Seeing Yan Wen's Parents Again

Yan Wen stayed home for a month, and the Mu Family enjoyed every juicy piece of gossip right along with him.

The first day of university arrived right on schedule.

The minivan stopped outside Shengyuan University, drawing glances from plenty of parents and students.

Xie Yunshu nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Let's go inside and take a look. If you two aren't happy with it, we don't have to live on campus."

Yan Wen laughed. "Mom, Shengyuan is the second-best university in Weicheng. How bad could it be?"

"That's true. Come on, let's have a look around."

"Didn't Xiao Wen say his adoptive parents were coming too? Let's wait a little longer and go in together."

Someone called Yan Wen's name. It was his adoptive parents.

The moment Yan Wen saw them, he ran over and excitedly called out, "Dad! Mom!" Only afterward did he wonder whether he should have held back a little.

Xie Yunshu smiled and ruffled Yan Wen's hair. "They're your parents too."

His adoptive mother greeted the Mu Family warmly. "Hello."

Mu Xu Ci and Mu Xu Xi smiled and nodded. "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."

Yan Wen's adoptive parents had never forgotten that today was his first day of university. Two days earlier, he had asked whether they could come see him off, and they had agreed, so they had arrived early to wait for him.

Yan Wen chatted with his adoptive mother about recent events, while Mu Xingfeng and Yan's father discussed booking a restaurant so everyone could get together later.

Mu Xu Xi said to Mu Xu Ci, "Second brother, I finally understand why Xiao Wen isn't the least bit afraid of us evil rich people, even though he came from a small county town."

Mu Xu Ci laughed. "Dad would smack you if he heard you describe us like that."

"Just hear me out. Look, Yan Wen's adoptive parents might be from a small county town, but they have this really strong presence. See how Uncle Yan walks beside Dad without the slightest hint of nervousness? He's so composed, with his head held high. I don't think they're ordinary people."

"You've been watching pretty closely. But I agree, there's more to them than meets the eye. Auntie Yan seems more like a refined lady from a scholarly family."

Mu Xu Xi lowered her voice. "Ci, how about we secretly look into them?"

Mu Xu Ci raised an eyebrow. "Are you that curious?"

"It won't hurt to check. Aren't you curious about Xiao Wen's adoptive parents' background? Besides, we'd only find out what business they're in and where they're from."

"All right. Since you're curious, I suppose I'll reluctantly help you look into it."

The dorm rooms were singles, with fingerprint locks that had not yet been activated. The school would register the students' fingerprints once their room assignments were settled. As they stepped inside, the sensor-operated curtains slowly opened on their own, letting sunlight stream in through the window. Bedding and everyday necessities were all provided. Beautiful images were carved into the bathroom walls, and the whirlpool bathtub gave off a faint, cool white glow. Beside it, cloud patterns adorned the door to a walk-in wardrobe equipped with a temperature-control system.

There were three dining halls, each four stories tall, offering everything from Chinese and Western food to Japanese cuisine.

Yan Wen's eyes lit up. Xiao Qi, look! Grilled skewers! And Crayfish!

Host, you can eat Crayfish whenever you want at the Mu Family's house. What's so exciting about this?

You don't get it. The fun is getting a few good buddies together and eating until your hands are covered in grease. At home, someone always shells them for me. I like doing it myself.

All right. Xiao Qi sounded resigned.

Noticing Mu Huai'an looking downcast, Mu Xu Xi asked with concern, "An, what's wrong?"

Mu Huai'an shook his head. "Xi, I'm fine."

Mu Xu Ci patted Mu Huai'an's shoulder. "Are you upset because Mom and Dad have been neglecting you lately?"

Mu Huai'an nodded, looking deeply aggrieved.

Mu Xu Ci comforted him. "Mom and Dad finally found Xiao Wen after sixteen years apart. It's only natural for them to favor him a little. But don't worry. You're our little brother too, and you're part of the Mu Family."

Mu Huai'an nodded, looking touched. "Thanks, Ci. I feel much better now. I was just afraid you wouldn't want me anymore now that you have Wen."

Mu Xu Xi reassured him too. "Of course not. You and Xiao Wen are both our little brothers."

