Chapter 138 IF Line: Raised in the Palm 5

Chapter 138 IF Line: Raised in the Palm of His Hand 5

Fu Xing was staring blankly at his phone screen when Chi Xinya pushed the door open. She wore a sharp black professional suit, her hair combed low behind her head, looking sharp and capable.

The Fu family had many businesses overseas, and they'd spent the past half month checking on their operations in Country M.

Chi Xinya was a director of Fu's Group, and the couple always worked together, always side by side.

In their careers, they were mutually appreciative comrades; in private, they were inseparable spouses.

The moment she saw her husband's furrowed brow, she knew he'd hit a snag.

"What's wrong, honey?" Chi Xinya walked over and reached up to smooth the furrow between her husband's brows.

Fu Xing handed his phone to his wife, his tone far from relaxed. "Xiao Yan's acting off this time."

Taking the phone, Chi Xinya opened the photo Butler Qi had sent. In the dimly lit hospital room, she could barely make out two figures sleeping side by side.

From birth to now, everything in Chi Xinya's life had gone smoothly. The one blemish on her perfect life was her son, Fu Yan.

Since childhood, Fu Yan had been just like Fu Xing—an old soul. Aside from studying, he had no interest in the things normal kids played with.

Even as a tiny kid, he carried himself like a cold, aloof CEO.

When he was ten, the great-uncle said her son had a calamity in his fate, fated to hit at thirty-one. He advised that Fu Yan should keep his mind calm and avoid getting too fixated on anything.

For that reason, the great-uncle solemnly instructed Fu Yan to copy sutras more often.

He'd been doing that for nine years—he was nineteen now. Fu Yan lived like a Zen monk, with nothing able to spark his intense interest.

His only relatively close friend was Lu Jin'an. The two of them had a pretty niche thing they did together—developing horror games.

Back then it was small-time stuff, but now they already had two horror online games that were hugely popular.

Yesterday, the old master suddenly called to inform them that Fu Yan's bad luck had hit early, and instructed that Fu Yan should not go out the next day.

There was a time difference between the two places—it was already evening in China. Chi Xinya immediately notified Butler Qi not to let Fu Yan go out today.

For all their precautions, Fu Yan still went out, and even dragged Butler Qi along to swipe someone's kid.

And it was the child her son called the future lady of the Fu household.

Chi Xinya knew this was no small thing.

It wasn't until she saw this photo that Chi Xinya was a hundred percent sure—her son had changed.

He was actually interested in something besides studying and work.

It was just that his methods were a bit... on the wrong side of the law.

Like father, like son—same unconventional streak.

It was already past midnight in China, so the disaster the great-uncle warned about should've passed.

At least her son was okay.

Chi Xinya's eyes sparkled with excitement as she shoved the phone back into her husband's hands.

"Get someone to dig up everything on that kid—every last detail. Since Xiao Yan likes him, pay whatever it takes and bring our future daughter-in-law home to raise."

"Raising her from a kid is so fun! Right, honey?"

Fu Xing's tone carried helplessness mixed with a hint of fondness. "Wife, you've read too many CEO romance novels and it's fried your brain. Xiao Yan took someone's kid—to put it bluntly, he's a kidnapper."

"Old Qi said the kid was dumped in a stairwell, covered in bruises. What kind of decent parent would abuse their kid like that?"

Chi Xinya's heart ached. "Maybe that kid was snatched by that family. Even if they are the bio parents, they clearly don't love the kid."

"Xiao Yan finally has something he likes—a little pet. We might as well pay the parents off and raise the kid ourselves. It's gotta be better than where that kid is now."

Fu Xing thought his wife's idea had merit. For now, they should dig into the kid's background before making any moves.

Fu Xing understood his son's personality well—he was stubborn as hell, and once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.

That was also why Fu Xing, even knowing his son had taken someone's kid, didn't dare call to talk him out of it.

There was simply no talking him out of it.

After Fu Xing finished his call, they'd wrapped up most of their business here, and the couple headed to the airport together.

-

Fu Yan rarely went to bed this early at night. Last night, he'd stayed with the little one until he fell asleep, and this morning his body clock woke him at six.

Looking down at the soft, fuzzy head nestled against his chest, a small smile tugged at the corner of Fu Yan's lips.

The little one was so clingy.

