Chapter 6
He Zhen’s father was called He Jingyue. He was the eldest child in the family, with two younger brothers and one younger sister.
In the early years, the He family had also been a prominent and prestigious clan, but their wealth and status were nowhere near what they were now. It was only after He Jingyue married Song Zhi, He Zhen’s mother, in a powerful alliance that the He family reached its current standing.
He Jingyue had been the brightest among Old Master He’s four children. From a young age, he had received elite education and was known in Hai City as a genius youth. As for Old Master He’s other two sons, they spent their days indulging in pleasure, causing trouble and disaster wherever they went. His youngest daughter, meanwhile, had no interest at all in managing the company and only wanted to remain a carefree rich young lady, free and unrestrained. That was why Old Master He decided to pass the company’s inheritance rights to He Jingyue.
Unfortunately, although He Jingyue was highly capable, he was hopeless when it came to matters of the heart. By abandoning He Zhen and going overseas, he completely enraged Old Master He. In a fit of anger, Old Master He severed father-son ties with He Jingyue and declared that He Jingyue would forever be forbidden from setting foot in the He family again.
In the end, the position of heir to the He family fell to He Zhen.
He Zhen had a very poor relationship with his two uncles. Of course, in the eyes of outsiders, the reason for this was that the child himself had an odd, gloomy temperament, lacked manners, and rejected adults. On the surface, He Zhen’s two uncles seemed extremely kind and amiable.
Though He Zhen was only five years old, his instincts were very sharp. To him, they were two smiling tigers. As for his little aunt, He Jinglin, although He Zhen disliked her too, he was not nearly as resistant to her.
He Jinglin would occasionally come visit her little nephew. She felt that young He Zhen was truly pitiful. It was bad enough that he had neither father nor mother by his side, but even his own grandfather, because of the rift with He Jingyue, had taken to his sickbed and was in no condition to care about He Zhen at all.
This enormous manor was no different from a gorgeous birdcage. Most likely, the people who cared about He Zhen the most were those two housekeepers.
At the end of the day, He Zhen was only a five-and-a-half-year-old child. Though he was withdrawn by nature and unwilling to speak to adults, blood was still thicker than water. Even after countless times of offering warmth only to be met with coldness, He Jinglin still came from time to time to see him.
In the dining room, Yu Chen wore a beige bib and sat in a child-sized high chair. His jewel-bright eyes quietly followed He Jinglin.
A moment ago, Butler Xu Kai had noticed that Yu Chen was there too and had specially prepared baby utensils for him. Perhaps because he was still too young, Yu Chen’s little head was stuffed with so many plot points that everything inside was a terrible mess, and it would probably take a long time to sort through it all. It was only now, after seeing Little Aunt in person, that he remembered she was a gentle and kind woman in the novel, and one of the few relatives who truly cared for He Zhen.
But when He Zhen was twelve, during his rebellious phase, he was misled by others and thoroughly damaged his relationship with He Jinglin. After that, she never appeared again.
“Whose child is this?” He Jinglin held her spoon gracefully, curiosity in her beautiful, gentle eyes. “He’s so pretty.”
It was obvious He Zhen did not want to eat with his aunt. Coolly, he replied, “Butler Li’s child.”
Taking advantage of the fact that the two of them were discussing Yu Chen, little He Zhi’an, who had been sitting obediently beside He Jinglin, widened his eyes again and sized up the pretty younger boy across from him.
Yu Chen was naturally gifted at socializing. He gently set down his baby spoon and waved at He Jinglin and He Zhi’an. “Hello~ My name is Yu Chen.”
“Hm? Aren’t you called Yu Chenchen?” Suspicion was written all over He Zhen’s big eyes. He remembered that when Yu Chen had introduced himself before, he had said his name was “Chenchen.”
“Chenchen is my nickname,” Yu Chen explained very seriously.
“Pfft!” He Jinglin burst out laughing and teased He Zhen, “So you didn’t even know his real name.”
He Zhen’s little face instantly turned red with heat. He gave a huff and retorted, “That’s not true! That’s the new name I gave him!”
He Jinglin continued to chuckle secretly and asked Yu Chen, “Little treasure, how old are you this year?”
She was just too curious about Yu Chen. After all this time, she had never once seen her nephew with any real little friend.
Yu Chen was the one and only.
Yu Chen smiled obediently. “Four.”
“Already four?” He Jinglin felt the child before her really did not look like a middle-class kindergartener. At most, he looked like a tiny little bean from the junior class.
“Mhm.” Yu Chen lifted his little face shyly. “Auntie is really pwetty.”
Being praised like that by such a beautiful little darling instantly made He Jinglin’s heart bloom with joy. She got up on the spot and came over to rub Yu Chen’s round cheeks. “Such a sweet little mouth.”
He Zhi’an followed his mother over to Yu Chen’s side. While glancing at He Zhen, he said, “My name is An’an.”
Yu Chen immediately waved his little arm again. “Hello, Big Brother An’an.”
He Zhi’an shyly clung to He Jinglin’s arm, almost completely melted by the adorable little brother in front of him.
There were many children in kindergarten, but he had never seen such a pretty and cute little brother before.
Tentatively, he stretched out a finger and poked Yu Chen’s white, tender cheek.
Seeing that the little follower he had just taken in on the very first day was being eyed by someone else, He Zhen felt extremely displeased.
