"Jian Xingsui, open the door!"

"Open up! I know you're in there!"

"Where is he?"

When Jian Xingsui opened his eyes, he felt dizzy. His last memory was of the pain from his previous life's end. Only after his death did he discover he was a character in a tale about the real and fake heirs of a wealthy family. Of course, he was the imposter, painted as the villain who coveted the Jian family's fortune and persecuted the real heir.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Persistent knocking continued outside, "Jian Xingsui, stop playing dead in there! Come out and explain yourself, or I'll break down the door!"

Despite his headache, hearing the incessant knocking compelled Jian Xingsui to sit up and approach the door, fearing the person outside might do something drastic.

Click

The door opened.

Outside stood Jian Kuo, eyebrows furrowed in anger. As he was about to unleash a torrent of words, he noticed Jian Xingsui's pale and weak demeanor.

In the past, he might have shown concern or pity. But now, his eyebrows just furrowed deeper, "What trick are you trying to pull now?"

...

Jian Xingsui stared at the unfamiliar face before him, momentarily dumbstruck.

This was his father. No, to be more accurate, his former father. Before An Ran came into the picture, his father used to care for him. But once the protagonist arrived, it was as if everyone lost their senses, their personalities drastically changed. They all despised him, wishing he would vanish.

"Why are you silent?" Jian Kuo stepped forward, issuing what felt like a final ultimatum. "I'll have you know, what you dared to do yesterday was outrageous! Confronting An Ran like that! Had I not intervened in time, who knows what you might have done to such a gentle soul. After all these years raising you, I never imagined you'd become so arrogant and unrestrained. It's deeply disappointing!"

As he spoke, he studied Jian Xingsui's expression.

Noticing Jian Xingsui's continued stunned look, he added more sternly, "Seems you still don't grasp the gravity of your actions. Let me be crystal clear: regardless of any tricks you pull today, you are to leave this house!"

...

After saying this, Jian Kuo expected some trickery from Jian Xingsui, but the room was met with a chilling silence.

then

Jian Xingsui, with an air of uncertainty, asked, "Yesterday?"

Jian Kuo, taken aback, replied with impatience, "If not yesterday, then when? What now? Are you trying to deny it?"

Jian Xingsui leaned weakly against the door, "You're saying it's the 19th year now?"

Disgusted by what he deemed as nonsensical babbling, Jian Kuo retorted, "What else? Why even ask?"

Without responding, Jian Xingsui touched his temple and began to chuckle softly.

At first, he couldn't believe it, but now it was undeniable. He had reincarnated, back to a time just after the protagonist An Ran had been discharged from the hospital. It was the time when the Jian family was conspiring to drive him out. He realized that many of the humiliations he faced hadn't occurred yet.

After his death, he learned that this world was from a novel, and he understood his character—

A nauseating and bothersome side character, the fake heir of a wealthy family.

An Ran was the center of this world. After being adopted by the Jian family, he became the darling. Later, when he entered the entertainment industry, everything went smoothly for him, with Jian Xingsui always beneath his feet. Eventually, An Ran even fell in love with a movie star, reaching the pinnacle of his life. Meanwhile, Jian Xingsui met a tragic end in a car accident in a secluded area, a demise that readers found satisfying.

Sighing, Jian Xingsui looked up at his father, "So, what's the plan? Should I go back to my biological parents now?"

Jian Kuo, catching only the latter part, asserted, "Of course you should, and you will—today. No matter what!"

Jian Kuo had resolved that no matter what tactics Jian Xingsui tried this time, he wouldn't budge an inch. He had seen his son's true, malicious nature and wasn't about to let his guard down.

However

Jian Xingsui straightened up, looking directly at him, "Alright, I'll go."

"You can't possibly... Wait, what?" Jian Kuo stuttered, taken aback, "What did you just say?"

Seeing his father's incredulous look, Jian Xingsui repeated, "I said, I'll go back to my parents."

Jian Kuo's prepared retort was stuck in his throat. He managed to push out, "Don't think about playing any tricks!"

Jian Xingsui retorted, "What trick have I played?"

To that, Jian Kuo found himself at a loss for words.

The young man in the room was undoubtedly his son—hair slightly covering his eyes, dyed blonde, wearing baggy, mismatched clothes. But now, standing calmly with a level-headed tone, devoid of animosity, Jian Xingsui made Jian Kuo feel somewhat unreasonable.

How was this possible? Didn't he know his own son?

He had always been a total mess. This was definitely an act.

With this in mind, Jian Kuo exclaimed, "Are you sure about this?"

Jian Xingsui nodded, "I've made myself clear, I'm ready to leave."

Jian Kuo was genuinely taken aback. In his anger, he hadn't expected Jian Xingsui to be so cooperative. He finally said, "Good, if you've thought it through. Over the years, your mother and I treated you as our own. But your actions have deeply hurt us. An Ran is a good child; don't resent him. This is your last chance. Once you go back to your biological parents, if you ever lay a finger on An Ran, I'll never forgive you. Understood?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Xingsui felt it was a blatant mockery.

Jian Kuo assumed he instigated the conflict with An Ran, never expecting that it was the seemingly innocent child who approached and provoked him. Was he aware that not only was An Ran hospitalized, but he too was injured?

The scratches beneath his long sleeves ached slightly, but he felt no pain. The emotional hurt in his heart far outweighed the physical pain.

Seeing his silence, Jian Kuo presumed it was about compensation and said, "There's a cheque on the table. Take it and leave."

Jian Xingsui sneered after hearing this. In his previous life, he held onto the slightest hope even at death's door. Now, reliving such a scene extinguished that hope entirely.

Even if Jian Kuo hadn't asked him to leave, he would have departed on his own.

Jian Xingsui replied, "No need. I'll leave with nothing. Use that money to care for the traumatized An Ran."

Jian Kuo was choked with emotion, not expecting Jian Xingsui to decline.

What shocked him more was that after refusing, Jian Xingsui, without hesitation, opened the door to leave. Subconsciously, Jian Kuo asked, "Aren't you going to pack your belongings?"

"Belongings?" Jian Xingsui seemed to ponder for a moment, glancing back at the lavish room with a smirk, "Since this home isn't mine, neither are its contents."

He left without a trace of regret.

Standing in the hallway, the young man exited the room. He hadn't been away from this place for long, maybe two years since he was ousted. This was where he spent 20 years, but now it felt so alien. Even with all his preparations, his heart still ached.

Two decades of memories, and yet they seemed to pale in comparison to the mere two months of another's presence. Some things are easier to let go of than emotions, but death brought clarity. Only by leaving this home and these people could he find peace.

Jian Kuo's voice echoed from behind, "Have you truly decided?"

Snapped out of his thoughts, Jian Xingsui turned to face Jian Kuo. After a moment's gaze, he bowed in gratitude, as if repaying years of nurturing, "Take care."

The afternoon sun was intense, but the hallway dim.

A breeze swept from the window's end, rustling the young man's clothes. Not long ago, Jian Kuo wished this naive child would leave. But at this moment, a soft spot in his heart was touched. "Xingsui..."

After bowing, Jian Xingsui showed no emotion at the call, simply saying, "Goodbye."