Chapter 13
Late at night, inside the Xu family villa.
“Ayan, I’ve inquired. There are labs researching gene editing technology, but they’ve only achieved results on animals and can’t be applied to humans yet. If you want to seek help, you might need to bring Aunt Rou over there in person.”
This means that Hsu Yi-jou is the world's first example of rejuvenation, achieving something that even scientists cannot explain without any external help.
Hearing this expected result, Xu Qingyan replied without hesitation, "No need, just remember to keep this a secret."
After hanging up the phone, Xu Qingyan continued to bury herself in her work, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a small figure staggering towards her.
"Mom, why are you awake?"
Clutching a pink blanket, Xu Yirou's face was streaked with tears. She hunched over, sobbing, her small frame looking so helpless.
Xu Qingyan's face darkened, and he abruptly stood up: "You've been crying?"
"Da Bao... there's a monster in the room, I'm scared."
"A monster? What kind?"
"Two big monsters with long hair and red eyes." Xu Yirou said in a trembling voice, looking terrified. "They wanted to eat me, and they kept chasing me! It was so scary!"
It seemed that Mom had a nightmare. Xu Qingyan held the cub in her arms and softened her voice: "It was just a dream. Don't be afraid, Mom. Now that I'm with you, no monster will dare to bully you."
Xu Yirou timidly grabbed his collar, her long eyelashes dark and moist: "Dabao, the big monster can talk, and the big monster even scolded me, and the scolding was so awful."
Xu Qingyan gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks with his thumb, feeling sorry for her: "Did you scold her back?"
"I dare not... The great demon is holding a small whip, I'm afraid it will whip me."
The usually sharp-tongued and mischievous mother of her young cubs becomes even more lovable when she turns into a timid little devil.
"Don't worry, if anyone insults you in the future, just say 'rebound'." Xu Qingyan solemnly imparted his secret. He carried the cub's mother back to the room and turned on the bedside lamp. "From now on, I will stay here to watch over you every night."
He wrapped Xu Yirou in a small blanket, treating her with the same tenderness and care as a baby in swaddling clothes.
Xu Yirou nestled in his strong arms, her back gently patted, the warmth of his palms seeping through the fabric into her body, slowly calming her uneasy, trembling heart.
The little girl in my arms was fair and soft, with curved eyebrows and a round little nose. She was such a cute little bundle of joy.
Xu Qingyan simply couldn't understand why the family that raised her could be so heartless as to treat her like this.
He wasn't her biological child, yet she already wished she could pluck the stars from the sky for her. How could the Xu family, who raised her, bear to mistreat her like that?
A mother's nightmares are definitely related to childhood trauma.
Xu Qingyan's dark eyes were filled with heartache, and her voice became even lower and gentler: "Mom, don't cry. With me here, no one will dare to bully you. Don't be afraid. I will protect you. Ali and Chengcheng will also protect you. You can sleep peacefully."
The little girl's eyes, washed by tears, were crystal clear and beautiful, like a piece of glass.
Her delicate little hands remained tightly clenched, her nose and the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint red, as she sobbed:
“Dabao, the big monster can make the sounds of Mom and my little brother... It’s so fierce, I don’t want to go home, I hate them.”
“Okay.” Xu Qingyan’s expression was cold, and his gentle tone was solemn: “I will absolutely not let anyone that Mom does not want to see appear.”
Xu Yirou was sobbing uncontrollably, lost in her grief. Xu Qingyan was worried that she would hurt her eyes from crying, so he racked his brains to try to distract her.
"Mom, can I sing you a song?"
Xu Yirou stopped crying for a moment, slowly raised her head, hiccuped, and said, "I don't want to listen to Little Star anymore."
Xu Qingyan: "Okay, what would you like to hear?"
Xu Yirou scratched her head and thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "I want to hear 'Pug'."
Xu Qingyan: "A pug is standing at the gate, its eyes are dark, and it wants to eat a bone?"
"Yes, yes, this is it!" Xu Yirou sniffed, then cheered. "Keep going, keep going!"
Seeing that she was happy, Xu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief: "Like a pug, after finishing its bone, it wags its tail and nods at me—"
"And expressions too!"
Xu Yirou struggled to get down from her son's arms and, like a little teacher, offered her advice: "Dabao, that's not how you sing 'Pug.' You have to stick out your tongue and wag your tail, otherwise you won't look like a pug at all."
Stick out its tongue and wag its tail.
Xu Qingyan's eyebrows twitched, but he calmly accepted her request after volunteering: "Okay, Mom."
Under Xu Yirou's intense gaze, Xu Qingyan closed his eyes and, with a death-defying resolve, opened his mouth: "A lapdog, trying to eat a bone..."
"Hahaha, yes, that's it! Woof woof, King of Woof!!"
"Dabao, you're amazing! Your imitation is so perfect!"
The usually quiet bedroom was filled with laughter. Uncle Yun, who had brought up the nourishing soup, stood there dumbfounded, staring at the two people inside.
