Su Bing had just reached the staircase when a beautifully dressed society lady came gliding toward him. Instinctively, he stepped aside to let her pass first.
Yet, strangely, the woman didn’t move. She simply stood there, her gaze fixed on his face, her expression layered with something Su Bing couldn’t immediately decipher.
There was something oddly familiar about her, and the way she looked at him — a peculiar mixture of longing and sorrow — made him feel inexplicably unsettled.
Just as Su Bing was about to sidestep her and continue on his way, a cheerful voice called out from behind him.
"Su Bing! What a coincidence, you’re here reading too? Want to join me?" It was Xu Sheng, trotting over energetically, waving a book in one hand. Then, noticing the frozen figure of the woman, he added, "Grandma, what’s wrong?"
In that instant, Su Bing remembered. He had seen this woman once before — on the first day of the semester, when Xu Sheng introduced her as his grandmother. She had worn that exact same peculiar expression back then too, as though she were seeing a ghost.
Shaking his head, Su Bing said quickly, "No, thank you. I need to go find my mother." He gave a polite nod to the elegant lady, hugged his books tightly against his chest, and practically dashed down the stairs.
Only when Xu Sheng called out to her did Yu Fang finally snap out of her daze. Staring at Su Bing’s retreating figure, her heart twisted painfully. He wasn’t her eldest son, no, but he looked heartbreakingly similar to how her son had looked at that age. And worse — he was her eldest son’s child, the rightful eldest grandson of the illustrious Xu family.
Yet because of their own terrible mistakes, this was how they met — strangers passing like ships in the night. She didn’t even know what the other two grandchildren looked like.
The memory of her deceased son slammed into Yu Fang like a punch to the chest. Blinking back tears, she said to Xu Sheng, her voice a little strained, "Grandma’s not feeling well. Let’s just borrow the books you need and go home."
Xu Sheng, though young, could sense the unspoken weight in the air. He didn’t fully understand why his father and grandmother insisted on keeping their distance from Su Bing and his siblings, but he could guess. Seeing Su Bing must have brought back memories of his late uncle. Obediently, he held Yu Fang’s arm and helped her down the stairs, his own mood sinking.
Su Bing’s indifference stung more than he expected. After all, they were cousins — blood relatives! Yet Su Bing had looked at him like he was a stranger. Xu Sheng couldn’t help but feel a little heartbroken.
When Yu Fang returned home, she immediately picked up the phone and dialed her second son, Xu Fan.
"I ran into Su Bing at the library today," she said urgently. "Son, Xu Sheng and those three kids... they’re good friends, aren’t they?"
There was a pause, then Xu Fan continued, "He mentioned he bumped into Su Bing today at the Imperial University library. Honestly, Xu Sheng is very lonely — he’s never really had any close friends. Would it be possible for him to visit your home tomorrow and spend some time with the children?"
"Of course!" Gu Zi agreed without hesitation. "Su Li just mentioned the other day that he misses Xu Sheng too. But... Mr. Xu, if you don’t mind my asking, how did you get my number?"
Xu Fan chuckled a little awkwardly. "Well, Su Shen and Chen Yu registered their investment company with the commerce bureau. All their information is on file. I recently transferred back to the capital and now oversee that department. I’m sorry — I know this might seem intrusive—"
Gu Zi cut him off smoothly. "Thank you for being upfront, Mr. Xu. In the future, though, I’d appreciate a more proper approach. But it’s fine. Please do send Xu Sheng over tomorrow."
The next day, it wasn’t Xu Fan who brought Xu Sheng over, but Yu Fang herself.
When Su Li opened the door and saw a gleaming luxury car parked outside, he gasped audibly. His eyes widened even further when he noticed the tiny national flag fluttering proudly at the front of the vehicle, giving it an even more majestic, official air.
He dashed out eagerly to greet Xu Sheng, practically bouncing on his heels.
"Xu Sheng! Your car is so cool!"
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