The wooden box was filled with space for many childrenâs toys, from building blocks to race cars to toy guns⦠a dazzling array.
Most of them were bought by Ji Zeqiuâs parents in the past.
Back then, he had thought these were the last things his parents had left for him, so later, no matter which relativeâs house he ended up at, he would carry them along even if it meant becoming a burden.
Ji Zeqiu picked up a small race car, and a circle of nostalgic ripples stirred in the stagnant waters of his heart.
This race car had been a gift from his father, complete with a remote control, but due to aging and damaged parts from the passage of time, it had long since been unable to operate.
He carefully placed it on the ground and then took a Barbie doll out of the box, suddenly letting out a light laugh.
Actually, this Barbie doll had been bought by his mother for his younger sister to play with.
At that time, his sister had been ill with a fever for a long time, and his mother had been taking care of her, neglecting him. Jealous of his sister for stealing the affection of the mother he loved, he had snatched the Barbie doll his sister adored.
Holding the doll, he stood in front of his sisterâs crib and muttered, âSister, if you want your doll back, trade mom for it.â
But his sister couldnât yet speak, so the trade was never completed.
He planned to keep it until his sister grew older and then trade with her?
He kept it until now.
Piece by piece, Ji Zeqiu took out the toys from the box, his memories becoming clearer, until the thick old photo album appeared at the bottom of the box; then he stopped.
His fingertips caressed the yellowing cover, apprehensive as if he was nearing his hometown, staring at the album for a long while without daring to open it.
With the album in his numb, stiffened arms, he finally shook himself back to reality and nervously flipped open the cover.
The first page of the photo was a family portrait of five.
He and Ji Tingyang were trying hard to hold their sister, both sporting brilliant smiles for the camera.
Their parents stood behind them, faces brimming with happy smiles.
Ji Zeqiu looked at his mother in the photo, her black lustrous hair falling over her shoulders, her eyes like autumn waters as she gazed at the camera, her face tender and beautiful, gentle as water.
Even though he had braced himself, the moment he truly saw that his motherâs features matched Lin Xuâs exactly, his pupils shrank, and his mind went blank with a buzz.
His lips parted slightly, but he couldnât make a sound, his gaze empty.
Ji Zeqiuâs hand trembled slightly as if in disbelief. He kept flipping through the photos, desperately searching for one that differed to disprove his thoughts, but every one of them mirrored Lin Xuâs current appearance.
The album slid from his hands, and his facial expression gradually stiffened.
After a while, Ji Zeqiu got up from the floor and walked aimlessly towards the study, looking lost and helpless.
He remembered that Ji Tingyang also had an album, stored in the study.
Perhaps Ji Tingyangâs album was different from his.
His unsteady steps faltered, his body hitting the wall several times.
The butler, hearing the commotion upstairs, went to check and, seeing Ji Zeqiuâs ashen face, his heart tightened.
âSecond Young Master, what has happened to you? Let me help you.â
âNo need.â
Ji Zeqiu brushed away the butlerâs outstretched hand, trembling as he entered the study.
He seemed possessed, opening drawer after drawer, obsessed with finding that album.
At this point, he could no longer tell if he was searching to confirm or to deny these thoughts.
Suddenly, a series of special characters caught his attention.
Parental DNA test results.
Ji Zeqiuâs searching halted; he pulled out the document, his palm sweating profusely.
He opened the document and read it word by word.
Subjects of the test: Ji Tingyang, Lin Xu.
Value of the paternity test: 99.999%.
Test result: The applicant and the respondent have a biological parent-child relationship.
So, Lin Xu was really his mother?
Ji Zeqiuâs vision became blurry, a tear the size of a bean splashed onto the document, soaking the paper.
Lin Xu was his mother.
She really was his motherâ¦
Why hadnât she told him?
Ji Zeqiu clenched the clothes over his chest, the sour gastric juice churned in his body, his breathing abruptly became rapid,
That wasnât right.
That wasnât right.
She had told him.
The day he brought Lin Xu back to the apartment, she had seriously told him, âYou might not believe it, but Iâm actually your biological motherâ¦â
Ji Zeqiu still remembered she had said this, but he had decisively not believed her. Although they shared the same name, his mother had passed away long ago and it was impossible for her to be so young now.
In this scientific world, he simply hadnât thought of anything supernatural.
Ji Zeqiu hadnât come out of the study for a long time; the butler paced back and forth in the living room, looking anxious, occasionally glancing upstairs.
Could the second young master have fainted in the study?
As his unease in the chest gradually expanded to the point of wanting to rush to the study, Ji Tingyang finally returned.
He pushed Lin Xu, who was sitting in a wheelchair, through the door. The butler quickly walked up, âEldest young master, the second young master is here.â
Ji Tingyangâs brow furrowed slightly, âWhat is he doing here?â
Mother had only been here for one day, and he was in such a hurry to take her back?
âThe second young master said he came back to get something, but I noticed he looked very pale, like he wasnât feeling well.â Worry appeared on the butlerâs face, âHeâs been in the study for several hours now, and he hasnât come out yet.â
Ji Tingyang looked toward the staircase, slightly pensive.
If it werenât for her twisted foot, Lin Xu on the wheelchair would have already raced to the study.
Lin Xu pushed Ji Tingyangâs hand, urging anxiously, âGo check on him in the study.â
Ji Tingyangâs lips thinned, reluctantly heading toward the study.
The study door wasnât locked, and upon entering, he saw Ji Zeqiu staring at a document with red-rimmed eyes, frozen in place.
That document looked familiar.
Ji Tingyang took a few steps closer, then realized his hand was holding that paternity test and was also stunned.
âYouâ¦â
A word barely escaped his throat when a swift gust of wind rose, and a fist heavily landed on his face.
His cheek hurt nearly to numbness, his ear buzzed, and a trickle of blood slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Ji Tingyang staggered, his palm stabilizing his body against the desk.
Ji Zeqiuâs eyes were cold as ice, his low voice seething with rage, he gritted his teeth, âJi Tingyang, youâre a bastard!â
âWhy did you hide it from me!â
Ji Tingyang obviously knew everything, yet he deliberately didnât tell him.
Even when he had doubted this issue, that bastard lied to him, saying it was just an illusion.
The next second, Ji Tingyangâs collar was tightly grasped.
Ji Zeqiuâs chest heaved violently, the fists in his hand grew fierce, veins on the back of his hand bulging as he continued to swing at him.
This time, Ji Tingyang was prepared, slightly tilting his head to dodge the fist.
Ji Zeqiu missed, and as he tried to swing a second time, a fierce fist first struck his own face,
Ji Tingyang shook his wrist, sneering, âWhy should I tell you.â
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