Chapter 42

The private jet landed and came to a stop at 4:30 p.m. Afterward, Shang and Wen waited in the VIP lounge of the private jet terminal for their daughter, who arrived fashionably late after several minutes.

With only three days left until the New Year, they had flown specifically to be with Shang Mingbao for the New Year’s celebration. In a couple of days, their second daughter, Shang Mingzhuo, would also join them in Boston. After that, they would all fly together to the Palm Beach resort to spend the rest of their vacation.

Upon seeing Shang Mingbao for the first time, Wen Youyi immediately noticed how much she had changed. She wore brown riding boots and a blue-brown-white plaid skirt, which was her usual style. However, her upper half was quite different—a windbreaker in light blue, with the zipper neatly pulled up to the top.

On the collar of her windbreaker, she pinned a chest brooch shaped like a brown teddy bear. On her right shoulder, she carried a soft tote bag adorned with a bow and a dark green pine branch charm.

Wen Youyi could tell that this was an outfit she had carefully coordinated, with all the colors and accessories designed to complement the windbreaker.

She took the fresh-cut flowers from Shang Mingbao and asked, “What made you decide to wear a windbreaker today?”

The windbreaker was far from fashionable, especially in women’s fashion. No matter how carefully Shang Mingbao dressed, it couldn’t compare to swapping out her top for a fall or winter runway piece.

Shang Mingbao said, “It’s warm. It’s been so cold these days.” She then looped her arm through Wen Youyi’s and asked, “Does it look good, Mommy?”

Given Wen Youyi’s fashion experience and standards, she couldn’t honestly say the windbreaker looked good, so she just tapped her nose and said, “At your age, you’d look beautiful even in a sack.”

Shang Yuye, usually taciturn and biased against the fashion industry, suddenly said, “It looks good, better than before.”

Shang Mingbao replied, “When Dad says it looks good, it feels like a kind of insult…”

Shang Yuye: “…”

He realized that his little daughter must be deliberately creating a pretense of being less close to him to hide the fact that he had secretly given her a five-million-dollar bribe.

At the terminal, two Bentleys and one business car were waiting. One Bentley was Shang Mingbao’s daily ride, while the other was for Shang Yuye and Wen Youyi’s travel over the next few days. The business car was for Butler Sheng Shu, assistant Xiao Lai, two security guards, and luggage.

Having not seen each other for a long time, Shang Mingbao didn’t want to be left alone, so she coquettishly asked Shang Yuye to sit in the front seat.

Shang Yuye hadn’t sat in the front seat for at least twenty years and was too lazy to bother, heading straight to the rear seat of the other Bentley.

Shang Mingbao deliberately said loudly to Wen Youyi, “Dad is so grand. It seems like he thinks sitting in the front seat is a terrible crime.”

The driver, standing by the car door, was sweating inside: Please don’t say that! He really didn’t want to sit in the front seat with the Chairman!

…The plan fell through.

Shang Yuye returned to the Bentley, opened the front passenger door, paused for a second, and expressionlessly sat down.

Wen Youyi patted Shang Mingbao’s hand and whispered, “You can’t bully Dad as soon as we meet.”

Shang Yuye’s presence was so strong, and he wasn’t the talkative type, creating a stark contrast inside the long luxury black car: Shang Mingbao chatted with Wen Youyi about everything, while Shang Yuye sat silently, his brows furrowed, enduring the uncomfortable front seat.

Shang Mingbao shared the brooch and charm with Wen Youyi, saying where she bought them, how much they cost, and that the charm was handmade by the vendor, using several pine branches. She even held it up to Wen Youyi’s nose, asking if she could smell the fragrance.

Wen Youyi listened attentively. Her husband was worried about their little daughter using items that cost only a few dollars, but she smiled and remained silent, allowing Shang Mingbao to share.

Upon reaching Madison Avenue, Sophie and the entire housekeeping team had been waiting for a while. Wen Youyi instructed Xiao Lai to distribute the New Year’s gifts. Lai Siqi, her assistant, was a graduate student from New York University, and like her employer, had a charming manner.

After a brief rest, Wen Youyi called Sophie over to chat.

Managing a family with a multi-billion-dollar fortune was no easier than running a company; every detail mattered, both internally and externally. For Sophie and the other housekeepers, Wen Youyi was an unquestionable boss. Being summoned for inquiries was as critical as a year-end report for the company’s senior management. Moreover, she had keen eyes and a discerning heart.

