CH 064

TL: Moonlit

After returning to the Zhou family, Zhou Yushu still felt somewhat distracted. As he arrived home, several people who were waiting for him rushed over, and the fourth brother excitedly asked, “Third brother, how was it? Did he agree?”

The eldest and second brothers weren’t as visibly pleased as the fourth brother, but there was a sense of relief in their eyes. They believed that a troublesome matter had been resolved and a burden lifted.

Zhou Yushu took off his glasses and rubbed his temples tiredly. “He didn’t agree.”

“He should be content to leave Nanping City. Two million is enough for him to live his whole life in another city, buy a house, and get married…” The fourth brother’s voice came to an abrupt stop as he stared blankly at his third brother.

Zhou Yushu wryly smiled. “Those emails, he sent them. He knew the truth long before.”

Everyone present was taken aback, and the second brother, who had been leaning lazily on the sofa, sat up straight. “How did he know?”

No one knew how he had discovered the truth, but it was no longer the most critical issue. The eldest brother’s eyes were sharp as he said, “He’s plotting something with such elaborate planning. What exactly does he want?”

Thinking of Lin Hanchuan’s words, Zhou Yushu felt a tinge of fear. He didn’t know how that underage teenager had such a terrifying gaze and a presence even stronger than his eldest brother. He hadn’t yet recovered from the shock.

By the time he regained his composure, Lin Hanchuan had already left. The scorching sun at noon shone on the garden, and the rolling heat made Zhou Yushu’s forehead sweat.

“He said he wants to make the person who stole his life pay the price,” Zhou Yushu said wearily.

Everyone present was surprised, and the fourth brother jumped up, “What does he want to do to Tangtang?!”

Even the eldest brother struggled to maintain his cold expression, and a hint of anxiety appeared in his eyes. “Quickly, bring Tangtang back home.”

The mere thought of Lin Hanchuan, who had schemed so meticulously, being in the same space and sitting in the same classroom as Tangtang, made it impossible for him to remain calm.

“D*mn it, even if he is the true blood of the Zhou family, so what? It was just a case of mistaken identity. Tangtang was just a baby at that time, he’s innocent!” The fourth brother couldn’t help but hate himself for hesitating and wanting to send Lin Hanchuan away when he once felt pity for him.

“What if he tells Tangtang the truth…” The second brother murmured, “Tangtang is delicate, how can he bear such a blow?”

As the brothers were discussing how to handle Lin Hanchuan and make him disappear from their lives, they heard a loud noise outside the door. They looked at each other and hurried to the entrance.

Standing at the door was a middle-aged couple.

The hearts of the Zhou brothers tightened; they feared that the person they most wanted to keep the truth from had found out.

“Mom.” The second brother carefully supported Mother Zhou and helped her sit on the sofa. “Aren’t you and Dad on a trip? Why did you suddenly come back?”

Mother Zhou seemed as if she didn’t hear his words at all. “What do you mean by ‘mistaken identity’?”

With things having come to this point, there was no more point in hiding. The eldest brother’s eyes flickered, and he spoke first, “We received an email a few days ago saying that Tangtang isn’t the real Zhou family young master. We did a paternity test… and it’s true.”

The shock was too great, and Mother Zhou hadn’t yet reacted. She stared blankly at her eldest son.

Once he started speaking, the rest of the words became easier to say. The eldest brother continued, “That email was sent by that person.”

The second brother read their mother’s expression and added, “That person is named Jiang Tian, and he grew up in a poor neighborhood. His family is very poor. We don’t know how he found out the truth, but he secretly schemed all this, wanting to force us to acknowledge him as a member of the Zhou family. Although he’s young, he’s quite cunning.”

After the brothers had said everything, Mother Zhou still hadn’t snapped out of it. After a while, tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, and she said in a choked voice, “My poor child.”

The Zhou brothers felt a lump in their throats; indeed, they had heard their own mother speak the words they were trying to keep from her.

“Where is he? Bring him back, let me see him…” Zhou’s mother said.

