Xu Zhuo

Who he belonged to did not matter. Either way, he was bound to become their enemy in the future.

Compared to what came later, the present mattered more. After hearing Shen Can's thoughts, they felt that the girl seemed very strong-willed.

Xu Qingqing was too strong-willed. She did not want Shen Yu to think she was deliberately scheming against him, nor did she want others to think that she had given birth to the child to plot for the Shen Household's fortune.

Yet it was precisely because she was strong-willed that, as an orphan, she had managed to get into university and then join 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. She might have regretted it later, whenever the child looked at other families and other fathers with envy. But by then, regret would have been useless.

So when the child told her that he wanted to avenge his father and the Shen Household, she did not say no. She only said, "Since you have made your choice, you must bear the consequences if you fail." After the child made up his mind, she said, "Mom supports you."

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

Xu Qingqing was already stunned after hearing this. This person truly knew everything about her—knew that she had come from an orphanage, knew what she had told her child not long ago.

She had to admit that she was indeed too strong-willed. At that moment, she could not help wondering whether it had really been right to deprive her child of a father's care for the sake of her reputation and the gossip others might spread.

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

It really was wrong of her to deny the child his father's company just for the sake of her reputation. How much harm had that caused him?

Wasn't it simply that the gap between her and the Shen Household was as vast as a heavenly chasm? She could just ignore those words.

If Shen Ze, Shen Chi, and Shen Yao were shocked, then Shen Yu, Shen Father, and Shen Mother could hardly wait to find the child at once.

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 had not felt nothing for her.

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

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

They truly felt sorry for that child. They were already dead; shouldn't he have just lived his own life properly? He had never enjoyed a single benefit from their family, yet he still wanted to avenge them. It was clear that he truly loved his father.

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 might not know what that meant, he at least knew that something had happened.

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

After grumbling inwardly, Shen Can lowered his head and saw a child in a tiny suit standing beside him, looking at him with an adorably curious expression.

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

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

He wanted to find his father, but there were so many people. He was afraid of mistaking someone for him, and then he would get scolded.

Then he heard that voice from before again, the voice that had said so many things he did not understand. As the man passed by him, he recognized him 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 him and staring before asking, "What is your name?"

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

Shen Yao shouted excitedly, "Great!" Shen Can had just been wondering where to look, yet the child was actually right here.

Seeing Shen Yao acting so dramatically, Shen Ze was afraid he would frighten Xu Zhuo. He walked over and asked, "Where is your mother? Where behind you?"

Why had Shen Yao and Shen Ze been 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?

Rarely, Shen Yu was actually a little 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 come as a surprise, but he still liked this child very much.

It was not only because he had heard what the child would do for him in the future. He had truly 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. Can you take me to see your mother?" Shen Yu said solemnly as he crouched in front of the child.

The child was still young. He could not simply tell him, "I'm your father," right away. It would be more appropriate for Xu Qingqing to tell him after he had met her.

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

As they headed toward Xu Qingqing, she was also walking in their direction. The three met midway.

"Shen Yu, long time no see," Xu Qingqing spoke first. After Shen Yu replied, "Long time no see," she continued, "You've seen Xiao Zhuo, right? 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's very well-behaved. You've had it hard these past few years."

The moment 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 thoughts.

After hearing everything, she was nearly certain that it was the inner voice of one of Shen Yu's younger brothers. She was glad to hear that person's thoughts, because they gave her a chance to change some things.

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

There was no way that person could have told Shen Yu about the child in such a short time, right? Even if he had just told him, he could not have explained it all so quickly. He would have needed to explain himself. Besides, she had not heard any voice recounting 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 on.

After learning that Shen Yu had been searching for her all along, she felt that perhaps they could give things a try. Even if they did not, she could not stand by and watch the Shen Household fall into trouble just for her son's sake. So it was fortunate that others could hear that person's thoughts too.

"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. However, Xu Qingqing nodded in agreement.