An Ruo let out a soft sigh. This man really... if he wanted to eat, there was plenty here.
She gave a helpless smile, picked up a piece, and handed it to him.
Only then did the man contentedly pop it into his mouth.
After accompanying An Che through some practice problems, a servant came in to announce that dinner was ready, and everyone headed to the dining room.
Through their earlier interaction, An Che gradually relaxed around Shen Xiaoxing, no longer feeling the fear and tension from their first meeting.
As they went downstairs, he even took the initiative to push the wheelchair, and An Ruo followed behind, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Shen Xiaoxing lifted his chin slightly, gesturing for him to sit. "There aren't many rules in this villa. Treat it like your own home—don't be shy."
An Ruo pulled out a chair for him. "Sit down."
An Che sat down, looking dazed and adorable. Though he wasn't as nervous as when he first arrived, sitting face-to-face with such a commanding man still made him a bit uneasy.
The table was set with exquisite dishes, their aroma and presentation tantalizing...
At the An family home, the siblings never got to eat such good food. Their status meant they couldn't even sit at the main table; they only got leftovers from the kitchen.
Butler Xu noticed he hadn't touched his chopsticks. "Young Master, is the food not to your liking?"
These were all dishes Shen Xiaoxing had specifically asked the kitchen to prepare based on An Ruo's description of what An Che liked.
An Che shook his head. "No." He randomly picked up some food and hurriedly stuffed it into his mouth. A five-star chef really lived up to the reputation!
A chicken leg landed in his bowl. "Eat more. You're still growing at your age."
"Thank you..." An Che bit his lip, feeling a lump in his throat like a child being patted on the head by an elder, and softly called out, "Brother-in-law."
He had always wanted an older brother. An Ruo had always protected him, but she was a girl after all, and sometimes being tough only brought hardship.
At that "brother-in-law," Shen Xiaoxing raised an eyebrow. "Is there any special gift you want?"
"Huh?" An Che was confused. It wasn't his birthday anytime soon.
Why was he suddenly being offered a gift?
"To celebrate you moving into the villa. Tell me, what gift do you want?"
An Che turned to look at An Ruo. She subtly shook her head, so he followed suit. "Thanks, brother-in-law, but no gift needed. I don't need anything."
Shen Xiaoxing's eyes deepened. He glanced at the girl, then smiled. "Alright, but when you do want a gift someday, remember to let me know."
"Okay. Thanks, brother-in-law."
"We're family. No need to be so polite."
An Ruo saw all his kindness toward An Che and was deeply moved. From now on, she wouldn't have to protect her brother alone.
As she looked down, a piece of sweet and sour spare ribs appeared in her bowl. The man continued to serve her. "You're still growing too. Eat more."
"...I'm already an adult." Was this man treating her like a child?
He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes full of affection. "In my eyes, you're still a child."
The young master was used to doing things his way, but An Ruo wasn't one for public displays of affection. She bit her lip lightly and focused on eating her rice.
"Don't just eat vegetables. Have some meat, drink some soup." He ladled out soup while reminding her to eat a balanced diet.
He wondered what kind of life these siblings had led before, both so thin. He needed to take on the role of head of the family and fatten them up.
At first, An Che had worried that Shen Xiaoxing, coming from a prestigious family, might look down on his sister—that even if he treated her well, it might not be genuine. But seeing how affectionate they were, his concerns vanished.
This brother-in-law was far better than Zou Yikai.
It was a pity about his leg disability. An Ruo had said it was from a severe plane crash two years ago, with no sign of improvement. He'd likely rely on a wheelchair for life...
Still, as long as he truly loved his sister, a physical flaw didn't matter. No one in the world was perfect.
...
Shen City, Cemetery.
Despite the bright sun, a chill crept into one's heart walking through the solemn graveyard.
A man in a khaki wool coat held a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, a symbol of mourning, and gently placed it before a tombstone.
Gu Chao, wearing sunglasses, crouched down and softly brushed away withered leaves from the stone. He came every year at this time, saying nothing, just staring at the words on the tombstone for an hour or two until dusk fell, then slowly left.
The entire Mu family had perished in a fire. When the police arrived, the scene was a mess—bodies burned beyond recognition, with no one to claim them.
Back then, he lacked the power to retrieve the remains from the police. Later, after meeting Shen Xiaoxing and co-founding Blueness Group, he gained status and influence. His first act was to reclaim what little remained of the Mu family and bury it here.
When the police examined the remains, they found no trace of Mu Yan's body, suggesting she was still alive. Gu Chao clung to this guess, drifting through nine years in a daze.
Gu Chao's dark eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, stared deeply at the words on the tombstone. He stood alone for most of the day, not uttering a word.
Not far away, a white-clad figure hid. Song Weiwei pulled her hat brim low, her gaze fixed on the man standing motionless before the grave.
She bit her lip hard. After the Mu family's downfall, she followed Qiao Yu abroad, seeking medical treatment and undergoing plastic surgery, returning once during that time.
When the major case in Shen City broke out, the police had stored the ashes from the fire at the station. But by the time she heard about it and wanted to retrieve them, the police told her someone had already claimed them.
Xiao Liuzi hadn't been around in the days before the disaster, so he'd escaped the tragedy. The only person she could think of who would collect the Mu family's remains was him. Yet when she came back to find him afterward, there was no trace.
Her phone rang, breaking the man's painful reverie. He took a deep breath and walked away along the rows of tombstones.
After he left, Song Weiwei approached the grave he'd just stood before. Seeing the inscription, she gasped, her eyes suddenly reddening.
"Husband: Mu Zhong, Wife: Ruan Qingxu, Son: Mu Yun's Tomb."
Only she was missing from it...
Song Weiwei's nose stung. She slowly knelt and kowtowed three times before the tombstone.
As she raised her head, tears streamed down uncontrollably, soaking the ground instantly.
She gently touched the tombstone, a tidal wave of pain crashing through her heart. She curled up on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Nine years ago, she was the pampered eldest daughter of the Mu family, with a doting father, a gentle mother, and an obedient younger brother... She thought she'd be happy forever. But then disaster struck, her world shattered overnight, leaving her scarred and stabbed multiple times. Now, returning, she couldn't even openly call herself Mu Yan before them.
How could she ever forget this pain?
Song Weiwei cried for a long time, then slowly came to her senses. Wiping away her tears, she suddenly stood and rushed out of the cemetery.
The car that had been parked outside was gone. Song Weiwei had followed Gu Chao here, always suspecting he was Xiao Liuzi. And sure enough, he'd come to pay respects to the Mu family. Her guess was right.
The one who claimed the Mu family's remains was him—he was Xiao Liuzi!
Song Weiwei ran all the way down the hill, but the car had long disappeared.
She dialed the driver's number, and soon someone came to pick her up.
She had to find out what happened back then, why Xiao Liuzi had vanished, and what had occurred over these nine years!