When Hu Xiaoyu arrived at the Hu residence, he was surprised to find Liu Luanzhou there as well.

Father Hu and Mother Hu sat at his sides, and next to Mother Hu was Li Yu, clinging to her arm.

As soon as Li Yu saw Hu Xiaoyu, his resentful gaze locked onto him. But it was only for a second—he quickly stood up and said haltingly, “Xiaoyu, you're back. That’s great.”

Hu Xiaoyu ignored him.

As a fox with principles, he believed things should be black and white. He didn’t like nor bother with polite façades.

He simply turned to Liu Luanzhou and asked, “Brother Liu, what brings you here?”

Liu Luanzhou smiled. “Just came to see you.”

In truth, he brought Li Yu here to apologize.

While Liu Luanzhou’s flirtatious reputation preceded him, as one of the few in Shencheng who could rival Yu Tan, he was frighteningly meticulous and intelligent in other matters.

Smart and domineering people loathed others using their name for mischief.

Li Yu had used his name to arrange a meeting with Hu Xiaoyu, only to stand him up—that was utterly outrageous.

After dragging Li Yu out of the restaurant that day, Liu Luanzhou had a serious talk with his younger cousin.

Li Yu fumbled for excuses, but Liu Luanzhou ordered him to reflect at home and forbade him from stepping foot in the Liu house without permission.

The Liu family was one of the top families in Shencheng, whereas the Li and Hu families fell far behind.

As the undisputed heir of the Liu family, Liu Luanzhou’s words carried such weight that even his father, the current patriarch, rarely overruled him.

Li Yu panicked, but still gritted his teeth, insisting he hadn’t done anything too wrong. After all, his cousin had always doted on him—surely he wouldn’t cut ties with him over someone like Hu Xiaoyu?

But Liu Luanzhou wasn’t easily fooled. He could see right through Li Yu’s petty thoughts.

After sending Li Yu away, he had someone look into Hu Xiaoyu and, in the process, re-evaluated his naïve cousin. He also developed a deep sense of guilt toward Hu Xiaoyu.

When Li Yu found he really couldn’t get into the Liu household anymore—and was even mocked by some of its side branches—he began to panic for real.

Eventually, under Liu Luanzhou’s command, he came to apologize at the Hu residence, albeit reluctantly.

He hadn’t expected Hu Xiaoyu to return just then.

Li Yu had lost face because of Hu Xiaoyu. If it weren’t for his lingering fear of Liu Luanzhou…

At that moment, Father and Mother Hu were both briefly stunned upon seeing Hu Xiaoyu.

When had their son become so radiant—almost glowing—with a beauty that made people hesitate to look directly at him?

But to say they doubted he was their son—that was a stretch.

Hu Xiaoyu still resembled the original about seventy percent. The other thirty percent, due to the original’s sloppiness and neglect, was something that could easily be improved—nothing suspicious.

Hu Xiaoyu greeted Father and Mother Hu calmly, showing little emotion.

That coldness, strangely enough, aligned with how the original behaved.

Father Hu focused mainly on Liu Luanzhou. Seeing how familiar Xiaoyu was with him, he felt secretly pleased.

Mother Hu, on the other hand, felt stung by Xiaoyu’s indifference. Seeing Li Yu’s eyes turning red, her heart ached terribly.

She had spoiled this child from birth. His sudden jealousy was understandable, but Jia Jia—he was just so immature and stubborn, always such a headache.

She gently tugged Li Yu’s hand and reminded, “Jia Jia, come on, your cousin is talking to you.”

Jia Jia?

Hu Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then solemnly corrected her: “Mother, my name is Xiaoyu. Jia Jia is not my name.”

Mother Hu stiffened. “What ‘Xiaoyu’? You’re old enough to know better…”

Hu Xiaoyu replied, “People who are truly mature don’t force others.”

Among the fox clan, everyone had the surname Hu, but first names were entirely up to personal preference.

He liked eating fish, so he called himself Xiaoyu—Little Fish.

