Their plans for the following day had already been decided by Feng Xinya's superior. Even if the prior meeting with Xue Yang's parents didn't go smoothly, Xue Yang was still their legitimate son and the Xue mother and father still valued him as such.

Moreover, regardless of whether or not Xue Yang cared for the heir position, his existence would remain as a thorn in the mastermind's side. The mastermind was his own aunt.

As for her motive, they would have to talk to the Xue head more for the details as the Xue family secrets were held strictly within the parties directly involved.

That was why despite Xue Yang's discomfort, the two had ended up walking right into the expansive four-story mansion.

Xinya didn't have to explain or persuade Yang into returning to his former home because it didn't take a genius to guess that in order to assure his long-term safety, the threat had to be taken care of from the roots.

He knew that he couldn't blame his parents for his experiences, especially since he knew who the true culprits were. But there were always a multitude of questions that floated through his mind when he saw them.

Why didn't you try to dig deeper into the matter?

It never crossed your minds that the corpse wasn't truly mine?

Why didn't you ever suspect aunt? Or any of your other enemies for that matter?

"Welcome back, Young Master."

The two figures, one tall and one shorter by two heads, walked through the luxurious manor doors that was held open by the teary-eyed head butler sent by the Xue head. This butler was one of the oldest employees of the mansion. He had been around from the prime of Xue Yang's grandfather's reign.

To him, the current head was like his own son, while Xue Yang was like his grandson. So, when he had received the news that the young master had died in the car accident all those years ago he was just as hurt as the Xue head and madam. Naturally, he was also ecstatic that their young master was back and alive!

It was just unfortunate that their relationship could probably never be repaired in this lifetime...

He had initially intended to try persuading the young master to give the master and madam a chance to redeem themselves, but when he considered the things the poor boy had gone through all alone for the past twelve years he didn't have the heart to do that to him.

It was already a grace that his young master was willing to show himself at the manor at all.

He further swallowed down his words when he greeted the gloomy yet undoubtedly elegant figure of his young master at the door of the mansion. He was no longer the sweet little boy who smiled and laughed carefreely yet with poise and refinement. And, although his eyes were still as untainted and filled with innocence as they'd been as a child, there was a darkness lurking within as if he'd experienced all of the vicissitudes of life that he could have within those twelve years of captivity. To his chagrin, the butler also did not miss the shred of indifference within Xue Yang's eyes that could rival even the strong and tall soldier walking beside him.

The saddest part, to the butler, was that his young master had experienced the life of which he should have never been exposed to as the pampered only son of the most powerful man in the world.

What use was the position at the top if one couldn't even protect their own child?

Xue Yang refused to show his weakness as he had done the night before. This time, he stood beside Feng Xinya. His back was straight, and he had on a stainless white suit with shining pointed-toe leather black dress shoes. His platinum blonde hair was styled so that the bangs were shifted to the right side of his face but tucked behind his ear to give himself a clean look.

As opposed to the previous night, although he didn't feel happy about returning to this manor he was tranquil as Xinya was right beside him and he'd had a good night of sleep to calm his disorderly thoughts. Furthermore, he'd already decided to just put everything in the past; this mansion as well as the people within no longer had anything to do with him.

Beside him stood the imposing figure of Feng Xinya, who wore a black suit to compliment Xue Yang's white. His short black hair was pulled back from his forehead as always, while some loose strands strayed downwards to give him a less restrained appearance. The only one he placed in importance was Xue Yang, so as long as he wasn't staring at his white kitten, there'd only be indifference within his gaze as if nothing was worth his concern.

The butler had to admit that Feng Xinya's grandeur did not lose in the least when compared with his master, who was known to be the most powerful man in the world!

In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that he felt as if the soldier's momentum even beat the master's...

The two had come on official business, so it wasn't weird for them to have come in suits, even if Xue Yang was considered the young master of the house.

In consideration for Xue Yang as well as for his own safety, the Xue head had forbidden the mistress and her son from showing their faces for the day. The Xue couple had not told anyone of Xue Yang's escape from the brothel nor his return to the estate, so the mistress and the aunt were currently unaware of his presence.

All they knew that Xue Yang was alive and suffering. At least, until the day that Shadow had been taken down. As for what happened to the boy after the organization's fall, they didn't care as it was impossible for anyone to get back up from such a life. Furthermore, he was in B Country, and nobody knew him there.

