Shi Zhen saw Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng and greeted them with a smile.

Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng felt as if ants were gnawing at their hearts, but they still smiled and spoke to Shi Zhen.

Shi Zhen offered to treat them to a meal, and the two agreed.

However, they lost their appetite when it came to meals.

Guan Baiyu and Shi Zhen, on the other hand, ate quite a lot.

Shi Zhen knew what Guan Baiyu liked, so when ordering food, he specially ordered two of his favorite dishes and placed them in front of him, and also ordered shredded pork noodles as a staple food.

Guan Baiyu likes noodles.

Guan Baiyu ate quite a lot and kept smiling sweetly.

Mu Tian felt a pang of sadness as she watched.

Her son and Shi Zhen were so close that she even felt like she couldn't get involved.

But... but...

Mu Tian seemed a bit off, which Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu noticed. However, since Mu Tian was quite emotional and often cried in front of Guan Baiyu, neither of them thought anything was wrong.

Guan Baiyu served her food several times, urging her to eat more.

As a result, Mu Tian cried again.

Guan Baiyu: "..."

After finishing their meal, Shi Zhen said, "Xiao Yu, I'm going back now. I'll come back next Thursday."

"Okay." Guan Baiyu smiled and watched Shi Zhen leave.

Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian felt an urge to pull Guan Baiyu back as they watched this scene, but they ultimately restrained themselves.

Guan Baiyu has to go to school for the next few days, and it's final exam time... They don't want to affect his condition.

At the same time, in Changxi City.

Duan Hongming and Zhao Qiujuan had just finished lunch together.

Shi Zhen's company doesn't provide meals. He asked Zhao Qiujuan to cook for Duan Hongming because Duan Hongming was all alone and had nowhere to eat.

Furthermore... Duan Hongming's parents were extremely angry about his resignation, especially since they had used connections and spent money to get him his previous job... They kept demanding that Duan Hongming repay the money and provide for his retirement.

Duan Hongming earns two thousand a month, of which he sends one thousand home, rents a place and eats, and saves some money... He usually lives quite frugally.

After finishing her meal, Zhao Qiujuan began to clean up.

Since Duan Hongming had eaten the food prepared by others, he couldn't just do nothing, so he helped out.

He also asked, "Zhao Qiujuan, you're staying at the boss's place... Does the boss have a boyfriend now?"

"No, what's wrong?" Zhao Qiujuan asked. It seemed that Shi Zhen had no intention of finding a partner at all.

"It's nothing..." Duan Hongming said, sounding somewhat conflicted.

Does Shi Zhen not have a girlfriend?

But this isn't right!

Wait a minute, could it be that Shi Zhen only has one lover?

But that's not right either.

Some of the workers below, once they earn money, will spend it on women. Shi Zhen clearly disapproves of this, and even says that the current social atmosphere is very chaotic.

Duan Hongming couldn't figure it out, so he finally decided to give up on thinking about it.

The boss's love life is actually not his concern.

During the lunch break, Duan Hongming wandered around the company. While wandering around, he saw Zhao Qiujuan busy studying accounting knowledge.

They are really hardworking.

Zhao Qiujuan's handwriting is so neat and tidy, it looks like printed text, or like something a primary school student would write. It's quite interesting.

Duan Hongming said, "Zhao Qiujuan, you can buy a calligraphy practice book and practice your handwriting. Beautiful handwriting gives a good impression. The boss's handwriting is very beautiful."

"Okay," Zhao Qiujuan agreed.

She also felt that she hadn't written enough.

When Shi Ting was a child, she would copy the new words she learned many times.

Now that she can read, she can type on a computer, but she doesn't copy characters enough. Buying a calligraphy practice book to practice is a good idea.

Just then, someone came in from outside and said, "Well, Zhao Qiujuan, you really are having an affair with this person!"

The person who arrived was Zhao Qiujuan's ex-boyfriend.

Zhao Qiujuan met this person when she was studying accounting. After that, the two spent time together and talked about many things. Zhao Qiujuan did not hide her work from this person.

This person, however, is unemployed...

However, this person had never come before, but came today.

Suddenly accused, Zhao Qiujuan didn't know how to refute and was stunned for a moment.

Then the man said, "Are you disgusted by my lack of money? So you turned around and hooked up with this guy? Zhao Qiujuan, do you really think he'd be interested in you? You're a woman from the mountains, you didn't even finish junior high, you're dirt poor..."

Zhao Qiujuan felt embarrassed, uncomfortable, and a little wronged.

When she was dating someone, she didn't want to hide her true situation, so she told him all about her personal qualities.

However, she didn't talk about her relationship with Shi Zhen because she felt embarrassed.

As a result, people started to dislike her, and now they're saying these things about her...

If she really cared about money, she wouldn't be with this person, since he has no money!

When Zhao Qiujuan argues with someone, she has to prepare her words in advance. When she's directly confronting someone, she can't say anything. Right now, she doesn't know what to say.

