Listening to Shen Jingyu's childish questions, Ye Jingchuan felt a tangle of emotions and had no idea how to answer.
A three-year-old did not understand death, and he couldn't bring himself to say something as cruel as “Your daddy is dead. He'll never come back.”
He drew a breath and suppressed the faint sorrow in his heart. Crouching, he gently stroked Shen Jingyu's head. “Because Daddy is going to live here from now on. Be good, little Yu. Let's not disturb him, all right?”
Shen Jingyu believed him and nodded firmly. “Okay!”
Ye Jingchuan forced a reassuring smile onto his pale face, then took Shen Jingyu's hand and returned to stand beside Shen Jibai.
If not for Shen Jibai's threats, he would have stayed as far away from him as possible.
“You're being very obedient, Jingchuan. I like that,” Shen Jibai whispered, leaning close to his ear.
The coldness in his tone raised goose bumps over Ye Jingchuan's skin. He instinctively edged away, trying to maintain a safe distance.
Shen Jibai's gaze remained on him. Then an unreadable smile appeared on his face.
Just as Ye Jingchuan thought he was about to cause trouble, he suddenly crouched and scooped Shen Jingyu up before Ye Jingchuan could react.
Fearing for the child's safety, Ye Jingchuan immediately reached for him, wanting to snatch him back from Shen Jibai.
But just then, the other mourners began arriving.
Shen Jibai gave Ye Jingchuan a cool glance.
Understanding the warning in his eyes, Ye Jingchuan reluctantly withdrew his hands. He forced himself to stand beside Shen Jibai and smile as they greeted the guests.
To those who knew nothing, this picture of family harmony looked wonderfully warm and enviable.
In private, Ye Jingchuan was grinding his back teeth hard enough to break them!
As more guests arrived, however, he lost all energy for dwelling on Shen Jibai. He was exhausted.
Among the visitors, he even saw several familiar faces.
Scene after scene from the past rose in his mind. For a moment, he felt disoriented, as though time itself had become confused.
He had escaped the shadow of his previous life, but he couldn't escape Shen Jibai.
Was this retribution?
Or had he brought it on himself?
He didn't know. But he had fought too hard to break free of Qi Weichu and the others to return to his old path. Right now, his most pressing task was to settle down and deal with Shen Jibai.
As for everyone else, their paths had long since diverged in this life. There was no connection left between them.
True, he had no way to handle Shen Jibai yet. But things would work out when the time came. He refused to believe Shen Jibai had no weakness at all.
After the funeral, every respected elder in the Shen family agreed that Shen Jibai should succeed as head of the household.
Once that decision was made, Ye Jingchuan, the former head's widower, and Shen Jingyu became discarded pieces.
The Shen family would provide money for their upkeep and would not make life difficult for the orphan and widower. Shen Jibai was another matter.
And whether Shen Xiuchen's estate arrangements had been altered or the family really did have some bizarre rule, by the time everything was settled, not one cent of his inheritance went to Ye Jingchuan. It all landed in Shen Jibai's pocket.
That inheritance even included... Ye Jingchuan and Shen Jingyu, two living human beings.
Fuck!
What century was this? Were people seriously still having younger brothers inherit everything from the elder—including his spouse?!
So, after deciding whom the two of them belonged to, the family elders dispersed, leaving Ye Jingchuan and Shen Jingyu in Shen Jibai's hands.
Ye Jingchuan, on hearing the news: “...”
Unbelievable!
...
The rain stopped only toward evening.
Qiyun Manor, Shen Jibai's private residence, blazed with light.
An understated yet luxurious Alphard slowly drove into the estate.
Once the car stopped, an elegantly dressed butler stepped forward and gracefully opened the door.
With a warm, refined smile, Shen Jibai stepped out.
Then he looked back at the person inside and held out a hand. “Jingchuan, we're home. Time to get out.”
Ye Jingchuan pressed his lips together, reluctance written all over his face.
But no amount of resistance could stop Shen Jibai from pulling him out of the car.
As he was dragged out, his foot caught. He nearly lost his balance and fell.
Looking at the villa before him, he felt a sudden chill race up his spine. His guard rose instantly.
During his three years of marriage to Shen Xiuchen, he had had little contact with Shen Jibai. They had met almost exclusively on holidays and festivals.
Consequently, no one here knew Ye Jingchuan.
But since Shen Jibai had brought him to this estate, they guessed he must be its second master.
Everyone became even more respectful.
With an arm around Ye Jingchuan's waist, Shen Jibai asked, “Is everything ready?”
The butler replied deferentially, “Second Master, everything is prepared. We can begin at any time.”
