In the living room, darkness veiled Li Huaichen, shrouding him in shadows. Mr. Li sat across from him, wearing a serious expression as he discussed business. “Has the child’s identity been confirmed?”
Li Huaichen responded, “They bear a striking resemblance.” Before the old man could get upset, he calmly added, “After all this time, my younger brother still loved mischief. I haven’t seen him in ages. How can I verify? Moreover… there might be others pulling the strings behind this.”
Li Xiangfu’s biological mother had been pushing him to stake a claim on the family estate. For a child, handling numerous procedures alone would be challenging.
Thinking about Li Xiangfu’s mother, Mr. Li couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. He reclined on the sofa, lost in thought.
Power was restored within fifteen minutes.
Li Xiangfu couldn’t help but button up several buttons again; he couldn’t control his nervousness. Before he entered, he noticed a long, slanting shadow under the light.
His expression shifted slightly, and he headed straight for the living room.
Upon seeing the two individuals clearly, Li Xiangfu’s throat felt a bit dry. “Dad.”
Mr. Li’s usually stern visage softened briefly, only to quickly regain its firmness. “I thought you’d continue gallivanting after graduation. Why? Are you willing to return?”
Li Xiangfu fell silent for a moment and took a seat on the other end of the sofa.
At this moment, Mr. Li stood up, clearly uninterested in further conversation. His steps were heavier than usual as he ascended the stairs.
Li Huaichen glanced at Li Xiangfu, who remained seated, and sighed. “Tell me your plans before next month. If you want to join the company, I’ll make arrangements.”
Li Xiangfu had no intention of joining the company and had different aspirations for his life. He nodded without explaining his plan right away.
The breakfast the following day was particularly lavish.
Aunt Zhang paid great attention to details. The dishes were served in two servings, with the smaller plates excluding chili.
Li Shasha was perceptive and didn’t require any words from Li Xiangfu. Once seated, he began to eat quietly.
Mr. Li took a sip of tea and remarked, “Saturday is the engagement party for the youngest son of the Lin family. Let’s prepare appropriate attire for the child in advance.”
Li Xiangfu responded, “He doesn’t need to attend such events.”
After being contradicted, Mr. Li was about to reprimand but stopped abruptly. The previous night had been quite dark, so he hadn’t paid much attention. Over the past few years since Li Xiangfu’s return, his vitality and vigor had remarkably improved.
Mr. Li wasn’t accustomed to men with long hair, having scolded him for it in the past. However, he couldn’t deny that Li Xiangfu’s current demeanor suited his long hair perfectly.
“Think before you speak,” Mr. Li advised sternly. “If he doesn’t go this time, it will create an awkward situation for his identity in the future.”
“Shasha is my adopted child,” Li Xiangfu sighed. “If you doubt it, we can do a paternity test.”
Li Huaichen, who had been silent during the meal, suddenly proposed, “50,000 yuan for the hair, X1.5 if we pluck it now; 100,000 yuan for someone to collect blood on the spot?”
Mr. Li furrowed his brows. “What kind of nonsense is this?”
Li Huaichen glanced at Li Xiangfu. “It’s someone’s new way of making money.”
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.
Mr. Li decided not to delve into the matter. As they neared the end of the meal, he inquired, “Have you contacted anyone else?”
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The atmosphere eased a bit, and Li Xiangfu opted not to push against the tide, nodding in agreement.
After the meal, Li Xiangfu accompanied Li Shasha upstairs. Aunt Zhang had intended to clear the table, but Li Huaichen asked her to hold off for a moment, and she proceeded to attend to other tasks in the meantime.
“If you attend the engagement banquet, there’s a high chance he’ll run into Qin Jin.”
“No matter what, he has to go,” Mr. Li asserted. “This is a statement to prove that this kid hasn’t been completely abandoned by the family.”
“If Qin Jin wants to settle old scores, he’ll at least have concerns.”
Li Huaichen expressed his worry, to which Mr. Li shrugged and stated, “Don’t worry. Regardless of how unruly Qin Jin is, he won’t cause trouble at someone else’s wedding.”
Recalling Qin Jin’s sly nature, Li Huaichen frowned slightly, saying, “I hope so.”
Ignorance can breed fearlessness.
Having been rescued four years ago and losing his memory, Li Xiangfu was unaware of his grievances with Qin Jin. He had even forgotten there was another person on the adventure with him back then, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
Li Shasha commented, “I don’t aspire to be the heir of a wealthy family. From a practical perspective, I’m here to support the elders.”
Li Xiangfu reassured him, “Don’t worry too much. I have two elder brothers and an exceptional sister. How could I be in the spotlight? It’s not your turn.”
Li Shasha hit the point, asking, “Are they all involved in the company?”
Li Xiangfu pondered for a moment. “Except for my eldest brother, they’re all engaged in different industries.”
“…”
Li Xiangfu proposed, “Do you want to play chess?”
Changing the subject abruptly, he caught Li Shasha off guard.
Li Xiangfu continued, “By the way, I’ll take you to get some clothes made.”
“Let’s play chess,” Li Shasha quickly decided.
Playing chess and getting clothes made weren’t mutually exclusive. In the morning, Li Shasha suffered several losses in chess. In the afternoon, he accompanied Li Shasha to a reputable brand store that offered clothing for both adults and children, providing customization services.
Fate had it that Li Xiangfu unexpectedly encountered Luo An here.
The moment their eyes met, Luo An was taken aback.
