Chapter 99 Deserved Retribution
Zhou Yue Lan stared blankly in the direction of Lin Qingyan’s departure. Unarguably, in all those past years, she had never treated him as her own child.
She had lavished all her love on An Nanyi, even though her eldest son was unwilling to acknowledge her, disdaining her as a useless mother.
Her youngest son also thought she was a disgrace. Since she was imprisoned, he hadn’t visited her once.
The first person to visit her was the foster son she cared about the least.
“I’m sorry…” Zhou Yue Lan finally shed tears of remorse. She lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs as she murmured, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I deserve this…”
“Yes, you deserve this.”
Song Shu Man, her eyes red, glared at the woman with hatred. Clenching her fists, her body trembling uncontrollably, she gritted her teeth, “What did we do wrong? What did my child do wrong? Why did you treat him like this?!”
“Back then, I pitied you, alone in the hospital, and looked after you. It was just a small act of kindness. I never expected your gratitude or repayment, but why did you repay kindness with cruelty?!”
Zhou Yue Lan didn’t dare raise her head, only repeatedly saying sorry.
“What’s the use of saying sorry!” Song Shu Man almost hysterically shouted this sentence. After a moment, she managed to control her emotions and said:
“He was my child, carried for ten months, and painstakingly given birth to. He was switched at birth and never had a day of motherly love!”
“You care about your children, wanting them to live a good life. But did you ever think about me? I cherished your son, while my own son suffered hardship in another family. Did you ever consider our feelings?!”
“Every time I think about the life Yan Yan has lived all these years, the hardships he endured, I feel heartbroken and self-reproachful. I can’t sleep at night…”
“I love him as much as I hate you!”
…
The couple, worried about Lin Qingyan, soon came out. An Ling Kang comforted his sorrowful wife, “It’s alright now, our Yan Yan is back. Don’t let Yan Yan see you more upset than he is.”
“You say that, but you were also crying your eyes out.”
“No, I have to maintain my dignity in front of the child. Don’t spread that around.”
“You’re such a hypocrite.” Song Shu Man finally broke into a tearful smile.
When they reached the doorway, they saw Lin Qingyan and An Yu sitting side-by-side on the steps. An Yu was gesticulating excitedly, telling something, and Lin Qingyan was laughing.
The atmosphere between the two brothers was very harmonious.
Song Shu Man and An Ling Kang exchanged a smile, their faces showing relief and happiness.
“What are you two talking about?”
“I’m telling Yan Yan about Big Brother’s embarrassing stories. Yan Yan, don’t look at Big Brother’s impeccable appearance in front of the camera; at home, he’s just a slob who picks his feet!”
An Ling Kang lightly patted his head, laughing and crying, “You little rascal, don’t let your Big Brother hear that, or he’ll chase you around with a broom again.”
Lin Qingyan couldn’t help but smile. His low spirits gradually lifted, and the next second, he met his parents’ concerned gazes. He took the initiative to say, “Mom and Dad, don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“That’s good.”
They didn’t mention what had just happened.
“Do you want to come home with us, back to our home?” Song Shu Man looked at her youngest son expectantly.
Lin Qingyan smiled and nodded.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” An Yu excitedly hooked Lin Qingyan’s shoulder and led him outside. “Second Brother will show you how messy Big Brother’s room is. He throws his socks, which haven’t been washed for three days, under the bed.”
“…” Lin Qingyan twitched his mouth. He could almost smell the odor, and his Big Brother’s stalwart image in his mind was completely shattered.
Song Shu Man and An Ling Kang also followed with smiles.
On the other hand, An Jing, who was diligently recording a program, inexplicably sneezed. He rubbed his nose and thought, it must be that stinky kid An Yu talking bad about him behind his back.
——
An Corporation was also a top-notch conglomerate in Nancheng, naturally wealthy. Their villa was as luxurious and grand as the Gu family’s.
This used to be An Nanyi’s home, but now everything related to An Nanyi had disappeared, even the prominent family portrait that had always been hung up was removed.
An Nanyi stood there, looking blankly at the home where he had lived for nineteen years. It was familiar yet unfamiliar; his hands involuntarily clenched.
“Little…” The word “young master” hadn’t left his mouth when the housekeeper abruptly stopped him. She came over with tea, saying awkwardly, “Sir, Madam, and Second Young Master went out on business this morning.”
“Your things are all packed, in your old room. Do you need me to call someone to help you move them out?”
Hearing this, An Nanyi bit his lip tightly, a flash of hatred in his eyes. Then he forced a smile at the housekeeper, his expression somewhat pitiful. “No, I’ll wait for them to come back here. Aunt Huang, you go ahead and do your work.”
