Supreme Heir Son-in-law
Chapter 169: Going Home

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Going Home

The news of Xu Ke’s return to Shangjing almost spread throughout the city’s circles on the same day. No one had expected that the man who was once driven out like a stray dog would return to Shangjing as the Master of the Xu Family, with honors.

Shangjing appeared no different than usual, but the undercurrents had already begun to stir. This undercurrent surged even more vigorously when the upper-class families received the invitations sent by Xu Ke.

Although Xu Ke hadn’t returned to the Xu Family for nearly four years, the moment he stepped into the old residence, it felt like everything happened yesterday. Everything here was as familiar as he had once seen it, as if nothing had changed at all.

A trace of heat appeared in Xu Ke’s eyes, and his vision started to blur slightly.

"Family Head, you’re finally back." Housekeeper Zhao, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, gray-haired, and dressed in a tailcoat, stood at the door along with all the Xu Family’s servants in two rows to welcome the new family head’s return.

"Grandpa Zhao, you look a bit older." Xu Ke said, his eyes red.

Housekeeper Zhao had been at the Xu Family for thirty years and could be said to have raised Xu Ke. Now, Xu Ke was the only one left of the Xu Family’s direct line. The once lively Xu Family was as quiet as a vampire’s castle, chilling Xu Ke to his very bones. Under these circumstances, seeing Grandpa Zhao would naturally make Xu Ke emotional.

"Yes, it’s been nearly four years. How could I not age at all? But you, Family Head, seem much more mature. If the old master could see you now, he would surely be very pleased." Housekeeper Zhao wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes as he spoke.

"Look at me, keeping you outside to reminisce. You must be tired from the long flight. Come in quickly and rest. I’ve prepared your favorite dishes, though I’m not sure if your tastes have changed, and whether these still suit you." Housekeeper Zhao showed a slightly melancholic look, but it was quickly replaced by relief.

"I haven’t touched anything in the villa, waiting for your return. The invitations have also been sent according to your instructions. The clothes you’ll need for the evening will be brought over tonight for you to see." Housekeeper Zhao whispered in Xu Ke’s ear.

Throughout the way, Housekeeper Zhao continued to introduce the past three years in Shangjing and the Xu business to Xu Ke, telling him everything he didn’t know.

By the time Xu Ke stood in front of his room, Housekeeper Zhao had nearly finished everything he wanted to say, and his throat was a bit hoarse.

Xu Ke looked at the familiar door, his hand unconsciously clenching at his side, as an inexplicable fear slowly crept into his heart.

As if seeing through something, Housekeeper Zhao looked at Xu Ke with a touch of affection in his eyes, and said warmly, "After you left, the old master didn’t let anyone enter this room, only instructed me to clean it regularly. Everything inside is just as it was after you left the Xu Family. I don’t know why the old master suddenly made such a decision, but I know he always loved you. He must have had his reasons for doing those things. Now that the old master has passed away, I hope you won’t blame him because of this."

"I understand. Perhaps I once blamed Grandpa, but now I don’t anymore. I know he loved me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here." Xu Ke gently placed his hand on the doorknob. With a twist of his wrist, everything inside unfolded before his eyes, like a slow-motion replay in a movie, just as Housekeeper Zhao had said, unchanged from when he left.

The heat that had filled his eyes earlier inexplicably turned into tears that left his eyes. Fortunately, the tear fell so quickly that Housekeeper Zhao, standing beside him, didn’t see it before it disappeared from Xu Ke’s face.

"Grandpa Zhao, I want to be alone for a while."

"Alright, alright. The dishes are kept warm for you. If you want to eat, just ring the bell and I’ll bring them up to you." Housekeeper Zhao said as he quietly withdrew from the room. Xu Ke saw his motion of wiping the corner of his eye as he left, probably crying, Xu Ke thought.

Xu Ke stayed in his room until evening before coming out.

"The banquet in three days is my first event upon returning to Shangjing. It must go perfectly, so I must trouble Grandpa Zhao to go through all the procedures again tomorrow to make sure everything is flawless." Xu Ke instructed in a low voice.

"Yes." Grandpa Zhao responded with a kindly smile.

After dinner, Xu Ke took his car keys and went out. He hadn’t been to Shangjing for nearly four years. This time, he wanted to have a good look around.

"So, it’s really you. It’s true what they say—search high and low only to find it effortlessly." The man whom Xu Ke had knocked down on the plane earlier stood with his hands on his hips, blocking Xu Ke’s path with a hostile expression.

"I really didn’t expect to run into you here. Shangjing is really small." Xu Ke remarked, marveling as he looked at the face he had seen earlier that day.

"Isn’t it? I was just about to settle the score with you and happened to encounter you. You’ve saved me a lot of trouble. The place you kicked me is still hurting. How do you think I should get back at you? How about you crawl around the mall once, and I’ll let you go? Sound good?" The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze roaming up and down Xu Ke, looking less like a successful businessman and more like a total ruffian.

"I’m not in the mood to waste words with you. Since I’m in a good mood now, I’ll give you a chance to back off, otherwise, you won’t have time to regret it later. Or maybe you just enjoy getting hit," Xu Ke’s eyes narrowed slightly, looking at the man with an inexplicable gaze that made the man across from him visibly flinch.

"Do you think this is still on the plane where I can’t do anything to you? Look around and see where we are. Do you think Shangjing is a place where you can run wild?" The man laughed angrily at Xu Ke’s attitude, his voice tinged with an indescribable mockery.

"To me, it makes no difference." As soon as Xu Ke’s words fell, an unfamiliar male voice came from behind him.

"Did you walk away so quickly just for this person?"

This was a man who looked a bit young, wearing a blue floral shirt with the collar open, revealing a fair chest and an elegantly contoured collarbone. As he stood in front of Xu Ke, he resembled a crooked pine tree, lacking the temperament expected of the upper-class society, but instead appearing like an idle playboy.

"Who is this, that made you leave me behind? Don’t forget why you came out today." The young man cast a sidelong glance at Xu Ke, then turned his gaze to the man.