Chapter 55: A Father’s Entrustment

Around 3 PM at the Ren household.

Their father carried the last dish out of the kitchen and called out loudly, “Come on, everyone, time to eat!”

In the cramped living room, Ren Ye turned to Huang Wei, Gu Nian, and Xu Peng. “Alright, stop chatting and come eat.”

“I’m so hungry I feel faint,” Gu Nian said without any pretension, jumping to her feet. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the dining table. “What a feast! Uncle, your cooking skills are on par with a five-star hotel chef.”

“It’s nothing fancy, just some homemade dishes,” their father replied modestly, while gesturing for everyone to sit. “Don’t be shy, grab a seat. Oh, by the way, Captain Huang, care for a drink?”

“Sure,” Huang Wei nodded slowly. “Let’s have a little.”

“Alright, I’ll join you,” their father said as he took off his apron and retrieved two bottles of Feitian Maotai from a small liquor cabinet.

Ren Qingning’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, being so generous today? You’re breaking out the liquor you wouldn’t even touch during Chinese New Year?”

“Well, we’ve got guests, haven’t we?” Her father chuckled shyly as he began pouring drinks for Huang Wei and the others.

Those two bottles had been sitting at home for over a decade. Their father had told the siblings that a good friend gave them as a gift. In reality, back when the siblings were in urgent need of extra tutoring, he had no money and was desperate to land a side job writing columns for a publishing house.

In a moment of resolve, he gritted his teeth and bought two bottles of Maotai, waiting outside the publishing house for an entire afternoon. But the person in charge dismissed him from their car with a simple remark: “Nobody reads those column articles. They’re all reserved for connections with the leadership. Don’t waste your time.”

Failing to secure the part-time gig wasn’t the worst part. The real regret was that the children’s tutoring got delayed.

That’s how the adult world works. No matter how hard you try, you often can’t give your children a fair starting point.

Over the years, as the siblings grew up, their father carried many regrets in his heart, though he never spoke of them.

The dishes were served, the glasses were filled, and everyone sat down around the table.

“Everyone—”

“Ding dong!”

Ren Ye had barely begun his opening toast when the doorbell rang.

“Who is it?” Ren Qingning asked.

“It’s me, Yan Duoduo,” came a familiar voice.

“Damn, the boss is here,” Xu Peng froze, staring dumbfoundedly at Huang Wei. “Did you invite him?”

“Am I crazy?!” Huang Wei rolled his eyes.

As they spoke, the Ren family approached the door and opened it.

In the hallway stood Yan Duoduo in a white suit and Tang Feng in a black suit, looking like a monochrome duo of celestial guards, each carrying a large stack of gifts. Behind them were two delivery workers in gray uniforms, struggling to carry a massive cardboard box. “Where should we put this?” one asked.

Ren Ye was stunned. “What… what’s all this?”

“Let me introduce Tang Feng, your new partner,” Yan Duoduo stepped aside.

Tang Feng’s face lit up with a graceful smile. He extended his hand politely. “Hello, Ren Ye. I’m Tang Feng. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve brought a few modest gifts as a token of respect.”

Ren Ye reached out mechanically to shake his hand. “You… you’re being way too generous.”

“My upbringing taught me that when visiting someone’s home, one should always bring gifts,” Tang Feng replied, his demeanor at this moment even more elegant and restrained than Yan Duoduo’s.

“He’s rich. If you don’t accept it, it’ll seem disrespectful,” Yan Duoduo whispered quietly. “And disrespect makes him act up… He’s a bit of a lunatic, so just roll with it.”

“Alright… alright, come in. Just leave everything over there,” Ren Ye said, stepping aside and pointing to an empty spot in the living room.

Inside, everyone was stunned by Tang Feng’s extravagance. He had prepared gifts for everyone. For the girls, he brought high-end luxury makeup sets, and for the guys, each received a belt worth at least three or four thousand yuan.

Even their father wasn’t left out—he was gifted a gaming chair worth over four thousand yuan, clearly brand new, delivered directly from the store.

