Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

You Jiaoyang said, "At the age of the Lord City Lord, if there’s a plan to have children, preparations could be made."

Xiahou Shang is already over thirty, so he could consider having children.

"But the lady is busy with work, traveling between the Capital City and the Yujiang River, not suitable for pregnancy right now. Besides, the affairs of the City Lord Mansion are also quite busy, not the right time for having a child."

After speaking, Xiahou Shang looked up at You Jiaoyang and smiled, "You’re almost 24, right? Do you have a girlfriend?"

Xiahou Shang had never seen You Jiaoyang interacting with girls or receiving calls from them, so he assumed he was single. Xiahou Shang said, "I have a few sisters at home, they’re quite decent in appearance and character. Do you have time to meet them?"

Xiahou Shang had high expectations for You Jiaoyang.

He intended to groom You Jiaoyang as his right-hand man and trusted him enough to consider marrying his sisters to him.

But You Jiaoyang shook his head and abruptly said, "No girlfriend, but I do have a benefactor."

Xiahou Shang: !

He was utterly shocked. "What did you say?" He suspected he misheard.

You Jiaoyang replied, "A benefactor."

Even though it was a rather shameful relationship, You Jiaoyang spoke of his ’benefactor’ with the same pride and delight as if mentioning a ’wife’.

Xiahou Shang couldn’t believe it, "Are you saying you’ve been kept by someone?" Xiahou Shang adjusted his glasses and asked hesitantly, "May I ask, is your benefactor male or female?"

You Jiaoyang, being handsome with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, was the prized ’flower’ of the City Lord Mansion, admired by many unmarried women there.

Such a good-looking young man would undoubtedly attract the attention of many predators.

You Jiaoyang calmly stated, "A very domineering woman."

In Xiahou Shang’s mind appeared an image of a wealthy woman with a plump figure, double chin, who liked to use whips on the bed to torment the pitiful.

But he couldn’t understand.

"You’re young, talented, and of good standing. Why would you..." Xiahou Shang couldn’t bring himself to say the word "canary" in front of You Jiaoyang.

You Jiaoyang explained candidly, "My sister got into trouble and needed money at the time."

Xiahou Shang raised an eyebrow.

Being a part of the Xiahou Clan, he had never been troubled by money, so he found You Jiaoyang’s reason both absurd and helpless.

"You’re a good brother, but you’ve also been wronged." Xiahou Shang generously said, "If you need it, I can lend you money." Payback the debt, cut ties with the benefactor, and be a free young man.

Xiahou Shang wanted to save You Jiaoyang from the predicament.

But You Jiaoyang seemed to want to burn in that fire, saying, "No need, she’s good to me..."

Xiahou Shang started questioning life.

"You can leave." He wanted some peace.

Nodding, You Jiaoyang walked out of the office with a calm demeanor.

Xiahou Shang was dazed for a while before he calmed down and refocused on the documents. The more names he saw, the darker his expression grew. Upon discovering that someone who died twenty years ago had not been declared deceased, he was furious.

"Outrageous!"

Xiahou Shang suppressed his anger and continued scanning through.

When his gaze fell on the name "Zhang Zhiyi," his initial reaction was to smile.

There was actually someone with the same name as his wife.

But after reading the deceased’s identity information, he could no longer remain composed.

"This..."

In confusion and suspicion, Xiahou Shang put down the document and looked up at the thin curtain on the left, his mind filled with the dignified and intellectual image of his beloved, feeling a chill down his spine.

Before they married, his grandfather had someone investigate Zhang Zhiyi’s background. The results showed nothing suspicious, which allowed their marriage.

But now, Zhang Zhiyi’s name appeared on this death list.

One of the documents, either the grandfather’s investigation or this list, must be false.