Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Yu Shang's biological father's surname was Yue, named Yue Lanshan. In his youth, he was an artsy type who dropped out of high school to wander. Thanks to his handsome looks, he caught the eye of many women.

Among those women were bar owners, factory workers, struggling musicians, and even wealthy college girls.

Yu Shang's mother, Yao Li, was one such university student. She met Yue Lanshan by chance during her college years and fell for him at first sight—a decision she’d regret forever. She became pregnant out of wedlock and had an abortion, disappointing her parents so deeply that they cut ties with her.

After graduating, Yao Li and Yue Lanshan started a family together. Though life was hard, they genuinely loved each other for a few years.

Later, Yao Li became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, naming him Yue Tong. Around the same time, Yue Lanshan published a poetry collection and received tens of thousands in royalties, all of which he handed over to Yao Li to support the family.

Yao Li pooled her savings to open a small bakery, using skills she had picked up in her spare time to make desserts while raising their child.

Two more quiet years passed, and Yue Tong grew old enough to form memories. Yet in his recollections, his father was never there.

Yue Lanshan had once believed he could settle into an ordinary life with his wife and child, but a wanderlust lingered in his mind. The grind of daily life wore him down, slowly dulling his inspiration.

Every night when he returned home, seeing his beautiful wife and adorable son, he would feel a brief moment of happiness.

But when dawn came and they each went their separate ways, busy with their own lives, Yue Lanshan found himself irresistibly drawn by the call of the open road, pulling him away from domestic life.

He knew it was irresponsible, that he deserved condemnation, but he did it anyway.

One morning, he left a letter behind and walked out, reclaiming his freedom.

Yue Lanshan called Yao Li a few times afterward, too afraid to tell the truth, so he fed her lies instead. He claimed he was traveling to seek inspiration, but in reality, he was reliving his old lifestyle, drifting between various women and writing sappy poetry.

Gradually, Yue Lanshan returned home less and less. His son Yue Tong barely recognized him, and sometimes Yue Lanshan couldn’t even remember how old his own child was. His wife waited for him year after year.

The glamour of the outside world had ensnared Yue Lanshan’s heart—he no longer wanted to go back.

Until one day, snapped out of his drunken haze, he received a call from the police informing him that his wife had been stabbed over a dozen times by a robber and that he needed to return immediately.

Yue Lanshan thought it was a scam and hung up.

Later, the police called several more times, but Yue Lanshan refused to answer. He was terrified, convinced that as long as he didn’t pick up, his wife and child would still be alive.

His evasion lasted over half a year.

When he finally mustered the courage to call his wife, her number was disconnected.

Yue Lanshan assumed his wife and child had died. He wept for days and nights, with only a caring woman by his side.

A few months later, by accident, Yue Lanshan learned that his son was still alive—sent to an orphanage and later adopted by a wealthy family.

But no matter how hard Yue Lanshan searched afterward, he could find no further trace.

A stone-faced orphanage worker said, "Yue Tong’s records state 'mother deceased, father missing.' If you’re really his father, why show up only now?"

Yue Lanshan had no answer. He left, humiliated.

A year after Yao Li’s death, Yue Lanshan remarried. The sympathetic woman became pregnant with his child. Yue Lanshan swore to himself that this time, he would not fail a woman who loved him.

Yet misfortune struck again—the woman had a genetic disorder and died three years after giving birth to their daughter.

Worse yet, Yue Lanshan’s daughter was diagnosed with hereditary hemophilia, a blood clotting disorder that required constant hospitalization. The medical expenses cost at least 20,000 to 30,000 a month.

Yue Lanshan once considered giving her up for adoption, but after consulting, he learned that most adoptive parents wanted healthy kids. A child with a hereditary disease like his daughter’s might never be adopted—might even die waiting.

Left with no choice, Yue Lanshan gritted his teeth and began frequently contacting his former girlfriends, prostituting himself and leveraging his skills to pay for his daughter's treatment. He thought, perhaps this was a kind of karmic payback.

Until one day, he saw news about Su City—the opening ceremony of Deyin High School and Deyin Junior High School, elite schools famous across the country and beyond.

The news showed luxury cars streaming down the broad streets, students of all races and backgrounds gathering. The grandeur of Deyin’s entrance, its castle-like architecture, and its long, storied history all dazzled viewers.