Fu Yan shifted back a little, creating some distance, and gently touched Du Yang's forehead.

It was cool to the touch—the fever had completely broken. The scrape on his cheek also looked a lot better than yesterday.

The little one's eyelashes were really long, his little face soft and puffy. He was basically a miniature version of adult Du Yang.

Just as Fu Yan was lost in the sight, Du Yang suddenly woke up, his eyes wide open, deep fear swimming in his dark eyes.

Fu Yan's heart clenched, and he softly called out, "Yangyang."

The fear and confusion in his eyes instantly gave way to a huge surge of surprise and hurt.

The little one's soft, aggrieved voice came through. "Pretty brother, I thought—I thought you were gone."

"I dreamed Dad was hitting me, and you were gone. I thought you'd left me."

As he spoke, the little guy threw himself into Fu Yan's arms, tiny hands gripping Fu Yan's silk robe.

Fu Yan's heart melted. He comforted him in a gentle voice. "Yangyang, that was just a nightmare. Brother promised you last night—I'd always be right here with you."

The little one's soft, muffled voice came from against his chest. "Good thing it wasn't a dream. As long as brother's here, I'm okay."

"I don't wanna go back. Dad and Grandma hit me and yell at me every day. I'm so, so sad."

The tiny thing curled up in Fu Yan's arms, his little body shaking slightly.

Fu Yan gently patted the kid's back, incredibly grateful he'd found Du Yang ten years early.

"Yangyang, brother won't send you back. Today, brother's taking you to a bigger home—brother's home. Sound good?"

The little one lifted his head from Fu Yan's chest, eyes red-rimmed. "Yangyang wants to stay with brother."

The little one was so set on staying with him, a quiet sense of satisfaction bloomed in Fu Yan's chest.

Fu Yan coaxed the child for a while longer, and finally the little one's tears turned into smiles. The two got up, washed up, and Butler Qi came in with breakfast.

Du Yang, leaning against the headboard, politely greeted, "Good morning, Uncle Qi."

Uncle Qi stayed calm and friendly, about to suggest that Du Yang call him Uncle Qi or Butler Qi.

The master had ordered them to investigate Du Yang's family background, which was essentially a tacit approval of the young master bringing Du Yang back to the Fu family.

He didn't dare overstep; Du Yang could very well end up living at the Fu residence in the future.

Fu Yan spoke first, "Yangyang, this is our butler; you can call him Uncle Qi."

Fu Yan then looked at Butler Qi, "Uncle Qi, from now on, Du Yang is the young master of the Fu household."

"Certainly, Young Master," Uncle Qi deftly set out the breakfast, "Young Master, breakfast is ready."

The little one was completely focused on the delicious breakfast, not paying attention to the whole "young master" and "eldest young master" business. He picked up a small steamed dumpling and offered it to Fu Yan first.

Fu Yan, eyes full of a smile, opened his mouth to take the dumpling, and only then did the little one pick up a second one for himself.

Watching his eldest young master smile like a flower in full bloom, and even when leaving the hospital, he wouldn't let the young master walk, carrying him in his arms the whole way.

Uncle Qi knew that the eldest young master cherished this child immensely; he would likely become the household's little treasure.

From the moment the little one stepped through the gates of the old residence, his "Wow!" exclamations never stopped.

The beautiful brother must have been sent by a bodhisattva; otherwise, how could he live in such a beautiful painting-like landscape?

Fu Yan carried the little one, whose mouth was still hanging open, out of the car, and the child let out another "Wow!"

"Brother's house looks like a palace from TV!"

A palace?

It wasn't that flashy; it was just classical Eastern garden-style architecture, not some gilded palace.

Fu Yan, holding the little one with one arm, gently pinched his soft cheek.

"This will be your home too from now on."

Just then, another car pulled up at the villa's entrance. Fu Xing got out first, then walked around to the other side, personally opening the door and raising his hand to shield the top of the car.

"Dear, Xiao Yan is back too."

Chi Xinya, holding Fu Xing's hand, gracefully stepped out of the car. Seeing the child in her son's arms, her eyes lit up instantly. She let go of Fu Xing and rushed straight to her son.

Seeing a stranger, the little one instinctively wrapped his arms around Fu Yan's neck, pressing close, but his eyes curiously studied the fairy-like sister gazing at him.

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