Chapter 26: Next Month's Birthday

After thinking this, Wei Chuan wore a malicious smile as he looked at Wen Xiao and the other two. "Do you two want to stand up for him again today?"

He glanced to the side, as if searching for someone. "That brat who beat me up last time didn't tag along? Don't tell me he's too scared to show his face!"

Wei Chuan let out a cold snort. "We’re at my house today. You’re all outsiders. Surely you don’t intend to meddle in my family’s affairs?"

Wen Xiao thought for a moment. Getting into a fight with Wei Chuan like last time would certainly not be a wise move. For one, they weren't guaranteed to win—Leng Shucheng beside him was practically a patient—and secondly, as Wei Chuan said, this was the Wei residence.

He blinked and said, "Then I’ll go tell Grandpa Wei that you’re bullying people here."

Wen Xiao felt he was taking a gamble—a gamble that Wei Chuan was terrified of Old Master Wei, and that the old man wouldn't blindly shield his grandson regardless of the truth.

"You wouldn't dare! This is my house. Grandpa won’t take the side of you outsiders..."

Wei Chuan glared at Wen Xiao, but Wen Xiao could hear that his voice grew increasingly weak and hollow. He knew then that he had guessed correctly. The relationship between Wei Chuan and Old Master Wei was certainly not good; Wei Chuan had likely been disciplined by his grandfather many times.

Wen Xiao looked behind Wei Chuan and saw Wei Nanxing still peeking at him, much like a timid rabbit. His hair was too long and obscured his eyes, but he seemed to have suddenly gained some life. He appeared to want to move toward Wen Xiao, but someone grabbed him by the collar from behind.

Wei Chuan suddenly thought of something. He stared at Wei Nanxing, looking him up and down. "How about this? I, this young master, won't lower myself to the level of you seven-year-old brats today. You take off that piece of clothing you’re wearing, and I won’t give you any more trouble."

Wei Nanxing lowered his head and trembled slightly, only to find a child about his own height standing before him. Seeing who it was, he whispered two words: "Xiao Xiao..."

"It’s so cold outside, and you’re making him take off his clothes?" Wen Xiao was so incensed by Wei Chuan's words that his teeth ached. If Wei Nanxing took off his coat now, he would almost certainly catch a cold.

Wei Chuan looked down at Wen Xiao condescendingly and said with disdain, "What does it matter to me if it’s cold outside? He should go back to wearing his rags. Not every piece of clothing is meant for him to wear. If he had any sense, he’d get out of the Wei family!"

Wen Xiao suddenly replied, "But didn't Uncle Wei bring him back? Do you think Uncle Wei did the wrong thing?"

"I..." Wei Chuan was suddenly rendered speechless. Even his mother didn't dare to defy his father's wishes, so how could he voice his dissatisfaction with his father in front of others? Besides, these brats would surely go and tattle later! Don't think he didn't know that.

Wei Chuan’s peripheral vision caught the sandalwood bracelet wrapped around Wen Xiao’s wrist. His eyes widened instantly, and he released Wei Nanxing’s collar to grab Wen Xiao’s hand instead.

Leng Shucheng stepped forward as well, his emerald-green eyes fixed tightly on Wei Chuan. "What are you doing?"

Wei Chuan gripped Wen Xiao’s hand and suddenly started laughing. "This is my grandfather's property, you thief!"

Wen Xiao looked down at the sandalwood bracelet. It was the very one Grandpa Wei had placed on his wrist earlier. Wei Chuan hadn't been there at the time, so he must have assumed it was stolen.

"Grandpa Wei gave this to me," Wen Xiao said directly.

"You're lying! This is something Grandpa wears with him constantly; how could he give it to you? You must have stolen it!"

Wei Chuan almost laughed out loud. He didn't believe it for a second. His grandfather didn't even show him, his own grandson, a kind face, so why would he give away his personal belongings to anyone else?

Thinking this, he gripped Wen Xiao’s hand even harder, causing Wen Xiao to frown; he could feel that his hand was likely being left with red marks.

Wei Nanxing didn't understand what was happening. He only knew that Wei Chuan had been grabbing him, but after Xiao Xiao blocked his path, Wei Chuan had let go of him and turned to grab Xiao Xiao instead. Xiao Xiao would never steal Grandpa's things; Wei Chuan just wanted to bully Xiao Xiao.

He hurriedly tried to pull Wei Chuan’s hand away, but Wei Chuan held on too tightly; he couldn't budge him.

Not knowing what else to do, Wei Nanxing suddenly began to undo the buttons of his suit jacket. He took it off and threw it hard onto the floor.

He whispered, "I... I took it off..." As he spoke, tears began to fall like broken beads. He looked up at Wei Chuan, his wet eyes filled with anticipation, as if hoping that by taking off the coat, Wei Chuan would let Xiao Xiao go.

Wen Xiao turned to look at Wei Nanxing. The frail child was now standing in just his white undershirt. The window of the side parlor was open, and the cold wind was blowing directly in; he could see Wei Nanxing shivering.

The side parlor was not far from the main banquet hall, so the music from the party could be heard faintly, but Wei Nanxing's voice was so soft it seemed almost drowned out by the weak background noise. Yet, every word was clearly transmitted to his ears, causing his breathing to momentarily hitch.