Good heavens, his young master can actually make funny faces now!
His eldest son not only showed other expressions on his face, but he could also sing!
This is incredible! Is this the power of maternal love?
Uncle Yun silently wiped away his tears.
*
Backstage at a talent show, an unremarkable-looking man brazenly occupied the largest dressing room besides the mentors' rooms.
Contestants passing by couldn't help but whisper among themselves: "Having connections really makes a difference. Even with such poor skills, they weren't eliminated."
"There's nothing we can do. He was born into a good family. Didn't he say it himself? His cousin is the top star He Nianzhu?"
"You all just listen to his bragging. He says He Nianzhu looks like this, and he looks like that. They look like they're from completely different galaxies. How could they possibly be cousins? I just don't believe it!"
The fleeting whispers reached the man's ears, but they did not provoke his anger. Instead, he enjoyed the feeling of being disliked but unable to do anything about it.
He scoffed dismissively. "A bunch of sour grapes, just jealous that he has powerful connections. If they're so capable, why don't they come and talk back to him? Pshaw!"
At the same time, the program director suddenly received a WeChat message. After reading the message, the director's expression gradually turned gloomy and distorted.
One second the man was smugly enjoying himself in his private dressing room, the next he was shoved and yelled at by the director.
They dare to ride the coattails of anything and make up kinship ties, just to give this ugly guy a break, causing him to be chased and scolded by netizens for three days!
That's great, we can finally kick this ugly thing out of his show.
The ugly thing, thrown out of the studio building along with his bag, cursed and jumped three feet high in a fit of rage: "Are you blind? Do you know who my brother is? How dare you treat me like this? My brother will make you pay!"
Hearing his arrogant and angry outburst, a staff member sneered and retorted: "Still pretending? He Nianzhu personally called our director to expose you as a fraud. You still dare to spout nonsense? With your shifty eyes, you think you can make a living off your looks? Are you still asleep? Maybe in your next life!"
"Get out of here!"
What? My cousin personally called to distance himself from me?
The ugly thing froze on the spot, its face pale and its eyes glazed over. It belatedly realized that something seemed to be out of its control.
[Niancheng, I'll bring the samples tomorrow morning. I'm counting on you for this. I'll definitely thank you properly when I get promoted.]
No need, the cooperation is cancelled.
[Niancheng, what happened? Didn't you promise me you'd take on our company's products?]
Xu Niancheng is the top-ranked live-streaming e-commerce host in terms of traffic and popularity across the entire internet, with a single live stream generating hundreds of millions of yuan in sales.
Every product she recommended became an overnight sensation, selling out completely, and even brought manufacturers on the verge of bankruptcy back to life.
As the undisputed queen of live-streaming e-commerce, countless brands have offered their approval and offered generous sums to collaborate with her, but they still can't persuade her to join.
Just a few months ago, my cousin from my uncle's side used all sorts of tricks and pleading, pretending to be pitiful and begging for cooperation. She said that as long as Xu Niancheng agreed to cooperate with their company, my cousin, who had been stuck in her position for many years, could be promoted immediately.
Her cousin is five years older than her. She had met her cousin a few times before, and her impression of her cousin was neither good nor bad. Just a couple of days ago, her cousin agreed to let her send samples to the company to take a look.
Now that she knows her mother was bullied by her own family, it's already a sign of her kindness that she didn't take the opportunity to retaliate. How could she possibly help the Xu family again?
Cousin Xu, who was on the verge of a promotion and a raise, found it hard to accept this devastating blow.
She urgently sent multiple messages, from initial caution to later anxiety, breakdown, and a barrage of angry questions.
With a cold expression, Xu Niancheng blocked all contact methods of the other party, and she would not consider any of the products operated by the company the other party worked for.
As soon as the news broke, Xu's cousin's company fired her almost immediately. Other companies in the industry avoided her, effectively blocking any possibility of her continuing to work in the industry.
"What? They've come to collect ashes?"
"Ha, Manager Liu, do you know who I am? I'm Chairman Xu's brother-in-law. Even your CEO Xu has to call me uncle. And your CEO's parents are lying in that grave!"
"...Your CEO Xu asked for it to be moved? Impossible!"
The Xu family elders' graves are in the largest and most tranquil cemetery in Beijing. They are cleaned and cared for by dedicated staff every day, without costing them a single penny. Their treatment is equivalent to that of a living person living in Tomson Riviera.
Although it is said that death is the end of life, Xu Qingyan did not believe it.
Those two old people were greedy for worldly riches in their previous lives, so it's impossible that they would be willing to reincarnate so quickly. Their ugly souls must still be wandering in the world.
Since the debts of life were not repaid in time, they will be repaid after death.
Xu Qingyan, with an iron fist, returned the ashes of the two elders to the Xu family, and put the burial plot up for sale. In an instant, the family went from living in Tomson Riviera to living in a slum. He did not forget to ask for the burial plot rental fees that had been paid for many years.
