Feng Zhiyou

That evening, Feng Yanshan seemed to be in a good mood and even exchanged a few words with Bai Yunsheng.

Feng Yanshan asked, "What's wrong with your complexion?"

Bai Yunsheng glanced lightly at Feng Tingfan. "Nothing."

Though it was only a slight glance, Feng Yanshan followed Bai Yunsheng's gaze to Feng Tingfan. After the pool incident, Feng Yanshan's opinion of Bai Yunsheng had improved by the tiniest margin, though it was still negligible. Feng Yanshan frowned. "An important guest will be attending tomorrow's banquet. I hope nothing like last time happens again." Though he did not sound reproachful, his words still carried authority.

Bai Yunsheng nodded. "All right, Father. Don't worry."

Feng Tingfan did not answer, only rolled his eyes at Bai Yunsheng in annoyance.

Seeing that, Feng Yanshan slammed his chopsticks onto the table. "Didn't you hear me?" His gaze fixed directly on Feng Tingfan.

Startled, Feng Tingfan involuntarily sat up straight and replied stiffly, "I heard you."

Feng Yanshan withdrew his gaze. "Eat."

After dinner, Feng Yanshan gave them a few more reminders before everyone returned to their rooms. Bai Yunsheng had slept for a long time that day and was no longer sleepy. He lay awake, thinking about how to find that man.

Though the man came to his grave almost every day, he had never revealed his name.

But...

Bai Yunsheng stared into the pitch-black room.

That man's methods and attire were absolutely not those of an ordinary person. Nor was he merely wealthy; his status might even surpass that of the Feng Household. If Bai Yunsheng investigated upward, he would surely find something...

Bai Yunsheng's thoughts grew numerous and scattered, and gradually, sleepiness overtook him.

Bai Yunsheng was awakened by a knock at the door. Still groggy, he casually threw on some clothes and opened it.

The person standing outside was

Uncle Feng, who served at Feng Yanshan's side.

"Uncle Feng."

Uncle Feng nodded and shifted slightly aside. Someone behind him stepped forward carrying a set of clothes.

Uncle Feng said, "Chairman Feng said to dress appropriately for the evening banquet."

Bai Yunsheng glanced at the clothes on the bed. "Understood, Uncle Feng."

Uncle Feng said, "A particularly important person will be attending the banquet. Chairman Feng went to great lengths to establish contact with him."

"Don't disgrace the Feng Household," Uncle Feng added after speaking. "Those are Chairman Feng's exact words."

Bai Yunsheng replied respectfully.

The moment Uncle Feng left, the smile on Bai Yunsheng's face vanished. A trace of frost flashed through his eyes before he walked straight to the bed and took the clothes from the gift box. The fabric felt unlike anything Bai Yunsheng had ever touched, much less worn. Everything Bai Yunsheng owned put together was not even worth as much as the tie that came with this outfit. His slender fingers brushed over the white fabric, moving all the way down to the hem before stopping.

Bai Yunsheng stood frozen in place. By the time he rose, one corner of the garment had already been twisted into a crumpled mess.

Bai Yunsheng left the room expressionlessly and headed to the dining room. Feng Tingfan was the only one at the table eating breakfast. When he saw Bai Yunsheng approach, he gave a cold snort without even looking at him directly. Only after Bai Yunsheng sat down did Feng Tingfan speak. "I heard Dad gave you a set of clothes."

Bai Yunsheng stirred the vegetable salad in his glass bowl, picked up a leaf, and put it into his mouth. "What, Father didn't give you any?"

Feng Tingfan turned toward him. "Tch. Dad only gave them to you so you wouldn't embarrass yourself. Did you really think he'd buy you such expensive clothes otherwise?"

Bai Yunsheng's expression remained unchanged. "I know."

That simple "I know" left Feng Tingfan momentarily unsure how to respond. After several seconds, he spoke again. "Do you even know how to wear those clothes?"

