Today can be described as an internet carnival.

After Zhang Xiangyang finished telling his story, the live stream became so popular that a lot of people started to gather around their yard. The appearance of these people made An Ran wary. Today, because it was a private trip, he was using his usual phone. He had a habit of silencing his phone when he had a private trip.

Unexpectedly, one day this habit would ruin him.

After opening the screen, I found dozens of missed calls, and my WeChat messages were flooded. The first message I saw was from my agent:

"Shut up and stop talking!"

"Someone is secretly taking pictures upstairs!"

"Have you lost your mind?!"

When An Ran learned that someone was secretly filming her, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a momentary dizziness, almost losing her balance. Besides her agent sending her a message, the Jian family also sent her messages. The person who sent the most messages was naturally Jian Zhi: "What's going on? What did you mean by those words?"

Secondly, it is simple and broad.

Jian Kuo's message naturally carried a hint of questioning: "Ranran, didn't you say you had cut off all ties with the Zhang family? Why are you still calling them Mom and Dad?"

These words made An Ran feel dizzy.

Yes, in order to establish a good image of filial piety and understanding in front of others, and to please the Jian family, he had always maintained that he wanted to sever ties with the Zhang family. But now, his parents have been broadcast live. He had already broken ties with the Zhang family, and now he is in crisis even in his own family!

An Ran quickly replied, "No, Dad, let me explain to you in a bit."

At this moment, he truly understood what it meant to be speechless, and his awkwardness was somewhat similar to Jian Xingsui's speechlessness when he was subjected to online bullying.

...

Neighbors and onlookers who had heard the news gathered in the courtyard.

The neighbors, however, were somewhat moved:

"How come neither of the two children are biologically related?"

"I was initially annoyed that Sui Sui was coming back, but now I know why."

“Jian Xingsui is really a pitiful child.”

An Ran was quite anxious. All he wanted to do was leave as soon as possible, go back and discuss a plan with his agent, and explain things properly to the Jian family. But as he pushed open the door to leave, he was stopped by someone.

Xiao Zhang grabbed An Ran's hand and said, "Ranran!"

An Ran was stunned: "Who are you?"

"It's me. We went to the same school before." Xiao Zhang breathed softly. "Don't you remember me, Ranran? I've always thought about you. What you said in the courtyard just now, was it true?"

An Ran remembered that someone was secretly taking pictures upstairs, but now he just wanted to leave in a hurry, so he was also very impatient with Xiao Zhang: "Sorry, I don't remember, please move aside."

Xiao Zhang was still not giving up: "Ranran, I believe you're not that kind of person. Can you explain it to me?"

An Ran frowned, annoyed: "Why should I explain to you?"

Xiao Zhang was stunned.

In his memory, An Ran had always been a gentle and kind boy, so he was always easily bullied. Xiao Zhang had always believed that he should take good care of An Ran and not let him be bullied. But the An Ran he saw today seemed to be a completely different person.

He ran downstairs, without his live-streaming phone, because he was eager to prove Ranran's innocence to the viewers. He also had a microphone on him, and An Ran's impatient voice came through the live stream, shocking the viewers.

"Those who previously called An Ran the little angel can now come out."

"How fierce!"

"Haha, blogger, you're such a clown! It's obvious they're just keeping you as a backup option!"

"An Ran feels somewhat unfamiliar to me..."

"Suddenly, I'm starting to lose interest in them."

While netizens were discussing the matter, the sound of police sirens rang out not far away. This live stream was really popular, especially when Zhang Xiangyang talked about holding the child, some people started tagging the cyber police like crazy.

The policeman got out of the car and said to the crowd gathered around the courtyard, "Make way, make way a little."

The onlookers never expected that the incident would alarm the police, and the police never expected that they would receive so many reports from concerned citizens, as well as several emergency calls about the same case at the same time. The scene was quite spectacular.

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Zhang looked at the police officers who came in with some fear.

The lead police officer was a very experienced man. He showed his badge and said, "Hello, police officer, we received a tip from a concerned citizen that you are suspected of involvement in a serious case of child trafficking. We would appreciate it if you could come over."

