Lin Zhenzhen called Zheng Youcheng and said she needed to go back to her rented apartment to pack some of her things.

Uncle Zhang dropped her off at her apartment complex and then left.

As Lin Zhenzhen turned the corner of the flowerbed, she saw a familiar silver Audi. She paused, then glanced up at the sixth-floor window. The lights were off. Lin Zhenzhen exhaled a breath of stale air and muttered a curse under her breath.

On her way from the front door to the lobby, Lin Zhenzhen pondered how to report the issue to the building manager and request stricter management of personnel entering and exiting the building.

After all, this is such an expensive community, with hefty monthly property management fees, so they should at least do something practical.

As her mind raced, Lin Zhenzhen trembled uncontrollably.

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor. She frantically searched for her keys in her bag, but her hand slipped, and the keys fell to the hard marble floor of the corridor with a clatter.

The door creaked open from the inside.

The man smiled gently and said, "You're back."

Lin Zhenzhen looked up, her heart skipped a few seconds, then her face lit up with a delighted smile: "Brother, you're here." Then she chuckled and said, "Why aren't the lights on?"

Zheng Rong smiled gently, affectionately patted Lin Zhenzhen's head, and took her hand: "Have you had dinner?"

Lin Zhenzhen's smile froze as she hurriedly fumbled for the light switch in the entryway, her reaction a beat slow: "I've already eaten, brother, what about you?"

"I've already eaten," Zheng Rong said with a squinting smile.

"Brother, I'll go get you some water." Lin Zhenzhen made an excuse and went to the kitchen. When she came out with the water glass, Zheng Rong was facing away from her, bending over and staring at the bookshelf.

"You seem to enjoy reading," Zheng Rong said with a smile.

"They're all random books, just something I read haphazardly."

"You seem afraid of me?"

Lin Zhenzhen hurriedly shook her head: "No, no, how could that be?"

Zheng Rong turned around and casually sat on the beige leather snail chair that Lin Zhenzhen had found at the flea market.

He was also wearing a sharp dark gray suit, clearly having come directly from the company after work.

Of course, it's also possible that his wardrobe only contains different styles of suits. Lin Zhenzhen felt that Zheng Rong did this without any sense of incongruity.

"Is your leg feeling better? Your father is very worried about you."

“Much better, thank you… for your concern, Father.” Lin Zhenzhen said naturally, “Father, have you been sleeping well lately?”

"It's still not good. There's been a lot going on at the company lately. And I've upset my fourth uncle again."

Zheng Rong squinted slightly, rested his head on the cushion, and looked exhausted.

"The company really needs you right now. People outside say the Zheng family is small, so your return is a legitimate and rightful recognition of our roots."

"Your return is the only way to help Dad."

Lin Zhenzhen looked down at the floor. The moonlight was bright tonight. Zheng Rong was sitting by the window, his shadow stretched long. Lin Zhenzhen suddenly thought of the long, thin ghostly figures in horror stories.

The ghostly figure suddenly bared its fangs and brandished its claws.

Zheng Rong stood up and straightened the wrinkles in his clothes.

"It's late, you should get some rest." Zheng Rong walked to the door. "If your leg is injured, you shouldn't stay out so late."

Lin Zhenzhen couldn't help but recall the time when she was studying in England, when she drank too much and fainted, and her host family was so frightened that they called her emergency contact.

She was jostled to the hospital in an ambulance, had her stomach pumped, and slept soundly for a night. When she woke up, Zheng Rong called her back the next day. What did he say then?

"Be mindful of your limits when playing. Remember you're a member of the Zheng family."

It must have rained heavily back home that day; Lin Zhenzhen could hear the thunder rumbling through the receiver.

"Okay," Lin Zhenzhen said obediently. "It's getting late, drive carefully."

At the end of the year, this is the busiest time for Gong Yao's department.

Yesterday, Gong Nantian called to urge him to take some time to come home for dinner. Gong Zhen's annual vacation is very short, and the family can only get together for a few days.

Gong Yao took a weekend to go back to Lin City, where the family had a meal together.

Gong Nantian and Gong Zhen were playing chess in the living room, while Xu Lijiao cooked the meal herself.

As soon as Gong Yao got home, he collapsed onto the leather sofa, acting completely unruly.

Gong Xucheng sat in front of the piano and played. Gong Yao beckoned to him, and he obediently stood in front of Gong Yao. Gong Yao praised him, saying that his piano playing was getting better and better, and then asked what grade he was in.

Gong Xucheng obediently answered: Third grade.

Gong Yao patted Gong Xucheng's head and took out a red envelope from his coat bag: "I heard you got first place in the final exams, this is your second brother's reward for you."

Gong Xucheng happily accepted the red envelope, thanked the man, and then slipped back to his room with it.

At the dinner table, Xu Lijiao kept putting food on Gong Yao and Gong Zhen's plates, and Gong Yao accepted them all while holding his bowl, saying, "Thank you, Aunt Xu, please eat quickly."

Gong Zhen, who spends most of his time in the military, is a man of few words, and he also accepts Xu Lijiao's care.

Seeing the harmonious relationship between the two brothers and Xu Lijiao and her son, Gong Nantian was very pleased. He drank a few more cups and became more talkative.

The conversation eventually turned to the two brothers, with the focus shifting to Gong Zhen.

Gong Zhen, who was in his early thirties, was more mature than Gong Nantian. No matter how Gong Nantian tried to subtly probe him, he remained unmoved, like an old monk in meditation.

Mr. Gong then turned his gaze to Gong Yao, who was engrossed in drinking his soup.

"I heard that you haven't been in contact with the daughter of Chairman Zhao of Rongxiang Industry, whom your Uncle Zhou introduced to you last time?"

"Yeah, we haven't been in touch," Gong Yao replied casually.

Gong Nantian was somewhat annoyed by his attitude: "What's wrong with that girl? Don't you like her?"

Gong Yao said nonchalantly, "I'm not good enough for that lady. With my meager monthly salary, how could I dare to cling to a rich and beautiful woman?"

Gong Nantian felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and the next second he was about to suffer a cerebral hemorrhage.

“My son Gong Nantian is not good enough for any family’s daughter. With the Gong family’s reputation, any daughter who enters our family is climbing the social ladder.”

Xu Lijiao paused for a moment, then continued to ladle soup for Gong Nantian without changing her expression.

Gong Yao smiled and agreed repeatedly. Gong Nantian's efforts were like hitting cotton; he was so angry that he only ate a couple of bites before going upstairs.

"Xiao Yao, it's time for you to settle down and bring a girlfriend home. Your father cares a lot about you two brothers."

As Xu Lijiao spoke words of comfort, she reached for the soup bowl in front of Gong Yao and ladled out some soup.

Gong Yao leaned back against the wide leather armchair, his eyelids drooping, and remained silent.

"Xiao Yao, don't be upset, just pretend I didn't say that," Xu Lijiao quickly apologized.

Gong Yao thought to himself: Do I eat people or breathe fire? It's not like we live in some feudal era with clear class distinctions, why are we putting on this show of bowing and begging for mercy?

Gong Xucheng looked up at his mother, then immediately jumped off the chair and leaned against Gong Yao's legs: "Brother, don't be angry. I apologize to you on behalf of Mom."