Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Ning Shaoren: "You're going to bring up such a shameful matter in public?!"

Han Wenhua: "That was so long ago. Honestly, you all must already know what happened. Is it really necessary to dredge it up now?"

After Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua spoke at the same time, Wen Jin and Xuan Luo were the first to object.

Wen Jin: "You knew it was shameful, yet you still did it. And now you won't even let the child talk about it?"

Xuan Luo: "It is necessary! Since Yichu is bringing it up now, it means you didn't explain clearly before. Of course, we need to get to the bottom of it."

He Weian sighed softly and said bluntly, "That night at the banquet, it's true we intentionally invited Shixia to come along. But as you've already mentioned, we only agreed to cooperate with Ning Shaoren and the others in setting up a chance for them to possibly interact—that is, to get Shixia to the banquet venue. We did not agree to cooperate with them in doing anything more underhanded."

"So, when Shixia wanted to leave the banquet that night after sensing something was off, his father and I didn't stop him. We truly didn't expect things to develop as they did later. We thought Shixia had left early and was just mad at us for tricking him into going to the banquet, which is why he didn't return to the old house that night."

In terms of conversation, Ning Yichu still preferred talking with He Weian. There was much less nonsense and much higher efficiency.

He nodded slightly and looked at Ning Shaoren and the others. "What was your original plan?"

Ning Shaoren still didn't want to cooperate. "You already know, so why do we have to spell it out?!"

Ning Yichu simply stared them down.

"The fact that He Shixia once mistakenly added Ning Zeshu—Ning Zeshu told us about that right from the start." Ning Zeqi spoke up then, preparing to answer Ning Yichu's question.

Hearing him use his full name, Ning Zeshu smiled and spoke his first words since arriving at the He family home tonight. "Listen, Mom and Dad, Big Brother is distancing himself from me, calling me by my full name now."

Ning Zeqi brushed off Ning Zeshu's remark and continued looking at Ning Yichu. "Because of that incident, the family once thought He Shixia had a thing for you. But later, we found that He Shixia didn't seem to make a move to contact you either, and there was no interaction between you two. So, the matter was shelved. The family acted like it never happened and continued trying to set Ning Zeshu up with He Shixia."

"But from the time Ning Zeshu started university until after he graduated—several years—there was not a lick of progress. The two of them still hadn't met more than a few times and hadn't even exchanged contact information. Mom and Dad started getting antsy and remembered that He Shixia had once wanted to add you as a friend."

"They thought that even if He Shixia hadn't made any other moves toward you in these years, at least there was something different. So, on the night of the banquet a few months ago, they decided to use that to their advantage."

"They used the excuse of protecting guest privacy to shut down the surveillance on the corresponding floor and the dedicated elevator to avoid leaving key evidence. They arranged for you to be responsible for distributing room keys for the guest rest areas. They also had Grandfather, when he saw He Shixia preparing to leave, pull rank to keep him there..."

Ning Shaoren, still worried about saving face, was unwilling to cooperate in answering Ning Yichu's questions himself. But since Ning Zeqi had started answering, he didn't stop him.

What else could he do? Ning Yichu had an air tonight that this had to be settled tonight, or else. Ning Shaoren wasn't really keen on crossing him outright either; otherwise, wouldn't that five percent stake in Kangning have been a waste?

But hearing Ning Zeqi directly say "pulling rank" to describe the now-deceased Elder Ning, Ning Shaoren couldn't help but speak up. "Zeqi, have some respect when you talk about your grandfather!"

Ning Zeqi's expression was flat. "When Grandfather was alive, I didn't see you care so much about him, Dad. Now that he's gone, speaking a little truth lets everyone breathe easier. Weren't you the ones who sent Grandfather to pull rank? And you told him that when he detained He Shixia, he must mention that the person arranging rooms for the guests was Xiao Chu."

"In short, as Mom and Dad wished, He Shixia stayed on the guest floor that night, and the room was arranged by Xiao Chu. After confirming the room number, Mom had the kitchen prepare the doctored meal and told Xiao Chu he must deliver it according to the menu arrangement. Dad was responsible for drugging Ning Zeshu, then having the pre-arranged manager escort the 'unwell' Ning Zeshu upstairs."

"Mom and Dad's plan was very 'thorough.' They originally thought they could pin the blame on Xiao Chu afterward. But several things went sideways."

"First, when Dad prepared to drug Ning Zeshu's drink, he discovered Ning Zeshu had left the banquet venue. But as the head of the family, he couldn't very well leave the banquet hall. Moreover, if you, Dad, personally went out of your way to deliver a drink to Ning Zeshu, it would be too obvious. So, you chose to drug some orange juice and had a server deliver it."

"The second unexpected event was that when the server went to deliver the orange juice, he happened to run into Xiao Chu. Seeing he didn't look well, the server gave the orange juice to him. So, the drugged orange juice was drunk by Xiao Chu."

Hearing this, Ning Yichu's reaction was very calm, even with a hint of interest on his face, continuing to listen to Ning Zeqi "listing their sins."

Ning Zeqi looked back at Ning Yichu and continued. "The third unexpected event: I noticed some unusual reactions from Mom and Dad that night. I happened to grill Mom and learned about their plan. I also noticed that you, Xiao Chu, who was assigned to deliver the meal, hadn't returned to the banquet hall for a long time. So, I stepped out to see what was up and happened to see you, just as the drug was starting to kick in."

Hearing this, Han Wenhua couldn't help but cut in, horrified. "Wait... Zeqi, you left the banquet hall that night to look for Ning Yichu? Didn't you say you were going to stop Xiao Shu from drinking the orange juice?!"

Before Ning Zeqi could answer, Ning Zeshu couldn't help but laugh. "More than that. After you figured out it was Big Brother who tampered with the surveillance and sent Xiao Chu to He Shixia's room, he said he did it because he despised Xiao Chu and wanted you to sever the adoptive relationship with him. And also, if He Shixia had really eaten the drugged food, then someone needed to help him 'solve the problem.' Big Brother said he didn't want to sacrifice me, so he decided to send Xiao Chu, who had accidentally drunk the drugged orange juice, over instead..."

"Sounds like he cared about me and about family harmony, but actually, only the part about wanting you to sever ties with Xiao Chu was true. Right, Big Brother?"

Ning Zeqi didn't deny it, shrugging his shoulders.

Ning Yichu felt utterly disgusted and turned his head away.

He Shixia's expression also turned extremely unpleasant.

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua sensed the hidden meaning in Ning Zeshu's words and looked at Ning Zeqi in disbelief, momentarily speechless.

He Weian frowned. "What do you mean? Explain clearly. The way I'm hearing this sounds very unusual..."

Ning Zeqi was now in a state of complete defiance, seemingly ready to smash all pots and hide nothing. He admitted directly, "It's exactly what you're guessing. I like Xiao Chu."

He Weian and Tang Qingshan were dumbfounded.

Ning Shaoren couldn't help but curse. "You unfilial son!"

Wen Shen, Wen Jin, and Xuan Luo were also shocked and horrified. Wen Shen frowned deeply. "What kind of monstrous people are in this family of yours..."

Wen Jin looked at Ning Yichu with concern. "Child, what kind of life did you lead in the Ning family..."

Han Wenhua was even somewhat incoherent. "You like... Zeqi, how could you like... Weren't you always so hateful toward Ning Yichu? You're... you're over a decade older than him, how could you like him... No matter what, even if the family didn't treat him well, you watched him grow up. He's your brother..."

Ning Zeqi clasped his hands together. "Legally, yes. And precisely because legally he is my younger brother, I never could bring myself to act. I don't know why someone as amoral as me cares so much about that point... Xiao Chu, you..."

Although he had known before, hearing Ning Zeqi state it so matter-of-factly now, Ning Yichu was still thoroughly disgusted. He couldn't hold back anymore and finally, as Ning Zeqi looked at him, turned his head away and retched dryly.

Ning Zeqi's words halted.

