He Jiahao asked his brother if he had missed home all these years. He Jiashu, taking a deep breath, didn’t say much in response, instead telling Jiahao to get in the car. It was clear that Jiahao was eager to know his brother’s thoughts, but for Jiashu, feelings toward this family were complicated—a mix of love and resentment. A-long, noticing Jiashu was in a bad mood, assumed it was because of their persistently troublesome father. A-long remarked that if the man dared to follow them, he’d personally deal with him. Jiashu, aware that it might be impossible to get rid of their father, hoped to keep this truth from Jiahao, determined to shield his brother from the knowledge of their father’s existence.
Understanding Jiashu’s stress, A-long chose not to disturb him further. Under Jiashu’s care, Jiahao’s mood gradually lifted. He became noticeably happier, even skipping to class with a smile and participating earnestly, though he occasionally dozed off during exams due to exhaustion. His physical training with Jiashu seemed to be paying off, and the brothers shared wonderful moments together. Every day, Jiashu would take Jiahao for a ride, strengthening their bond.
Jiahao, exhausted from training, fell asleep in class, leading classmates to assume he was staying up late attending cram school. His teacher texted Jiashu, mentioning Jiahao’s improved mood but pointing out how tired he seemed, likely due to the intense training. Seeing his brother’s adorable sleeping face made Jiashu feel a sense of happiness and relief.
While looking at the family’s awards and certificates, Jiashu couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Those symbols of achievement brought a flood of emotions he struggled to articulate. Meanwhile, Lin Junfeng showed up at Jiahao’s school, and some students who saw him reported it to the teacher. Ruo Nan, noticing this, became worried and discreetly followed Jiahao. In a misunderstanding, Jiahao accidentally punched Ruo Nan, thinking she was someone else. Jiashu comforted Ruo Nan but was alarmed to notice their father lurking near Jiahao, further heightening his concerns.
Lin Junfeng continued to secretly tail Jiahao but backed off upon noticing how alert Jiahao had become. Ruo Nan realized that Jiahao’s frequent naps in class were due to the toll his physical training was taking on him. Jiashu later confessed to Ruo Nan and the teacher that he had maintained contact with them to stay updated on Jiahao’s progress, thanks to their shared history as classmates.
Ruo Nan and the teacher watched the two brothers train together. Though they felt a pang of sadness for what the boys had endured, they were glad to see Jiahao genuinely happy. Ruo Nan remarked that if certain events hadn’t happened in the past, perhaps they could have always been this carefree.
During this time, Jiahao’s mother discovered, while working on a case, that her nephew had returned. Tragically, she also learned that her sister-in-law had passed away, leaving the nephew orphaned and lonely. The grandfather pitied the child’s situation, recognizing his hardships, but, given the lack of blood relations, felt restrained from stepping in directly. Furthermore, the second son’s volatile temper meant the family had to tread carefully, hiding the truth to prevent any explosive conflict.
When Jiashu’s return became known to the aunt and grandfather, they decided to keep it secret from He Hongguang. The family regarded Jiashu as a pitiful child, deserving of their protection. Even A-long found himself overwhelmed by the brothers’ deep attachment, commenting on how inseparable they had become.
Later, during a meal, Jiahao met Lin Junfeng, who offered him a drink and acted overly kind. Jiahao, unaware of the man’s true identity, found him to be a generous and pleasant “uncle.” Excitedly, Jiahao shared the encounter with Jiashu, mentioning that the man had worn a floral shirt and looked rather handsome. Jiashu’s intuition immediately kicked in, suspecting something was off. Connecting the dots, he concluded that the man must be their father. Furious, Jiashu shouted for the restaurant owner to come out, determined to confront him.
