The morning news was worse than Zhao Wei expected.
Every major business channel had picked up the port contract story, pairing it with headlines like:
> Shen Group CEO Under Fire — Shareholders Demand Answers
But it wasn't the headlines that made his stomach drop.
It was the photo.
A grainy image of him and Xiao An leaving the charity gala — Xiao An clutching his hand, eyes wide under the camera flashes. The caption read:
> Li Shen's "Adopted Heir" Caught in Scandal Spotlight
Zhao Wei swore under his breath. The kid's name wasn't even mentioned, but anyone with half a brain — or a long enough social media thread — could figure it out.
---
By the time he reached the office, Gao Fang was already waiting outside the elevator, tablet in hand.
"This isn't just about you now," the assistant said grimly. "Online forums are buzzing with speculation about Xiao An's guardianship. Some are calling it a PR stunt."
Zhao Wei stopped walking. "A what?"
"A distraction," Gao Fang clarified. "They think you're using the boy to soften your image and cover the company's problems."
Zhao Wei's fists clenched. He'd expected Huang Min to attack him. He hadn't expected him to drag a child into it.
"Find out exactly where that photo came from," Zhao Wei said. "I want the source."
---
The rest of the day was a blur of meetings and damage control. Lawyers drafted statements. PR scrambled to spin the narrative. But every time Zhao Wei tried to focus on balance sheets or talking points, his mind went back to Xiao An's small hand in his at the gala — and how exposed that image made him feel.
By late afternoon, he'd made up his mind.
He left the office without warning, ignoring Zhang Bo's raised eyebrow and Gao Fang's reminder about the shareholder calls.
Some things came first.
---
When he walked into the mansion, the sound of voices led him to the kitchen. Xiao An sat at the counter, staring at a plate of cut fruit while the nanny hovered nearby.
"What happened?" Zhao Wei asked.
The nanny hesitated. "Some children at his school saw the news photo. They… said things."
Zhao Wei crouched beside the boy. "What kind of things?"
Xiao An's gaze stayed fixed on the plate. "They said I'm… fake."
Zhao Wei's chest tightened. "You're not fake."
"They said… I'm just here so you look good."
Zhao Wei swallowed the sharp curse that rose in his throat. Instead, he said, "Listen to me, Xiao An. You're here because you matter. Not because of what people say. Not because of the cameras."
The boy's small fingers twisted in his shirt sleeve, just for a second, before letting go.
---
After dinner, Zhao Wei called Gao Fang.
"Huang Min made this personal," Zhao Wei said. "So now, I'm making it personal."
There was a pause on the other end. "Meaning?"
"Meaning I want every detail about his current projects, his shareholders, his debts — anything that can hurt him."
"That will take time," Gao Fang said cautiously.
"Then start tonight."
---
Later, alone in the study, Zhao Wei sat staring at the photo from the gala. Xiao An looked so small next to him, the glittering ballroom behind them like another planet.
If Huang Min thought he could win by using the boy as a pawn, he was wrong.
This wasn't just about protecting a company anymore.
It was about protecting the only family Zhao Wei had left in this strange, borrowed life.
And he wasn't going to lose.