Did Wei Nanxing not know that Wei Chuan wanting to bully him wasn't something that could be solved by taking off a coat?

Wei Chuan was still gripping Wen Xiao’s hand, attempting to forcibly remove the bracelet, when he saw the miserable state Wei Nanxing was in. Seeming satisfied, he broke into a grin.

However, before he could smile for long, his hand was pried open with force, and he was shoved hard from the side, causing him to stumble back several steps.

He looked up to glare at the blonde child who had just shoved him. Though the boy was only a head taller than his shoulder, the force of the shove made Wei Chuan’s chest ache even now. Especially since those unique emerald-green eyes were staring at him coldly, making Wei Chuan’s face turn green with rage.

Once Wen Xiao’s hand was released, he picked up the coat from the floor and draped it over Wei Nanxing, though Wei Nanxing kept staring at the red marks on his wrist.

"It doesn't hurt," Wen Xiao said casually. In truth, it did hurt—quite a bit. A child’s hand, pinched like that, couldn't help but hurt. However, Wen Xiao didn't feel like a seven-year-old at his core. Even though it was painful, it was tolerable, and unlike most children, he didn't wear his emotions on his face.

"Let’s go first..." Wen Xiao thought they needed to change locations; he didn't know what kind of madness Wei Chuan might exhibit if they stayed. He wasn't afraid of bad people, only bad people with power.

"What are you standing there for? Close the door! Don't let them run off!" Wei Chuan shouted to the side.

He glared at Wen Xiao and the others, the anger accumulated from their previous school encounters bubbling up all at once. It was like this at school, and it was like this at home. A stray cat needed protecting, and a disgusting illegitimate child needed protecting—why did everything have to go against him? He was clearly the rightful heir to the Wei family!

There were two servants in the side parlor, but they knew Wei Chuan’s temperament and had been too afraid to speak up. Wei Chuan was the eldest young master of the Wei family; one word from him could decide their fate.

"If you don't do as I say, get out! If you don't want to stay in the Wei family, there are plenty of others waiting to get in!"

Under Wei Chuan’s gaze, they had no choice but to close the door.

Wei Chuan reached out toward Wen Xiao. "I’ll say it one more time: hand over what you took."

*

Wen Tianhe noticed Wen Yu approaching him in a hurry, and he rarely saw his eldest son look so anxious.

"Little brother... he’s gone..." Wen Yu was at a loss. Previously, his brother had always stayed at home and rarely had the chance to go out, so there was no fear of him getting lost. But he had just told his brother to sit on a small sofa and have some dessert, and after stepping away for only a moment, he couldn't find him anymore.

Wen Tianhe held his shoulders, much calmer than Wen Yu. However, he didn't know how to comfort his son, who had already lost his composure. He actually wanted to say that this was the Wei family’s banquet, the security was the best available, and everyone’s entry and exit were strictly registered; Xiao Xiao would be fine. But with the words on the tip of his tongue, he didn't know how to offer comfort, so he could only tighten his jaw and ask, "Where did you last see him?"

The middle-aged man who had been speaking to Wen Tianhe heard their conversation and said considerately, "Mr. Wen, the child is the priority. I’ll go with you to look for him."

Wen Yu led Wen Tianhe to the spot where Wen Xiao had been eating dessert, his tone filled with self-reproach: "I told my brother to stay here and not run around... If something hadn't happened, why would my brother have walked away?"

Wen Tianhe asked a passing waiter, giving a brief description of Wen Xiao’s attire.

"I just saw Mr. Song speaking with that child," the waiter recalled.

Wen Tianhe’s face turned ashen. He asked coldly, "Mr. Song? Song Kaizhi?"

After the waiter nodded, the atmosphere around Wen Tianhe grew even heavier.

On the other side of the banquet hall, Song Kaizhi, holding a glass of red wine in one hand and his partner on the other arm, suddenly felt a chill down his spine. The middle-aged man standing opposite him, slightly plump, was still engaged in enthusiastic conversation, constantly asking about the intended use of the land he had purchased. That land had to be developed within a year of transfer, and as for what to use it for, he had already decided. The man was clearly trying to get a piece of the pie, and Song Kaizhi was losing interest. Could he not just talk business during the day and something else at night?

He raised his glass for a sip, only to see Wen Tianhe walking through the crowd toward him, burning with rage.

Song Kaizhi walked toward Wen Tianhe with his wine glass, raising it in a toast from a distance. He didn't expect Wen Tianhe’s first words to be: "Where is Wen Xiao?"

Song Kaizhi realized that Wen Xiao was the name of Wen Tianhe’s younger son. He pressed the wine glass to his lips and gave a careless laugh. "Your son? You’re asking me? Wen Tianhe, surely you aren't mistaken."

"Someone said you were talking to Xiao Xiao just now." Wen Tianhe’s face was ice-cold. No matter what expression Song Kaizhi wore, his brow remained tightly furrowed.

Song Kaizhi guessed the situation and said with a smile, "So your son is missing, and you’re in such a rush to find me? Everyone calls me Boss Song, at the very least—do I look like the type of person who would kidnap a son?"

Seeing that Wen Tianhe’s patience was exhausted and he was on the verge of an explosion, Song Kaizhi realized there was no point in arguing. He adjusted his tone appropriately, putting aside his playful manner, and glanced in the direction of the head of the Leng family.