Later, that woman had only been willing to flirt with He Ming because she saw he had money. Now that He Ming was broke, why would she stay by his side? She simply abandoned their son and ran away. In fact, it wasn’t even certain whether the child was really hers and He Ming’s.
He Ming refused to raise a child that might not even be his, so he dumped the boy in an orphanage and ran back to the Shen family. Out of respect for his past friendship with He Ming’s father, Shen Mufan’s grandfather forgave him and assigned him to work as his son’s assistant.
Originally, this was a gesture of trust—to first assess He Ming’s abilities, provide further training, and then decide where to place him. But He Ming lacked ambition, competence, or any outstanding qualities, so Shen’s father kept him as a secretary by his side.
Yet, in He Ming’s eyes, all of this was nothing but disdain and humiliation. He convinced himself that Shen’s father was threatened by his “exceptional” talent, fearing He Ming would outshine him and divert the grandfather’s attention and resources away from his own son. He believed he was being suppressed, relegated to a mere errand boy.
His resentment and twisted jealousy festered, growing worse after Shen Mufan’s grandfather passed away—because the old man left everything to Shen’s father, Shen’s mother, and young Shen Mufan, with nothing for He Ming. This shattered He Ming’s fragile ego.
He Ming seethed: *That old bastard always claimed to treat me like his own son, saying I was equal to his real son—what a lie! Did I get any inheritance? Even that shrew (Shen’s mother) and that brat (Sufan) got shares, but not me. Isn’t this the ultimate insult?!*
But Shen’s father was the biological son, Shen Mufan the grandson, and Shen’s mother was a capable partner in work—their inheritance was justified. What did He Ming, a lazy freeloader with no contribution or blood relation, deserve?
In truth, the Shen family’s kindness to He Ming was solely out of respect for the grandfather’s past friendship with He Ming’s father. Without nurturing that bond, how long could old sentiments last?
He Ming, however, refused to see it that way. This led to his eventual betrayal, framing the company, and orchestrating the deaths of Shen’s father and mother.
In the end, two lives were lost, among other crimes, earning He Ming a death sentence. But Shen Mufan, unable to trust anyone afterward, withdrew from the world, becoming a reclusive gaming addict.
After selling his company shares to Jingchang Corporation, Shen Mufan became engrossed in their game *Heroes’ Journey*, securing a beta account and rising as a top-tier player—a wealthy, legendary figure in the virtual world.
Meanwhile, a refined, handsome man in gold-rimmed glasses sat at his desk, tapping his fingers lightly as he eyed the game’s event promo. A faint smile curled his lips. “A Valentine’s event… intriguing. Pity I’m single—no partner to join me.”
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Shen Mufan headed out for a haircut. Years of solitude had honed his cooking skills—his meals were surprisingly delicious.
Wearing a cap low over his face and dressed plainly in a shirt and trousers, he left home.
His parents had left him property, and Shen Mufan wasn’t one for extravagance—except in-game spending. Even then, selling virtual items occasionally padded his wallet.
After the haircut, Shen Mufan, still silent, considered heading straight back. But the pleasant weather tempted him to stroll and breathe fresh air. With no pressing matters, he had all the time in the world.
As he wandered, he passed a newly opened private kitchen. The aroma of food wafted out, stirring his appetite. The place seemed clean and inviting, so he decided to stop for lunch.
Upon entering, a server greeted him: “Welcome! But you’re a bit early—we’re not officially open yet. Today’s just a friends-and-family preview. I’m afraid we can’t serve you.”
Glancing around, Shen Mufan noted the lack of grand-opening decor. Disappointed but unfazed, he nodded and turned to leave—never one to impose.
The server handed him a flyer, detailing the restaurant’s concept, opening hours, and more, then saw him out. “Apologies, sir. Please visit us next time!”
Shen Mufan nodded wordlessly, though he doubted he’d return anytime soon.
In a private room, the man with gold-rimmed glasses peered through the curtains at Shen Mufan’s retreating figure, eyes narrowing.
The stranger was slender, with fair, delicate skin—clearly someone who lived comfortably indoors. Though his face was obscured, something about him struck Xie Jinghong with an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Xie Jinghong, who’d never been in love or even felt a flutter, was stunned to experience love at first sight—over a mere glimpse of a back.
Shaking his head, he murmured, “So what if I didn’t see his face? At least I know it’s not just about looks.” He sighed wistfully.
Today was supposed to be a casual pre-opening gathering with friends. Falling for a stranger at first sight was unexpected—let alone figuring out how to pursue him without making things awkward for everyone.
*No rush*, Xie Jinghong told himself. *I’ll find a way to bring him into my circle—and make sure everyone knows he’s mine.*
“But first,” he mused, stroking his chin, “I need to uncover his identity. Know thy enemy—er, crush—and victory is assured!”
Buoyed by the thrill of his first-ever crush, Xie Jinghong was in such a good mood that his friends were baffled.
*After all these years, they know my ‘gentle scholar’ act is just a cover for the ruthless bastard I really am. Today? Must be a solar eclipse.*
Unaware he’d caught someone’s eye, Shen Mufan left the restaurant, bought groceries, and headed home. Before lunch, he logged into the game to kill time.
After completing dailies, he headed to an NPC to turn in a quest—only to find a crowd gathered around a heated drama.
Shen Mufan wasn’t one for gossip, but the commotion blocked his path to the NPC. To submit his quest, he’d have to wade through the spectacle—something his low-key, attention-averse nature hated.
But the quest had a time limit, and better rewards for early completion. His perfectionism couldn’t bear letting it expire.
Shen Mufan sighed. “What a dilemma.”
Lingering at the crowd’s edge, he assessed the situation. There was still time—no need to rush.
Soon, he pieced together the scandal: at the center were three players—a male swordsman in white, a female blade master in red, and a female physician in white (actually a male player).
This wasn’t a classic love triangle, though—it was two men and one woman vying for the swordsman’s attention. And all three were well-known figures, explaining the crowd’s fascination.
*No wonder it’s such a juicy spectacle*, Shen Mufan thought. *Gamers do love their drama.*
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage