87: He felt sorry for him.

Chu Yilan's father, Chu Changqi, was the illegitimate son of a low-tier aristocratic family. After graduating from university, he came to work at the Ming Family group. The man was handsome, scholarly, and highly capable.

Yet, beneath such a captivating exterior lay a filthy soul.

Chu Changqi's talent for deception was so great that even Old Master Ming failed to notice it in time.

At that time, Ming Mei was the goddess whom countless noble young men in Qudu broke down the door trying to marry. Chu Changqi, having the advantage of proximity, used his overflowing hypocrisy to deceive Ming Mei and win her true heart.

Old Master Ming's wife had passed away early, and having had a daughter in his old age, his doting on Ming Mei was unimaginable. If his daughter liked something, he would give her the stars and the moon. At that time, although Chu Changqi's family background was lacking, he could effortlessly outshine all the useless young masters, so Old Master Ming was still fond of him.

As a result, it was only a matter of time before Chu Changqi married Ming Mei.

Many people secretly mocked Chu Changqi for being a live-in son-in-law and a "phoenix man," but Chu Changqi greeted them with a smile and acted as if he had a wonderful temper.

After the two were married and Ming Mei became pregnant, Old Master Ming also temporarily stepped away from the company due to health issues. In less than half a year, the tides had turned.

Chu Changqi ruthlessly purged his own family.

He also forced several long-standing companies that had been on good terms with the Ming Family to the brink of bankruptcy. He kept the news tightly under wraps, returning home every day with the image of a perfect husband; the depth of his schemes was terrifying.

By the time Old Master Ming came to his senses, half of the group's assets had been swallowed by Chu Changqi. This game of his had been in play since the moment he entered the Ming Family.

Ming Mei gradually realized that her husband, who looked like a decent human being, was a madman.

The day she proposed divorce, Chu Changqi's smile froze within seconds, his eyes turned ferocious, and he smashed everything within reach to pieces.

Having shed his status as an illegitimate son, Chu Changqi could now summon the wind and rain and change the world as he pleased. Before securing the entire Ming Family group, Ming Mei was still of great use to him.

Chu Changqi imprisoned Ming Mei. At that time, Ming Mei was about to give birth, and Old Master Ming, having suffered a great shock, was hospitalized again.

Chu Yilan later learned from Aunt Fen that at that time, Chu Changqi had tried many times to show affection, wanting to return to how things were with Ming Mei, but how could that be possible?

To maximize his territory in a short time, Chu Changqi had taken in over a dozen women, playing all sorts of games. His mental world seemed different from a normal person's; he kept emphasizing to Ming Mei that those women were just tools and that he was sincere toward her.

Eventually, Ming Mei felt sick just looking at Chu Changqi.

And Ming Mei's disgust only further provoked this madman.

Chu Changqi began bringing different women home.

But regardless, that woman, whose eyes had once been full of joy, was gone.

Ming Mei could even give up the master bedroom to make it convenient for Chu Changqi to frolic with those so-called "tools."

Aunt Fen said that although it seemed like Chu Changqi had the upper hand, his subsequent unrequited love was also a sharp weapon for the Madam to retaliate.

When a daughter of the Ming Family said she didn't love someone, she made the cleanest break of anyone.

Chu Changqi went mad on the spot.

Later, when Chu Yilan was born, Ming Mei didn't even hold him once, didn't even glance at him, and just had people take him away.

Aunt Fen had tried to persuade Ming Mei at the time, saying that after all, it was her own child, how could she not love him?

But Ming Mei had been severely weakened by the birth. With a pale face, she spent most of her time lying in bed, staring blankly at the phoenix tree in the courtyard.

Later, according to Aunt Fen's recollection, Chu Changqi was like a hungry wolf at the time, staring intently at Ming Mei and the child, as if trying to determine the true relationship between them.

The once-innocent young lady from a prestigious family had also started playing mind games. She used even more exquisite acting to deceive Chu Changqi, even if the price was the pain of having her heart carved out and bones scraped.

Before Chu Yilan was one year old, he was cared for by a confinement nanny. Even if Ming Mei saw him, she would turn and walk away.

Then, when Chu Yilan slowly learned to walk and could vaguely call out "Papa" and "Mama," Ming Mei would dodge the little dumpling's hugs.

Chu Yilan would stand there all alone, not knowing what had happened.

At this time, Chu Changqi would walk over, pick up little Chu Yilan none too gently, and grin as if he were going to eat someone: "Your mother doesn't like you, and I don't like you either, because you are just a bastard."

The child might not have understood the meaning of those words, but he could feel the clear malice within them.

The child's crying sounded in the villa every day.

Chu Changqi seemed to be competing with Ming Mei: if you don't love the son, I won't love him either, even if he is my own flesh and blood. Over time, bullying a young child became one of his pleasures.

The turning point came when Chu Yilan was nearly two years old. Old Master Ming, having schemed for a long time, used thunderous methods and joined forces with old allies to make Chu Changqi take a massive fall. Although he didn't kill him, he successfully took back his daughter and grandson.

The day she regained her freedom, Ming Mei stumbled over to Chu Yilan, her face covered in tears, and pulled her son tightly into her arms, trembling as she repeated over and over: "Mama loves you, Mama loves you."

Growing up without much attention was far better than falling into Chu Changqi's hands and becoming a chess piece.

Before the age of seven, Chu Yilan's life was happy and smooth, as if the explosive factor Chu Changqi had once buried inside him was just a nightmare.

What about after seven? Shen Lian wondered, but Chu Yilan didn't say.

"Your father…" Shen Lian smiled. "If he were in my hands, I would skin him alive!"

Judging by Chu Yilan's tone, Chu Changqi might still be alive.

Coldness surged in the depths of Chu Yilan's eyes. "As long as he dares to appear before me again."

Chu Changqi had fled in a sorry state at the time, having been shot in the leg by Chu Yilan, and his figure disappeared into the turbulent deep sea, never to be found again.

Chu Yilan's account was intermittent, and many details were glossed over, but it was enough for Shen Lian to piece it all together.

And then, Shen Lian couldn't take it anymore; his heart ached too much.

A few days ago, when he was unwell, Chu Yilan couldn't rest easy and followed him everywhere. Now, he had become Chu Yilan's little tagalong, following him everywhere.

"I'm going to the company, you're coming too?" Chu Yilan asked, a bit surprised to see Shen Lian changing clothes.

"Of course," Shen Lian said. "I haven't visited the Hengtai Building yet. What, I can't go?"

Chu Yilan walked straight up, hoisted him up by the waist, and carried him out the door sideways.

Shen Lian hooked his arms around his neck, too embarrassed to look at Aunt Fen. "Put me down!"

"I won't!"

Chu Yilan took Shen Lian through the private passage, swiped his card to enter the elevator from the garage, and went straight to the floor of the CEO's office.

Shen Lian was wearing a blue and white casual outfit and white sneakers, looking like a young college student. Now that he had some fame, he symbolically wore a pair of sunglasses to avoid trouble.

The moment the elevator door opened, they ran straight into Sun Binghe, who was holding some documents.

Seeing Shen Lian, Sun Binghe was slightly surprised, but immediately asked, "Would Mr. Shen like coffee or green tea?"

"Make him green tea," Chu Yilan ordered.

Sun Binghe turned around decisively, seizing the time to report work to Chu Yilan, while also ruthlessly complaining about the efficiency of several directors, before turning and heading to the pantry.

The whole movement was smooth and slick, and Shen Lian clicked his tongue in admiration.