Chapter Two: Brothers?

Wu Jun's eyes widened in astonishment. "Damn, are you out of your mind from the fever? Did you forget? We talked about this not long ago—partnering up to go to Thailand and gamble on jade stones."

In a flash, Shu Yiming remembered. Back then, Wu Jun mentioned he had a sworn brother in Thailand who was deep in the stone business, with inside connections that guaranteed profits. He’d urged Shu Yiming to join him for an investment.

All his misfortunes stemmed from that decision.

1998—a year Shu Yiming could never let go of.

That year, his parents died in a car accident while traveling for business, leaving behind three siblings and the company his parents had painstakingly built. At the time, Shu Yiming, just starting his junior year in university, was forced to drop out and shoulder the family’s burdens, taking over the company.

Because of his youth, he suffered endless ridicule and oppression from company veterans, partners, and rivals alike. The company’s future looked grim.

To keep his parents’ efforts from being in vain, Shu Yiming gritted his teeth and endured it all.

That same year, his longtime friend Wu Jun proposed taking him to Thailand to invest, promising sure gains—a way to help him through hardship.

Shu Yiming trusted him easily, and, taking along his younger sister Shu Miaoyan, who’d always clamored for adventure, they set off together.

But after arriving in Thailand, once Shu Yiming handed over nearly all the family’s funds to Wu Jun, the man vanished without a trace.

Penniless, Shu Yiming barely managed to return home with Shu Miaoyan after enduring unspeakable hardships.

Only upon their return did they discover that, not long after their departure, the company had gone bankrupt, the house seized by the courts, and Shu Jinghan turned out onto the streets, her whereabouts unknown.

Driven to madness, Shu Yiming searched everywhere to no avail.

He nearly broke down completely; if not for little Shu Miaoyan at his side, he might have ended it all.

The only comfort at the time was his university sweetheart, Sun Qianqian, who stuck by him loyally when he needed someone most.

But in the end, that, too, proved to be a lie.

Shu Yiming often thought that if he hadn’t trusted Wu Jun so blindly back then, their fates as siblings might have been entirely different.

Now, having returned to this moment in time, Shu Yiming faced the same crossroad with a new plan in mind.

He deliberately hesitated and said to Wu Jun, “Let’s hold off for now. I’m still not fully recovered—long-distance travel isn’t a good idea. Besides, I haven’t freed up the company’s funds yet. Once I’ve taken care of that, we’ll go.”

Shu Yiming said this on purpose, to stall for time and reconsider his options. Although nothing had happened yet, since Wu Jun’s intentions were clear, Shu Yiming didn’t mind turning the tables on him.

Hearing this, Wu Jun paused, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but it vanished quickly. He smiled and said, “You’re right. You’re still recovering, so it’s best not to rush. Once you’re ready, we’ll go. I’ll tell my brother in Thailand to wait for us.”

“Alright,” Shu Yiming replied with a smile.

“Then I’ll leave you to rest. I’ve got things to attend to, so I’ll be off.” With that, Wu Jun left.

Shu Yiming watched Wu Jun’s retreating figure coldly until he was gone, then turned to his two sisters with a gentle smile. “Alright, don’t just stand there—get ready, we’re heading out soon.”

“Okay!” they replied, brimming with excitement.

They set off for the Ocean Park. Watching his siblings laughing and losing themselves in joy, Shu Yiming felt deeply content.

He was determined to protect them.

Shu Jinghan, being a bit older and more sensible, quietly approached Shu Yiming and asked, “Brother, I feel like you’re troubled. You haven’t gone to the company since you recovered, nor have you looked for Sister Qian.”

Shu Yiming fondly patted her head. “Silly girl, what could be bothering me? And if there was, it’s not something you could help with. Don’t worry yourself—your job is to make sure Miaoyan lives happily.”

Shu Jinghan shook her head and pressed on. “Brother, I’m not a little kid anymore. I can sense your hostility toward Brother Jun. What’s really happened?”

Shu Yiming was stunned, looking at his sister in surprise.

In his eyes, she was just a child, not yet grown—and yet she could say something like this.

He hesitated, unsure if he should tell her the truth. Would she even believe him?

Seeing the look on her brother’s face, Shu Jinghan’s heart ached. “Brother, I know you always think we’re still young and want to shield us from hardship. But ever since Mom and Dad passed, I’ve watched you force yourself to carry everything alone. It hurts me, too. I want to help you.”

“We don’t have our parents anymore, so the three of us must stick together and get through this. Actually, I secretly enrolled in a finance and management course. I’ve been studying hard every day. I know I can help you.”

Shu Yiming looked at his now graceful, grown-up sister, his eyes reddening with emotion.

How could he not want to tell her? All these years, he’d shouldered everything alone—it was exhausting. He longed for someone to talk to.

But he didn’t dare. What he had experienced was too extraordinary—who would ever believe it?

“Jinghan, there are some things I can’t explain right now. But you must trust your brother—some people are not what they seem. The only ones we can trust completely are the three of us.”

“No, brother, I believe in us. As long as we work together, we can do anything.”

Jinghan knew her brother well—he’d never speak without reason. “So, what’s our next move?”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Shu Yiming replied. “First, we need to gain full control of the company. I want to hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on those senior executives who pretend to support us but secretly oppose us.”

“These old-timers keep making things difficult and betraying the company’s interests, trying to make it theirs. They deserve no mercy. So, the first step is to drive them out while protecting the company as much as possible.”

“Jinghan, since you’re taking that finance and management course, see if you can find any channels to help me recruit some management talent. Once those people are gone, there will be a power vacuum in the company’s leadership.”

Jinghan thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “Actually, brother, I do know a management expert—my course instructor. Her name is Lin Peishi, daughter of the CEO of Lin Group in our city, a returnee from Imperial London University.”

“For various reasons, she’s at odds with her father and didn’t join the family business. Instead, she became a training instructor. We get along well—I even call her my sister now. If I ask her for help, she’ll definitely agree.”