As Jian Xingsui descended the stairs, intending to leave peacefully, he was confronted by a man in a suit, handsome but with a stern face. It was his elder brother, Jian Gu, who favored An Ran in his past life.

really

Before Jian Xingsui could speak, the man stood firm, "Did father speak to you?"

Jian Xingsui nodded, "Yes."

"And you?" Jian Gu looked down at him disdainfully, "How much did you take from father?"

"..."

Somewhat speechless, Jian Xingsui replied, "None."

With a hint of contempt, Jian Gu raised an eyebrow, "Not enough for you?"

Stumped by the insinuation, Jian Xingsui struggled for words. Yet to Jian Gu, this hesitation seemed a confirmation of his suspicions.

Jian Gu scoffed, "Jian Xingsui, I wasn't wrong about you. Is your head filled only with greed and schemes?"

Once again, Jian Xingsui was unjustly reprimanded.

Mistaking Jian Xingsui's silence as guilt, Jian Gu coldly demanded, "How much do you want?"

"..."

The last shred of sadness in Jian Xingsui's heart evaporated. He would be leaving soon, and have nothing to do with this crowd anymore. Why tolerate this nonsense? He arched an eyebrow, his young voice booming, "I said I didn't take it. Didn't you understand?"

Jian Gu's expression shifted.

Ever since childhood, this younger brother was notoriously mischievous, but he always seemed to tone it down in Jian Gu's presence. It took Jian Gu by surprise when Jian Xingsui dared to talk back to him in such a tone.

Jian Xingsui stared right back at him, retorting, “You claim that my mind lacks any sense of decency, yet you constantly mention money. What exactly fills your head, and how does that make you any better than me?"

Jian Gu's eyes narrowed with a fierce intensity, his CEO demeanor on full display. "Jian Xingsui, is this how you speak to your elders? You have no manners!"

Jian Xingsui laughed, genuinely this time, looking up at the man before him, "Do you even still consider yourself as my elder?"

The man standing in the living room was empty-handed.

Jian Xingsui spoke indifferently, “Wasn't I kicked out of the house today?”

Jian Gu was at a loss for words, “You...”

“Excuse me... sir,” Jian Xingsui, weary of the exchange, interrupted, “If there's nothing else, could you move aside? I'm in a hurry.”

Jian Gu unconsciously stepped aside. He was revered at his company and flattered in society due to the Jian family's standing. He rushed home upon hearing that An Ran was wronged by his troublesome younger brother, intending to scold him. But to his astonishment, Jian Xingsui turned the tables on him in their living room confrontation, leaving him defenseless.

"Jian Xingsui!"

Seeing that he was about to leave, the CEO called out, hoping to regain some dignity.

Jian Xingsui paused at the door, turning back, "What is it?"

Jian Gu's gaze was unwavering, his demeanor that of a stern CEO, "The moment you walk out of this house, you're no longer a child of the Jian family, nor my brother. From now on, An Ran is the heir to the Jian family. I hope you won't misuse our family name to do wrong. Be a good person."

Jian Xingsui: "Are you done?"

Jian Gu felt like he was punching a soft cushion. His pride took a hit. Usually domineering, he had hoped to give Jian Xingsui a piece of his mind. But now, feeling a tad stifled yet helpless, he added, "You better heed my words. I won't consider our past relationship anymore."

Jian Xingsui retorted, “You already aren't considering our relationship.”

Jian Gu: “...”

A mocking smile flashed in Jian Xingsui's eyes. He waved, “Goodbye.”

Once he exited the grand mansion of the Jian family, the fresh air outside made Jian Xingsui feel liberated. He felt oppressed by the intense malice from everyone in the house. But shortly after, he found himself in a predicament—where were his biological parents? Everyone told him to go back to them, but where were they?

In his past life, he never returned. He got entangled with An Ran, and after taking a check, he lived in hotels. He never bothered about his so-called biological parents, never went back. On the rare occasions they met, it was in restaurants. Now, he didn't even know their address.

Almost instinctively, Jian Xingsui reached into his pocket and to his surprise found something, "A note?"

It was a crumpled piece of paper with an address written on it, presumably that of his biological parents. Someone must've given it to him earlier, and he had stashed it away thoughtlessly.

Jian Xingsui sighed in relief, "Thank goodness..."

For the reborn Jian Xingsui, many things were clearer now, and he was more willing to explore.

He hadn't taken any money this life, so naturally, he had nowhere to go. Meeting his biological parents might yield a different outcome.

