"Greetings, may I ask what business brings you here?"
A middle-aged man in a black suit and polished leather shoes stepped forward, blocking the path of Zhu Mingzhang and Su Ruiqi. Behind him were ten towering, muscular men dressed identically in suits and sunglasses—clearly bodyguards.
Such a formation was something Zhu Mingzhang had only seen in TV dramas in his past life. Truly, families of great lineage were extraordinary.
"Brother, these people look so scary. They're not bad guys, are they?" Su Ruiqi whispered nervously, her head peeking out from behind Zhu Mingzhang like a cautious kitten.
The middle-aged man sized up the duo. Their outfits were plain, cheap street-market clothes—far from the refined appearance expected here. He guessed they must have wandered here by mistake.
"This is private property. Perhaps you two have lost your way?" the man asked politely, smiling faintly.
"Could you kindly inform your master that Zhu Mingzhang is here?" Zhu Mingzhang replied, his hands in his pockets, attempting a composed demeanor.
The man nearly burst into laughter. The bodyguards exchanged amused glances. Who was this random kid?
"Young man, you seem to have misunderstood. What I mean is—"
Before he could finish, Zhu Mingzhang cut him off. "Is it really that hard to understand? Fine, I'll be blunt. I'm here to meet my father. Your master, Zhu Yuanjie, is my father, correct? If so, kindly go and inform him. Thank you."
"What did you just say?" The man froze, thinking he had misheard. "Young man, that's not a joke one should make lightly."
"I'm not joking."
The man hesitated, then replied, "Wait here for a moment."
As he turned to leave, he stole a glance at Zhu Mingzhang. The boy had a clean, handsome face and indeed bore some resemblance to the master. Moreover, Zhu Yuanjie had mentioned a lost illegitimate son who might show up someday. Could it really be him?
Realizing the stakes, the man quickened his pace toward the villa.
Inside the villa, the sound of polished shoes tapping on the marble floor echoed.
"Sir, Madam," the middle-aged man greeted Zhu Junze and Mrs. Cai Jie, who were sitting on the leather sofa.
"What's the matter, Uncle Zhang?" Zhu Junze asked calmly, though he noticed the unusual tension in the man's expression.
"Young Master, there's someone at the gate named Zhu Mingzhang. He claims to be your brother. I was just about to inform the master."
"Zhu Mingzhang?" Mrs. Cai's eyes widened with surprise, almost blurting out the name.
Uncle Zhang hesitated but quickly understood. The mistress seemed aware of this matter earlier than he was.
"Where is he now?" Zhu Junze's composed expression faltered for a moment.
"At the front gate," Uncle Zhang replied.
"Alright, I'll handle it," Zhu Junze said as he stood up.
"Young Master, are you sure—"
"Of course. After all, this is my long-lost, half-brother, isn't it? As his younger brother, it's only proper for me to personally welcome him."
Despite his words, Zhu Junze's tone was heavy, his polite demeanor masking his underlying hostility.
Uncle Zhang refrained from further comment and headed upstairs to inform the master.
Meanwhile, in a luxuriously decorated room with large floor-to-ceiling windows, an older man in a traditional Tang suit and a young woman sat playing chess.
The man, Zhu Yuanjie, had graying temples and an air of authority. Across from him sat a stunningly beautiful woman. Despite the crisp autumn air, she wore a white varsity jacket paired with a pleated skirt and custom-made white stockings—Zhu Xiaoqing, the eldest daughter of the Zhu family. At 27, she was single, refined, and talented, balancing elegance with a subtle allure.
"Master, there's someone at the gate named Zhu Mingzhang. Is he your son?"
"Xiao Ming is here?" Zhu Yuanjie's eyes lit up with surprise as he stood with the aid of a cane.
Just yesterday, Zhu Mingzhang had reluctantly acknowledged him after learning the truth about his family but swore never to return. Yet here he was, less than a day later. Zhu Yuanjie couldn't hide his excitement.
Zhu Xiaoqing stood as well, her face curious. She had heard about this half-brother, who was 25—four years older than Zhu Junze, her youngest sibling. Based on age, Zhu Mingzhang would rank as the third child in the family.
Unlike her younger brother, Zhu Xiaoqing harbored no resentment. The idea of a new sibling intrigued her. Family, after all, meant togetherness, and the prospect of teaching a "wild" brother seemed amusing.
"Father, I'll accompany you," she said, smiling as she took his arm.
As they moved toward the door, Zhu Yuanjie suddenly stopped.
"Uncle Zhang, call Xiaoling and Xiaoying. Tell them to come back immediately, no matter where they are or what they're doing."
"Understood, Master."
At the gate, Zhu Mingzhang and Su Ruiqi stood as a well-dressed man in a burgundy suit and an elegantly adorned woman approached.
The bodyguards parted to make way, bowing respectfully. "Young Master, Madam."
"Wow," Su Ruiqi whispered, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Rich people really have such flair."
"Brother, they're coming toward us!"
"Stay calm," Zhu Mingzhang muttered, trying to mask his nerves. Despite feeling overwhelmed by the grandeur, he reminded himself of the fortune he now possessed—100 billion Huaxia yuan. Even after today's splurges, it remained untouched in essence.
"Hello, brother. Why are you just standing there? From now on, we're family. Come on in," Zhu Junze said with a smile, though he made no move to step outside the villa.
The line between the gate and the villa marked a division—not just physically but in his attitude.
To him, Zhu Mingzhang might be older, but he would always be the "wild" younger sibling, unworthy of respect.
Just as Zhu Mingzhang was about to reply, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Synchronizing memories of September 1st with Zhu Yuanjie.]
Memories flooded his consciousness—conversations with Zhu Yuanjie, his newfound family dynamics, and the relationships within the Zhu household.
Zhu Mingzhang smirked, meeting Zhu Junze's gaze.
"Funny," he said. "Didn't father mention you were 21? Do I need to teach you how basic family hierarchies work, little brother?"