Henry Clark suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, a very bad suspicion arising, “Your dad going around in circles like this, could it be just to hand the company over to your wife...?”

Andrew Foster didn’t say anything. The more Henry Clark thought about it, the more possible it seemed, so he spoke obliquely, “Have you ever considered... your wife’s background, and your dad...”

Andrew Foster lowered his voice and whispered, “I secretly took my wife’s hair and my dad’s, and did a test—no blood relation.”

Henry Clark let out a sigh of relief. So Andrew Foster had suspected it too. He gave an awkward laugh, “That’s really impossible. Your dad, that kind of person, would never do something to betray you.”

The two of them fell silent.

Andrew Foster reached for the bottle and poured himself another full glass.

Henry Clark said, “Don’t drink so much. If you get drunk, I’ll have to take you home, and then I’ll have to face your wife’s temper.”

Andrew Foster snorted, “He wouldn’t dare. I’m the head of the household.”

Henry Clark said, “Yes, yes, you’re the head of the household.”

Andrew Foster tilted his head back and drank more than half the glass, then fell silent again.

Henry Clark looked at him and saw his eyes turning red and watery. He was startled, “Old Qin, are you crying?”

Andrew Foster muttered, “I feel awful.”

Henry Clark patted his shoulder, “If you really don’t like your wife, just get a divorce.”

Andrew Foster said, “No way. My wife’s already made it to vice president. If we divorce, the shareholders will make a fuss.”

Henry Clark was speechless. The heir of the Qin family ending up like this was a first.

Andrew Foster said, “Actually, he’s much more capable than me.”

Then, feeling very frustrated, he added, “He’s just too controlling. Won’t let me smoke or drink, won’t let me go clubbing or hang out, even set a curfew—wants me home by ten!”

Henry Clark nodded. He knew all this. Andrew Foster’s wife, Eric Bennett, was very controlling. Andrew Foster had no freedom outside. Even gatherings with friends, she’d call to check up on him, make sure he got home on time, and if necessary, would even come pick him up herself.

Henry Clark also knew that Eric Bennett didn’t like people like them, so Henry Clark and Andrew Foster’s other friends didn’t like Eric Bennett either.

It was just this kind of mutual dislike.

Andrew Foster had just claimed to be the head of the household, that Eric Bennett couldn’t control him, but now, after drinking too much, he couldn’t help but spill all these secrets.

“Have to fulfill my ‘marital duties’ ten times a week, no less, and each time has to be over half an hour, or else the housekeeper will make tonic soup to annoy me!”

“Salary card and bank cards all handed over, I only get a hundred yuan a day! A hundred! What can I do with that? Only if I serve him well will I get a few hundred more.”

As Andrew Foster spoke, his eyes grew wetter. He wiped the corners of his eyes, aggrieved, “Honestly, even the male escorts outside are worth more than me. They get paid tens of thousands per appearance, and I’m even cleaner than them. I don’t know why he has to control me so much. My dad used to give me eight million a month for pocket money, and he confiscated all of it.”

Henry Clark was dumbfounded, not daring to listen any further, afraid that when Andrew Foster sobered up he’d get revenge. He quickly interrupted, “You’ve had enough. Hey, give me your phone, I’ll find your wife’s number and have him pick you up.”

Andrew Foster said, “Don’t call. He’s on a business trip. Otherwise, how would I dare come out drinking?”

Henry Clark: “...”

...Who was it just now bragging about being the head of the household, who?

Henry Clark got up to grab his glass, “Stop drinking. If you get drunk, I’m not taking you home.”

Andrew Foster snapped, “Are you looking down on me? I told you, I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk! I can go home by myself.”

Henry Clark: “...”

He could only sit back down, thinking he’d have to get a room for him if he got drunk later.

Andrew Foster picked up where he left off, continuing, “If I could do it all over again, I’d never marry him! If my dad really doesn’t want to give me the family business, I’ll have him recognize my wife as his son, and I’ll just have another brother. Giving the Qin family to my wife is better than giving it to William Foster.”

Henry Clark felt complicated inside, saying, “You’ve really got a big heart.”

Billions in family assets, just giving them to an outsider.

He took a sip of wine too. Seeing that Andrew Foster hadn’t spoken for a while, he turned to look, only to find the guy had already fallen asleep on the table.

...

*

That day, it was drizzling, the patter of rain echoing through the ancient town. A light mist rose among the mountains and forests, winding between the gray-tiled eaves, blurring the town’s original rustic charm.

Because of the damp weather, the walls were badly dampened. A fine spring breeze blew in from the window, rustling the calendar on the wall. The calendar was new, with some pages torn off, and the date showing was a bright red number: April 2010.

In this fine, gentle spring rain, a young boy wore a bamboo hat, a faded white T-shirt, and was barefoot, drawing water by the well.

He had handsome features, fair skin, black hair and eyes, and stood about 175 centimeters tall—not short, but not tall either. Every part of him exuded the delicate refinement nurtured by the water towns of Jiangnan.

His wrists were slender, yet he could easily lift a full bucket of clear water. When he spread his long, fair fingers, you could even glimpse the thick calluses in his palms.