Jian Xingsui, noticing that he had to walk three kilometers, lamented, "I should've taken the check. At least I could've stayed in a hotel tonight."

...

Fortunately, this body wasn't as worn out as when he died in his previous life, so he wouldn't tire easily from walking long distances.

His biological parents lived in a bustling old city district. Leaving the affluent area of the Jian family, this side of town was full of life, with people riding electric bikes and tricycles. Street vendors hawked seasonal fruits.

To Jian Xingsui, it seemed quite lively.

Following the address on the note, he arrived at a small storefront. His biological parents seemed to run a modest business selling rice cakes, but for some reason, the shop was closed that day. After some thought, he took a seat on a chair outside the store to wait.

As people passed by, many would glance at him curiously. As the sun began to set, he spotted a couple approaching from the end of the street. They were deep in conversation, "Poor Ranran was really startled. It breaks my heart to see."

The man remarked, "That lad from the Jian family is truly outrageous. Look how scared he made Ranran."

The woman sighed sorrowfully, "I feel like my heart's being sliced in two thinking about how we'll hardly see Ranran once he moves out."

The man hurriedly comforted her, "Don’t be too distressed. Whether Ranran stays with us or not, he'll always be our child in our hearts. Our bond won't change."

The woman seemed somewhat relieved and nodded.

Under such circumstances, Jian Xingsui locked eyes with the couple as they met.

The couple looked momentarily stunned before reacting, pointing at Jian Xingsui incredulously, "You... How did you get here?"

Puzzled, Jian Xingsui retorted, "Shouldn't I be here?"

By logic, wasn't he their biological son? The couple's reaction was both bewildering and disheartening. He had harbored some hopes before arriving, but now he felt a cold disappointment.

The woman was still in shock, but the man was the first to speak, "You're Xingsui, right?"

Jian Xingsui nodded.

Meeting their biological son, the couple didn't seem overtly emotional. They weren't hostile but appeared rather uneasy, as if unsure how to interact.

As the man went to open the door, the woman introduced herself, "I’m Zhang Xia, and he's Zhang Xiangyang. We run this shop and live right above it. You knew that, didn’t you?"

Jian Xingsui didn't actually know but nodded anyway, "I do."

The door opened, and Zhang Xia, still feeling a bit awkward, invited, "Come on in."

The store indeed sold rice cakes, with various tools for making them neatly displayed. The space was tidy and clean.

Leading the way, Zhang Xiangyang said, "This small shop is all we have. It's nothing compared to the Jian family estate. I'm not sure if you'll be comfortable here."

Jian Xingsui responded, "It's fine, very neat and tidy. That's more than enough."

Zhang Xia was pleasantly surprised. She had thought of Jian Xingsui as a spoiled and temperamental young master. Although he was her son, they had never lived together and lacked a connection, making her somewhat apprehensive. However, seeing his polite demeanor from the moment he entered shifted her perspective.

She smiled, "As long as you're comfortable. It's certainly clean. Ranran is such a helpful and considerate child, always assisting us with chores."

Jian Xingsui pondered and nodded.

The protagonist always stood out, possessing many commendable qualities, undeniably admirable and worth emulating.

Zhang Xiangyang cleared his throat, "Xingsui, you can stay in this room."

Jian Xingsui stepped forward as the door opened. The room appeared to be a study with a tatami mat bed and a tall bookshelf. There was a desk beneath the room's only window. The room seemed seldom used, a bit cramped, and not sunlit. Compared to his previous homes, it was humble.

Yet Jian Xingsui didn't seem bothered. Turning, he inquired, "Is the room next door yours?"

Zhang Xiangyang answered, "No, that's Ranran's."

Jian Xingsui cast a subtle glance at Zhang Xiangyang, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.

Zhang Xia quickly explained, "Ranran just moved out a few days ago, and many of his things are still in there. That's why it's not ready for you. Once everything's cleared out, you can move in."

With a sarcastic smile, Jian Xingsui replied, "Why not move his things to the study now? If we pack them up, it'll be easier for him to collect them later."

Zhang Xia and Zhang Xiangyang exchanged glances, finding themselves at a loss for words.

In the end, Zhang Xiangyang explained, "Ran Ran has quite a few trinkets, some of which are quite valuable. We didn't want to handle them carelessly and risk damaging them. Xingsui, coming from a prominent family as you do, you'd understand better than us, right?"

Jian Xingsui gave a light smile, the emotions in his eyes gradually fading. He entered the room, leaving behind a soft remark, "Suit yourselves."