Xiao Yufan had thought more than once about what emotions he might feel when finally facing his birth parents—anger? Excitement?
Yet, when the moment arrived with no way to escape, Xiao Yufan discovered he wasn’t as sentimental as he had imagined. All his feelings had transformed into indifference. Perhaps he would just remain silent—it would be best that way.
Outside the car window, the scenery continuously changed until the vehicle smoothly came to a stop, bringing Xiao Yufan’s wandering thoughts back to the present.
Before him stood a luxurious mansion. This extravagantly opulent residence, located right in the heart of the city, was excessively ostentatious. Only now did Xiao Yufan truly grasp what it meant to live like the ultra-wealthy.
“Master Yufan, let’s go inside. The old master must be impatient waiting for us…”
The middle-aged man beside him glanced at Xiao Yufan’s calm and composed expression, secretly impressed. Facing such a magnificent dwelling without showing any outward emotion was itself a mark of great cultivation.
Nodding slightly, Xiao Yufan followed the middle-aged man deeper into the mansion. As he sensed the classical atmosphere surrounding him, he momentarily felt entranced. Was this really where his grandfather lived?
“Hey, uh, how should I address you…?”
By now, Xiao Yufan had already walked along the mansion’s pathway for several minutes, and it seemed there was still quite a distance ahead. Bored, he tried to strike up a conversation.
“Just call me Long Tian, Master Yufan!”
“Long Tian—what a powerful name. If I’m not mistaken, you were a soldier, right?”
“Master Yufan could actually tell? Yes, I was in the military, but you’re not entirely correct!”
Long Tian was somewhat surprised. He had only been with Xiao Yufan for a little over an hour, yet the young man had already discerned his military background. Such perceptiveness was truly astonishing.
“Not entirely correct?” Xiao Yufan paused, puzzled. There was no doubt Long Tian had been a soldier—could it be he hadn’t actually left the army?
“All the guards inside this mansion are active-duty soldiers. Many of them come from special forces units. In time, Master Yufan, you’ll understand more…”
With a relaxed smile, Long Tian exuded the unique aura of a hardened soldier—his gaze firm and resolute. Hearing this, Xiao Yufan felt a twinge of surprise. Active-duty soldiers stationed at a private residence—what did that imply?
“It seems I still don’t know much about my grandfather. I guess I’ve been a rather unworthy grandson…”
Sighing, Xiao Yufan thought about the quiet sacrifices his grandfather had made over the years. He realized he wasn’t as wronged as he had believed. At least he hadn’t been completely abandoned. Without his grandfather acting as a bridge, Xiao Yufan might never have forgiven his birth parents.
“Master Yufan has already done more than enough. I’m sure Old Master Situ would be delighted to hear you say that…”
Seeing the occasional glint in Xiao Yufan’s eyes, Long Tian’s expression softened. As someone who stood closest to the old master, he understood better than anyone how significant Xiao Yufan was to Situ family’s patriarch.
To outsiders, the Situ family, a legendary force in the business world, must have seemed dazzlingly prosperous. But Long Tian knew the truth—within such a family, even familial bonds could be overshadowed by interests and ambitions.
Xiao Yufan smiled faintly and shook his head. How could he not understand his grandfather’s hardships? Though he was already twenty-five, in his grandfather’s eyes, he would always remain a young and inexperienced soul.
Along both sides of the mansion’s driveway were not only golf courses but also an outdoor swimming pool. At the end of the drive stood the heart of the estate—a three-story villa. Living here felt like residing in a paradise far removed from the world.
This luxurious European-style villa was extravagantly designed, its appearance flamboyant and striking. Now Xiao Yufan finally understood why millions were but a drop in the ocean to his grandfather. The market value of this villa alone probably exceeded a billion.
Arriving at the villa’s main entrance, even though Xiao Yufan tried his best to control his emotions, a wave of inner turbulence still stirred. There was no need to guess—his birth parents were likely already inside. He still hadn’t decided how he should feel toward them.
As Xiao Yufan lost himself in thought, the grand door slowly creaked open, the gap gradually widening. Turning his head, he saw Long Tian watching him with a gentle smile.
“If you must face them, why hesitate? That doesn’t sound like you. The old master is waiting. Go inside now.”
As if sensing Xiao Yufan’s inner turmoil, Long Tian’s words struck a chord deep within him. Although they had only known each other briefly, Long Tian understood that Xiao Yufan was not the kind to be indecisive.
Adjusting his suit, Xiao Yufan shifted his gaze from Long Tian’s retreating figure to the entrance. His feet moved forward almost involuntarily. His heart was as calm as a still pond.
Inside the villa, the decor was even more extravagant. The faint fragrance of sandalwood floorboards filled the air with a refreshing elegance. Pure gold sculptures and intricate decorations further enhanced the mansion’s magnificence.
Yet Xiao Yufan’s eyes didn’t linger on these treasures that could drive many wild with desire. In the grand hall to his right, he spotted his grandfather. Beside him stood a middle-aged couple, clearly agitated.
“Yufan…”
Seeing his grandfather rise slowly, a faint smile breaking through his aged features, Xiao Yufan walked forward. Though his gaze wavered slightly, he fixed the images of the two figures beside his grandfather firmly in his mind.
The middle-aged man appeared to be around forty-eight or forty-nine. He exuded a calm, steady presence. His strong face bore the marks of years of hardship, and his deep-set eyes seemed to pierce through Xiao Yufan’s thoughts, causing a subtle tremor in his heart.
Beside him stood a middle-aged woman whose beauty showed no signs of aging. Her graceful eyebrows and refined demeanor radiated warmth and elegance. It was precisely this noble and poised woman that stirred turbulent emotions deep within Xiao Yufan.
As Xiao Yufan approached, the two middle-aged adults both rose from the sofa. Their expressions were visibly uneasy. In contrast, Old Master Situ remained composed, standing to welcome Xiao Yufan forward.
An indescribable tension swirled in the air. Xiao Yufan felt the entire grand hall fall silent in that moment, so still that he could clearly hear his own heartbeat steadily quickening…
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