In front of the elegant seaside villa, Shao Guangming hesitated.
"Dad, don't go," said the woman beside him, his eldest daughter, Shao Meilin. "If I can make it on my own, I will. We don't need to rely on Chen Mo."
"Yeah, Dad. This doesn't feel right," added Shao Zhenye, sitting in the driver's seat. "Last time we asked Aunt to borrow 500,000, things turned sour. Honestly, it's awkward. We used to be the same as their family…"
"That was your mother's doing—pressuring them to pay it back immediately. It ruined the relationship," Shao Guangming sighed. Though more than a decade had passed, now that Chen Mo had made a name for himself, he wanted to reconnect and mend the past.
As the car pulled up to the gate, a uniformed bodyguard raised a hand.
"Can I help you?"
"Please let them know," said Shao Guangming, lowering the window. "I'm Shao Guangming—Chen Mo's uncle. We're here to visit."
"Understood. One moment." The guard gave a polite nod and spoke into his earpiece.
Inside the villa, Chen Mo's mother, Shao Xuemei, watched the monitor, her expression complicated.
"Xiao Mo… your uncle and cousins are here."
Chen Mo glanced at the screen, then at his mother's hopeful eyes. After a pause, he nodded. "Alright. Let them in."
He wasn't angry at his uncle. Back in his hardest days, they had loaned him money. What followed was unpleasant, yes—but it had been driven by his aunt, not his uncle. And if his parents didn't hold a grudge, neither would he.
When he agreed, Chen's mother smiled with quiet relief. Blood was thicker than water—she never wanted to see her family divided.
As the gates opened, Shao Guangming visibly relaxed. Meilin and Zhenye exchanged complicated looks, then slowly drove in.
Shao Guangming, with his weathered face and army-green coat, looked like an ordinary middle-aged man. Zhenye had a buzz cut and a slightly honest air, while Meilin wore a stylish trench coat and black-rimmed glasses—her look a mix of literary charm and metropolitan youth.
Seeing them approach, Chen Mo rose to greet them.
"Uncle, cousin, Meilin—come on in and have a seat."
"Hey, Xiao Mo!" Shao Guangming's face lit up. Then his eyes turned to Xiao Yu. "And you must be Xiao Yu. Very beautiful, very graceful. Good eye!"
"Nice to meet you," Xiao Yu said politely, giving a slight bow.
Chen Mo had already told her about the complicated history with his uncle's family. That was long in the past now, and she was happy to meet more of his family.
"Here," said Shao Guangming, pulling two red envelopes from his pocket and offering them to Xiao Yu. "A little something. Just a token."
"Thank you." Xiao Yu looked at Chen Mo for approval before accepting.
Zhenye and Meilin also greeted Chen Mo's parents with polite smiles. "Uncle, Auntie."
"Come, sit down," Chen Mo said, motioning them toward the couch. The air still held a bit of tension—over a decade had passed, and they were practically strangers now.
"I came today mainly to offer congratulations," Shao Guangming said after they sat. "I heard about the wedding and wanted to come in person."
"Thank you," Chen Mo nodded.
"And… to be honest, I've felt guilty for a long time. The past wasn't handled well. I regret that. So I'll use this cup of tea as a toast, to apologize."
He picked up his teacup and drained it in one shot.
"There's no grudge between family," said Chen Shanhe, Chen Mo's father. "It's in the past now."
"Yeah." Chen Mo also raised his cup and took a sip. "Let bygones be bygones."
Shao Guangming exhaled and smiled. "Thank you."
Chen's mother turned to the younger guests. "So, what are Meilin and Zhenye doing these days?"
"Auntie," said Zhenye, "I didn't go to college—after high school, I opened a small fruit shop, learned the trade. With the 500,000 we borrowed and our savings, I've now started a small business buying and selling fruit."
"I just finished my master's in management," Meilin added. "Now I'm working as an assistant manager at a local company."
They had both heard the stories about Chen Mo—the genius entrepreneur—and though technically cousins, they still felt a bit nervous in his presence.
"What do you think, Xiao Mo?" Chen's mother asked. "Do you have any openings in your company? Maybe you could bring your cousins in. Better to keep it in the family."
Shao Guangming's eyes softened in gratitude.
He had swallowed his pride to bring his children here today. While the apology was sincere, the future of his children was his main concern. He didn't expect Chen Mo to help as much as he did with Zhang Yang's family—but even a little guidance would be appreciated.
"If they're interested, they're welcome," Chen Mo said. "But in my company, everyone starts at the bottom. Learn the ropes, prove yourself, then rise. If that's not their path, I can offer 2 million in venture capital. If they succeed, it's theirs. If they fail, I'll take the loss."
Shao Guangming lit up. That was more than he hoped for.
"What do you two think?" he asked his children.
"I'd rather start a business," said Zhenye. "I'm not well-educated and don't have any special skills. In a big company, I wouldn't go far."
"I'll join," said Meilin. "I'll start from the bottom."
Chen Mo nodded. He appreciated their honesty—and it didn't hurt to have more trustworthy people in his orbit.
Later that evening, Chen Mo stepped outside and called Zhao Min.
When she answered, her voice was teasing: "Big boss calling me personally? Something urgent?"
"I'm home. Just checking in," Chen Mo replied, smiling.
"You're getting married soon. I envy Xiao Yu—having someone announce their love in public. These days, even being a side chick is a full-time job."
"…Do I need to advertise your marriage availability?" Chen Mo deadpanned.
"Get lost. I'm not desperate," Zhao Min laughed. "You interrupted my holiday—what's up?"
"My cousin, Meilin, wants to join the company. I emailed her resume to you. See where she fits best."
"That's it?"
"You know the company better than I do. You'll find the right place for her."
"When are you coming back? Haven't seen your face in ages."
"In a few days. Just finishing up the break."
"Oh, by the way—I saw the wedding dress you gave Xiao Yu. I want one too. Let me try hers on."
"When you're getting married, we'll talk."
"Come on—I used to be a mermaid. How can I settle for cucumbers after meeting a king?"
Chen Mo nearly choked on his tea. "Whose fault is that for going out to sea?"
"My dreams," she said, dead serious.
"…You win."
After hanging up, Chen Mo and Xiao Yu joined his parents for a walk through the night market.
The next few days were filled with family warmth, laughter, and wedding planning. They stayed in Flower City for nearly a month. Once Chen Mo was fully recovered, Xiao Yu finally relaxed and they both returned to Binhai.