The Rebirth of a Top Star

Dou Shiyan has disappeared from Shen Nanqiao's sight these past few days because she went back to the old house to handle some matters.

As Song Shiyuan gained more and more control over the company, his position within the family became increasingly secure, and he gained absolute authority.

In the old house, Song Shiyuan returned home. The aunt at the door took away the coat that Song Shiyuan had taken off. Apart from the servants, no one was home. Song Shiyuan had returned too early.

Someone was tidying up the house. Song Shiyuan sat on the sofa in the bedroom. The house was spotless and decorated in the style of the older generation. Unlike his own residence, his house had an old wooden style, which had a distinct old-fashioned feel.

Not far from Song Shiyuan's house is Gu Leyi's old house. The two families have been close friends for generations, especially in Song Shiyuan's generation, when their relationship became even better.

Song Shiyuan returned only after receiving the news. When Song's mother called him, she was very anxious. "Shiyuan, Leyi ran away abroad again a few days ago. Come back and take a look."

Song Shiyuan didn't know if his mother and father had gone out on a date, because he waited for a long time after returning home but didn't see them. It wasn't until he went downstairs and finished eating alone in the huge restaurant that the two of them slowly returned.

Since Song Shiyuan took over the family business, his father has been living a semi-retired life. Now, his daily happiness comes from going out fishing, taking his mother out shopping, and spending money on travel.

So if Song Shiyuan hadn't been called back by his mother today, it's uncertain whether he would have been able to see his parents when he got home.

Song Shiyuan was halfway through his meal when the door opened. Perhaps he had been given special arrangements before leaving at noon, as the food at home was meant for Song Shiyuan alone.

Song Shiyuan stepped forward and took the bag from his mother's hand. His father sat on the shoe-changing stool, changing his shoes. Next to him were the spoils of the afternoon's shopping. Song Shiyuan didn't look at them carefully. He didn't care how much they spent. Being able to go shopping and spend money was a good thing.

Song Shiyuan reached out and took his mother's arm: "Where did you go this afternoon? You weren't home."

He was in a great hurry when he called, but when Song Shiyuan returned, no one was there. Song Shiyuan didn't know whether he was really in a hurry or not.

Mrs. Song squinted and laughed heartily, then sat down on the sofa in the living room with Mr. Song.

"Come here, Shiyuan, let's have a good talk."

Song Shiyuan was very familiar with this scene. The last time he saw a similar scene was when his father decided to step down at the youngest age in history, allowing Song Shiyuan to take charge on his own. The three of them sat here and had a heart-to-heart talk for a long time.

Just like last time, Song Shiyuan sat in his own small, private spot. Song's father coughed lightly, then hesitated to speak before finally looking at Song's mother.

Seeing that Song's father remained silent, Song's mother turned to Song Shiyuan herself and said, "Shiyuan, before, it was your father who talked to you about work matters, but now that it's about family matters, let's just talk about it between the two of us."

Song Shiyuan's gaze shifted from his father's face to his mother's: "Mother, you say it."

When Song Shiyuan was a child, he was actually picked up and dropped off by the family's maid. His parents were both quite busy. At their busiest, apart from Song Shiyuan who was in school, the other two members of the family were traveling all over the world.

It is because of their hard work that their family business has grown bigger and bigger.

The things his mother was holding were still unopened, so Song Shiyuan casually changed the subject: "Where did you go shopping this afternoon?"

The mother's gaze also fell on the object that Song Shiyuan was looking at. She smiled, her words carrying a playful tone that Song Shiyuan was very familiar with: "This afternoon, your father and I were bored, so we went to one of our family's shopping malls. The service was quite good."

Song Shiyuan thought that changing the subject would allow the conversation to continue, but his mother's words steered the conversation back on track.

"You don't like Leyi from next door?" Song Shiyuan had a premonition since he came home, and now it has finally been confirmed.

Song Shiyuan rubbed his forehead, unsure how to answer. "It's not that I don't like it," he said, trying to find the right words.

"That means I like it."

"You can't say that either."

Song's mother was speechless. "You're neither like this nor like that, so which one are you?"

Song Shiyuan finally put his words together: "I've been with Leyi since I was little, but she's really just a little sister who's always around. I don't have any feelings for her."

Song Shiyuan's words clearly expressed the meaning he wanted to convey.

Song's mother also frowned and pondered the meaning of these words.

Song Shiyuan didn't like Gu Leyi. Song's mother and father understood this.

Song Shiyuan continued, "So, what is it about Leyi that you called me back today?"

Song Shiyuan remembered that Gu Leyi had secretly gone abroad again.

Mentioning this matter seemed to remind Song's mother of something amusing, and she said, "Yes, she ran away a couple of days ago, but was caught and brought back this morning."

The word "grab" was used very cleverly. Seeing the smile on Song's mother's face, Song Shiyuan became curious about this word.

"How exactly do you catch them?" Song Shiyuan asked, echoing his mother's tone.

"After she was discovered, her brother was arrested and brought back from abroad, along with her boyfriend who was abroad."

Song Shiyuan had a vague recollection of this; he had met Gu Leyi's boyfriend once before. His name seemed to be Xu Youheng, though he wasn't sure if that was correct. Song Shiyuan waited for his mother to continue her story.

"Now her boyfriend is living at the Gu family's house." When she said this, Song's mother didn't show any particular emotion. Before, when she learned about the two of them, she had reflected on whether it was inappropriate to tie them together so early.

Or perhaps, the two people don't even like each other.

Now that they saw Gu Leyi with someone else, the two of them also quietly went over to take a look at the little boy.

As Song Shiyuan listened to her mother's story, she could picture Xu Youheng in their eyes, a picture completely different from the one she had seen abroad.

Song Shiyuan was surprised that Xu Youheng was able to settle down at Gu Leyi's house.

"Actually, we called you back to ask for your opinion. If you feel that you and Leyi are not suitable, then we will cancel this so-called engagement as soon as possible, so as not to affect your respective marriages."

If Song Shiyuan's previous investigation was correct, Xu Youheng's family background is also very complicated, and he himself has been wealthy for generations.

Song Shiyuan first affirmed his mother's suggestion, "This engagement should indeed have been called off long ago." Song Shiyuan wholeheartedly agreed with this statement. He unconsciously recalled what Shen Nanqiao had said about him and Gu Leyi, but Song Shiyuan could not directly explain it.

Since the engagement was still in effect, Song Shiyuan couldn't directly refuse the Gu family's request. Now, as long as the engagement was dissolved, everything would be much easier to discuss.

Hearing her son's direct and decisive decision, Song's mother couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. Her intuition told her that she should ask him something; something was going on.

But Song Shiyuan stood up immediately, not giving his mother and father a chance to press him for answers, and said, "I'll go next door and take a look at what's going on."

Their actions were so swift that they gave no one a chance to speak.

Only by conducting on-site investigations can we know the actual situation.