Wang Cheng had not planned to return to the Zheng residence, but after what happened, Zheng Jingen had come to pick him up personally, so in the end he had little choice but to go back with him. Before leaving, he told Huang Tong’an they would keep in touch by phone.
Huang Tong’an watched them leave with a complicated expression. Only a few months had passed since their class reunion, yet his brother had somehow transformed from a country boy into a descendant of the Zheng family, and Zheng Jingen’s biological younger brother at that. The news was so shocking that he struggled to believe it even after they were gone.
After Wang Cheng and Zheng Jingen left, Huang Tong’an’s friends immediately crowded around him. Their attitude was completely different from moments earlier, when they had been desperate to distance themselves. Now they threw arms over his shoulders like lifelong brothers and accused him of being disloyal for knowing someone from the Zheng family without telling them. Huang Tong’an felt disgusted. He had always known they were pragmatic, but he had not expected them to be this shameless about it. Perhaps he really should consider cutting ties with them. Otherwise, one day they might stab him in the back before he even knew what happened.
No one was happier about Wang Cheng returning to the Zheng residence than Mother Zheng. She had been disappointed that morning when he said he would not come home, but both brothers tacitly chose not to mention what had happened at RedSun.
Wei Wei was not important enough to turn this into a family conflict. Neither Zheng Jingen nor Wang Cheng really took him seriously. For once, the brothers were thinking on exactly the same wavelength.
Before going to sleep, Wang Cheng took the initiative and called Huang Tong’an.
Usually Huang Tong’an was the talkative one, but this time he did not immediately speak after answering. Several seconds passed before Wang Cheng laughed. “Ask whatever you want to ask.”
“Is Young Master Zheng really your biological brother?” Huang Tong’an did not bother being polite. His stomach had been full of questions ever since they left RedSun, and he had worried enough to feel as though he had lost several hairs. Wang Cheng already had parents, an older brother, and a younger sister in Shanhai City. How had the Zheng family suddenly become his relatives too?
Wang Cheng considered how to explain it, then gave him a simplified version of what happened years ago. He skipped plenty of details. Otherwise, he could have talked all night.
Huang Tong’an was stunned for a moment after hearing it. This sort of melodramatic wealthy-family story had actually happened to his own brother. It was a real-life rags-to-riches Cinderella story, except this Cinderella was a man. “So the last time you came to the capital, it was because of this?”
“Yeah. This time I came because my maternal grandfather wants to see me.” Huang Tong’an had been born and raised in the capital and understood at least something about its major families. It was impossible not to know a family as prominent as the Zhengs. Since Wang Cheng was the biological son of the Zheng family’s second branch, Huang Tong’an vaguely remembered that his mother was a daughter of the Zhou family behind Zhou Group. And when it came to Zhou Group, there were not many people who had never heard of it.
“If that’s true, you should be a little careful around Zhao Chenlin. He’s the son of your mother’s younger sister. He’s famous for being unruly, and because his family has money, he’s done plenty of outrageous things. I’ve heard he’s fairly clever too and likes scheming against people from behind the scenes. You had a conflict with him this time, so he may try to smear you before you get there.”
“No problem. I’ll deal with whatever comes.”
“Anyway, be careful. I’ve heard the Zhou family’s situation is rather unusual. You’ll understand why once you get there.”
The next day, Wang Cheng slept until he woke naturally. By the time he went downstairs for breakfast, everyone else had already gone to work. Father Zheng and Zheng Jingen were out, Zheng Jingxue had gone to school, and only Mother Zheng remained. She had already told him on the phone the day before that she would take him to the Zhou family today to meet his maternal grandfather.
When Mother Zheng saw her son, she was delighted. While Wang Cheng ate, she deliberately went upstairs and chose another outfit for him, insisting that what he had put together himself did not look good.
Wang Cheng truly had no eye for fashion. Chu Yifeng had chosen his clothes before, but with Chu Yifeng away he simply picked whatever was convenient. After changing into the outfit Mother Zheng had selected, he really did look much sharper.
On the way to the Zhou residence, Mother Zheng told him quite a bit about the Zhou family, essentially giving him advance warning. A little over half an hour later, their car drove into an imposing estate. From the outside, it was even more luxurious than the Zheng residence and occupied more than twice the land.
The car crossed an enormous courtyard of at least a thousand square meters. It was already winter, yet the landscaping made it look almost like spring. Worried that Wang Cheng might feel uncomfortable, Mother Zheng encouraged him before they went inside, telling him that his maternal grandfather was easy to get along with and that he did not need to worry.
Wang Cheng was not worried. Seeing that Mother Zheng looked more nervous than he did, he paused and took her hand. “Mom, you don’t need to worry.”
Mother Zheng stiffened, then her face lit with emotion. She clasped his hand tightly, eyes shining. “All right, all right. Mom won’t worry. Let’s go in.”
Wang Cheng smiled helplessly.