He Shixia leaned over and gently patted Ning Yichu's back. Seeing he only retched a couple of times before stopping, He Shixia got up to get him some water.

"Don't disgust him." He Shixia warned Ning Zeqi, and the others present, while pouring the water.

Then he brought the cup to Ning Yichu's lips and said softly, "A Ning, drink some water to settle yourself."

Ning Yichu drank a few sips from his hand. Feeling less tightness in his chest, he turned back, leaned against the sofa, and pulled a pale, wry smile. "Keep going."

Ning Zeqi lowered his eyes. "In short, I always hoped Mom and Dad would dissolve the adoptive relationship with Xiao Chu, but they were never willing. In their minds, He Shixia was originally the marriage partner firmly assigned to Ning Zeshu. But even after Xiao Chu 'snatched' and ruined that, they still didn't plan to completely drive Xiao Chu away. I found it quite puzzling."

"Back to that night at the hotel. There was another 'unexpected event': Ning Zeshu had eavesdropped on Dad's conversation with the hotel manager beforehand and guessed their arrangements for the night. Compared to being arranged like that, he preferred to see conflict between the Ning and He families."

"So, he chose to disappear that night. The hotel manager, not finding him, thought Mom and Dad had made other arrangements and everything was fine. Mom and Dad, not seeing him return to the banquet hall, thought the plan had succeeded. But he actually went to a different floor. That way, the next day he could claim he was just tired and randomly got a room to rest. Could Mom and Dad blame him, the 'unaware' one, for ruining the plan?"

"In his original plan, the drugged He Shixia would either be alone in the guest room with physical problems due to the drug, or He Shixia would call for help and cause a scene. Given his identity as He Sixth Young Master, a big celebrity, it would be a huge scandal. The He family would inevitably become enemies with the Ning family..."

Hearing Ning Zeqi reach this point, Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua finally belatedly realized something was wrong. "Wait..."

He Weian was also puzzled. "Why would Ning Zeshu want the He and Ning families to become enemies?"

"That's not it." Ning Zeshu spoke before Ning Zeqi could. Ning Zeqi thought he was going to continue making excuses and play innocent, but Ning Zeshu proceeded to speak his true thoughts, seemingly also influenced by tonight's atmosphere of "candor."

Ning Zeshu said softly, "It wasn't about the He-Ning relationship specifically. I just wanted to see chaos in the Ning family. Only when there's chaos can things move, and I have a chance to fish in troubled waters."

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua looked at Ning Zeshu, whose expression hadn't changed but whose words were a complete turnaround. Probably still reeling from Ning Zeqi's admission of liking Ning Yichu, they couldn't even muster anger now.

Ning Zeshu: "That five percent of Kangning shares held by the board—I want them. But He Shixia is clearly not easy to deal with. I'm not as naive as my parents, thinking this marriage alliance could succeed. So I thought, instead of fixating on that immovable five percent, I should focus on the shares held by other family members, especially the shares Dad undoubtedly could redistribute. But they only see me as a little pet..."

Then, Ning Zeshu looked at Ning Yichu. "The Ning family suppressed you, not letting you work independently. But haven't I been suppressed too? Before I graduated, I mentioned many times wanting to work at Kangning, wanting to gain experience like my uncles and aunts, wanting to 'share the burden' like Big Brother. But they always said I didn't need to worry about those things, to just take my allowance and have fun... Xiao Chu, I've said it before, we're actually the same..."

Ning Zeshu gave a shrug.

When Ning Shaoren regained his composure, he realized his hands were trembling. He looked at his utterly transformed beloved youngest son, Ning Zeshu: "You... how could you... So, when you went on the show earlier and teamed up with Ning Yichu to cause trouble for the family, was that also for this... to fish in troubled waters?"

Ning Zeshu neither confirmed nor denied it.

Han Wenhua said sorrowfully, "How could this happen... Xiaoshu, how could you be so foolish? We always thought you were joking, that you hadn't grown up yet. If you really wanted to enter Kangning for training, how could we possibly not agree? Why would you... You're our biological son. We've treated you so well. Ever since you returned to us, we've never let you suffer or go through hardship. How could you think you're the same as Ning Yichu? You've really... broken your mother's heart."

