CH 065

TL: Moonlit

In the pitiful gaze of Zhou Yuntang, Zhou Ziming hardened his heart and said, “Tangtang, don’t be willful.”

Zhou Yuntang’s face instantly lost all color.

Things had finally unfolded just as in his dream. After Jiang Tian returned home, he was no longer the cherished and pampered young master of the Zhou family. He had to share his belongings with Jiang Tian, and his brothers no longer doted on him unconditionally; instead, they now considered Jiang Tian’s thoughts and feelings.

Zhou Ziming dared not look at his younger brother’s expression any longer. With a grim face, he walked up to Lin Hanchuan and said, “Come back to the Zhou family with me.”

Lin Hanchuan showed no sign of surprise and continued to pack his books. However, Wan Li Shuang directly blocked him and sneered at Zhou Ziming, “Is this how your Zhou family treats guests?”

Both Zhou Yushu, the third young master of the Zhou family, and Zhou Ziming, the fourth young master, just left some peremptory words and ordered Lin Hanchuan as if it were a matter of course.

During lunch when Zhou Yushu came, Wan Li Shuang was too shocked to react and defend Lin Hanchuan. But now that he knew the truth, he couldn’t stand the haughty attitude of the Zhou family members.

“This is a matter of our Zhou family. What right does an outsider like you have to interfere?” Just as Wan Li Shuang disliked the Zhou family, the Zhou family also disliked him, especially for always bullying Zhou Yuntang.

Wan Li Shuang sneered, “Outsider? The Zhou family is a family, and Jiang Tian is part of it. He and I are family, while you are the outsider!”

Lin Hanchuan paused for a moment, understanding that Wan Li Shuang meant he had a better relationship with him, and the Zhou family members were on the worse side. However, those words sounded awkward to him no matter how he heard them.

Silently placing Wan Li Shuang’s Chinese textbook into his backpack, Lin Hanchuan decided to put other subjects aside for now and review Chinese in the dormitory later.

“I already asked him to leave, and he couldn’t be happier about it. Do you still need to step in and defend him?” Zhou Ziming, full of youthful arrogance, got easily agitated. After saying this loudly, he then shifted his anger towards Lin Hanchuan, “Jiang Tian, come with me!”

Lin Hanchuan closed his backpack zipper with a cold expression and replied, “If this is the way you invite me back, then I won’t accompany you.”

After saying that, he was about to leave with Wan Li Shuang.

As if he had been slapped in the face, Zhou Ziming gritted his teeth, he wanted to turn his head and leave, but thinking that his mother at home was still waiting, he could only be patient, “Please go home with me.”

As he spoke, Zhou Ziming’s face was hot and painful, the gazes of those high school students around him who were a few years younger almost burned him through, from birth until now, this was the first time he had been so humiliated.

Lin Hanchuan stopped and looked at him in a good way.

Zhou Ziming had no choice, he gritted his teeth and said once more, “Please go home with me.”

When Third Brother went home and said that this person had a deep heart, Zhou Ziming was actually half believing it, an ordinary high school student who was not born high, not to mention the rich young masters from the big families, even if he usually interacted with others, he would carry a few points of lack of confidence.

At this moment, Zhou Ziming couldn’t help but admit that Zhou Yushu was right. This person has already been twisted and corrupted by those social parasites in the slums, with a heart full of evil.

Lin Hanchuan didn’t care about the cold light flashing in Zhou Ziming’s eyes. He handed his school bag to Wan Li Shuang and said, “You go back first and review your Chinese book.”

Wan Li Shuang held onto the strap of the school bag, feeling a bit uneasy. “Are you sure it’s okay if you go alone? Should I accompany you?”

Although they didn’t like each other, Wan Li Shuang, as the only son of the Wan family, knew that as long as he was present, the Zhou family wouldn’t dare to take extreme actions.

Lin Hanchuan only patted Wan Li Shuang’s head and said, “It’s fine.”

He knew he had to make this trip sooner or later, and it was better to go early than late. Lin Hanchuan was very calm about it, which only made Wan Li Shuang more worried.

The real young master of the Zhou family comes home like going to battle, while the fake young master is more delicate than anyone else. Wan Li Shuang glared at Zhou Yuntang fiercely; ever since he found out the truth, his disgust towards Zhou Yuntang had grown even stronger.

Zhou Yuntang and Zhou Ziming left, and Lin Hanchuan followed behind Zhou Ziming and Zhou Yuntang, watching them acting all lovey-dovey.

Zhou Yuntang’s eyes were red, and his nose was also red, looking pitiful and adorable. Pouting his lips, he ignored Zhou Ziming’s attempts to please him and occasionally wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

Zhou Ziming was extremely worried and anxious, trying to make Zhou Yuntang happy regardless of his own face.

During the car ride, Lin Hanchuan sat alone in the front seat, while Zhou Yuntang and Zhou Ziming sat in the back. They leaned against each other, and Zhou Ziming, who had no blood relation with Zhou Yuntang, coaxed and comforted him in a gentle voice.

Looking at them through the rearview mirror, they didn’t look like brothers but rather like a couple having a lovers’ quarrel. However, the driver’s expression showed that he was used to such scenes and didn’t show any surprise.

Lin Hanchuan withdrew his gaze and squinted slightly.

Every member of the Zhou family was busy, but today, they all gathered together, anxiously waiting. All eyes were fixed on the door, each with different thoughts.

When Lin Hanchuan walked in, the scrutinizing gazes almost pierced through him. He returned each look one by one—Father Zhou, Mother Zhou, the eldest, second, third, and fourth young masters of the Zhou family… and Zhou Yuntang, not missing a single one.

