The incident of Old Mr. Shen busting into the board meeting was well talked about in the Lu Corporation. The hearsay went out of control and all details of how Lu Beichuan had broken the law were filled in. After all, even the cops were there!

Naturally, all of the rumors dissipated when Lu Beichuan was still coming in to work like normal after a week.

Mrs. Lu heard of the incident as well but was not too surprised.

“Old Mr. Shen? Him?” Mrs. Lu snickered. “That did not surprise me at all. That sure sounds like something that he would do.”

“Why do you say that, Mom?” asked Ye Zhen.

Since Mother Lu had already started down that path, she decided to spill the beans. Looking at Lu Beichuan, she said to him, “Beichuan, you need to watch out for this Old Mr. Shen. What was between him and your grandfather was one thing. What is between us and him is another. We don’t need to be close to him!"

Lu Beichuan nodded.

Mother Lu looked at Ye Zhen, who was listening to her quietly, and reached out to hold her hand. She said in a low voice, “Zhenzhen, you have married into the Lu family for four years now and it is okay to let you know about this. You’ve come across Lu Shaoyan by now. Back in the days, a paternity test stated that Lu Shaoyan and Old Master Lu are not father and son. Do you know who it was that had the test done?”

“Was it… Old Mr. Shen?” asked Ye Zhen tentatively.

Mother Lu nodded and sighed. “Dad trusted Old Mr. Shen so much that he even had him help with something like that. Yet the result that Old Mr. Shen brought back stated that they were not father and son. That, in addition to videos and photos, Dad had no reason to question the result. It didn’t matter what Lu Shaoyan’s mother had to say, he wouldn’t listen to her. He sent Lu Shaoyan overseas and never asked about him again.”

“Then what happened?”

“Dad later on found out that the paternity test was tampered with. Old Mr. Shen dropped down onto his knee in the living room to apologize to Dad. He said that his carelessness had allowed others the opportunity to mess with the test. He banged his head on the floor so much that his face was covered in blood. He apologized and begged for forgiveness for half a day and said that he would personally go and bring Lu Shaoyan and his mother back. And that he would not return if he couldn’t locate them. His actions convinced Dad again. Nevertheless, we were not able to get in touch with Lu Shaoyan and his mother for a long time. Dad sent many to look for them and years had gone by before he was finally able to get in touch with Lu Shaoyan.”

Having said that, Mother Lu said in a low voice, “Speaking of, Dad was too ruthless at the time. He kicked Lu Shaoyan and his mother out the very day. It was winter and it was pouring outside. I can still remember that day even now…

“That’s why!” Mother Lu switched to a solemn tone. “Beichuan, you need to watch out for Old Mr. Shen. I don’t believe that he could make a mistake in something like a paternity test. Dad was fooled by him but you can’t!”

“I understand.”

The atmosphere in the living room was a little heavy when they brought up the past. Zhouzhou ran down from upstairs with his little toy car in his hand and was about to bump into Ye Zhen’s arms. He was stopped halfway through by Lu Beichuan and was placed over his lap.

Lu Beichuan, looking seriously, said, “Haven’t Daddy told you that before? Mommy has a baby inside of her stomach and you can’t just bump into her like that.”

Zhouzhou, at three years old, his features had already spread out. He bounced up and down and was very agile. He was articulate and had quick reactions. Knowing that he had annoyed his father, he quickly apologized to Ye Zhen. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t do that again.”

Mother Lu smiled and eased the air. “Zhenzhen and I will attend a gathering this weekend. It is probably not appropriate to bring a child with us. Beichuan, what are you doing this weekend?”

Lu Beichuan thought about it some. “I have a gathering to go to as well.”

“Zhouzhou, do you want to go and have fun with Grandma and Mommy on the weekend then?”

Even though he was just yelled at by Lu Beichuan, Zhouzhou recalled how the aunties around Grandma and Mommy would rub his cheeks, kiss him, and hug him and pouted. He didn’t like those aunties with fragrance on them that could make him gag kissing and hugging him. He shook his head and said, “I want to be with Daddy.”

That surprised Ye Zhen.

Even though the little kiddo was getting older and no longer glued onto her day in and day out, he rarely approached his father voluntarily.

“Well, that was surprising. Can you bring him with you, Beichuan?”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Okay. We are putting him in your hands. You better take good care of him.”

Zhouzhou patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry, Mommy. I will take good care of Daddy!”