In the following days, Xu's uncle was reported for embezzling public funds for personal enjoyment and for repeatedly violating company regulations during his employment. He was arrested on the same day, and the lawyer's letter was sent on the same day.
That's not all. Over the years, the Xu family has borrowed a lot of money from Xu Yirou for various reasons. Although no IOUs were written, various transfer records and phone recordings can prove the existence of these loans.
Upon receiving the debt collection message, Xu Lao Er was shocked and angrily dialed his sister Xu Yi Rou's number, only to find that a lawyer answered the phone.
Xu Qingyan had long anticipated that Xu Lao Er would not obediently repay the money. His time and energy were precious, and he disdained to waste words with him, so he handed over the debt collection to his lawyer.
Xu Lao Er came to the door several times looking for someone, but he was chased away by the security guards like dogs before he could even get close. He was unwilling to give up what he had taken in over the years and tried every trick in the book, but Xu Qingyan deflected them all with ease.
Xu Yirou gave birth to three outstanding children, while he only had two good-for-nothings who sponged off their parents. In terms of financial resources and intelligence, he couldn't compare to them.
Under immense pressure, the overwhelmed Xu Lao Er had no choice but to reluctantly pay back all the money he owed Xu Yi Rou, spending his days at home cursing and pounding his chest in frustration.
*
After that night, Xu Qingyan would sing to lull the baby mother to sleep every day. Despite being an atheist, he personally went to the most famous temple in Beijing to buy a blessed bracelet and put it on Xu Yirou's wrist.
The bracelet symbolizes peace and health.
Xu Yirou never had nightmares again. She was full of energy every day, like a little sun, with inexhaustible strength.
He Nianzhu rushed back as soon as she finished filming.
After the show ends, he will have a month's rest period, during which he can take over from his older brother Xu Qingyan to take care of the cub's mother.
Xu Yirou was used to waking up early with Xu Qingyan, appearing in the living room at seven o'clock every day to eat breakfast with her little feet up.
He Nianzhu, who loves to sleep in, is forced to get up early to play with the baby's mother.
Xu Yirou disliked his poor hair-braiding skills, so she asked Xu Qingyan to braid her hair as soon as she woke up in the morning. Feeling the pressure from her brother, He Nianzhu, who originally wanted to be lazy and do nothing, had no choice but to follow along and learn.
"Erbao, I want to go out and play!"
After staying at home for a few days, Xu Yirou got bored and started asking to go to the amusement park.
He Nianzhu has a special identity, so she has to be fully disguised every time she goes out, otherwise she will be easily recognized.
He Nianzhu glanced at the dazzling sunlight outside, feeling both afraid of getting sunburned and finding it troublesome, and silently backed down: "Mom, didn't you just go to the amusement park a couple of days ago? Why do you want to go again?"
"That was me from two days ago, what does that have to do with me today!"
Xu Yirou stood with her hands on her hips, her little bun on her head swaying back and forth: "Erbao, don't you want to take me out to play?"
“How could that be, Mom? You’re mistaken.” He Nianzhu’s mind raced. “Look how bright the sun is outside. I remember you used to be most afraid of getting tanned.”
Following his words, Xu Yirou looked out the window, where golden sunlight spread across the courtyard.
She clung to the window, tilted her head, blinked, and readily nodded: "Okay, you're right, then we'll play at home."
He Nianzhu thought it would take a lot of effort to coax her mother, but to her surprise, her mother was easier to coax than she had imagined, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Before she could be happy for long, Xu Yirou came running into the bedroom like a whirlwind and then came running out again, carrying a small pink and crystal box in her arms.
He Nianzhu curiously leaned over to take a look, while Xu Yirou stuck out her little bottom and huffed and puffed as she pressed the switch with her little hand and opened the box with a snap.
The box was filled with a dazzling array of hair clips, stickers, and bottles and jars.
"Let's play a princess game!" The cub's voice was clear, soft, and extremely cheerful.
"Erbao, from now on you are a princess!"
He Nianzhu looked at the box of props and suddenly felt something was wrong. Sure enough, the next second the cub's mother pressed him to the spot.
He wiggled his hips as he rummaged through the small box, then took out a necklace that shimmered with a bright white luster and happily held it up to his neck.
"The princess's diamond necklace! It's so sparkly and bright!"
"...But, Mom, these are clearly pearls."
"Shut up! Who's the mother, you or me?"
The little mother's imposing manner remained undiminished, and He Nianzhu smiled obsequiously, "You are, you are."
Xu Yirou raised her chin and let out a smug hum. The diamond necklace was too expensive. Although her eldest son had bought her several, she couldn't bear to let her second son wear them.
He Nianzhu was wearing a thin short-sleeved shirt, revealing her long, fair neck; it would be a shame not to wear it as a necklace.
"Lower your head."
"Hehe, the princess needs to wear a pretty hair clip!"
"..."
In despair, He Nianzhu waited for the cub's mother to put a rose-pink heart-shaped hair clip on his head.
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