CH 075

TL: Moonlit

Mother Zhou returned to the Zhou family in a daze.

Each of the children had their own affairs, and no one noticed that Mother Zhou had gone out in the middle of the night. She sat in the living room, lost in thought, as she looked at the brightly lit rooms.

Her biological son had asked for her to choose between the two, but she couldn’t make a decision. Many thoughts flashed through Mother Zhou’s mind, and she recalled the faint expression on her long-lost son’s face. It still pained her deeply.

“Mom, why are you still not sleeping?” Zhou Yuntang walked out of Eldest Brother Zhou’s study, and when he saw Mother Zhou sitting in the living room, he paused and walked up to her, squatting down to ask.

Looking at her little son, who rested his head on her knee, Mother Zhou’s eyes flickered slightly.

Zhou Yuntang didn’t seem to feel Mother Zhou’s coldness and said on his own, “Mom, did you have a bad dream? Don’t be afraid, I’ll scare the nightmares away.”

This was what Mother Zhou used to comfort him when he had nightmares as a child.

Hearing her little son clumsily comforting her, Mother Zhou didn’t know what emotions she was feeling. She forced a smile and said, “Mom is fine.”

Although Zhou Yuntang’s biological father, Jiang Luo, was undoubtedly despicable, as Zhou’s second brother, Zhou Zhengqing, said, the baby in the swaddling clothes was innocent. This soft and weak infant should not bear the grudges between adults and be cast away just because of his bloodline.

Jiang Luo was undoubtedly a scumbag, and driving Zhou Yuntang away, what would he do to Tangtang? Mother Zhou didn’t dare to think about it. One of her sons had already endured enough torment; she couldn’t bear to watch another son suffer the same fate.

Mother Zhou made a decision in her heart. She knew her biological son would resent her, but that was because he was still young and hadn’t learned to understand others yet. When he calmed down, she would bring him back to the Zhou family and educate him well.

“Mom is the best mom in the world. If you have anything on your mind, you can tell Tangtang,” Zhou Yuntang smiled sweetly and said seriously, “Although Tangtang is still young, I can be a silent listener.”

The melancholy on Mother Zhou’s face gradually dissipated. She touched Zhou Yuntang’s head affectionately and playfully pinched his cheek. “You have such a sweet mouth. You can always cheer Mom up.”

Mother’s love, filial piety, and harmony filled the air.

After a bit of acting cute and playful banter, Mother Zhou’s mood eased, and her body felt exhausted. She soon went back to her room to sleep. Zhou Yuntang watched Mother Zhou disappear from his sight, but he didn’t go back to his room. Instead, he tiptoed out of the Zhou family’s gate.

As he walked in his own residential area, Zhou Yuntang was cautious as if he was sneaking around like a thief. He stealthily left the community and arrived at a blind spot where the surveillance camera couldn’t capture him. There, a man was waiting for him.

In the brightly lit city, even the darkest places had street lamps. Under the dim lights, the man whose body had been drained by years of alcohol consumption saw Zhou Yuntang, and his eyes lit up, shimmering with tears.

“S-S-Sweetie… T-T-Tangtang,” Jiang Luo stammered as he used the nickname Zhou family members used for Zhou Yuntang.

Zhou Yuntang stood far away from Jiang Luo, the man who was his biological father and had changed his life. As he had imagined, Jiang Luo looked messy, dirty, just like every incapable middle-aged man in the world. He was much younger than Father Zhou, but he seemed to be more than ten years older.

Is this man really my biological father? Zhou Yuntang felt bewildered.

Jiang Luo didn’t notice Zhou Yuntang’s scrutinizing gaze; he was too excited, observing Zhou Yuntang’s appearance from head to toe with excitement. He said eagerly, “Sweetie, you’ve been raised very well, and you’re so healthy. It’s not in vain that I risked my life to exchange you with that little brat.”

Zhou Yuntang’s pupils contracted, and he asked, “Why did you intentionally exchange us?”

Zhou Yuntang couldn’t imagine what he would be like if he hadn’t grown up in the Zhou family. In any case, it wouldn’t be better than his current situation; he would only be worse off than the true young master.

“In the beginning, your mother was in poor health. After giving birth to you, she passed away. Your health wasn’t good either,” Jiang Luo lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers, lost in memories.

Jiang Luo’s wife, who was Zhou Yuntang’s mother, used to be a chef in the Zhou family, and Jiang Luo worked as a security guard there. The couple lived a happy life, but later, when his wife was pregnant, the fetus was in an unstable position, and she had to quit her job to take care of the baby.

Around the same time, Mother Zhou was also pregnant. She had several maids taking turns to care for her, and everything she wanted was provided. Every month, a family doctor would come to do a check-up. On the other hand, Jiang Luo’s wife had to go to the hospital alone for check-ups and faced many difficulties on the way.

One day, after falling on the way to the hospital, Jiang Luo’s wife went into labor, but the hospital had no available beds. In order to save his wife and child, Jiang Luo pleaded with Zhou Gao Dan, who was still a teenager at that time, and Zhou’s second brother, Zhou Zhengqing.

Zhou Zhengqing heard about the situation and kindly sent Jiang Luo’s wife to the best private maternity hospital. At the same time, the wife of Zhou’s family’s head was also there for childbirth.

While waiting outside the ward, Jiang Luo thought about a lot of things. He thought about his wife’s background, his child’s health, and their not-so-wealthy savings. He discovered that a nurse in the hospital had some relationship with him. Taking a daring step, Jiang Luo spent a large sum of money to bribe this nurse.

