Gu Anxi was delighted. "Then it’s settled."

With that, she hung up the phone.

Zhou Yunchen tried to protest, "Who settled anything with you? Hey—"

The call had already ended. He slammed his phone down, furious. "Little bastard, always treating me like a beast of burden."

Song Jia said nothing, concentrating on massaging her brother. After a while, she suddenly asked, "Why is Mr. Wang so angry that Gu Anxi dealt with Old He privately? Actually, isn’t going to jail almost the same as becoming senile? He even took his anger out on you."

Someone like Zhou Yunchen naturally understood the situation. However, he hadn’t yet confirmed his suspicions and even resisted doing so. Hearing Song Jia’s words, he gently squeezed her hand and said, "Don’t dwell on it. That man... he’s your master. Do you want to go see him someday?"

Song Jia lowered her head, not saying a word.

As far back as she could remember, her world had been one of darkness. The old man who always wore a mask was very strict and showed no warmth at all. The only affection she found was from her senior martial brother. She had been forced to learn many things, forced to become Hong Fu. Old He’s identity was a shock, but she felt little else beyond that... Seeing him now would probably only bring more pain, because she didn’t want to remember anything about Bo Qing.

She didn’t speak, and Zhou Yunchen could guess what she meant. He chuckled lightly, then spoke softly, "Alright, this is a matter for those siblings. I’m just... an unfortunate victim caught in the crossfire. It’s fine, actually. Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and it’s not convenient for her to work anyway. I can take over An Pu, and she can rest at home."

Song Jia felt a flicker of doubt, but she couldn’t pinpoint what felt off.

After a while, her brother was making demands again, "Pound here for me."

Song Jia obediently pounded his back for him, looking like a diligent little worker...

At noon, he personally brought lunch to the office to see his wife. Shen Congwen had been taking good care of herself since becoming pregnant. Song Jia usually delivered her lunch. After eating, Shen Congwen could nap for two hours, so despite the pregnancy, her complexion was exceptionally good. She had just finished her work and was surprised to see Zhou Yunchen. "What brings you here?"

Zhou Yunchen smiled and lifted the bento box. "The baby’s father is now unemployed."

Shen Congwen raised an eyebrow. Supporting her belly, she sat down, opened the bento box, and said with a smile, "Your sister’s cooking is getting better and better."

Zhou Yunchen sat next to her, stretched out his long limbs, and smiled. "She’s probably doing it deliberately to curry favor with you. My bowl of noodles barely had any shredded pork."

Shen Congwen raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? How pitiful."

Zhou Yunchen kept smiling. He wanted to smoke but resisted the urge.

After a moment, watching Shen Congwen eat with relish, he gently pinched her earlobe. "You’re not disappointed?"

"Disappointed about what?" Shen Congwen inserted a straw and took a sip of milk. "Actually, I wasn’t too keen on you being as busy as King Jingyao anyway. The baby will be born soon, and I don’t want to be both mother and father. Look, my hair has even grown this long."

Zhou Yunchen chuckled. "You do have a sense of humor."

Shen Congwen ate delicately. After a moment, she said, "Actually, Mr. Wang had his own selfish reasons for choosing you in the first place. Now that he and Anxi have fallen out, those selfish reasons are gone. It’s better to be free of that kind of fortune anyway."

Zhou Yunchen embraced her from behind, resting his chin gently on her shoulder. "My wife is truly perceptive."

Shen Congwen pushed him away. "Starting tomorrow, I’ll be resting at home. The company is your responsibility now."

Zhou Yunchen recalled Gu Anxi’s words—that little rascal—shook his head, then walked to the desk and sat down. "Alright, alright. I’ll get to work right now. Can’t be a kept man, can I!"

His conscientiousness pleased Shen Congwen greatly, and she continued eating.

Zhou Yunchen turned on the computer, about to get to work, when a thought struck him. He typed in a long series of codes, something Gu Anxi had taught him. She had said it could penetrate the main systems of all hospitals nationwide, allowing one to search for anything.

