“Chapter 14.”

"Chapter 14."

"Recovering from their initial shock, Hao's parents quickly composed themselves, mostly believing Hao Jixin's story."

"Particularly when Xie Qingfeng accurately recited the birth details of their three children, their concern deepened."

"Hao's father, with newfound respect for the young man, asked, 'Master, can you figure out who wants to harm my children?' His demeanor towards the younger generation had completely transformed, reflecting his business acumen and strong belief in his own instincts."

"Moreover, considering the man had saved two of his children, it was only right to treat him as an esteemed guest of the Hao family."

"Xie Qingfeng inquired, 'Are there many people who know your children's birth details?'"

"Exchanging glances, Hao's parents nodded, 'Quite a few, at least more than ten within the family alone.'"

"The Hao family, being a large clan, had recorded the birth details of their three children in the family genealogy, which was kept in the ancestral temple back in their hometown."

"Anyone with access to the Hao family temple could easily peruse this information."

"Since becoming affluent, Hao's parents had generously renovated the ancestral temple during their annual visits for ancestral worship, aiding many relatives in the process."

"Over the years, many of them had prospered."

"Xie Qingfeng then asked, 'What about those who have been close to your family in recent years?'"

"Hao's father, taken aback, queried, 'Master, are you suggesting...?'"

Xie Qingfeng glanced at Hao's father and said, "Recently, you've encountered some troublemakers and there's a faint hint of a connection with a son. But it's so slight it's almost invisible. It's not like a biological son, more like an adopted one. But for an adopted child, it should be a kinship bond, not a son's. I've already asked Hao Jixin, and you haven't adopted any child. This could only mean that in the future, you might adopt a relative's child, someone with a blood connection to you."

His words caused a visible shock, not only to Hao's parents but also to the Hao brothers.

The Hao family had three children; why would they need to adopt another child in the future?

Unless something tragic happens to the three young Haos, leaving the parents devastated, adopting a caring younger relative might not be out of the question.

This revelation suggested that the person behind this was targeting the Hao siblings with the motive of replacing them as the heirs to the family fortune.

Everyone in the room, except Xie Qingfeng, clenched their jaws in anger, having likely deduced the same.

As for the reason behind picking someone close, they probably guessed it too. Only those in close contact could be easily accepted and would develop malice upon witnessing the Hao family's wealth.

Taking a deep breath, Hao's father listed close relatives of a similar age who had benefitted from his help over the years, narrowing it down to three individuals.

All distant relatives, each had prospered due to Hao's father's assistance. Though successful, their wealth paled in comparison to the Hao family's.

"Master, is there a solution to this? Can you restore my children's tampered birth details and also punish the person behind this?" Hao's father sought not only to rectify the birth details but also to ensure the perpetrator faced consequences.

Xie Qingfeng responded, "Restoring their birth details isn't difficult. As for punishment, once the details are corrected, whoever tampered with them will face backlash. If they hired someone for the job, the backlash will fall on that person, who essentially paid to avoid direct consequences."

Hao's father, determined, asked, "Can you determine who it is? We'll handle the rest ourselves."

Knowing the identity of the culprit, who had once relied on them but harbored such intentions, would allow them to discreetly reclaim what was taken.

They might even end up worse off than before. In their circles, sending someone from heaven to hell could happen overnight.

Xie Qingfeng was indifferent to Hao's father's intentions. He was just there to do a job for money; how the Hao family sought revenge was their own business.

“Mr. Hao, if you don't want to alarm them, just bring the three suspects to me. I can tell from their faces what's going on. It's the simplest way. As for what happens next, it's none of my concern.”

Relieved, Hao's father quickly proposed a time: "Let's meet tomorrow night. I and those three are invited to a charity auction set a week ago. Master, please accompany me. If you see anything you like at the auction, just let me know, and I'll bid for it under my name."

Xie Qingfeng declined directly: "No need for that, Mr. Hao. The payment for the fortune-telling is sufficient."

