After just two days, Wei Xicheng met the lawyer Nina had hired. The man sitting in front of him wore a black suit, with his tie and buttons neatly arranged and clean.
“Hello, Mr. Qi. If you have any questions you’d like to consult about, feel free to speak up,” the lawyer said with a gentle smile and sincere eyes. “I will do my utmost to help you.”
Sitting in his seat, Wei Xicheng nervously twisted his fingers. He glanced at Nina, and after receiving a comforting look from her, he hesitantly began to share his experiences at home.
The boy’s tone was calm and soothing, and while narrating, he didn’t express much personal emotion. He simply described how he was treated by his father from a young age, how he was forced to accept announcements he didn’t want, and what kind of treatment he received after completing his work.
In the large room, only the boy’s ethereal voice echoed slightly. Nina watched the boy, who spoke these words with a blank expression, feeling a pang of heartache. She touched her phone in her pocket, which was still on the call, hoping her boss would treat this child sincerely.
After the boy finished speaking, the lawyer flipped through his notes, capped his pen, and looked up at Wei Xicheng. “You are already over sixteen, correct?”
Wei Xicheng nodded and then lowered his head, as if the narration had drained all his courage.
“Based on what you’ve described, your father, as your guardian, disregarded your wishes in handling your earnings and has harmed your physical and mental health as well as your legal rights. He has also failed to fulfill his basic responsibilities as a guardian. According to Article 36 of the General Principles of Civil Law, you can apply to revoke your father’s guardianship.”
Wei Xicheng stared at his fingers in silence, nodding silently.
“Regarding your blood relation with your father, there is no legal means to sever that bond. May I ask, does your current income support your normal life?”
“Yes, it does,” Nina quickly interjected.
“Thus, citizens who are over sixteen but under eighteen years old, and who rely on their labor income for daily life, are regarded as having full civil capacity. In other words, Mr. Qi, you and your father are no longer in a guardian-ward relationship, he has no right to interfere in your daily activities or manage your assets.”
“Then I…” Wei Xicheng bit his lip, his tone filled with helplessness, causing Shen Zhe on the other end of the call to grip his phone tightly.
“From what you’ve described, your father has failed in his duty to support you and has illegally managed your property over the years. You can choose to sue or settle privately.”
The lawyer adjusted his slightly slipping glasses, speaking in a gentle tone. “It is your right to sue him, and you need not have moral concerns. However, given your status as a public figure, I believe a private settlement might be more suitable for you.”
“Lawyer Wen, you can discuss other matters with me, this child is shy.”
Seeing Wei Xicheng deep in thought, perhaps unable to come to a decision right away, Nina quickly patted his shoulder gently to comfort him, indicating he could step out for a moment and leave the remaining matters to her.
Wei Xicheng glanced at Nina, opened the door, and stepped outside.
As soon as he exited, he was pulled into a warm embrace, a large hand rubbing the back of his head.
“Don’t worry, don’t be afraid,” Shen Zhe gently reassured him, his tone soft. However, his gaze was icy and cold where the boy couldn’t see.
“How did you know I was here?” Wei Xicheng buried his head in the man’s embrace, his voice muffled and filled with grievance.
Shen Zhe patted the boy’s head, signaling that he would always be there. He initially wanted the boy to take the initiative and grow bolder through this experience, but he hadn’t expected the result would be tormenting himself.
Ever since that kiss in the lounge, their relationship had grown closer. Although no one explicitly stated a confirmed relationship, they understood each other well.
Wei Xicheng’s hand was drawing circles on Shen Zhe’s back. Qi Chen would never take the initiative to say the words to confirm their relationship, and he wanted to see how long this person could endure.
“Be good,” Shen Zhe pulled Wei Xicheng in front of him, holding his hand, and slightly bent down to meet the gaze of the slightly shorter boy. “Follow your heart, do what you want to do.”
“Mm.” Wei Xicheng responded softly, applying a little force to his hand as he pulled Shen Zhe back into the room.
“Lawyer Wen, Sister Nina,” Wei Xicheng glanced at the two and finally focused his gaze on Shen Zhe. “I want to settle privately.”
“I don’t want to make things bigger,” Wei Xicheng said, tightening his grip on Shen Zhe’s hand to stop him from speaking. “This is my intention.”
It was the first time the boy had spoken so firmly, leaving Nina momentarily stunned. In her impression, he had always been soft-spoken and never took the initiative to ask for anything or insist on anything.
Shen Zhe looked at Qi Chen beside him, and the more he looked, the more he liked him. He liked it when the boy refused everyone around him like a little quail. He liked it when he played a little star and acted alongside him. Now, seeing him standing beside him and changing himself to speak in this tone, he liked it even more.
His heart was filled with bubbles of affection, overflowing with the image of the young boy.
“But my father…” As he said this, the boy reverted to his timid and withdrawn self, even tightening his grip on Shen Zhe’s hand.
