Lin Shen

After witnessing the Zhao Family's tragedy, Wu Wei was filled with mixed emotions.

He reflected on himself.

Perhaps Wu Tian wasn't a perfect father, but he had never been a perfect son, either.

Of course, he'd been the kind of kid other parents pointed to as an example ever since he was little.

But Wu Tian had never seemed to care about that.

That was why Wu Wei had grown into who he was—beyond what many people had expected, yet still not good enough in Wu Tian's eyes.

Wu Wei wasn't going to change because of that, but there was no harm in swallowing his pride and making peace with his dad.

However, all those warm feelings vanished as soon as he got home.

Watching the woman bustling around his house, bare-faced and without a trace of makeup, Wu Wei's smile stiffened.

A stepmother?

And so young?

She looked about his age!

Wu Tian, that beast, had gone after a woman that young?

Though reason told Wu Wei that Wu Tian was free to pursue women over sixteen, the enormous age gap was still too much for him to accept.

"Wu Wei, you're back? Have a seat. Ruoxi will have dinner ready in a moment." Wu Tian popped his head out, then disappeared again.

Wu Wei took a deep breath and didn't make a scene.

He'd hold back for now and see what exactly Wu Tian was up to.

If the old man really was acting his age in name only, well, there wasn't much he could do about it.

But his status as a father would certainly count for a lot less with Wu Wei from then on.

Wu Wei had never been the sort to put up with anything.

Besides, Ruoxi?

Was her surname Maertai?

Wu Wei's mind wandered, then his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Wait, this woman looked a little like his mother.

Had Wu Tian found himself a replacement?

A startled cry from the kitchen interrupted Wu Wei's thoughts.

He went to the kitchen doorway and saw the woman called "Ruoxi" looking at the broken bowl on the floor and sticking out her tongue. She looked impossibly cute.

Of course, to Wu Wei, her expression just looked impossibly affected.

"Sorry, I'm a little nervous."

"Ruoxi's" words made Wu Wei nervous, too.

Damn it, was this the moment they were going to lay their cards on the table?

I'd been looking forward to having a heart-to-heart with Wu Tian, and instead he sprang this on me.

"It's fine. Go talk with Wu Wei. The food's done; I can take care of the rest."

Ruoxi glanced at Wu Wei, her eyes darting away, but she still did as Wu Tian said.

They sat facing each other. Neither spoke, and an awkward atmosphere hung in the air.

In the end, Wu Wei was the one to break the silence.

"My name's Wu Wei. What's yours?"

"Lin Ruoxi. Ruoxi as in 'stream.'"

Wu Wei raised his eyebrows. The character for "stream"—so he'd been getting it wrong all along.

But that wasn't important.

The Lin Family?

Wu Tian had certainly gone to a lot of trouble.

"You look a lot like my mom."

Wu Wei was blunt. Unless she was stupid, she should understand what he was implying.

But he never expected Lin Ruoxi to react with delight.

"Really? Thank you for saying that!"

Wu Wei: "..."

Miss, I know Wu Tian's handsome, but you're still so young. How did you let a middle-aged slickster charm you so completely?

What was good about it? It was obvious you were just a replacement.

Just then, Wu Tian came out carrying two plates of food. Wu Wei glared at him.

How much had this guy warped the woman's worldview to train her into acting like this?

Unbelievable.

Wu Tian noticed Wu Wei's glare, but didn't understand it.

After setting all the food on the table, Wu Tian clapped his hands and brought out two bottles of red wine.

"We're all gathered as a family, so let's have a little wine to celebrate."

Wu Wei's right hand quietly clenched into a fist.

A family?

What kind of family?

He didn't mind if his dad remarried, but how had he kept it such a secret?

Even if it was just a formality, he should've asked Wu Wei what he thought.

But Wu Wei didn't object. He decided to give Wu Tian some face.

As it turned out, that was a very wise decision.

"Brother-in-law, I don't drink."

Wu Wei's hand immediately relaxed.

Brother-in-law?

A younger aunt?

Was there really a relative like that?

Why couldn't he remember her at all?

Wu Wei felt like his brain couldn't keep up.

Wu Wei and Wu Tian each had their own social circles, but their connections to the Lin Family should have been shared.

Something was definitely wrong.

Wu Wei was suspicious, but he didn't let it show.

He wanted to see how this whole performance would end if he refused to play along.

"Weiwei, go ahead and eat. We know each other so well, you don't need to be shy around me. I know you have a big appetite." Lin Ruoxi warmly urged him to eat.

Wu Wei obediently nodded, thinking, I've never had a big appetite, and I don't know you at all.

Where did this so-called younger aunt even come from? This makes no sense.

But what baffled Wu Wei seemed perfectly normal to Wu Tian.

"Ruoxi, now that you're back in the country, have you decided what you want to do?" Wu Tian asked.

Lin Ruoxi sneaked a glance at Wu Tian, then smiled. "Brother-in-law, what if I said I wanted to work with you? Would you turn me down?"

Wu Tian had studied Chinese literature at university. He'd been a celebrated talent when he was young, and later became a freelancer, making a living by writing novels and screenplays.

But turning talent into money had never been easy. As far as Wu Wei knew, Wu Tian had always refused to make use of Lin Shen's connections, supposedly out of pride. He was also easygoing and didn't care much about money, so he'd never risen to great heights or sunk to rock bottom.

Now Lin Ruoxi wanted to work with him? What a joke.

The little he earned was barely enough to support himself, let alone two people.

What Wu Wei hadn't expected was that Wu Tian immediately agreed.

"Your brother-in-law doesn't earn much, but if I have enough to eat, there'll be enough for you, too."

Lin Ruoxi smiled and accepted. Then, brimming with confidence, she said, "Don't worry, brother-in-law. You're so talented. You're bound to make it big."

Even if he doesn't, I'll make sure he does, Lin Ruoxi told herself.

Wu Wei couldn't take it anymore. Flirting with each other right in front of him was a bit much, wasn't it?

And Wu Tian was so broke he only gave him 2,000 a month for spending money. He had money to support his little sister-in-law?

Wu Wei felt he'd been far too lenient. That was why they'd dared to behave so shamelessly.

Just as Wu Wei was about to blow up, his whole body suddenly went rigid.

Someone who absolutely shouldn't have been there had just come out of the master bedroom.

"Weiwei, when did you get back? Why didn't you call me first?"

Wu Wei had a piece of food halfway to his mouth. He was completely stunned.

"Mom?"

How he wished the scene before him were real.

But she could never appear again.