Sophie reported on daily routines and neighborhood interactions since moving here, as well as Shang Mingbao’s academic performance, social interactions, and changes after reducing her allowance.

She said somewhat indirectly, “Miss Liao is currently the best friend of the third young lady, but Miss Liao’s style is quite ‘New York’.”

Wen Youyi was aware of this, as the closeness between her daughters led Liao Yuno’s mother to often invite her for golf or afternoon tea, along with business or charity plans for review.

Wen Youyi pondered, examining the tea cup’s rim, and said, “Babe is quite opinionated. I see her grades this semester are much better than Miss Liao’s, and I’ve checked their attendance records with the school.”

Sophie understood the implication and shifted the topic, saying, “Miss Liao does indeed have genuine feelings for Babe.”

Wen Youyi smiled slightly, “At this age, having a few true friends is not bad. Anything else?”

“Also, the youngest master of the Wu family, Alan, visited Deep Water Bay during the Spring Festival two years ago.”

Wen Youyi, thinking, said, “He was only sixteen at the time, a year younger than Babe.”

“Yes, Master Wu is studying archaeology at Columbia University and is on the university’s rowing team. Before Christmas, he hosted a dinner, and both Babe and Miss Liao attended.”

“Really?” Wen Youyi pondered, “Was that Babe’s first time attending an event in the past few months?”

“Yes.”

Wen Youyi sipped her hot tea, “Babe’s condition has improved a lot compared to a few months ago.”

Though her children had kept it from her, Wen Youyi generally knew what had happened to Mingbao. As time had passed, the teachings Mingbao received from the church were likely more profound than anything she could have said herself, so she pretended not to know and lightly brushed it off. However, while Mingbao had previously been moody and prone to tantrums, she now seemed to have returned to her sweet and charming self, which both pleased and intrigued Wen Youyi.

“It seems I should thank Alan for this?” she raised her eyes, looking at Sophie with a half-smile.

Sophie cautiously replied, “Young Master Wu has indeed been getting closer to Babe recently, and the Christmas gift he gave was quite extravagant.”

“What was it?”

Sophie named the brand series, and Wen Youyi immediately recognized it.

“Over a million,” Wen Youyi sighed, glancing down with a faint smile. “Young Master Wu is really generous, but how could he forget that Babe doesn’t like colorless diamonds?”

Sophie’s expression faltered, clearly impressed.

After some more discussion, Sophie finished her report and let out a sigh of relief as she left the living room.

She didn’t mention the apartment on West 56th Street because she was Shang Mingbao’s housekeeper, not a surveillance camera. Wen Youyi also wasn’t keen on having every detail of their children’s private matters reported.

To heal a girl who’s been hurt emotionally and divert her attention, only a new romance could be effective. Wen Youyi had a suspicion but wasn’t sure if it was a serious relationship or just a flirtation. If it was serious, the expensive but unsuitable gift suggested he wasn’t very considerate of Babe. If it wasn’t serious, the over-the-top gift indicated he was being opportunistic.

Thinking about the Wu family’s phone calls and invitations, Wen Youyi rested her temples and pondered deeply on the imperial concubine’s couch.

During the rare family dinner at home, Shang Mingbao showed them around the five-story house and acted sweetly. She tried to smile more charmingly so that her smile wouldn’t seem out of place when talking with Xiang Feiran later.

The conversation turned to the romantic lives of their five children.

They couldn’t discuss Shang Lu, as it was still kept secret from Shang Yuye. Wen Youyi skillfully avoided mentioning her youngest son and said to Shang Mingbao, “Your eldest brother has been seen with a girl recently.”

Shang Shao, still single over thirty, had long worried Wen Youyi. There were rumors about his dysfunction or sexual orientation, but his position as the eldest son made it impossible to reveal. Seeing him willing to meet with a girl, Wen Youyi felt a quiet relief.

Shang Mingbao asked, “Who is she? Do I know her?”

“You don’t know her; she’s a classmate of his in the UK. Oh, but it seems she’s not exactly a classmate,” Wen Youyi recalled nonchalantly. “She went to a private girls’ school for high school. They probably met at a social event.”

Shang Mingbao’s heart skipped a beat. She thought her eldest brother was serious about relationships, but this girl seemed from a different social class. If she were from their level, Wen Youyi would have described her family background in detail. Could it be that her brother wasn’t seeking an arranged marriage?

“Yoh, don’t bring up things that aren’t even close to happening,” Shang Yuye called out to his wife, his stern face showing a hint of helplessness. “It’s best not to mention things without a clear outcome.”

