Su Ting'er kindly nodded, "Let's stick to calling you 'little bro'. Don't call me 'uncle'; I'm not that old. Call me 'bro'."

Zhou Huajin looked puzzled as Su Ting'er calmly informed him, "Mr. Zhou, I've sold Litchi Mansion to your son. This will be his home from now on."

"What?" Zhou Huajin was shocked. He knew many people coveted Litchi Mansion. Why would Zhou You buy such an expensive property?

Chapter 121: Auction House

"Please come in, Mr. Zhou," Su Ting'er, playing the role of a dutiful steward, greeted Zhou Huajin. Knowing Zhou You was Zhou Huajin's biological son surprised him. After all, the city was abuzz about Zhou Huajin's genius ten-year-old son. How could there suddenly be another son, Zhou You, of such an age?

"Mr. Su, you're too kind," Zhou Huajin, feeling out of place due to Su Ting'er's attitude, said. They had met on equal terms before. How had their relationship changed so drastically now?

He whispered to Zhou You, "Why did you buy this place?"

Zhou You nonchalantly responded, "I wanted to buy a house. I prefer quiet places with courtyards. Shao Qi recommended this place, and it turned out Su Ting'er owed him a debt."

Zhou Huajin had learned that the young man who came with Zhou You in the morning was named Shao Qi. Though unaware of his identity, anyone who could make Su Ting'er owe such a debt was undoubtedly influential.

As he sat in the living room of Litchi Villa, Zhou Huajin felt a surreal sensation. The room was filled with many people. Zhou You introduced each one, calling them friends. They all respectfully addressed him as "Uncle Zhou," clearly holding him in high esteem and showcasing their genuine relationship with Zhou You.

Zhou Huajin was curious about Zhou You's experiences over the past decade. Zhou You had always been ahead of his peers in intelligence, even skipping grades to complete college. Eventually, he joined the National Security Department, and even Zhou Huajin was uncertain about what exactly he was doing there. Before the apocalypse, Zhou You went missing for a while and then became entirely unreachable.

He had sent people to look for him, but no base ever had a record of Zhou You. Even his identity card number remained unchanged, suggesting he never acquired a new identity. The most plausible explanation seemed to be that he was no longer alive.

"Where have you been all these years?" Zhou Huajin questioned. "In the early days, I posted reward notices everywhere. If you were at any base, you would have seen them."

Zhou You struggled to explain his decade-long disappearance, so he concocted a story: "I never went to any base. Initially, I was chased into the mountains where I stumbled upon a secluded village. I stayed there, but as conditions worsened, we had to leave. Unfortunately, my companions perished in the mountains."

Li Yunxi remembered the first time she met Zhou You. They had assumed he was some big shot's kept man who had managed to escape, for he seemed so naive. But hearing his story now, it sounded entirely plausible.

Zhou Huajin didn't doubt him. There were indeed anonymous survivor bases across the country. Hidden families or tribes with survival skills often preferred not to join larger bases. But these small settlements often vanished before they were discovered by outsiders.

"Thank goodness!" Zhou Huajin said, relieved. He was grateful Zhou You was still alive; otherwise, he would've witnessed the heartbreak of outliving his child.

Zhou You continued, "Luckily, in the mountains, I met a large group migrating from the south. It was Yunxi and her team who saved me, and I later accompanied them to the Jiangnan Base."

Zhou Huajin's gaze settled on Li Yunxi, discerning her warrior's stature. She was beautiful, and since she had always been with Zhou You, he suspected they might share a special bond. He then looked at another woman, elegant and strong, perhaps more aligned with Zhou You's aesthetic preferences.

"The others here, I met at the Jiangnan Base," Zhou You elaborated. "After the snow stopped, we journeyed to the Yangcheng Base, seeking new experiences. Fortuitously, upon arriving in Yangcheng, I discovered you were still alive."

"Good, good! As long as you're alive," Zhou Huajin said, tears in his eyes. "Seeing you once more before my time is up makes my life complete."

"Dad, where's mom?" Zhou You inquired about the person he most wanted to know about.

Zhou Huajin hesitated, lowering his eyes. "Your mother passed away ten years ago. During the great catastrophe, her illness worsened. The hospital was chaotic, overwhelmed with patients..."

Zhou You had expected this, but hearing it still hurt. He recalled that his parents had already been estranged when he left home. He wasn't privy to the reasons behind their rift, but if he ever found out about Zhou Huajin's infidelity, there would be a price to pay.

Zhou Huajin anticipated more questions, but Zhou You decided to end the reminiscing. "I'll probably stay at the Yangcheng Base for two or three months. You can find me here if needed. I'll let you know when I leave."

"Won't you come live with me?" Zhou Huajin asked.

Zhou You chuckled, "This is my home now. I'm too old to be living with my parents. Besides, I often venture out with my friends, so I won't intrude. By the way, is young Master Zhou alright?"

"Your younger brother is named Zhou Yichen," Zhou Huajin corrected. "He's awake now and should be home in a couple of days. You should come over for a meal, so I can introduce you to the family."

Zhou You wasn't keen on meeting strangers. "No need. I don't see the point. They probably aren't eager to know me either. Things are fine as they are now. However, if you ever need help, you can always seek me out."