The old gentleman wore a Tang-style Chinese outfit in tangli brown xiangyun gauze with a disk button, around fifty years old. His hair was neatly combed, and his presence was upright and meticulous, like the steward from one of the Republican-era dramas Jiang Shunnian had acted in.
His gaze first swept over Jiang Shunnian’s face before settling on Nono, scrutinizing him closely. The more he looked, the brighter his eyes grew.
Jiang Shunnian felt deeply uneasy and instinctively wanted to turn Nono’s face away.
But Nono curiously met his gaze, sensing no malice from the old gentleman.
“Daddy, this grandpa isn’t bad,” Nono said, trying his best to soothe his father, who had become as skittish as a startled bird.
At Nono’s words, Shen Boheng’s face instantly broke into an affectionate smile. He rose and walked over to Jiang Shunnian, extending his hand proactively. “Mr. Jiang, please don’t be afraid. I have a matter I’d like to clarify. I’m the steward of the Fu Family, Shen Boheng.”
Pei Qingyi nodded as well. “Old Shen has served the Fu Family for many years. He’s very trustworthy.”
They had just chatted quite a bit, with Shen Boheng inquiring about Jiang Shunnian’s affairs all the while, but always with restraint, never leveraging the Fu Family’s influence.
Yet he hadn’t mentioned the reason for his visit.
Elite social circles were full of comings and goings, banquets, and events, all managed single-handedly by stewards—that was why they often commanded million-yuan annual salaries. The workload was vast and intricate, not for the average person.
Shen Boheng was among the best of them, operating like a flawless machine. There had even been attempts to poach him before, but he had turned them all down.
Jiang Shunnian relaxed a fraction, though he still had no idea what business a Fu Family steward could have with him.
Shen Boheng signaled to Pei Qingyi, who patted Jiang Shunnian’s shoulder. “I’ll be in the office next door. Call me if you need anything. You two chat first.”
With that, he left ahead of them.
“Mr. Jiang, please have a seat.” Shen Boheng pulled out a chair for him. Jiang Shunnian quickly waved it off and sat down holding Nono.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Shen Boheng said with a smile. “It might sound like the ravings of a delirious old man, but Nono’s eyes bear a striking resemblance to those of the Fu Family. I’d like to ask: which young lady of the Fu Family is Nono’s mother?”
This was the subtlety of Shen Boheng’s wording. The Fu Family had always had thin bloodlines, mostly single heirs per generation. He’d checked the eligible women from other branches, and none overlapped with Jiang Shunnian’s life.
Moreover, that unique eye trait was exclusive to the main branch of the Fu Family.
Shen Boheng had spent these past days in suspicion and self-doubt. He’d rewatched Nono’s footage a dozen times, even entertaining the wild notion that perhaps Jiang Shunnian had shared one night of passion with their young master and then used some high-tech method to create Nono.
He’d considered the possibility that Jiang Shunnian had personally given birth to Nono, but out of respect, he hadn’t investigated. Instead, he’d come straight to ask.
Jiang Shunnian’s eyes widened in shock. The Fu Family?
Nono’s other father was from the Fu Family?
Nono straightened his little body in an instant, his beautiful black-gold eyes shining brightly. Mommy?
It was a child’s instinctive thought. Nono never spoke of it, but he’d secretly wondered what his mommy might be like—what if she was pretty, gentle, and liked him?
Jiang Shunnian hadn’t told Nono the truth about his birth. His own situation was too rare and niche; he worried it might give Nono a warped worldview. So Nono had no idea he’d been born from Daddy Jiang Shunnian.
Raising Nono right had taken all the effort Jiang Shunnian could muster.
After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Shunnian replied, “I don’t know who he is.”
His mind suddenly flashed to how Shixu had once tried to shove resources his way… So, that night, whose room from the Fu Family had he stumbled into?
Shen Boheng grew even more certain at Jiang Shunnian’s answer.
“To be honest, four years ago, when our young master Fu Yanli first took the reins of Fu Corporation during the power transition, some people grew restless and schemed against him. Fortunately, someone wandered into his room by mistake and helped him out.” Mindful of the child present, Shen Boheng phrased it tactfully. “Our young master is upright and devoted. For four years, he’s been searching for that person to make amends, but leads were scarce—until recently, when we traced it back to you, Mr. Jiang.”
Jiang Shunnian was even more stunned. It was just a one-night stand—yet the man had remembered it for four years?
He shot a weird look at his own slightly OCD son. So, he takes after his dad, huh.
Nono listened intently but grew more confused by the second. With his clever little mind, he couldn’t make sense of it. Wasn’t this about Mommy? Why was it suddenly about some young master?
Is that young master Mommy?
Jiang Nuonuo was thoroughly befuddled.
Though Shen Boheng was speaking to Jiang Shunnian, his attention stayed on Nono. Seeing the boy’s adorable reaction melted his heart with affection.
Who would have thought his suspicions had come true? Their young master really had a child—a little immortal cherub of a boy.
