Guardian Chapter 6: Custody Finalized

 

Chapter 6 Custody Finalized

Over here, they were exchanging knowing glances and taking their time, thoroughly enjoying themselves, while over there, Lawyer Zhou and Yu Xiu felt like they had thorns in their backs. Originally, before the custody decision was finalised, no one was permitted to touch the inheritance left by Yu's mother. However, Yu Xiu, convinced that the custody matter was a done deal, had taken the accident compensation money left by Yu's mother and used it to buy a car. Lawyer Zhou had initially objected, but after Yu Xiu slipped him a red envelope, he reluctantly acquiesced. Now, with investigators dispatched by Yu Shulin's father demanding an audit, they wished to refuse but found themselves without standing to do so.

Yu Shulin glanced at Yu Xiu's stiff expression and deliberately remarked, “Uncle, I'm perfectly fine. Shall we proceed with the inventory? After all, these are Mum's belongings... Has Mr Ling finished verifying everything? Any discrepancies?”

“Nothing major, actually. The bank balances and property records all tally. It's just that…” Ling Chun tapped the documents and turned to Yu Xiu. “Before arriving, I contacted the personnel responsible at the time of Mrs Yu's incident. According to them, the accident compensation was ultimately placed in Mr Yu's possession. This included the 200,000 yuan gifted to young Mr Yu by the family he rescued. However, I've been unable to trace the whereabouts of this sum. Might Mr Yu Xiu offer an explanation?” By all accounts, this sum should have been entrusted directly to Yu Shulin for safekeeping. Being a minor without a guardian, if he declined to take it himself, it should have been placed under the custody of a solicitor. Once guardianship was established, it would then be transferred to Yu Shulin's appointed guardian for oversight. Yet now, that money remains in Yu Xiu's possession, never having passed through Yu Shulin's hands.

“Shulin is still young. I felt uneasy about him handling such a large sum, so I kept it for him,” Yu Xiu replied, avoiding Ling Chun's probing gaze and striving to sound composed.

“Oh?” Ling Chun pushed his spectacles up his nose and raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn't it have been handed over to the solicitor? Why did you keep it yourself?”

Yu Xiu stammered, unable to provide a coherent explanation. Finally, flustered, he simply stopped engaging with Ling Chun and turned his attention to coaxing Yu Shulin: “Shulin, I'm only holding onto that money for you temporarily. I'll give it to you later. You know Uncle does everything for your own good, right? Lawyers are outsiders—how could they be as trustworthy as your uncle? Rest assured, I’ll take excellent care of you. So regarding custody…”

“Of course I trust you, Uncle.” Yu Shulin’s lips curved into a faint, ambiguous smile. “But we’re discussing the accident compensation now, aren’t we? We can address custody matters later.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiu felt his anger boil to the brim. Before coming, he’d been confident about the custody matter—if not tenfold, then at least seven or eightfold. But now, with the Liang family’s lawyer throwing a spanner in the works, he feared his chances had dwindled to barely two or threefold.

He harboured resentment towards Lawyer Zhou for his unreliable handling of the case, and bitter resentment towards the Liang family for their meddling. Yet, what gnawed at him most was Yu Shulin’s sudden shift in attitude. Just two days ago, he'd been a docile little mouse, yet now he'd transformed into a fickle, troublesome cockroach. Between an uncle he'd known since childhood and a father he'd never met, what on earth was there to hesitate about? And as for the inheritance, what was there to settle? In the end, it would all belong to the Yu family anyway! Once he secured custody, he'd make sure this brat suffered for it!

Yu Shulin observed every flicker of his uncle’s turmoil and resentment, his own heart stirring with a mixture of malice and satisfaction. Blinking, he resumed his obedient demeanour and said, “Uncle, why do you look so grim? Are you angry with me? Because I insisted on taking inventory of the property…”

“How could I be angry with Shulin?” Yu Xiu forced a dry smile, straining to maintain his image as the kind uncle. “It's good to take stock. I was just worried someone might use the inventory as an excuse to pilfer your things. You know how much your uncle cares for you—everything I do is for your own good.”

Ling Chun raised an eyebrow, observing Yu Xiu with amused interest—the man possessed extraordinary thick skin, daring to blacken someone's name to their face.

“For my own good?” Yu Shulin smiled, suddenly leaning forward and extending his hand towards Lawyer Zhou. “Hand over the documents.”

“What?” Lawyer Zhou clearly hadn't processed the request.

