Jin Yaotiao: “Wow.”

Her mother, while applying hand cream, leaned over curiously.

After so many years, it was the first time her husband had mentioned secrets from his master’s family.

The Shang family, such a prestigious name, turned out to have such sensational internal affairs.

Both mother and daughter displayed expressions eager for gossip.

Father Jin: “???”

Realizing their thoughts, Father Jin couldn’t help but laugh, “What are you imagining! Shang Rong was brought into the family by my master’s second wife when I was already a teenager. Later, he took the surname Shang. Legally speaking, doesn’t that make him my master’s son?”

Speechless.

Mother Jin showed a slightly disappointed look, then disinterestedly grabbed her daughter’s hand. “I squeezed out too much hand cream; here, let me rub some on you.”

Jin Yaotiao let her mother apply the cream while thinking—so that’s how it was.

Grandpa Jin and Grandpa Shang were close friends since childhood.

Grandpa Shang couldn’t have children, so Grandpa Jin had given his father to Grandpa Shang as an heir.

Later, Grandpa Shang’s second wife brought in another child.

The Shang Rong her father mentioned was now the current head of the Shang family, the one Jin Yaotiao had looked into before asking her father.

Public records about the Shang family didn’t mention that Shang Rong wasn’t the biological son of Old Master Shang.

However, it was true that Shang Rong was much younger than her father.

His mother, the second wife, was still alive and came from the Xia family, a notable and influential family in Shen City.

The Xia family managed many of the Shang family’s key businesses.

Deep in thought, Jin Yaotiao frowned slightly.

Father Jin met her gaze and smiled. “Don’t overthink it. Your Grandpa Shang’s apprentices all grew up calling my dad senior brother. They treated him well. Your grandpa was tough—when there was trouble with my stepmother’s family, he called me back to Linjiang. There’s no blood relationship between us and the Shang family. We never thought about taking anything from them. Besides, every cloud has a silver lining. If I hadn’t returned to Linjiang, I wouldn’t have met your mom or had you.”

Mother Jin, blushing a little, shot her husband a glare and walked away.

Jin Yaotiao merely smiled faintly without saying anything.

Her father’s words were lighthearted, but he was raised as an heir and then excluded from the Shang family.

How could he not have been affected?

Now, so many years later, he had never mentioned it before.

Talking about it now, he seemed genuinely indifferent.

Understandable, given his current happiness—what was there to regret or care about anymore?

The conflicts with his stepmother in his youth had become blurry memories.

Clearer were the moments when Old Master Shang, after sternly disciplining him, secretly brought ointment to his room at night with a mix of authority and concern.

Or when his junior disciples mischievously said, “Senior brother, let’s sneak out while Dad’s not looking.”

Even Shang Rong had been a close companion once.

Master once said that the stepmother was a pitiable person, too poor to afford food, and already raising a child under harsh conditions.

When Shang Rong first arrived at the Shang family with her, he was just a tiny, skinny, dark-skinned boy with a timid gaze that hinted at years of suffering.

At that time, Father Jin teased him, shared food with him, coaxed him to call him “brother,” and even took him along to secretly climb walls and catch crickets.

But the same boy who once clung to his clothes to play later held his stepmother’s hand and declared, “The Shang family is mine. I’ll never give it to you.”

Deep down, Father Jin had no desire to fight with the Shang family.

It had nothing to do with Shang Rong.

The renowned chefs in Shen City who worked for the Shang family had all called him “senior brother” countless times.

They had grown up together, enduring their master’s punishments and comforting each other.

When Master passed away, Father Jin felt proud that the disciples carried on his legacy, even though he chose to sever ties with the Shang family.

However, Mingde, their current business, was the Jin family’s lifeblood and his daughter’s cherished battlefield.

If the Shang family ever aimed their arrows at his daughter—

As her father, he would have no choice but to act.

---

The model Ye Baiqing, who had brought Mingde into the public eye with a single article, seemed to have turned her life around.

She had shaken off her anxious, sleepless state during her pregnancy.

After stopping work, she resumed updating her social media occasionally, even posting on Instagram to share life updates.

She shared a photo of her dinner—noodles cooked with pickled radish and ginger slices gifted by Jin Yaotiao—encouraging herself to eat more.

International runway colleagues and celebrity friends liked her post.

A Latin American star named Phoebe not only liked it but also reached out, concerned about her health:

“Bai, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you post. Are you facing any troubles?”

