Housekeeper Liu held a bowl of pitch-black medicine, steam swirling and floating above it.
Madam Bao stared at the bowl, the wrinkles on her forehead deepening, not taking it. Instead, she asked meaningfully, "Any news about Xun?"
The elderly Housekeeper Liu showed signs of a hunched back, looking as if he were bowing when seen from afar. At this moment, he simply shook his head without speaking.
The second young master had left the Bao Family for years, and no one knew his whereabouts. Even the Bao Family, influential in T City, couldn’t trace him. So, no one in the world could know!
"Zhenxing, do you think there’s someone Shaojin can’t find?" Madam Bao’s voice contained a hint of softness and a touch of lament.
Housekeeper Liu stirred the medicine with the spoon in it. Once he felt the bowl was not too hot, he slowly approached, "The medicine won’t be as effective if it cools down. Let’s drink it first!"
Madam Bao glanced at him, her voice full of complaints, "Since Xun left, even you’ve changed. Your words have become evasive. How could I not understand? Everyone is challenging me!"
At Madam Bao’s sudden grievance, Housekeeper Liu looked at her worriedly, "Madam, you’re overthinking."
This "Madam" from Housekeeper Liu momentarily distracted Madam Bao.
Over the years in the Bao Family, she had transformed from "Madam Bao" to "Old Madam Bao." What she had experienced during this time, only she knew in her heart!
Housekeeper Liu saw her blank stare as she fixated on a spot aimlessly, and he quietly retreated, intending to reheat the medicine again...
In front of the garage of the Bao Mansion.
The driver was waiting there and, upon seeing a sharp figure approaching, got off and opened the rear car door, calling out, "Mr. Bao!"
Bao Shaojin walked straight to the back seat and sat down. The next second, the driver saw another figure closely following, bending down to get in. Stunned for a moment, he recognized the identity, nodded, and moved to the driver’s seat to start the car.
"Something up?" Bao Shaojin leaned his tall figure against the soft seat cushion, his eyes sharply fixed on Bao Cheng next to him.
He was well aware of Bao Cheng’s character.
"Bro." Bao Cheng softened his tone in an attempt to ease the relationship, calling out pleasantly.
Hearing this addressed to him, Bao Shaojin suddenly recalled the soft and tender voice of a young girl, his expression gradually turning somber, "What trouble have you caused this time?"
Upon hearing Bao Cheng’s conciliatory call, Bao Shaojin could only think of one possibility — this guy had surely gotten into trouble again but couldn’t handle it, which was why he approached him.
As he heard these words, Bao Cheng felt his face heat up. He retorted, "This time I’m truly not in trouble, it’s just, just..." Bao Cheng turned his head, quietly observing the expression of the other person. Seeing that somber face, he couldn’t bring himself to speak further.
"Speak!" Bao Shaojin, having little patience, spoke with a tone filled with sternness.
"Bro, grandmother suddenly wants to meet my girlfriend. Why do you think that is?" Bao Cheng was genuinely curious, unable to figure out the old lady’s intentions. His cousin Shaojin, always meticulous, could easily probe into people’s thoughts, which is why Bao Cheng followed him despite his inner fear of him. For the sake of his "girlfriend," Bao Cheng chose to face the challenge!
"Do you think you can decide your own marital future?" Bao Shaojin ignored Bao Cheng’s question and threw out another question.
The scenery outside the car window flashed by. In the haze, the roadside trees were indistinct.
Faced with Bao Shaojin’s question, Bao Cheng was momentarily speechless. He wanted to say he could make his own decisions. However, remembering the fate of another cousin, Bao Xun, the words remained unspoken.
He even entertained a glimmer of hope, thinking that since Bao Shaojin was now the heir of the Bao Family, perhaps as the youngest Bao descendant, his burden wouldn’t be so heavy. This thought, however, was quickly quashed.
Would his parents agree?
When the Bao Corporation was handed over to Bao Shaojin, his parents had opposed it and made a scene in front of the old lady. It wasn’t until Bao Shaojin sat at the pinnacle of the Bao Corporation that Bao Cheng’s parents buried their discontent in their hearts. In private, they constantly urged Bao Cheng, hoping he would secure a place in the Bao Corporation — a notion they never abandoned.
For them, strengthening Bao Cheng and arranging a marriage would be of the greatest benefit. Bao Cheng’s parents would never abandon it!
Thinking of this matter, Bao Cheng shook his head and honestly answered, "I fear I can’t make the decisions!" Finishing, Bao Cheng bowed his head in extreme frustration. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Since you can’t make the decisions, there’s no need to bring irrelevant people to the Bao Family, lest you marry and incur gossip." Bao Shaojin’s tone was grim with warning.
For gentlemen like them, having fun outside was perfectly fine, but bringing those from outside into their home was a line nearly unanimously agreed upon within their circle.
After all, once matters were laid bare, everything changed — leaving room for gossip!
"Got it." Following his cousin’s few words of admonition, Bao Cheng felt a bit clearer yet couldn’t find joy, muttering, "But from grandmother’s words, she insists on meeting my girlfriend. How could I refuse?"
Bao Cheng indeed dared not defy Madam Bao’s request!
"If you don’t have a girlfriend, what’s there for her to see?" Bao Shaojin seldom dabbled in trivial gossip, but for some reason, he was suddenly in the mood and even offered a suggestion! It left even himself surprised.
Bao Cheng suddenly saw the light, joyous for three seconds before his face clouded over again, "How could I break up with her for no reason? Besides, she’s very attached to me now, how am I supposed to put it into words." Upon hearing his cousin’s suggestion, Bao Cheng had indeed entertained the thought. Thinking of Jiang Keke’s recent obedient demeanor, his heart tingled.
He wasn’t yet tired of this relationship!
Little did he know, after listening to him, Bao Shaojin’s dark eyes, akin to a vast deep sea, grew more mysterious and isolated.
Bao Cheng slightly turned his head, noting that his cousin’s eyes had unknowingly closed slightly. Though not far apart, Bao Cheng could distinctly feel the air of detachment surrounding him!
Retracting his gaze, Bao Cheng’s mind replayed his cousin’s recent words, giving rise to a bold idea: perhaps he could pretend to break up with "An Yin," while subtly leaking the breakup news to his cousin. This way, he wouldn’t have to explain to his cousin about An Yin pretending to be his "girlfriend."