Zhouzhou, at the age of three, put on a suit for the very first time. His look resembled that of Lu Beichuan. With a bowtie and leather shoes, he walked into the banquet under the staggering lights with his father.

Even at the age of three, he wasn’t shy and never once tried to hide behind his father. Instead, he looked around calmly and with poise, perhaps even curiously. He would address the men and women coming up to talk to Lu Beichuan as aunties and uncles.

Lu Beichuan, with Zhouzhou’s hand in one of his hands and the wine glass in the other, would occasionally let go of Zhouzhou’s hand. When that happened, Zhouzhou would stand docilely next to his father and not wander around.

“This is your son, Boss Lu? He’s so cute, and looks a lot like you.”

“Aunty, do you mean to say that my daddy is very cute too?” Zhouzhou, looking up at the woman with the red wine in her hand, asked in a childish way.

Lu Beichuan gave him a look but did not look unhappy. He took a sip of the wine leisurely.

As much as a child’s talk was innocent, Zhouzhou’s words were so blunt that the woman gave an awkward smile. “Little boy, what Aunty is trying to say is that you are very cute and look a lot like your dad. You will grow up to be as handsome as your dad.”

“Thank you, Aunty. But I look like my mom.”

“Aunty” was taken aback a little. Losing her desire to chat, she muttered a couple more words before she walked away, carrying her wine with her.

Zhouzhou was worried that his father would get upset at him. He looked up at his dad, intimidated, and said, “Daddy, I want some water.”

Lu Beichuan looked at him. “Oh, so you are finally thirsty after talking all afternoon long?”

Zhouzhou pursed his lips and was still a little bit worried. But, quickly, he puffed up his little chest and said righteously, “Nobody can talk about Daddy's looks other than Mommy and Grandma!”

Lu Beichuan didn’t say much but had the server bring him a glass of warm water.

Zhouzhou squatted down and pounded on his legs a little after he was done drinking. He then stood back up courageously next to Lu Beichuan.

“Tired?”

“No, I am not tired!”

He had been following Lu Beichuan around for over 2 hours. Even just standing there without walking wasn’t the most pleasant experience. Lu Beichuan took him over to the couch on one side, had him sit down, and had a server come and keep an eye out on him.

“You rest here. Daddy will be chatting with that uncle over there. You come over to Daddy when your legs stop hurting. No running around, okay?”

Having said that, Lu Beichuan handed him a glass of milk.

Zhouzhou nodded with the glass of warm milk in his hands.

Better not disturb Daddy, thought Zhouzhou to himself.

“Who’s this little guy sitting here all by his lonesome?” A teasing sound came from afar and approached him. Lu Shaoyan sat down across from Zhouzhou with champagne in his hand. He gave the server standing next to Zhouzhou a look, gesturing to him to “go away”.

The server was told by Lu Beichuan to stay. He looked troubled and did not leave.

The server hesitated. “But, Mr. Lu had instructed that…”

“What is this?” Lu Shaoyan snickered. “Don’t you know who I am?” He looked over at Zhouzhou. “Zhouzhou, do you still remember Uncle?”

“Yes, I do!” Zhouzhou showed him his mouth full of little white teeth. “But Great-Grandpa said you are Great-Uncle and not Uncle!”

“Have Zhouzhou ever seen a great-uncle as young as I? Be a good boy, call me Uncle.”

Lu Shaoyan waved at the server to fetch him another champagne. Then, turning to look at Lu Beichuan amidst the crowd, smiled, and said, “Why are you sitting here by yourself? Did your daddy abandon you?”

Little kids are always sensitive to words like “being abandoned”. Nobody had ever said anything like that to Zhouzhou in his entire life. Pouted, he retorted immediately, “Not true! Daddy said for me to rest up here.”

“Look, your daddy is chatting with a pretty aunty. He has no time for you. He feels that you are just a burden, which is why he left you here.”

“You are lying! Daddy will not abandon me! He is just chatting with the others! Besides… besides, I am only sitting here because I am tired. You are making things up. I don’t want to talk to you anymore!” He was about to jump off the couch as he spoke.

“Alright, alright, alright. Uncle misspoke, alright?” Lu Shaoyan stopped him and put him back onto the couch. “Uncle just didn’t think that your daddy likes you so much.”

“Of course he does!” Zhouzhou looked at him disgruntledly. He couldn't help but lift his little face up with a complacent look and said affirmatively, “Daddy likes me the most! He will never leave me behind!”

Lu Shaoyan, distracted, said, “Is that so? How come Uncle can’t tell that he likes you the most?”