“Are you my son?” Mother Zhou hurriedly stood up, took big strides, and stood in front of Lin Hanchuan, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Lin Hanchuan took a step back, avoiding Mother Zhou’s hand. “You called me here. What do you want to do about this matter?”

Suddenly, the already heavy atmosphere became even more oppressive.

Mother Zhou’s motherly love was brushed aside, leaving her feeling empty. Fortunately, Zhou Yuntang, with keen perception, stepped forward and held her hand, wiping the tears from her face very considerately. “Mom, don’t cry.”

Zhou Yuntang filled the void in Mother Zhou’s heart, and she lovingly touched his face before looking at Lin Hanchuan. “Child, you’ve suffered so much over the years. Come back home.”

“Come back home?” Lin Hanchuan repeated those words.

Listening to their conversation, Zhou Yuntang’s palms began to sweat, but unlike the bold and confident fourth young master, he didn’t dare show any surprise. He feigned astonishment and asked, “Mom, what do you mean… is he also part of our family?”

After Zhou Yuntang said this, everyone fell silent, except for Lin Hanchuan, who looked at Zhou Yuntang with a mocking gaze.

Zhou Yuntang hurriedly avoided Lin Hanchuan’s gaze. He felt as if that gaze was too penetrating, as if it could dissect him inside out.

“I’m just dreaming about past lives. If I don’t say anything, no one will know,” Zhou Yuntang comforted himself incessantly.

As expected, no one noticed anything unusual. The eldest brother of the Zhou family approached gently, touching Zhou Yuntang’s face with tenderness. “My sweet Tiantian… you might be the wrong child, not related to us by blood. However, blood is not the only way to maintain family bonds. We’ve been together for so many years, and no matter what, you are our little brother.”

These words were just like in his dream. Zhou Yuntang seemed stunned, blinked, and tears began to fall like pearls.

His appearance made everyone in the Zhou family feel heartbroken. They hurriedly surrounded him, comforting him incessantly.

“Don’t be afraid, Tiantian, we won’t drive you away. This is your forever home.”

“Tiantian, don’t you like shiny things? Second brother bought a diamond necklace worth twenty million, originally intended as your birthday gift. How about we give it to you now?”

“If you feel insecure, Third Brother has several properties. We’ll transfer them all to your name… Tiantian, don’t cry.”

Lin Hanchuan stood aside, calmly enjoying the show until Zhou Yuntang stopped crying. With slight sobs, the attention of the Zhou family finally turned to Lin Hanchuan.

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to stay in the school dormitory. Come back home directly,” the eldest brother said directly, “I’ll arrange a room for you, and you don’t need to bring back your old stuff. We’ll buy everything new for you.”

Lin Hanchuan remained silent.

The second brother of the Zhou family continued, “The Zhou family is different from where you used to live. Don’t bring back your rough, impolite, and uncultured habits. I’ll hire a specialized etiquette teacher for you, and you should learn well.”

“Don’t disgrace the Zhou family.”

After this series of statements, Lin Hanchuan finally smiled and said, “Who said I’m coming back?”

Zhou Yuntang’s eyes showed a glimmer of hidden joy, and he spoke first, “Jiang Tian gege, do you not like me? If you don’t like me… I’ll move out of the Zhou family and give you my room and all my belongings. Your parents have been separated from you for so long, and they must miss you. Don’t be cold to them because of me.”

As Zhou Yuntang’s words landed, Mother Zhou quickly consoled, “Tiantian, don’t overthink. You will always be mom’s good child. Even if Jiang Tian gege comes back… you will still be mom’s precious baby.”

Mother Zhou felt heartbroken. When did her Tiantian become so uncertain? While comforting Zhou Yuntang, she also gave Lin Hanchuan a signal with her eyes, urging him to explain and comfort Tiantian.

The sons of the Zhou family often understood Mother Zhou’s intentions right away and tenderly comforted Zhou Yuntang. However, Lin Hanchuan said, “He’s not wrong, I do indeed detest him.”

No one expected him to be so straightforward.

The Zhou brothers thought that even if Lin Hanchuan resented anyone who took away everything from him, he would put on a magnanimous act in front of the Zhou family and then target Zhou Yuntang in secret after moving in. However, he didn’t mince his words and openly expressed his aversion.

“If you want me to come back to the Zhou family, I have only one condition,” Lin Hanchuan said, “Get rid of Zhou Yuntang.”

“Between him and me, the Zhou family can only choose one.”

The entire hall fell silent. Mother Zhou was at a loss. Her children were always harmonious with each other, and this was the first time she faced a family dispute. She couldn’t help but complain, “What are you saying? When you come back, Tiantian is still your little brother. You should cherish and love him… we are all one family.”

Lin Hanchuan suddenly realized that this was Mother Zhou’s true intention.

No wonder, in Zhou Yuntang’s dream of his past life, he felt that he was no longer “cherished.”

His belongings were taken away, and his affection was divided. That’s why he became jealous, envious, and caused a scene. But from another perspective, even in the so-called tragic ending of his previous life, after knowing the truth, the Zhou family didn’t drive Zhou Yuntang away.

And Jiang Tian seemed to have gained a lot, but in fact, it was only a little bit that trickled down from Zhou Yuntang’s fingers. Although they were the same age, he was forced to become Zhou Yuntang’s “little brother.”

To be gentle, magnanimous, and loving towards his one and only brother, otherwise, he would be considered petty, bad-mannered, and heartless.

“If I remember correctly, we are the same age,” Lin Hanchuan said coldly, “When I was being beaten by his alcoholic father, he was being cherished by all of you; when I was collecting bottles for tuition, he was held in your arms. Yet you still want me to cherish and love him…”

“Why?” Lin Hanchuan sincerely couldn’t understand why he could take away Jiang Tian’s life and expect Jiang Tian to unconditionally sacrifice for him.