For the sake of Jian Xi, He Ran could kneel to heaven and earth.

Not to mention his own father.

In the sound of the summer night breeze, there was the smell of an impending storm in the air, heavy and oppressive, squeezing out what little energy He Ran had left after days of exhaustion.

There he knelt on the ground, his knees aching from the cobblestones.

He Zheng’an stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

The father and son, one towering above and the other kneeling below, the scene reminiscent of a time long past. Back then, He Ran was the epitome of a useless brat: parents divorced, love missing from home, and He Zheng’an’s stubbornness and iron-fisted nature only fueling the rebellious spirit in the young man.

Their constant clashes turned an already sensitive father-son relationship into an outright enmity. Every time He Ran caused trouble, He Zheng’an didn’t bother with words; it was always kneeling, beating, and belts breaking under the strain.

Very much like now.

Only this time, the rebellious face of the young He Ran was nowhere to be seen. Now a son and a father himself, his brows carried both the weight of mountains and the calmness of a gentle breeze.

He Zheng’an was momentarily lost in thought.

He Ran grew uneasy waiting and couldn’t help but call out, “Father?”

He Zheng’an suppressed his emotions, ready to lash out with harsh words, but upon meeting He Ran’s gaze, he found himself at a loss for words.

After a long silence, He Zheng’an finally asked, “Are you willing to come back and inherit the family business?”

The entire family would move back to Yao Province.

He Ran hardly hesitated, “I am willing.”

He didn’t want to see Jian Xi cry anymore; he was willing to do anything.

He Zheng’an’s silent demeanor was enough to make one’s blood boil.

Rain began to fall.

He Zheng’an turned his back, leaving him kneeling as he walked towards the house.

At that moment, He Ran truly experienced the feeling of despair.

He Zheng’an’s back remained straight, like gnarled branches of an old tree, yet unmistakably aged, appearing lonely and desolate against the night.

The raindrops grew larger, slashing like flying blades, drenching He Ran’s face.

As He Zheng’an ascended the steps, He Ran remained kneeling in the storm.

Suddenly, He Zheng’an paused, gazing at the light from the house, and dropped a line, “The Jian family is relying on you now. If you fall ill, we all collapse.”

A flicker of fire sparked in He Ran’s heart, his ears instantly perking up.

He heard He Zheng’an say, “It’s been over a decade since you last stepped foot in this house; that’s unacceptable. Don’t sit on the sofa later; the seat cushions are new.”

He Ran was dumbfounded.

The aunt who had been watching from the doorway, umbrella in hand, quickly ran over to him.

“Hurry, hurry,” she had been with the He family for over twenty years and felt sorry for He Ran, holding the umbrella over him. “Your father wants you to go inside. I’ve always said, how can a father and son hold such grudges?”

He Ran quickly got up, stumbling a bit and nearly falling.

“Hey! What’s wrong?” The aunt supported him.

He Ran waved her off, “Nothing, my legs went numb from kneeling too long. Whoa, Auntie, how did you get so beautiful!”

The aunt laughed, her plump body jiggling, “Alright, alright, today you’re the boss.”

He Ran licked his teeth, “Old man coming around is quite pleasant.”

“Do you need me to help you up?”

“Yes, yes, Auntie, lend me an arm.” He Ran looked at his knees, red and raw from kneeling. “Mistake, I should have worn long pants.”

After more than a decade, He Ran finally stepped into his home properly for the first time.

He Zheng’an sat in the side hall’s tea room, a small box of Biluochun tea by his side.

He Ran quickly went over and sat down opposite him, “Let me.”

He placed the tea leaves into a spoon, roasted them slightly over charcoal, then heated the teaware, porcelain cups bubbling in the hot water.

Seeing He Ran’s skilled tea-making, He Zheng’an remarked, “Jian Xi’s mother likes tea; I learned this from Jian Xi.”

He Zheng’an snorted, “Daughters are indeed more reliable than sons.”

He Ran responded, “They also have a son; you met him last time.”

He Zheng’an said gloomily, “So you’ve found your accomplice organization.”

He Ran continued brewing the tea without stopping, pausing for two seconds before laughing.

He Zheng’an raised his voice, “You’re still laughing.”

He Ran restrained his smile, enduring it.

After a while, He Zheng’an seemed to have found his own laughter trigger, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He Ran presented the tea with both hands, and He Zheng’an accepted it gracefully. In their exchanged gaze, they practiced the saying “one smile buries all grievances.”

He Zheng’an cooled the tea and asked, “Her father has been in that position for almost ten years now, right?”