Wen Youyi sighed, knowing Shang Yuye had reservations about the girl’s family background in politics in the UK, but she couldn’t reveal these details to Shang Mingbao. She gently changed the subject, “It’s good that he’s taking this step, even if it doesn’t work out. At least it’s a genuine love experience, right?”

Shang Mingbao looked between her parents, feeling a bit stunned.

She could sense the conflict and disagreements between her parents, which seemed impossible to reconcile at the moment.

She lowered her eyelashes, “Dad doesn’t agree with my brother’s girlfriend?”

“Not even a girlfriend yet.” Wen Youyi pinched her hand under the table and gave her a look.

“Even if she is a girlfriend, I wouldn’t agree,” Shang Yuye said coldly.

Wen Youyi had no choice but to nudge her husband again, frowning in reproach.

“Dad still has that feudal patriarch attitude,” Shang Mingbao bit her lip, her heart pounding, feeling a bit tearful.

Wen Youyi tightened her grip on her hand, her gaze growing stern.

Shang Yuye opened a hot towel from the tray beside him, “Is that so?”

He curled his lips and sneered, “When you enjoy wealth and honor, you must be prepared to pay the price. Freedom and romanticism won’t help you maintain wealth. Don’t come to me with complaints about your suffering while relying on a trust fund.”

He rarely showed anger in front of his family, his oppressive authority usually subdued by his love for them. But when he did get angry, Shang Mingbao felt a jolt in her heart. He hadn’t raised his voice or lost his temper; he simply stated a harsh reality.

After a few seconds, Shang Mingbao’s tears fell into her plate. Crying, she let herself go, “It’s my brother in love; why are you angry at me? Yes, you’re a victim of arranged marriage, so you don’t want to see us happy!”

She finished her outburst in one breath, and the large dining room fell into an oppressive silence, even the flames in the fireplace seemed to be out of place.

Shang Mingbao gripped her fork and knife tightly, feeling a shameful embarrassment in her exposed arms, neck, and face. She kept her head down, staring at the tablecloth with black velvet and gold embroidery.

The cold silence lasted only a second.

“Shang Mingbao.” Shang Yuye slowly called her full name, his shadow looming like a mountain by the dining table. “I’ve never been a victim of arranged marriage. You can speak up for your brother, but it doesn’t give you the right to harm your mother with your words.”

Wen Youyi forced a smile, trying to signal her husband to stop, while also rushing to comfort Shang Mingbao, “Babe didn’t mean it like that. Are you really going to punish her? It’s a festive occasion, don’t make everyone unhappy. Reflect on it quickly!”

Shang Mingbao cried in Wen Youyi’s arms, her tears blurring her vision of the crystal chandelier, and she didn’t know when Shang Yuye had left the table.

Wen Youyi hugged her head and patted her back, “Stop crying. Your father is in a bad mood lately. Don’t hold it against him.”

As Shang Yuye took off his tie, ready to calmly discuss the matter, Wen Youyi closed the door behind her and said, “You’re sleeping alone tonight.”

Shang Yuye: “…”

When Wen Youyi went to find Shang Mingbao with a gift box, she unexpectedly saw her snuggled up on the sofa, chatting with someone.

Her face, still flushed from her earlier crying, now had a new, rosy glow. The corners of her mouth were turned up high, and she was habitually nibbling on her nails—this showed she was completely absorbed in the matter at hand.

Just like a cough, love cannot be hidden. Wen Youyi watched her quietly for a while and understood.

She intentionally spoke up and walked over to her, handing her the gift box. “A belated Christmas present.”

Shang Mingbao put down her phone, placed the gift box neatly on the sofa, and untied the ribbon.

Inside was a half-length robe, beautifully designed in pink with intricate embroidery. This was clearly not a childish robe but rather an elegant one. Shang Mingbao marveled at it, taking it out and pressing it against her face. “It’s so soft.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.” Shang Mingbao replied, “But how do you wear this… It’s quite short.”

“It should cover here,” Wen Youyi said, indicating at the top of her thighs.

Shang Mingbao’s face turned even redder, but she let Wen Youyi gently brush her hair aside and looked at her tenderly. “Time flies; I can’t believe my youngest child is an adult now.”

Each daughter receives a robe from her upon reaching adulthood, and Shang Mingbao had been waiting for this one. Perhaps Wen Youyi wanted her to grow up more slowly, which is why it arrived late on her nineteenth Christmas.

“I thought you had forgotten…” Shang Mingbao mumbled.

