Upon hearing what Shen Yubai said, You Shuzhen was momentarily stunned, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two, faintly feeling a resemblance between them, but before she could take a closer look, Xu Chuning called out to her, "Mom, there are customers in the store."
You Shuzhen came back to her senses, "I'll be right there."
She pursed her lips and looked at the two, "Then you guys chat, Auntie will go get busy."
After You Shuzhen left, Shen Yubai lifted his eyelids and looked at Shen Sinian, "Shall we find a place to talk?"
The person following behind Shen Yubai was the Shen Family butler, who had gone home over the weekend and had spoken to his grandfather about Shen Sinian. Of course, he didn't outright tell Mr. Shen that Shen Sinian was his future son, fearing his grandfather would drag him off to the hospital for a check-up since his first thought when he heard Shen Sinian say that was that the man was ill.
After much thought, Shen Yubai had come up with a very good and convincing reason.
Mr. Shen had a son who was abducted when he was young, and that son had never been found.
This was a wound for Mr. Shen, rarely brought up by the Shen Family.
Thinking of this, Shen Yubai took the paternity report for himself and Shen Sinian to show Mr. Shen, which showed they were biologically related; it was impossible for him to have fathered such a grown son, nor was it likely his father had secretly supported a son without anyone noticing.
Naturally, this uncle, who had been abducted and sold in his childhood, was the best explanation.
While Mr. Shen was surprised by such a coincidence, after Shen Yubai's concise explanation, he was very willing to believe that Shen Sinian was indeed his long-lost son.
In his twilight years, a person wants to mend all the regrets of a lifetime.
Because of this, he wouldn't be overly suspicious of Shen Sinian's identity.
Thus, on Saturday, Mr. Shen, following what Shen Yubai said, had someone process Shen Sinian's identity proof and resolve his schooling situation.
Of course, about why Shen Sinian lacked identity proof, Mr. Shen did inquire with Shen Yubai, who explained that he had just arrived from out of town a few days ago; he bumped into Shen Sinian at the entrance of the housing complex, and Shen Sinian claimed to know nothing but his own name and that he found himself here inexplicably.
Therefore, knowing that Shen Yubai was coming to find Shen Sinian, Mr. Shen had the butler come along to ask about the situation in detail.
Shen Yubai had not communicated with Shen Sinian about his amnesia prior, so after suggesting they talk somewhere else, the three of them entered the shop together. He first pulled Shen Sinian aside to the restroom to briefly explain the situation.
After listening, Shen Sinian responded with an "Oh," replying very indifferently, "I see."
Shen Yubai: "..."
Events proceeded smoother than expected; the butler simply asked Shen Sinian a few routine questions, not troubling him much.
Confirming his partial memory loss and indeed some resemblance to Shen Yubai, the butler did not press further.
Having been with Mr. Shen since childhood, the butler had heard and seen much and was aware of cases involving amnesia like Shen Sinian's.
After the talk, the butler asked Shen Sinian if he was willing to visit the Shen Family and see his grandfather.
Hearing the term 'grandfather', Shen Sinian glanced at Shen Yubai, his attitude not particularly eager, "Next week perhaps, I'm busy today."
The butler nodded slightly, showing understanding.
Shen Sinian was busy, and Shen Yubai also did not plan to return to the old Shen Family home, so the butler left first.
Before leaving, he handed Shen Sinian a file folder, stating it was prepared by Mr. Shen.
After the butler left, Shen Sinian looked at Shen Yubai, "... You know you have an uncle who was abducted and sold in his childhood, so when I appeared, why didn't you suspect I might be your uncle's son?"
Shen Yubai did not expect Shen Sinian to ask him this; he paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes slightly, "You know about this too?"
Few people knew about this matter, rarely mentioned by the Shen Family.
Shen Sinian: "... You told me."
Shen Yubai paused for a few seconds, then realized — Ah! The future him had told Shen Sinian.
"Did the future me not tell you when he died?" Shen Yubai asked.
Shen Sinian: "I forgot."
Shen Yubai choked, casting a cold glance his way, "My uncle, having been abducted, died not long after."
This was discovered by Shen Yubai's father some years ago; when he found out, Mr. Shen's health wasn't great, and fearing it would upset him, he never revealed the truth to Mr. Shen.
"Then won't your dad expose you?" Shen Sinian worried.
Shen Yubai picked up a glass of water from the table and drank, saying calmly, "The old man has been overseas these past years, not interested in these matters. Even if Mr. Shen speaks to him, he wouldn't rashly deny it."
Mr. Shen was very discerning in these matters, and he would certainly call Shen Yubai to verify the situation.
Explaining to Mr. Shen would be easier than to Mr. Shen; he was still young enough to handle the shock, and even if Shen Yubai revealed Shen Sinian's true identity, it wouldn't be too hard for him to accept.
After listening to what Shen Yubai said, Shen Sinian was taken aback, his father in his youth, just as Sang Menglan said, was reliable.
After their talk, Shen Yubai handed him the keys to the house. Then, he passed him the identity proof Mr. Shen had arranged.
The matter of transferring schools, Mr. Shen had notified the principal; on Monday, when Shen Sinian went to school, he just needed to go directly to the principal's office.
Leaving the store, it was getting late.
Shen Yubai glanced at the person next to him, "Are you still going to Aunt You's store?"
Shen Sinian hummed, clutching the items in his hand, "It's busy in the store tonight."
"…Okay," Shen Yubai nodded, "Let's go."
Shen Sinian looked at him puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Shen Yubai: "I haven't had dinner yet."
He was going to eat dinner at You Shuzhen's store.
Shen Sinian: "..."
You Shuzhen's store was not far from their current location; it would take about ten minutes to walk there.
Shen Sinian and Shen Yubai walked one after the other; Shen Sinian, looking at Shen Yubai's back, couldn't understand — Why would he forego the delicacies of the Shen Family and instead choose to have dinner at his grandmother's store?
This question lingered in Shen Sinian's mind even as they arrived at You Shuzhen's store's entrance.
Seeing the two appear together, Xu Chuning also paused for a few seconds, then shifted her gaze to Shen Sinian, silently questioning him what was going on.
Shen Sinian slightly shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
Xu Chuning: "..."
Shen Yubai noticed the interaction between them and slightly tugged his lips, "I'm here to eat."
"What would you like to eat?" Xu Chuning found him a bit baffling, though she didn't fully comprehend the whims of the wealthy, she was a very accommodating person and respected them.
Sensing her cool demeanor, Shen Yubai haughtily returned her gaze, his tone cooling as well, "Zha jiang mian."