And at Deyin’s opening ceremony, the first speaker was actually a boy of thirteen or fourteen.

The boy had sharp brows and striking beauty, his posture upright, his face vaguely echoed someone from the past.

In a daze, Yue Lanshan seemed to see Yao Li—the wife he had wronged, who ultimately died brutally at a robber’s hands, his first family in this world.

Now, nothing remained.

He only had a sickly daughter to rely on.

Yue Lanshan felt a pang of heartache, but at the same time, a sudden thrill shot through him like fireworks, setting off alarms in his mind—his son had been adopted by a wealthy family and was now rich himself!

As the camera zoomed in, Yue Lanshan saw the bright red school badge pinned to his son’s left chest on the podium, beneath which was his year and name.

"...Yu Shang?" Yue Lanshan’s voice cracked, bridging past and present.

But his son’s gaze was distant, cold and indifferent. Even when Yue Lanshan called him by his childhood nickname, "A Tong," it didn’t earn him even a flicker of warmth.

"I only have one father."

"My name is Yu Shang."

With that, Yu Shang turned and got into the car, speaking coldly to Lu Qiuyan and Tian Ruan, "Get in."

Lu Qiuyan entered and sat beside him.

Tian Ruan took the passenger seat, yanked the door shut. The driver immediately started the car.

Seeing this, Yue Lanshan lunged forward, banging on the window. "Yu Shang, I really am your father! Listen to me, I need your help now, your sister—"

The Porsche reversed half a meter, then swung sharply out of the spot. If Yue Lanshan hadn’t jumped back, the wheels would have crushed his foot. He barely dodged, then chased after the car. "Yu Shang, you have a sister! She’s sick!"

The Porsche had already left the hospital gates, disappearing into the stream of headlights.

Inside the car, it was silent except for the hum of the air conditioner and occasional honks from outside.

Tian Ruan fidgeted, restless, but still tried to reassure, "He’s definitely a scammer. We can just ignore him."

Lu Qiuyan didn’t know what to say. To him, a "father" just meant a drunk, cheating blowhard—might as well not have had one. But he couldn’t deny that it was his father’s money that had once shown him the world, and for that, he owed filial duty.

Yu Shang’s situation was different. His biological father had done nothing but sire him—no upbringing, no care, just a ghost of a figure forgotten for years, now suddenly reappearing.

If it were Lu Qiuyan, he’d find it a nuisance and probably throw a punch to send the man flying. But Yu Shang, being the upright person he was, would simply distance himself silently.

Yu Shang’s gaze drifted out the window, his dark eyes unreadable, his lips a tight line. The sharp contours of his face were painted with neon lights. He gave a faint "Mm," his expression indiscernible.

God, if only he were just a scammer. Tian Ruan thought wearily. This Yue Lanshan wasn’t just shameless—he had no shame left, relying on his good looks in his youth to act recklessly and live wild. Now in middle age, though he worked hard for his daughter’s illness, he had also genuinely considered abandoning her.

In the original story, Yue Lanshan appeared after Yu Shang returned from university abroad, becoming the first obstacle preventing the main couple from being together.

After causing all sorts of trouble, Yue Lanshan gave up, drinking himself into the gutter until a car accident finally claimed him.

By then, his daughter, whom he had abandoned, had already been dead for years.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the three of them trudged into the elevator and entered their respective rooms. Tian Ruan warned Lu Qiuyan uneasily, "Keep an eye on Yu Shang tonight, in case he does something stupid."

Lu Qiuyan: "...Like what?"

Tian Ruan: "What if he goes looking for Yue Lanshan in the middle of the night, trying to throw money at the problem?"

In the original story, Yu Shang had indeed bought off Yue Lanshan, and couldn’t be bothered to talk. By then, Yu Shang was already twenty-three, after years of hardening his heart—no longer the soft kid he used to be.

Lu Qiuyan eyed Tian Ruan suspiciously. "How do you know Yu Shang's biological father is named Yue Lanshan?"

Tian Ruan: "...I used my psychic powers."

"Then divine again—what's my dad's name?"

Tian Ruan gritted his teeth and blurted out a wild guess: "Lu... Father Lu? Lu Hu?"

Lu Qiuyan raised a thumb in surprise. "No way, you got it."