Duan Hongming said, "This is our company. You've come to our company to cause trouble, so I've called the police!"

"What trouble? I've been betrayed, can't I even say a few words? And you, my lover, are so arrogant..."

Duan Hongming took out the phone number Shi Zhen had given him, dialed a few keys randomly, and said, "Hello, is this the police? There's trouble here..."

Upon hearing this, the man hurriedly ran away.

Zhao Qiujuan: "..."

Duan Hongming didn't actually call the police. He put down his phone and said, "This person is really no good. If you're going to marry, you can't marry someone like this."

Zhao Qiujuan said, "I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble."

“It’s nothing, just an act of bravery,” Duan Hongming said.

Zhao Qiujuan nodded and looked down at her book, feeling dejected.

Duan Hongming didn't know what else to say to them, but he became more and more certain that Zhao Qiujuan was probably like Shi Daniu and the others, brought out by Shi Zhen from his hometown and kept by his side to help.

It's not easy for anyone!

Duan Hongming didn't have much contact with the people from Shi Zhen's hometown, but he knew that they had lived a tough life before. However, he believed that if they came out and worked and studied hard, they could definitely change their lives.

After Shi Zhen returned, Duan Hongming took the time to tell him about Zhao Qiujuan's boyfriend.

Shi Zhen was surprised by this and immediately warned Zhao Qiujuan to stop having contact with that person.

Zhao Qiujuan agreed: "I had already broken up with that person."

“It’s good that you’ve broken up,” Shi Zhen said. “Who hasn’t encountered a few scumbags when they were young? Don’t take it too seriously.”

"Mmm." Zhao Qiujuan smiled.

Once Shi Zhen was sure Zhao Qiujuan hadn't been taken advantage of, he contacted Zhao Qiujuan's mentor and secretly gave the man extra money, asking him to mentor Zhao Qiujuan more so she could keep herself busy and learn faster.

What's the point of caring about a scumbag? Your career is the most important thing.

Of course, Guan Baiyu isn't a scumbag, so he's the most important person.

Shi Zhen felt good whenever he thought that Guan Baiyu would be on winter vacation in a few days.

However, he and Guan Baiyu planned to be honest with Mu Tian and the others on Thursday, as they knew they had a tough battle ahead.

But he is no longer as anxious about gains and losses as he was in his previous life.

Back then, he was always afraid that Guan Baiyu would leave him, but what actually happened?

At the last moment, Guan Baiyu was willing to risk his life for him.

And in this lifetime... Thinking about it carefully, Guan Baiyu has always loved him, but he himself didn't realize it, or rather, he didn't dare to believe it.

Shi Zhen will pick up Guan Baiyu on Thursday, but in reality, Guan Baiyu had already finished his work on Wednesday.

So on Wednesday night, Mu Tian invited him to dinner again, and he went.

This time, there were no outsiders at Mu Tian's house, so he felt much more at ease. It's just that Mu Tian... was more silent than usual.

Guan Baiyu had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

After finishing their meal, Guan Baiyu asked, "Dad, Mom, is something wrong?"

Jiang Xingsheng never showed his emotions, and sometimes he didn't know what Jiang Xingsheng was thinking, but Mu Tian was different.

Mu Tian is confident when facing others, but her emotions are always unstable when facing him.

Actually, Mu Tian wasn't in a good mood, which he had noticed long ago, but today the situation was particularly serious.

Mu Tian said, "Yes...we want to talk to you..."

"What do you want to talk about?" Guan Baiyu asked.

Mu Tian opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Jiang Xingsheng also fell silent, as he was organizing his thoughts.

Guan Baiyu didn't know what they wanted to say. After waiting for a while and seeing that they didn't speak, Guan Baiyu said, "Dad, Mom, actually today... I also have something I want to tell you."

"Xiaoyu, what do you want to say?" Mu Tian didn't really want to talk about that matter and wished she could just gloss over the truth. Now that Guan Baiyu wanted to talk about something else, that was perfect.

Guan Baiyu's expression softened considerably as he said, "Dad, Mom... actually, I like men. Shi Zhen isn't my brother; he's my boyfriend."

Actually, he originally wanted to tell Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian about this himself, but Shi Zhen disagreed, so he told Shi Zhen that he would wait until Shi Zhen came the next day to tell him.

But he couldn't really wait for Shi Zhen to arrive before making a decision.

We can't let Shi Zhen bear the brunt of his parents' anger.

So he plans to say it tonight.

Actually, I could have said it a few days ago, but to be honest... he had never had parents before, and he secretly wanted to enjoy more of their love.

They recognized each other on New Year's Day. Today is January 14th, and he has only spent two weeks with Mu Tian and the others.

The time was short, but for him, the experience was still very valuable.

"You...you..." Mu Tian was completely stunned, not expecting that what they wanted to say would end up being said by Guan Baiyu.

“I like him very much, and I will always be with him.” Guan Baiyu lowered his head: “I know it will be hard for you to accept, but I can’t change it now.”

