"What happened?"

Su Lian's phone nearly slipped from her hands when she heard Chen Kai's unsettling, cold voice piercing through the somewhat tense atmosphere.

Glancing at the phone, she realized it was a video call Chen Kai had made and not a regular voice call. Su Lian was also clueless about her current appearance and unaware of the number of retaliation plans going through her man's head as he looked at her.

"Lian."

Startled once more, she answered him quickly, "Huh? Yes. What's up? Is something ...." Raising the phone eye level and a bit confused by his attitude, her brain finally put 2 + 2 together when she caught sight of her face.

Her fingers flew across the screen, turning off the camera and switching to voice call.

Chen Kai, on the other side, understood her actions and didn't deny the request.

"What happened?" he asked again, his tone was softer, carrying the high affection he had for her.

"It's nothing much."

An uncomfortable silence took over after she uttered those words. Each had their own conflicting thoughts about the situation, with a sense of guilt clouding their judgment.

Su Lian didn't want the matter to explode because it was partially her fault, and it was her family's issue. She didn't want Chen Kai involved in that matter.

Chen Kai felt guilty because he wasn't there to protect her, and from what he noticed about the Su father and son duo, their persistence probably revolved around him. Su Lian was a link they wanted to use, and he wasn't there to shield her.

"Lian..." He didn't know what to say to ease the guilt and not cause her to worry or go into self-blame. If only he were next to her.....

Looking over his shoulder, the looming Chen Mansion stood behind him. He had to go in there to fight some battles of his own, but his wife needed him.

"They won't bother me for the time being."

"... people like them need to be treated harshly, Lian. You know this."

"I know, but..."

"They don't mean any harm?" Chen Kai interjected with a hint of mockery. His wife was still unclear about the harsh reality of those in the business world. When it comes to profit, survival is worse than being in the jungle.

"Kai. I know them. They are all bark and no bite," she retorted.

"Lian." This time, he sighed, temporarily not wanting to agitate her. "How about you move into the manor? I'll be home soon, and you promised."

In the confines of the private room, Su Lian blushed at the abrupt reminder. Her agreement came under a pleasurable duress when she visited him last time in Monaco.

This guy.

"Well, I did agree. Let me sort through some stuff and move in after work tomorrow." What else can she say? She did promise the guy.

"Good girl."

His low laugh sent shivers down her spine. She swore she could feel his warm breath on her neck, recollecting similar moments they shared. Her Kai was a devil to her body.

"Mmm."

"I'll talk to you after I wrap things up here. I love you, Su Lian."

Su Lian was taken aback by the sudden words for a moment before her heart slowly seeped in the warmth from his words, forgetting the early half of their conversation and what transpired before.

"I love you too, Chen Kai."

The call ended.

Chen Kai pocketed his phone and took a few minutes to compose himself.

He was so busy solidifying his position as patriarch that he paid little attention to his status when it came to Su Lian's side.

It has happened before.

Many people will seek her out to gain something from him.

Placing a security team around her took care of one side of things, but what about the other side? Her father has already begun.

Who will be next?

Her co-workers?

If his father hadn't been waiting for him a few feet away, he would have taken the next flight out.

Retrieving his phone, he sent a quick order, then made his way over to his father.

Chen Yan and Tong Ming were by his side, unbothered by Chen Kai's little delay.

Chen Huai had a look of concern on his face as he watched his son come closer. He saw the tension in his shoulders from afar, the anger on his face, then the sense of loss and confusion emanating from his cold demeanor. It was the first time he saw his son like this.

"This can be postponed for another time. Your name and XiaoYan's are in the genealogy book already; today is simply a family get-together to inform them." Chen Huai stated his stance clearly when Chen Kai came closer.

It didn't take long for Chen Kai to understand his father's choice of words. A warm smile chased away the little gloom on his face after getting this small show of fatherly love from the man.

"Mmm. Thanks, Father. I want to go back to Nanjing," he replied softly.

Tong Ming and Chen Yan knew right away why he wanted to go back to Nanjing ahead of schedule. They had no say or were thinking to refute; going back home earlier was fine by them.

Chen Huai gave his kid a knowing smile.

