The venue was silent, with only the faint hum of the microphone’s electrical current flowing through the air. The Shen family’s relatives stared in shock, unable to comprehend why, on such a joyous occasion, Fourth Master Shen was bringing up these old, long-buried matters.

Song Yi frowned. So Shen Li had such a past? How pitiful. He turned to Zhao Hongyan and asked, “You worked as a nurse in Su City before. Did you just see someone familiar?”

Zhao Hongyan shook her head, her eyes constantly darting toward the stage, as if Fourth Master Shen were a ferocious tiger ready to pounce.

Fourth Master Shen’s gaze swept across the crowd before landing on Shen Li. His tone shifted. “Xiao Li, back then, I arranged for you to study abroad in high school. Why did you insist on staying in the capital?”

Shen Li’s pupils dilated, but he forced a calm smile. “Because Grandpa only had my brother and me. I wanted to spend a few more years with him.”

“Nonsense! Tell the truth!” Fourth Master Shen’s voice rang out, cold and commanding.

His words carried immense authority, reminiscent of the battle-hardened presence he once had in his youth.

Shen Li was startled into silence. His lips curled into a forced, dry smile as he hesitantly called out, “Grandpa…”

He hoped—perhaps in vain—that this one word might earn him some mercy.

But Fourth Master Shen merely cast him a sharp, tiger-like gaze before turning away indifferently. “I am not your grandfather. From now on, you don’t need to call me that.”

A middle-aged man standing nearby moved swiftly, handing a thick stack of documents to a stunned waiter, who quickly grasped the situation and began distributing them to the guests.

Fourth Master Shen gave a slight nod. “Family matters should stay within the family, but since everyone here is part of the Shen family, this paternity test report will make it clear—Shen Li has no blood relation to the Shen family.”

For a moment, the room fell into silence as the guests examined the report. They were not fools—connecting the dots between this revelation and Fourth Master Shen’s earlier mention of an ‘old acquaintance,’ murmurs of discussion spread through the crowd.

“I always thought Xiao Li didn’t look like the Shen family. Turns out he was nothing more than an imposter.”

“I still remember back then, Fourth Master gave that family a hefty sum to thank them for taking care of his grandson. Who would’ve thought… tsk… people’s hearts have truly changed.”

“He’s got some nerve, I’ll give him that. Did he really think he could get away with this without considering who the Shen family is? That’s like stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

“I just feel bad for Fourth Master. First, he suffered the tragedy of losing his son, and now this? It’s a miracle he’s held himself together. If this happened to my family, I’d be furious to death.”

“You younger ones should spend more time with Fourth Master. What a mess… To think there are people this shameless in the world.”

“From what Fourth Master said about the school, it seems Xiao Li has known all along that he wasn’t one of us. But why?”

“I’ve said it before—Xiao Li has always been too calculating. He’s nothing like Fourth Master or his parents. Now we know why. It’s in his blood.”

The murmurs grew louder, and Shen Li’s face grew paler. Under the stark contrast of his white suit, he looked as lifeless as a paper effigy. Every whispered word that reached his ears felt like a hammer striking his chest.

He never expected Fourth Master Shen to conduct a paternity test. And he certainly never imagined he’d be exposed like this—on what was supposed to be a joyous occasion.

He wanted to deny it, to shout in protest, but no words came out. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly, his gaze locked onto Fourth Master Shen.

“Grandfather.”

Shen Du stood up from his chair.

The once noisy chatter receded like a tide, and all eyes turned to Shen Du.

Steeling himself, Shen Du met Fourth Master Shen’s imposing gaze. “Grandfather, there must be some mistake. Xiao Li has been part of our family for so many years—he’s my brother.”

A brother he had lived with for over two decades. No warning signs, no clues. And now, suddenly, he was being told they shared no blood relation. It was too much to process all at once.

Fourth Master Shen understood that feeling all too well. But if he hadn’t investigated the truth, his real grandson would never have been found. No matter how painful it was, he had to endure it—to set things right.

He closed his eyes briefly, the muscles in his face twitching. When he spoke again, his words silenced the entire room.

“Xiao Du, your biological brother is here today.”

The banquet hall erupted in shock.

Guests turned their heads, glancing around in search of Fourth Master Shen’s long-lost grandson.

At that moment, Song Yi happened to be near the entrance of the hall. Having overheard bits of the conversation, he found the whole situation absurd—straight out of a prime-time drama. But at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the grandson who had been lost to the world.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hongyan, for some reason, was stumbling toward the exit in a panic. Her steps were unsteady—she still hadn’t fully recovered from her illness. Worried she might fall, Song Yi followed closely behind.

But the moment Fourth Master Shen spoke those words, Zhao Hongyan came to a sudden halt.

Her face drained of all color, turning ashen as if life had been stripped from her. She stood frozen in place, rooted to the ground like a nail driven into the floor.

Song Yi patted Zhao Hongyan’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Fourth Master Shen’s gaze, sharp as a blade, cut through the crowd and landed squarely on Zhao Hongyan. “Since you’re already here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Following his line of sight, the guests turned their attention to Zhao Hongyan, their expressions ranging from curiosity to disdain. When they noticed Song Yi standing beside her, a few of the elders who had grown up alongside Fourth Master Shen exchanged unreadable glances.