Zhang's face was covered in tears, and she kept shrinking into Zhang Xiangyang's arms: "I didn't participate, it's not my fault!"

Zhang Xiangyang stood outside, coughing incessantly, his thin body trembling in the wind like a withered leaf, looking somewhat frightening.

Jian Xingsui happened to be standing nearby, so she went over to help her up: "Are you alright?"

Before being discharged from the hospital, the doctor instructed Zhang Xiangyang that his condition was not good and that he should not be too emotional or stimulated. However, today everything happened at once.

Zhang Xiangyang's face turned bright red. He gently patted Jian Xingsui's hand, then looked up at the police officer and said, "Thank you, comrade. It's been hard for you to come all this way. We are willing to accept the investigation and all legal punishments."

Zhang's eyes widened, and she slapped Zhang Xiangyang a few times: "What are you saying? Do you know what you're saying? How could you..."

Zhang Xiangyang wanted to tell her not to do this in front of the police, but in his anxiety, he couldn't catch his breath, and everything went black before his eyes, and he collapsed.

When Zhang saw her husband faint, she was completely stunned, standing there dumbfounded.

Fortunately, Jian Xingsui caught Zhang Xiangyang in time. He glared at Zhang Shi and said coldly, "What are you doing?"

Zhang tried to defend herself: "I...I didn't mean to do this..."

"His condition is so serious, can he withstand this?" This was the first time Jian Xingsui had spoken sternly to an elder. His dark eyes were full of reproach, and his voice was filled with heartache: "Can you please stop thinking only of yourself?!"

...

—A single sentence revealed the whole truth, as if it had ripped away all the fig leaves that Zhang had been using to cover up his true colors.

Her selfishness was ingrained in her bones, and it was all exposed in the face of danger. Jian Xingsui's words seemed to have drained all the strength from her. Zhang took a deep breath and collapsed to the ground, as if she could never get up again.

The police officer quickly stepped forward and said, "Take him to the car and go to the hospital."

Jian Xingsui said, "I'll carry him on my back."

Seeing that he was taking the initiative, the police officer nodded and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Jian Xingsui shook his head: "It's nothing."

Before arriving, the police had a general understanding of what had happened. They also understood the setbacks and hardships the child had experienced. In fact, if it were him, he might have hated the Zhang family to death long ago. But in such a life-or-death situation, Jian Xingsui's inherent kindness was admirable from the bottom of his heart.

There were still quite a few passersby outside when I went out of the courtyard.

With the police leading the way, Jian Xingsui carried Zhang Xiangyang to the car. Passersby kept taking pictures with their phones, and some even called his name, but Jian Xingsui didn't stop. He carried Zhang Xiangyang back to the car.

Meanwhile, the internet was abuzz with discussion:

"An Ran... ran away?"

"I don't want to morally blackmail him, but the person who raised him for over twenty years just abandoned him and ran away?"

"Is this the pitiful little thing you've been talking about?"

“Sui Sui is not a biological child either. He was not raised for more than 20 years, but he still stayed.”

"I remember everyone was criticizing him yesterday, but today..."

"I really can't tell what justice is anymore."

When the falsehoods of the internet are stripped away—layer upon layer of masks—and the truth begins to slowly unfold, all those who once hurled insults and slanders, and all those who were once champions of justice, fall into a long silence. These facts seem like a slap in the face, the echo resounding loudly.

Hospital

Jian Xingsui and the Zhang couple gave blood samples for a paternity test.

The police told him, "You'll be out in about a week. During that week, we'll do our best to find out what happened back then and help you find your parents."

As Jian Xingsui emerged from the blood collection room, hearing these words seemed to finally give way to the unease that had been lingering in her heart.

"Really?" Jian Xingsui didn't even dare to be too happy, afraid it was just another dream: "So much time has passed, is there still any possibility of finding my biological parents?"