“He…”
“Leave it to me,” Shen Zhe could no longer hold back and spoke these words.
He loved the boy in any state, he didn’t need to go through anything to become stronger. He just needed to stay by his side and enjoy the best of everything.
As Qi Chen finally resolved to settle privately with his father, his photos went viral online. The traffic and popularity he brought peaked at the launch event of this issue of “Personality.”
Before Wei Xicheng could seek out his father, it was actually his father who came knocking first.
He still wore the same blue suit as their first meeting, but this time, Qi Chen’s father had meticulously styled his hair and tucked a flashy rose in the pocket of his suit.
“Mr. Shen, hello.” Qi Chen’s father looked between Shen Zhe and Wei Xicheng with a suggestive smile, his grin growing more sycophantic. “Recently, Qi Chen has troubled you for care.”
Shen Zhe replied lightly, his hand resting on Wei Xicheng’s shoulder showing no sign of retreat.
Qi Chen’s father continued to smile, looking at Shen Zhe’s hand. “I’ve seen Qi Chen’s recent performance online. You see, this child has done quite well. Why not just sign him on directly?”
“Hehe, I happen to be a bit tight on funds lately. Qi Chen, quickly ask Mr. Shen for help, your dad is counting on you.”
Wei Xicheng turned his face away. He had encountered many shameless people, and this Qi Chen’s father was among the worst. Even a tiger wouldn’t eat its cub, yet he thrived by squeezing his own son dry.
Just looking at such a person made him feel disgusted.
Noticing the change in the boy’s emotions beside him, Shen Zhe’s eyes hardened, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Qi Chen’s father.
“Mr. Qi, I think it would be best if you returned home to wait for news,” Shen Zhe lowered his gaze, concealing the deep rage in his eyes. “In a couple of days, we will contact you.
“Ah, okay, good. I’ll be waiting then.”
With that, Qi Chen’s father turned to leave. Outside the door, a flashy woman wrapped her arm around him, glancing inside through the transparent glass and continuously winking at Shen Zhe.
A surge of unnamed anger rose in Wei Xicheng’s heart. He reached out to cover Shen Zhe’s eyes, glaring fiercely back at the woman, scaring her into turning away with a pitiful look that made one feel sorry for her, “Don’t look…”
Shen Zhe placed his hand over the one covering his eyes, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t look…”
The whispered words barely reached his ears. Shen Zhe removed the boy’s hand, revealing Wei Xicheng’s flushed face, so red it seemed like steam was rising from his head.
Swallowing hard, Shen Zhe pulled the boy into his arms and headed straight for the elevator, walking so quickly that Wei Xicheng could barely keep up, practically dragged along.
As the elevator doors closed, sealing them in the quiet, empty space, the only sound was Shen Zhe’s suppressed groan. Wei Xicheng turned his head slightly, exposing his pale neck. Shen Zhe pressed his head into it, his voice hoarse, calling out softly again and again.
“Qi Chen… Xiao Chen… baby…”
“I-I’m here.” Wei Xicheng just wanted to cover his burning face. That familiar nickname had reappeared. Should he keep playing the innocent role and let this man tease him, or should he flip the script and take charge, throwing all his previous behavior out the window?
Before Wei Xicheng could decide, a pair of hands covered his eyes. “Don’t think about anything else. Think about me.”
I ‘am’ thinking about you!
Wei Xicheng placed both hands against Shen Zhe’s chest, trying to control his wandering hands. “Shen… Shen Zhe.”
“Hmm?” The deep, magnetic voice poured into his ears, and the teasing tone almost made his bones melt.
“Hurry… hurry…”
“Hurry what? Hmm? Say it.” Shen Zhe’s voice, now teasing, cut off the words Wei Xicheng was about to say, his lips pressing down on Wei Xicheng’s, slowly savoring the kiss.
Just as Shen Zhe finished speaking, there was a soft ‘ding’ as the elevator doors opened, revealing the busy corridor outside. Shen Zhe hesitated for a moment, then used his body to shield Wei Xicheng from prying eyes, reaching over to press the close button.
We’re almost at the floor, you idiot! Wei Xicheng really wanted to cover his face now.
In the last world, even though they had lived as an old married couple, nothing had ever been this embarrassing. Being with Shen Zhe had certainly thickened his skin a bit. How thrilling.
Even through the closed elevator doors, he could hear the people outside whispering. Great, now the rumors of an inappropriate relationship would definitely be confirmed!
Shen Zhe glanced at the boy tugging at his wrinkled shirt, his previously neat hair now a messy mop. His pale blue eyes were filled with a heated accusation, as if he were both helpless and genuinely angry. His hands hadn’t even realized how much strength they were using, crumpling Shen Zhe’s shirt further.
Shen Zhe shrugged, his tone playful. “It’s not my fault, but…”
Wei Xicheng felt a warmth on his lips.
“Now everyone knows you’re mine.”