Tian Ruan: "..." Of course, an NPC's name would be that generic as an NPC.

Lu Qiuyan: "Thanks to my dad’s name, I don’t even want to drive a Land Rover anymore."

Tian Ruan: "Me neither."

Even riding in a Land Rover would remind him of Father Lu—way too creepy.

Tian Ruan glanced toward Room 2208, where the sound of running water could be heard. "Lu Qiuyan, go in. Remember to keep an eye on Yu Shang—don’t let him out of your sight."

Lu Qiuyan nodded and closed the guest room door.

Tian Ruan returned to his own room, where both beds were cold and empty, devoid of any warmth, with only the main light on. He turned on all the smaller lights, including the bathroom’s, and felt a little better.

He texted Mr. Yu: *Mr. Yu, I’ve returned to the hotel. Good night.*

After a moment, Yu Jingmo replied: Goodnight/Moon

Tian Ruan didn’t want to disturb Yu Jingmo’s rest, so he washed up and went to bed.

The next day was the last day of the summer camp. The teachers gathered everyone for a meal, shopping, and fun. There were two options: an amusement park or the luxury shopping mall across the street.

Most chose the amusement park—these rich kids had long since explored every luxury store, finding nothing exciting there.

Tian Ruan said, "Let’s hit the amusement park to relax."

Lu Qiuyan nodded. "Let’s grab some Haagen-Dazs."

Tian Ruan: "Yu Shang, Lu Qiuyan said he’s treating you to Haagen-Dazs."

Lu Qiuyan: "..."

Yu Shang, who had been expressionless, turned his head. "?"

Lu Qiuyan: "I’m treating you and Tian Ruan to Haagen-Dazs."

Yu Shang replied flatly, "I don’t need it."

Tian Ruan: "..." He was seriously fed up with these two idiots.

Once the teachers wrapped up, they herded everyone onto the buses. Just as Tian Ruan was about to get on, he suddenly noticed Yu Shang talking to a teacher and yanked Lu Qiuyan back.

Lu Qiuyan: "What?"

Tian Ruan pointed at Yu Shang.

Lu Qiuyan withdrew the foot he had stepped onto the bus with, stuck his hands in his pockets, and stood there looking cool.

A while later, Yu Shang finished speaking with the teacher and stepped back, watching the first bus pull away. Seeing Tian Ruan and Lu Qiuyan still there, he asked, "Why didn’t you get on?"

Lu Qiuyan pointed at Tian Ruan. "He dragged me back."

Tian Ruan started spouting nonsense: "When three of us walk together, one must be my teacher."

Yu Shang didn’t press further, gesturing to the last shuttle bus. "You guys go have fun. I have something to do."

Lu Qiuyan asked, "What is it? We’ll go with you."

"No need."

Tian Ruan’s thoughts raced. "I need to see Mr. Yu too. Let’s go."

Yu Shang gave him a slightly surprised look.

Tian Ruan knew—in the original novel, after Yu Jingmo learned that Yue Lanshan had come knocking, the first one he met with was Yu Shang, asking for his opinion.

At the time, Yu Shang’s response was: "I am a member of the Yu family. If money can fix it, it’s no big deal."

Yu Jingmo liked that answer and didn’t interfere in Yu Shang’s dealings with Yue Lanshan, leaving it to him to handle. It wasn’t until Yue Lanshan’s fatal car crash did Yu Jingmo ask if Yu Shang had been involved.

Upon receiving a negative answer, Yue Lanshan’s part in the story was over.

But right now, Yu Shang was still green. Was he really capable of such a cold-blooded answer?

That’s exactly why Tian Ruan was worried—and why he had to tag along.

Yu Shang's thick, long brows furrowed slightly, his sharp, almost blade-like features becoming even more pronounced as he matured. One look from him could cut like a knife.

Without a word, the driver silently parked the Porsche in front of the hotel.

Yu Shang got into the car, the door clicked shut, and just like that, he drove off.

Tian Ruan flailed his arm dramatically, "Hey!"

Lu Qiuyan rolled his eyes, "Great, now the amusement park's out, and Yu Shang's bailed on us too."

Tian Ruan angrily whipped out his phone to call a ride, "I'm going to complain to Mr. Yu."

Mao Qi suddenly appeared, "I've got you covered, Madam."

