Early the next morning, Jiang Ze was roused from his groggy sleep by Meng Zhiyuan.
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the man's handsome, expressionless face. It was quite a fright.
He jolted, his sleepy eyes instantly clearing.
The man sat at ease on the sofa beside his bed. Only when he saw Jiang Ze wake did he speak calmly.
"Awake? Then get ready and come with me to the family estate."
[Seriously, boss, how did you sneak into someone else's bedroom and act so completely unfazed?]
Jiang Ze sat up in bed, his loose pajamas slipping down to expose one fair, smooth shoulder.
He paid it no mind, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.
Meng Zhiyuan, on the other hand, took a couple of extra looks before silently getting up and leaving.
"Get ready and come downstairs in ten minutes."
Jiang Ze pouted but didn't dare protest, even though he had no idea what Meng Zhiyuan was planning or why he was taking him along.
Still, anything that had the big boss waiting for him to wake up first thing in the morning probably wasn't trivial.
He quickly washed up, changed, and went downstairs to find Feng waiting with a small suitcase. A little boy in overalls stood beside him.
Meng Zhiyuan didn't rush to leave when he came down, instead pointing toward the dining table.
"Eat first."
Jiang Ze had planned to grab a piece of bread and go, but Meng Zhiyuan's lethal glare stopped him. He obediently finished his breakfast.
Meng Zhiyuan drove, while Jiang Ze sat in the passenger seat, fighting sleep. The child sat in the back, looking tense.
A little over two hours later, the car drove into an elegant estate.
More than a dozen tall trees stood in orderly rows on either side of the grounds. A gravel path led from the entrance all the way through the main gates.
Jiang Ze looked out the window and vaguely made out several figures standing in front of the doors.
They seemed to be eagerly awaiting something.
Only when they drew closer did he realize how many people were gathered there. The dense crowd was rather intimidating.
More importantly, he spotted a very familiar figure among them.
The two of them got out of the car. At the head of the crowd stood an elderly man who, despite leaning on a cane, looked full of vigor.
"You brat! What took you so long?"
As soon as Meng Zhiyuan got out, the old man hurriedly looked behind him.
"Father, I told you there was no need to wait for us."
Meng Zhiyuan instructed someone to unload the car, then turned to look for Jiang Ze.
Startled by the reception, Jiang Ze was beginning to understand what was happening.
[Holy crap, what's going on? Did they find out who the kid is? But I didn't even do anything!]
Meng Zhiyuan's lips curved, but afraid Jiang Ze might be frightened, he quietly moved to stand beside him.
"I'll explain in a bit," he said softly.
Jiang Ze nodded. He wasn't as frightened as the man had imagined, and simply led the child forward by the hand.
Scared by the crowd, the child kept hiding behind him and didn't dare come out.
Only then did Meng Qingshan notice Jiang Ze. His first impression was of a good-looking young man.
"So you're our family's benefactor? It's all thanks to you that my little grandson was found!"
Jiang Ze discreetly glanced at the varied expressions of those behind the old man, paying particular attention to one man whose reaction was especially intense.
If the woman beside him hadn't been holding him back, he probably would have lunged over already.
That was most likely the child's biological father, Meng Zhixing.
"You're too kind, sir. I'm just happy I could help Uncle Zhiyuan!"
Jiang Ze smiled openly, his tone modest.
Meng Qingshan nodded, his eyes continually straying behind him.
"Little Qing..."
Finding the situation a little awkward, Jiang Ze had no choice but to speak again.
"Sir, he's shy around strangers. He's suffered a lot, and he isn't used to being around so many people at once."
Pain crossed Grandpa Meng's face. Realizing their crowd had frightened the boy, he hastily waved a hand.
"Everyone, disperse! Give Little Qing some time to adjust. Go get things ready. Today, we're welcoming Little Qing home!"
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a couple, Grandpa Meng, and one other man.
That man was Meng Zimu.
He was staring at Jiang Ze in disbelief, looking from his second uncle to Jiang Ze with an extraordinarily colorful expression.
But intimidated by Grandpa Meng's authority, he didn't dare act out. He lingered only briefly before slinking away under the stern gazes of his second uncle and grandfather.
"Zhixing, come here."
Once most of the people had left, the remaining few moved into a quiet courtyard.
Grandpa Meng waved at the man standing beside the woman.
Meng Zhixing was tall and slender. The Meng family seemed blessed with good genes, and he, too, was handsome.
Yet his appearance suggested years of neglect, leaving him looking rather unkempt. Now, excitement filled his face as he stared fixedly at Jiang Ze.
No, at the space behind Jiang Ze.
He approached cautiously, his tall frame looking almost hunched.
"Little Qing, it's me. I'm your dad..."
The child's name was Meng Ziqing. He was born to Meng Zhixing and his teacher when Meng Zhixing was nineteen.
Back then, Meng Zhixing had been young, spirited, and experiencing love for the first time. He had failed to restrain himself, ultimately getting her pregnant out of wedlock.
Grandpa Meng had flown into a rage upon learning of it. The Meng family was a conservative, established clan, and Meng Zhixing's conduct was all the more disgraceful.
But the child was innocent, and by the time they discovered the pregnancy, it was already too late for the woman to have an abortion.
The Meng family had no choice but to acknowledge the child and raise him well.
They had intended to let the two marry once Meng Zhixing was older, but fate had other plans. Disaster struck first.
Meng Zhixing was still young then, and a child could hardly tie him down. The child's mother was away from home as well.
Meng Zhixing took his son out on an excursion, and in a moment of inattention, Meng Ziqing was abducted.
Police resources and manpower weren't as advanced back then as they were now. Despite exhausting every effort, the Meng family failed to find the child.
After that, Meng Ziqing's mother sank into depression. Eventually, unable to bear longing for him day after day, she took her own life.
Meng Zhixing, consumed by guilt and regret, also grew increasingly despondent.
Only after hearing his words did little Meng Ziqing slowly peek out, his small face full of curiosity as he studied the cautious man before him.
This man felt more familiar than that cold uncle, as though he had met him a very long time ago.
Jiang Ze slowly stepped away, leaving them to get acquainted. Seeing the woman waiting patiently nearby, he couldn't help feeling curious.
He poked Meng Zhiyuan beside him.
"Uncle Zhiyuan, who's that woman?"
The book's portrayal of Meng Zhixing had been vague. Both his child and his ending had received only passing mentions, so Jiang Ze didn't know some of the details.
Amusement entered Meng Zhiyuan's eyes at his nosy expression.
"She's the Ruan Family's daughter. She's stayed by my third brother's side all this time, trying to get him to open his heart these past few years."
The woman had gentle features and a refined bearing. To Jiang Ze, she looked every inch a well-bred young lady.
She looked quite well matched with Meng Zhixing, too.
[It's just a shame that Meng Zhixing met such a tragic end in the story. Later on, he even lost the use of both legs. I wonder whether finding his child this time will change his ending.]
Meng Zhiyuan's gaze darkened slightly. He had only heard that his third brother would die in despair. What was this about losing the use of both legs?
Before you continue