Ning Zeshu's expression also turned sarcastic. Ning Zeqi sneered, "It can't be helped. The Ning family has always been hypocritical and insincere. How could Ning Zeshu dare to believe the affection you showered on him was real? He's always felt like he's walking on thin ice too."

Ning Zeshu clicked his tongue lightly. "What a pity. That night at the hotel months ago didn't manage to turn the He and Ning families against each other."

"I originally thought He Shixia would have to endure the ordeal alone in the guest room. I never expected that big brother's 'lofty' moral sense—which prevented him from laying a hand on his legally recognized younger brother—would actually drive him, in order to get Xiaochu expelled from the Ning family, to take Xiaochu to He Shixia's room... Honestly, no matter how many times I think about it, I still find this line of reasoning baffling."

Not just Ning Zeshu; apart from Ning Zeqi himself, no one present could make sense of his twisted logic.

Ning Zeqi didn't offer any further explanation on this point. Instead, he looked at Ning Yichu as if delivering a concluding statement. "That should cover our respective movements that night. Is there anything else you want to know?"

Ning Yichu couldn't help but laugh at this question. He tilted his head to look at He Shixia beside him. "Hey, don't you think this feels like... the truth-revealing session after finishing a murder mystery game?"

He Shixia also couldn't suppress a chuckle, saying gently, "Then shall we go play a murder mystery together afterwards?"

Ning Yichu thought his association was a bit of a leap and ignored him. He turned back to look at Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua. "Speaking of twisted logic, I'm also very curious. Why did you bring me back to the Ning family back then? And all these years, you've put on this act of desperately not letting me leave, as if you're so deeply attached and find it unbearably hard to part with your adopted son."

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua both choked up, not answering. But their eyes subconsciously darted towards Wen Jin and Xuan Luo's direction. A closer look revealed it was a guilty reaction.

Ning Yichu didn't know the truth about this part concerning his origins, so he was operating on a "bluffing" strategy. Right now, he was watching Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua quite intently, planning to decide his bluffing approach based on their reactions.

Although Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua didn't speak, after Ning Yichu finished speaking, Wen Jin, who was holding Ning Yichu's jade pendant, couldn't help but speak up and question them: "Yes, why did you take Yichu home as your own child back then? This jade pendant clearly isn't yours. And when you were looking for your child, didn't you do a paternity test?"

"After your own biological son returned, you two adults actually had the nerve to claim you were deceived by Yichu during the search for your son..." Xuan Luo frowned deeply. "It's truly fortunate that this child, though now somewhat extreme, hasn't developed twisted values."

Ning Yichu raised an eyebrow. "I am indeed extreme and aggressive. But you, as biological parents who gave birth but didn't raise me, have no right to evaluate me with phrases like 'although... but...' that sound like relief but are actually belittling. It's all quite disgusting."

Wen Jin and Xuan Luo were stunned again, then looked ashamed. "We're sorry, Yichu..."

Ning Yichu directly moved on to the next topic. "Since my adoptive parents aren't willing to open their golden mouths, that's fine. You just said you wanted to explain how you lost me, right? Explain now."

Given the chance to speak, Wen Jin and Xuan Luo seemed at a loss for where to begin and didn't speak immediately.

Wen Shen couldn't help but ask, "So you really did know who your biological parents were long ago? How did you know? When did you find out? And why, after knowing, did you choose not to contact them? Was it because you didn't know the circumstances back then, or did you know but still chose to blame your biological parents?"

Ning Yichu scoffed. "There's another possibility: your sister and brother-in-law aren't my biological parents at all. I'm just saying this casually right now."

Wen Shen choked, about to continue speaking, but Wen Jin grabbed his wrist to stop him. "I know you're impatient and anxious for me and your brother-in-law, but don't bombard him with questions like that, as if you're aggressively interrogating the child... Yichu, you are my child. This jade pendant, the small mole at the corner of your left eye, and your birthday all prove it. And the moment I saw you just now, I knew you must be my child."

