They waited at the school gates for less than two minutes before Uncle Chen arrived. On the drive back, the cramps in Tang Yu’s stomach intensified, and the car ultimately sped straight to the hospital.
It was not until the following afternoon that Tang Yu and Ji Qian’ang returned to the old residence. Most of his fever had subsided and his stomach no longer hurt much, but he still looked listless.
Butler Lin had called to say there would be a family dinner that evening. Tang Yu stood in the middle of the sitting room for several seconds, then went to the dining room.
The long table was already full.
Grandmother occupied the head seat, wearing a purple jacket with knotted buttons. The jade pendants at her ears caught the light.
Tang Yu’s father, Tang Dong, sat to her right looking at his phone. Beside him sat Tang Yu’s mother, Wei Yingrong, in a pale yellow dress. Her hair fell to her shoulders in large curls, making her look far younger than she was.
They had arrived that afternoon and come directly from the airport. Their luggage was still in the entrance hall.
The seat normally left empty at Grandmother’s left was occupied tonight.
Tang Yu faltered.
Lin Juefei.
Five years older than Tang Yu, Lin Juefei had grown up in the Tang household with Butler Lin and had been Tang Yifeng’s closest friend.
After Tang Yifeng’s death, Lin Juefei had been occupied with his studies, but he had still taken attentive care of Tang Yu. He had spent five years studying in Britain. Now that he had returned, Tang Yu could barely recognize him.
He wore a white linen shirt whose loose hem fell to his thighs, making it look almost as though he had been stuffed inside it.
Soft hair lay flat across his forehead, his fringe nearly covering his brows while the sides just concealed the tips of his ears. His skin was very fair and his lips pale pink.
He sat with his feet together and turned slightly inward, holding a teacup as he spoke to Tang Yu’s mother. He did not look twenty-one. He resembled a clean, sheltered boy of sixteen or seventeen who had never endured wind or rain.
Tang Yu crossed the room and took the empty seat to Grandmother’s right. “Brother Juefei.”
Lin Juefei drew him down into the chair as a member of staff stepped forward to pour tea. “Grandmother says you’ve been doing well at school lately?”
Tang Yu merely nodded.
Lin Juefei glanced toward Ji Qian’ang. “Young Ji listens to you, doesn’t he? When I found him for you, I chose him because he was quiet and wouldn’t talk back.”
Tang Yu’s lips curved faintly. “Thank you, Brother Juefei.”
Lin Juefei waved a casual hand. “There’s no need to be polite with me.”
Ji Qian’ang surveyed the table. Wei Yingrong smiled and beckoned gently. “Qian’ang, sit down. Don’t stand on ceremony.”
Auntie Liu and several other workers began serving the dishes: coconut chicken soup, steamed grouper in black-bean sauce, lobster baked in superior broth, black-pepper beef ribs, choy sum in broth, osmanthus pork rolls, pomelo peel with shrimp roe, and a plate of roast goose from Yung Kee.
Half the table was covered with Tang Yu’s favorite foods.
Wei Yingrong turned to Lin Juefei. “Juefei, did you not eat properly abroad? You’ve lost so much weight.”
Lin Juefei smiled. “I ate. I just never got used to Western food.”
Tang Dong put down his phone, a rare smile appearing on his face. “It’s good that you’re home. We have everything here. Whatever you want, ask the kitchen to make it.”
Wei Yingrong placed a piece of roast goose in Lin Juefei’s bowl. “It’s from Yung Kee. You used to love their roast goose.”
Lin Juefei accepted it gratefully. “Thank you for remembering, Auntie. You don’t have to serve me. I can help myself.”
“Why be polite with me?” Wei Yingrong said with a smile. “I’ve always considered you half a son.”
Lin Juefei seemed to notice something. He nodded, picked up the serving chopsticks, and put an osmanthus pork roll in Tang Yu’s bowl.
“You should eat too, Xiao Yu.”
Wei Yingrong immediately continued, “Juefei has always been considerate. Xiao Yu, you should learn from him.”
Tang Yu lowered his eyes and murmured an acknowledgment.
Ji Qian’ang sat opposite him and watched. He took the serving chopsticks and casually placed a rib in Tang Yu’s bowl.
Every pair of chopsticks at the table stopped.
Lin Juefei’s gaze sharpened as it settled on Ji Qian’ang.
Noticing the subtle change in everyone’s expression, Ji Qian’ang explained without batting an eye, “Young Master’s stomach is unwell. The school doctor said he mustn’t leave it empty.”