“Mr. Jiang, I need further confirmation. Could I have a few strands of Nono’s hair?”
Though Shen Boheng was mostly convinced Nono was Fu Yanli’s son, his steward’s rigor demanded final proof.
Jiang Shunnian was still reeling. The day had thrown too much at him: the early encounter with Qin Huan, running into Qin Guanyue, returning in a daze only to meet the steward of Nono’s other father.
Holding it together this long had taken everything he had.
He naturally cooperated with Shen Boheng’s request.
But Nono’s hair was exceptionally healthy and rarely shed. Jiang Shunnian combed through it several times without a single strand falling naturally.
Nono took the initiative. “Daddy, pull some for me. It won’t hurt!”
Jiang Shunnian steeled himself, plucked three short strands, and felt his heart ache fiercely.
Nono didn’t make a peep—brave as could be.
Shen Boheng carefully took the hairs and placed them in a pre-prepared sealed bag. He stood, smiling. “No time like the present. I’ll send them for testing right away. It should take about two days. I’ll notify you the moment results come in.”
“Alright, thank you for your trouble,” Jiang Shunnian said, exhaling quietly as they exchanged contact info.
“I apologize for barging in unannounced. I’ve prepared some small gifts—they’ll be delivered to your home shortly. Please accept them.”
Jiang Shunnian refused hastily, but Shen Boheng insisted, “They’re all for Nono. And if the results pan out as hoped, he’ll have many more people doting on him in the future. Of course, I’d be honored to serve you as well, Mr. Jiang.”
Perhaps it was Shen Boheng’s gentle, elder-like tone, but it made Jiang Shunnian’s eyes sting—the hardships of his survival from a young age welling up—though he held back the tears.
Sensing the emotion, Shen Boheng patted his shoulder. “You’ve had it rough these past years, Mr. Jiang. From here on, it’s all blessings.”
Holding Nono, Jiang Shunnian taught him, “Say goodbye to Grandpa Shen.”
Nono waved obediently. “Bye-bye, Grandpa Shen.”
It melted Shen Boheng’s heart all over again.
After Shen Boheng left, Jiang Shunnian asked his assistant Li Hehe to watch Nono and went alone to Pei Qingyi’s office.
“All sorted?” Pei Qingyi didn’t pry into the conversation.
Jiang Shunnian nodded apologetically. “Sorry, President Pei. I held up filming today and caused you losses. How can I make it up? I’ll cooperate with anything.”
He knew he shouldn’t delay shoots on a whim. He had no room for petulance, especially with Chen Hesheng and the others rescheduling around the production. Fixing today’s mess would be a nightmare.
But his hatred for Qin Huan ran too deep, and with Qin Guanyue there, forcing it through would’ve yielded garbage footage anyway.
Jiang Shunnian’s face fell dim as he lowered his eyes, ready for any punishment from Pei Qingyi.
In his heart, he hoped Nono truly was that Fu Yanli’s child. A powerful family with a steward ought to protect him, right?
The Qin Family hadn’t yet reached its peak dominance from a decade later. Could the Fu Family stand against them?
As long as Nono was safe, he’d ask for nothing more.
“Shunnian, it’s not that bad,” Pei Qingyi said. “Missing a shoot is normal enough; we can spin a reason. I’ve already talked to the production team—this episode counts as your absence, though your pay will be docked. But we need to discuss the future. You signed for six episodes total, two left. If that Qin Huan keeps joining the show, are you planning to skip them all?”
That was exactly what Jiang Shunnian feared.
By the book’s account, Qin Huan was a madman who wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted, backed by the full Qin Family might. If he fixated on Nono, how could he fight back?
Thinking of the departed Shen Boheng, Jiang Shunnian looked up, eyes pleading. “President Pei, can you give me two days? I’ll give you an answer then.”
Pei Qingyi was sharp; he instantly connected it to Shen Boheng. Curiosity flickered, but he restrained it and nodded. “Fine. Two days.”
Shen Boheng drove straight to the pre-booked DNA testing center after leaving.
Having decided on the test, he’d already collected Fu Yanli’s hair sample ahead of time.
As steward, he had keys to the Manor and the young master’s city-center residence, where the cleaning staff answered to him. Securing a hair sample was simple.
The young master’s hair was just as fine, though—it had taken three days.
That was what delayed him.
But he’d made it just in time.
After handing over all samples, Shen Boheng left with lighter steps.
Heaven willing, Nono turns out to be the young master’s boy. Then the madam won’t have to worry anymore.
Exhausted, Jiang Shunnian took Nono home. Shen Boheng’s delivery was already at the door: all things suited to Nono—clothes, formula, daily essentials, even age-appropriate learning materials!
Nono hugged the books happily but checked on his dad first. “Daddy, are you feeling better now?”
Jiang Shunnian held Nono’s milky-scented little body and nodded. “Much better.”
Shen Boheng’s visit had reignited a spark of hope in him.
For the next two days, Jiang Shunnian stayed home. It wasn’t until dusk on the second day that Shen Boheng’s call came through.
