Translator’s Notes:
Hi! This is Lynn, this novel is super slow-burn with cracks here and there. Please read with an open mind to enjoy this story. May this novel bring you to a happier day! 
Get ready for the mass release
The bamboo forest lay in tranquil silence, the wind’s course resembling the flow of piano melodies. A young chick ruffled the feathers on its neck, timidly unfurling its wings to embark on its inaugural flight.
As the song concluded, the wind ceased its dance.
A voice remarked, “Marvelous! The high mountains and flowing water, the host’s piano mastery has reached unparalleled heights.”
Li Xiangfu grinned gently, “Did I succeed?”
“It’s not just success, it’s excellence!” The system listed achievements: “Over the past few years, the host has earned titles like ‘Number One Chess Fan,’ ‘Epicurean Chef,’ ‘Household Conflict Virtuoso,’ ‘Craftsmanship Prodigy’…” It got carried away and stuttered due to the flurry of words, “And the title of ‘Natural Musical Instruments Master.’ You’ve completed the decathlon and achieved the transformation goal.”
Li Xiangfu closed his eyes, a sense of fulfillment washing over him. “Finally…”
Finally, he could return!
Twenty-three years, precisely twenty-three years!
More than two decades had slipped by since he leaped through time into the body of a newborn. Li Xiangfu sighed, “When I return, will I find myself squarely in the midst of middle age?”
The system, in a businesslike tone, stated, “You’ll still be the age you were when you time-traveled, twenty-four years and one month.”
“…The fraction is negligible. Over the years, you’ve been rather stern and cold,” Li Xiangfu remarked, addressing the system and its own fate.
“One more thing. My operational life is ending, leaving me with sixty years. I recommend terminating me before departure, and the program startup password is 13z2dft.” Li Xiangfu fell silent for a moment, contemplating. “As per the original agreement, once the task is complete, I have the authority to deal with you in any manner.”
He caressed the guqin’s strings, looked up, and slowly addressed the system, “Come back with me, become human, and experience the remainder of your existence.”
– Stay.
– Live for yourself.
For the first time in its extended existence, it heard someone express such sentiments, rendering the system momentarily speechless in astonishment.
And Li Xiangfu’s smile widened slightly. “However, you’ll need to transform into a child and call me daddy.” To ensure clarity, he repeated slowly, “Say – dad – dy.” Once upon a time, he dwelled in a nightmarish realm.
During the assessment, he wept and addressed the system as daddy, but now it was his turn to take charge and become the host and orchestrate the tune.
“…”
Following the hearty laughter, Li Xiangfu grabbed the nearby bottle of wine and downed it in one go.
In the 25th year of Lihe, the renowned Mr. Xiangfu succumbed to inebriation in the bamboo forest.
Opinions about his life varied. His admirers praised his astonishing beauty and talents, while detractors criticized him for being dissolute, superficial, and lacking virtue. Yet, regardless of opinions, his beauty and talent were undeniable. From royalty and aristocracy to merchants, countless high-status individuals were enamored by this young master, acclaimed as the most potent and handsome man.
In unofficial historical accounts, a comment endures: “The people are beautiful, and the path is untamed.”
—
Country Y.
Several days have elapsed since he traveled back in time, and everything coincidentally remained suspended at the moment just before his time leap: he had recently received his graduation certificate.
All the skills and demeanor he acquired during his time travel journey have been retained… Thankfully, he already had long hair, so there shouldn’t be too many discrepancies.
Li Xiangfu packed his belongings and squinted at the system nearby. “Are you ready?” The system now appeared as a six-year-old child, a stoic expression on their young face. “The data has been generated. Starting today, I am your adopted child.”
“Li Shasha.” Li Xiangfu glanced at the information he had prepared and furrowed his brow. “You got this name… never mind.” He checked his passport and donned his sunglasses. “Let’s go.”
It’s summertime, and home and abroad have different aesthetics. Even though Li Xiangfu couldn’t clearly see his face, with his remarkable demeanor and long, flowing black hair, he had a 100% head-turning effect on the streets.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Yc atf qijcf, j oiluta jaafcvjca abbx j mibrfg ibbx ja atlr tjcvrbwf wjc.