A moment later, after he input what he was looking for, his gaze froze.

Although I had long anticipated this outcome, seeing it now is still deeply unsettling, and I can’t remain unmoved... Just as he was lost in thought, Shen Congwen looked up. "What are you looking at?"

Zhou Yunchen quickly closed the page and said teasingly, "Well, since my wife is pregnant, I’m naturally looking at pictures of beautiful women."

Shen Congwen glanced at him again but didn’t say anything. They were husband and wife; she could naturally tell when something was on his mind. But if he wasn’t willing to talk about it, it must be something very private, and she wouldn’t press him.

Zhou Yunchen got up and walked over to her. He leaned next to her and whispered, "Congwen, I need to step out this afternoon to handle some private business. Will you approve my leave?"

Shen Congwen had almost finished eating. She pushed the bento box aside and leaned comfortably on the sofa. "To deal with some woman on the side?"

"Of course not! What other woman could there be?" He pinched her cheek, smiling. "Just a small private matter. I’ll come pick you up after work."

Shen Congwen nodded. "Okay."

A flicker of gloom crossed Zhou Yunchen’s eyes but vanished quickly. While Shen Congwen was taking her afternoon nap, he left the company and drove off alone.

About an hour later, the car stopped in front of a Japanese-style villa. It was... Old He’s residence.

In the villa, there was only a gatekeeper and two elderly female servants. After an elderly servant announced him, Mrs. He came out to meet him. Seeing the distinguished-looking young man before her, Mrs. He was clearly a little startled. "You are...?"

Zhou Yunchen immediately rose to his feet. "My surname is Zhou. I suppose you could call me a collector of Old He’s paintings. I heard he was unwell and came especially to visit."

Mrs. He’s expression was sorrowful. Lin Yun had visited yesterday and offered some comfort.

Although she was a homemaker, she wasn’t clueless.

She knew Gu Anxi had handled things well, yes, but the subsequent appearance of King Jingyao and the others made her realize Old He had done something utterly indefensible. Gu Anxi had simply acted first... and dealt with him.

His life had been spared, and he remained by her side, but his mind had become like that of a child.

Overcome with grief, Mrs. He said softly, "He has rarely painted in recent years. I’m afraid you’ve come at an inopportune time."

Zhou Yunchen immediately replied, "I came to visit him, not to buy paintings. And I’m certainly no speculator."

Mrs. He’s expression softened somewhat. After a moment’s thought, she said, "In that case... you may see him."

Zhou Yunchen met the old man in a study. The old man was seated in a mahogany chair. On the table before him lay a sheet of white drawing paper, at which he stared fixedly...

"Has he been like this all along?" Zhou Yunchen asked, averting his gaze slightly.

Mrs. He sighed. "Yes. He just likes to sit like that, without speaking. We have to feed him at mealtimes and coax him to sleep, just like a three-year-old."

Zhou Yunchen’s fingers tightened into fists. After a long silence, he managed, his voice strained, "Could you perhaps get me a cup of tea?"

Mrs. He paused, surprised for a moment, then went to get the tea...

The study was silent, occupied only by Zhou Yunchen and the old man. He walked over softly and stood very close to the old man. It wasn’t that he didn’t recognize him; in fact, he had known him for a long time. Yet, he had never truly looked at this old man closely. Now, examining him carefully, he saw that in the cast of their eyes and brows, both he and Beauty strongly resembled this old man.

He also recalled that the old man had seen him in both Qingcheng and Beicheng. He had probably known about his parentage long ago, yet he had never uttered a single word...

So, what did that make him and Beauty? The products of his philandering? Or, was it that he was pursuing some grand ambition, and identities like theirs, shrouded in secrecy, could not be tolerated by the world?

Zhou Yunchen gave a soft, somewhat bitter laugh. "You truly are a man capable of great undertakings. It’s just a pity you taught the wrong disciple."