Chapter 43

Chapter 43

"Shen Gali is sick and can't go," Nan Liujing said coldly.

A frustrated sigh came from the other end of the line, followed by Nan Feng's questioning: "The Shen family entrusted the child to you—are you really taking good care of him?"

Nan Liujing's fingers slowly tightened, the knuckles turning bloodless from excessive force.

In the photo album that had been tossed into the corner, that maniacal, eerie smile was still vivid before his eyes.

After a long pause, he let out a soft laugh, his eyes filled with scorn. "Father, what right do you have to question me? Grandmother sent her daughter to your home—and you, did you take good care of her?"

A sudden silence fell on the other end of the line.

Every time it was like this—whenever this topic came up, Father would only evade, as if running far enough could make it as if it never happened.

This time, Nan Feng chose to evade again: "Fine, let your husband rest well. But you must attend tonight—the board of directors and the council will all be there. You can't be absent. That's it."

He hung up, and Nan Liujing closed his eyes, exhausted, gently massaging his temples.

When his father said that, the intent was clear.

At the beginning of the year, the doctor said Nan Feng had high blood pressure and advised him to let go of everything and rest for the next two years. Coincidentally, Nan Feiyao had just returned from Oxford with his studies completed. The company was thriving—ever since Nan Liujing took over, it had soared, expanding into new sectors, with stock prices skyrocketing and revenue exceeding the historical peak by thirty percent. At this point, handing over the chairman's position would be a guaranteed win even for a useless little thing like Shen Gali, let alone Nan Feiyao, an Oxford graduate.

And the sole purpose of Nan Liujing's existence was to be a stepping stone for Nan Feiyao to rise to the top.

Nan Liujing took a slow, deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were like a stagnant pond—dark, deep, bottomless.

Butler Li came to help Nan Liujing change clothes. Seeing that Nan Liujing remained silent, Butler Li couldn't help but worry: "Young master, do you really not want me to accompany you to the banquet tonight?"

"No need. Stay with Shen Gali and don't leave his side. If he goes out, report to me immediately."

"Yes. Tonight, Ms. Bai will stay for dinner with Mr. Shen. He probably won't go out."

Nan Liujing nodded, told Butler Li to prepare dinner, and went straight to Shen Gali's room.

When he entered, Shen Gali and Bai Wei were playing cat's cradle with a piece of string. Nan Liujing nodded at Bai Wei first. She understood and stood up, saying she needed to use the restroom, leaving the two alone.

Shen Gali was still absorbed in the tangled string, completely absorbed, seemingly oblivious to Nan Liujing's arrival.

Nan Liujing was used to his coldness and didn't expect him to greet him.

He walked over to Shen Gali, reached out to feel his forehead. Although the fever had subsided, his temperature was still slightly elevated.

He tucked the blanket around Shen Gali and said distractedly, "I have to go out tonight. Rest at home and don't run around. Call me if anything happens."

Shen Gali didn't respond, continuing to fiddle with the string, which had turned into a messy knot—impossible to untangle.

Nan Liujing looked at his attitude and suddenly wondered if Shen Gali even had his number.

Never mind.

He murmured, "I'm leaving," and turned toward the door. Just as he reached it, he heard Shen Gali's voice from behind:

"Make me some pumpkin porridge."

Nan Liujing glanced at his watch. It was getting late. "Let Butler Li make it for you. I don't have time."

Shen Gali said nothing.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Nan Liujing asked.

Shen Gali still remained silent.

Nan Liujing didn't say anything else and left the room.

Bai Wei returned. Seeing the mess of string in Shen Gali's hands, she gently took it and carefully untangled it.

"Is President Nan going to the board meeting?" she asked casually.

"Board meeting? I don't know. He didn't say."

"Probably. Earlier today, I was chatting with my company's boss, and he said he'd be attending Huanhai Electronics' board meeting tonight. Apparently, the chairman has something very important to announce."

This matter might be trivial to Shen Gali, but to Bai Wei, it was crucial.

She hoped Nan Liujing would climb higher so that Shen Gali could enjoy a more comfortable life. Though, looking at the present, Nan Liujing hadn't treated him badly—he had spent a fortune on imported medical equipment and remodeled the third floor into a small hospital because Shen Gali hated going to the hospital.