The police officer replied, "Of course, it's a bit difficult. The surveillance footage from twenty years ago can't be found. We can only retrieve the files. They switched the child who died of sudden cardiac arrest, which narrows down the possibilities. We will definitely investigate as soon as possible."

For some reason, Jian Xingsui felt a strange sensation when this topic was mentioned, as if he had heard a similar story somewhere before. But he could only nod and say, "Okay, thank you, I understand."

Zhang also fell into a coma on the way due to the shock. Neither she nor her husband woke up. Since they were both suspects, the police had decided to send someone to watch over them: "You're welcome, but you no longer have an obligation to take care of them. Now that the tests are done, you can go back and wait for our notification."

Jian Xingsui nodded gently: "Okay."

The events of this morning were so surreal that he was still reeling from the shock.

However, after leaving the hospital, Jian Xingsui was once again lost. Since he was no longer a child of the Zhang family, where should he go now, and where could he go?

Bathed in sunlight, he felt a chill run through him. This feeling reminded him of six months ago when he had just been kicked out of the Jian family. At that time, he was also lost and confused. He chose to come to the Zhang family, hoping to find a home and loving parents. However, it was all just a false hope...

So much so that now, he dares not have any expectations anymore.

If it's all for nothing again, if I can't find anything, if my parents have already started a new family, will I, this suddenly appearing outsider, be accepted? What if they... don't like me?

Jian Xingsui felt a mix of emotions. He picked up his phone and saw his manager's caller ID. After answering, he heard Brother Wang's excited voice on the other end: "Suisui, what's going on over there?"

Jian Xingsui said, "What... what happened?"

Brother Wang sighed and said, "The incident in the live stream has caused an uproar; the entire internet is talking about it now!"

"Really?" Jian Xingsui had been talking to the police on the way here, and then went to get a paternity test done. She didn't have time to surf the internet at all, so she belatedly realized, "Yes, something happened. I didn't expect it myself."

Brother Wang was quite pleased: "You know what? You're really popular online right now! The company held an emergency meeting and decided to stop 'shelving' you out. A lot of media outlets are contacting us now. I feel like we can secure a lot of endorsements while we're riding this wave of popularity. Don't say anything more, just come back quickly, I'm waiting for you!"

"..."

Jian Xingsui frowned: "I don't want to accept any endorsements right now."

Brother Wang was displeased: "What nonsense are you talking about? You're not going to make money? You have advertising endorsements, and many variety shows want to invite you to guest star. While you're still popular, I think you should..."

Jian Xingsui found it increasingly amusing. When he was being attacked by the entire internet, the company was nowhere to be found. Now that things have taken a turn for the better, the company is eager to jump out and make money off him. When he was in the final group of the talent show, the company took money from others to force him to withdraw and even wanted to freeze his career. Now that he has gained popularity, the company has decided to make him come back and rake in the money.

“Brother Wang, there’s something I didn’t tell you before,” Jian Xingsui said. “Actually, I want to terminate my contract with the company.”

Brother Wang was stunned: "Terminate the contract?"

Jian Xingsui nodded: "Yes, that's right. You wanted to freeze my career before, and I originally wanted to fade out of the entertainment industry, so I didn't have any objections. But now that things are like this, I'll be frank and say that I want to terminate my contract."

When he said that, Brother Wang got anxious.

Brother Wang hurriedly said, "Jian Xingsui, are you crazy? We haven't even settled accounts with you for the million-dollar issue with the company yet, and you dare to mention terminating the contract? Let me put it this way, terminating the contract is fine, but can you afford the penalty for breach of contract?"

—They immediately seized on Jian Xingsui's weakness: he had no money.

Brother Wang sensed Jian Xingsui's suspicious silence and instantly became smug: "As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. Sui Sui, I don't want to make things difficult for you, but you'd better think it through. In this industry, many things aren't as simple as you think. If you want to terminate your contract and don't want to cooperate with the company, then no way!"

Jian Xingsui felt a tightness in her chest, a bitter feeling washing over her.