Yu Shulin tilted his head at him, beckoning. “The custody papers. Hand them over.”

Yu Xiu's heart leapt at this. He scrambled to his feet to fetch them, his voice brimming with relief. “I knew Shulin was a sensible lad who could see right from wrong. Rest assured, Uncle will cherish you like a son from now on.”

He Long, who had been observing silently, frowned. However, being unfamiliar with Yu Shulin and seeing Ling Chun show no reaction, he forced himself to suppress his concerns—based on what he had previously understood, this Yu Xiu... was hardly a suitable candidate for guardian.

Ling Chun's gaze shifted between the uncle and nephew before he tucked away his documents and leaned back into the sofa. As Liang Zhou's close friend, he privately disapproved of his friend pursuing custody of this child. Sympathy was one thing, but ultimately, his friendship mattered more. The boy might appear clean-cut and well-behaved now, but who could say he wouldn't become a handful later on? Moreover, the child's series of reactions upon entering... were rather amusing.

The conference room fell completely silent, broken only by the rustling sound of Yu Shulin flipping through documents.

Yu Xiu shot Ling Chun a smug glance before turning to exchange a knowing look with Lawyer Zhou. A weight lifted from his heart—with such a substantial sum, he, Yu Xiu, was finally going to turn his fortunes around!

“Uncle.” Yu Shulin paused his leafing through the papers, pen poised over the signature page. He lifted his eyes to meet Yu Xiu's. “You're telling me Father sent people to seize my guardianship to scheme for the inheritance Mum left me, right?”

Scheming for inheritance? He Long and Ling Chun turned to Yu Xiu, one with veiled anger, the other with a mocking smirk. How laughable! The Liang family was immensely wealthy—would they really stoop to scheming over a child's meagre inheritance?

The smugness in Yu Xiu’s eyes faded slightly. He avoided Ling Chun’s gaze, shifting uneasily. But words spoken were like water spilled—to retract them now would be to contradict himself. He could only nod stiffly. “Yes, yes. That’s what everyone says. Um... Shulin, just sign it already.”

He Long rose to speak, but Ling Chun pressed him back down.

“Signing is certainly required,” Yu Shulin remarked, twirling his pen as he pushed the documents aside. He shot Yu Xiu a mocking glance before replying coolly, “But not this particular one... Mr Ling, I trust Mr Liang Zhou will prove a competent guardian. Wouldn't you agree?”

Ling Chun froze, then burst into laughter, slapping the documents in his hand with a sharp ‘smack-smack’ as he nodded. “Of course! Liang Zhou will absolutely be a splendid elder brother.”

This Yu Shulin proved far more intriguing than he'd anticipated.

Yu Xiu, however, froze in panic. “What Liang Zhou? What brother? Shulin, what do you mean? I'm the only family you have left, I…”

“Uncle? No, Mr Yu Xiu.” Yu Shulin cut him off, rising to his feet and flinging the documents at him with a cold sneer. “Do you really think I don't know where the money for your car came from? And you'd best return every penny of that accident compensation you've spent, or else we'll see each other in court.”

Yu Xiu froze completely, his face turning deathly pale. He stared at him as though he didn't recognise him—no, this cold-faced, handsome youth before him was certainly not the simple, gullible nephew from his memories... Something must have gone terribly wrong!

“Shulin, you must be misunderstanding something! I didn't use that money—the car was borrowed... No! I hold your guardianship!”

Yu Shulin forcefully shook off his hand and turned to Ling Chun. “The documents? Give them to me to sign.”

He Long swiftly rose, snatched the organised papers from Ling Chun’s grasp, pushed past Yu Xiu to stand before Yu Shulin, and handed him the documents. After a pause, he added, “You won’t regret today’s choice. The boss is a decent man.”

“Whether he’s decent or not, I cannot say… But since the choice is made, I won’t permit myself to regret it.” He signed the papers with decisive efficiency, then rose and extended his hand to He Long: “I look forward to working with you.”

He Long's gaze softened slightly as he shook his hand. “You're welcome.”

Caught off guard, Yu Xiu stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. As he scrambled to his feet, he saw Yu Shulin signing the papers with decisive efficiency. His legs gave way, and he collapsed back onto the floor. “Impossible... it can't be…”

“Nothing is impossible,” Ling Chun strolled over leisurely, kicking him playfully with a smile. “Mr Yu Xiu, remember to transfer the accident compensation funds to me promptly. I take no kindly to people dragging their feet.”

 

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