Under Jiang Luo’s scheming, the two babies were swapped just after they were born. Perhaps as karma, Jiang Luo’s wife lost her life during childbirth.

In order for his child to enjoy a wealthy life, Jiang Luo used all his ingenuity. He resigned and left overnight, and because his wife died during childbirth, no one investigated further and thought he was overwhelmed with grief.

Jiang Luo didn’t leave the city; he didn’t dare to see his own biological son. He could only console himself by thinking that they were still living under the same sky.

Every time he saw Jiang Tian beside him, he thought of Zhou Yuntang, thinking that it was all because of Jiang Tian that they had to be separated, so he vented all his anger on that child.

After listening to Jiang Luo’s explanation, the slight frown on Zhou Yuntang’s forehead eased a bit.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Luo said emotionally, “My poor child, when you were just born, you were so thin and weak. If it weren’t for the Zhou family’s wealth, you wouldn’t be so healthy now. Don’t blame Dad; Dad did all this for your own good.”

Zhou Yuntang let out a sigh of relief and was somewhat moved.

The people in the Zhou family treated him well because they had been together for a long time, and he had worked hard to please everyone in the Zhou family to gain their favor. Only his biological father, who had only seen him a few times, was now thinking about him with all his heart.

Zhou Yuntang had never experienced such pure and uncomplicated love, free from any impurities. He couldn’t help but smile, “Dad, you are currently wanted by the police. What’s your plan?”

Jiang Luo was on the wanted list on the internet, and he had been living like a mouse crossing the street during this time. After finally finding Zhou Yuntang’s contact information, he couldn’t wait to send him a text message, which led to their secret meeting in the middle of the night.

Jiang Luo replied without hesitation, “Give me some money, and I’ll hide in an area outside the city without surveillance cameras. Once the heat dies down, it’ll be fine.”

The act of swapping children, whether big or small, depended on whether the family whose child was exchanged pursued the matter or not. It wouldn’t become a major issue if they chose not to. Jiang Luo looked deeply at Zhou Yuntang, knowing that everything depended on how much the Zhou family cared for this child.

Following Jiang Luo’s instructions, Zhou Yuntang transferred fifty thousand to him. He planned to return home and try to persuade his brothers and Mother Zhou and Father Zhou. On his way back, he raised his chin slightly, feeling quite proud.

That heartless monster, Jiang Tian, who had no regard for any family ties, even turned a blind eye to his father, who had been by his side for seventeen years. Not to mention the people in the Zhou family, going back there was undoubtedly the best choice.

Meanwhile, in another villa not far away, the Wan family’s study room was filled with people who couldn’t sleep even in the deep night.

After returning home, Wan Li Shuang immediately told his parents about Mother Zhou’s behavior, which infuriated both Mr. and Mrs. Wan. Even the usually gentle Mr. Wan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Is her brain filled with tofu residue?”

Mrs. Wan didn’t mince her words, “She’s never been particularly smart.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been easily fooled by several men in the family.

After scolding her, Mr. Wan tenderly rubbed Lin Hanchuan’s head, “Don’t bother with the people from the Zhou family. They all have some kind of mental issue. I’ll get you a bodyguard in the future. If you see any suspicious people, just drive them away.”

“Okay!” Wan Li Shuang, whose eyes were still wet, nodded vigorously. “I want bodyguards! Seven or eight burly men!”

When they got into the car, Wan Li Shuang didn’t chatter as usual. Instead, he remained silent. When they arrived home and saw his parents, tears streamed down his face.

Lin Hanchuan had never cried, but as he watched Wan Li Shuang, who had tears in his eyes yet tried to hold them back, he was three parts amused and seven parts touched. He knew that Wan Li Shuang was shedding tears for him, expressing his grievances and sorrows.

After venting to his parents, Wan Li Shuang’s emotions gradually stabilized. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he wiped his nose in a rude manner.

“No need,” Lin Hanchuan declined gently. “There’s no need to make such a fuss.”

After a brief standoff, Lin Hanchuan emerged victorious.

When Lin Hanchuan received the message from Agent 001, the smile on his lips had not yet subsided. He looked at the information sent by 001, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Multitasking, he asked 001, [“Do the Zhou family know about his contact with his biological father?”]

[“Not sure,”] 001 replied cheerfully. Due to the Zhou family’s attitude towards Lin Hanchuan, it also bore some resentment towards them. 001 wished for chaos in the Zhou family, saying, [“Zhou family’s eldest brother, Zhou Gao Dan, is busy setting traps for the Wan family. Zhou family’s second brother, Zhou Zhengqing, attempted to manipulate online public opinion but ended up being criticized and is now in seclusion. Zhou family’s third brother is progressing with his drug research, which has reached the human experimentation stage. Mother Zhou is oblivious to everything, and Father Zhou acts like an aloof emperor, not caring about anything.”]

So, although the Zhou family appears harmonious and blissful, in reality, each member is busy with their own affairs, and no one knows what the others are doing, experiencing, or secretly meeting.

[“Use the phone app to send some messages to Jiang Luo,”] Lin Hanchuan instructed 001. Originally, he only wanted to assist Mrs. Wan in setting traps for the Zhou family more smoothly. He hadn’t expected this unexpected gain.

Lin Hanchuan squinted his eyes slightly and said, [“Also, check on each of these brothers’ secretive endeavors.”]