After returning home from Shen Yuchen’s place, Yu Yan resumed his life as it was before he started working. His routine consisted of going downstairs at 11 a.m. for lunch, sitting cross-legged on the carpet afterward to play games or browse his phone until nightfall, and then heading back upstairs.

This cycle repeated itself without him stepping foot outside.

Yu Chen even suspected that Yu Yan had forgotten he still had a job. However, on second thought, he figured staying home was better than running off to find Shen Yuchen.

After lunch, Yu Chen glanced at Yu Yan’s phone screen with a sharp tone, “Chatting with Shen Yuchen again?”

Yu Yan swiftly switched apps. “Bro, I’m reviewing the speech draft I have to give in a few days. Can you help me refine it?”

“You wrote this draft yourself?” Yu Chen took the two sheets of A4 paper.

“I wrote the first draft, then had someone help polish it, but I feel it’s too formal and detached.”

In simple terms, it was empty and impractical, filled with lofty ideas but offering no concrete solutions.

He had asked Shen Yuchen for advice, and Shen had said this kind of speech template could avoid many potential pitfalls.

Still, Yu Yan wanted the ideas in the speech to be practical and genuinely beneficial.

“Show me the draft you wrote earlier.”

“Here it is.” Yu Yan handed it over immediately.

Yu Chen glanced at the handwritten page, raising an eyebrow. “Practicing your handwriting?”

Yu Yan instinctively touched his nose, avoiding the topic of how a college student had ghostwritten his previous self-criticism letter.

But lately, he had indeed been practicing his handwriting, albeit only for a few days.

“Yeah, I’m signing more contracts now. If I still had that elementary school handwriting, wouldn’t it embarrass you?”

“Not bad.” Yu Chen nodded approvingly as he reviewed the draft, which was filled with specific examples and proposed targeted reforms.

It was clear that the draft considered the perspective of the children in the welfare home. However, it came across as overly directive, as though issuing orders, which explained why it had been revised.

Combining both drafts, Yu Chen made some quick edits and handed them back.

The revised version was more fluid, and Yu Yan prepared to rewrite it. “Thanks, bro. You’re the best.”

Yu Chen was pleased. “Am I?”

“Of course.”

“And compared to Shen Yuchen?”

Yu Yan froze briefly, then nodded hurriedly. “Of course, you’re better. The way you revised this draft shows true skill.”

Yu Chen was even more satisfied, almost tempted to show off to Shen Yuchen.

But as he pulled out his phone, he felt something was off. Was he really about to compare himself to Shen Yuchen?

Looking up, he saw Yu Yan packing up. “Where are you going?”

Yu Yan responded casually, “I’m meeting Chen-ge for dinner, so I won’t be home tonight. Bye!”

Before Yu Chen could reply, the door shut behind him.

Yu Chen: “…”

Who cared if it was crazy? He was determined to outdo Shen Yuchen today!

---

Two days later, Yu Yan had memorized his speech thoroughly.

On the flight to Rongcheng, Yu Yan was accompanied by Jiang Mo, Song Yunjing, and Yu Lin.

Yu Lin had handed over company affairs to Yu Chen, seizing the opportunity to turn the trip into a vacation with Jiang Mo.

Yu Yan, distracted, skimmed the speech once more before setting it aside.

Before transmigrating into this book, he had never been to Jing City, and after transmigrating, he had never returned to Rongcheng. He had only researched it online, and the city seemed identical to the world he came from. All the famous landmarks were exactly the same.

Returning to a familiar place filled him with unease.

“How long until we get there?” Yu Yan asked curiously.

“About three hours. Baby, do you want to rest for a bit?” Jiang Mo draped a blanket over him.

Yu Yan shook his head. “No, when we get there, I’ll treat you all to hot pot—the most authentic kind. And fried rice.”

“Fried rice?” Jiang Mo asked, puzzled.

Yu Yan nodded enthusiastically. “Hot pot restaurants have amazing fried rice.”

“Are the hot pots we’ve eaten before not authentic?” Song Yunjing asked curiously.

“Not unauthentic, but the taste is definitely different. A lot of local specialties are adapted when they’re introduced to other regions to suit local palates better.”

“There’s a mung bean cake shop on the walking street that’s especially delicious. I’ll treat you all later!”

Yu Yan rambled on non-stop, introducing all kinds of local delicacies. He even pulled out pen and paper to jot down the souvenirs he wanted to bring back, all of which were local specialties.

After arranging everything, only an hour and a half had passed—there was still another hour and a half before the plane landed.

Song Yunjing and Jiang Mo had already fallen asleep, but Yu Yan, feeling anxious about his speech, was wide awake. He pulled out his notes and reviewed them again.

“Still nervous?” Yu Lin asked in a low voice.

“A little,” Yu Yan replied, lightly pinching his fingertips. “The last time I spoke in front of so many people was during a Monday assembly speech back in elementary school.”

Yu Lin chuckled softly. “There’s not much difference. Just imagine you’re back in elementary school giving a speech.”

Yu Yan shook his head. “It’s not the same. Back then, the audience was just teachers and classmates. Now I suddenly have to face so many… accomplished people. I’m just a high school dropout giving a speech about things everyone already knows. It feels… off.”

