Before he knew that Qin Changan was his father, Qin Sheng had heard a lot about him but only knew that he was a rich financial titan, a giant in both fields of politics and business. Since he returned to the Qin Family and lived with his father, Qin Sheng had just found out that despite his father’s super power on business, Qin Changan was no more than a common man, a common father. He also had grey hair and wrinkles. He also tried hard to hide his exhausted face and sad feelings under a beaming smile.

Qin Sheng had always found it hard to figure out what was on his father’s mind. He thought about the past two years, when Qin Changan hadn’t recognized their relationship, and about their current situation. Qin Changan had a vague attitude even to him. So, Qin Sheng almost had no idea about what his father was like out of the family.

But Qin Sheng had his own understanding about his father. He must really be in love with his mother. For one thing, it wasn’t hard for him to find a good wife, but he remained single. On the other hand, he had too many conflicts with his mother’s family. And he loved his daughter deeply, althought Qin Ran often irritated him. He was such a good father that he never let his son and daughter know anything about his lovers. Besides, unlike other parents, he never forced his daughter to marry someone since Qin Ran was already in her thirties.

And Qin Sheng clearly knew that Qin Changan loved him a lot, with all the regrets because of his absence in his son’s growth.

Qin Sheng knew that his father had been exhausted for years. Apart from his sister and Nan Gong, very few people really cared for him. Qin Sheng deemed care as the most important. That was why no matter what Nan Gong said, he never got angry. After all, he knew that Nan Gong was concerned about his father.

Even though he went to bed late, Qin Changan got up early. Qin Changan and Qin Sheng both had this habit. This might be their only common trait.

Qin Sheng went downstairs and met his father, who was doing exercise in the yard. Qin Changan said, “Come jog with me.”

“Wait a minute. I’m going to change into sportswear.” Staying healthy was the first requirement for doing anything. Doing exercise was also part of Qin Sheng’s daily routine. So was the case with his grandfather; going for a stroll was his daily exercise. Although his grandfather had experienced a lot, he was healthy and fit when he died.

Qin Sheng changed his clothes quickly and went back to the yard. Qin Changan was waiting for him at the doorway. A group of bodyguards in casual wear lingered around his jogging route for safety.

Qin Sheng was much healthier than his father, but not because he was younger. His father was too ocuppied with his work, which exhausted his energy, while Qin Sheng was living a rather free life.

Qin Sheng jogged quite slowly, following behind his father. They said nothing, just jogging along the Hutong alley. Some of the bodyguards were behind and in front, keeping a ten meter distance, while others lingered around. Qin Changan’s safety was always the first priority.

There were a lot of elderly people exercising in this Hutong alley where they were jogging along. It wasn’t as quiet as the one in which they lived. On the contrary, it was bustling in most of the Hutong alleys in Beijing. In the end, they went to grab a bite at a breakfast stall that was not far from the Hutong alley where the Qin Family’s siheyuan was located.

Douzhi and Youtiao, or the ground bean juice and fried bread sticks, were Beijing local’s favorites, and Qin Changan was no different. Qin Sheng preferred Douhua, or bean pudding for breakfast, but he decided to eat what his father liked to eat that day. Qin Changan was a regular of the breakfast stall and the stall owner even remembered him. Qin Sheng remembered that when he first returned home, his sister showed him around and took him to a food stall to have some Douzhi and Youtiao. The food stall owner also knew his sister.

Jogging together and then having breakfast together. This quality time was a real pleasure.

“What about your curriculum in the Tsinghua University? Do you feel any academic pressure? What about your classmates?” Qin Changan asked.

Qin Sheng took a sip of Doujiang, the soybean milk, while looking at the elderly people sitting around. It was early in the morning and most customers were elderly people. Young people rarely had breakfast at this time. They were either hurrying to work, or still sleeping.

“Emm, it’s my first time to be studying in such a place. Everything’s so new and so good. The professors and guest tutors have taught me a lot. I’m also benefiting a lot from the communication with my classmates. It’s all good.” Qin Sheng was a very diligent and careful student. He had made plenty of notes on his insights.

Qin Changan nodded and said, “That’s fine. I planned to just give you a position in my company, but I thought about it and decided to delay the plan. A friend mentioned this continued education program to me, so I managed get you there. It all depends on you now. To be honest, everyone studying in this program is very rich, with at least billions of assets. They are, of course, not the richest people in this country, though. Well, you’re kind of different. They have been raised to be successors of big companies. They grew up and developed in such a circumstance, becoming very outstanding young people. But I don’t want you to be like them. I just want you to have an idea of what they look like. It’ll be helpful for your future career.”

