Time flies, like a white steed passing by a crack, and five years have slipped by.

The Shaw Mansion remains as it was before, yet the old lady no longer loves socializing as much in recent years. Only when the little young master of the Shaw Family, Casimir Shaw, wants to go out to play, does the old lady then take along the younger generation of the collateral lines to accompany this child and create some excitement.

Even though Richard Shaw has been semi-retired these past years, the Shaw Family has not declined because of it. Instead, the three collateral branches of the family have united as one, supporting the old lady in upholding the Shaw Family. Nowadays, the Shaw Family is even more influential in the Imperial City than it was a few years ago.

Even with Richard Shaw’s legs paralyzed and his dwelling in a cabin on the outskirts, the younger generation of the collateral branches of the Shaw Family not only do not feel ashamed but have developed a sense of respect and admiration for this elder, whose reputation was once illustrious before he retired at the height of his fame. Some even have a somewhat blind admiration for him.

In recent years, no one understands more than the Shaw Family members that although Richard Shaw is paralyzed, he still assists in handling some high-level confidential affairs, and those above value him even more than before. Should this cousin untangle his heart’s knot and be willing to treat his legs, he might return to the Military District. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Plus, Richard Shaw has hardly left the Imperial City these past few years and hasn’t appeared before people, adding an air of mystery.

Among the children of the collateral branches of the Shaw Family, only Lana Shaw and Calliope Shaw had the fortune to visit the cabin on the outskirts. Upon their return, they were surrounded by people from the three branches, even the elders wanted to know about the current state of the person living in the cabin.

After graduating from college, Lana Shaw and Calliope Shaw both entered government departments. Over the years, the collateral branches have been under the care of the Shaw Family, and they also wish to become independent and self-reliant.

"Cousin is doing well." Lana Shaw looked at the roomful of fathers and brothers, and it took her a while to blurt out these four words. She and Calliope Shaw were there today to take Casimir Shaw over, conveniently organizing the old belongings left by Crystal Landon with them and taking them over.

The cabin on the outskirts is crafted to be rustic and Zen-like, and even six-year-old Casimir Shaw does not want to leave when staying there. If not for the fact that the old lady misses her great-grandson, he might have stayed in the cabin with Richard Shaw all year round.

When Lana Shaw went in, she happened to see Richard Shaw sitting in the yard, personally crafting a wooden vanity for Casimir Shaw. A stream was guided into the yard, and half of the vanity was done. After years apart, Richard Shaw wore a linen tang suit and loose pants, his wrists adorned with Buddha Beads that had been polished smooth over the years. The man’s face was handsome and solemn, with an aura gathered around him, as deep as the ocean. Despite doing carpenter’s work, he appeared even more profound and inscrutable than before.

Lana Shaw dared not look directly, only feeling this cousin somewhat intimidating, and it seemed only Crystal Landon dared to like this cousin.

"Cousin seems even more authoritative and commanding than before," Calliope Shaw added, "When I was on my way back, I saw Shuangzi. Over the years, Shuangzi’s yard has become a liaison point on the outskirts, with many soldiers coming and going in that area. The locals say the security is so good that there’s no need to bolt the doors at night. I feel whether cousin returns to the Military District or not makes no difference; wherever he is, the Military District is too."

"Then how is your cousin’s mental state?" With his legs paralyzed and being a widower from an early age, raising a child alone, and living in semi-seclusion over the years, people are somewhat worried about his mental state.

Calliope Shaw thought for a moment, hesitantly saying, "Well, he’s okay, I think. Cousin has always been good at not showing his emotions. Even if he’s not well, we can’t tell."

That’s the truth.

Calliope Shaw thought of the wooden cabin on the outskirts and sighed softly. If Crystal Landon were still here, cousin would surely treat her well. The three of them living together in a place like Nanyang would truly be living like hermits.

What a pity that those who are too brilliant are often resented by the heavens.

*

Casimir Shaw spent the whole summer with his great-grandmother. Only when the school term began did he happily carry his little backpack back to the cabin. Now he could have a piece of sticky rice cake every morning again.

Made from glutinous rice, it was fragrant, sweet, and sticky, and you couldn’t find it anywhere else. The uncle running the breakfast shop that sold sticky rice cakes was from the South. If all breakfast in the South was this delicious, Casimir Shaw would want to live in the South with Old Shaw.

"Old Shaw, I haven’t seen you all summer; did you miss me?" Casimir Shaw found that ever since he came back, Old Shaw had been tinkering with those wooden pieces and hadn’t asked how his summer went.

The young boy stepped in front of the man, tugging at Richard Shaw’s clothes and looking up at him with big, dark eyes, trying to be cute.

Although, as a young man of strong character, trying to be cute was shameful and embarrassing, Casimir Shaw felt if he didn’t act cute and talk to Old Shaw, Old Shaw might not say more than three words all day.

"What’s in your hand?" The man didn’t look up, continuing to brush pure tung oil on the wood. This rustic wooden vanity was being made for Casimir Shaw and was planned to be placed in the yard, with water drawn over through bamboo, at just the right height so he wouldn’t need to stand on a stool to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Casimir Shaw’s small hands clutched his summer-long project tightly behind his back, and he crisply said, "Old Shaw, if you say you missed me all summer, I’ll give it to you."

Richard Shaw put down the brush in his hand, lifted his tea-colored eyes, and glanced at the young boy who had been back at the Shaw Mansion for two months. In the blink of an eye, he had grown so tall; he used to be just a tiny bundle in his arms, and now he was nearly as tall as his wheelchair.

This child’s personality was not at all like his, but like hers, always loving to act cute and pitiful, pretending to be meek while being cunning. At only six, he had all the elders and siblings of the collateral branches wrapped around his little finger, with everyone unconsciously spoiling him to the skies.

She had the same kind of personality, expressing openly if she liked someone, saying outright if she missed someone, fearless and unbridled.

Richard Shaw’s tea-colored gaze dimmed slightly. He reached out to touch the young boy’s head, continuing to apply the tung oil.

"Old Shaw, alright, alright, it’s me that missed you, missed you all summer. I spent the whole summer working on this painting; I’ll give it to you, alright?" Casimir Shaw, seeing Old Shaw was again reluctant to speak, suddenly turned his pitch-black eyes cunningly, throwing out a slew of sweet words, casually unfolding his work; after all, it was meant for Old Shaw from the start.

"Old Shaw, do you think my painting looks nice? The one with a face like a stone is you, the cutest and happiest one is me, and the most beautiful one is mommy. I painted this from a picture of mommy, and great-grandma said it really looks like her." Casimir Shaw said with bright, bent eyes.

The handsome, cold, and solemn man looked at the painting, his body slightly tensed.