There were others who liked rivers, trees, or birds. Everyone had quirky names. It never bothered anyone.

“Jia Jia!” Father Hu glanced at Liu Luanzhou, suppressing his anger. “Your mother can’t be someone else. Stop being ridiculous!”

Hu Xiaoyu: “…”

He wanted to say that they were the ones being ridiculous—ridiculous enough to drive their own son to death.

But the original’s death was not something he could explain to them. And they didn’t seem to think they’d done anything wrong. Arguing was pointless.

Hu Xiaoyu found himself missing Yu Tan a little.

At Yu Tan’s side, no one said he was being unreasonable. He ate well, slept soundly, and could even play games.

His silence was taken by his parents as a sign of submission.

Mother Hu signaled for Li Yu to apologize.

After all, one was the nephew she had doted on for years, and the other was her biological son. She just wanted them to get along, support each other.

Li Yu stiffened, clearly unwilling, but still said, “Xiaoyu, I was wrong before. I was jealous—jealous of how well Auntie and Uncle treated you. I just couldn’t accept it at first. Let’s get along from now on, okay? Will you forgive me?”

Hu Xiaoyu stared at him. “No.”

His fox eyes were seductive by nature, but right now, they held only purity and resolve. Once he made up his mind, he never looked back.

The original was already dead. Forgiveness was no longer his to give.

The living room fell into a tense silence.

Just as Father and Mother Hu were about to erupt, Liu Luanzhou stepped in to smooth things over. He said it was natural for Hu Xiaoyu to still be upset after everything he’d endured.

Then he gave Li Yu a scolding and told him to take better care of Xiaoyu in the future.

After that, Liu Luanzhou ruffled Hu Xiaoyu’s hair and asked to speak with him alone.

Father Hu couldn’t be more thrilled at the idea of Liu Luanzhou taking a liking to his son and readily agreed.

Li Yu didn’t want another person to steal his cousin’s attention but dared not object.

Liu Luanzhou and Xiaoyu moved to the courtyard of the estate to talk.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the trees, landing on Liu Luanzhou’s shoulders, making him look even more handsome and composed.

Ever since recognizing Xiaoyu at the construction site and bringing him back to the Hu residence, Liu Luanzhou had felt a strange sense of fate with this young man.

Seeing Xiaoyu silently staring at him, he chuckled, “I’m not a monster. Why so quiet?”

Hu Xiaoyu shook his head. “I just don’t know what to say.”

Amused by his seriousness, Liu Luanzhou said, “Li Yu is spoiled and self-centered. You don’t have to give in to him. If you ever need help, call me directly.”

Hu Xiaoyu thought, I already have Yu Tan.

But he knew Liu Luanzhou meant well, so he nodded.

A soft warmth glimmered in Liu Luanzhou’s eyes.

For some reason, Hu Xiaoyu seemed particularly intriguing today.

Finally, he got to the point. “Xiaoyu, you’re still young. It’s easy to misjudge people. That Yu Tan… he’s too complicated. You’d be better off not getting involved with him.”

To say Yu Tan was “complicated” was putting it lightly.

Though Liu Luanzhou always spoke frankly to Yu Tan’s face, he was too upright to badmouth someone behind their back.

“Too complicated?” Xiaoyu repeated. “Brother Liu, are you saying Yu Tan is a bad person?”

“You could interpret it that way. In short, stay away from him. It’ll be better for you.”

Hu Xiaoyu’s delicate features instantly tensed. He looked unhappy.

He said seriously, “Brother Liu, Yu Tan is wonderful. You can think whatever you like, but when I’m around, I won’t let you speak badly of him.”

Liu Luanzhou: “…”

He didn’t know what spell Yu Tan had cast, but Hu Xiaoyu’s unwavering defense was truly concerning.

He wanted to keep persuading him, but Hu Xiaoyu had already turned and walked away.

Liu Luanzhou stood silently for a while, thinking, There’s time. Maybe in a few days, Yu Tan will lose interest.

