The study was silent, and time seemed to have stopped. Shen Jun regretted his question as soon as he asked it, feeling he had been too rash. But when he thought of how wronged Shen Yu had looked at the hospital, something compelled him to try to fight for him.
Shen Changgeng was surprised that Shen Jun would ask about these things, but seeing the boy's frustrated, conflicted expression, he still explained patiently.
"It was just chance. Back then, Han Rong's younger sister and I were in the same major. He often came to see Han Qiao during our class activities, and after a while, he got to know everyone in the class."
As he recalled his university years, the nostalgia in Shen Changgeng's eyes deepened. "There weren't nearly so many rich kids back then. We just seized the opportunities of the times and gradually built things up, step by step."
As Shen Changgeng strayed further and further from the subject, even veering into all the hardships he had endured to win their mother over, Shen Jun couldn't help coughing twice to signal his dad to get back on topic.
His enthusiasm interrupted, Shen Changgeng clicked his tongue regretfully and continued recounting his interactions with Han Rong, leaving Shen Jun increasingly puzzled.
He found it especially strange to hear that Han Rong, as an older brother, had often gone between departments to look after his younger sister.
University students were generally adults. They shouldn't need family members accompanying them to class gatherings every day, especially activities held within the class.
Suppressing his doubts, Shen Jun tilted his head up and continued listening to Shen Changgeng reminisce about those eventful years.
"Later, I started my own business, and after meeting your mother, I gradually settled down. She suffered a severe hemorrhage when she gave birth to Xubai. I couldn't trust outside doctors, so I set up our own private hospital."
At this point, Shen Changgeng's tone grew a little reflective. "As luck would have it, Han Rong was among the overseas-returned PhDs who applied. Since we were old friends, it was only natural to keep him on."
Hearing his father's trust in Han Rong, Shen Jun nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Does his sister work at the company too?"
"A beauty who met an early end." Shen Changgeng had only a faint impression left of his old classmate Han Qiao. "I heard she ended up with the wrong man. He didn't want the child, and she suffered a severe hemorrhage after an abortion. She passed away not long afterward."
The study fell silent again, with the sounds of roughhousing in the living room faintly reaching their ears. Thinking about Han Qiao's tragic fate, Shen Jun felt that something was wrong, but couldn't say what.
It was rare to see Shen Jun take an interest in the world outside, and Shen Changgeng raised a hand to smooth the boy's slightly furrowed brow, his voice unconsciously softening. "Is something troubling you, Little Jun? You can tell Dad."
Shen Jun wasn't lively and quick to smile like Shen Yu, nor was he willing to express his thoughts like Shen Jin. Instead, the young boy always looked after everyone considerately, even taking the adults' feelings into account.
"You and Little Jin are my children. Nothing matters more than you." Shen Changgeng wasn't a fool. For the boy to suddenly ask about this, something he didn't understand must have happened.
Shen Jun unconsciously squeezed his hands the way Shen Yu did. Unaccustomed to Shen Changgeng's concern, his cool, pale ears slowly reddened.
"Or does Little Jun feel uncomfortable around Han Rong?" Shen Changgeng rubbed Shen Jun's head, realizing that it was hard for a child to speak up about a problem with an adult.
Shen Jun pressed his lips together in thought. Meeting Shen Changgeng's encouraging gaze, he finally voiced his suspicions.
"Uncle... Han Rong hasn't done anything to me." Thinking of Han Rong's ambiguous remarks, Shen Jun chose his words carefully. "But he doesn't seem to want us to get along well with Little Yu."
Shen Jun put it very tactfully, but his displeased expression plainly told Shen Changgeng that Han Rong was sowing discord between the brothers and had even involved the children.
Shen Changgeng's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't immediately pass judgment. Instead, he looked at Shen Jun approvingly. "Dad is very happy that Little Jun was willing to come and tell me about this."
Seeing the redness spread from the tips of Shen Jun's ears to his face, Shen Changgeng couldn't resist teasing him. "Little Jun is too shy. You should learn from Little Yu in that respect. That little fellow is more shameless than anyone."
Hearing his father's laughter from the living room, Shen Yu eagerly pulled Shen Jin toward the study. He hadn't expected to hear his father's "praise" from so far away, and promptly poked his head around the doorway, puffing his cheeks in indignation.
"I'm very easily embarrassed!"
Not only did Shen Yu peer inside, he also loyally made room for Shen Jin, then rested his head on top of his without a qualm. "Thin skin, hard fists."
"Hahahaha." With the two heads stacked together, Shen Changgeng couldn't help teasing them. "Good thing Little Jin has been exercising seriously lately, or he wouldn't be able to support Little Yu."
The heavy atmosphere in the room broke, and Shen Jun's tense body slowly relaxed. He was very indulgent toward his eavesdropping younger brothers.
Shen Changgeng waved them inside. The three children sat in a row. Apart from Shen Yu, whose eyes sparkled, the twin brothers were still a little nervous.
"You've all grown up. You'll be seventh-graders soon." Shen Changgeng hoped his children could stand on their own, but he didn't want them to grow up too quickly either.
"Xubai and Xingshuo are adults now. I want to be there as you slowly grow up too. Whatever other families' children have, ours should have as well."
At this, Shen Changgeng took out the gifts he had prepared long ago: three clear, glass-quality jade safety pendants that gleamed under the light.
"Your mother and I went to a temple to pray for these a while ago." Looking at the pendants, Shen Changgeng sighed. "Your mother complained that her legs ached on the way up the mountain, but she was more sincere than anyone when praying for the jade."
"I know!" Shen Yu eagerly jumped in, even imitating her perfectly. "On the way up, Mom was all, 'Why is it so far? I'm exhausted.' Once she got to the temple, it was, 'We've got lots of kids, Buddha, please give them plenty of blessings.'"
"You little rascal!" Shen Changgeng tapped Shen Yu's head. If the foolishly grinning Shen Yu and the quiet Shen Jun could balance each other out, he would have less to worry about.
The safety pendants had been specially engraved with their names. Seeing Shen Yu crane his neck, Shen Jin couldn't resist commenting, "Are you related to a goose?"
He had stretched his neck so far it could span a whole kilometer.
Shen Yu shivered when the cold pendant touched his skin, then fixed a keen gaze on Shen Jin, waiting for a chance to mock him back.
Shen Jin quietly moved behind his older brother, pretending not to see Shen Yu's gaze as he considered whether he could return to his room and put the pendant on himself.
"Little Jun, bring your neck a little closer." Seeing that the other two had drawn Shen Jun's attention away again, Shen Changgeng used both hands to straighten his son's head. After putting the pendant on him, he didn't forget to admire it. "Not bad. It suits Little Jun's temperament."
"Dad, Little Jin's trying to escape!" Knowing that Dad was helping his younger brother put on his safety pendant, Shen Yu caught sight of Shen Jin and volunteered to keep watch over him, huffing as he ran off to catch him.
But how could Shen Yu, who did nothing but eat, drink, and laze around, match Shen Jin? After his younger brother led him on two laps around the living room, Shen Yu collapsed onto the sofa, panting and waving his arms theatrically.
"Catch him! There's a handsome reward!"
Pausing in his game of leading his older brother around, Shen Jin was so annoyed he laughed. "A handsome reward? The vegetables you hid during dinner yesterday?"
With his secret exposed, Shen Yu closed his eyes and charged toward the door. He hadn't expected to face punishment, caught red-handed by Shen Xubai as he returned from work.
"Shen Xiaoyu, you're really something now, daring to run around with your eyes closed."