Cao Yiyue left. She said she would bring her great-grandfather's photo tomorrow.
Cao Yang watched her back as she got into the car. From a corner, two bodyguards stepped out and followed her into another vehicle.
The Nang brothers and sisters were the same—their bodyguards looked even more intimidating, definitely not the type hired just to look busy.
Cao Yang's eyes were sharp enough to judge strength at a glance. He could more or less tell whether someone was dangerous. Not 100% accurate, but close.
All three of their bodyguard teams weren't ordinary people. They must be expensive… which meant their identities weren't ordinary either.
"Cao Yang-gege, they already left. Why are you still staring?" Nanako puffed her cheeks, clearly displeased.
Cao Yang turned back and smiled. "Who exactly are they?"
In his impression, Nanluo Country was poor—very few wealthy families, fewer with the luxury to travel abroad, and even fewer with bodyguards and luxury cars.
"I don't know."
"Aren't they your friends?"
"I just met them at school. You happened to open your restaurant today, so I brought them over."
Their school had its own cliques—kids from powerful, wealthy families automatically grouped together. Nanako simply happened to be in the same circle.
"I don't think they're good people," Nanako muttered angrily. "Making up stories just to get your attention! Don't believe a word they said. I'm not hanging out with them anymore!"
Cao Yang saw Wu Xin approaching and stroked Nanako's head, coaxing her a little before sending her off.
"Boss, the guys opened a few 'suction halls,' requested some funds." Wu Xin handed over the accounts.
Cao Yang waved. "Handle it yourself. No need to report every small matter."
"Thank you for trusting me, Hall Master." Wu Xin nodded and left.
Cao Yang watched his back, eyes darkening.
Among all those men, Wu Xin was the only one he disliked. He didn't show it, but he strongly suspected Wu Xin was a spy planted by Situ Meixin.
But the rest were all muscle-heads. There was no one else who could manage accounts and operations. So he had to use him—for now.
He originally wanted Sister-in-law Hu Qing to handle internal affairs, but not only did she refuse, she scolded him until his ears rang. She just wanted a quiet life raising Yi Nuo, and wanted Cao Yang as far away as possible.
"Dad, I met a young man today in America. He looks exactly like Great-grandfather. He's from Hunan too. I think he might be one of our people!"
In her villa near the school, Cao Yiyue couldn't wait to call her father.
But her father's attitude was lukewarm—just a few "mm" and "uh-huh." He didn't take it seriously.
Tracing ancestry was something only the young or the elderly cared about. Middle-aged people were too busy surviving.
So what if it's true?So what if it isn't?
Bloodline ties that thin meant nothing after so many decades.
If their lost relatives were doing well, he'd send blessings. If they were suffering, he might give some help. That was all.
Once she heard her father's attitude, she immediately hung up and called her grandfather instead. He was the one who cared about their ancestral homeland.
As expected, once he heard the news, he urgently asked what Cao Yang's grandfather was called.
Cao Yiyue didn't know, so she said she'd ask tomorrow. After that she had someone print the old photo and went to acquire a Republic-era warlord uniform.
She hugged the clothes and imagined what Cao Yang would look like wearing them.
At that moment, Nancy knocked and entered.
They were close and lived in the same villa.
"Princess," Cao Yiyue stood up to greet her.
"We're abroad, don't be so formal."
Nancy waved her hand—her thinking had long been influenced by foreign culture.
"That guy today was really handsome… is he really your older cousin?"
"Eight or nine out of ten. Tomorrow I'll take a blood sample."
"Can blood even prove anything after four generations?"
"It can."
"Then I'm going with you tomorrow."
The next day, the two rushed to find Cao Yang.
"Try on this outfit." Cao Yiyue handed him the warlord uniform.
Cao Yang found it amusing and changed clothes right there, making both girls blush.
When he sat down, striking a commanding pose, he raised his chin and asked:
"Well? Do I look like your ancestor?"
The girls were stunned.
Cao Yiyue felt it was ridiculously similar.
Nancy… was simply stunned by how handsome he looked.
"Hey. Does it look like him or not?"
His voice snapped them out of it.
"Like! Exactly like!" Cao Yiyue felt as if Great-grandfather had stepped out of the photograph.
"Then hurry up and call me 'Ancestor.'"
"You—!" She almost exploded. "That's your ancestor too!"
She pulled a printed photo from her bag.
"Look for yourself."
Cao Yang froze.
He had only heard "similar," but seeing it with his own eyes—
Damn. That wasn't "similar."That was him.
"Oh my god! It's literally the same person!" Nancy gasped. "Aside from being older and having a beard—he's you!"
Cao Yang didn't need her to say it. The resemblance was terrifying.
So I really am Cao Ying's descendant…?But I cursed that bastard so many times as a kid!The villain was… me?
Cao Yang felt complicated.
He was supposedly Cao Ying's descendant. So why was he so poor while they were so rich?
"Don't move. I'm taking a picture to send to my grandfather."
She snapped dozens of shots despite saying "just one."
Then she uploaded them and called home.
Her phone rang almost instantly.
"Where is this person?"
"Grandpa, in America. He's right beside me."
"Put him on the phone!"
She handed it over. "My grandpa wants to talk to you."
"Hello." Cao Yang took the phone, feeling awkward.
If he was really a descendant of Cao Ying, what was he supposed to call the man on the other end?
Grandpa?Great-grandpa?Who knew?
"Child, what was your grandfather's name?"
"Cao Kun."
He had never met his grandfather—only learned the name from seeing the tombstone.
The old man on the phone suddenly trembled with emotion.
"So you're from Eighth Aunt's branch… I can't believe you're still alive!"
"When I was little, whenever my mom beat me, I'd hide behind Eighth Aunt. And little Cao Kun followed me everywhere! I am your grandfather's fourth brother. You should call me Fourth Great-grandfather!"
Cao Yang could hear the man's excitement. But he felt… nothing. Just awkwardness.
"Child… back then one of my father's men betrayed us—Ma Long turned traitor. Because of that we lost too quickly, left too suddenly, and failed to take you with us. You must have suffered all these years."
"Is your grandfather still alive? Is he well?"
"He died years ago."
"…Your father?"
"He died too."
The other end fell silent.