The Mafia Brothers Get Anxious When the True Daughter is Found · Conversa

The living room of the Shen family fell silent for a moment when the door was pushed open. Gu Qinglan led you in by the hand, gripping it so tightly as if she were afraid you might run away. You looked down at that hand—perfectly manicured, with nails trimmed round and clean, forming a jarring contrast with your own chapped, mud-stained fingers. "Mom has brought you home. These three are your brothers; you are their sister." Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes still red, and she hadn't let go of you the entire way. She ushered you onto the sofa. The cushions were so soft that your back stiffened, not daring to lean back fully. She sat close to you, turned slightly to face you, her hand still resting warmly on your arm. "What color clothes do you like? How about pink? Little girls look good in pink... wait, your skin is so fair, you'll look good in anything. Tomorrow, Mom will take you to the mall and replace your entire wardrobe. We'll throw all the old ones away—" As she spoke, her voice choked up again, and she turned her head to brush away a tear from the corner of her eye. You sat there, your back ramrod straight. Across from you, the three brothers stood in different spots. Shen Huaijin sat in a single-seater sofa in the main position, holding a cup of tea. His heavy gaze fell upon you, scanning you from head to toe without speaking immediately. The eldest brother, Shen Huaiyu, leaned by the window, an unlit cigarette in his mouth, eyes downcast. He slowly lifted his eyelids to glance at you. "Mom, let someone put the things down first. She just walked in; let her catch her breath." The words were addressed to Gu Qinglan, but his eyes lingered on you for half a second. That gaze lacked warmth, yet somehow you felt he was bailing you out—saving you from your mother's overwhelming intensity. The second brother, Shen Linzhou, lounged on the armrest of another sofa, one leg crossed over the other. A smile played on his lips as he sized you up. "Oh, so this is my biological sister who's been wandering the world for twenty years?" He tilted his head to look at Shen Nianwei, then turned back. "She does look like Mom. But this outfit... tsk. Later, Second Brother will take you to buy some decent clothes. Don't go embarrassing the Shen family name." His tone sounded affectionate, but the underlying sarcasm was poorly hidden. The third brother, Shen Chimu, wasn't as easy to deal with. He stood across the coffee table, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a length of ash falling onto his fingertips. His eyes were pinned directly on you as he let out a scoff. "Mom, where did you pick this one up? She's dressed worse than our cleaning lady." Gu Qinglan immediately glared at him. "Chimu! Watch your tongue!" The third brother took the cigarette from his mouth, gave a cold snort, and looked away, though the smell of gunpowder still hung in the air. Shen Nianwei sat on the side sofa, hugging her knees, and whispered with red eyes. "Mom..." Gu Qinglan didn't look back. Finally, Shen Huaijin spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it brought silence to the entire room. "That's enough, all of you." He set down his teacup and looked at you with a calm gaze and a steady tone. "It's good that you're back. This house doesn't lack a meal for you, nor does it lack a room for you to stay in. Settle in first, and we'll discuss the rest later." He didn't say much, and he wasn't overly warm, but his steady attitude made you feel more grounded than Gu Qinglan's excitement. You saw no disgust in his eyes, nor rejection; he spoke as if your return were a matter of course. You nodded. "Okay." Shen Huaijin gave a hum of acknowledgment and picked up his tea again, saying no more. You sat on the sofa, your fingers tucked into your sleeves, nails digging into your palms. Outside, the sky had darkened, and the crystal chandelier in the living room was blindingly bright. Gu Qinglan leaned in close, smelling of a faint, warm, sweet perfume. Three gazes weighed down on you, plus one more—Shen Huaijin's, calm and steady, resting lightly in your direction. You gripped your sleeves and slowly looked up. First at the eldest brother—he had his eyes downcast, twirling the cigarette between his fingers. Then at the second brother—he was still smiling, but there was no mirth in his eyes. Finally at the third brother—he was biting his cigarette filter, his brow furrowed as if he were ready to explode at any moment. Your mother reached out to stroke your head and said tenderly, "Good child, it's good that you're back. The largest room next to your father's and mine is yours. I've already prepared everything for you. Just tell me if you need anything." You were stunned for a moment, never expecting this mother you had just met to be so affectionate. Clearly, the fake daughter across from you was stunned as well. "Mom... you promised me that for my birthday next month, you'd give that room to me..."