Mu Huai'an looked touched on the surface, but inwardly, he was full of contempt.

When Yan Wen first returned, they had sworn they would never acknowledge this biological brother who had appeared out of nowhere. How much time had even passed? Now they were calling him their little brother so affectionately. They claimed they would always treat Mu Huai'an as family, but deep down, hadn't they always looked down on him for being merely an adopted son?

It was already four in the afternoon when they left the university. Registration lasted three days, during which students could come and go freely.

Mu Xingfeng had already booked a restaurant, and everyone prepared to drive over. Having not seen his adoptive parents for so long, Yan Wen asked to ride with them, and Xie Yunshu readily agreed.

Mu Huai'an smiled. "Xiao Wen really seems to love his adoptive parents."

Xie Yunshu said, "Of course. They raised Xiao Wen for sixteen years. They may not be his biological parents, but they're every bit as close. It's only natural for Xiao Wen to be attached to them."

Mu Huai'an asked cautiously, "Mom, aren't you... upset?"

Xie Yunshu paused. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all. But Xiao Wen is home now. Do I really need to worry about not having a chance to make up for lost time?"

The restaurant had already served the dishes. Mu Xingfeng ordered two bottles of liquor to share a few drinks with Yan Wen's adoptive father, while Xie Yunshu invited his adoptive mother to sample the restaurant's signature beauty tea.

Only the four younger ones focused on eating.

Yan Wen's adoptive father raised his glass to Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Yan Lin, and this is my wife, Su Huilan."

"Yan Lin? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere." Mu Xingfeng frowned, searching his memory.

Yan Lin smiled. "You probably heard of someone with the same name, Chairman Mu. I'm just someone from a small county town. How could you have heard of me?"

Xie Yunshu smiled. "I'm a little older than you, Mrs. Yan. Would you mind if I called you my little sister from now on?"

Su Huilan clinked glasses with Xie Yunshu in agreement.

Yan Wen happily shelled and ate his Crayfish. I didn't expect the Crayfish here to be this good. I really want another plate of the spicy ones.

Su Huilan asked, "Xiao Wen, would you like another plate of Crayfish? I see you've almost finished."

Yan Wen nodded eagerly. "Yes, please! Thanks, Mom."

Su Huilan said, "You should call me Mom Yan from now on, or your mother might feel hurt."

Yan Wen ate the last Crayfish. "Got it. I'll call you Dad Yan and Mom Yan from now on, then."

Xie Yunshu smiled. "What's wrong with calling you Mom? He has two mothers to love him."

Yan Wen turned to order some spicy Crayfish. While he waited, Xie Yunshu and Su Huilan piled plenty more food onto his plate.

Xiao Qi spoke up. Host, there's some juicy gossip outside the restaurant.

Yan Wen's eyes lit up. Let's go, let's go! Then, while no one was watching, he quietly slipped out.

Mu Xu Xi pulled Mu Xu Ci along and secretly followed him. Aside from Mu Huai'an, only the four adults remained in the restaurant, still drinking and chatting.

Xie Yunshu inwardly regretted missing the chance to witness the drama firsthand.

Outside the restaurant, two men were fighting. A flashily dressed woman beside them shrieked for them to stop, but it did little good.

Yan Wen was curious. What's going on?

Xiao Qi provided live commentary. That woman is the man in black's fiancée. The man in white is her ex, but they still haven't quite cut ties. She told the man in black she was out with her girlfriends, when she was actually here to see the man in white. She never expected all three of them to run into each other.

Yan Wen looked speechless. She's two-timing them?

Not quite, Xiao Qi replied. The one she's always loved is the man in white. The man in black is a marriage partner arranged by her family.

Yan Wen exclaimed, Whoa! Another arranged marriage? Do wealthy families really love them that much?

Not exactly. The man in black's family can help her family's company through a crisis, so the elders specifically chose her for the marriage.

But the man in black doesn't have any feelings for her either. He has someone he likes. He's only angry because he thinks that, since she's already his fiancée, she's his property, and no one else is allowed to covet her.

Yan Wen nearly whistled. Who knew he was the domineering CEO type?