Brother Wang said, "I think you probably need to adjust your mood today. So how about this, I'll give you a day off to rest and then you can adjust your mood properly. When I see you at the company tomorrow, I advise you not to try to go against the company. If you don't end up in court, things will get ugly."

Without saying a word, Brother Wang wisely hung up the phone.

There were few people outside the hospital building in the afternoon. His arm, holding his phone, slowly drooped down. He had been sitting on a chair in the green belt next to the building, but when he tried to stand up, due to excessive fatigue and the mental shock, everything went black before his eyes, and he fell back onto the chair.

Jian Xingsui closed his eyes in discomfort, wanting to lean back in the chair and rest for a while. The whole world was dark, and he suddenly wanted to find a closed space to shrink himself down and slowly process these things and emotions.

Just then, suddenly—

A voice called out from not far away: "Jian Xingsui!"

The strong, forceful voice made Jian Xingsui, who was sitting in the chair, tremble. He slowly opened his eyes, and the light of the world returned to his sight. On the tree-lined road not far away, the afternoon sun shone on Shen Xingchen and his family. For a moment, it was so bright that he could hardly open his eyes. Perhaps the sunlight was making his eyes uncomfortable, and Jian Xingsui's eyes became moist.

Shen Xingchen jogged over to him and complained, "You don't answer the phone or reply to texts. Who do you think you are? You're even more important than Brother Fu!"

?

Jian Xingsui's eyes widened, and she belatedly asked, "Xingchen... what are you doing here?"

Not only Shen Xingchen, but also Xu Enzhen appeared, as did Shen Minglang. Xu Enzhen was also standing next to a man who looked quite serious, but resembled the two Shen brothers. If Shen Xingsui was not mistaken, this person was very likely the head of the Shen Group, Shen Yong.

While Jian Xingsui was still in a daze, Xu Enzhen had already jogged over. This was the first time Jian Xingsui had seen this usually dignified and reserved lady approaching with somewhat hurried steps. Her dark eyes reflected Jian Xingsui's figure, and as she drew closer, she took Jian Xingsui's hand and softly called out, "Child..."

When Xu Enzhen touched Jian Xingsui's slightly cold hand and saw that his face had become noticeably thinner in just half a month, tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't imagine what this child had gone through during that time.

Seeing her cry, Jian Xingsui felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

“Sui Sui…” Xu Enzhen said, almost choking up, “More than 20 years ago, I was also born in this hospital. At that time, not long after he was born, the doctor told me that the child had died of cardiac arrest.”

Jian Xingsui suddenly opened her eyes wide and froze on the spot, her whole body stiff.

He could hardly believe what he was hearing. His heart was pounding, and for some reason, his hands began to tremble involuntarily. His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked softly, "Then, then what about me?"

Shen Yong walked over from behind, put his arm around his wife's shoulder, looked at the child standing in front of him who was a head shorter than him, and whispered, "Your birthday is the same day as his."

Like a verdict, Jian Xingsui's breathing seemed to stop at this moment.

Sometimes fate is like a mischievous devil, really good at playing tricks on people. One moment he felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, but the next he was as bewildered as if he had been hit by a falling Easter egg.

Jian Xingsui was used to hardship, and his first reaction was joy, but it was quickly suppressed. His hands, which were placed at his sides, clenched unconsciously, and he took two steps back. He spoke cautiously, "But it might not be me. Many people were born in this hospital that day. What if it wasn't me..."

The usually gentle Xu Enzhen suddenly stepped forward and said firmly, "No, it's you."

There may be some intuitions in the world that are wrong, but a mother's feelings for her child, the feeling of carrying the child in her womb for ten months and finally bringing the child into the world, will never be wrong.

Shen Xingchen was a little confused at first, but he quickly realized what was going on and cursed under his breath, "I knew it! We look so alike, I almost thought my dad was having an affair!"

"..."

A moment of silence fell over the surroundings.

Shen Xingchen has a knack for ruining the atmosphere. Shen Yong, who looked quite serious, glanced at his second son with a threatening look.

Shen Xingchen touched his nose sheepishly and obediently shut up.