Tian Ruan perked up with surprise, "Ah, I forgot about Brother Mao! Thank you!"

As the head of the Yu family's security team, Mao Qi naturally kept track of the whereabouts of the family's two heads to report promptly. He drove the car, taking the madam and the "future young madam" to the local branch office.

This branch handled digital ad campaigns, coordinating with other branches for promotional campaigns. For example, when a new jewelry brand was launched, this branch would book ad space on large screens in first and second-tier cities.

The branch's building featured an enormous digital screen, currently looping advertisements for the Yu jewelry line, real estate, cosmetics, and more.

Tian Ruan did a double-take when he realized that the facial cleanser and body wash he used daily were actually "family" products.

"This branch is legit?" Tian Ruan marveled.

"As the branch's boss's husband, you can walk around here like you own the place," Lu Qiuyan said.

Tian Ruan nodded, walking through the glass doors of the lobby, past the employee time station, and up to the perky receptionist. "I'm the boss's better half," he declared.

The receptionist: "? Sorry, could you repeat that?"

Dressed in an ordinary T-shirt and pants, with messy hair and a baby-faced look, Tian Ruan repeated, "I said I'm the boss's better half."

"...One moment, please." Suspicious, the receptionist picked up the landline, dialed an internal number, and whispered, "Assistant Xu, there's someone here claiming to be the boss's grandfather."

Assistant Xu replied on the other end, "The boss's grandfather? Why would he come here?"

"Is he really the boss's grandfather? He looks very young."

"How young?"

"Could pass for a teen."

Assistant Xu took a deep breath, "You fell for that?"

The receptionist: "Understood." Hanging up, she turned to Tian Ruan and said, "Sorry, our boss doesn't have a grandfather."

Tian Ruan: "..."

Lu Qiuyan: "I bet your grandfather just sneezed somewhere."

Tian Ruan fixed her with a death glare, "Wishing death on elders brings bad karma, you know."

The receptionist got goosebumps, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you in."

Tian Ruan speed-dialed Yu Jingmo and blurted out, "Mr. Yu, am I your boss's better half?"

Yu Jingmo heard every word clearly, "Yep."

"Then can I go upstairs when I arrive at the branch office?"

"Of course." Yu Jingmo's voice was quiet, almost echoing.

"Then come pick me up."

"Mhm."

The receptionist thought Tian Ruan was bluffing and merely smiled politely without speaking.

Tian Ruan didn’t blame her, saying, "Your scam radar could use some work."

The receptionist asked, "How so?"

"A guy my age could actually be a grandfather."

"?"

Tian Ruan glanced at Lu Qiuyan. "If you and Yu Shang got married early and had a baby, that is."

Lu Qiuyan's temple vein pulsed. "Me giving birth, or Yu Shang?"

Tian Ruan looked surprised. "Men can’t give birth. We're not in some ABO universe."

"ABO world?"

"A made-up universe where men can also have babies."

Lu Qiuyan shuddered. "Creepy."

Tian Ruan: "...I think it’s great. If men could give birth, it’d be real equality."

Lu Qiuyan: "Even if I could, I wouldn’t."

"Why? Your and Yu Shang’s baby would definitely be adorable, smart, and handsome."

Lu Qiuyan shot back, "If you were asked to have a cute, smart, and handsome child, would you agree?"

Tian Ruan was caught off guard. He would’ve firmly said no before, but after being with Yu Jingmo for so long—with so many of his swimmers inside him—he had fantasized a few passing thoughts.

Like giving birth to a row of apple-sized babies for Yu Jingmo: the eldest called Yu Bao, the second Tian Bao, the third Ruan Bao, the fourth Jin Yin Bao...

They were not so much living babies as dolls.

Tian Ruan gave a serious head shake. He couldn’t imagine being parent to a real kid. But if Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan turned into babies, he’d know what to do with them.

The thud of dress shoes approached, followed by a voice deep as a cello's notes: "Madam."

Tian Ruan bounced over excitedly. "Mr. Yu, I’m having a baby—oops, I mean, I’m here."

Yu Jingmo: "? You’re having a baby?" He glanced at the young man’s flat stomach. "Not happening."

"Misspoke."

"If you really want one, wait until science catches up," he added.

"...No way."

Yu Jingmo took Tian Ruan's hand. Everyone around them kept their heads down, not daring to look. "Come."