Bai Wei probed, "I heard President Nan has a half-brother—an Oxford master's graduate who returned to China last year. If President Nan becomes CEO, does that mean he won't get the chairman position? Will his brother inherit it?"

"Yeah," Shen Gali replied. That's how it was in the original novel.

Bai Wei wanted to say more, but Butler Li came to call them for dinner.

Shen Gali didn't feel like eating, but he had longed for this day for so long—eating delicious food happily with his mother. Such a simple wish, but it had taken years to fulfill.

The dinner was very lavish. Since Nan Liujing had specifically told Butler Li to make pumpkin porridge before leaving, a small pot of plain pumpkin porridge sat on the table, strikingly out of place among the feast.

But Shen Gali didn't even touch it, as if he hadn't been the one pestering Nan Liujing for pumpkin porridge just moments ago.

"Butler Li, please join us," Bai Wei warmly invited the butler, who stood by the side.

By the rules, he wasn't allowed to sit and eat with the masters; he usually waited until Nan Liujing finished. But today, seeing the harmonious and joyful scene, he didn't refuse and respectfully sat across from them.

He was fifty years old, with no parents, no wife, no children. He had joined the Nan household at twenty-six, dedicating most of his life to the family. Although Nan Liujing had once tried to introduce him to suitable women, he had declined.

Though it might sound disrespectful, the truth was that over twenty-four years of living together, he had come to regard Nan Liujing as his own son. If he were to leave Nan Liujing now to marry and have children, he couldn't bear to, and he wouldn't feel at ease.

But looking at Bai Wei and Shen Gali, he suddenly felt a warmth, like that of an old father seeing his daughter bring her grandson to visit.

Butler Li quickly stopped that thought. The generational hierarchy was messed up—it was only because he looked older. In reality, he was only about seven or eight years older than Bai Wei.

Even though they ate at the same table, Butler Li couldn't shake off his habits of a servant. He barely ate himself, spending all his time peeling shrimp and deboning fish for Bai Wei and Shen Gali.

During the meal, Bai Wei chatted with Butler Li, subtly probing for information about Nan Liujing. She wasn't concerned about Nan Liujing himself; she only wanted to ensure Shen Gali's future.

She felt worried, having heard many stories about Nan Liujing's so-called glorious deeds—rumors that he had caused his own mother's death, though accounts varied on how.

"So you've been with President Nan for so many years? Since he was six? He was six when you arrived?" Bai Wei asked.

"Five," Butler Li corrected, with a hint of pride in his voice. "The first time I saw the young master, he was five. I was twenty-six."

"What was President Nan like as a child? I'm curious. Would you mind sharing, Butler Li?"

Butler Li's hand, which was peeling a shrimp, suddenly froze. After a long moment, a bitter smile crept onto his lips:

"The young master was very cute as a child. I've never seen such an adorable child. He would politely call me 'Uncle.' When I first joined the Nan household, I was clumsy and often made mistakes. When the master got angry and deducted my wages, the young master would secretly bring his piggy bank to give me money."

“And... what about President Nan’s mother?” Bai Wei asked cautiously.

“Mm... Mrs. Nan was also a very good person, gentle and kind, well-read and sensible, without any airs, treating the servants equally. It’s just that fate played a cruel trick—she developed a mental illness when the young master was six, suffering day and night, and in the end, she took her own life, I suppose.”

Shen Gali listened quietly without interrupting, even though he knew Uncle Li was intentionally holding back.

Everyone has secrets they’d rather not speak of—that’s only natural.

“After Mrs. Nan passed away, the young master became withdrawn and silent. Around that time, the old master remarried and brought back a child about the same age as the young master. The new lady of the house gained power and took control of the household. The servants were all ungrateful wretches, only looking to curry favor with the new lady. To please her, they even went so far as to toy with a six-year-old boy. I suppose that’s what they mean by ‘once the person is gone, the tea grows cold.’”

Uncle Li’s eyes suddenly reddened as he spoke, his voice choking slightly.

“On the second young master’s fourth birthday, the servants, wanting to amuse him, tampered with the staircase railing. As a result, when the eldest young master went upstairs, the railing broke and he fell from the second floor.” Uncle Li clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

He still remembered the scene vividly to this day—the broken staircase railing, Nan Liujing falling from the second floor, breaking his leg, his face covered in blood, while the four-year-old second young master clapped his little hands and laughed innocently, calling his brother an idiot. None of the servants stepped forward to help. They left the six-year-old Nan Liujing sitting in a pool of blood, wailing bitterly until he fainted after a few cries, while the servants kept forcing smiles.