“He wasn’t even asking what your name was!”
He Zhen pushed Yu Chen’s baby chair a little closer to himself and stared at He Zhi’an’s finger with faint disgust. “He’s my little brother. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to touch him.”
He Zhi’an immediately shrank back and hid behind He Jinglin, not daring to make a sound for a long time. Don’t be fooled by how tall and sturdy he was—he had no way of dealing with this younger cousin who was only a few days younger than him.
Yu Chen sensed He Zhen’s displeasure and called out to him in a soft baby voice, “Boss~”
“Mm.” A proud look appeared on He Zhen’s face as he shot He Zhi’an a smug glance.
Watching the two children “jealous over affection,” He Jinglin suddenly felt that her little nephew seemed to have changed quite a lot.
During the meal, Yu Chen sat facing the auntie and older brother he had only just met, yet showed absolutely no fear of strangers at all. Waving his little spoon, he ate with great appetite.
The braised lamb was soft and tender, especially nourishing in winter. Supporting his little bowl with both hands, Yu Chen ate with immense satisfaction, his mouth stuffed so full that his cheeks bulged.
Although he ate quickly, he did not drop a single grain of rice, which truly surprised He Jinglin.
He Zhen and He Zhi’an had always been terrible eaters. Back then, so they would have someone to look after each other, He Jinglin and her elder brother had specially arranged for the two little ones to be placed in the same class.
As a result, their teachers often kept both boys’ butlers behind after school to remind them that the children were far too picky with food.
But now, little Yu Chen was eating with real gusto, spoonful after spoonful of rice mixed with meat disappearing into his mouth. Under his influence, He Zhen and He Zhi’an’s appetites visibly improved as well. Whatever the younger brother ate, they picked up too, and the three little cubs all ended up eating until they were stuffed.
After the meal, He Jinglin had originally planned to take He Zhi’an home. But unexpectedly, her precious son asked to stay and play a little longer for once. She was happy to let the two boys deepen their bond, so she went by herself to stroll around the winery in the back courtyard, leaving the space to the three children.
In the dining room, the servants bustled about busily.
The little bean sprout, not even a meter tall, weaved between the adults and politely told the uncles and aunties clearing the dishes that they had worked hard.
Seeing that He Zhen was not around at the moment, Xu Kai crouched lightly beside Yu Chen and said kindly, “Chenchen, are you the young master’s friend?”
Yu Chen replied softly, “Mm-hmm.”
Xu Kai took a candy from his pocket and offered it to Yu Chen. “The young master has a very bad temper. Sometimes he’s especially fierce and often hits other children. Chenchen has to protect yourself, okay?”
Yu Chen pressed his plump lips together and quietly studied Xu Kai’s smiling eyes. His little feet slowly took half a step back.
“Boss won’t hit me. I’m his little brother.” Yu Chen curved his eyes innocently, completely ignoring the candy Xu Kai was offering. Then he turned around like a little spinning top and pattered off to find He Zhen.
The smile on Xu Kai’s lips gradually froze as he stared fixedly at Yu Chen’s back.
In the spacious, bright living room, every corner was filled with the sunlight of a winter afternoon.
The atmosphere should have been harmonious and warm, yet from time to time, fierce little arguments could still be heard.
“He’s my little brother. He’s not playing with you.”
He Zhen stood in front of Yu Chen protectively, staring at He Zhi’an with caution.
In his understanding, Yu Chen was his possession.
He Zhi’an simply thought Yu Chen was cute and pretty and wanted to be friends with a little milk-cake brother. Right now, he looked rather aggrieved.
His lips drooped, and tears swirled in his eyes. “I’m telling my mommy!”
“Go ahead!” He Zhen shot back angrily, stubbornly glaring at He Zhi’an while clutching Yu Chen’s hand.
He found He Zhi’an absolutely hateful.
Auntie loved him so much. Even though his uncle worked very busy hours, he still often took him to amusement parks. When kindergarten ended, his aunt and uncle always came together to pick He Zhi’an up and take him home.
He himself clearly had nothing, yet now even the little follower he had just accepted, He Zhi’an wanted to steal away.
Yu Chen’s fair little hand was slowly being squeezed red by He Zhen.
He lifted his little head and called, “Boss.”
He Zhen was still sulking and ignored him.
“Boss, I have an idea.” Yu Chen looked at the pitiful, aggrieved He Zhi’an, put his little brain to work, and came up with a plan that would satisfy both sides.
Two hours later, when He Jinglin returned, she began looking for her precious son. Today really was a case of the sun rising in the west. That timid little thing, He Zhi’an, had not come complaining to her once, nor cried and shouted about wanting to go home.
Smiling in curiosity, He Jinglin pushed open the living room door. But when she saw the scene before her, the smile on her face quietly disappeared.
In front of the sofa, He Zhi’an stood with a toy gun slung across his shoulder, saluting with complete seriousness. “Reporting to Big Boss and Second Boss, the enemy has retreated!”
Sitting on the sofa, He Zhen said awkwardly, “Well done.”
He Zhi’an looked toward Yu Chen, seemingly waiting for praise from the Second Boss, who was in the middle of drinking milk.
Yu Chen hugged his sweet milk and, in the middle of his busy drinking, found time to respond, “My little brother is awesome!”