With his eyes lowered, Bai Yunsheng showed no reaction to Feng Tingfan's mocking words. He took a boiled egg from the water and peeled its shell off in a few quick movements with his pale fingers. "Then, for the sake of not losing face, Feng Tingfan, don't provoke me tonight." There was a warning in his voice, a tone Bai Yunsheng had never used before.

Feng Tingfan froze, caught off guard by Bai Yunsheng's words. Before he could consider where Bai Yunsheng had found the nerve to say such things, he stood up. The chair scraped harshly against the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Yunsheng saw Feng Tingfan walking toward him. Bai Yunsheng calmly took a sip of milk, wiped his hands, gently pushed back his chair, and rose as well.

Feng Tingfan had already come to stand before Bai Yunsheng. Without another word, he roughly grabbed Bai Yunsheng by the collar.

Just as his fist was about to swing down, Feng Zhiyou's voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"Tingfan, let go."

Feng Zhiyou still held a certain amount of authority over Feng Tingfan.

Feng Tingfan's hand paused, and he turned his head. "Brother?"

Feng Zhiyou said, "I said, let go."

Feng Tingfan shot Bai Yunsheng a vicious glare, then shoved him hard. Bai Yunsheng staggered back several steps.

Feng Tingfan said, "Brother! You never interfere usually!"

Feng Zhiyou said, "Father gave him clothes. Do you think it's just a set of clothes?"

Feng Tingfan did not understand.

Feng Zhiyou said, "It means our whole family will attend this banquet, including Bai Yunsheng."

A trace of gloom flashed through Bai Yunsheng's eyes. He instinctively looked at Feng Zhiyou, only to find that Feng Zhiyou was looking at him as well.

He could have come at any other time, but he had to come now. Bai Yunsheng withdrew his gaze and bit the corner of his lip.

Feng Zhiyou said, "Do you want him attending with injuries on his face?"

Feng Tingfan said, "Dad won't blame me."

A flash of impatience crossed Feng Zhiyou's face. "I think Father made himself very clear yesterday. An important guest will be at the banquet. Feng Tingfan, do you really think Father won't blame you?" Without waiting for Feng Tingfan to answer, he turned to Bai Yunsheng. "Since you've finished breakfast, why are you still here?"

Bai Yunsheng said nothing and left the dining room directly. In an instant, only Feng Zhiyou and Feng Tingfan remained.

Feng Tingfan was still upset. Cursing under his breath, he returned to the table and sat down. Feng Zhiyou sat down as well. His gaze passed over Bai Yunsheng's place, where eggshell fragments were scattered across the table. Normally, Bai Yunsheng would clean up his own spot after eating.

But today...

Feng Zhiyou's brow furrowed slightly. Bai Yunsheng seemed somewhat different, yet Feng Zhiyou could not tell exactly what had changed. His gaze slowly shifted to Feng Tingfan's gloomy face.

Had Bai Yunsheng done this deliberately today? Had he deliberately angered Feng Tingfan and provoked him into attacking? Feng Zhiyou then dismissed the thought as Bai Yunsheng's usual timid, submissive appearance flashed through his mind.

No.

Bai Yunsheng would not dare.

While Feng Zhiyou was lost in thought, Feng Tingfan ate with enough force that his utensils clattered loudly. Feng Zhiyou found it irritating.

"Tingfan."

Feng Tingfan looked up at him.

Feng Zhiyou said, "You're still angry."

Feng Tingfan replied irritably, "No."

Feng Zhiyou said, "Think about it. At any of the usual banquets, has Father ever cared about Bai Yunsheng? Has he ever given Bai Yunsheng a set of clothes?"

Feng Tingfan paused.

Feng Zhiyou continued, "No, not once. Father does not care about Bai Yunsheng at all. He even has him stay in his room and not come out."

"Yet this time is different." Feng Zhiyou did not spell it out clearly. "So listen. It doesn't matter what you do normally, but today, don't provoke him."