While they were happily exchanging glances at a leisurely pace, Lawyer Zhou and Yu Xiu were feeling as if they had thorns in their backs. Originally, before the custody decision was finalized, the inheritance left by Yu's mother could not be touched by anyone. However, Yu Xiu, confident that the custody matter was already a done deal, had directly used the accident compensation money for Yu's mother to buy a car. Lawyer Zhou initially disagreed with this, but after Yu Xiu slipped him a red envelope, he reluctantly agreed. Now, with the people sent by Yu Shulin's father's side wanting to investigate, they wished to refuse but had no grounds to do so.
Yu Shulin glanced at Yu Xiu's somewhat stiff expression and deliberately said, "Uncle, I'm feeling quite alert. Let's take inventory first. After all, these are the things Mom left for me... Has Mr. Ling finished checking? Are there any issues?"
"There aren't any major problems. The deposit amount and the property are correct. However..." Ling Chun tapped the documents and looked at Yu Xiu. "Before coming here, I contacted the relevant person in charge from when Yu's mother passed away. According to them, the accident compensation was ultimately placed in Mr. Yu's hands. This also includes the 200,000 yuan gifted to young Mr. Yu by the family his mother saved. But I can't seem to find any trace of that money now. I wonder if Mr. Yu Xiu has any explanation for this?" Logically, this money should have been given directly to Yu Shulin for safekeeping. Since he is a minor without a guardian, if he himself was unwilling to hold it, it should have been entrusted to a lawyer until custody was decided, then transferred to Yu Shulin's guardian for supervision. Yet now, the money remained with Yu Xiu, never even passing through Yu Shulin's hands.
"Shulin is young. I wasn't comfortable with him holding such a large sum, so I kept it for him temporarily," Yu Xiu said, avoiding Ling Chun's probing gaze and striving to sound composed.
“Oh?” Ling Chun pushed his glasses up his nose and raised an eyebrow in question. “Shouldn’t it have been given to a lawyer? How come you kept it yourself?”
Yu Xiu hemmed and hawed, unable to give a proper explanation. Finally, flustered, he simply stopped responding to Ling Chun and turned to focus on coaxing Yu Shulin. "Shulin, I'm only holding onto that money for you temporarily. I'll give it to you later. You know your uncle does everything for your own good, right? Lawyers and such are outsiders, not as trustworthy as your uncle. Don't worry, your uncle will definitely treat you very well. So, the custody..."
"Of course I believe you, Uncle." Yu Shulin curled his lips into a half-smile. "But right now, we're discussing the accident compensation, aren't we? The custody issue can wait a bit."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiu felt extreme frustration and resentment. Before coming, he had been at least seventy to eighty percent confident about the custody matter. But now, with the lawyer sent by the Liang family stirring things up, he was afraid even twenty to thirty percent confidence was gone.
He somewhat blamed Lawyer Zhou for not handling things securely, resented the Liang family for meddling, and was deeply dissatisfied with the change in Yu Shulin's attitude. Just two days ago, he was still an obedient little mouse. How did he turn into such an unpredictable, nasty cockroach now? Choosing between an uncle he's known since childhood and a father he's never met—what is there for this kid to hesitate about! And that inheritance, what's the point of taking inventory? It would all end up being the Yu family's property anyway! Once he got custody, he would definitely make this kid suffer!
Yu Shulin saw all his inner conflict and resentment clearly, a mix of malice and satisfaction swirling within him. He blinked, reverting to a well-behaved demeanor, and said, "Uncle, why do you look so upset? Are you angry with me? Because I insisted on taking inventory of the assets..."
"How could I be angry with you, Shulin?" Yu Xiu forced a dry smile, struggling to maintain the image of a gentle, good uncle. "Taking inventory is fine. I was just worried that someone might use the inventory as a pretext to secretly take your things. You know, your uncle cares so much about you. Everything I do is for your own good."
Ling Chun raised an eyebrow, looking at Yu Xiu with amused interest—this person's skin was unusually thick, daring to slander others right to their faces.
"For my own good?" Yu Shulin smiled, then suddenly leaned forward and reached out his hand to Lawyer Zhou. "Give me the documents."
"What?" Lawyer Zhou clearly hadn't caught on.
Yu Shulin tilted his head to look at him and beckoned. "The custody documents. Give them to me."