“How could I?” Wen Youyi observed her. “So, do you have anyone in mind you’d like to wear it for?”

“No, of course not!” Shang Mingbao denied, her emotions stirred.

Wen Youyi didn’t press further. “That’s okay, take your time.”

“Mommy…” Shang Mingbao nestled into her arms and hesitantly asked, “Does he have to be completely matching in terms of family background and wealth? If he’s a bit lacking, would that be okay?”

Wen Youyi thought she was hinting at the Wu family and pondered before answering, “It’s fine if he’s a bit lacking, but he must love you, have good character, be ambitious, and lead a clean life.”

“What if he’s very, very different?” Shang Mingbao looked up at her, eagerly awaiting her answer.

“That’s a harder question,” Wen Youyi considered. “It’s not just about whether he can afford your lifestyle, but different backgrounds produce different perspectives on life and the world. For example, receiving a gift worth over a million dollars might not make you feel overly special, but another man might think you’re materialistic. People’s imaginations and interpretations are limited by their own understanding. Love is essential, but for a long-lasting relationship, there must be common goals, mutual understanding, and compatibility—not just talking past each other.

“Besides…” Wen Youyi paused and sighed, “Mommy would also be reluctant to see you settle for less. You’re still young, and you can take your time choosing. There’s no rush, even if you stay single for your whole life.”

She added with a smile, “Oh, I forgot, our babe wanted to be a bride at nine.”

Shang Mingbao felt her eyes well up again. She closed her eyes and remained silent.

Some things that are already understood shouldn’t need further questioning.

The next morning, Mrs. Wu called.

Wen Youyi answered the phone, chatted with her for a few minutes, and agreed to attend the dinner at the Wu residence the following evening.

Mrs. Wu had previously sent an email and an invitation, which was now placed under the candelabrum on the living room fireplace. After hanging up, Wen Youyi walked to the fireplace and examined the details and address on the invitation.

Shang Mingbao was still asleep, so Wen Youyi and Shang Yuye decided to walk to Central Park for a stroll, accompanied by two tall bodyguards for security.

In the cold weather, they entered the park from the entrance below the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, strolling across the large lawn toward the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Shang Yuye held Wen Youyi’s hand tightly and asked if Shang Mingbao had been well-behaved and whether she was still troubled.

Wen Youyi exhaled a puff of white breath. “Now you’re concerned? You were so harsh yesterday. When we go to the Wu residence for dinner tomorrow, you mustn’t treat it as an inspection.”

The Wu family had been acquainted with theirs since the previous generation. Although they had some cooperation and interaction, it wasn’t among the closest circles around the Shang family. Later, when Shang Mingbao came to New York for surgery, recovery, and study, Mrs. Wu took it upon herself to host and attend to everything, considering herself the closest person to them in New York.

Wen Youyi had also heard Mrs. Liao mention that Wu Baiyan often looked after Liao Yuno and Shang Mingbao, with Mrs. Wu caring for these two girls as if they were her own daughters.

Out of obligation and affection, Wen Youyi felt she had no choice but to attend the dinner during their visit to New York.

On this winter morning, Central Park was sparsely populated, and Wen Youyi, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t notice a boy on a bicycle passing by them.

Even if she had noticed, it would have been hard to remember, because he was dressed entirely in black, obscuring most of his face. His detached, cold demeanor blended with the surroundings. If Wen Youyi had paid more attention, she would have noticed that his jacket was the same style as her daughter’s.

Xiang Feiran quickly rode past them on his bike. As he rounded the corner, he didn’t slow down, and as the couple came into view, he skillfully took a slightly wider turn.

The gap he left was enough to create a chill in the air and a faint scraping sound of narrow tires on the frosted road.

Shang Mingbao brushed her teeth and told Sophie she was heading to Central Park to find her parents. She ran lightly up the escalator, almost sliding down the handrail in her hurry.

In the foyer, she encountered Xiao Lai, who was discussing the details of the Spring Festival banquet. She called out, “Xiao Lai Jie,” but before Xiao Lai could respond, she pushed open the door and disappeared.

She had intentionally given Xiang Feiran the wrong street address and ran all the way to him, panting when she finally saw him.

Xiang Feiran’s bicycle was propped up against a leafless ginkgo tree. His hands, which had been in his pockets, reached out to catch her as she came running toward him, turning into an embrace.

Shang Mingbao didn’t brake, crashing straight into his arms. As she tiptoed up to kiss him, Xiang Feiran swiftly covered her mouth with his hand.

