Xiao Yufan’s mother, who had hesitated and paused as if holding something back, finally began to speak. As she gazed at the jade pendant lying flat on the table, she couldn’t help but sigh deeply…
“Do you know who your birth parents are?” she asked. She knew it was no longer necessary to keep the truth hidden. They had selfishly withheld it for twenty-five years, but she could no longer allow Xiao Yufan to remain in ignorance.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. To me, having you and Dad is enough…”
Xiao Yufan shook his head. He admitted he harbored deep resentment toward his biological parents. Why had they abandoned him simply because of his birth date?
“You might hold a grudge against them, but they love you too. They had no choice but to give you up for reasons beyond their control. Still, they’ve sent money every year, and I think—”
“Mom, no matter how much material wealth they give me, they’ve never given me love or family bonds. How can I possibly accept them?”
A bitter smile curled the corner of Xiao Yufan’s lips. Ever since his master had revealed the truth, he had never forgiven his heartless birth parents. Since he had already been cast away, why did he have to seek out suffering? Wasn’t his current life perfectly fine?
“Although I don’t fully understand, from what little your grandfather and master have said, I can roughly grasp the situation. They didn’t abandon you—they simply had no choice. Your birth date destined you for a life of hardship, so they wanted you to grow up ordinary and safe. After all, no parent could give up their child without breaking their own heart!”
“Broken hearts? Then where have they been all these years? To abandon their child for twenty-five years—anyone would feel cold inside thinking about it…”
Feeling a chill deep in his heart, Xiao Yufan’s hatred grew stronger. He couldn’t understand what he had done wrong. But now, at twenty-five, he felt he no longer needed them.
“Your birth parents carry the heavy burden of a family legacy. They had their own reasons. They’re not like us common folk. In time, you’ll understand.”
Though Xiao Yufan’s mother wasn’t highly educated, she knew right from wrong. She didn’t want Xiao Yufan to harbor resentment toward his birth parents forever, because one day he would inevitably return to them.
“A family legacy?” Xiao Yufan hesitated, almost wanting to laugh. Could it be that his parents were actually the heads of some powerful family? This kind of melodramatic plot only happened in soap operas—how could it possibly be his reality?
…
The death of his grandfather had already left Xiao Yufan heartbroken, and now his mother’s words only deepened his inner turmoil. At this moment, Xiao Yufan was overwhelmed with emotion.
Even Xiao Yufan himself couldn’t quite define his feelings toward his birth parents. Was it hatred? Yet what right did he have to hate? They had given him the most precious gift of all—life itself.
“There’s always a way forward when the car reaches the mountain. Let things unfold naturally.”
He picked up the finely carved jade pendant from the table and tightly clenched it in his palm. No matter how much he tried to deny it, perhaps deep within his heart, there was still a flicker of hope.
“Grandpa, don’t worry. Now I’ve built a better life for myself. Even if I’m out there alone, I’ll be just fine. Maybe in a while, I’ll even bring your future granddaughter-in-law home!”
He carefully folded the letter and gently placed it into the pocket over his heart, then tidied up the bank card, murmuring to himself. No matter how cruelly fate had played its hand, life must go on, right?
As he stepped out of the room, Xiao Yufan saw that his grandfather’s memorial hall had already been prepared. But since the old man had expressed his wish not to have one, Xiao Yufan decided to honor that. Silently, he began to pray in his heart…
Xiao Yufan knew that his grandfather’s life had been legendary. The Xiao family had once been renowned as masters of Feng Shui, and his grandfather had been a well-known practitioner near and far. Though the family had never been rich, they had lived comfortably and with respect.
Life always held many unknowns, and death was merely a part of destiny. Each person had their own path to walk. Xiao Yufan understood that some things were unavoidable and inescapable.
Carrying his grandfather’s expectations, Xiao Yufan believed he could achieve something in life. Only after his heart had found peace did he slowly begin to understand that looking at things from another angle could bring a completely different perspective. At the very least, he had already grown indifferent to the matter of his true identity.