Before Hao's father could say more, Hao Jixin intervened, quietly explaining Xie Qingfeng's preferences. Hao's father, growing more impressed with Xie Qingfeng, didn't insist on giving gifts tomorrow night and transferred one million directly.

Fearing another refusal, Hao's father added: "This is for changing the birth characters of the three children. Please accept it, master; they are worth this price. The payment for fortune-telling tomorrow night will be separate."

Xie Qingfeng felt a wave of financial scent hit him and accepted the money calmly, thinking, is this the joy of being showered with money?

Indeed, it's a rather pleasant feeling.

Satisfied, Hao Jixin hinted at his father: "Master needs jade for changing our birth characters. Dad, we have so many jades, why not pick one for the master's use?"

Naturally, Hao's father had no objections. So, after an hour and a half of changing the birth characters for the three and enjoying the Hao family's warm hospitality, the jade horse, valued at three million, had only half of its spiritual energy consumed when Xie Qingfeng left their house.

Xie Qingfeng, looking at the jade horse, decided to absorb all its spiritual energy, turning it into a useless stone, and contemplated deeply. It seems he needs to work harder on his cultivation in the future.

He had never realized it before, but now it was clear: spiritual energy equals jade equals money. In other words, spiritual energy equals money.

After arranging to meet with the Hao family the following evening, Xie Qingfeng returned to the hospital.

However, as he approached the hospital building, he distinctly felt someone following him.

Xie Qingfeng walked past the building and circled around to the back, stopping in a corner of the flower garden to wait. Soon, a young man appeared before him.

The young man, clearly not expecting Xie Qingfeng to have already noticed him, was startled to see him waiting at the corner, but quickly regained his composure, adjusted his cap, and looked up at Xie Qingfeng with a smile he thought was charming.

"Long time no see," the young man greeted familiarly, as if they had known each other for ages.

Xie Qingfeng squinted at the newcomer, finding him somewhat familiar – one of the two young men he had encountered outside the hospital not long ago.

Xie Qingfeng had felt the young man looked familiar, and now up close, the familiarity was even stronger, yet he couldn't recall who he was.

Unable to remember, Xie Qingfeng asked directly, "Who are you? Why are you following me?"

The young man was initially taken aback, then a flash of embarrassment and annoyance crossed his face: "Xie Qingfeng, are you doing this on purpose? Pretending not to recognize me? Are you trying to make a lasting impression on me?"

Xie Qingfeng's face remained emotionless: "You're overthinking it; I genuinely don't remember you."

The young man clearly didn't believe him and said through gritted teeth, "How can you expect me to believe that? I'm Shao Shubo. We were high school classmates for three years. At the start of our senior year, didn’t you give me chocolates as a confession? It's only been a month, and you're saying it's not on purpose?"

Xie Qingfeng had found the young man familiar, and now, hearing the familiar name Shao Shubo, he finally recalled the relevant memories of his original self.

The original owner had given up on living after being reborn and immediately reincarnated.

His memories stopped a long time before this point, so naturally, Xie Qingfeng didn’t really remember this person.

But in the original owner's memories, Shao Shubo did exist and was quite significant, having changed the original owner's personality.

Because of being overly concerned, the original owner later deliberately forgot about this person.

Now being reminded, Xie Qingfeng looked at the young man before him with a deep and unreadable gaze, inexplicably causing Shao Shubo to shiver.

After entering senior year, the original owner's personality had changed drastically, becoming silent and reserved, rarely leaving home, which is why the foster parents hadn't noticed the change in Xie Qingfeng.

It was only near the college entrance examination that the foster parents, usually too busy, realized something was amiss because the original owner's demeanor had been different throughout senior year.

The reason for the original owner's change in personality was this person before him.

The original owner realized in his freshman year that he was more attracted to boys. Although shy, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with liking boys.