Only I hurriedly called an ambulance. The young master lay in the emergency room for a full six hours before narrowly escaping death.

Technology wasn’t as advanced back then, and cameras weren’t common in households. When the master demanded an explanation, no one admitted to it. In fact, it would have been simple to call in the police to investigate the scene and identify the culprit immediately. But because Yu Huaisu said:

“If the police come, they might trample my Persian carpet. Besides, children recover quickly. He’ll recover in a few months. There’s no need to make a fuss. Bringing so many people in might scare Feiyao, and that would truly be a greater loss.”

And so the matter was swept under the rug.

Bai Wei let out an incredulous laugh: “Are these people crazy? To a six-year-old child…”

Uncle Li covered his eyes and took deep breaths to steady his emotions, afraid he might start crying right in front of Bai Wei.

“What’s more, after Mrs. Nan passed away, because of her mental illness, the family considered the young master a stain, a curse. They feared he might one day pick up a knife and hurt someone, just like his mother. So until the young master got married, he wasn’t allowed to eat at the same table as the old master and the others. He had to eat in his own room, alone.”

The last word was barely a whisper.

“Oh my god…” Bai Wei covered her mouth, unable to believe such parents existed in the world.

“Fortunately, the young master worked hard and made the company thrive. But!” Uncle Li slammed the table, “The title of Executive President sounds nice, but everyone knows that a higher rank can crush you. Once the second young master takes over as Chairman, the young master will be a puppet in name only. I’m worried that the second young master might, on a whim, find an excuse to remove him from his position—that’s entirely possible.”

Uncle Li let out a helpless long sigh: “Even if he isn’t removed, the young master will have to live his whole life under someone else’s thumb.”

“President Nan is just… so unfortunate…” Bai Wei shook her head in grief.

They say that marrying into a wealthy family is like diving into the deep sea—who would have thought this would be true for Nan Liujing, born into such a wealthy family?

Shen Gali absently toyed with the corn kernels in his bowl, picking them up, letting them slip, picking them up again, letting them slip again.

After what felt like an eternity, he slowly lifted his head: “Uncle Li, I want some pumpkin porridge.”

Uncle Li quickly wiped his eyes, ladled a bowl of pumpkin porridge, and handed it to him: “Mr. Shen, eat it while it’s hot.”

Shen Gali gently shook his head: “I want to eat the pumpkin porridge that Nan Liujing makes.”

Huanhai Electronics’ five-star hotel was built by the seaside, its all-glass structure looked from afar like a blue diamond rising from the sea. The hotel was surrounded by luxury cars, and dignitaries from all walks of life arrived, each carrying gifts.

*

Although the invitation didn’t specify what Nan Feng intended to announce, everyone had a clear idea in their hearts.

As soon as Yang, the driver, parked the car, another car pulled up right beside it, stopping so close that when Yang, the driver, opened his door, it scraped a small mark on the other vehicle.

A driver immediately jumped out, trotted over to inspect the damage, and cursed angrily: “Can’t you watch where you’re going? Look at the scratch you left on the car!”

Nan Liujing rolled down the window to check the situation and happened to spot Pei Jing’s sugar daddy, Yu Jinzhu, getting out of the car.

Yes, his name is Yu Jinzhu—surname Yu, given name Jinzhu.

“What’s all the yelling for? So many guests are watching,” Yu Jinzhu said, touching the scratch on the door. “It’s just a scratch. No need to make a fuss.”

With that, he turned to look at Nan Liujing in the adjacent car, a sly smile curling at the corner of his mouth: “Oh, if it isn’t President Nan. What a coincidence! Since it was President Nan’s mistake, I certainly won’t hold it against you.”

Nan Liujing gave him an indifferent glance, pulled out a black card from his wallet, and handed it over: “The PIN is on the back of the card.”

Yu Jinzhu waved a hand dismissively: “No need. I have insurance. You’d better save that money for your retirement, President Nan.”