Even though they had previously investigated Li Xiangfu’s activities since his return, the impact of seeing him in person far exceeded the impact of mere photos. His appearance and physique didn’t resemble that of someone who had studied abroad; instead, he seemed almost like he had been reborn.
In comparison, Li Xiangfu didn’t contemplate much.
There was a time when he genuinely considered Luo An a friend, until Mr. Li mentioned that Luo An had bribed the media and aimed to exploit the rescue incident, criticizing it as a waste of public resources. Additionally, Li Huaichen uncovered that Luo An had engaged in questionable activities behind his back in the past. Consequently, Li Xiangfu cut ties with him at that point and hadn’t been in contact since.
“Xianfu,” Luo An approached with a smile, as if past unpleasantness had never occurred.
Li Xiangfu’s demeanor turned cold. “What do you want.”
Luo An attempted to explain, “Listen to my side of the story, about what happened back then…”
A sneer halted him from saying anything further. Li Xiangfu stated, “Regardless of my dad having a strong opinion about me, he’d never lie, let alone accuse someone unjustly. Especially you.”
In reality, he wasn’t aware that Mr. Li did lie, and Luo An had intended to exploit Qin Jin’s younger brother.
“Who hasn’t made mistakes in their youth…”
“Please stay away. I fear the influence of scum will reach my son.”
Luo An was inherently a petty person, and after being coldly rebuffed twice, he retorted angrily, “Fine, I’m scum. But what about you? You’re trying to gain favor through your children, but in the end, you’ll gain nothing.”
Having said his piece, he left without waiting for a response.
Once inside the car, Luo An vented his frustration on the driver, cursing, “Didn’t I pay you? Turn on the air conditioning.” After a brief delay, he called the department manager, “Are you sure you got what you asked for last time?”
“Don’t worry,” the voice on the other end reassured obsequiously. “The old man mentioned it in the restaurant. He had no knowledge of his grandson and clearly didn’t want to acknowledge it.”
Hearing this, Luo An’s anger abated somewhat. After a moment, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up. “Excellent.”
He couldn’t wait to see Li Xiangfu reduced to a lost cause.
For Li Xiangfu, this day wasn’t pleasant, primarily due to the clothing. Wearing short sleeves felt distinctly uncomfortable.
Li Shasha consoled him, “It only takes twenty-one days to form a habit.”
Not willing to give up halfway, Li Xiangfu took a deep breath and resolved to persist.
The following day, darkness still hung in the air, and the moon persisted in the dark sky.
Li Shasha had already finished washing and came over to greet Li Xiangfu.
Li Xiangfu had risen early, dressed in short sleeves and trousers. He stood somewhat awkwardly before the mirror, mumbling, “It feels like the air is leaking.”
Li Shasha chimed in, “If you compare it to a shirt, that’s how it is.”
After scrutinizing himself in the mirror for a few moments, he blinked his clear eyes. “I think I’d better switch back to a shirt.”
“…”
The morning dressing routine was akin to a roller coaster of emotions.
Reverting to his customary attire of a white shirt and black trousers, Li Xiangfu made his way to the courtyard, clutching the newly purchased guqin.
He still recalled everyone’s daily routines. The patriarch typically rose around 5:40 AM and would listen to the radio for a while. Li Huaichen ensured not to disrupt others at around 6 o’clock, so he commenced playing to vent his melancholy.
The melodious sound of the guqin began, ethereal and mellifluous, resembling a gentle stream nourishing parched land.
Zheng!
His slender fingers plucked the strings with rapidity, crafting a song brimming with suspense. The guqin’s rhythm appeared naturally soft but was played with rhythmic vigor by Li Xiangfu, exuding a potent energy.
Upstairs, the bed was adjacent to an open window, welcoming the summer breeze. Li Huaichen sensed a vibration and abruptly sat up, freezing for three seconds to ascertain it wasn’t a figment of his auditory perception.
Poking his head out, it indeed seemed like someone was seated in the courtyard. After prolonged scrutiny, he confirmed it was Li Xiangfu.
For some inexplicable reason, the guqin’s tune turned somber, showcasing exquisite playing. Even someone like Li Huaichen, lacking deep musical knowledge, could perceive the undercurrent of resentment in the melody.
Listening to this song early in the morning was akin to watching a horror movie.
As the song concluded, its haunting echo lingered.
Li Shasha applauded and praised, “This song is a celestial melody, a rare gem in our world. Splendid, splendid!”
Li Xiangfu sighed softly, lamenting, “It’s a shame I missed one note.”
“Playing the guqin requires a tranquil state of mind. Dad, your heart… isn’t serene.”
Li Xiangfu caressed the guqin with his fingers, pondering the unsuccessful endeavor of changing clothes. “Stillness and movement are not absolute. In the vast cosmos, you and I might just be motionless specks of dust in the passage of time.”
Li Shasha chimed in, “Pascal once remarked that the essence of life lies in motion, and stillness is akin to death. We should live in the present, not merely gaze at the stars above.”
Li Huaichen, observing from a distance, closed the window, proceeded to the innermost room, and knocked on the door.
Upon the door opening, Mr. Li preempted any conversation, stating, “I heard it.”
After speaking, he massaged his temples.
Being intelligent was one aspect, but for a six-year-old child to engage in a philosophical discussion with an impassive demeanor and quote wisdom, the term “peculiar” scarcely captured the essence of the situation.
The author has something to say:
Li Shasha: The antagonist is eagerly anticipating your performance.
Li Xiangfu: Will it affect my guqin playing?
Li Shasha: Not at all.
Li Xiangfu: Alright, let him enjoy the show.
Oh,how I wish to hear his quqin melody…🥺