Yu Xiu's heart leaped with joy upon hearing this. He hurriedly stood up to get them, saying with relief, "I knew Shulin was a sensible child who knows right from wrong. Don't worry, Uncle will definitely treat you like his own son from now on."
He Long, who had been silently observing all along, frowned. But as he wasn't familiar with Yu Shulin and Ling Chun showed no reaction, he had to suppress his concern—from what he understood beforehand, this Yu Xiu... was not a good candidate for guardian.
Ling Chun's gaze shifted between the uncle and nephew. He collected the documents and leaned back into the sofa. As Liang Zhou's friend, he actually didn't quite approve of Liang Zhou seeking custody of this child. Sympathy was one thing, but ultimately, his friend's well-being was more important. This child looked clean and well-behaved now, but who knew if he might become trouble later? Moreover, the series of reactions this child had shown since entering the room... were too interesting.
The meeting room fell completely silent, leaving only the rustling sound of Yu Shulin flipping through the documents.
Yu Xiu cast a triumphant glance at Ling Chun, then exchanged a look with Lawyer Zhou. The heavy stone in his heart finally settled—with that huge sum of money, he, Yu Xiu, was finally going to turn his life around!
"Uncle." Yu Shulin stopped flipping through the documents. Holding a pen, he paused on the signature page, looked up at Yu Xiu, and said, "You told me that my father sent people to fight for my custody in order to scheme for the property Mom left me, right?"
Scheme for property? He Long and Ling Chun turned to look at Yu Xiu, one with concealed anger, the other with a half-smile. How ridiculous. The Liang family was vast and wealthy; why would they need to scheme for a child's little bit of money?
The pride in Yu Xiu's eyes faded somewhat. He avoided Ling Chun's gaze, shifting uncomfortably. But words spoken were like water spilled; refuting them now would be slapping his own face. He could only nod stiffly and say, "Y-yes, that's right. That's what everyone says. Um... Shulin, hurry up and sign."
He Long couldn't help but stand up, wanting to speak, but Ling Chun pressed him back down.
"Of course I'm going to sign." Yu Shulin twirled the pen, pushed the document in front of him away, cast a mocking glance at Yu Xiu, and said coolly, "But it's not this one I'm signing... Mr. Ling, I believe Mr. Liang Zhou would be a qualified guardian, don't you think?"
Ling Chun was taken aback, then burst out laughing, slapping the documents in his hand loudly. He nodded and said, "Of course. Liang Zhou would absolutely be a good older brother."
This Yu Shulin was more interesting than he had imagined.
Yu Xiu, however, was dumbfounded. He panicked and said, "What Liang Zhou? What older brother? Shulin, what do you mean? I'm your only family left. I..."
"Uncle—no, Mr. Yu Xiu." Yu Shulin interrupted him, stood up, and threw the documents at him, sneering, "Do you really think I don't know where the money for your car came from? Also, you'd better return every last cent of the accident compensation money you spent. Otherwise, we'll see each other in court."
Yu Xiu was completely stunned, his face turning deathly pale. He stared at Yu Shulin as if he didn't recognize him—no, this cold-faced, delicate-looking youth before him was absolutely not the naive and easily deceived nephew from his memory... Something must have gone terribly wrong!
"Shulin, you must have misunderstood something. I didn't use that money; the car was borrowed... No! I have your guardianship!"
Yu Shulin forcefully shook off his hand and looked at Ling Chun. "The documents? Give them to me to sign."
He Long quickly stood up, took the prepared documents from Ling Chun, pushed past Yu Xiu to stand before Yu Shulin, and handed them to him. He paused, then said, "You won't regret the choice you made today. The boss is a good man."
"Whether he's good or not, I don't know... But since I've made my choice, I won't allow myself to regret it." He signed the documents briskly, stood up, and extended his hand to He Long. "Please take care of me from now on."
He Long's expression softened slightly as he shook his hand. "You're welcome."
Yu Xiu, caught off guard, had been pushed to the floor by He Long. After getting up, he saw Yu Shulin signing with decisive strokes. His legs gave way, and he slumped back onto the ground. "N-no, impossible..."
"Nothing is impossible." Ling Chun sauntered over, nudged him with his foot, and said with a smile, "Mr. Yu Xiu, remember to transfer the accident compensation money to me promptly. I don't care for people who drag their feet."