Gfrqlaf tlr ubbv ibbxr, tlr jaalgf kjr jirb lcagluelcu—j rtlga jcv yijmx agberfgr. Pc atf rkfiafglcu rewwfg, wbra qfbqif kbeiv vlrqijs rbwf mbiijgybcfr, yea atlr wjc’r rtlga yeaabcr kfgf wfalmeiberis ojrafcfv, gluta eq ab atf abq yeaabc.
Li Xiangfu: “Plain water.”
The flight attendant later realized she had lingered a bit too long, smiled apologetically, set down the paper cup, and continued down the aisle.
After a flight lasting over ten hours, it was early afternoon when they arrived in Li Xiangfu’s hometown. Gazing through the window, the sky appeared somber, shrouded in dark clouds, as if a heavy rain were imminent.
Li Xiangfu pondered, lips twitching, “I wonder who will come to pick me up today.”
News of his return to China had been circulated two days ago. The scorching season likely brought annoyance to people.
Li Shasha, the current identity of the system, had only heard Li Xiangfu mention his past experience once. It was recounted that in his earlier years, he faced severe backlash within his social circle due to various troubles, ultimately being banished abroad by his family’s elders.
Their encounter was somewhat fateful. At that moment, the system urgently needed to fulfill its mission and cultivate a decathlon host. Coincidentally, Li Xiangfu was caught in a gunfight abroad, fleeing for his life. In a bid to survive, an agreement was struck.
Upon becoming a host, Li Xiangbo resided in the Nuzun Kingdom again and had only returned to his homeland a week ago.
Time has the power to alter many things, but it doesn’t guarantee recognition for an unpopular individual.
After collecting his luggage, Li Xiangfu led Li Shasha out.
Outside the airport, a crowd waited eagerly to greet the arriving plane. Among them was a man holding a sign absentmindedly, silently bemoaning his luck. This man was Zhao Kai, the secretary of Li Huaichen, the eldest son of the Li family, and he was designated to pick up Li Xiangfu.
Li Xiangfu had a notorious reputation and was quite popular. Zhao Kai neither looked down on him nor wanted to provoke him, but he had no choice but to carry out the task assigned by his boss himself.
While holding the sign, Zhao Kai impatiently craned his neck, scanning the crowd for the expected arrival. Suddenly, his eyes lit up… a stunning beauty!
Broad shoulders, a slender waist, and a slim physique. His fair skin contrasted beautifully with his black hair. There was no mistaking his gender, especially with the prominent Adam’s apple. Even a shirt couldn’t hide the smooth lines of his arm muscles. In the business world, it had been a long time since Zhao Kai had seen anything like this. Normally, he was rather reserved, but now his heart was racing… Could this be love at first sight, a déjà vu of something never seen before?
At that moment, the long-haired man stood before him.
In a movie-like scene, Zhao Kai whispered, “Have we met somewhere?”
“Secretary Zhao,” Li Xiangfu removed his sunglasses and calmly said, “Long time no see. Did my elder brother send you?”
“Elder brother?”
Zhao Kai was taken aback, taking a moment to find his voice. “Are you… Xiangfu?”
One couldn’t blame him for not recognizing Li Xiangfu. He had left for abroad four years ago, only sending occasional text messages to his family during the Chinese New Year. Back then, Li Xiangfu had faced numerous troubles, and Zhao Kai had often helped him navigate through them. The boy had long hair then too, but he liked to dye it in unusual colors and was often reprimanded by the school. He had a semblance of a non-mainstream gangster.
Not to mention his temperament; you could sense the gangster vibe from meters away.
But now…
In surprise, Zhao Kai asked, “Did you undergo plastic surgery?”
Li Xiangfu smirked slightly. “Where’s the car?”
Zhao Kai realized he had asked something inappropriate and quickly moved to drive. However, he suddenly halted.
Earlier, all the attention was on Li Xiangfu, but now he noticed he was accompanied by a child.
“And this is…”
“Li Shasha,” Li Xiangfu said calmly, “My son.”