He eventually fell for Shao Shubo, his classmate, who was kind and attentive to him. Feeling that Shao Shubo was of the same orientation, he couldn’t resist giving him chocolates on Qixi Festival at the start of their senior year to express his feelings.

Although he didn't say it outright, the act of giving chocolates on this special day was a clear indication of his intentions.

Moreover, this was Shao Shubo, who had once jokingly asked the original person for handmade chocolates during a summer visit to their shop.

The original person thought this was a hint and indeed made and tried to deliver them on a special day.

But just as he was about to deliver them, they were seen by a classmate. Shao Shubo initially seemed willing to accept them, but upon seeing the classmate, suddenly knocked the chocolates from his hand and loudly called him “disgusting and perverted.”

The original person was completely stunned at that moment and went home in a daze. The next day at school, rumors started spreading that he was a pervert who liked boys, and that he had been seen confessing to Shao Shubo.

Although there was no concrete evidence, the original person was clearly ostracized. After the college entrance exams, the mistaken identity incident happened.

This was one of the reasons the original person was willing to return to his biological parents' home. He couldn't stand the stares from his classmates and thought a change of environment might help.

But little did he know, he was stepping into another abyss.

A series of blows made the original person unwilling to start over and led him to seek reincarnation. This initial incident was buried so deeply by the original person that when Xie Qingfeng first arrived, he only knew of a special reason that affected the original's character, but couldn't remember the specifics.

Shao Shubo frowned, noticing Xie Qingfeng just staring at him without speaking. His temper flared, but remembering Xie Qingfeng's current status, he softened his tone: "Didn't you like me? I ignored you back then because I thought we were both still in school, and I wanted to coldly motivate you to focus on your exams. Now that we've both gotten into universities we like, I've thought it over and decided to accept you."

His final words sounded like a concession, making Xie Qingfeng laugh.

Yet, Xie Qingfeng's laughter didn’t reach his eyes, causing Shao Shubo's expression to change: "What... why are you laughing?"

Xie Qingfeng leisurely took out his phone, having recorded the conversation: "Are you mistaken? Me liking you? When did I ever like you?"

Shao Shubo, thoroughly angered: "Have you forgotten about the chocolate you gave me?"

Xie Qingfeng mocked: "Seems like you're the one who's forgotten. Before the start of senior year, you visited my family's restaurant during summer vacation and mentioned you wanted chocolate. We were friends then, so I thought I'd treat you to some. But not only did you like guys, you deliberately dropped the chocolate in front of our class, claiming I liked you. I didn't stoop to your level, yet here you are, accusing me. Who's really the disgusting one here?"

Shao Shubo, infuriated: "How could that be? You clearly gave me chocolate on Qixi Festival that day..."

Xie Qingfeng, uninterested in further talk: "Did I say I liked you then? Did I confess to you?"

Shao Shubo: "No, you didn't, but you still..."

Xie Qingfeng played the recording at this moment, silencing Shao Shubo with his own voice.

Xie Qingfeng looked at him coldly: "Get lost. Don't let me see you again. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to spread the word about your preference for men."

The other party was evidently terrified at the time, obviously scared of his secret being exposed.

Sure enough, Shao Shubo’s face changed colors several times, and ultimately, with clenched teeth and a glance at the recording, he angrily walked away.

Watching Shao Shubo’s retreating figure, Xie Qingfeng, considering his facial features, decided not to take any further action.

The wicked have their own retribution; what goes around, comes around.

Xie Qingfeng returned to the hospital building and took the elevator up to the 12th floor. As the elevator doors were about to close, another person blocked them and entered.

Standing in the corner, Xie Qingfeng had been watching the new arrival since they entered the elevator, especially noticing the aura of blood-mixed ill-omen surrounding them.

The last person exited the elevator with him on the 12th floor, walking one behind the other towards the end of the corridor.

Xie Qingfeng stopped at [1205], while the other party continued forward, eventually stopping outside room 【1207】.