collectibles.

The villa had three floors: the first for reception and living areas, the second for bedrooms, and the third for the art studio and other functional rooms.

Since they had just moved in—and might not stay long—the place was barely furnished, like a museum, with only a few exhibits per room.

Tian Ruan saw an entire room filled with plaster sculptures, mostly mythological themes—angels and Madonnas—filling the room with a holy aura.

A car pulled up outside, catching Tian Ruan’s attention. "Yu Shang is here to pick you up."

Lu Qiuyan: "...Then I’ll be going."

Tian Ruan walked Lu Qiuyan downstairs. "You’re seriously skipping the show?"

"What show?"

"The gold-digging stepdad posing as the rich heir gets exposed and humiliated. The husband, in a fit of rage, divorces him, leaving the stepdad to fight beggars for scraps on the streets."

"............" Lu Qiuyan rolled his eyes. "Your brain’s a bottomless pit of nonsense."

Tian Ruan pouted pitifully. "If that day really comes, will you take me in and give me food?"

Lu Qiuyan: "I’ll drag you to the frontier to serve your country. You’ll never starve."

"...Alright." Tian Ruan felt he could still try mooching off others for a while, saving enough money before leaving.

When the main leads met, romantic tension sparked automatically. Yu Shang thought he was hiding it well, greeted Madam Du stiffly, and then attempted to leave.

Madam Du stopped him: "You and Tian Ruan are in the same class?"

"Yes."

"You're also the student council president?"

"Yes."

"So at school, you're the one who keeps Tian Ruan in line?"

Yu Shang replied, "I don’t keep him in line. At school, there are teachers, and at home, there’s my dad. It’s not my job to deal with him."

Madam Du nodded. "That’s good."

Yu Shang: "As long as he gives me less grief, I’ll be grateful."

Madam Du was puzzled. "Is he really that much of a handful?"

"It’s not exactly being a handful..." Yu Shang didn’t know how to explain. Tian Ruan always left him tongue-tied.

Tian Ruan glared angrily at Yu Shang. "Why are you complaining about me in front of others? Disrespectful brat."

Yu Shang: "...I wasn’t complaining."

"Just go. Spare yourself the headache. Lu Qiuyan stays—I still want to hang out with him."

Yu Shang looked at Lu Qiuyan. "You’re staying here?"

Lu Qiuyan nodded. *"Watching the show."*

"??"

In the end, they all stayed—the whole ‘happy family’ of four.

Madam Du spoke softly with polite chit-chat, leaving everyone a bit bored.

Tian Ruan couldn’t take it anymore. "Can I take my bag back to the manor first?"

"Sure."

Of course, Yu Jingmo was the one to drive. The two left calmly from the Du residence, and after a seven or eight-minute drive, they arrived at the manor.

The butler beamed as he greeted them: "Sir, you’re off work early today—did you pick up Ma’am? Truly, still disgustingly in love, I see."

Yu Jingmo brushed past without a word.

Tian Ruan was stone-faced, flopped onto the sofa in the living room, and lay there like a corpse.

Liu Ma ventured timidly. "Ma’am..."

Tian Ruan declared: "Treat me like a potted plant. Don’t talk to me—I want peace."

Yu Jingmo finished washing his hands and sat in the armchair reading the newspaper.

Liu Ma whispered timidly: "Sir...?"

Yu Jingmo spoke up: "Silence."

"......"

For a moment, the Yu estate fell so silent that even the robotic vacuum stopped working. The staff moved like shadows, not daring to make a sound. It wasn’t until they stepped outside the main residence that they began whispering among themselves.

"What’s going on with the master and madam?"

"Did they have a fight?"

"Maybe they’re just tired."

"How could they be tired? Did they wear each other out at a hotel?"

"You better mean what I *think* you mean."

"*Snicker*..."

Liu Ma chimed in: "We ought to fix them something nourishing. How about garlic-baked oysters and steamed perch for dinner?"

Tian Ruan sprawled out for over an hour. When he got tired of lying down, he idly played with his phone.

Lu Qiuyan sent a message: *Is your backpack made of lead? What took so long?*

Tian Ruan: *I took a nap.*

Lu Qiuyan: *......*

Tian Ruan: *?*

Lu Qiuyan: You're amazing /thumbs up

Tian Ruan: Mmm / Smile

In the Du family, Lu Qiuyan looked up and said to the others, "Tian Ruan and his husband are having their own little world."

The others, who had been waiting for half a day: "..."

Du Henbie laughed in anger, "How can he be like this?"

Lu Qiuyan thought for a moment, "He didn't say he would come back."

"..." His father's point was too valid.

Tian Ruan, who had not returned, sneezed, rubbed his nose, and fixed his gaze on Yu Jingmo, "Are you secretly cursing me in your heart?"

Yu Jingmo: "If I wanted to curse you, would I need to do it in my heart?"

Tian Ruan thought about it and found it made sense. He sat up and said, "Let's go to the Du family now; the paternity test results should be out."

"Mm."

The two of them got into the car and returned to the Du family. The villa was already brightly lit. Although the butler Dew didn't say anything, his glance carried a hint of reproach.

Madam Du, however, smiled as usual, as if she was used to waiting.

Lu Qiuyan sized up Tian Ruan's pert bottom... It landed so smoothly and effortlessly when he sat down, as if he felt nothing at all. Could it be numb from being slapped?