Around 3:30 PM, in the living room of the Ren family home, Ren Qingning was pushed multiple times before she finally gave in and accepted the gifts. She stared at Tang Feng in a daze, then whispered to Ren Ye, “Big brother, you need more friends like this!”

Money clears the way, gifts cement friendships.

Before long, Tang Feng became the center of attention. Everyone expressed their gratitude, showering him with compliments.

Initially, Tang Feng maintained a normal demeanor, chatting casually with the others. But when his gaze fell on Ren Qingning, he froze momentarily.

Today, Ren Qingning’s outfit at home was casual but eye-catching. She wore an oversized, anime-themed T-shirt that couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure. Paired with a pair of shorts and white knee-high socks that slouched around her slender ankles, she exuded youthful energy. Her delicate features, fair and radiant skin, and a cute pink hairpin on her forehead added a sweet, vibrant charm.

In terms of looks alone, the long-legged Gu Nian and Ren Qingning were evenly matched. However, their temperaments were worlds apart. Gu Nian had a mature, sophisticated allure that stirred hearts, while Ren Qingning radiated youthful vitality, the very embodiment of a pure and dreamy anime heroine.

What a coincidence.

Of all the beauties in the world, this is the version I like best!

Tang Feng’s personal aesthetic had no resistance against girls like Ren Qingning. He felt an overwhelming surge of desire welling up from deep within, rushing straight to his head.

“Alright, everyone, take your seats!” Ren Ye’s father called out again.

Forcing himself to snap out of it, Tang Feng plastered a stiff smile on his face and joined everyone at the table.

Yan Duoduo took off his suit jacket and addressed Ren Ye’s father. “At my age, I should call you Uncle. As the host, why don’t you say a few words?”

With the leader taking the lead, the room fell silent. Everyone turned their attention to the host, except for Tang Feng, who kept casting a slightly crazed gaze at Qingning, his expression oddly pained.

“Alright, I’ll say a few words.”

Ren Ye’s father stood up, holding his glass of wine. His voice was steady and firm as his eyes swept over everyone at the table.

“To be honest, I don’t really know what all of you have planned for my son after getting him out of prison. But I also understand that this isn’t something I can ask about, nor would you tell me if I did.”

The room grew even quieter.

“I divorced a long time ago. Haha, most of my energy has been spent writing novels. Over the years, I haven’t given my two kids a good environment to grow up in, nor have I provided them with a privileged life. They’ve had it harder than most children. So, I ask all of you, as his leaders and colleagues, to please take care of him. No matter what you have him do, I just ask that you bring my son back safe and sound. I’m counting on you. Cheers.”

As he finished speaking, Ren Ye’s father downed his glass of wine in one go.

He had spent the entire day cooking and brought out his finest liquor just to deliver this message.

Hearing this, Ren Ye’s eyes began to sting. He wasn’t someone who was easily moved, but his father and sister were exceptions.

Yan Duoduo recognized the weight of those words. He solemnly stood up and responded, “You’re much older than me, so I’ll call you Uncle. As for the work Ren Ye will be involved in, I can’t disclose much. But I can assure you it’s legitimate, something admirable! Regarding Ren Ye’s previous case, I never believed he was in the wrong. If it had been me, I would’ve shot those two scumbags as well, maybe even more ruthlessly.

“As the lead on this matter, I can also promise you this: no matter the outcome, from today onward, Ren Ye is a free man. He will not return to prison, and we will do everything in our power to ensure his safety.”

This was a heavy promise. Ren Ye had already been convicted, and overturning his criminal charges required coordination across multiple departments, a tedious and complicated process.

But Yan Duoduo had no hesitation in agreeing. Or perhaps, after Ren Ye’s “interview” on Tongren Road, he had already decided to vouch for this young man.

For men, a few words are often enough.

Ren Ye’s father nodded deeply. After clinking glasses with Yan Duoduo, the family feast officially began.

The group ate and chatted, the atmosphere lively as Ren Ye’s father kept refilling the wine and adding dishes. But Tang Feng, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, his eyes fixed intently on Ren Qingning. 

