◎Word by word, his tone ominous, “I don’t want a joyous occasion to turn into a somber one.”◎

New employees underwent a two-week orientation program.

Baifeng Group had a mature and systematic human resources process, ensuring that everyone followed the steps and learned effectively.

Everything was proceeding smoothly, but what left Fu Jiaxi most perplexed and frustrated was Liu Yun.

She tried to discuss work. “Group Leader, do you have any tasks…?”

“Have you finished reading the materials?”

“Yes, Group Leader, I’ve finished.”

“Then read them again.”

“…”

She attempted to build rapport, bringing two jars of honey sauce after work. “I made this myself. It’s dry weather—mix it with water to soothe your throat.”

“I have high blood sugar—I can’t eat sweets.”

“How about giving it to your wife?”

Liu Yun raised his head, saying nothing. His black-rimmed glasses made him appear even more reserved and solemn.

Fu Jiaxi couldn’t figure him out, so she sought advice from Yu Xiaomi when the opportunity arose.

Yu Xiaomi told her, “Group Leader Liu has never been married. He’s always been single.”

Realizing her misstep, Fu Jiaxi regretted her words deeply.

At noon on Friday during the lunch break, Yue Jincheng sent her a text: “Let’s meet after work.”

Fu Jiaxi replied: “What?”

“Tomorrow is Grandma’s birthday. Let’s pick out a gift together.”

Time had slipped by in a blur, and she had completely forgotten about Zhou Xiaojun’s birthday.

Feeling guilty, Fu Jiaxi agreed without hesitation.

Yue Jincheng glanced at his schedule, crossed out two items, and instructed Jiao Rui, “Cancel the 4 p.m. meeting and tonight’s event.”

Jiao Rui asked, “President Yue, do you have another urgent matter?”

After signing the last document, Yue Jincheng tightened the cap of his pen. “No work arrangements for tonight.”

At 4:30, he even retrieved a spare set of casual clothes from the rest area, changing out of his suit. Though his expression remained unchanged, it was clear he was no longer in work mode.

He checked his watch twice.

Jiao Rui silently noted—it was the third time.

Ten minutes before the end of the workday, Yue Jincheng’s personal phone vibrated.

Fu Jiaxi: “The department suddenly called an emergency meeting. You pick out the gift yourself. Tomorrow, come pick up Jiayi for the birthday banquet.”

Jiao Rui noticed a slight furrow in his boss’s brow.

“Why is the Investment Development Department working overtime on a Friday? Is their efficiency really this low? How is Jin Ming leading his team?”

Yue Jincheng set down his phone, removed his watch, and lightly tossed it onto the desk.

Jiao Rui trembled slightly. “Should I… call Minister Jin in for a talk?”

After a long pause, Yue Jincheng turned his leather chair half a foot away, his voice low and muffled. “Never mind.”

________________________________________

The year of the cane, Zhou Xiaojun’s eighty-second birthday.

Unlike previous years’ quiet simplicity, almost all the Yue family members gathered at Man Yuan.

Fu Jiaxi originally planned not to attend, insisting she wouldn’t go.

They were divorced now—two separate families. It didn’t feel right to intrude on their harmonious gathering.

Zhou Xiaojun couldn’t persuade her and sighed over the phone. “I wasn’t planning to celebrate my birthday, but Yue Shaoheng said the family consulted a fortune-teller, and this year’s zodiac clash requires an elder to host a festive event to ward off bad luck. So be it. At my age, I shouldn’t expect everyone to accommodate me. Xi Xi… Xi Xi, I’ll save a small piece of cake for you. Jiayi can bring it back for you.”

Those two calls of “Xi Xi” were warm yet tinged with melancholy, light-hearted yet lonely.

Zhou Xiaojun’s kindness toward her wasn’t contingent on whether she was part of the family or a granddaughter-in-law. Her compassion was rooted in the fact that she was Fu Jiaxi. Behind the grandeur of being a matriarch with countless descendants lay a heart heavy with sorrow, like mud beneath the surface.

Even her own birthday couldn’t be celebrated as she wished—it had become a cold tool to resolve feng shui issues.

Fu Jiaxi sent Yue Jincheng a message: “You don’t need to pick up Jiayi tomorrow. I’ll take him with me.”

In the height of summer, the heat surged like waves. The air above the asphalt shimmered like rippling water.