The brothers exchanged glances and were reluctant to comply. Finally, the fourth brother reluctantly said, “Then I’ll bring him back.”

Before Mother Zhou could breathe a sigh of relief, he continued, “When he returns, don’t blame Tangtang, and don’t show any strange looks. Otherwise, Tangtang will definitely cry.”

Tangtang? At this moment, Mother Zhou finally remembered her coddled younger son, who was not the real child of the Zhou family. His true son was living in a poor neighborhood.

After a moment of silence, Mother Zhou softened her heart. She thought of how adorable and delicate Zhou Yuntang was when he was young, and how he was weak and sickly after birth but improved as he grew up. Finally, she sighed, “They are all our children. I’ve raised Tangtang for so long; how can I bear to let him go…”

Her own biological son had returned, and she had decided that she would treat both her sons equally! Mother Zhou made up her mind.

When Lin Hanchuan returned to the dormitory, Wan Li Shuang was not napping. He was lying on the bed playing with his phone and raised his head abruptly when he heard movement. “You’re back!”

Facing those sparkling eyes, Lin Hanchuan couldn’t help but let a hint of a smile appear in his eyes. “Didn’t I tell you to take a nap?”

During this period, Wan Li Shuang also discovered that despite Lin Hanchuan’s seemingly aloof and unapproachable exterior, he was actually warm-hearted inside. As long as his boundaries were not crossed, he rarely got angry. Stretching lazily, Wan Li Shuang said righteously, “You didn’t come back, so how can I take a nap?”

Neither of them noticed anything odd about their conversation.

After sitting down, Lin Hanchuan felt a bit uneasy and began pondering. This was a private matter, and there didn’t seem to be a need to share it with others. However… as he looked into Wan Li Shuang’s crafty and clever eyes, he slowly said, “I’ll tell you what, I am the real young master of the Zhou family. Do you believe it?”

The real young master of the Zhou family? Wan Li Shuang paused for a moment before remembering that the real young master of the Zhou family was Zhou Yuntang, and the meaning behind Lin Hanchuan’s words…

He gasped and blurted out, “Then what about Zhou Yuntang?!”

He unhesitatingly believed it.

Lin Hanchuan’s smile at the corner of his mouth receded, revealing a coldness in his eyes. “They made a mistake when they brought us home.”

“I’ve only seen this kind of thing in the news. I didn’t expect it to happen to the Zhou family.” Wan Li Shuang murmured, “No wonder I couldn’t stand him no matter what, and no wonder all the young masters of the Zhou family are outstanding, while he can’t do anything except cry.”

Wan Li Shuang suddenly thought of another question and asked, “Is Zhou’s third brother here to take you back?”

If the Zhou family was Lin Hanchuan’s family, Wan Li Shuang’s aversion to the Zhou family would be reduced. He knew better than anyone how difficult Lin Hanchuan’s life had been, and how intelligent and hardworking he was.

Returning to the Zhou family would give Lin Hanchuan access to wealth and resources. His talents could be fully utilized, and he wouldn’t be confined by poverty. Wan Li Shuang genuinely felt happy for him. It would be even better if that family was not the Zhou family.

“I won’t go back.” Lin Hanchuan said calmly.

Wan Li Shuang was stunned. Few people could refuse such a vast fortune, and even fewer would act like this towards their ‘family’… His heart suddenly ached, and he hugged Lin Hanchuan abruptly. “If you don’t want to, then don’t. You still have me!”

Lin Hanchuan seemed aloof on the surface but was softer than anyone in his heart. If it weren’t for the circumstances, how could he be so cold? Coupled with the fact that the people from the Zhou family had shown their idiotic pettiness and favoritism towards their younger brother, even if he didn’t understand the full story, Wan Li Shuang had some speculations in mind.

A light chuckle came from above, and even through the thin layer of fabric, the chest vibrated slightly. Wan Li Shuang’s ears unknowingly turned red, and he quickly let go of Lin Hanchuan. “I didn’t mean to… I just… I just felt sorry for you.”

“No, I don’t feel sorry for you. You are my only good friend for so many years, and I will definitely stand by your side…”

“…But maybe I do feel a little sorry for you, just a little bit.”