Tian Ruan beckoned to Lu Qiuyan, "My friend, let's look around together."

Lu Qiuyan was reluctant to go, but thinking of Yu Shang, he still felt uneasy. Scowling, he watched the couple show off their love as if no one else was around.

Only after the big boss's figure disappeared into the private elevator to the top floor did the receptionist snap out of her daze and lift her head. "The boss's grandfather is also the boss's wife... That's a lot to take in..."

Hundreds of miles away, poor Elder Yu sneezed no fewer than three times in a row, his frail frame shaking as he leaned on his cane and shouted, "I dreamed that the Yu family's ancestral grave was belching black smoke—there must be some scheming snake at work!"

In the spacious, spotless conference room, three vases of fresh flowers were arranged on the table, clearly prepared by the branch company's general manager for the boss's visit. Tea and snacks were all laid out.

Yu Jingmo sat in the large head seat, with Tian Ruan to his left and Yu Shang standing stiffly opposite him like he was being disciplined.

Seeing Yu Shang on his feet, Lu Qiuyan sneaked out—standing outside the door was better than standing inside. From this distance, he could listen in on their family talk while also slacking off.

Yu Shang glanced toward the back door. The branch office was quiet; the whole floor was dead quiet.

Tea streamed from the spout of the purple clay pot, the rich amber tea pouring into celadon teacups, forming a rich, deep hue. Tian Ruan picked one up and took a sip. He couldn’t tell if it was good or bad, but he could tell things were tense.

Yu Jingmo had known since last night that Yue Lanshan had arrived. He’d waited for Yu Shang to tell him about it, but the boy only came when summoned this morning.

A young man’s thoughts were hard to guess, but Yu Jingmo knew that the promising heir he’d carefully nurtured might be plucked by someone else. Money lost can always be earned back eventually, but the effort invested in an heir—once lost, could never be regained.

"What are you thinking?" Yu Jingmo took a sip of tea, his voice calm.

Yu Shang lowered his gaze and said truthfully, "Dad, I don’t know."

"You only have one father."

"...Yes."

"But blood runs thicker than water."

Tian Ruan interjected, "Blood runs thicker than water, but if you think about it, we all share blood relations because we’re all descendants of the Yellow Emperor."

Yu Jingmo curved his lips. "Well said."

Yu Shang frowned slightly, faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he’d returned to the messy time right after Yu Jingmo lost his memory.

"If you want to acknowledge him, you can," Yu Jingmo said casually, though he’d already thought up countless ways to deal with Yue Lanshan.

Yu Shang shook his head. "I don’t want to."

"Then what do you want to do?" Yu Jingmo tried his best to act the part of a doting father, asking for his son’s opinion to avoid seeming too domineering.

Tian Ruan saw right through Yu Jingmo's act.

Yu Jingmo caught the young man’s sly gaze, and his fatherly act slipped a little. His phoenix eyes lowered, cold as ice. "What’s that look on your face, my dear?"

Tian Ruan froze instantly. "Huh?"

The young man, who had just seemed like a clever little cat, now widened his eyes like a deer in headlights. Yu Jingmo reached out to pinch his soft cheek. "Stop making fun of me in your head."

Tian Ruan sat up straight and batted Yu Jingmo’s hand away. "I wasn’t."

Yu Shang waited until the couple’s flirtation stopped before speaking. "I don’t want to do anything, see anything, or hear anything." But then he added with quiet frustration, "But if I act like this, how am I any different from him?"

Yue Lanshan had spent his whole life running away, and had also failed everyone his whole life.

Yu Shang said, "I don’t want to be like him."

A few meters away, Yu Jingmo gazed calmly at the heir he had personally nurtured. "Whether you want to or not, it all stems from one reason. Go meet Yue Lanshan."

"Dad—"

"Cut ties with him."

Yu Shang balled his fists. "Yeah."

Tian Ruan raised his hand. "I'm going too."

"What are you going for?" Yu Shang frowned.

Tian Ruan: "I’m your stepdad—stepdads count too! The ultimate face-off between a stepdad and a lazy, good-for-nothing bio dad—I'll handle it. No need for Mr. Yu to bother with this."

Yu Jingmo took a sip of tea. "Remember to stream it for me live."

Yu Shang: "..."