Turning into the winding asphalt road of Man Yuan, this private estate was lined with dense jacaranda trees, their blossoms resembling a gradient oil painting, adding a touch of coolness.

“Mommy, are you scared?” Yue Jiayi, just waking up in his car seat, suddenly asked.

Fu Jiaxi tilted her head. “Hmm?”

“Grandpa, Aunties, Uncle Two, Uncle Three—do you fear them?” Yue Jiayi asked.

“No,” Fu Jiaxi replied without hesitation. “It’s just that Mommy feels it’s unnecessary to see them. Likewise, they would think the same.”

“Today is Great-Grandma’s birthday. We’re here to celebrate for her. This is Great-Grandma’s home, so we don’t need to care about others.” Yue Jiayi said earnestly, “Mommy, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you.”

Fu Jiaxi smiled softly. “Alright, Mommy isn’t afraid. Thank you, Jiayi.”

“It’s Daddy!” Yue Jiayi pointed ahead excitedly. “Daddy is waiting for us!”

Outside the red-brown traditional Chinese gate, sunlight shimmered and scattered like shattered pearls. Yue Jincheng stood there in a light gray short-sleeved shirt, one hand casually tucked into his pocket as he paced back and forth at the entrance. When he heard the sound of their arrival, he looked up, his gaze following Fu Jiaxi’s car intently.

“Daddy!” Yue Jiayi jumped out of the car and rushed into his arms with joy.

Yue Jincheng effortlessly lifted him high, holding him securely. “You’ve gotten heavier, little guy.”

Yue Jiayi grinned. “It’s because Mommy’s cooking is so good—I have to eat two more grains of rice every meal.”

Fu Jiaxi approached with the gift in hand, laughing helplessly. “What a little chatterbox.”

Yue Jincheng held his son with one arm and extended the other toward her. “Let me take it.”

“It’s fine—it’s not heavy.”

But he insisted on taking it from her anyway.

Fu Jiaxi deliberately slowed her pace, keeping some distance behind him as they walked.

Yue Jiayi, restless as ever, stretched both hands toward her. “Mommy, come here. Come closer, Mommy!”

His constant wriggling made it difficult for Yue Jincheng to hold onto him.

Fu Jiaxi hurried closer. “Alright, alright—be careful, don’t fall.”

Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Yue Jincheng, maintaining a respectful distance of about a fist’s width, she stepped over the threshold as he gently reminded, “Take your time.”

Yue Jiayi mischievously winked at his father.

Yue Jincheng suppressed a smile, his eyebrows arching faintly in amusement.

Amidst the lush greenery of the estate, under skies washed clean and blue, the three walked slowly together. Fu Jiaxi, clad in an elegant pale green silk dress, paired perfectly with Yue Jincheng, appearing as if they were a harmonious couple visiting family—a sight pleasing to the eye.

The people chatting and sipping tea under the corridor all turned their gazes toward them simultaneously.

For a moment, silence reigned except for the chirping of cicadas.

Protectively, Yue Jincheng took a step forward, positioning himself slightly ahead of her.

Immediately, the younger generation and peers caught on, greeting them politely. “Big Brother, Sister Jiaxi.”

“Sister Jiaxi, would you like to try a peach? It’s sweet and refreshing.”

“It’s been so long since we last saw you, Sister Jiaxi—you look even more beautiful now.”

Fu Jiaxi handled each interaction gracefully, responding with ease and blending seamlessly into the warm atmosphere.

“Let’s go inside and give the gift to Grandma,” Yue Jincheng intervened tactfully, leading them away.

In the inner hall, all of the Yue family elders were present.

As they entered, the air seemed to grow heavier, the flow of conversation slowing perceptibly.

Beneath the veneer of peace and harmony, subtle tensions simmered beneath the surface.

Zhou Xiaojun sat regally in her chair, beckoning urgently. “Xi Xi, come here quickly. Look at my phone—it won’t let me send gifts anymore.”

She tugged at Fu Jiaxi’s hand, behaving like a mischievous child throwing a tantrum.

Fu Jiaxi sighed. “Grandma, how are you still thinking about this on your birthday?”

“How could I not? It’s a festive day—I need to send ten virtual fireworks to mark the occasion.”

Pulled along by Zhou Xiaojun, Fu Jiaxi couldn’t escape. She quickly greeted those around her. “Hello, Second Brother. Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie.”

As she spoke, Yue Shaoheng, seated furthest to the right, instinctively leaned forward slightly.