The housekeeper, Aunt Huang, felt a bit embarrassed. She had worked in the An family for many years and had watched An Nanyi grow up. Seeing his pitiful appearance, she couldn’t help but feel sympathy, but she couldn’t disobey the master’s orders.
Everyone in the An family knew what An Nanyi had done behind their backs. She never imagined that this usually well-behaved child would do such a thing.
It really was… one can’t judge a book by its cover.
“You should go back first. If it’s too much trouble, I’ll have someone deliver the things in your room to your current residence.” Aunt Huang persuaded kindly.
The smile on An Nanyi’s face stiffened, and then he dejectedly lowered his eyes, whispering, “Did my parents order this?”
“Yes, but they are not your parents anymore. Don’t come here again.” Aunt Huang said, “The master and madam are going to bring the young master back soon; you should leave quickly.”
Young master… He was supposed to be the young master of this house!
Why did Lin Qingyan, upon his return, seize his position and have his parents drive him away? His parents usually loved him so much. If it weren’t for Lin Qingyan’s instigation, how could he have been driven out of the An family!
Now even a servant looked down on him and wanted to drive him away!
An Nanyi suppressed the malevolent emotions in his eyes. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears. He forced a smile and said to Aunt Huang, “Okay, then I’ll go back. They probably wouldn’t be happy to see me, so I won’t disturb you.”
“I don’t have a place to live yet. I’ll leave my luggage here for now. I’ll come back for it next time.”
Watching An Nanyi leave, Aunt Huang sighed with emotion, wondering if his words were true. In the past, she would have naturally believed that he was a well-behaved child. Now things were different.
When An Fu and An Mu returned with Lin Qingyan, An Nanyi had already left, naturally unaware of this. He was happily welcomed home by his parents and brother.
“Yan Yan, this is your home from now on. Do you want Mom to give you a tour?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Song Shu Man and An Yu took Lin Qingyan on a tour. An Ling Kang called Aunt Huang to a private place and asked about what had just happened. Aunt Huang had called An Ling Kang as soon as An Nanyi had arrived.
Aunt Huang said, “He left twenty minutes ago. He didn’t take his luggage, saying that he hadn’t found a place to live yet and would come back for it later.”
An Ling Kang asked, “What else did he say?”
“Actually, nothing much… Oh, right, he also said you guys wouldn’t be happy to see him, so he wouldn’t disturb you.”
Aunt Huang hesitated for a moment and added, “When he said that, he was about to cry. He seemed very sad and reluctant to leave. Sir, are you really going to…”
“Don’t mention these things anymore.” An Ling Kang abruptly interrupted her. “I’ll have someone send his luggage over; he doesn’t need to come get it himself. And, don’t tell Shu Man and the children that he came.”
“Okay, I understand.”
…
The villa was huge. Lin Qingyan had vague memories of it, as this wasn’t his first time here. There was something he hadn’t told An Fu and An Mu.
It was during his senior year of high school. He and An Nanyi were still friends. An Nanyi was having a birthday party at home for his seventeenth birthday, inviting all his classmates.
Lin Qingyan was always a loner, with only An Nanyi as a friend, so he went.
It was his first time seeing such a luxurious and beautiful villa, like a castle in a fairy tale, and An Nanyi was the little prince in the castle.
He didn’t even dare to approach, because he couldn’t afford a decent gift. He could only sit far away in the corner, watching the little prince be surrounded by classmates, friends, and parents and brother, feeling inferior and envious.
Nobody knew that that day was also Lin Qingyan’s seventeenth birthday. But he had never celebrated it because nobody cared.
…
Lin Qingyan stayed there until evening before returning. An Yu really did give him a tour of An Jing’s room, and it was exactly as described…
Song Shu Man had made many delicious dinners and desserts. She packed a lot for him to take back. Before he left, she was reluctant to let him go. “Yan Yan, why don’t you stay tonight? Tomorrow we’ll go to the Gu family’s to pack your things and move back home, okay?”
Lin Qingyan was naturally hesitant, but An Yu understood his thoughts. “Mom, Yan Yan has already told Gu Fei, how can we suddenly move? Don’t make things difficult for him.”
Heh heh… Fei Fei, you should thank me. I risked being beaten up by Big Brother to help you.
The An family and the Gu family weren’t far apart; it was a half-hour drive. By the time Lin Qingyan returned to the Gu family’s, it was already past eight o’clock in the evening.
As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Gu Fei standing at the entrance. The man was still wearing the shirt and trousers he had worn when he left in the morning. Under the bright lights and gentle moonlight, his expression was his usual calm and gentle one.
Lin Qingyan quickly walked to the man, looking at him with smiling eyes, calling out “Fei Ge,” his clear voice filled with joy and happiness. Those peach blossom eyes seemed to sparkle under the moonlight.