Ye Jingchuan didn't know what Shen Jibai had arranged, but instinct told him it was nothing good.
He was about to refuse when Shen Jibai said, “Jingchuan, you've been busy all day. Aren't you hungry?”
Ye Jingchuan: “...”
Was that a joke? He had eaten only breakfast before spending the entire day run off his feet. How could he not be hungry?
Yet the thought of sharing dinner with Shen Jibai made him feel sick.
He would rather go hungry than eat with him.
“I'm not hungry. Eat by yourself,” he refused flatly.
Shen Jibai raised an eyebrow and asked a question to which he already knew the answer. “Oh? Are you really not hungry, Jingchuan?”
“I said I'm not hungry, so I'm not hungry. Shen Jibai, what exactly do you want? Do you not understand plain speech?” Ye Jingchuan demanded, suppressing his displeasure.
“I simply want to enjoy dinner with the Alpha I love. Is even that too much to ask?” The faint smile remained on Shen Jibai's lips, but an edge of coldness had entered his voice.
“You... Who's the Alpha you love? Shen Jibai, can you stop talking nonsense?” Ye Jingchuan glared at him.
He couldn't understand what game Shen Jibai was playing. Did he not care about his reputation at all?
Holding him still, Shen Jibai murmured in his ear, “Jingchuan, if you behave, I'll bring little Yu here. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to leave him with my uncles.”
Rage overtook Ye Jingchuan instantly. He seized Shen Jibai's tie and hauled him close. “Shen Jibai, if anything happens to little Yu in that family, I promise I'll make you regret it!”
“Second Master!”
“Second Master!”
...
The servants were terrified by the sight and cried out instinctively.
Over the past three years, Ye Jingchuan had learned exactly what a den of danger the Shen family was.
Shen Jingyu was only three, frail and suffering from heart disease. He could never withstand the intense training the family used to raise its heirs.
If Shen Jibai really sent him there, he would not survive.
That was why Ye Jingchuan was angry enough to lose reason.
As long as he lived, he would never let Shen Jibai hurt Shen Jingyu!
Through gritted teeth, he warned, “Shen Jibai, don't cross that line!”
Shen Jibai merely smiled and raised a hand to stop those who wanted to intervene.
Then he took Ye Jingchuan's hand and said gently, “Jingchuan, why such a strong reaction? I'm only talking. As long as you behave, I'll do anything you say. Then you'll have the final word in this house!”
Pressing his lips together, Ye Jingchuan slowly released him and answered in defeat, “Shen Jibai, you win!”
“But... what do you even gain by doing this?”
Shen Jibai remained composed. “What do you mean, what do I gain? You've agreed to a candlelit dinner with me, haven't you? That's already wonderful.”
He took Ye Jingchuan's hand, checked his watch, and told the butler beside him, “It's about time. Yan Wenyu, lead the way.”
“Yes, Second Master.” Yan Wenyu inclined his head.
He walked ahead while Shen Jibai led Ye Jingchuan into the villa with an arm around his shoulders.
Ye Jingchuan stopped wasting his strength and let himself be guided forward. But the hatred in his heart grew like weeds.
Sooner or later, he would pay him back!
The dining room sparkled with light.
Beautiful piano music drifted through the air, lending the room a romantic, dreamlike atmosphere.
Baskets all around overflowed with Juliet roses in full bloom. Clear droplets still clung to them, vivid and fresh as they silently released their rich fragrance.
Shen Jibai sat at the main table, languid and aristocratic, gently swirling his glass. The red wine inside shone like flame.
Meanwhile, two rows of servers stood respectfully on either side, trays laden with exquisite food.
Sitting opposite Shen Jibai made Ye Jingchuan uncomfortable.
But he couldn't change his circumstances. He could only endure and silently pray for time to pass more quickly.
Seeing the restraint on Ye Jingchuan's face, Shen Jibai smiled more deeply.
He raised his wineglass toward him across the table in a gesture of a toast.
Reluctantly, Ye Jingchuan picked up his own glass, lifted it perfunctorily, and immediately put it down. He didn't dare take a single sip.
Shen Jibai, by contrast, drank without hesitation. He even raised an eyebrow at Ye Jingchuan, as though asking why he wasn't drinking.
“Jingchuan, wine toasted by you tastes better than any ordinary wine.”
Hearing yet another remark that was little different from harassment, Ye Jingchuan felt only humiliation. His chest heaved. Then he grabbed the table knife beside his plate and drove it hard into the tabletop.
He looked so furious that he seemed ready to cut Shen Jibai into a thousand pieces right then and there!