Cao Family's Eldest Son and Grandson

Cao Decheng!

The eldest grandson of the Cao Family.

The eldest grandson of the Tang Family on his mother's side.

Born in 2013, he is now twenty-one years old.

He grew up in the compound.

Always the leader among the kids, the top dog in the neighborhood—a title earned through sheer dominance.

From a young age, he was labeled a genius and a prodigy, proving his sharp intellect early on.

At just four or five years old, he somehow managed to arrange a childhood betrothal for himself.

Though,

Later, no one took it too seriously.

Still, it brought the two of them closer.

……

At a certain People's University.

Cao Decheng stood tall and straight, living up to his name, inheriting the best traits from his parents.

Though not exceptionally tall, he still measured up at 180 cm.

Meanwhile, Tang Xin stood at 175 cm, easily matching the height of his second sister, Ren Fanxing.

She was one of the taller girls around Cao Decheng.

Only the twelve "golden hairpins" from the dance troupe could rival her.

Now,

Cao Decheng was no longer as mischievous or lively as he was in his childhood.

He carried himself like a seasoned bureaucrat.

His aura was so composed that strangers might mistake him for a man in his thirties.

In reality, he was only twenty-one.

And he had already been working since high school.

His status played a role in that.

After studying Marxism-Leninism—among other ideologies—in his second year of high school, he began working as a secretary for some high-ranking officials.

It was more of an internship.

But he only did it during breaks, learning on the job.

Once in university, aside from his regular coursework and electives, he spent most of his time shadowing his uncle, learning and assisting.

That is, Tang Xin’s older brother.

Now transferred to the capital, holding a high rank.

So,

Don’t be fooled by Cao Decheng’s age of twenty-one—technically a junior in college—his work experience already spanned five years.

And not just any work.

Of course,

At heart, he was still a kid, just more mature than his peers.

Years of experience had also given him a polish and a knack for wearing different masks—traits most college students lacked.

Inside, he was still that lively, mischievous little tyrant from the compound.

But on the surface, no one could guess what he was thinking.

Who wouldn’t describe him as upright and serious at first glance?

Pair that with his administrative jacket and a national emblem pinned to his chest—wherever he went, someone would inevitably hand him a thermos.

Summer break was approaching.

Cao Decheng stood by the lake, quietly smoking as he waited for someone.

The cigarettes were premium-grade, pilfered from his grandfather’s stash.

This kind of smoke wasn’t for just anyone.

If your rank wasn’t high enough, you wouldn’t even get a glimpse of it.

"Hey~~"

Suddenly, a figure appeared—wearing a floral dress, simple in design, but stunning on her, radiating a fresh, youthful charm.

Cao Decheng feigned a startle, turning with a glare.

He’d known she was sneaking up, trying to scare him.

But he played along.

Father and son shared this trait.

They both understood that the best hunters often disguised themselves as prey.

If a girl wants to scare you, let her.

What’s the point of ruining her fun and winning this one round?

Right?

So,

Cao Decheng pretended to be so startled that he dropped the half-smoked cigarette, making the girl burst into giggles.

He glanced at the fallen stub. "What a waste."

The girl huffed. "I’ve told you smoking is bad. Serves you right if it’s wasted."

"Smoking’s for networking. And this isn’t just any smoke—it’s from my grandpa’s private stock. A whole pack costs a fortune, every stick’s pricey." Cao Decheng explained.

The girl wasn’t ordinary either.

At this university, and bold enough to sneak up on Cao Decheng—just that act alone meant she wasn’t just anyone.

If it were a stranger,

Or someone of lower status,

The hidden security might mistake it for an assassination attempt and take her out on the spot.

So,

Of course, she knew who Cao Decheng’s grandfather was.

Still, she rolled her eyes. "So what? No matter how expensive, it’s still bad for you. Quit it, or at least save it for networking. Don’t smoke casually."

She also knew Cao Decheng’s future career would involve endless tea and cigarettes.

Work could be done without them.

But with them, things often went smoother.

Such was the way of socializing.

She got it.

So she wouldn’t push too hard.

Cao Decheng nodded. "Fine, I’ll listen to you. Let’s go eat."

"Great!"

She looped her arm through his, and the two strolled along the lake, soon leaving the woods behind, passing through walkways and crowds until they reached the food street outside.

All the while chatting and laughing.

Cao Decheng suddenly spoke up. "Summer break’s almost here. I’m not heading to work right away—planning to take a few days off, go back to Zhonghai to see Grandma and Old Old Cao, plus my aunts… As for us, I think I should tell Old Cao."

"..." The girl’s hand, holding a snack, froze mid-air. A flicker of nervousness crossed her face.

A stark contrast to her usual fearless self.

Even when talking about Cao Decheng’s grandfather, she hadn’t been this tense.

After all, she’d known him since childhood.

But "Old Cao"?

She knew that title could only mean Cao Decheng’s father.

Cao Decheng called his father Old Cao, his grandfather Old Old Cao.

And vice versa—Old Old Cao called him Tiny Cao, while Cao Decheng was Young Cao…

It sounded like a tongue twister.

"You…"

She stammered. "Didn’t you say before that your father’s hardly around? That you haven’t seen him in years?"

"Yeah, it’s been years."

Cao Decheng sighed. "He’s always traveling. Only comes back for New Year’s, and even then, he skipped the last two… I just think, since we’re serious, and might get engaged soon, we should at least let Old Cao know. Otherwise, he’ll find a way to lecture us later."

Though absent most of his life,

Cao Decheng knew exactly what kind of man Old Cao was.

And Old Old Cao too.

Like father, like son.

Mainly because he was the same deep down.

He just hid it better now, thanks to his grandfather’s upbringing.

Otherwise, who knew how much trouble he’d stir up?

……

The girl nodded.

She knew Cao Decheng was right.

This was something they had to tell his father.

But still…

She bit her lip. "Your father… won’t dislike me, will he?"

Cao Decheng chuckled. "Never thought I’d see you nervous?"

The girl pouted and punched his arm lightly.

This girl came from no ordinary family.

She could face Cao Decheng’s esteemed elders without batting an eye.

Outside, she was a force to be reckoned with, a leader in her own right.

When had anyone ever seen her tread so carefully?