Xu Enzhen stepped forward and said softly, "The first time I saw you on the screen, I thought, this child looks so lovable, I can't get enough of looking at him..."

Jian Xingsui looked up with a pitiful expression, his eyes slowly turning crimson.

Because he is the villainous cannon fodder of this world, unlike the protagonist, he seems to be born with an unlikable buff. No matter who sees him, their first impression will not be good. He has slowly gotten used to being looked at with prejudiced eyes. But today, someone told him that he felt happy when he saw him for the first time.

Xu Enzhen sighed softly: "You and Xingchen and Minglang look somewhat alike, but not quite. Actually, your eyebrows and eyes are most like mine. Back then, what I thought about most often was, 'Why are you so thin? Are you under a lot of pressure during training? Are you eating properly?'"

Jian Xingsui's heart—tight

Xu Enzhen walked up to him, her hands slender and fair. She slowly raised them and, with a slight tremor, reached out to Jian Xingsui's cheeks. Tears glistened in her eyes, and her voice was filled with a sigh of heartache: "It's only been half a month since we parted, how come you've lost weight again?"

Jian Xingsui's breathing was strained with tension. She gasped for breath and said, "These past two weeks, Zhang Xiangyang has been sick and hospitalized, needing someone to take care of him. Then there were some things happening online, so I've been quite busy. Actually, you don't need to worry, I'm fine..."

Under Xu Enzhen's gentle gaze, Jian Xingsui wanted to explain, but people are strange, like children who have fallen down. Even if they fall and hurt a lot, if no one pays attention, they may be able to get through it by patting their knees. But if you comfort them with gentle words, they may be able to bear the pain in their hearts after just a few words.

Jian Xingsui has always carried the pressure on his shoulders. He is not someone who cries easily because too many things over the years have taught him that tears cannot solve problems and no one will feel sorry for him.

But for some reason, as he spoke, his lips trembled slightly, his nose stung, and tears fell. He tried to hold them back, but within a few breaths, the grievances in his heart almost overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

Seeing her child cry, Xu Enzhen felt a heart-wrenching pain. She grabbed Jian Xingsui, hugged her tightly, and choked out, "Suisui, it's all Mommy's fault. I've made you suffer, and others have bullied you..."

Jian Xingsui's whole body was ice cold. He slowly reached out and placed his palm on Xu Enzhen's back, embracing her warm body. This was real, the warmth of his mother.

There were many times when he fantasized, imagining that someone would come to his side when he was in trouble, imagining that someone would be there for him when he was alone and helpless, imagining that he could also receive the love that the protagonist received. He didn't even dare to hope that he could reach the pinnacle of life like An Ran. He just wanted an ordinary family, a safe haven.

It's just such a small wish.

Just like Fu Jinxiao, just like the questions asked by Brother Wang and the others—he no longer cared about money and benefits. The scorn and loneliness he had suffered over the years had left him with an extreme lack of love. He longed for someone who could understand him, treat him gently, and... love him.

Xu Enzhen sniffed softly, gently patted Jian Xingsui's trembling body, and said in a firm yet gentle voice, "From now on, with Mom here, I'll never let anyone hurt you again..."

The gentle words and her mother's embrace seemed to have a magical effect—relaxing Jian Xingsui's tense state.

Xu Enzhen was truly worried when she suddenly heard a soft, almost murmured voice beside her: "Mom..."

This murmur made Xu Enzhen freeze in place.

When she took a step back and looked up at Jian Xingsui, she saw a cautious glint in the boy's red eyes. She couldn't even guess Jian Xingsui's desperate gamble, even after the paternity test revealed that he wasn't a child of the Shen family. At this moment, he still used his last bit of courage to ask, "May I call you that just once?"

The word "Mother" not only landed in her ears but also on Xu Enzhen's entire being. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. It was a tremor from the depths of her soul, as if she had been waiting for this word for far too long—for more than twenty years.

“Yes.” Xu Enzhen grasped his hand, as if afraid that Jian Xingsui would vanish into thin air—and choked out, “Always…”