Zhao Hongyan’s pupils shrank. The sheer weight of Fourth Master Shen’s presence bore down on her, making it hard to breathe. Forcing a dry smile, she stammered, “How could Shen Li not be your biological grandson? That report must be wrong.”

Even with the truth staring her in the face, she refused to admit it.

“I know exactly what’s true and what isn’t.” Fourth Master Shen let out a cold laugh before shifting his gaze to Song Yi. For once, the sharpness in his eyes softened. “Song Yi, would you be willing to call me ‘Grandfather’?”

From the moment they last met, he had already recognized Song Yi as one of his own.

The resemblance was undeniable. In his youth, Song Yi bore an almost uncanny likeness—not just in appearance but in stature and presence. Any elder in the Shen family who saw him would find it impossible to believe he wasn’t one of them.

If his son were still alive to see Song Yi… he would have been overjoyed.

The banquet hall buzzed with noise, conversations overlapping, gazes colliding.

But Song Yi heard none of it.

The only thing echoing in his mind was Fourth Master Shen’s voice.

“Would you be willing to call me ‘Grandfather’?”

Zhao Hongyan—she was the “old acquaintance” Fourth Master Shen had spoken of.

Even if he searched every dictionary, Song Yi couldn’t find the right words to describe what he was feeling at this moment. In the blink of an eye, he had gone from a spectator to the protagonist of this twisted drama. He wasn’t sure if he should feel anger or joy.

It was as if fate had played the cruelest joke on him.

The composure and rationality he prided himself on crumbled in an instant.

The two people who had once mattered most in his life—his mother, and the person he had loved—had toyed with him like a fool.

Zhao Hongyan and Shen Li had always known the truth. They were inseparable. They were the real mother and son.

And all this time, he had thought that if only he were better, more outstanding, maybe Zhao Hongyan would finally accept him.

But from the very beginning, he had been chasing an illusion.

They had watched—coldly, indifferently—as he struggled, as he sought love and belonging. They had taken his efforts, his care, his sacrifices… as nothing more than their rightful due.

He remembered the moment Shen Li handed him 50,000 yuan for medical expenses—how deeply grateful he had been. It was because of that act of kindness that he had truly fallen for Shen Li, devoting himself to him for three long years, showering him with care, patience, and affection.

How could Shen Li accept all of it so effortlessly, without guilt?

The thought made his stomach churn with nausea.

How had he ever fallen for someone like Shen Li? How had he ended up with a mother like Zhao Hongyan?

He had never done anything wrong. So why had the two most important people in his life treated him this way?

A chill spread through Song Yi’s body. Standing in the opulent banquet hall, he felt like a lone white poplar, battered by an unrelenting storm. He forced himself to take deep, steady breaths, reminding himself that he had to stay calm, that he had to face this head-on. There was no room to retreat.

A few minutes later, he clenched his jaw and looked up at Fourth Master Shen. His voice was quiet but firm.

“Fourth Master, I’d like to take a paternity test with you.”

“Good.” Fourth Master Shen nodded without hesitation, a trace of admiration in his eyes.

To remain rational in a moment like this—Song Yi was already proving himself far superior to Shen Li, who had spent his life hiding behind tears and deception.

This was how a grandson of his should be.

After the guests had been sent off, it was time to handle family matters. The banquet hall, once lively and extravagant, now held only a single table at its center, still laden with an untouched feast.

The event staff dimmed the soft white lights and cleared away the stage, once covered in red rose petals.

What had once been a romantic, dreamlike setting now felt cold and desolate, stripped of any warmth or joy.

A server poured a pot of fragrant Biluochun tea, filling six cups in total. Yet, aside from Fourth Master Shen, no one at the table had the slightest interest in drinking.

Shen Du sat in stunned silence, his gaze complicated as he looked at Song Yi. Only he knew the turmoil brewing inside him.

Shen Li sat hunched over like a shriveled shrimp, staring blankly at the intricate patterns of the brocade tablecloth. He looked as if the very life had been drained from him, seemingly oblivious to everything happening around him—but the trembling of his lips betrayed his emotions.

Zhou Moquan’s expression was dark and unreadable. What had once been a promising future had unraveled in an instant, leaving behind only frustration and gloom.

Zhao Hongyan clutched the fabric of her pants tightly, trembling, not daring to meet Fourth Master Shen’s gaze.

Song Yi forced himself to stay composed. He reminded himself that he couldn’t afford to show weakness in front of these people. It was the only reason he hadn’t fled the room. Instead, he maintained an air of calm, eating in slow, measured bites.

The entire scene felt like a ridiculous silent play.

Fourth Master Shen leisurely took a sip of his tea, idly swirling the floating green leaves with the lid of his cup. As his gaze fell on Song Yi, his satisfaction deepened.

Song Yi’s table manners were impeccable—elegant, refined. Even more so than Shen Du, who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Fourth Master Shen had interacted with Song Yi a few times before and had already taken note of his confidence, composure, and ability to handle situations with ease.