"Do a quick recognition, then you can leave. Don't worry about anything else. Let's go."

~~~~~~ ~~~~~

"What's taking that bastard so long?"

"Tsk. I can't believe the patriarch is allowing his by-blow to enter this house."

"Yilan is so pitiful."

"Pitiful? Ha! She should be grateful that the child's mother is dead. If she were alive, the marriage would be annulled."

"Annulled?! After so long? That can't be."

The woman in the know of the Chen family's dirty secrets smirked at her companion, a new in-law to the family. The others who were deeply tied to the family were interested in this little 'tidbit' about the Madam.

"Sun Yilan wasn't chosen by Patriarch Chen. It was the old man and she who made her position as wife happen."

Eyes flew wide open in shock at this development.

Family gatherings always bring new gossip.

The woman speaking was shaking with delight at their reactions. She had a feeling that Sun Yilan would never be a self-righteous bitch to them in the future when word gets out.

"Calling the son, he brought back a bastard, is not quite right. If things had happened upright back then, the kid would have been the first young master and probably the Chen family would be the most prestigious family in Shanghai."

Another bomb was dropped.

A few staggered by the weight of the news.

Who didn't like Prestige? Who didn't strive to live comfortably without financial worries? Isn't wealth something everybody aims for? What about social influence?

Does this mean the previous Patriarch botched the good life the entire clan wanted?

Ridiculos!!

He chose a cloudy gem over a dazzling diamond?!!

Was he right in his head.... is he sane right now?

"Wait. Is it true the old master was against this ancestral recognition?" someone asked, genuinely curious.

This question set off many other questions. They all turned to the messenger with bright eyes.

The woman gave the questioner a sympathetic look.

The Heck!!

If that wasn't an answer, no one will ever know.

"It seems like most of us took that child's appearance as another outside child story with a grain of salt, huh?" The woman coolly said this before taking a sip of her drink.

The corner where they sat was brimming with many emotions, leaving others in the sitting room curious about the happenings over there.

"Hehehe! Sister, you know how these things are, plus this came from the main family. We all know how many of those the second child had, and the old master dealt with the aftermath. I'm sure we all thought it would be the same for the first child." Someone spoke up with a sheepish smile on their face. Her words matched everyone's thoughts, including the gossip leader.

"So did I when I first heard it, but my husband said otherwise. The first child always keeps to himself, always in the background, but he's one not to be underestimated. We all saw what he did with the company. He even secured the Patriarch seat years before it was meant to be given. Do you think someone that meticulous would allow anything to happen to the child of him and his only love?"

A weighty pause was placed on the group.

Why didn't they see that?

The first child has hidden way too deeply.

"Also, did we even look into the child's background, much less his name?"

The answer to that is no.

They were all dumbstruck. Have they lost their touch? Is this what complacency feels like? So many things they have missed. Damn.

"It was my husband who offered a few words, and after I inquired here and there, something big played out. The child carried our family name from birth, and his mother came from the century-old clan Li from Beijing. Do you understand now?" she said in a timely manner.

Realization set upon the group. They were all part of the branch families and played their part in strengthening the Chen family businesses, so they knew of the struggles in staying on top in Shanghai and the benefits an alliance can give.

From what they heard, the child who had been away for 20-odd years had a huge background, and if his mother had been welcomed back then, the Chen family could have skipped over decades of struggle.

What the hell was the old master thinking? Sun Yilan wasn't wanted by the first child initially, yet he forced them to be together. That Sun and Chen alliance didn't even last a whole year.

The woman shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant manner. She knew that with this piece of truth, Sun Yilan wouldn't make a comeback anytime soon. This serves her right for being the hypocritical bitch she was. Does she think no one noticed her little tricks when she tries to suppress their kids so her wastrel son can be superior?

Chen Huai bringing back his son was Sun Yialn's comeuppance. Judging by the report she read about Chen Kai and the present news, Sun Yilan can only settle for being a simple wife and nothing else.

A small commotion at the entrance brought her out of her musings.

Standing up with the others, they all gasped in clear shock when the image of the two young men at Chen Huai's side came clearer.

It was too much to compute at the moment.

Which family member present doesn't watch TV or flip through social media?

Young and old had the same thoughts whirling in their minds.

This was too much.

Too much..

Chen Huai didn't stop for any pleasantries. He felt the shock from his relatives and even felt how solemn the room became. The once noise-filled grand sitting room was silenced within moments.

He led the two to the platform and looked over the shocked and thoughtful gazes of his relatives. He then turned to his nominal wife and son, who were seated beside his father. They were the only ones who wore different looks. Pure malice was written clearly on their faces.

He didn't care.

What is done is done. He lost years from not being with his true wife and son. He won't compromise anymore.

They weren't playing fair from the beginning. Why should he continue that way?

"Thank you for the quick get-together. As the present Patriarch, it is my duty to keep each relative under the family wing. No matter the circumstance they came, each relative has a right to their family name," he spoke sternly to the crowd, but his gaze was on his elderly father, that man who strived on pride and perfect image.

"Word has already spread, so I won't cater to any long speeches. It is of great joy that I introduce to you, the beloved son of my first love, my past fiancée, and me, Chen Kai."

He didn't say anything else, nor did he boast of the young man's accolades; he simply invited the strikingly handsome young man to his side with bright fatherly pride in his eyes.

After hearing his name and seeing his face, one name resonated in their minds and sent a shock through their system.

The Chen Family's first young master is now him?

His name rolled off their tongue.

Patriarch Li.

What deity gave them such a huge blessing?

But wait... There was more.

The woman who was revealing the latest gossip was currently dumbstruck. Something big was about to happen. Her friends sensed her strange behavior.

"What is it?" one asked in a low voice.

The woman's eyes darted between the younger guest and the second child.

The more she looked, the more she anticipated Chen Huai's next words.

"Something big is about to happen," she said to them.

She didn't have to wait long.

"and another addition to our family. It's a great thing to have our family grow. I would like to introduce you to my little nephew, Chen Yan. The son of Chen Tianrui, the second child."

"WHAT?!!"