Fu Zhao

Qin Chaochen patted Qin Shu’s head while sitting on the sofa.

“Dad, let’s play Lego.”

Qin Chaochen picked up a block to play with Qin Shu. Suddenly, his phone vibrated with an unfamiliar number. He put down the block. “Shushu, I need to take a call.”

“Okay, Dad,” Qin Shu said sweetly.

Qin Chaochen walked to the balcony to answer the call. The voice on the other end was gentle and reserved: “Mr. Qin, could you and Fu Quezhi come to the Fu Family for a casual dinner tomorrow night? We’ve prepared dishes you both like. Father and Mother miss you both, and of course, little Shu too.”

“Mr. Qin, it’s fortunate your health is… fine.” Fu Zhao deliberately paused, stretching his tone, adding a hint of ambiguity.

Qin Chaochen immediately held the phone away from his ear. Why did this person’s way of speaking feel so uncomfortable?

Wasn’t Fu Quezhi the only son of the Fu Family? No, wait. Qin Chaochen suddenly remembered he was in a novel. Fu Quezhi wasn’t the biological son of the Fu Family; he was mistakenly switched at the hospital with another family’s child.

Fu Zhao noticed the silence on the other end but didn’t hang up. Instead, he pondered how to make Qin Chaochen like him. If he could win over Qin Chaochen, what would Fu Quezhi have left? Fu Zhao regretted not seeing Fu Quezhi’s breakdown when the truth was revealed.

“I need to ask Fu Quezhi’s opinion on this.”

Hearing this, Fu Zhao was momentarily stunned, gripping his phone tightly, and squeezed out, “Sure, no problem.”

Qin Chaochen politely ended the call and fell into deep thought, his mind filled with the real and fake young masters.

He remembered that his nemesis was also a malicious supporting character.

In the original story, the fake young master was as cold as the moon. The home he lived in for eighteen years became someone else’s. His parents’ care turned sour, his nemesis’s harassment, and the strange looks at school drove him to the dark side.

After turning dark, he opposed the protagonist, the real young master Fu Zhao, and eventually fell for another protagonist, Fu Zhao’s destined partner, Gu Yunzhou. He leaked his company’s secrets to Gu Yunzhou, who stole the core technology. In despair, Fu Quezhi tried to crash into Fu Zhao with a car but couldn’t bring himself to hit Gu Yunzhou, choosing a day when they were apart.

The crash didn’t kill Fu Zhao but landed Fu Quezhi in a mental hospital. The fake young master Fu Quezhi, covered in disgrace, vanished from the public eye. Years later, when Fu Zhao was commemorating his grandparents, he casually asked about Fu Quezhi’s well-being.

The next day, he heard that Fu Quezhi, tormented by illness, had committed suicide. Fu Zhao felt relieved and held a grand wedding with Gu Yunzhou, living happily ever after.

Qin Chaochen: “???” He had never felt so speechless in his life.

He tried hard to recall more details, but his mind was blank, and no amount of shaking or thinking helped.

“Chaochen, come eat watermelon.” Fu Quezhi brought a plate of watermelon from the kitchen and handed a small cup of watermelon juice to Qin Shu.

Qin Chaochen walked over and took a piece of watermelon. “Someone called me.”

“Who?” Fu Quezhi asked, puzzled.

Now that Qin Chaochen had been discharged, those who wanted to see him had already visited when he was out of danger. Could it be friends from after he turned eighteen? Otherwise, Qin Chaochen wouldn’t have brought it up.

“He invited us to dinner at the Fu Family tomorrow night.” Qin Chaochen noticed Fu Quezhi frown slightly and purse his lips. “I said I needed to ask for your opinion and didn’t agree immediately.”

Fu Quezhi looked up at Qin Chaochen, who was still eating watermelon. Just as Qin Chaochen was about to sneak a glance at Fu Quezhi, he met a pair of dark, amused eyes.

Qin Chaochen awkwardly shifted his gaze, holding the watermelon. “Do you want to go? If you want to go, we’ll go; if not, we won’t.”

“Let’s go, but we won’t bring Shushu.” Fu Quezhi thought for a moment. “I’ll call Fu Zhao later.”

“He’s just an unimportant person.”

Qin Chaochen gave Fu Quezhi a rare look. In the past, Fu Quezhi valued family ties and even dragged him along to pick gifts for Fu’s mother. Although it was part of a deal, he still accompanied Fu Quezhi to choose gifts.

Now, he seemed calm about matters concerning the Fu Family.

“Drink less; we’ll have dinner later.” Fu Quezhi reminded, taking Qin Shu’s watermelon juice back to the tray along with the watermelon.

Qin Shu blinked his eyes.

Qin Chaochen had only eaten one piece of chilled watermelon. Did Fu Quezhi have to be like this? Qin Chaochen sulked on the sofa, feeling wronged, especially after sharing Fu Zhao’s news with him.

He logged into his QQ account and poked He Ze.

He Ze replied almost instantly with a sleepy kitten emoji.

