Chapter 2

002.

On the evening of the second day after being reborn, Lu Yuan found his long-lost family.

He stared at the paternity test report expedited by Huazheng Medical Laboratory under the Bai Group, poring over it seven or eight times before confirming that Lu Jingshan was indeed his biological father and Lu Ke his eldest brother.

"This is your father's fault. Eighteen years ago, you were only a little over a year old. I ran up against some business rivals back then, and they bribed the nanny looking after you and took you away."

Speaking of the past, deep regret and self-blame surfaced in Lu Jingshan's eyes. "Although we called the police in time, they were cunning. They handed you off multiple times. The police traced the third person who took you to a wanted fugitive who'd been on the run for a long time. To this day... he's still never been caught."

Eighteen years ago was a different world from today—the surveillance network wasn't fully in place, you didn't need a real name to buy tickets or book hotels, and police databases weren't linked. Dealing with a seasoned fugitive who knew all the tricks would definitely put you at a disadvantage.

But thankfully, eighteen years later, Lu Zhuo catching a brief glimpse of him at the hospital brought long-overdue but welcome news.

Lu Yuan handed the paternity test report back to Lu Jingshan. His hand tightened slightly on the report as he lowered his gaze to meet the young man's clean, clear eyes. As he recalled the details of Lu Yuan's past from the records, his throat felt tight. "You've had it rough all these years."

"It's actually not so bad." Lu Yuan touched the tip of his nose.

Although Granny wasn't related to him by blood, she had always treated him well and always made sure to teach him right from wrong. She was a more than qualified guardian.

Back then, he was six and Granny was seventy-one. Her health was already in decline, yet she still loved holding his hand and slowly walking to the village store to buy him popsicles.

Even now, Lu Yuan could still remember how beautiful the sunset was on those evenings.

A few kids in the village would sometimes tease him for not having parents, but the moment those words left their mouths, they'd get a beating from both their parents.

Kids didn't know any better, but the adults knew how to behave.

Granny would also tell him, very seriously, "You have parents. They just lost you by accident. I've mentioned it to the village officials, and they'll pass your information up the chain. One day, you'll find your real parents."

Lu Yuan used to wonder what his parents were like, but later, busy with school, part-time jobs, and then full-time work, he gradually stopped longing for parents. In the end, he figured not having parents was just how it was.

Anyway, Granny had given him everything he should have felt. His only regret was that he and Granny had found each other too late, and she'd left too soon.

But Lu Jingshan clearly didn't see it that way at all. A child who'd been cruelly abandoned shortly after birth, though fortunately picked up and raised by Granny—the records clearly showed how hard his life had been.

School during the day, convenience store at night, tutoring or making bubble tea on weekends—he was running around nonstop every single day.

And yet, he still got into Jing University.

That "it's actually not so bad" was just the kid being considerate and mature—saying one thing while meaning another!

Lu Jingshan felt a mix of pride and guilt, his eyes full of heartache as he looked at Lu Yuan.

"It's getting late. I heard you like hotpot, A Cheng... A Yuan. Why don't we get your brothers together and have a meal? Sound good?"

Lu Yuan patted his empty stomach. He'd been planning to have hotpot tonight anyway, to celebrate being reborn.

He nodded and said, "Sure."

A smile spread across Lu Jingshan's usually stern face, and his voice was lighter. "Alright, I'll have my assistant book a table."

The hotpot place Chairman Lu chose was nothing like what Lu Yuan had pictured.

Tingshe Garden Hotpot was tucked away deep in Wutong Lane in the capital. It was a sizable place with blue-brick buildings, and the courtyard was full of wintersweet, camellias, and violas. When the wind blew, the already loose petals fell onto the snow, where two chubby little cats snatched them up.

Lu Yuan followed behind Lu Jingshan, his gaze fixed on the fat cats.

Purebred cats—they looked like blue-and-white Munchkin short-legs. Because they were so round, they resembled little dumplings.

Lu Yuan, who could never resist even stray cats, felt his fingers twitch.

In the distance.

Lu Ke, already waiting under the eaves, was still in his black cashmere coat over a dark patterned suit. At first glance, he seemed low-key, but in truth, his aura was powerful and sharp. He stood with his arms crossed, quietly following Lu Yuan's gaze to the two fat cats rolling in the snow, then looking at the few strands of hair on the young man's head blown up by the cold wind—his hands itched too.

"Actually, running into A Yuan yesterday was pure coincidence."

The man standing shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ke squinted lazily against the porch pillar, radiating an air of easygoing indolence. Noticing his elder brother raise an eyebrow, he continued slowly, "My colleague's family member was on a business trip, and he had several surgeries scheduled. His daughter had no one to pick her up after her interest class, so he asked me to grab her at the entrance. I ran into him on the way back to the department."

Rarely doing a good deed, and it actually paid off.

"Didn't you kowtow to your colleague?" Lu Ke asked.

"Just me alone?" Lu Zhuo clicked his tongue, shooting him a sideways glance, thinking, nice try with that scheme. "Surely all four of us should kowtow together to show proper gratitude, right, CEO Lu?"

"Then discuss a time with your colleague."

"..." He actually wants to do it. Lu Zhuo's mouth twitched, and he decisively changed the subject. "He really looks like Mom. I heard he studied design too? Seems like he's got talent in that area, just like her. If only Mom were still here."