For the longest time, he had assumed Song Yi was a hidden second-generation heir from one of the elite families in the capital.

If he hadn’t seen the background report himself, he would have never believed that this poised young man had come from a life of poverty.

Thinking about it now, Fourth Master Shen felt a pang of sorrow. Just how much hardship had Song Yi endured to become the person he was today?

He was both pained and proud—because this was what it meant to be a member of the Shen family.

His gaze flicked over to Shen Li, and he spoke in an unhurried tone. “I remember when you were ten, your cousin Yuan Yuan came over to play. He was a mischievous child and broke your toy. You didn’t cry or throw a tantrum. In fact, you even told Shen Du not to be angry with him. I thought then that you had the makings of a great leader, someone who could one day support the Shen family.”

He paused, then let out a cold chuckle.

“But later, when the adults weren’t watching, you pushed Yuan Yuan into the pond. If it hadn’t been winter, if the ice hadn’t been thick enough, he might not have survived. I saw it with my own eyes, yet I still found it hard to believe—how could I, Shen Mingguo, a man who has lived with integrity all my life, have a grandson like you?”

“Grandfather…” Shen Li called out pitifully, lifting his head. His voice was thick with desperation.

But Fourth Master Shen only shook his head, his expression distant. “I’m not your grandfather. Don’t call me that again.”

Shen Li’s nose twitched, his face crumpling like a helpless, abandoned puppy. “Grandfather, are you… really going to cast me aside?”

As a child, he had always acted spoiled and cutesy around Fourth Master Shen, knowing it was his greatest weapon. Whenever he played this card, he could get whatever he wanted.

But all of that had been built on the foundation of family ties.

And now, that foundation no longer existed.

Now, in Fourth Master Shen’s eyes, Shen Li was nothing.

Naturally, Fourth Master Shen had no patience for such sentimental pleas. His voice was firm, allowing no room for argument. “You have your own family. It’s time for you to go back to them.”

Shen Li stood up in a daze, his body trembling as he took slow, unsteady steps toward the exit—almost as if he were waiting for someone to stop him.

Behind him, Zhao Hongyan hurried after him, calling softly, “Xiao Li…”

“Wait!” Fourth Master Shen’s voice thundered through the hall.

Shen Li’s steps faltered. His heart clenched, and for a brief moment, a flicker of hope lit up his eyes.

But Fourth Master Shen wasn’t looking at him. His gaze was fixed on Zhao Hongyan, his face dark with fury. “We are not done here. You kept my own flesh and blood from me for over twenty years. I will make sure you pay for that.”

Zhao Hongyan shrank back. She knew exactly what kind of man Fourth Master Shen was—when he made a promise, he saw it through. She didn’t even dare to meet his piercing gaze. Instead, she gripped Shen Li’s stiff arm tightly and hurried forward, practically fleeing the scene.

Song Yi hesitated for a moment before rising to his feet and following them out. There were questions he needed answers to.

The hotel corridor was lined with thick, plush carpeting, and dazzling crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow overhead. Song Yi strode forward and blocked Shen Li’s path.

By now, he had calmed down significantly. His voice was steady, but his gaze was sharp and unwavering. “Shen Li, why did you give me that fifty thousand for medical expenses back then?”

Shen Li’s eyes were red, his breath hitching unevenly. “Because… I wanted to help you.”

Song Yi laughed. It wasn’t forced—he genuinely found it ridiculous. “You saved your own father, yet you expected me to be grateful to you? How does that even make sense?”

Earlier, in front of everyone, Shen Li hadn’t shed a single tear. But now, standing before Song Yi, he couldn’t hold them back. The moment he blinked, golden teardrops spilled down his face. He sniffled and stammered, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. You have to believe me. When I found out my blood type didn’t match, I knew I wasn’t really part of the Shen family. I remembered what Grandpa had said about the past, and I started wondering if I had been switched at birth. That’s why I transferred to your school at first—I just wanted to see you, maybe… switch back.”

He wiped his tears with his sleeve, his gaze filled with sorrow as he looked at Song Yi’s ice-cold expression. His voice grew even more pitiful. “You were so good to me. I struggled with my studies, and you brought me to your house to tutor me. I had never lived in such a small space before. When I saw your home… I was terrified. I was really, really scared. I couldn’t imagine living like that. I was afraid I’d be poor for the rest of my life. That’s why I didn’t dare tell you the truth.”

“I know I’ve wronged you,” Shen Li whispered, “but you’re different. You have the power to change your fate. Even without the Shen family, you’ll still do well. But without them… I’m nothing.”

Song Yi let out a dry, humorless laugh. It was disgusting—physically nauseating. Even the air around him felt thick and suffocating. “I regret it so much. How could I have ever liked someone like you?”

Shen Li couldn’t withstand his sharp gaze, his whole body trembling. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I really did like you. But at the same time… I hated you. The better you did, the more accomplished you became, the more it made me feel worthless.”

It was such a twisted kind of love. He genuinely wanted Song Yi to succeed—just not more than himself.

“That’s not love,” Song Yi corrected him coldly, enunciating each word clearly. “That’s selfishness.”

=^_^=