Li Shasha’s face wrinkled, and he looked aloof.
Zhao Kai turned away and proceeded, quietly inhaling the air-conditioned breeze. Li Xiangfu had recently graduated from college, but this child looked to be around six or seven years old. It seemed inevitable that he would soon enter adulthood…
There were rumors about the young master of the Li family being foolish, but in reality, he was remarkably skilled at preparing for the future. Before going abroad, he had clandestinely made arrangements. It was probable that he had a hidden agenda when he ventured overseas for his studies.
“I adopted him,” Li Xiangfu added.
Zhao Kai found it hard to believe. Could any adopted child resemble someone so closely? Look at the allure radiating from his brows and eyes—they were identical.
With a lump in his throat, Zhao Kai stowed away the sign and almost stumbled out the door… He had endured enough surprises for the day.
His task was to fetch his boss’s private car, understated yet luxurious, but the leather seats were less than ideal for the summer.
Li Xiangfu secured the seatbelt for Li Shasha. “Let’s go.”
On the journey, Zhao Kai glanced at the rearview mirror repeatedly, affirming once more that they were indeed his biological kin. The purported adoption was likely just a cover. As they aged, the truth might emerge that they were all blood relatives. In time, perhaps the old man would genuinely bequeath a portion of his estate to his grandson if excitement prevailed.
The buzzing of his mobile phone disrupted Zhao Kai’s wandering thoughts.
Li Xiangfu answered the call, and a familiar voice emanated from the other end.
“Xiang Fu, it’s me, Liu Yu. Heard you’re back, and my buddies have organized a little gathering.”
Li Xiangfu sneered. It was a facade to feign enthusiasm and wash away the past. More likely, it was a test and a spectacle.
“Thank you for the offer,” he reclined on the leather seat and narrowed his eyes, “I’d like to head home and freshen up first.”
The word ‘home’ gave him a momentary pause, stirring a hint of discomfort.
“It’s alright, I can come over to meet you. It’s been ages since we caught up.”
They were all from affluent backgrounds, but they feared their elders. After some consideration, Li Xiangfu understood and responded dismissively, then ended the call. He inquired, “Is my dad not around today?”
Zhao Kai nodded. “The old man is on vacation and won’t be back for another two days.”
The few who remained had already purchased their own homes and established their careers. Except for Li Huaichen, who visited once or twice a month at most.
“No wonder,” Li Xiangfu smirked. “My dear friend would definitely want to pay me a visit.”
Hearing the sarcasm in his words and uncertain if he was aiming at friends or family, Zhao Kai chose not to engage and played some soft music, focusing on driving.
At the bar…
The weather was dreary, hinting at an imminent downpour, resulting in average business at the bar.
In a private room, several young individuals gathered and observed Liu Yu as he ended a call, each with their own thoughts and expressions.
“He’s actually back?”
Liu Yu nodded, nonchalantly raising his eyebrows, engrossed in the ripples forming in his drink. He contemplated testing Li Xiangfu’s temperament tonight.
What kind of personality did Li Xiangfu possess now? Was he still as gullible and easy to influence as he was four years ago?
A person across from him was engrossed in their phone, commenting, “Considering the foolishness he exhibited in the past, he won’t likely get a substantial share of the family estate in the future. Mr. Li isn’t present. If the family doesn’t organize a reception, there’s no reason to reach out to Li Xiangfu again.”
In their eyes, associating with him equated to foolishness. Moreover, due to past events, this individual was bound to face considerable troubles in the future, making it wise to keep a distance.
As it neared the appointed time, Liu Yu stood up, ready to leave.
A voice from behind urged, “If you have any updates, inform us in the group right away.”
Liu Yu turned away from them and signaled ‘ok’.
—
Upon reaching home, Zhao Kai assisted in carrying the luggage and updated his boss on the current situation.
Soon, he received a text message:
[Don’t allow him to create trouble.]
Through this brief text, the stern visage of his boss was vivid in Zhao Kai’s mind.
He sighed and stashed his phone, knowing he would soon start worrying about the old lady again.