Still, he had never seen anyone defend Yu Tan with such conviction.

It was… oddly fascinating.

Meanwhile, back at the Yu estate, on the second floor study—

Yu Tan leaned back with a lazy grin. So now I’m wonderful?

What a silly little thing.

At the Hu residence—

After Liu Luanzhou left with Li Yu, no one could force Hu Xiaoyu to forgive.

Once the guests were gone, Father Hu smashed a teacup in anger.

For Hu Xiaoyu disappearing for days, for contradicting Mother Hu in front of guests, and for not giving Li Yu any face.

The Hu and Li families had countless business ties. Were they really going to jeopardize that over some petty drama between juniors?

Still, there was one good outcome—Liu Luanzhou seemed to think highly of Jia Jia. If only…

The porcelain shards scattered across the floor. One piece grazed Xiaoyu’s ankle.

He stepped back, dodging Mother Hu’s startled concern. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

Father Hu was livid. “Where do you think you’re going? This is your home!”

Hu Xiaoyu shook his head. “It was. Not anymore.”

He had taken over the original’s body and should accept his family. But with people like Father and Mother Hu—it was better to keep his distance.

Father Hu fumed. “Who do you think you are? Without the Hu family, you’re nothing!”

Mother Hu tried to reason. “Jia Jia, your father only wants what’s best for you. Your cards are all frozen. How will you eat or dress if you leave?”

Father Hu added viciously, “And what about Granny Cui? Can you afford the nursing home fees?”

Granny Cui had raised the original.

After being abducted, the original was sold to a childless couple who later had a child and abandoned him.

Granny Cui took him in and raised him alone.

He dropped out of school when she fell ill to work and support her. A few months later, he met Liu Luanzhou and returned to the Hu family.

In gratitude, the Hu family promised to care for Granny Cui in her old age.

But later, she became a bargaining chip for Father and Mother Hu to control him.

Father Hu had brought her up more than once.

A faint green glint flickered in Xiaoyu’s fox-like eyes.

He suppressed the urge to smack Father Hu into the wall and said, “I have a salary. I can support myself—and Granny Cui.”

He stormed out, seething. All he wanted now was to see Yu Tan, to have his fur fluffed and his anger soothed.

Mother Hu tried to stop him.

Father Hu roared, “Let him go! And if he goes, he’s never coming back!”

In the car, Ah Jiu rested with his eyes closed until a knock on the window woke him.

He hadn’t expected Xiaoyu to come out so soon. Didn’t even stay for lunch?

Xiaoyu said nothing and climbed into the back seat.

Through the rearview mirror, Ah Jiu saw the usually cheerful boy curled up in silence.

Was he… hurt?

He had seen Li Yu and Liu Luanzhou leave earlier.

Ah Jiu was about to ask, but Xiaoyu waved it off. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

Well…

The only thing Ah Jiu could do was step on the gas and rush him home.

But Xiaoyu wasn’t tired. He wasn’t hurt either.

He was furious.

Furious over the original’s tragic past. So angry he couldn’t shift back to his true form. He had to ball himself up and slowly digest the rage.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Yu estate.

Xiaoyu got out and saw Yu Tan sitting under a tree, reading at a stone table.

When Yu Tan looked up and saw him, he lifted his hand and gestured for him to come.

Xiaoyu walked over, pouting, “Yu Tan, can you give me a hug?”

Yu Tan recalled what he’d overheard earlier and hesitated before rejecting him coldly, “No.”

The next second, the boy’s fluffy head was nuzzling his neck.

The sharp-featured young man tensed instantly and snapped, “Let go!”

“No,” Xiaoyu mumbled.

“…Tch.”

Well, at least this silly thing didn’t embarrass me in front of Liu Luanzhou, Yu Tan thought.

He raised a hand and awkwardly patted the boy’s back twice. “Useless.”

But even as he complained, he thought—

So soft… and surprisingly nice to hold.