"What are you looking at?" Yu Shang's cold voice hit Lu Qiuyan's eardrums.

Lu Qiuyan shifted uncomfortably, "Nothing."

Yu Shang did not expose the truth; even if he didn’t trust Tian Ruan, he trusted his father and knew he wouldn’t act so recklessly.

The paternity test results were delivered about half an hour later. The accompanying family doctor solemnly handed the file to Madam Du, “Madam, you have heart issues, please don’t get too excited.”

Tian Ruan was taken aback. Madam Du also had heart problems? Sha Meijuan had just undergone coronary artery bypass surgery; this was too coincidental.

Madam Du called out, “Tian Ruan.”

Tian Ruan snapped back to reality.

“Come and take a look.” Madam Du handed over the file.

Tian Ruan stood up, hesitantly took it, and untied the string sealing the envelope, pulling out the documents.

What caught her eye was a large sheet of A4 paper, about eight or nine pages thick, with the bold title “Paternity Test Report” at the top, followed by the report number and date.

On the first page were the details of the individuals being tested: names, genders, birth dates, and ID numbers. Below that was the commission information: the commissioning entity, the commission date, and the purpose of the test.

The second page detailed the sample collection methods, which included blood, hair, and oral swabs. “Hair” was checked. It also listed the collection location, time, collector, and photo number.

Pages three to six contained the testing procedures, accompanied by images.

Page six displayed the data charts.

Tian Ruan couldn’t understand them, so she flipped to the next page.

— According to the "Technical Specifications for Paternity Testing" GB/TXXXXX-2025, it supports Ruan Mengling as the biological mother of Tian Ruan.

The last page was an appendix, but there was no need to read it.

Tian Ruan stared blankly at the paternity test results, looking at Yu Jingmo with disbelief.

Yu Jingmo took the document, paused for a moment, and said, "Congratulations."

Madam Du smiled faintly, tears glistening in her eyes, "You are my child."

Tian Ruan still couldn't accept it. How could the paternity test result be like this? He wasn't even from this world; this had to be a bug.

Du Henbie extended his hand, "Let me see."

Yu Jingmo handed over the document and pulled Tian Ruan, who plopped down onto the sofa. Due to its softness, he bounced a couple of times, his eyes vacant.

Lu Qiuyan couldn't help but glance at Tian Ruan's iron-hard buttocks again.

Du Henbie carefully examined the entire process of the paternity report, confirming there was no forgery, "As expected, I didn't misjudge you."

Madam Du smiled, "Blood ties are the most wondrous thing in this world."

Tian Ruan believed that, but it was too sudden. The original story never mentioned that Du Henbie had a younger brother. Where did this brother come from?

"Tian Ruan, if you have any grievances in the future, tell your mother," Madam Du quickly assumed her role, having thought about this moment for nearly twenty years.

Tian Ruan struggled to say, "Madam Du, I have a mother, her name is Sha Meijuan."

Madam Du was taken aback, "Your adoptive mother?"

Tian Ruan didn't know if Sha Meijuan was his adoptive mother. She seemed to know nothing. What about Sha Meijuan's son? Was it Tian Yuan?

Yes, Tian Ruan had been transported to this world, taking on the identity of Tian Yuan...

No, he should have no blood ties with the people of this world. The one who should be related to Madam Du is Tian Yuan.

But now, it's him who has become Madam Du's blood son.

Tian Ruan was in turmoil. This world was full of bugs, as if he had been forcefully dragged and fitted into the identity of the Du family's youngest son.

"Ruan, will you come back to the Du family?" Madam Du asked softly, her chestnut-brown eyes filled with hope as she looked at Tian Ruan.

Faced with such a face, Tian Ruan found it impossible to refuse, yet how could he easily accept it?

He was just a minor character, barely upgraded from an extra. If his status now surpassed even that of the main character, wouldn't that be courting death?

As everyone knows, the higher you climb, the harder you fall.

Tian Ruan dared not take the risk.

But the blood relation was real.

What should he do?

Tian Ruan was drenched in sweat, his face pale, trembling uncontrollably.

Yu Jingmo held his cold hand, his brows slightly furrowed, "What's wrong?"

Afraid of dying, Tian Ruan simply closed his eyes and pretended to faint into Yu Jingmo's arms.

"?"

Yu Jingmo seemed to understand Tian Ruan's dilemma and said calmly, "My wife has fainted. We'll discuss the rest later."

Madam Du anxiously summoned the doctor, "Please take a look at my son."

The doctor was about to approach when Yu Jingmo blocked him, "I know his body best. He just needs some rest; there's no need for your trouble."

"..."

Lu Qiuyan muttered, "You know his body best."

"......"

Yu Shang gave a cold glance, "Don't speak nonsense."

Lu Qiuyan realized his words were ambiguous and fell silent.

Tian Ruan, however, had a sudden flash of inspiration. Perhaps, he didn't need to run away!

He suddenly opened his eyes and sat up straight, "I'm fine now."

Madam Du was both surprised and delighted, "That's good. Then..."

Tian Ruan continued, "If you want me to return to the Du family, that's fine."

"Really?"

Tian Ruan changed the subject, pointing at Lu Qiuyan, "He must come with me, and you have to recognize him as your adopted son."

Madam Du: "?"

Lu Qiuyan: "????" What does this have to do with my dad?