That night, one of Li Xiangfu’s longtime friends arrived at the doorstep, wearing a friendly smile and bearing numerous gifts.
In the realm of business, interests held paramount importance. No matter how fierce the conflicts among the younger generation, the older generation seldom severed ties. Moreover, these two parties had always maintained a façade of friendship and never openly severed connections.
When Liu Yu saw Li Xiangfu, his expression momentarily froze. He rubbed his eyes and stared for a while before exclaiming, “You gotta be kidding me.”
“Xiangfu?”
Li Xiangfu chuckled, “Why linger at the door? Come inside.”
Comparison often invoked fear. Standing before a cold yet fair-skinned countenance, Liu Yu felt dwarfed.
Four years ago, Li Xiangfu had a peculiar style. His bangs were so long they could obscure his eyes, and he had a penchant for imitating others by wearing rimless glasses. No ordinary person would give him a second glance.
It was reasonable that his appearance, veiled by his hairstyle and glasses, had improved, making him taller. But why had his temperament altered?
“How have you been these past few years?” After his initial surprise, Liu Yu took the initiative to steer the conversation, “Things have been rather dull without you.”
The nuances of this statement were profound, and its meaning depended on the nature of their relationship.
“It’s been alright,” Li Xiangfu replied calmly.
Liu Yu placed the gifts down and glanced around. Apart from Zhao Kai, he didn’t see anyone else.
Li Xiangfu sensed his thoughts and responded clearly, “Everyone’s tied up with work.” Liu Yu chimed in, mentioning that his family had been occupied lately, but his smile carried a tinge of disdain. While Li Xiangfu poured tea, Liu Yu seized the opportunity to send a message to the group:
[What a vast universe: Forget the reception banquet, there isn’t even a warm meal on the table.]
[Orient Express: You can mute it.]
[What a vast universe: Not necessary. Anyway, refrain from contacting me.]
[Dynamite: @What a vast universe, hurry back. I’ve ordered a good bottle of wine.]
—
Initially, it was just a small group of five individuals, but everyone had their own circle of friends. As word traveled back and forth, the rumor spread like wildfire that nobody in the Li family was eager to step up when Li Xiangfu returned.
The mutual understanding was clear: further contact with this individual was unnecessary.
After Li Xiangfu placed down his glass, Liu Yu stood up from the sofa without actually sitting: “It’s getting late, I should head off…” In his peripheral vision, he suddenly noticed a child standing at the top of the stairs, momentarily taken aback as he examined the features.
“What’s this…”
Zhao Kai, who had remained silent until then, murmured, “He’s an adopted child.”
Liu Yu observed Li Shasha making his way down and then looked at Li Xiangfu. Wasn’t he blatantly deceiving them with his eyes open? They were like two peas in a pod.
When the system was configured to resemble a human, it was based on Li Xiangfu’s data. Naturally, others would think it resembled him.
Li Shasha greeted coldly, “Hello, uncle.”
Liu Yu was so astonished that he forgot to address him as ‘brother.’ He sat back down, stealing occasional glances at the little one next to him. What does it mean to go back to basics? This is it.
None of the Li family members were married. In a family like theirs, the older generation placed great emphasis on descendants.
If Mr. Li no longer wanted to see Li Xiangfu, there was no way he wouldn’t want to see his grandson. If you played this card skillfully, perhaps all the past misdeeds could be erased.
The group continued to implore him to return and join the fun. Liu Yu swallowed, sat down once more, and responded silently:
[… In high-stakes battles among affluent families, sometimes the simplest strategies are the most effective.]
Hi, hello, this starts interesting, but please take care to be consistent with the names. Liu Yu was called Liu Yuping once, can’t tell which one is right, and there have been Li Xiangbo and Li Sang-bo in the text. Thanks~
Thank you for the info! It seems like there’s still something that slips out. I’ll fix them soon!
Thank you for the mass chapters!!👏🙌
Oml we have to have side stories about our baby system going to school and dealing with regular kids LMAO- cuz there like old enough to be in 1st grade if there six, atleast where I live.
boy I sure do love the CN stereotype that anyone with an ounce of style is an ugly messy gangster