Qin Sheng was confused. He didn’t realize that his father had this view. He thought he was asked to learn some necessary knowledge so that he could adjust to everything related to the company sooner and to make more friends.

“I get it,” Qin Sheng said.

Qin Changan knew what was on Qin Sheng’s mind. He said, “We the Qin Family have been running our business in Beijing all these years. We don’t have to build any friendships with those people, only with those of the highest class. The Qin Family’s resources are enough for you to build a promising future.”

Before the series of recent troubles, Qin Changan was not going to tell Qin Sheng about all this. He wanted Qin Sheng to spend a peaceful two years’ period of time next to him, learning and understanding everything by himself gradually. However, he didn’t have enough time to wait for Qin Sheng’s development, so he had no way but to change his first plan, and the result would depend on Qin Sheng’s own capability.

Qin Sheng had a feeling. Since he came back from Shanghai, his father rarely said anything to him. They didn’t talk that much, except for that chat.

“I’ll try.” Qin Sheng’s mind had been stirred, but he was trying to keep calm on the surface.

Qin Changan sensed that he had said too much. He then smiled and said, “Let’s just stop here. I don’t want to pressure you too much. Just try your best. Enjoy your breakfast. I still have some meetings to attend.”

“Try your best” were very simple and easy words, but hard to practice. Qin Sheng thought a lot, and even began to question himself. Could he do this? He wasn’t sure about how far his grandfather had gone, but the more he knew about the Qin Family, the more he uncovered the veil above this question. His grandfather, who used to be a legendary person, finally died in some place in the Zhongnan Mountains, unknown to other people. What was his grandrather thinking when he was still alive? And his father; he also made great achievements as a businessman, which was known to all. But what about Qin Sheng, his son? Qin Sheng was shouldering an even heavier pressure. It was his mission to push the Family upward, rather than letting it decline.

When they went back to the siheyuan, other people were having their breakfast. Nan Gong was not home. Qin Changan went for a shower and then went to the Changan Financial Center on Jianwai Road.

Qin Sheng suddenly missed his sister, so he called her. It was his first time to call his sister since he went back to Beijing.

“My dear little brother, why are you calling me so early in the morning?” Qin Ran was sitting in her office. It was a nice day with good sunshine. But she was still busy with so many work to do. Qin Ran had been working overtime throughout the previous week. Her eyes had dark circles. Wu Han and Lin Su were also worried about her.

Qin Sheng said, “Sister, you must be really exhausted recently.”

Qin Sheng’s words were sudden and Qin Ran remained still for a while. Then her eyes became red with tears about to come out. She didn’t know what made her younger brother call her and say such things, but she was quite sure that he really cared for her.

“What’s going on?” She hid her tears and forced a smile.

Qin Sheng felt a little embarrassed. “No, nothing at all. I just missed you. I’m afraid you’re too tired, so I called to check. Sister, health is much more important than work. You’re not alone, I’m with you.”

Qin Ran pursed her mouth and said, “I know.”

Qin Sheng’s mind and emotions were stirred, but he didn’t want to make those words turn into something cheesy. So he stopped there. “Sister, that’s all. Mind your work now. I’m waiting for you in Beijing.”

Qin Ran smiled and said, “OK, dear brother. Take care of yourself in Beijing. Take care of our father as well.”

Qin Sheng said OK and then hung up the phone.

On the other side, Qin Ran remained still, holding her cellphone. Later, Wu Han and Lin Su went to the office. They were both curious about why Qin Ran was standing beside the window with her mind wandering. They called Qin Ran then.

On their way to Tsinghua University, Chang Baji and Hao Lei were talking about what happened the night before. Qin Sheng, however, was absent-minded. He was eager to enter his father’s company, to adjust himself to the new environment and to take over the work. He would do everything he could to prepare and become a successor. He just wanted to ease some of his father and his sister’s burden.

They stopped at the School of Economics and Management; Chang Baji and Hao Lei went respectively to the class they were interested in. Chang preferred the humanities, while Hao Lei was interested in everything he deemed interesting.

When Qin Sheng entered the classroom, Han Xu, Wei Li, and others were already there, talking about what happened the previous night. Qin Sheng participated in the talk. The man who had conflincts with them at the VICE had disappeared.

Qin Sheng listened, frowning…