Moreover, the male lead wasn't considering issues like future inheritance or pampering at that time; he simply felt his cousin's nephew was having a hard time at home due to certain factors, so he brought him over to raise him. Under those circumstances, would he think his cousin's nephew had a right of inheritance? Would he think treating his cousin's nephew well was being unfair to his son? In his view, he was simply adding a pair of chopsticks and worrying a bit more.
As for the male lead's attitude toward Koukou, I wrote it as a process of acceptance, so it was always changing—from not even seeing him at first, to feeling annoyed and not wanting to hold him, to the stiffness of holding Koukou for the first time, and now to gradually holding the baby and feeding the baby... This is all a process of accepting the fact that he has an illegitimate
son,
and no one can be all lovey-dovey right from the start with a son who dropped out of the sky. Anyway, in my view, that's very unrealistic.
The reason he didn't come over frequently was, on one hand, the distance, as everyone is an adult with a job, and the higher-ranking someone is, the busier they are; on the other hand, it was out of respect for the female lead. Since she was giving him the cold shoulder and telling him not to come, he couldn't just drop in on her bad side whenever he had nothing to do.
To summarize:
1. At the current stage, there is no such thing as the male lead grooming his cousin's nephew as an heir.
2. There is temporarily no issue of the male lead liking someone more or treating someone better. In his view, at least at the current stage, the existence of the two of them does not conflict.
(II) Regarding the original book's setting
In the original book, it is much later on (time-set around when Koukou is in elementary school) that the villain's father never marries and has no biological children, so he has the most outstanding and clever male lead among the collateral branches (this male lead refers to the cousin's nephew) adopted over and groomed as the quasi-heir.
With the villain's father not knowing he has a son, this logic makes sense, right? Not everyone will kidnap themselves into marrying someone they don't like just for an heir, then have children and live a life of mutual respect like guests.
Moreover, it was mentioned previously that in the original book, the villain's parents never had the chance to meet, so the villain's father had no idea he still had an illegitimate son until the child grew up to become a thorough supervillain—meaning, after the villain's mother fell sick—did they finally meet.
Little cuties should read the previous text carefully while feeling righteously indignant~
As for how the villain's father views the struggle between his biological son and his cousin's nephew, that will also be revealed slowly later...
(III) Regarding reading notes (manual highlights)
There are many things I have no way to explain all at once, so everyone shouldn't worry; it will all make sense as it gradually unfolds.
If, upon reading up to here, you still feel the male lead is huge scum, fails the female lead and son, and is a total jerk, then this story might not be quite suitable for you X﹏X
Farming the Male Lead's Favorability
Gu family.
The housekeeper brought up a tea tray carrying two cups of steaming hot tea. Just as she was about to reach the sofa, Wang Xiao stopped her, took a cup of tea from her hands, and handed it to the poised and luxurious woman sitting on the sofa, saying, "Madam, please have some tea."
The woman took it without speaking. Wang Xiao then handed the other cup to another elegant and charming young lady on the sofa: "Miss Tan, please have some tea."
Miss Tan took it and offered him a polite smile: "Thank you."
"How come it's you who came? Where is Yanqing?" Mrs. Gu took a sip of tea and raised her eyes to ask Wang Xiao.
Wang Xiao said, "President Gu had a temporary matter to attend to and might not be able to return for the time being."
"A matter? What matter? Didn't I tell him that even if the President of M Country came today, he had to clear out time to come back and eat dinner with me?"
Wang Xiao fell silent.
Suppressing her anger, Mrs. Gu said, "Call him."
Not daring to disobey Mrs. Gu, Wang Xiao took out his phone to call Gu Yanqing.
Miss Tan put down her teacup and smiled. "Actually, it's fine even if he doesn't come back. I'll be staying in the country from now on anyway, so whether we meet sooner or later, we'll always get the chance. If Mr. Gu is busy, just let him busy himself."
"You don't know, his business focus has shifted to C City now, so it's rare for him to make a trip back."
"Is that so?" Miss Tan paid attention to the floating and sinking tea leaves in her teacup. "Mr. Gu is just as capable and brilliant as in my memories, and he's so good at doing business."
Smiles crept to the corners of Mrs. Gu's eyes. Mrs. Gu put down her teacup and said, "What's the use of doing business well? Establishing a family and a career only counts for half each. Look at him now—I instructed him that he had to come back for dinner today, but he's probably off meeting some business partner again."
Miss Tan smiled softly. "Just let him be busy if he's busy; business is relatively important, and there will always be a chance to see him. Besides, I haven't seen you in a long time either, and it's quite happy just chatting with you."
"You're the only one who's sensible," Mrs. Gu sighed and said. "Yanqing is just too willful. He does whatever he wants without consulting anyone, acting on his own accord—just like his father."
"It's just his personality, I suppose. I really didn't expect that after studying abroad for so many years, upon returning, he's actually still single. I thought he'd be very popular and married off early."
"Popularity is one thing, but he refuses to look. Originally, I didn't want to interfere in my children's marriages—as long as he likes them himself, it's fine—but he's already thirty years old, and he doesn't have the slightest intention in this regard. Which of his peers doesn't have kids running all over the place by now? You tell me if I should worry."
Miss Tan chuckled. "They're all like that. My parents are anxious for me too, wishing I could find someone and lock down a wedding today."
Miss Tan's words were not deliberately flattery, but she always managed to hit Mrs. Gu's soft spots. Mrs. Gu's favorability toward her skyrocketed by leaps and bounds.
Over here, after Xu Han had a courier come pick up her things to be mailed out, she checked out of the hotel. Gu Yanqing had just lent her a hand, and proposing the request to have a meal together seemed quite reasonable, leaving Xu Han with no good way to refuse.
The place they went to was a restaurant called "Fragrant Garden." This place was quite famous in the city, though its tables were a bit hard to book. However, with an overpowered cheat like Gu Yanqing around, all problems ceased to be problems; everyone just needed to show up and eat.
When they were leaving, Xu Han originally intended to take Tang Yueyue's car, but Tang Yueyue's back seat was piled high with a bunch of things she had taken from her place, blocking the space, and she couldn't sit in the front while holding the child.