Zhouzhou’s cheeks were puffed up. Slightly annoyed, he didn’t want to talk to this uncle anymore.

Lu Shaoyan rubbed him on his head and said, “Don’t be mad. Uncle wants to know whether that is true too. Why don’t we do this? Let’s play a game with your daddy, what do you say? Once we play this game, Uncle will know how much your daddy likes you. Of course, you will also find out whether your daddy likes you the most.”

Zhouzhou was hesitant. “What kind of a game?”

“Hide and seek. You hide with Uncle from your daddy at a place that he doesn’t know about and have him come look for you. We will see how long it will take him to find you. The sooner he could find you, the more he likes you. How’s that?”

The server brought over a glass of champagne to Lu Shaoyan. Lu Shaoyan waved them away and looked back at Zhouzhou. He smiled at him and said, “Would you like to try this adult’s beverage?”

Zhouzhou moved his curious look away from the champagne and shook his head, turning Lu Shaoyan down seriously. “No. Daddy said this is for adults. Zhouzhou is still young, just three years old. Zhouzhou can’t drink it until he is 18 years old!”

“We are not going to drink it.” Lu Shaoyan pulled out the straw from the milk and let it soak in the champagne before he held it in front of Zhouzhou. “We are just trying it.”

All kids are naturally curious. Zhouzhou had been wanting to know what wine tasted like. He opened up his mouth and carefully licked the tip of the straw. Even though he barely got any, the bitter taste still exploded on the tip of his tongue.

Zhouzhou’s little face immediately wrinkled up like a bun. “It’s so bitter! I don’t want any more of it. It tastes nasty!”

Lu Shaoyan lifted his head, laughed, and then downed the rest of the champagne, savoring it. “How could you not like something so tasty. What do you know?”

Zhouzhou had to take a couple sips of his milk to get rid of the bitter taste on his tongue.

Even though the bitter taste was gone, as he looked at Lu Shaoyan drinking the champagne, Zhouzhou shuddered as though he could still taste it. “Uncle, this is bitter and nasty. You shouldn’t drink any more of it either.”

“What should Uncle drink then?”

Zhouzhou pointed at the milk in front of him. “Drink this! Zhouzhou drinks this every day. It’s delicious. Try it, Uncle.”

Zhouzhou took the straw. Mimicking what Lu Shaoyan had done earlier, he made sure there was some white milk on the tip of the straw and held it in front of Lu Shaoyan.

Lu Shaoyan looked at him intensely but did not open his mouth.

“Try this, Uncle. It’s really tasty!”

Lu Shaoyan smiled at his childish talk. He bit the straw and put on an act of trying it. “Hmm, it is good. Zhouzhou did not lie.”

“Right? I told you it’s delicious, much better than what you were drinking! Here, you can have this. Have a lot, then you won’t taste the bitterness!” said Zhouzhou as he pushed his glass of milk over to Lu Shaoyan.

Lu Shaoyan, looking at the milk in front of him, remained silent for a little while. Then he couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He downed the glass of milk and said, “Not bitter any more. Delicious!”

Zhouzhou smiled happily. “Of course!”

A glass of champagne and a glass of milk brought the two of them close to each other. Lu Shaoyan smiled and said, “Okay, since champagne doesn’t taste good, we will not have it anymore. Let’s go. Play the game with Uncle?”

Zhouzhou lowered his head, thought about it long and hard, and still declined his invitation. “Daddy told me to wait for him here…”

Lu Shaoyan sighed. “It looks like your daddy really doesn’t like you much. Look…”

Zhouzhou looked over in the direction that Lu Shaoyan was looking in. He saw Lu Beichuan chatting with a woman.

“You said you are Daddy’s favorite. Just look. Your daddy left you over here to chat with the pretty aunty.”

Lu Shaoyan looked over at Zhouzhou. Noticing the troubled look on him, Lu Shaoyan went on, “Don’t you want to find out just how much your daddy likes you?”

Zhouzhou looked at him and blinked. He did not say anything.

“You really don’t want to know?” Lu Shaoyan continued to tempt him.

“But... But…”

“No buts. All we are going to do is to see how long it will take Daddy to find you.” Lu Shaoyan stood up, picked Zhouzhou up from the couch, and placed him on the floor. He then walked toward one of the hallways with Zhouzhou’s hand in his.

Zhouzhou was half-reluctant. He promised Daddy that he would wait there docilely, but Uncle seemed to be right that Daddy didn’t seem to like him all that much either.