With that, he turned and left with his driver, laughing inwardly: *Nan Liujing, your good days are numbered. Let’s see how much longer you can keep this up.*

Yu Jinzhu’s father and Nan Feng’s father were partners—they made their fortune selling sweet potatoes. So although Yu Jinzhu himself had no real talent, thanks to his successful father, he also held a seat on Huanhai Electronics’ board, even if his stake was smaller than an ant’s droppings. But he still put on a grand show.

Yang, the driver, kept muttering: “It was clearly their fault for parking poorly—there’s plenty of space, but they had to squeeze in here. A scratch serves them right.”

Nan Liujing cut him off: “Too many people, too much gossip. Don’t mind it. Help me out of the car.”

In the corridor leading to the banquet hall, they ran into quite a few board members, all accompanied by their families. When they saw Nan Liujing, they nodded politely, their faces wearing hypocritical smiles, but deep down they all looked down on this disfavored son. Everyone felt free to trample on him in their hearts:

“Cripple.”

Tonight’s banquet included members of Huanhai’s board, companies that had collaborated with Huanhai, local dignitaries, and so on. Among them were Shen Gali’s foster family and members of the Rosand family.

Before the banquet officially began, dignitaries from all walks of life mingled with champagne in hand, laughing and chatting, using the social scene to build connections and pave the way for future cooperation.

Evan was also present, standing with his father. The elites spoke in standard British English, choosing their words of flattery perfectly. Evan’s father hadn’t stopped smiling since entering the hall.

But Evan seemed a bit distracted, his gaze wandering through the crowd.

He spotted Nan Liujing, alone as he wheeled himself in, with no one by his side.

It wasn’t his first time meeting Nan Liujing, but it was the first time he met him under a different identity.

“Father, I’m going to say hello over there,” he said, picking up a glass of champagne and walking toward Nan Liujing.

Since entering, only a handful of people had come up to Nan Liujing to exchange pleasantries. It seemed the social climbers had grown tired of dealing with a puppet with no real power, knowing that tonight would see the sole heir take the stage. They were all busy scheming how best to flatter Nan Feiyao, ignoring the man in the wheelchair.

Nan Liujing, however, was perfectly content. If he could avoid these meaningless pleasantries, he could leave early and go home to make pumpkin porridge for Shen Gali.

How spineless—was he living just to cook pumpkin porridge for Shen Gali?

Lost in thought, a shadow fell beside him.

He looked up to see a tall, blonde-haired man standing before him, a faint, teasing smile on his lips.

“President Nan, long time no see. How have you been feeling lately?” Evan raised his glass and smiled.

Nan Liujing remembered him. Aside from having collaborated before, it was also he who drove Shen Gali home that rainy day, even lingering with a reluctant expression as he watched Shen Gali’s retreating figure.

In this cutthroat social arena, even if someone slept with your wife, you had to smile through it. But Nan Liujing only raised his glass without intending to clink it. He took a small sip of champagne, his gaze drifting lazily to the side.

Evan wasn’t offended. He looked around behind Nan Liujing and asked with a smile: “I don’t see Mr. Shen here today.”

“My partner is unwell and can’t attend. Are you disappointed?” Nan Liujing replied with a contemptuous smile.

In such settings, partners are usually referred to as "husband" or "wife" — formal terms — but none carries the same weight as "lover."

Using "wife" would also work.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Evan’s expression soured slightly before he quickly regained a composed smile. "I’m truly sorry to hear that. Mr. Shen is a very interesting person; I had hoped to have a pleasant conversation with him today as well."

"That’s unlikely," Nan Liujing said, setting down his glass, clearly dismissing him. "He usually ignores people. I know him well."

Evan recalled his interactions with Shen Gali; Nan Liujing was right. Most of the time, he barely responded — getting two replies out of ten questions was already a win.

So sad.

But he wouldn’t give up! He was confident he was not inferior to the man bound to a wheelchair for life. He was confident he could be perfect in both daily life and sex.

In a flash, Nan Liujing had already wheeled away...

On the other side.

Nan Feiyao meticulously adjusted his tie, listening to Nan Feng’s endless reminders about the evening’s protocol. But his mind was elsewhere, searching for a particular figure in the crowd.

Scanning the room, he finally spotted the man he longed for, who seemed to be looking for someone too, absentmindedly glancing around beside his parents, as if searching for someone.

Nice. Found him.