Xuan Luo sighed and finally began recounting the past. "All these years, we've been in Providence. That's also the city where your mother, your uncle, and I grew up..."

The Wen family, to which Wen Jin and Wen Shen belonged, and the Xuan family, from which Xuan Luo came, were old family friends—unlike the He and Ning families, whose friendship lasted only one generation and gradually became mere formalities, the Wen and Xuan families, whether in their ancestors' generation or up to the present one, have always maintained a very good relationship. Perhaps it was also because they were both in a foreign land, which destined their emotional foundation to be different.

Last century, under their ancestors' choice, the Wen and Xuan families moved together to Providence, USA. Although they relocated, their ancestors insisted that the younger generations learn Chinese and use only Chinese for daily communication at home. That's why Wen Jin, Wen Shen, and Xuan Luo now speak Chinese so fluently.

Wen Jin and Xuan Luo were childhood sweethearts, growing up together, naturally getting together, marrying, and having children. Their relationship had always been very good, and their lives had been smooth sailing all these years, except for one thing: the loss of their biological son on the very day he was born.

According to their account now, back when Wen Jin was pregnant, for some reason she suddenly became unaccustomed to the environment of Providence, where she had grown up. They decided to try returning to China and found that all those previous discomfort symptoms of environmental unaccustomation were gone. So Xuan Luo accompanied Wen Jin to stay temporarily in China, deciding to return to Providence after the child was born.

The city they chose to stay in at the time was City A.

A few days before the due date, Wen Jin went out and was accidentally bumped in the stomach, leading to the premature birth of the child, Ning Yichu. Wen Jin's condition after the surgery wasn't very good, and they were the only two in China, so Xuan Luo focused his main energy that day on taking care of Wen Jin, thinking the child would be fine under the care of the hospital's professionals.

But when Wen Jin woke up the next day and asked about the child, they discovered the child had vanished into thin air from the hospital nursery. The nurse in charge of the nursery was also panicked and frightened, repeatedly swearing she absolutely did not steal the child. They reported it to the police, but over twenty years ago, surveillance wasn't widespread, so they couldn't find him.

Wen Jin and Xuan Luo had no connections in China and went through many channels before finally finding someone to help search. They combed through City A but couldn't find the child, even though their child had very distinctive features—newborn, a very small red mole at the corner of his left eye, and possibly still wearing the jade pendant they put on him right after birth.

That jade pendant was given by the family elders when Wen Jin returned to China for the birth. The characters "A Ning" engraved on it had no relation to either family's surname; it was simply a chosen nickname for the child, given in advance as a wish.

They stayed in City A for three months after the birth but still couldn't find the child. Wen Jin, already physically weak from childbirth and not recovered, fell seriously ill. After waking up, she actually lost her memory. She forgot about the child being lost, even forgot she had been pregnant. Her understanding of her own physical condition was that she had a serious illness and underwent surgery. The only thing she couldn't understand was why she was in China.

Xuan Luo didn't dare to trigger her, and felt there was really no point staying in China any longer, so he took Wen Jin back to Providence.

"But, although we returned abroad, and although your mother lost her memory and didn't remember, we never gave up looking for you." Xuan Luo hurriedly explained at this point. "We were abroad, but all these years we arranged for people to search in China for children matching the characteristics. We just never found one."

"It's also our fault for being limited in our thinking, still focusing the search on City A. If it weren't for Wen Shen this time, who was going on the show and also paid attention to the previous guests' movements, finding your situation too coincidental, and we traced back based on your background to investigate, we still wouldn't have thought that you had actually been stolen on the very day of your birth and taken to a remote orphanage in a neighboring city..."

Wen Jin said guiltily, "It's all my fault for losing my memory back then. I only accidentally recovered my memory five years ago, which delayed the search for you... But Yichu, please believe Mom and Dad, we really looked forward to reuniting with you. All these years, we subconsciously never thought about having another child. Even during the years I lost my memory, I rejected the idea of having a child. It wasn't until I recovered my memory that I understood: I already have a child, he just hasn't come home yet..."