Unfortunately, they never got the news that Xue Yang had been rescued by Feng Xinya.

However, because of his unique features, the Xue head and mother, as well as the special forces had all agreed that if they saw him he would be instantly recognized.

Truthfully, the Xue head had spent twelve years with the illegitimate son of his, and his mother's sins couldn't be pushed onto him so if possible the Xue head would have preferred if both of his sons were on friendly terms with each other.

But that didn't mean the illegitimate son would be allowed to meet Xue Yang just yet, as he was close with the mistress mother, who had ties to the aunt.

As for the heir position, to the Xue head's immense regret, Xue Yang had already made it clear that he had no intention to involve himself with the Xue family anymore. This was another reason the Xue head hoped that the two boys could get along. He also knew that Xue Yang's temperament wouldn't allow him to disdain his four-years-younger half-brother.

Furthermore, even though Xue Yang had been stuck in the brothel for twelve years, his mind was still extremely bright and his knowledge after just a few months in Feng Xinya's library was already quite extensive. His temperament was also much nobler than his younger brother, and his appearance didn't even have to be mentioned. He was extremely beautiful just like the Xue madam, but still retained some masculinity.

It was just, standing beside Feng Xinya, no man would be able to compete. Even the old butler felt like a woman in his presence ah!

Arriving at the living room on the second floor, there was a large white grand piano illuminated by the natural sunlight as it stood proudly by the bay window. In the middle of the living room, two rose-red sofas sat across from each other with a glass coffee table in between. Over the dark-red stained mahogany floor was an expansive white rug with golden embellishments that could encompass almost the entire living room. A crystal chandelier hung above the glass table and lit up the entire room along with the sun from the numerous windows.

The Xue head and his wife were already seated on one of the sofas, and four delicate teacups had been placed on the glass table; two were obviously for the Xue couple, while the other two were placed in front of the empty sofa across from them where Feng Xinya and Xue Yang would sit. In the man's hands was a file that presumably contained the family's information that was not made public.

Though, towards the aunt's motives, Feng Xinya cared little for. If he didn't have to relay it to his superior, then simply taking care of her hidden forces as well as herself along with the mistress would have sufficed in protecting Xue Yang for a lifetime.

For all he cared, she was just another greedy human who wanted something that didn't belong to her. And she was willing to put her own nephew through hell to get it.

Originally, the Xue head hadn't intended for Feng Xinya to accompany his son. He wanted for another soldier to take his place because he still didn't approve of the man. Especially after the kiss the previous evening.

The two parents thought about it that night and their main concern was whether or not Feng Xinya was just interested in their son's body and experience as a former "prostitute."

With that in question, they felt that allowing the man to accompany their son would actually be okay so that they could subtly interrogate him while discussing their sister/sister-in-law.

Of course, Feng Xinya could easily read their speculative gazes from a mile away. But it didn't matter to him. If he truly was only interested in Yang's body he would've already eaten him up from day one.

He wasn't the type to hold back on his desires, and he knew clearly what he did and didn't want. What he wanted, he'd ensure he would get them. As for the things he didn't, they'd be met with total disregard.

"Ah Yang!" The Xue madam rose from her seat, obviously happy to see her son again. Seeing his regal posture and appearance made her proud of her son's strength and ability to get over his hurtful past. Since he had been able to recover, then she realized that she also couldn't continue wallowing in sorrow as she had done the previous night.

"Come," she lively gestured towards both men by the entrance of the living room, "Sit, sit!"

Complying, Feng Xinya and Xue Yang both wordlessly sat themselves on the sofa across from the couple. The entire time, The Xue head had remained seated and silent, as he knew they had not gathered for a simple get-together but for an important and professional discussion. However, he couldn't hide the happiness in his eyes at being able to be with his son again.

Similar to his wife, he was immensely proud that Xue Yang was his son. If they did not know what the boy had been through for the past twelve years, they would have never been able to even guess it just based on his confident bearing and the air of serenity surrounding him. It seemed more likely that he had never been held in captivity but properly trained as a young master instead.

Unconsciously, the couple couldn't bring themselves to meet Feng Xinya's eyes for too long as if they were lower than him in status and position. But, as the Xue head, how could he easily resign himself?

Thus, he didn'tdawdle and promptly got to business as he threw the file containing the family'ssecrets onto the table, "Here's all the information we have that could be ofuse for you. Look through them here, and if you have any questions, just ask."