He left his father and strode over to Shen Lanqing’s side, deliberately puffing out his chest to highlight his broad, powerful frame under his suit, and smiled warmly. "Lanqing, long time no see. How have you been?"

Shen Lanqing was in no mood to deal with him. He couldn’t even be bothered to respond to such a clichéd greeting.

Where’s my brother? Wasn’t he supposed to come? Why can’t I see him? How is his illness? He hasn’t replied to my texts. I’m so worried. And this damn Nan Feiyao is blocking my view.

Unable to find him, he asked in desperation: "Where’s my brother? Have you seen him?"

Nan Feiyao’s face turned an iron gray. He could no longer stomach the word "brother" — whether it was his own brother or Lanqing’s.

He didn’t know if Shen Gali was present tonight. He only knew that if he didn’t act, things would spiral out of control.

Just then, Shen Lanqing's adoptive mother, after finishing greetings on the other side, turned and spotted Nan Feiyao hovering by her precious son Shen Lanqing, his gaze glued to him, the adoration in his eyes was unmistakable.

She hadn’t forgotten the insult of that blank check from Nan Liujing. That cripple had humiliated her that day, and she would make him pay back every cent.

"Feiyao, long time no see. How have you been?" She smiled behind her hand, leaning in to whisper only for him: "My future son-in-law, the future chairman, huh?"

Nan Feiyao tried to restrain himself, failed, and a grin uncontrollably spread across his face.

That "son-in-law" sounded even sweeter than "chairman." It sent a pleasant tingle through him, tingling and pleasant.

"Yes, very well. I've just been worried about Lanqing, as I haven't seen him in a while." Nan Feiyao glanced at his watch. "There’s still some time before the banquet starts. Qingqing, how about a walk by the sea with me?"

Shen Lanqing flatly refused: "No."

His adoptive mother forced a smile and discreetly pinched Shen Lanqing’s back. "Go, take a walk with Feiyao, chat a bit. Why stay with us? Aren't you getting bored?"

Shen Lanqing wasn’t naive. He understood his mother’s intentions perfectly, and he knew exactly how Nan Feiyao felt about him.

In the past, he might have gone along with it. At least Nan Feiyao’s prospects were decent, even outstanding. But not now. He had someone far more important to protect now.

He couldn’t trust anyone else with his brother’s future happiness. He would personally bear the responsibility for his brother's future happiness.

"I like being bored." Shen Lanqing showed no manners, whether intentionally or not, mimicking Shen Gali’s tone.

Hearing that tone reminded Nan Feiyao of the person who always got on his nerves. He instantly deflated, turning away gracefully. "It’s fine. Qingqing must be tired. Uncle and Aunt, enjoy yourselves. I’ll go greet someone over there."

Once he left, his adoptive mother urgently pulled Shen Lanqing aside. "Qingqing, listen. Do you know what tonight’s banquet is for? Your future father-in-law is going to announce Feiyao as the new chairman. Do you realize what the chairman means?"

Shen Lanqing remained silent, still scanning the crowd for the person he wanted to see.

"Your future father-in-law already opposes you and Feiyao. You need to seize this opportunity. If you and Feiyao can make it work, you’ll live a life of luxury for the rest of your days. My company will be saved."

Shen Lanqing had grown tired of these words.

His brother had been forced into marrying a disabled pervert for the same reason, and the company wasn't saved after all — his brother was sacrificed in the process. Now they wanted him to make the same mistake?

Seeing his silence, his adoptive mother grew desperate, hissing: "Qingqing, tell me. What is it that you really want?"

Shen Lanqing suddenly looked up, staring into his mother’s face, and said deliberately:

"I only want my brother."

"Who?"

"Shen Gali."

His adoptive mother was momentarily stunned, but as she processed the words, her expression slowly shifted. Her pupils dilated violently, her mouth fell open in shock.

It was a possibility she had never considered. Hearing her darling son say it aloud brought a real sense of doom.

Was she too complacent? She had never taken Shen Gali seriously, but she should have noticed the moment Lanqing started covering his room with Shen Gali’s photos.

In that instant, she shared the same thought as Nan Feiyao: if they didn’t intervene, things would head toward an irreversible disaster, and decades of her hard work would be destroyed.

Meanwhile, the chairman of F.L. Group arrived with his seven-year-old son. Like everyone before him, Hein began searching for Shen Gali as soon as he entered.