“Little Tang, eat more,” Yan Duoduo, possibly noticing something was off with him, urged him repeatedly. He leaned in and whispered, “Control yourself, your gaze is practically oozing!” 

“Oh…!” 

Tang Feng blushed, quickly shifting his gaze away, his expression blank as he nodded stiffly.

He regretted it. He shouldn’t have let go of the desire to control his urges before leaving; it only made his own cravings uncontrollable.

He really had been trying to control himself, but his eyes couldn’t help but glance under the table. Ren Qingning was chatting with Gu Nian, her white, smooth legs crossed elegantly. Her little feet lightly swayed in slippers, making a soft “pat-pat” sound…

Those white knee-high socks… She’s tempting me!

No, I must hold back. I was raised better than this! I’m a respectable person!

I can’t embarrass myself on my first visit.

Throughout the dinner, Tang Feng’s thoughts were torn between his desire and the need to restrain himself. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled.

After the meal, Ren Ye stayed to have tea with everyone in the living room.

Just then, Ren Qingning stood up, smiling as she said to Gu Nian, “I’ll go get you a drink.”

“Thanks.” Gu Nian nodded.

With that, Ren Qingning walked toward the kitchen.

At the bathroom door, Tang Feng shook his head vigorously, his eyes bloodshot, desperately trying to push away the unhealthy thoughts running through his mind. But his body couldn’t resist, and he followed her in spite of himself.

His mind raced, thoughts growing more vivid, almost slipping out uncontrollably.

Swish!

Ren Qingning entered the kitchen, and Tang Feng stood frozen at the doorway, his face a picture of internal struggle.

Step step…!

Just then, the sound of footsteps came, and she stepped out of the kitchen.

Tang Feng suddenly looked up, blurting out, “I’m want to rape you!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a strange sense of relief washed over him.

He looked up and saw Ren Ye’s father’s face, holding a freshly boiled kettle, looking at Tang Feng with surprise.

Tang Feng froze.

The two locked eyes. Having drunk quite a bit, Ren Ye’s father held back for a while before finally asking, “Kid, isn’t it a bit abrupt to say something like that like you’re just asking for a chair?”

“Forget it… If you don’t agree, never mind,” Tang Feng muttered in embarrassment, awkwardly walking away. “I’m just going to the bathroom.”

…

In Xiangjiang City.

In a very ordinary living room, a young woman sat on the sofa, her eyes blank.

The walls around the living room were covered with closely arranged family photos.

The photos, displayed in sequence, documented the passage of time. In the images, a woman aged gradually, while a little girl, once in need of care, slowly grew into an adult.

In a few hours, she would once again enter the Star Gate.

Guo Cai’er struggled internally, but in the end, she returned to the home that held so many memories.

Nothing had changed here—the familiar scenery, the familiar setup, exactly the same as the day she ran away from home. The only thing that had changed was that her mother, Wang Hong, who had raised her, was now dead, killed by Prince Huai inside the Star Gate.

“…I… I really didn’t look down on you,” Guo Cai’er said, head bowed, her long hair covering her face. “I’m just a little angry, a little wronged. Why… why did my life have to be like this?!”

“Sorry… I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things that day,” Guo Cai’er muttered, shaking her head in anguish.

Slap!

A delayed tear hit the floor, shattering into pieces.

On the wall, Wang Hong’s smiling face, one that had raised her daughter through a skin trade, gazed lovingly at her. It seemed like she was watching her daughter from beyond the grave.

…

At 7:30 PM, 88 Lianhu Road.

Tang Feng, having gone to the bathroom at least six or seven times, was now sitting on the bed with Ren Ye.

“As you said, our appearance in the Star Gate will change. So, we need to agree on a code word,” Tang Feng said, his thoughts still sharp, though his voice betrayed a strange weakness.

“Good point.” Ren Ye nodded and responded, “Then you come up with one.”

“…Shoulder-length hair, knee-high socks, the kind that just screams ‘top-tier.'” Tang Feng replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.