Listening to Wen Jin and Xuan Luo's words, Ning Yichu's reaction was flat. His gaze mostly remained on Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua's faces, carefully observing their expressions as they heard Wen Jin and Xuan Luo's story.

Seeing Ning Yichu's unmoved, cold reaction, Wen Jin and Xuan Luo couldn't help but have reddened eyes. Wen Shen couldn't help but feel somewhat indignant. "Ning Yichu! You heard it. It was a criminal act, not your birth parents intentionally abandoning you. Yes, you've suffered a lot over the years, but that's the twists of fate. It's not your birth parents' fault either. Now that you know the truth, can't you understand them?"

If it were in his previous life, upon learning this truth, Ning Yichu would probably have chosen to acknowledge them as family. Emotionally, he would have been more receptive to birth parents who didn't intentionally abandon him and, though late, had come to find him. In terms of benefit, he would also have been more willing to leave with birth parents who could help him escape his current predicament.

But in this life, Ning Yichu isn't lacking for people to shelter him from the storm and lead him out of difficult situations.

In the original book's plot, his birth parents' and uncle's attitude towards Ning Zeshu and the Ning family disgusted him. In this life, seeing these blood-related "closest relatives" in person and observing their attitudes, Ning Yichu finds them even more repulsive and detestable.

"'Twists of fate, not your fault.' So all the suffering and hardship I endured over the years were my own fault? So as long as you verbally express your longing and heartache for me, I should immediately rush into your arms for a happy family reunion? I can't think of my late-arriving birth parents as no different from strangers because of past experiences? Otherwise, I'm ungrateful and lack empathy?" Ning Yichu raised an eyebrow.

Wen Shen, Wen Jin, and Xuan Luo were all stunned.

Wen Shen also realized his earlier words were too self-righteous and tried to make amends. "I'm sorry, I was too presumptuous. I was only thinking about how much your mom and dad want to reunite with you, but I neglected your feelings and thoughts..."

Ning Yichu laughed, as if he had just watched a rather comedic play. "Mr. Wen, let me tell you what 'twists of fate' means."

"Blood ties aren't super glue with an everlasting shelf life. Even though you weren't subjectively willing, you were indeed absent from my entire past life. Now you show up waving the banner of 'birth parents' and think I should naturally understand you, naturally accept you immediately. Otherwise, there's something wrong with me. This kind of robber's logic—you'd actually fit right in with the Ning family, loving each other dearly."

Ning Yichu drawled sarcastically, "The blood and tears of my past years are already a fact. You blood relatives being late is just that—late. Right now, it's you who need me, not me who needs you. This destines us to not be family. This is the outcome of the 'twists of fate.' If you continue to force it, the situation will become 'repulsive.'"

Wen Jin and Xuan Luo finally couldn't hold back, and the couple both began to cry.

"Yichu, we're sorry. Mom and Dad were too impatient. We shouldn't have pressured you like this..."

"Earlier, when you were still on the show, we didn't rush back immediately. Thinking about it now, this is compounding our mistakes. Already late, and then late again... Yichu, give Mom and Dad a chance to make it up to you, okay..."

Ning Yichu said leisurely, "Although I lack nothing now, if you want to compensate me, I'll take whatever's offered. But let me make this clear first: I said all that earlier to vent my own anger. I said it because it made me feel better, not to 'enlighten' you, make you realize your mistakes and change, and then give you another chance. Save your delusions."

Wen Jin wiped her tears. "Child, don't worry, Mom and Dad understand..."

"Then please start by not referring to yourselves as my parents. It's annoying to hear." Ning Yichu interrupted. "As for compensating me, I don't want to have any further dealings with you, so you don't need to give me anything. Just help me keep an eye on the Ning family in the future and make sure their lives aren't easy. After all, you probably want to vent your anger too... Because, the culprits who caused you to lose your newborn child back then are my adoptive parents sitting right here."

Seeing Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua's drastically changed yet not unprepared expressions, Ning Yichu knew his bluff had hit the mark. So he smiled at them even more calmly. "Right?"