“Did you brush your teeth?” he asked calmly.

“……?”

How could someone in a passionate romance in the lava ask such cold and ruthless questions?

Shang Mingbao looked incredulous, then heard Xiang Feiran chuckle softly. He held her tightly in his arms, pressing his lips against the back of her head.

After the kiss, Shang Mingbao’s nose was red, and she threatened him, “I won’t brush my teeth tomorrow!”

“I’m busy tomorrow morning. Let’s choose another time,” Xiang Feiran said, gently tapping her forehead and replying with a dismissive tone.

This morning, her simple desire to see him had him turning back from his way to school.

When they spoke on the phone earlier, Shang Mingbao had hidden under the covers, peeking out with only her eyes, her voice muffled. She apologized for her disappearance last night, saying she couldn’t find an opportunity as she was sleeping with her mother.

She said “good morning” with a rough, just-woken-up voice, asking him what time he went to bed last night.

Xiang Feiran had waited for her message until 2 AM, reading some papers in the meantime. Only when he was sure she wasn’t going to reply did he turn off the light and go to bed.

Without her in his arms, his sleep suddenly became rebellious, and he tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep.

Hearing he went to bed at 2 AM, Shang Mingbao said in a soft voice, “Sorry…”

She seemed to hear Wen Youyi approaching outside the door and quickly said, “Wait for me!” before covering the microphone, like a rabbit listening for danger.

Xiang Feiran doubted if he was really in a relationship with an adult.

He felt like she was a high school student being monitored by the dorm supervisor.

Wen Youyi was again asked to leave by Xiao Lai, and Shang Mingbao sighed in relief. She asked Xiang Feiran what time he woke up, if he had breakfast, what he ate, if it was cold today, and what he was wearing. She reported that she wore a windbreaker to pick up someone at the airport yesterday and received praise from her father.

After chatting without much substance for ten minutes, she couldn’t stand the heat under the covers anymore and, breathing heavily, asked, “Do you miss me?”

Xiang Feiran replied steadily, “I’m currently parked by the roadside, focusing on chatting with you.”

He had never so extravagantly wasted his precious time.

When he said that, Shang Mingbao felt that the noise of the traffic on his side was overwhelming. After listening for a while, she inexplicably said, “I want to see you, now.”

So Xiang Feiran tossed his half-finished coffee into the trash can, calculated the nearest biking route in his mind, and appeared at her place.

“What do you need to do tomorrow morning?” Shang Mingbao persistently asked. “Aren’t you on vacation?”

“I have a group conference call with domestic colleagues,” Xiang Feiran replied. “I’ll be free at 4 PM.”

Later, he needed to deliver some memorabilia to Wu Qingtong, the head of the Wu family’s previous generation. These included several letters, a personal notebook, and some yellowed old photos. The older generation valued ceremonial gestures, feeling that direct mailing lacked personal touch, so they specifically asked him to make the trip.

Wu Qingtong did not inform him about a banquet tomorrow night, which was an invitation for business.

Since Wu Qingtong wouldn’t be attending, the banquet wouldn’t interfere with his meeting with Xiang Feiran. He liked Xiang Feiran and planned to ask if he would consider spending two years at Harvard for a postdoctoral fellowship, offering to write him a recommendation letter. It would later be a different story when he realized that with Xiang Feiran’s academic achievements and resources, his recommendation would be of no use.

Shang Mingbao calculated that their dinner was set for 5 PM, and it only took twenty minutes to get from there to the Wu family’s home.

She nodded and softly said, “Will you be on time at 4 PM?”

“Do you have other things to do?” Xiang Feiran asked, brushing his fingers across her powdery cheek and wiping the moisture from her lips.

“I have to have dinner with my parents,” Shang Mingbao used a compromising excuse. It was just a meal among adults, no need to tell Xiang Feiran.

Xiang Feiran nodded, “Then 4 PM it is. I won’t be late for you.”

In fact, he was never late for anything, but adding “for you” made it sound more appealing.

Shang Mingbao hugged him tightly and then asked for a kiss.

She was a bit nervous and kissed him messily, while Xiang Feiran softly commanded, “Focus.”

Shang Mingbao was anxious, constantly fearing that Shang Qingye and the others might pop out from some corner.

It really felt like an underground romance from school days.

She gasped, her face warm, and quietly said, “Feiran, could you cover me a bit…”

Xiang Feiran couldn’t help but laugh softly in her ear, his arm around her shoulder ensuring she was completely covered.