Ye Baiqing had been out of work for a long time.

After her marriage, she had intended to take a short break before returning.

But losing her first pregnancy shattered her, leaving her in despair.

When she finally conceived again, she focused entirely on protecting the child, unable to think about work.

Yet she had never revealed her struggles to the public.

The greater the psychological pressure, the harder it was to show vulnerability.

Now, as she gradually recovered and confronted her past trauma, she found herself confiding in Phoebe about her untold experiences.

Phoebe was moved to tears. “Oh my God, Bai, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were going through this.”

Ye Baiqing smiled faintly. “It’s okay. I’m much better now. I feel my baby growing stronger. Once I bring them into this world, I’ll get back on my feet and return to the runway. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”

Phoebe: “I’m so happy to see you regaining your spirit. Bai, if you ever feel down again, please don’t bottle it up. It could be postpartum depression. I know an excellent psychologist in New York, one of the best in the field. If you need help, I can introduce you.”

“Thank you,” Ye Baiqing replied, but then hesitated. “Why do you know such a good psychologist, Phoebe? Are you facing difficulties too?”

In the glamorous world of entertainment and fashion, outsiders might not see the struggles.

But as an insider, Ye Baiqing knew how much pressure everyone faced—rivalries, public scrutiny, and constant breakdown moments.

Truly mentally healthy individuals were rare.

Recalling her own dark thoughts during moments of despair, she worried Phoebe might face similar crises.

Phoebe paused, then vaguely replied, “It’s not me—it’s a friend. She’s been dealing with some issues and is seeing this doctor for anorexia. But I can’t tell you her name.”

Ye Baiqing instantly understood that Phoebe’s “friend” was likely a big-name star, requiring confidentiality even in such a dire situation.

“How painful it must be to lose your appetite,” Ye Baiqing said empathetically. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why did she develop anorexia?”

Phoebe gave a bitter smile. “People like you, who are naturally slim, might not understand what it feels like to be mocked by fans and the media for not being skinny enough. She was ridiculed for gaining weight for a long time, so she started dieting obsessively and ended up like this. The doctors are working hard to help her, but she resists eating. Overall… the treatment hasn’t been very smooth. I hope one day she can break free from this shadow, just like you.”

Ye Baiqing sat up and looked out at the sunny Deep City (Shenzhen) through the window.

She suddenly said, “Why don’t you bring her to our country and give it a try?”

Phoebe asked, “Does your country have excellent psychologists? The ones who cured you?”

Ye Baiqing shook her head. “What cured me wasn’t a psychologist, Phoebe. It was someone who made me feel happiness and hope.”

And the food they made.

---

At the same time, in the Shang family house, Shang Rong sat on the sofa reading the newspaper.

Suddenly, a familiar name caught his eye in a corner of the page.

Looking at the headline, he saw it was that article that had recently gone viral in Deep City.

He could read no more, slamming the newspaper down and reaching for his teacup.

Sitting opposite him was his cousin Xia Ren.

Like the rest of the Xia family, who had once treated Shang Rong and his mother with arrogance and disdain during childhood, Xia Ren was now bowing obsequiously before him, pouring tea respectfully.

Seeing Shang Rong’s reaction, Xia Ren immediately set down the teapot and picked up the newspaper.

A glance was enough to understand.

“Brother,” Xia Ren said, “didn’t we already block their approvals? How did Mingde’s branch still open in Deep City?”

Shang Rong’s face darkened, his reluctance to respond evident. “How would I know? Go ask them.”

By “them,” he was clearly referring to the group of active disciples left in the Shang family by the old master.

Hearing this, Xia Ren immediately dropped the subject and changed the topic. “Brother, what do you think that guy surnamed Jin is trying to do? We worked so hard to drive him out of the Shang family, and now he has the audacity to open Mingde in Deep City. Is he deliberately provoking us?”

Shang Rong took a sip of tea, staring down at the tea leaves in his cup.

After a long pause, he let out a cold chuckle. “Would it be surprising if he hated me?”

---

Ye Baiqing’s husband, a somewhat prominent businessman in Deep City, reached out to Mingde to thank Jin Yaotiao for helping his wife recover.

He said, “I was shocked by Baiqing’s article. I’ve been staying home with her recently after clearing my work schedule. She told me that day at the Riverside Restaurant, it was Director Jin who insisted she stay and even cooked a special dish for her. Thank you so much for your kindness.”