The Zhou family had already been waiting. After learning that Mother Zheng was bringing her younger son over, even Zhou Lin, who normally should have gone to work, stayed home. Her husband, Zhao Jiansheng, had gone to work early that morning. If both of them stayed, her father would certainly be unhappy.
“Dad, I brought your maternal grandson home. This is Chengcheng.”
Mother Zheng pulled Wang Cheng forward. “Chengcheng, this is your maternal grandfather. Go on, call him Grandpa.”
“Grandpa.” Wang Cheng looked at the old man who had been staring at him since he walked in and greeted him openly, without any awkwardness despite it being their first meeting.
Zhou Shichang made no attempt to hide the approval in his eyes and said “good” three times in a row. When his daughter told him that his maternal grandson had been found, he had looked into Wang Cheng’s background. Learning that he had been adopted by a rural family, Zhou Shichang had not expected much. It was not that he looked down on rural people, only that the educational opportunities available to them were often limited. Seeing Wang Cheng today, however, the young man’s bearing overturned his old assumptions about someone raised in the countryside.
“Sit down, all of you. No need to stand while we talk.”
After sitting, Mother Zheng pointed to Zhou Lin and Zhao Chenlin on the opposite sofa. “Chengcheng, this is your younger aunt, and this is your cousin.”
“Aunt, Cousin.” Wang Cheng nodded to them.
“Oh, so this is Chengcheng. He really does resemble both Sister and Brother-in-law,” Zhou Lin said with an immediately artificial smile.
Zhao Chenlin, however, did not speak. He had expected Wang Cheng to reveal that they had already met at RedSun the previous day and clashed there. Zhao Chenlin had even told his mother about it in advance so they could prepare for Wang Cheng to make trouble. Instead, Wang Cheng did not mention it at all and behaved as though they had never met. Only when his mother nudged him did Zhao Chenlin come back to himself and hurriedly put on a smile in response.
Zhou Shichang’s first impression of Wang Cheng was good. The longer they talked, the more satisfied he became, far beyond what he had expected.
It was not ordinary satisfaction. It was more like expecting someone to have only a middle-school education and discovering instead that he could perform at university level. The enormous gap between expectation and reality left a lasting impression. Sitting opposite them, Zhou Lin felt an intense sense of crisis. Her original thinking had been similar to her father’s. Even though her father had once made that promise, how much could a boy raised and educated in the countryside really accomplish? She had never taken Wang Cheng’s return too seriously. Instead, he had given her a very large “surprise.”
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Zhao Chenlin noticed his mother’s dark expression and asked quietly.
Zhou Lin glanced at her son and abruptly felt dissatisfied with him. He was her only son and the person she expected to rely on in the future. He had graduated the previous year and joined Zhou Group with his parents this year. He was clever enough, but only in small ways, lacking the broad judgment needed for serious responsibility. She had learned by chance that this was how her father evaluated Chenlin. Although she had been unhappy at the time, she had not cared too much. Her father had no sons, only Zhou Hui and herself, so Zhou Group’s successor would inevitably have to come from among their children. Then Zhou Hui’s younger son was found. The news had struck Zhou Lin and Zhao Jiansheng like a bolt from the blue. After meeting Wang Cheng in person, that sense of danger only grew.
Mother Zheng had no idea what Zhou Lin was thinking. Seeing her father and younger son getting along so well made her happy.
After her younger son disappeared, her greatest wish in life had been to find him. Once he was found, she wanted him to live harmoniously with the family she loved most. That wish had come true as well. Wang Cheng’s behavior had already exceeded all her expectations.
“Dad, there’s something I want to ask you. Does the promise from back then still count?” Mother Zheng asked when there was a pause in the conversation.
The distracted Zhou Lin jolted. She had not expected Mother Zheng to raise the subject suddenly. She had assumed her sister would bring it up privately later. She hurriedly said, “Sister, why bring that up all of a sudden? Chengcheng only just came back. There’s no need to rush, is there?”
“Why wouldn’t I rush? Twenty-five years have already passed. Besides, this was a promise I made to Dad. The promise was delayed twenty-five years, and that was something I owed him. Now that Chengcheng is back, it’s time to settle the matter.”
The smile on Zhou Lin’s face stiffened. She looked at Zhou Shichang. “Dad, what do you think?”
Nothing could be read from Zhou Shichang’s calm expression. His seasoned, sharp gaze swept across everyone. Apart from Zhou Lin and her son, Mother Zheng remained perfectly composed, while Wang Cheng looked completely baffled. Suddenly Zhou Shichang smiled. “As long as Chengcheng is willing, of course it still counts. Dad has been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
Mother Zheng smiled. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll talk to him.”
“Mom, Grandpa, what riddle are you two speaking in?” Wang Cheng was confused. He was clearly the subject of the conversation, yet he had no idea what they were talking about.
“Mom will explain it to you later.” Mother Zheng gently pressed a hand over the back of his.
Zhou Lin nearly ground her teeth to pieces.