Lei Xiaping nodded sharply and strode out. The matter was urgent, and as the second son—a Political Bureau member—he had a loyal cadre ready to act. A single word, and his trusted aides would handle it flawlessly.
Lei Yunbao's gaze settled on Zhengyang. "Since you won't share some things, we won't press. I'm proud, as your grandfather, to see you change. You've run wild for years, and I won't cage you now. I just hope you've truly turned over a new leaf."
Years of disappointment made Lei Yunbao cautious, but Zhengyang's return sparked both surprise and joy. Still, he tempered his expectations. He knew his grandson's nature too well. If Zhengyang could just stay out of trouble, that alone would be the Lei family's greatest relief.
The homecoming feast was lavish. Xu Nongli, overjoyed at her son's return after a year, poured her heart into cooking his favorites, determined to make up for lost time. Lei Xinping, elated by the patriarch's acceptance of her husband, unleashed her culinary best, a heartfelt thank-you to Zhengyang, her champion.
The Lei estate employed top chefs versed in every cuisine, but for Zhengyang, nothing beat his mother's cooking—infused with love. The two women's personal touch fulfilled his deepest craving.
"Finally tasting Mom's food again," Zhengyang sighed, savoring each bite. "Missed this so much." To others, he'd been gone a year; in his heart, it was forty long years, each flavor a bridge to a distant past.
"Eat up, Zhengyang—you've gotten so thin," Xu Nongli said, doting. "I've got soup simmering for you later." Lei Chunping, watching, felt a twinge of envy—his wife's pampering was a privilege he rarely enjoyed.
Zhengyang demolished six bowls of rice, attacking the dishes like a whirlwind, stunning the table.
The Lei brothers, all grown, rarely gathered. Only Chunping lived in the ancestral home. The second and fourth had their own families and homes, visiting infrequently. Lei Qiuping, the third, was oddly still single despite his age. Patriarch Lei had prodded him to marry, but Qiuping brushed it off, content to mooch free meals at the estate. Chunping and Xu Nongli couldn't bring themselves to nag him about settling down.
But none had seen anyone eat like Zhengyang, leaving them slack-jawed.
Xu Nongli and Lei Xinping fought tears, their hearts aching. His ravenous appetite screamed of hardships endured.
Qiuping laughed heartily. "Zhengyang, when's the last time you ate? Starving for three days?"
"Pretty close," Zhengyang grinned. "Spent my last few hundred on the train ticket. Had one cup of instant noodles on board—definitely hungry."
"Slow down, there's plenty," Xu Nongli said, clutching his hand tenderly. "If it's not enough, I'll make more."
"What about your girlfriend?" Qiuping teased. "She's a white-collar worker, decent salary. How's she letting you go hungry?" He'd noticed the woman in Tianhai seemed fond of Zhengyang—surely she wouldn't skimp on feeding him.
At "girlfriend," Xu Nongli and Lei Xinping perked up. As a mother, Xu Nongli was all ears for such news.
"Zhengyang, your Third Uncle mentioned a nice girlfriend in Tianhai," Xu Nongli said. "Why didn't you bring her? You didn't trick her and ditch her, did you?" It wouldn't be the first time. She longed for her son to find a genuine partner to care for him, easing her burden.
"Don't listen to Third Uncle's nonsense," Zhengyang said, rolling his eyes. "She's just a female friend. She doesn't even know who I am. I was drifting in Tianhai, nowhere to stay, so she let me crash. Relax, nothing happened—purely platonic. She's a good woman, and I don't want to hurt her."
His uncles' eyes widened, more shocked than when he'd inhaled his meal. This was unbelievable.
"Not hurt her?" Qiuping gaped. "Zhengyang, since when do you care about feelings? Didn't you brag about charming every beauty, then walking away untouched? You were good at it—why stop now?"
Zhengyang nearly spat out his rice. Thanks, Third Uncle, for digging up my old nonsense! Youthful arrogance had made him think he could conquer the world. Now, he saw how naive he'd been.
"Third Uncle, didn't you want a rematch?" Zhengyang shot back, grinning. "I'm stuffed—could use a stretch. Wanna spar?"
"Spar? You're on!" Qiuping huffed. "Last time, I went easy. This time, I won't hold back. Watch yourself, kid."
The two stormed out, leaving the table stunned. Dinner wasn't even over—such manners! But with Lei Yunbao calmly eating, unbothered, no one dared comment.
Moments later, a yelp echoed outside. The family froze, heads swiveling to the door. Zhengyang strolled in, stretching casually. "Nothing beats a post-meal workout—feeling alive! I'm off to rest, folks. Enjoy the food."
Ignoring their curious stares, he headed upstairs. Soon, another figure limped in—Lei Qiuping. His steps faltered, pants torn, one hand covering an eye. The family burst into laughter. The uncovered eye sported a purple-black bruise, a classic shiner.
"Old Third, you okay?" Lei Xiaping teased. "Covering the wrong eye? Your left one's the one that's hurt."
Chunping raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me the kid beat you again."
Lei Dongping piled on. "Third Bro, didn't you brag about being the Vanguard Corps' top fighter? No way Zhengyang did that. Bet you tripped outside, right?"
The jab was playful, but a grown man "falling" into such a state would be the laugh of the century.
"That boy's got no restraint," Xu Nongli said, softening the mood. "Hitting his own uncle so hard! I'll talk to him, Third. He needs to respect you, not act like a brat."
Lei Xinping smirked. "Those moves weren't from you, Third Brother—you taught him well! Training an apprentice to beat the master? Why didn't you hold back? Now you're hiding your eye like it's a secret. Drop your hand—you can't even tell which eye's busted?"
Qiuping, bombarded by his siblings' teasing, flushed with embarrassment and frustration. With a grunt, he snapped, "That little punk Zhengyang! Tomorrow, we're going again, and I won't go easy. Why the hell did he aim for my eyes?"
He lowered his hand, revealing the right eye—worse off, swollen and black. The room erupted. Even Lei Yunbao cracked a rare smile, while the others lost it, some choking on their food.
"Old Third, you—hahaha—nice symmetry!" Lei Xiaping, usually stoic, roared first.
Qiuping plopped down, unfazed. "Go on, laugh it up. My apprentice beat me, and I'm proud. Shows I'm a damn good teacher—better than the master!"
Lei Yunbao's smile faded. Standing, he barked at Qiuping, "Thick-skinned as ever, huh? Calling yourself a master? If word got out Zhengyang did this, you'd be shameless, but I'd be mortified. Get to the study—I want to know how he beat you."
Zhengyang hadn't said much, but Lei Yunbao sensed a profound change in his grandson over the year. Since he wouldn't talk, observation was key. First, the patriarch wanted to understand how the once-frail Zhengyang had bested Qiuping—a feat no ordinary man could achieve.