Lu Ke said nothing more.

Leading Lu Yuan to stand before Lu Ke and Lu Zhuo, Lu Jingshan pointed at Lu Zhuo, who was only wearing a thick knit sweater, and said, "This is my second son, your second brother, Lu Zhuo. He works in cardiothoracic surgery at Cheng'an. You also have a third brother—the kid's a singer. He happens to have commitments these two days, so he probably won't make it back until the day after tomorrow."

Lu Yuan obediently greeted them. "Hello."

Lu Ke gave a brief "Mm" and extended a card toward him.

Meeting Lu Yuan's confused gaze as he looked up, Lu Ke explained succinctly, "A welcome gift. No need to work so hard from now on. Don't hold back—buy whatever you want. No limit, spend freely."

Lu Zhuo glanced at him.

The eldest brother, huh—giving a welcome gift without even telling him.

Good thing he'd prepared one too.

He handed over a set of car keys, a slight smile curling at his lips. "Your second brother isn't as rich as your eldest, but the welcome gift can't be too shabby, right?"

Lu Yuan looked at the black card, then at the distinctive bull emblem on the car keys, and froze for a moment.

Seeing him dazed, Lu Jingshan very naturally took the small gifts from his two sons' hands and pressed them all into Lu Yuan's. "If your brothers give you something, just take it. Don't feel embarrassed—you deserve all of this."

Then he patted Lu Yuan's shoulder. "Come on, let's go eat first."

Inside the private room.

The chicken and fish maw soup base bubbled away, and the table was covered with expensive ingredients flown in from all over the world. Lu Yuan bit into a slice of firm, sweet wild leopard coral grouper as he listened to Lu Jingshan talk about future arrangements.

"I saw in the records that you've been looking for work or part-time gigs lately? You take after your mother—you have talent in design. Coincidentally, your mother left behind a few fashion design studios before she passed. If you don't mind, why not start by trying one of the studios?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

If this had been two days ago, he would have jumped for joy at the offer.

But having been reborn, he decided to decline.

He swallowed the fish, set down his chopsticks, and said honestly, "I don't really want to."

Lu Jingshan froze.

Lu Ke and Lu Zhuo were also a bit surprised. From the info they'd looked at, Lu Yuan's choice of fashion design was clearly something he truly loved—he'd entered tons of competitions in school and always said in his acceptance speeches that it would be his lifelong pursuit.

So why'd he turn it down?

Lu Ke frowned, his voice low: "Then do you want to study finance? Yunhe'd be happy to have you."

Just as the Lus had pored over Lu Yuan's file, Lu Yuan had secretly looked up the Lu family's Baidu Baike pages on his phone.

Yeah, a nobody with no connections could only use such blunt, basic methods to "research" the big shots.

Luckily, the Lus were a big deal in the capital—heck, nationwide—so Baidu Baike had everything you'd need. Take the Yunhe Group, founded by Lu Jingshan's dad—it covered finance, manufacturing, real estate, luxury goods, entertainment, media, you name it. An absolute giant.

Lu Ke's point was obvious: he was inviting Lu Yuan to dip into the family business, and he was even happy to split the family fortune.

But clearly, he'd misjudged Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan played innocent: "Finance doesn't interest me either."

Lu Zhuo's eyebrow shot up at that, curious: "Then what are you interested in?"

Lu Yuan had been waiting for that exact question and answered sweetly and honestly: "Sleeping, slacking off, being a total couch potato."

Lu Jingshan: "..."

Lu Ke: "..."

Lu Zhuo: "...?"

After a beat of silence, Lu Yuan added: "My chest's been hurting lately, so I figured I'd just rest and not force myself to look for a job."

Chest hurting.

That was enough to make the Lu men's hearts skip a beat.

Lu Jingshan had first mentioned Lu Yuan's part-time job not because he wanted him to work, but because he figured his youngest son was stressed about finding work, and as a dad, he should make up for it.

But now, hearing that, Lu Jingshan waved his hand: "Rest, then. Forget the part-time gig—even if you never work a day, we can totally support you."

Then he asked, worried: "How'd your check-up go?"

Lu Yuan nodded: "It went fine. Nothing wrong."

Lu Jingshan turned to Lu Zhuo: "Is your hospital reliable?"

Lu Zhuo: "...Dad, you tell me."

If Cheng'an isn't reliable, is there a more trustworthy hospital in the whole country?

Lu Jingshan realized he'd jumped the gun and made a fool of himself, clearing his throat: "Good to hear nothing's wrong. Get regular check-ups from now on, and don't be shy about calling your second brother if anything feels off."

Lu Ke tapped the table with a long finger, saying: "If you want to rest and recharge, you can stay at Songlan Mansion. It's a villa district, famous as a natural oxygen bar—the setting and the house's perks are top-notch."

"It's nice, just a bit far from downtown," Lu Zhuo said, chin in hand, a smirk on his face. "Get your big brother to hire you a few extra chefs so you don't have to haul into town for food... Actually, scratch that—if you don't come into town, my car gift's a waste. Forget the chefs; your second brother's happy to share a meal with you."

Lu Ke tuned out his younger brother's last comment, just saying: "Bai Yu's there too. You'll have someone to watch your back."