He Ran was taken aback, “You know?”

He Zheng’an coughed, “With all the noise he’s making, it’s hard not to know.”

He Ran nodded and recounted the whole story.

Jian Yanqing had received an anonymous report, but the material was thin, lacking substantial evidence. However, dragging Tao Xihong into the mess first and using it as leverage, even if nothing happened, the intimidation power of public opinion was terrifying enough.

He Zheng’an listened to the gist and raised his hand.

He Ran wanted to continue, “They…”

“I know.” He Zheng’an seemed unwilling to hear more and got up to head to the study, “If you don’t want to sleep here, find a hotel early. There’s an agricultural forum these days; no rooms mean you’ll sleep on the streets.”

He Ran also got up, calling after his retreating figure, “Can I sleep in our farmland?”

He Zheng’an chuckled, “There’s no land for you to sleep on now. Thinking it’s still the countryside fields from before? It’s all high-tech modernized now.”

He Ran: “….”

When talking about such things, the old man didn’t appear as cold as before, showing interest and sharing a few more words.

“I’ll bet you this: the mashed potatoes and cornmeal your daughter eats are all grown by me, old He.”

He Ran: “….”

Cleverly following along, he said, “I won’t bet; I admit defeat.”

He Zheng’an’s mood improved further, chin proudly lifted as he went upstairs, “Your bedroom is kept as it was; the bedding is clean. Take a shower before sleeping, don’t dirty it.”

The dusty home suddenly became clear and bright.

He Ran stood in the living room and heavily agreed, “Alright.”

________________________________________

The Jian Family.

During this period, chaos reigned. Tao Xihong’s vertigo had flared up again, and she couldn’t get out of bed. Jian Xi had taken annual leave from the hospital to take care of her at home.

After cooperating with the investigation, Jian Yanqing went directly to the municipal government. His daily work continued as usual, awaiting the second round of questioning anytime.

Tao Xinglai postponed two film promotional events and flew back from Beijing. “Mom, where’s Mom!”

Jian Xi quickly came out, gesturing for quiet, “Don’t shout, Mom’s asleep.” She looked at what Tao Xinglai was carrying, “What’s that?”

“Green-skinned sugarcane.” Tao Xinglai placed the plastic bag on the table, “Mom’s favorite. On my way back from the airport, I saw some by the roadside and bought them wearing big sunglasses. Can you believe the vendor didn’t recognize me!”

Jian Xi: “Was the vendor young?”

“Not particularly.” Tao Xinglai admired the sugarcane he chose, “About seventy, looked rather pitiful, reminded me of Grandpa.”

Jian Yanqing was an orphan; Jian Xi sighed mentally, “Your imagination is quite wild.”

Tao Xinglai chewed on the sugarcane, juice splashing in his mouth, “In third grade, the teacher asked us to write an essay about ‘My Favorite Person,’ and I wrote about Grandpa!”

Jian Xi: “You’ve never even met him, how did you write it?”

Tao Xinglai spat out the sugarcane residue, “I imagined myself as Andy Lau throughout.”

Jian Xi: “….”

“Sis, why are you spacing out? Come eat sugarcane; it’s boring chewing alone.” Tao Xinglai handed her a bag, “Don’t worry, I bought three bags. By the way, where’s Brother He?”

“He’s on a business trip; his company has a lot of things going on.” Jian Xi said, “Your brother-in-law is better behaved than you; you’re just a useless sack.”

Tao Xinglai retorted, “Don’t discriminate against useless sacks.”

After a moment of silence, he added, “Next week, the movie premieres. I wonder if we can all go to the cinema together.”

No matter how sweet the sugarcane, it couldn’t mask the bitterness of reality.

Jian Xi swallowed, not uttering a word.

Tao Xinglai’s face always looked sunny, his spirit forever vibrant. Now, even his brows were etched with worry, a sign of looming clouds.

Jian Xi sighed softly, “When Mom wakes up, spend more time talking with her.”

Tao Xinglai sniffed, “Got it, I’ll perform crosstalk for her.”

Tao Xihong hadn’t slept long; her vertigo was acting up. Upon waking, she leaned against the headboard to rest.

The door creaked open, and Tao Xinglai’s head popped in.

“Old Tao, Little Tao’s here to bring warmth—your favorite green-skinned sugarcane. Surprised? Happy?”

Tao Xihong immediately smiled, “Oh, our family’s leading actor is back.”

Tao Xinglai changed into a white T-shirt, his features clean like a youth, “Stinky Mom, being sick isn’t stylish; you need to get better soon.”