Ren Yinuo also came with her father. Upon entering, she curiously looked around until her father scolded her for being improper and breaking etiquette.

This time, Ren Yinuo didn’t obey blindly. She continued searching for the figure she wanted, saying nonchalantly:

"I’m just looking for someone. Turning my head is only natural — I don’t have eyes in the back of my head. Father, you’re taking it too far."

It seemed the whole world was searching for Shen Gali, but he never showed.

Almost all the guests had assembled. Seeing it was late, Nan Feng had the staff clear the hall, leaving only the distinguished guests. Under everyone’s gaze, he made a dramatic entrance.

First, he reported to the board on the company’s first-half operations and financial statements, then spoke about the company’s future development prospects. The astronomical figures made the heads of some small and mid-sized companies envious and bitter, knowing that even if they borrowed five hundred years from heaven, they couldn’t match Huanhai Electronics.

Then, Nan Feng announced a major initiative: partnering with the Rosander Family to enter the medical device industry. The family controlled 40% of the world’s uranium, whose fission isotopes and rays were widely used in medical sterilization, radiation therapy, and contrast diagnostics. With uranium prices remaining high — about 4.5 million RMB per kilogram — this partnership would be a monopolistic masterstroke.

Everyone clapped with smiles, but inwardly thought:

It’s better to be born lucky than capable. Look at Nan Feiyao — he inherits a heavyweight deal. Next, they’ll probably build an aircraft carrier with Rosander.

Without comparison, there’s no pain. Suddenly, everyone felt sorry for Nan Liujing.

Everyone knew Nan Liujing had increased the company’s net profit by thirty percent in just half a year after taking over, but Nan Feng never mentioned it. Instead, he planned to hand the company over to Nan Feiyao at the best time.

Yu Huaisu, sitting in the main seat, accepted the envious glances, a proud smile on her lips.

Say what you will — competence means nothing if you don’t marry well. Nan Liujing’s mother graduated from Harvard, but what good did it do? She ended up insane and despised, dying without even knowing how.

Before formally announcing Nan Feiyao as the new chairman, Nan Feng decided to rub salt in the wound by forcing Nan Liujing to give a speech on stage sharing his reflections.

The kind-hearted guests could no longer bear to listen. What were you gonna say—that the honor you busted your ass for was casually handed over to someone else by the old man with a single lighthearted remark? That your reason for living was to be a stepping stone for others?

But the majority were just waiting to watch the drama unfold.

Yu Jinzhu even pulled out his phone to film the whole thing, planning to take it back and show his little lover Pei Jing for a good laugh—making those dozens of slaps he gave himself worth it.

Poor guy, his face was swollen from the slaps.

"Liu Jing, come on up." Seeing Nan Liujing not moving, Nan Feng's expression turned stern, his tone harsh.

Don’t make him lose face in front of all these people.

Yu Jinzhu let out a contemptuous laugh and said to Nan Feng, "Chairman Nan, you have to give him some time, after all, he’s a cripple... he has trouble moving around and needs a moment."

Nan Feiyao also laughed arrogantly, his eyes full of pride and smugness.

Nan Liujing said nothing, his tightly pressed lips radiating a cold sharpness.

He realized that this so-called "speech of reflections" was just his father’s way of warning him in another form—if he didn’t obey, the CEO position would ultimately be nothing but a pipe dream.

Nan Liujing took the microphone, one hand on the wheelchair’s hand rim, and had just pushed forward one step—

The double doors of the banquet hall suddenly swung open, the faint rustling of the carpet underfoot unusually distinct in this environment.

Everyone turned to look. At the entrance, the silhouette stood against the backlighting, its outline strangely haloed in a soft glow.

Recognizing the person, Nan Liujing frowned slightly, yet a faint warmth stirred in his chest.

Shen Lanqing jumped up in an instant, like a puppy that hadn’t seen its owner for ages, wagging its tail as he rushed over, whining, "Brother."

"Brother, your body..."

Before he could finish, Shen Gali, who had just arrived, shoved him aside.

The lazy guy only walked in straight lines, because the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

A curious guest murmured, "So this is President Nan's lover? He looks really young."

"Too bad he’s unlucky, marrying a guy like that..."