He hurriedly explained for a long time until he unintentionally met Lin Hanchuan’s relaxed and smiling gaze. Wan Li Shuang was momentarily stunned, and then blushed deeply as he lowered his head in self-abandonment. “I just took advantage of you. What can you do about it?”

Lin Hanchuan gently rubbed Wan Li Shuang’s head. The one-time yellow hair had already faded, replaced by smooth and black hair. The strands slipped through his fingers, feeling good to the touch. “You remind me of a friend I used to know, but not quite.”

Wan Li Shuang was taken aback, and he subconsciously looked up at Lin Hanchuan. When he saw the faint nostalgia in his face, he blurted out, “Is it Ran Xing and Qi Yuyu?”

Those were the names Lin Hanchuan mentioned when they first talked. Wan Li Shuang didn’t even know why he had been so fixated on remembering them for so long.

Lin Hanchuan was somewhat surprised, but he calmly confirmed, “Yes, it’s them.”

The redness on Wan Li Shuang’s face completely vanished. He stood up and went back to bed, lying down, saying, “I’m going to sleep.”

The next moment, an intentionally affected snoring sound began.

“You don’t snore when you sleep,” Lin Hanchuan reminded.

The small snoring sound instantly disappeared, and the person on the bed turned over, facing the wall, feeling annoyed with a gnashing of teeth.

For the entire afternoon, whether it was due to the intense heat or his bad mood, Wan Li Shuang hardly said a word. When Lin Hanchuan explained problems to him, he listened attentively, but it ended there.

Without the lively and unrestrained conversation in his ears, Lin Hanchuan felt somewhat unaccustomed and decided to ask Wan Li Shuang what was bothering him when they returned to the dormitory.

As soon as the bell for the end of class rang, there was someone standing at the classroom door. He surveyed the classroom and caught sight of Zhou Yuntang. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

Zhou Yuntang also saw him and hurried over with his backpack, wearing a bright and adorable smile. He asked sweetly, “Fourth Brother, did you come to pick me up after school?”

Seeing that person, Wan Li Shuang leaned his head and whispered to Lin Hanchuan, “That’s the fourth young master of the Zhou family, Zhou Ziming.”

Facing Zhou Yuntang’s joyful expression, Zhou Ziming’s expression stiffened for a moment. “Yes…”

“Then let’s go.” Zhou Yuntang worried that his fourth brother might see Lin Hanchuan and pulled his hand to leave. He tried several times but couldn’t pull him along, and he turned back puzzled. “Fourth Brother?”

Zhou Ziming cleared his throat lightly. “I also need to bring someone else home.”

Zhou Yuntang’s heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously looked in the direction of Lin Hanchuan, but halfway through, he froze in place. He asked dryly, “Who is it?”

Zhou Yuntang’s expression looked pitiful, and Zhou Ziming’s heart softened like a puddle of water. He didn’t even have time to think about why Zhou Yuntang showed such a terrified expression when he heard that he needed to pick up someone else. Instead, he focused on awkwardly comforting him, “Don’t be afraid, Tangtang, don’t be scared. You will always be the young master of the Zhou family.”

A loud thud echoed in Zhou Yuntang’s mind. He knew that the truth had been revealed, but he didn’t understand why it happened much earlier than he dreamed.

Countless times, Zhou Yuntang had secretly thought that if the truth about his identity never came to light, he could remain the young master of the Zhou family for the rest of his life. So, unconsciously, he began trying to prevent anyone in the Zhou family from hearing any news related to Jiang Tian.

He held onto a kind of wishful thinking, always believing that as long as he didn’t speak, he could keep it hidden.

Now, his worst fear had arrived. Zhou Yuntang was terrified, so much so that he even clutched onto Zhou Ziming’s sleeve, displaying a pitiful appearance. “Brother Ziming, please don’t bring anyone else home. Just bring Tangtang home, okay?”

Author’s note:

Don’t hold any expectations for anyone in the Zhou family, including Mother Zhou.