Lin Juefei looked away and smiled. “Qian’ang is very attentive.”
A peculiar undercurrent entered the dinner.
Tang Yu sat without expression. He had taken only a few spoonfuls of the bird’s-nest soup before it cooled. Waves of discomfort rolled through his stomach, crushing what little appetite remained.
The scene was painfully familiar. For as long as he could remember, his parents had fussed over Lin Juefei while treating Tang Yu as though he were invisible.
The ease of their words and gestures proclaimed that this was simply how things ought to be.
But if even Tang Yifeng’s death had left the two of them so unruffled, there was nothing particularly surprising about any other strange thing they might do.
Tang Yu lowered his head and picked up a piece of meat on the bone. Even after chewing several times, it was tasteless.
When Tang Yifeng was alive, he would sit beside Tang Yu at gatherings like this and distract him with conversation. Now Tang Yu could only sit rigidly, as helpless and disoriented as if he had lost his way in the middle of a crowded street.
Tang Dong asked, “Juefei, now that you’re back, what are your plans for the Central project?”
“It’s still in preparation. I’m considering several directions. I’ll have to ask for your guidance when the time comes.”
Tang Dong waved him off, undisguised admiration in his voice. “I wouldn’t call it guidance. You’re young and driven. Old men like us can only stay behind you and help keep things on course.”
Wei Yingrong joined in. “Juefei has always known his own mind. We’ve never had to worry about anything he does.”
Lin Juefei set down his chopsticks, his posture proper. “I’m examining several projects at the moment. One is a potential partnership with Nangong Properties. We’re still in negotiations. Mr. Nangong is interested in the Southeast Asian market, and I happen to have resources that could connect with his.”
Tang Dong leaned back, his voice turning more serious. “The Nangong family’s property company operates across the Asia-Pacific region. If you can secure a partnership with him, it will be enormously helpful to your future.”
Wei Yingrong agreed and put another piece of roast goose into Lin Juefei’s bowl. “That’s right. Ordinary people can’t compare with the Nangong family’s connections and resources on Hong Kong Island. Juefei, you must make the most of this opportunity.”
Something seemed to occur to her. She turned to Tang Yu and spoke as if the matter were trivial.
“Xiao Yu, do you remember when Mr. Nangong visited us and teased you? You were young. He was only joking, but you took him seriously and became furious.”
Grandmother’s expression darkened beneath the warm light, though she said nothing.
Tang Dong set down his chopsticks, a hint of impatience entering his voice. “Why bring that up?”
Wei Yingrong shot him a playful look. “It was just something that came to mind. This child has always been like that—stubborn about his principles, taking everything people say seriously.”
Tang Dong changed the subject and looked back at Lin Juefei. “We’ve long wanted to establish a connection with the Nangong family’s Central property projects. If you can open a channel to Mr. Nangong, it will benefit the Tang Corporation as well.”
A mechanism seemed to trip in Tang Yu’s mind. He remembered the revolting words Nangong Min had once said.
You’re almost an adult, aren’t you? There would be no harm in trying.
With Nangong Min’s status—then or now—countless people would sacrifice half their lives simply to crawl before him and beg for a glance.
Yet that promiscuous man had fallen hopelessly and irrevocably for Tang Yifeng at first sight.
Tang Yifeng had been an illegitimate child and was never treated well by the family. But once Tang Dong and Wei Yingrong saw him reaching for such a powerful connection, even their voices toward him had softened considerably.
Back then, Tang Yifeng had threatened to end things with Nangong Min merely because Nangong Min let slip one offensive remark about Tang Yu.
The family had tried to persuade him otherwise, but Tang Yifeng had resolutely chosen to leave Nangong Min.
A man with Nangong Min’s wealth and status was nearly impossible to find. At the time, they had been bitterly disappointed, believing Tang Yifeng too young, impulsive, and ruled by emotion.
Now Tang Yifeng was dead. A dead man could bring the Tang family no benefit, but the living Lin Juefei could.
So they had changed players and invited Nangong Min back to the table, treating the man who had tormented their son as an honored guest.
At the same time, they blamed the fourteen-year-old child from back then for being stubborn—for taking it too seriously.
Tang Yu had barely eaten, and now his stomach churned violently again. He lifted his glass and took a sip of water.
Lin Juefei noticed the change in his face. “You don’t look well. Are you still feeling sick?”