Nan Feng suddenly grew excited, an old flush spreading across his face. Ever since the last time he tasted Shen Gali’s cooking, he had inexplicably felt a great maternal aura around him. The old man even hallucinated a huge, translucent phantom behind him—it was his long-deceased mother, smiling at him with a kind, loving expression.

But why was Shen Gali carrying a bowl along with him?

Nan Liujing took his hand and frowned, asking, "Didn’t I tell you not to run around? What are you doing here?"

This guy was usually too lazy to even eat, and now he came to meddle?

Under the gaze of the crowd, Shen Gali handed the bowl to Nan Liujing, his voice steady and emotionless:

"Pumpkin porridge, cooked for me."

"Uncle Li didn’t cook for you?"

"He did, but it was awful. I wanted yours."

Guests around them whispered among themselves. Nan Liujing suddenly found this scene oddly amusing, yet there was a trace of warmth in it.

"Sit down first. The banquet will end soon, and I’ll cook it for you at home," he said softly, as if coaxing.

Shen Gali was stubborn: "No, now."

With that, he grabbed one armrest of the wheelchair and stubbornly dragged it along.

Nan Liujing didn’t stop him. At that moment, his frail back seemed tall and imposing. Of course, Nan Liujing knew Shen Gali’s social anxiety wouldn’t have made him cause a scene over a bowl of porridge.

Shen Gali dragged it half a meter, then stopped to rest.

Yu Huaisu couldn’t believe it, but she realized this guy was here to stir up trouble. She turned to the nearby bodyguard and said, "Throw him out. Don’t let him mess things up."

She was anxiously waiting to hear the news of her son becoming chairman.

But when she looked up—

She was stunned. "Why are you crying?"

The bodyguard was crying for no apparent reason. What’s so touching?

The burly bodyguard wiped away his tears. If his employer weren't there, he'd have done a 360-degree flip and landed with a standing ovation for this pair of suffering yet brave lovers!

Hein finally saw the fiancée he’d been yearning for, his face lighting up with joy. He had just stood up when his mother pushed him back down.

Only Evan didn’t look too happy.

Shen Gali didn’t care about others, that was a fact. But if he didn’t care, why would he give up lounging around to come here for a bowl of porridge?

Jealousy, that’s what it is.

Jealous of Nan Liujing.

Nan Liujing paid no attention to the murmurs around him. His eyes were only on this clumsy, stubborn fool, who panted after just a few steps. He was afraid of wearing him out.

For the first time, he looked up at him from this angle. He was quite tall, but his frame was thin. The hand gripping the armrest led to a slender wrist, the radius bone clearly visible.

Nan Liujing quietly gazed at his back. Suddenly, he reached out.

Shen Gali was straining to pull forward, pull, pull, pull, when his hand was suddenly grasped.

Warm, gentle fingertips brushed across his palm, moved to grip his radius bone, and slowly pressed down the protruding bump caused by the strain. Then, long, strong fingers folded his hand into their palm, squeezing tighter.

Quietly, Nan Liujing pressed the wheelchair’s auto-drive button. It was more accurate to say the wheelchair was pushing Shen Gali than the other way around.

Nan Liujing suddenly remembered something and turned his head, leaving behind a calm remark: "Sorry, Father. Jiali hasn’t eaten dinner yet. I have to go back now. As for the speech, I’ll do it tomorrow at the office."

Their figures slowly disappeared at the entrance, and Shen Lanqing finally broke free from his mother’s grip, running toward the direction they had gone.

Yu Huaisu let out an involuntary "Ha," thinking this was utterly ridiculous. But today, no matter what, not even if the sky fell would she allow anything to stop Nan Feng’s important speech. She had to witness her only son seize control of the Huanhai Group with her own eyes.

All of this rightfully belonged to her and her son.

Yu Huaisu stood up and made a calming gesture to the guests, smiling brilliantly: "Apologies, everyone. My eldest son’s husband was disrespectful and made a fool of himself. I hope it hasn’t dampened your good mood."

After speaking, she looked at her husband on stage and said with a sweet smile, "Well then, Chairman Nan, shall we continue?"

When she saw Nan Feng’s expression, the smile she had been struggling to maintain gradually faded.

Nan Feng was staring at the entrance, as if he were longing for someone he deeply missed. He was dazed, and for some reason, his eyes were red-rimmed.