Daddy didn’t smile at him much, or hug him much, and never picked him up from school…

As he thought about all those with his head lowered, he walked out of the banquet hall while holding onto Lu Shaoyan.

Lu Beichuan, in the meantime, was dealing with the pestering from Shen Weiyin after they had “inadvertently” ran into each other.

“Beichuan, I want to apologize for my grandfather’s behavior. I’ve heard of what happened at the Lu Corporation a few days ago. Please don’t blame him. He is old and no longer has the mental clarity that he had when he was younger. He was being used by someone else. He regretted a lot the last couple of days and worried that what he had done had brought about troubles for the Lu Corporation.”

Lu Beichuan, looking at Shen Weiyin, who had obviously spent a lot of time on her appearance today, narrowed his eyes and said, “Whatever had happened is in the past. You don’t need to bring it up again.”

“How about this? Why don’t I take you out to dinner in a couple of days and we will consider that my apology to you?”

“That will not be necessary.”

Shen Weiyin’s smile stiffened a little. “How can you say that? This was, after all, caused by my grandfather. I…“

“Miss Shen, if this is what you want to talk about, then I believe I have already made myself very clear. The incident is already over and there is no need to talk about it anymore.”

His “Miss Shen” sounded both distant and strange. Shen Weiyin’s smile froze on her and the chill starting from her back quickly enveloped her. She felt so cold that she almost couldn’t hold onto the glass in her hand.

“Beichuan, I… I feel that we…”

“Miss Shen.” Lu Beichuan’s voice was still and emotionless. “I do not believe there is ‘we’ between you and I. If there is nothing else, we are done talking.”

Shen Weiyin turned pale. She gritted her teeth for a little while and finally squeezed out a smile to maintain her etiquette. “Alright.”

Lu Beichuan looked away from her and in the direction of the couch where Zhouzhou was sitting. The couch was empty and the half-drank glass of warm milk was left on the table.

Lu Beichuan focused his eyes but no panic would be seen on him. He walked over toward the couch looking the same as before.

This banquet was hosted by a friend whom he had been working with for years. All of the guests that were invited were well known in the business field. The security measures were tight and there shouldn’t be any unexpected situations.

He waved over the server whom he had placed Zhouzhou with. The server, as soon as he noticed that Zhouzhou was gone, had turned pale. Stuttering, he said, “Mr. Lu, it’s… it’s not my fault. A man came over claiming that he is his uncle. That was why I left.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes! Uncle. His surname seemed to be Lu as well.”

Lu Beichuan narrowed his eyes. It was Lu Shaoyan.

He thought about it some and gave his order to the server. “Go look for Mr. Chen and tell him what had happened. Had him look at the security footage.”

Mr. Chen was the host of the banquet today.

The server nodded and went looking for Mr. Chen.

As for Lu Beichuan, he looked at a side exit and walked toward it quickly. Pulling out his cellphone, he dialed Lu Shaoyan's number.

Surprisingly, someone picked it up.

“Where are you?” asked Lu Beichuan concisely. “What do you want?”

Lu Beichuan, having his breathing under control, listened carefully to anything coming from his cellphone.

Nevertheless, the hallway in the hotel was empty and the other end of the cellphone was very quiet. He couldn’t make out much.

After a long while, Lu Shaoyan’s chuckle came over again. “I want nothing as I know that you won’t give me anyone. As such, I want to play a game with you.”

“Lu Shaoyan!”

“Don’t be mad. It’s just a game. A game that Zhouzhou wants to play as well.”

And the call was disconnected.

Lu Beichuan received a text on his cellphone and he hastened his pace.

A series of uniformed footsteps came from behind him.

“Mr. Lu, we are the security team of this hotel. Please don’t worry. We have already designated someone to check the hotel’s security footage. We will locate young sir for sure!”

The responsible person of the hotel followed closely behind Lu Beichuan as sweat poured down his forehead.

Lu Beichuan frowned deeply and did not say a word. The aura radiating from him was intimidating.

Lu Shaoyan, on the other side, looked down at Zhouzhou and smiled after he hung up on the phone. “Your daddy is coming to look for you now. Do you want to know how long it will take him to find you?”

Zhouzhou looked at him quietly and did not say anything.

Lu Shaoyan squatted down and looked Zhouzhou straight into his eyes. He stroked him on his head and saw the clear look in him. “What’s the matter?”

“Uncle, do you really only want to play a game?”