Qin Chaochen: [Do you know Fu Zhao?]

He Ze, who clocked in at his father’s company every day, had finally taken a job to look after Qin Chaochen. Now that Qin Chaochen had mostly recovered, he was back to his hellish routine. Seeing this message, he instantly perked up.

He Ze: [The real young master of the Fu Family who was lost outside. He’s now the legitimate heir and already working at Fu’s company.]

He Ze: [Fu Zhao is quite capable. He even started a publicly listed company in college with the latest 3D technology. He’s bold and admired in the circles of wealthy young masters and socialites.]

He Ze righteously: [But I still support Fu Quezhi. I’m someone who helps family over reason.]

Qin Chaochen sent a knocking emoji.

…

During dinner, Qin Shu sat in his special chair, eating. “I’ll take Shushu to school tomorrow.”

“I’ll go to school too.”

Qin Chaochen blushed, realizing he was already twenty-three and not an eighteen-year-old high school student.

“Are you taking Shushu?”

Qin Chaochen glanced at his son and nodded. “Of course, I want to take my son.”

After dinner, Qin Shu was watching cartoons on the sofa, and Fu Quezhi was watching with him. Qin Shu nestled in his arms, and the atmosphere between them was harmonious.

“Fu Quezhi, I have something to tell you.”

“Let’s talk here.” Fu Quezhi walked to the balcony. The balcony was spacious, with many flowers and succulents, and a chair amidst the blooms. The stars twinkled in the sky.

Qin Chaochen was about to speak but found himself unable to.

“I’m eighteen now, right? You’re twenty-four. I don’t like people older than me, not even a bit,” Qin Chaochen said seriously.

“But you used to like it. Qin Chaochen, are you trying to burn bridges?” Fu Quezhi’s voice was cold.

“I’m not burning bridges,” Qin Chaochen explained. “I can’t possibly sleep with you now. I need personal space.”

“You can treat me like a brother.” Qin Chaochen’s eyes lit up.

Fu Quezhi moved closer, letting out a cold laugh. “Have you ever seen married brothers?”

Qin Chaochen racked his brain, feeling flustered by Fu Quezhi’s words. Could he really continue like this? Fu Quezhi was his nemesis.

Fu Quezhi took a step back. “We can try getting along for a while. Didn’t we get along well before?”

“Chaochen, we got together after graduating high school.” Fu Quezhi’s voice was a bit low.

Qin Chaochen’s mind was blown, his eyes turning red.

He was shocked, feeling like something was burning inside him, his heart racing.

Fu Quezhi knew Qin Chaochen was the kindest person.

Whether in the past or now, Qin Chaochen hadn’t changed. Fu Quezhi stepped forward, grabbing Qin Chaochen’s hand, intertwining it with his calloused one.

Qin Chaochen looked up blankly and said, “Fu Quezhi, aren’t you hot?”

*

The next morning, Qin Chaochen drove Qin Shu to school. Qin Shu obediently carried his backpack, shyly holding onto Qin Chaochen’s shirt, his eyes sparkling as he looked at him.

Qin Shu’s mouth and eyes resembled Fu Quezhi’s. He tugged at his strap. “Dad, will you pick me up after school too?”

“Of course.” Qin Chaochen clenched his fist. His son was so cute; of course, he had to pick him up.

“Both Qin Dad and Fu Dad have to come.”

Fu Quezhi, sitting on the other side, chuckled. “Alright, Shushu, be good at school.”

As they got out of the car, the family’s high appearance drew attention. Tonghua Kindergarten’s tuition was expensive, and students had to pass tests to attend. Most were from wealthy families, but there were also some from humble backgrounds.

The street developed around Tonghua Kindergarten had a variety of food and shops, surprisingly affordable. There were luxury stores, but more were reasonably priced, earning the approval of City A’s residents.

“Teacher Ma, I’m here for school!”

Qin Shu ran over, fond of their kindergarten teacher. Teacher Ma was a young lady, around twenty-five or twenty-six, and she smiled, saying, “Shushu is so good.”

Teacher Ma noticed Qin Chaochen and glanced at his arm. “Qin Dad, be careful with your arm.”

Qin Chaochen: “Thank you for your concern, Teacher Ma.”

Teacher Ma: “Shushu cried a lot in kindergarten after your accident. It was Fu Dad who took him back.”

Qin Shu shyly hid behind Teacher Ma.

Fu Quezhi: “Thank you, Teacher Ma.”

After leaving the kindergarten, Qin Chaochen remembered his unlucky older brother: “My brother said he’s visiting me at noon.”

“Alright, I’ll have Li Ma prepare something nice.” Qin Yuanshen wouldn’t come alone; he’d bring Qin Chaochen’s parents. Thinking of his parents, Fu Quezhi’s eyes dimmed.

“Drop me off at the coffee shop. I’m meeting He Ze.”

Fu Quezhi nodded. As Qin Chaochen got out of the car, he carefully moved his arm in a cast, suddenly feeling someone watching him.

He looked around but didn’t see anyone.