“Hurry up and fix it for me, come on!” Zhou Xiaojun impatiently dragged her into a small adjoining room.

She hadn’t called out to him or even glanced his way.

Yue Shaoheng’s shoulders slumped slightly as he stiffly sat back down.

With so many guests arriving and departing, Yue Jincheng—who was naturally the center of attention—had no time to spare for anything else.

When the crowd thinned somewhat, Yue Yunzong toyed with a matchbox while chatting casually with Yue Shaoheng. “Why didn’t you greet Jiaxi? After all, you were once family. You went out of your way to help her so much—what do you gain by being such an anonymous benefactor?”

Yue Shaoheng composed himself, replying calmly, “As you said, we’re family. It was just a small favor.”

Yue Yunzong, whose features carried a certain soft masculinity, smiled meaningfully. “You feared I wouldn’t allow her to join the company, so you sought out Grandma and had Uncle Li persuade Jin Ming. If this counts as a ‘small favor,’ doesn’t it feel a bit forced?”

Though Zhou Xiaojun was advanced in age, she still commanded deep respect within the family. While Jin Ming was loyal to Yue Yunzong, he wasn’t the only one who held leverage.

Whether intended as a reminder or a threat, when personal interests were threatened, loyalty inevitably crumbled under scrutiny.

Yue Yunzong had once been the most promising heir to take over Baifeng Group.

But halfway through, Yue Jincheng—long disregarded and underestimated by Yue Yunzong—had seized control, snatching victory from defeat. The humiliation rang loud and clear.

In such a prestigious family, even the deepest grudges and hatreds couldn’t tarnish the outward appearance of peace and prosperity.

Yue Yunzong could only smile and congratulate his brother, humbly accepting his role as the eternal second-in-line—a title tinged with irony.

Originally, it had seemed impossible for Fu Jiaxi to enter Baifeng Group.

Now, she had joined so smoothly and effortlessly—and was placed directly under Yue Yunzong’s jurisdiction. This was akin to slapping him in the face repeatedly.

Yue Shaoheng remained unfazed. “I merely came to visit Grandma and happened to mention something in passing. I didn’t expect you to react so strongly, Second Brother. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but now I must reconsider—why do you harbor such strong opinions about our former sister-in-law?”

Yue Yunzong sneered. “Doesn’t it weigh on your conscience when you call her ‘sister-in-law’?”

Yue Shaoheng’s expression stiffened. “Why should I feel guilty?”

Yue Yunzong feigned applause. “Your righteous indignation is commendable. But let me remind you—Big Brother is nearby. Keep your voice down. If he hears you, what do you think will happen?”

Not only his face but Yue Shaoheng’s entire body tensed visibly.

“Still, I can understand,” Yue Yunzong mused thoughtfully before breaking into a knowing smile. “After all, even when she was truly your sister-in-law, you couldn’t restrain yourself—it took courage. Let alone now, after she and Big Brother divorced, becoming single and unmarried. Helping her in any way wouldn’t violate moral codes, nor would it count as incest, right?”

“Second Brother! Watch your words and show respect!” Yue Shaoheng shot up abruptly, his breathing ragged and panicked.

“What disrespect have I shown?” Yue Yunzong tilted his chin upward, his expression mocking yet cutting. “I never liked her. I never coveted her. Nor did I ever consider competing with my own brother for a woman. Love may be precious, but falling for your own sister-in-law crosses too many boundaries.”

“I haven’t!” Yue Shaoheng interrupted sharply, his voice hollow like the remnants of a shattered god. “It’s not like that—it’s not! It’s because... it’s because I was the one who... I was the one who started it!!”

Like molten lava bubbling beneath the earth’s surface, a torrent of resentment, frustration, and anger surged within him. Just as the contradictory second half of his statement was about to burst forth—

From beneath the pearl curtain, a pair of long, straight legs appeared first.

“Today is Grandmother’s birthday.”

Yue Jincheng’s voice was cold, like a snow-capped mountain teetering precariously on the brink of collapse.

He pushed aside the curtain, walking steadily closer, his gaze slicing through Yue Shaoheng like a blade.

“If you still possess an ounce of filial piety, you’ll understand that today, on Grandma’s birthday, you should exercise restraint, speak carefully, and act appropriately.” Yue Jincheng’s words dripped with foreboding. “I don’t want this happy occasion to turn into a tragedy. Shaoheng, you’d better know how to respect yourself and save yourself.”