Even Jin Yaotiao felt uneasy when she later read that article.

That day at the restaurant, Ye Baiqing had been crying continuously.

When she was about to leave, Jin had noticed her frail figure and discomfort—it was clear she wasn’t well, especially as a pregnant woman.

Her instinct to help had kicked in, but she hadn’t realized how immense the storm brewing beneath Baiqing’s calm facade was.

Perhaps many breakdowns happen silently.

Jin Yaotiao felt grateful for her moment of meddling.

Although Ye Baiqing’s husband offered a gift as thanks, Jin Yaotiao firmly refused. “Ms. Ye was dining in our Mingde restaurant. She is our guest. How could we accept a gift from a guest?”

The man persisted. “Calling you a benefactor to our family wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”

But Jin Yaotiao still declined.

Reluctantly, he gave up but promised, “Fine, Director Jin, I owe you a favor. If you ever need help, just ask.”

He also mentioned something potentially useful to Mingde: “By the way, your Mingde branch in Deep City is officially established, right? I’ve recently had some dealings with the Xia family. They seem displeased with your company’s presence here. The Xia family is connected to the Shang family through blood ties and has strong local influence. If you encounter any trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”

Jin Yaotiao took note, hung up, and immediately instructed her team to prepare for potential challenges.

Sure enough, the company soon received notices from several local departments, stating that an inspection team would visit the next day.

---

At dawn, Xu Wan woke up, changed, and went downstairs.

Her personal assistant had already prepared her coffee.

Having worked with Xu Wan for a long time, the assistant didn’t need many instructions.

Since Xu Wan now preferred having breakfast at Mingde’s cafeteria, there was no need to prepare a morning meal.

After setting the coffee on the table, the assistant quietly left to attend to other tasks.

The house was silent, spacious, with the same sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows as in any other city.

Deep City’s sunshine was no different.

Xu Wan held her coffee, wandering to the window.

She gazed at the neatly trimmed lawn in the yard—the grass blades were the same height she was used to, identical to every other home she had ever lived in.

From living abroad to returning home, from Riverside City to Deep City, whether married or divorced, life remained unchanged.

Xu Wan chuckled at herself and found herself unexpectedly looking forward to meeting her Mingde colleagues in a few hours.

She set down her coffee and glanced around the Deep City house she now called home.

Her assistant silently exited her line of sight.

She used to dislike talking, which had instilled a quiet habit among her staff.

It had never bothered her before, but now she found the silence too much.

Maybe that’s what happens when you have a taste of warmth and joy.

In that moment, she suddenly remembered the image of Jin Yaotiao’s family bustling around the kitchen.

The imagined liveliness faded, leaving only the familiar stillness.

Her phone rang. It was her lawyer.

The lawyer said, “Ms. Xu, all the procedures are completed. Our team has just arrived at the Deep City complex. Once settled, we’ll bring the documents to you.”

Xu Wan asked, “A team? You brought a whole team? Isn’t that a bit excessive?”

The lawyer quickly clarified, “You misunderstood. It’s not the legal team—it’s Jingmao’s team.”

Xu Wan thought for a moment. “Qiming came to Deep City too?”

The lawyer replied, “Yes. I heard there’s a meeting at the Deep City complex.”

Xu Wan wasn’t surprised that her son didn’t inform her of his arrival.

Their family dynamic was nearly devoid of communication.

In the early days, it was because she and her husband were too busy.

Later, as her son grew older, he reciprocated the neglect.

What puzzled her was why Jingmao’s meeting required her son’s presence in Deep City.

After thinking it over, a possibility occurred to her, and her eyebrows lifted slightly.

Hanging up the phone, she scanned her contact list and found a number she rarely dialed. Her expression grew complicated.

After hesitating briefly, she pressed it.

Shen Qiming picked up. “What is it?”

Xu Wan opened her mouth and said, “Qiming, you’re in Deep City, right?”

Shen Qiming replied, “Yes.”

Xu Wan continued, “The lawyer said they’d deliver something to me later. I’ll probably be at Mingde for work. Do you want to come along?”

Shen Qiming paused and, unexpectedly, didn’t refuse outright. Instead, he asked, “Why should I go?”

Hearing her son’s familiar icy tone, Xu Wan felt an odd urge to laugh. She cleared her throat and said, “It’s Mom’s first day at work. I’ve encountered many challenges and would like your advice.”