Xiao’s mother, who had been hesitating to speak, finally opened up. She sighed as she looked at the jade pendant lying flat on the table…
“Do you know who your biological parents are?” Xiao’s mother knew that many things no longer needed to be hidden. They had been selfish for twenty-five years, and it was time to stop keeping Xiao Yufan in the dark.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. In my eyes, having you and father is enough…”
Xiao Yufan shook his head. He admitted that he harbored a great deal of resentment toward his biological parents. Why had they abandoned him just because of his birth date?
“You may have a lot of grievances against them, but they also loved you. They had no choice but to send you away due to certain circumstances. But every year, they sent money for you. I think…”
“Mom, even if they gave me all the material things in the world, it wouldn’t matter. They never gave me any affection. How could I possibly accept them?”
A bitter smile tugged at Xiao Yufan’s lips. Ever since his master had told him the truth, he had never forgiven his heartless biological parents. Since he was already an abandoned child, why should he seek unhappiness? Wasn’t his current life good enough?
“Although I don’t fully understand, from the bits and pieces your grandfather and master mentioned, I can roughly grasp the situation. They didn’t abandon you out of neglect. Your birth date destined you for a life of hardship. They just wanted you to grow up in peace and simplicity. After all, hearts are made of flesh. When they sent you here, your parents’ hearts were the ones that hurt the most!”
“Hurt? Then where have they been all these years? To leave their child for twenty-five years—anyone would feel heartbroken…”
Feeling the desolation in his heart, Xiao Yufan’s resentment grew stronger. He didn’t understand what he had done wrong! But fortunately, he was now twenty-five years old, and he no longer needed any of this…
“Your parents are bound by the mission of a family. They have their own struggles. They are not like us ordinary people. You will understand this gradually.”
Xiao’s mother wasn’t highly educated, but she knew right from wrong. She didn’t want Xiao Yufan to harbor any resentment toward his biological parents. After all, one day, Xiao Yufan would have to return to them.
“Family mission?” Xiao Yufan was momentarily stunned, almost wanting to laugh. Could it be that his parents were actually the heads of some prominent family? This kind of melodramatic plot, which only happened in TV dramas, couldn’t possibly be happening to him.
…
The death of his grandfather had already been enough to sadden Xiao Yufan, and his mother’s words had pushed him into the eye of the storm. For a moment, his heart was filled with a whirlwind of emotions.
Even Xiao Yufan himself wasn’t sure what kind of feelings he had toward his biological parents. Was it hatred? But what reason did he have to hate them? They had given him the most precious gift of life…
“When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself. Just follow your heart in all things.”
Picking up the intricately carved jade pendant from the table, Xiao Yufan clenched it tightly in his hand. No matter how much he resisted, perhaps deep down, there was still a glimmer of hope…
“Grandpa, don’t worry. I now have a better life of my own. Even if I’m out there struggling alone, I’ll be fine. In a little while, I might even bring your granddaughter-in-law back!”
Folding the letter carefully, he placed it gently in the pocket close to his chest. Xiao Yufan then tidied up the bank card, murmuring to himself. No matter what joke fate had played on him, life still had to go on, didn’t it?
Stepping out of the room, Xiao Yufan saw that his grandfather’s memorial altar had already been set up. Since the old man hadn’t wanted a formal altar, he decided to let it be. In his heart, Xiao Yufan kept praying…
Xiao Yufan knew that his grandfather’s life had been filled with legendary tales. The Xiao family ancestors were renowned feng shui masters, and his grandfather had been a well-known feng shui master himself. Although the Xiao family wasn’t extremely wealthy, they had certainly made a name for themselves.
Life is always full of unknowns, and both life and death are part of the grand design. Everyone has their own destiny, and Xiao Yufan knew that there were some things he couldn’t escape or avoid.
Carrying his grandfather’s expectations, Xiao Yufan believed that he would achieve something great. When his heart became calm, he slowly began to understand that looking at things from a different perspective could bring a different feeling. At least, he had come to terms with his identity.
“Feng shui family? The Chu Corporation…” Xiao Yufan recalled what his mother had just told him, silently committing it all to memory. He began to feel curious about his biological parents, who had never shown him any affection. What kind of existence were they, really?
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