Chapter 56-Part 2

Shen Jiming finally showed some displeasure. He looked at Shen Zhi and coldly snorted, “Ah Zhi, do you think it’s useful to fight with me? We are father and son; we should be united against others.”

“Your grandfather knows you ranked first in the grade this time and specifically asked me to bring you over.”

Shen Jiming felt a cloud lift from his heart. He always knew his son couldn’t be overshadowed by his older and younger brother’s useless kids.

Shen Zhi had been a genius child, winning gold medals in math competitions. His older and younger brothers made plenty of sour comments, but they couldn’t deny Shen Zhi’s superiority over their children.

But the good times didn’t last long. Shen Zhi fell into delinquency, fighting outside school and seeing his grades plummet drastically.

Because of this, Shen Jiming had been ridiculed by his brothers, who said Shen Zhi was a wasted talent, impressive as a child but mediocre as an adult.

Shen Jiming felt resentful but had no counterargument.

Unexpectedly, Shen Zhi scored first in the grade on the midterm exam, releasing years of pent-up frustration in Shen Jiming.

A few days ago, he casually mentioned this to the old master, and sure enough, the old master invited Shen Zhi back for dinner.

Ever since Shen Zhi started causing trouble and neglecting his studies, the old master’s favor has visibly diminished.

This time, the old master’s invitation to dinner was an opportunity. Shen Jiming had been eyeing a logistics subsidiary under the old master’s control, which had significant potential for rapid growth.

This subsidiary had already achieved a considerable scale and had great prospects. Not only Shen Jiming, but also his two brothers, were interested in it. Shen Jiming thought he could use Shen Zhi’s exam success to win the old master’s favor and secure the company for himself.

Shen Zhi saw through Shen Jiming’s calculations and sneered, “You can forget about it.”

Did he hate Shen Jiming?

At first, he didn’t actually hate him. Although Shen Jiming took him away from his mother and grandparents, Shen Zhi had never had a father, and the idea of a father was something he always imagined.

He had fantasized about his father appearing out of nowhere.

One day, Shen Jiming really did show up, arranging the lives of Yuan Sheng and his grandparents and giving Shen Zhi a new life. Even if he didn’t show it, how could Shen Zhi not like him?

How could he not like him?

But he could never forget overhearing the argument between Shen Jiming and Cheng Hui.

It was shortly after the celebration banquet for his math gold medal, and he was still feeling lost. That day, he came home early from school, and as he went upstairs, Shen Jiming’s study door was open.

The heated argument inside spilled out.

Cheng Hui screamed hysterically, “I already agreed to take in that little bastard; didn’t you say you’d go through with the surgery with me? Why have you changed your mind again?”

“I told you, next week, Dad is taking me and Ah Zhi fishing. You know how rare it is for Dad to agree to take us fishing.”

Cheng Hui was on the verge of losing her mind. She had compromised for Shen Jiming, only to be trampled on.

Shen Jiming, impatient, said, “We already have Ah Zhi. Instead of wasting time on something so uncertain, we should focus on nurturing Ah Zhi.”

“Why, why?” Cheng Hui was nearly going insane.

This time, Shen Jiming finally lost his restraint. “Not being able to have children is your problem. For me, it doesn’t matter who gave birth to Ah Zhi; he is my son.”

“As long as he can win over the old man.”

Shen Zhi didn’t want to believe the outsiders’ words, and he refused to believe them.

Because he thought Shen Jiming took him in because he was his father, out of love and responsibility. But then he heard Shen Jiming say those words himself.

As long as he can win over the old man, that’s all that matters.

So that’s why.

He was brought into this family not because of any father-son affection.

It was because he was a tool, a tool for Shen Jiming to gain the old man’s favor.

Now that Shen Jiming saw value in him again, he immediately came to the door, wasting no time.

Shen Zhi looked at him coldly, almost grinding his teeth as he said in a low voice, “I told you, unless I’m dead, don’t even think about it.”

…

When Shen Jiming left in a rage, the room was a mess. Shen Zhi sat quietly on the sofa, staring expressionlessly at the wall opposite him.

After a long time, his phone rang.

It was “Für Elise.”

(T/N: This is from Beethoven….You can listen to the song here🙂

He had set this ringtone especially for Ji Ran—unique and just for her.

Finally, Shen Zhi moved his fingers, reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. When he answered, Ji Ran seemed to sense something was wrong.

She asked softly, “Shen Zhi, what’s wrong?”

The boy’s eyes stung—the kind of dryness and discomfort that came with trying to move his eyes.

After a long silence, he whispered, “Ran Ran, I’m feeling a bit down.”