He was afraid of being ridiculed. If it were just him, it wouldn’t matter, but he was representing Jiang Mo in this speech. If he made a mistake, it would bring embarrassment not just to himself, but to the entire Yu family and Chaoxing.

“You think they’re accomplished? But now you’re standing among them,” Yu Lin countered.

“That’s only because I’m riding on Mom and Dad’s coattails,” Yu Yan laughed sheepishly.

Yu Lin pressed on, “And how do you know they aren’t riding on their parents’ coattails too?”

Yu Yan pursed his lips, saying nothing.

“Xiao Yan, ever since the big incident last year, your personality has changed a lot,” Yu Lin observed.

Yu Yan instinctively looked up. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, it’s good. But you were also great before. Back then, you fought for everything and wanted it all. Mom and Dad thought it was because you’d suffered so much outside, so you wanted to hold onto everything tightly. They admired how you stood up for yourself.”

“But now, you don’t fight or strive for anything, and it’s taking some getting used to for Mom and Dad. Young people shouldn’t hesitate or hold back—just do what you want to do. Dad will always have your back. Didn’t he clean up that huge mess you made at the company before?”

So, everyone noticed how careful he’d been lately. Yu Yan sniffled, feeling like his family was going easy on him.

“I understand now. Thanks, Dad.”

“I’m your dad; there’s no need to thank me. I can protect you for a lifetime, but I hope you’ll have the courage to stand on your own someday,” Yu Lin said earnestly.

“I get it.”

The conversation didn’t last long, and the plane landed shortly after.

After sending their luggage to the hotel, Yu Yan directed the driver to the best hot pot restaurant on the pedestrian street.

After dinner, Song Yunjing and her assistant left early to handle the makeup and styling for the documentary shoot.

Yu Yan wandered the pedestrian street with Yu Lin and Jiang Mo. In truth, he rarely came here before because it cost money.

The pedestrian street had a giant mascot statue that was a landmark.

Yu Yan pulled out his phone and snapped a photo, casually sending it to Shen Yuchen. Scrolling up, he realized he had already sent nearly 30 messages throughout the day.

Waking up, packing, leaving the house, getting on the plane, landing, eating—he had sent everything, not just text messages but also photos.

It had been a full 12 hours, and none of his messages had been replied to.

What was Shen Yuchen doing?

Was he still busy at this hour?

Should he call to check?

Just as he was hesitating, Jiang Mo suddenly called out to him.

“Sweetheart, come over and take a photo with Mom and Dad.”

Yu Yan snapped out of his thoughts. “Let me take a few pictures of you two first.”

After taking their photos, he casually posted them in their family group chat, “Safe and Healthy Family”. It was a family habit to share updates in the group chat, with almost no private messages between them.

After the couple’s photos were done, Jiang Mo asked a kind passerby to help take a few pictures of the three of them together.

Yu Yan stood in the middle, holding a stuffed toy Jiang Mo had just bought, while Jiang Mo and Yu Lin stood on either side of him. The moment was captured perfectly.

The young woman returned the phone to Jiang Mo and complimented, “Your family has such a great bond.”

Jiang Mo beamed with joy and immediately shared the photos in the family group chat.

Yu Yan instinctively asked, “Mom, do you think my brother will feel left out seeing this?”

“Why would he?” Jiang Mo asked.

“We’re out having fun, and he’s not in the pictures.”

Jiang Mo blinked a couple of times. “When Dad, your brother, and I are busy working at the company while you’re working at someone else’s, do you ever feel left out or think we’re excluding you?”

“Of course not,” Yu Yan replied confidently.

“Then your brother won’t feel that way either.” Jiang Mo ruffled his hair affectionately.

Yu Yan let out an “oh” and didn’t press the matter further, hugging the stuffed toy as he went off to pick out souvenirs.

Jiang Mo followed beside him. “Sweetheart, while we’re here, would you like to invite some of your old friends out for a meal?”

Yu Yan’s movements paused for a moment, and his voice dropped. “I didn’t have friends before.”

His friends had all died in that car accident.

Jiang Mo froze slightly, recalling Yu Yan’s personality back then. Maybe it was because he had spent so much time in the orphanage, but he always felt the need to fight for things. That personality must have made it hard to form friendships.

Luckily, Yu Yan had made friends now, and Jiang Mo was truly grateful to Shen Yuchen. Yet, she couldn’t help worrying that if Shen Yuchen’s identity were ever revealed, Yu Yan might face an even greater blow.

Countless thoughts swirled in her mind, but in the end, she said nothing, only letting out a gentle sigh.

Yu Yan didn’t notice her reaction. He kept glancing at his phone now and then.

Shen Yuchen still hadn’t replied to his messages. Whatever the reason, Yu Yan had already decided—Shen Yuchen’s souvenirs were getting cut in half!

Annoyed, Yu Yan shoved the large stuffed toy back onto the shelf and replaced it with a smaller one.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He pretended to look at it casually, only to find it was a call from Shen Yuchen!

Yu Yan cleared his throat, feigning busyness, and deliberately waited fifteen seconds before answering the call.

“Hello—”

“Turn around,” Shen Yuchen’s deep voice came through.

Yu Yan instinctively turned, only to see Shen Yuchen standing not far away.

He was dressed in a sleek black coat and black Martin boots, his hair neatly styled. He looked like he had just stepped out of a movie, standing out starkly from the crowd.