Xu Zhuo

Who he belonged to did not matter. Either way, he would definitely be their family's enemy in the future.

Compared to what came later, the present mattered more. From Shen Can's inner thoughts, they got the feeling that the girl was quite strong-willed.

Xu Qingqing was too proud. She did not want Shen Yu to think she had deliberately plotted against him, nor did she want others to think she had given birth to the child to scheme for the Shen Household's wealth.

Yet it was precisely because she was so strong-willed that she went from being an orphan to getting into university, then joining Shen Corporation as an outstanding employee.

If the child had not suddenly appeared and disrupted her plans for the future, she might have become even more successful.

But life was unpredictable. Perhaps she regretted it later, whenever the child looked at other families and other fathers with envy. But by then, regret was useless.

So when the child told her he wanted to avenge his father and the Shen Household, she did not say she disagreed. She only said that since he had made his choice, he had to bear the consequences if he failed. Once the child made up his mind, she told him, "Mom supports you."

She knew full well that if the child failed, he might meet the same miserable end as the Shen family, yet she still supported him.

Xu Qingqing was utterly stunned after hearing this. This person truly knew everything about her—he knew she had come from an orphanage, and he knew what she had said to her child not long ago.

She had to admit that she really was too proud. At that moment, she could not help wondering whether it was right to deprive her child of a father's care just for the sake of her reputation and the possible gossip of others.

She should have told Shen Yu about the child's existence. It was not as though having a child meant they had to become anything. They could simply raise the child together, like so many divorced families who still co-parented their children.

What she had done—letting her child grow up without his father's company for the sake of her reputation—really was wrong. How much harm must that have caused the child?

Was the gap between her and the Shen Household not simply too vast, like an uncrossable chasm? She just needed to ignore those remarks.

While Shen Ze, Shen Chi, and Shen Yao were shocked, Shen Yu, Shen Father, and Shen Mother wanted nothing more than to find the child immediately.

Although they did not know whether Shen Yu liked that girl, the fact that he had been searching for her all these years showed that he was not entirely unaffected.

Besides, they knew their son. He definitely wanted to take responsibility. They did not know what Xu Qingqing thought, but they had to at least try.

If they could be together and give the child a complete family, then a complete family would naturally be better. If they could not, they could simply raise the child together.

They truly felt for the child. They had already died, so would it not have been better for the child to live his own life properly? He had never enjoyed a single thing from their family, yet he still wanted to avenge them. It was clear that he loved his father very much.

Xu Qingqing noticed that the child seemed about to rush out, but she did not stop him. He must have been frightened after hearing that his father would become a vegetable. Even if he perhaps did not know what that meant, he at least knew something terrible had happened.

Shen Can sighed. Damn, I just remembered that the plot only said the two of them almost met at this banquet. It never said what Xu Qingqing and my little nephew were probably wearing. How long am I supposed to search for them?

After complaining internally, Shen Can lowered his head and saw a little boy in a tiny suit standing beside him, looking at him with an adorably curious expression.

"Little one, why are you by yourself? Who is your mother? Where is she? Should I have someone take you to find her?" Shen Can asked when he saw that no one was accompanying the child.

"I'm not by myself. My mom is Xu Qingqing. Mom is behind me," the child explained slowly and seriously.

He wanted to find his dad, but there were too many people. He was afraid he would mistake someone else for him and get scolded.

Then he heard that voice again, the voice that had said many things he did not understand. As it passed by him, he recognized it from the sigh and the curse.

"Your mother is Xu Qingqing?!" Shen Yao spoke before Shen Can could. After saying that, Shen Yao rushed in front of the child, circling around him and staring before asking, "What is your name?"

"I-I'm Xu Zhuo. Zhuo as in outstanding. My mom chose it," Xu Zhuo said nervously. These people seemed to be his father's family. Would they dislike him?

Shen Yao let out an excited shout. Great! Can Can had just been wondering where to look, and here he was.

Seeing Shen Yao's exaggerated reaction, Shen Ze was afraid he would scare Xu Zhuo. He walked over and asked, "Where exactly is your mother behind you?"

Why were Shen Yao and Shen Ze the first to greet him? Because Shen Yu was a little afraid to step forward. Was this really his son? He looked so small. Was he really five years old?

For once, Shen Yu was actually somewhat afraid to go up and greet him. Would his son be looking forward to meeting him now?

"Go on, Brother." Shen Chi gave Shen Yu a push. Shen Yu still stepped forward. Learning that he had a child had been unexpected, but he still liked this child very much.

It was not only because he had heard about everything the child would do for him later. He genuinely liked the child the moment he saw him. Was this what blood ties felt like?

"Hello, Xu Zhuo. I'm Shen Yu. It's nice to meet you. Will you take me to see your mother?" Shen Yu said solemnly as he crouched in front of the child.

The child was still young, so he could not simply tell him, "I'm your father." It would be more appropriate to meet Xu Qingqing first and let her tell him.

Xu Zhuo nodded, then took Shen Yu's hand and led him toward his mother. He was so excited to see Mom and show her that he had gotten to hold Dad's hand.

As they headed toward Xu Qingqing, Xu Qingqing was also walking in their direction. The three of them met halfway.

"Shen Yu, long time no see," Xu Qingqing spoke first. After Shen Yu replied that it had indeed been a long time, Xu Qingqing continued, "You saw Xiao Zhuo, right? Actually, I was the person from that night. Xiao Zhuo is your child."

Shen Yu nodded and looked at the child whose hand he was holding. "He is very well-behaved. You have worked hard these past few years."

The instant Shen Yu finished speaking, Xu Qingqing could almost be certain that she and Xu Zhuo were not the only ones who could hear that person's inner thoughts.

After hearing everything, she had nearly concluded that they were the thoughts of one of Shen Yu's younger brothers. She was grateful to hear them, because they gave her an opportunity to change certain things.

Perhaps Shen Yu could hear them too. Otherwise, that person had only recently said that Shen Yu himself did not know he had a child, yet Shen Yu was now so calm about the child.

It was impossible for that person to have told Shen Yu about the child in such a short time, was it? Even if he had just told him, there was no way he could have explained everything so quickly. He would have had to explain it. Besides, she had not heard any voice describing the matter.

It was good that she and Xu Zhuo were not the only ones who could hear it. The Shen Household seemed destined for trouble in the future. If only she and Xu Zhuo could hear those thoughts, they would have to exhaust themselves trying to pass the information along.

After learning that Shen Yu had been searching for her all this time, she felt that perhaps they could try. Even if they did not try, for her son's happiness alone, she could not possibly stand by and watch the Shen Household fall into trouble. So it was fortunate that others could hear that person's inner thoughts as well.

"Shall I take you to meet my family first?" Shen Yu respected Xu Qingqing's wishes. If she did not want to meet them today, he would arrange another time. But Xu Qingqing nodded and agreed.