Mu Tian suddenly broke down in tears: "Why can't he change! You're still young, you can change! Did he lie to you? Xiao Yu, you're just young and naive, you were deceived by him!"

Jiang Xingsheng hadn't expected Guan Baiyu to be so honest before they asked that question. His expression almost collapsed. At this moment, he said, "Xiaoyu, you're still young... Many people are deceived and harassed by their elders when they are young, but that's not love!"

Guan Baiyu smiled: "I wasn't deceived by him; I fell in love with him first."

“You’re too naive. How many years has he been out in the world? How could a student like you possibly handle him?” Jiang Xingsheng said.

"Yes, Xiaoyu, you've been bullied. He led you astray... We've bought plane tickets. Come with us tonight and don't see him again. We'll get you transferred to another school..."

"That's impossible!" Guan Baiyu said without even thinking.

Jiang Xingsheng felt that his son was only young and immature because he was with Shi Zhen.

This child was raised by adoptive parents, and perhaps he valued them too much, which is why he acted this way.

He planned to take Guan Baiyu away first, regardless of what Guan Baiyu thought, and then talk to Shi Zhen. In short, the relationship between the two of them was to be severed.

He can ignore his colleague's attraction to men, but he still finds it hard to accept that his own son is attracted to men.

“It has to work out. I’ve already found someone to take you away in a bit. You and Shi Zhen… you should separate,” Jiang Xingsheng said.

Guan Baiyu realized something: "You guys discovered it before?"

“We discovered it last weekend,” Jiang Xingsheng said.

Guan Baiyu asked again, "You really want to take me away?"

Jiang Xingsheng nodded.

Guan Baiyu, who had been a bit agitated, calmed down now. He looked at Jiang Xingsheng and sneered, "You've all discovered my relationship with Shi Zhen? Why don't you investigate how I lived before?"

"What?" Jiang Xingsheng was stunned. The Guan Baiyu of today was completely different from the one he remembered.

Guan Baiyu said, "Didn't I say before that I was initially adopted by the Guan family? Actually, I wasn't telling the truth back then. I should say that I was always adopted by the Guan family. My household registration only lists me because I moved my household registration after I came of age."

Jiang Xingsheng felt a chill run down his spine. He realized that Guan Baiyu might say something... that he didn't want to hear.

Mu Tian was also taken aback.

"The old lady from the Guan family bought me to raise for her son, but he doesn't want me at all! He has his own daughter and only wants her. I've been disliked since I was little! I can only live with the old lady! She's old and only cares about herself. She hides any good food she has and eats it all herself. She doesn't like me at all, even though she spent a lot of money to buy me. She eats her fill before giving me any food!"

“I was bullied and no one ever cared. Someone pushed me into a muddy ditch, and when I got home injured, I was beaten by her because I was dirty.”

"She would never make me new clothes. From childhood to adulthood, all my clothes were old, given to me by others. When they were torn, I had to mend them myself. I had to wash my own clothes when I was very young, and I also had to wash her clothes."

“But nobody knows that she bought me. Everyone thinks that she took care of me out of kindness, and they all tell me to be grateful. She got sick and was bedridden for two years. Her children didn’t care about her, and I was the one who took care of her.”

“When I got home from school, she had soiled her pants. Everyone said I hadn’t taken good care of her, and she would yell at me and throw things at me.”

"But it's all fine. It's just a little more work... I've been doing laundry and cooking since I was very young, so it's nothing to me."

"After she died, that was when things got really tough. Do you know how I got through it? I was only in junior high school at the time."

Guan Baiyu spoke slowly, and while he spoke, he kept his eyes on Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian.

Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian were both stunned.

Guan Baiyu looked like a child who had grown up in a honey pot. When he was with Shi Zhen, he would eat this and that, and if he couldn't finish his food, he would give it to Shi Zhen. His attitude was so natural.

They thought his adoptive parents treated him very well.

They never doubted this.

Guan Baiyu's household registration is in Changxi City, where the living conditions are quite good, and Guan Baiyu is able to attend high school and take the college entrance examination.

“I can’t even get enough to eat. Actually, being beaten and scolded is nothing! The worst thing is being hungry! It’s being frozen. Do you know what it feels like to have your legs covered in chilblains?” Guan Baiyu asked.

Actually, he's had a pretty good life in this one, but his past life... was truly miserable.

“You all think I’ve always been like this? I used to be skinny and small,” Guan Baiyu smiled. “And… do you all think that I’m really innocent now that I’ve grown up? Why do you think Shi Zhen is with me?”

Jiang Xingsheng's heart sank.

Guan Baiyu said, "I seduced him! He's rich, he can let me study, he's a good person, and he's willing to stand up for me... Of course I wouldn't let go of someone like that, so I seduced him."

He had long considered that Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian might disagree.

He decided to say that right then and there.

However... he originally didn't intend to be so intense. In fact, if Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian had been more polite, he wouldn't have said these things and made them feel uncomfortable.

Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian were struck dumb.