He placed the sugarcane on the table, “Eat it all; I’ll sweeten you till you’re dizzy.”

Tao Xinglai sat by the bed, “No sadness, no overthinking, no negativity. My sister and I are grown up; we can support you and Dad. You’ve worked hard for most of your life; it’s time to retire. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a pension.”

Tao Xihong laughed, “Silly boy.”

“Mom, I’m bloated, I’m happy.” Tao Xinglai extended his thumb and pressed it to his forehead, giving himself a thumbs-up.

Tao Xihong calmed a bit and said, “Don’t be reckless; the entertainment industry is complex and difficult to navigate; achieving success isn’t easy.”

“I fired my agent.” Tao Xinglai complained, “He was nagging so much; what nonsense. How could I stand aside when my parents are in trouble? It would dishonor the thumbs-up I just gave myself.”

Tao Xihong frowned slightly, “Don’t be willful; the agent comrade has it tough too.”

But Tao Xinglai spoke softly, “It’s precisely because you’ve given me the means that I can keep being willful and true to myself.”

Both he and Jian Xi had received the best education, never lacking materially or spiritually, not needing to earn money or support a family. Thus, Tao Xinglai could choose his beloved career and live freely.

“Silly child.” Tao Xihong’s eyes reddened slightly, “You and your sister are your father and mother’s lifelong pride.”

Tao Xinglai nodded firmly, “Of course, made by Old Jian, quality guaranteed.”

At the mention of Jian Yanqing, Tao Xihong grew melancholic again, “Your father’s situation is very complicated. If something really happens to him…”

“I’ll sell all the shares I have and do everything I can to protect him.”

“I’m willing to use all the money I’ve earned from movies these years to save Dad.”

Mother and son, speaking in unison, shared the same resolve.

The immense pressure of recent days quietly dissipated in those two sentences.

At this moment, Tao Xihong burst into tears.

Tao Xinglai held her hand tightly, “Mom, with my sister and brother-in-law here, don’t be afraid. If money can solve it, I’ll work tirelessly on films—wuxia, romance, playing villains—I won’t be picky, determined to dominate the screen and blind the audience with my performance.”

Silently, he added in his heart, “Even if it’s a Category III film, I’d be willing.”

Strangely enough, as soon as this thought crossed his mind, his phone rang—a WeChat message.

From Qiao Shu: [Just inexplicably sneezed three times in a row. Did you curse me again?]

Tao Xinglai’s hand trembled, uncontrollably imagining scenarios.

Qiao Shu, this domineering female CEO, he as the male lead, she insisting on playing the female lead. And those indescribable scenes…啧啧啧.

Tao Xihong looked at her son, puzzled, “Why is your face so red? Are you uncomfortable?”

Lost in his imagination, Tao Xinglai couldn’t tear himself away, lowering his head bashfully, “Feels pretty good.”

No time to ask more because Tao Xihong’s phone rang too.

Seeing the caller, her expression tightened again. She answered, “Old Jian? What’s wrong?”

Jian Yanqing’s voice, “The investigation team notified me for a second talk.”

Tao Xihong’s emotions began to rise, “Why another one? Didn’t they conclude nothing yesterday?”

Jian Yanqing: “Let’s not talk about that. I just wanted you to know. Just in case there’s…”

“No ‘just in case.’” Tao Xihong interrupted sternly.

Jian Yanqing let out a rare sigh on the phone, revealing his emotions, a thousand tangled thoughts finally culminating in one sentence—”Old partner, after all these years, Xi Hong, you’ve worked hard.”

Tao Xihong sat upright, quickly regaining composure, asking, “Old Jian, did you receive any news?”

After a brief silence, faint wind sounds could be heard. Jian Yanqing moved to a different location, his voice lower than before.

“I can’t tell you much, but this time, the other party is well-prepared. Over a decade ago, I was in charge of the Yufeng Garden bidding process. They insist I abused my power, with witnesses and physical evidence all in place.”

Tao Xihong broke down, “But you didn’t do it! Jiexi Daily followed the procedures back then, no violations!”

But soon, her passionate defense chilled instantly in the face of Jian Yanqing’s heavy response.

“But Xi Hong, have you ever considered that if this trap was set over a decade ago?”

Half-spoken words were easy to understand.

Layer upon layer of intricate nets—

Please enter the trap.

Integrity lies in virtue, honesty in resolve.

This was Jian Yanqing’s lifelong belief.

“Old partner, many times, I’ve relied on my pride and backbone to endure.” His sigh on the phone sounded quietly desolate—

“This time, I don’t know if I can make it through.”