Reborn and awakened, this time I won't be a love-struck fool.

Lin Si woke up exceptionally early today.

I'm going to visit Fang Cong in prison.

When he received Lin Wu's call, he thought Lin Wu was still asleep and talking in her sleep.

It wasn't until Jiang Fanxing took the phone that he realized he wasn't joking.

He really does have a younger brother whom he has never met.

This is terrifying; for Lin Si, it's like Mars colliding with Earth.

It took me over twenty years to find out I had a younger brother.

The most outrageous thing is that my younger brother was lost right after he was born, and after more than 20 years, he has now been found again.

He got into the car that took him to the police station with a sullen face.

On the way there, he closed his eyes.

It feels like we've gained another debt collector.

There's now a silly little brother who's trying to steal Lin Wu's attention from him.

His relationship with Lin Wu had finally improved.

Things have finally gotten a tiny bit better.

Suddenly, I'm going to have another younger brother.

I'm so angry.

Lin Si felt like he was about to die of anger.

Until he saw Zou Xun being held in Jiang Fanxing's arms.

All the thoughts in Lin Si's mind vanished one by one, and he stared at Lin Wu in shock.

Lin Wu leaned over and patted his shoulder, nodding solemnly, "Yes, that's exactly what you think."

Lin Si opened his mouth, "...This is too outrageous."

"It's a bit outrageous, but it's also quite acceptable, isn't it?" Lin Wu smiled as she looked at him.

"...Yes." Lin Si responded softly.

On his way here, he was still thinking about how to establish his authority in front of his new younger brother.

If it's Zou Xun, then forget it.

Zou Xun is quite pitiful.

They are quite sensible and obedient.

At least last night when the two of them were playing games together, Zou Xun mentioned that he would get up early this morning to work part-time handing out flyers, handing out flyers in the morning, helping out at a milk tea shop in the afternoon, and delivering takeout when it got dark.

It's normal for him to work two or three jobs a day.

He never complained, as if he had become accustomed to this kind of life.

They experienced the hardships of life earlier than their peers.

Why would Lin Si make things difficult for such a child?

……

That evening, Zou Xun ate his first family reunion dinner in nearly twenty years of his life.

Of course, Dad didn't come, so I used his photo.

Jiang Fanxing was overjoyed. She drank a glass of red wine, slightly tipsy, her eyes shimmering. "This is... the happiest day of my life..."

She wrapped her arms around the wine bottle. "Your father and I...we searched for you for eighteen years...eighteen years...eighteen years...you were so young then, you couldn't even speak. We're so sorry...Xiao Xun..."

Words of comfort lingered on his lips for a long time, but in the end, Zou Xun said nothing and simply handed over a tissue.

He enjoys listening to these things.

Lin Wu and Lin Si were both silent.

They used to just feel that the atmosphere at home was strange.

The truth has only come to light today.

It turns out a child was missing.

Even a broken bone takes a hundred days to heal, and the pain of not being able to find a child is like losing a limb.

It hurts every day, and I think about it every day.

Especially since Zou Xun was so young when he was lost.

"We're so sorry... Xiao Bao..." Jiang Fanxing's eyes were red-rimmed. "If only I hadn't gone out back then, if only I had been more careful..."

"It's okay," Zou Xun said stiffly, wiping away her tears with a tissue. "It's really okay."

Jiang Fanxing looked at him.

The boy said softly, "I've grown up properly now."

He's grown up now, and he's very happy with himself.

Don't dwell on the past; just work hard for the future.

-

That night, Zou Xun slept in his new home.

The following afternoon, he went to the hospital as usual.

Zou Lian seemed to have been thinking about something these past two days. Sitting on the hospital bed, she surprisingly started watching movies with a very calm attitude.

It was a children's movie, heartwarming and full of childlike fun.

Zou Xun placed the newly bought fruit basket on the bedside table and then silently sat down in his usual spot.

He didn't speak, and neither did Zou Lian.

The bed next to mine had already been occupied by a patient the day before yesterday, but fortunately there was a curtain separating them.

"...Would you like something to eat?"

Zou asked.

"I won't eat it." Zou Lian refused immediately, as if she hadn't even thought about it.

"Okay." Zou Xun did not insist.

He picked out a banana, peeled it, and started eating it.

Zou Lian glanced at him, seemingly angered by his appearance, "I'm in this state, and you still have the mind to eat bananas here?"

"..."

Zou Xun paused, "What else can I do? I've already bought it, it would be a waste not to eat it."

Zou Lian: "..."

She clutched her chest, flopped onto the bed, and said, "How could I have raised such an unfilial child?"

Zou Xun did not refute.

He slowly ate the whole banana.

He remained calm when Zou Lian scolded him before because he was used to it.

The first time he was scolded, he was stunned and sad, and he would secretly shed tears when no one was around.

After repeated exposure, the sensitivity gradually wears off.

He is calm now because he has realized that he is not entirely useless.

At least his biological mother treated him very well.

He now has a father, mother, older sister, and older brother.

Although their father is in prison, they haven't had a chance to meet yet, and although their older brother and sister are a bit fierce.

But my mom is very nice and gentle!

Seeing that he didn't refute her, Zou Lian cursed to herself for a while.

After scolding her, I felt it was pointless.

It was like punching cotton.

She lay down on the bed, a surge of anger welling up inside her.

"mom……"

Zou Xun suddenly called her name in a low voice.

Zou Lian looked at him impatiently, "What?"

The boy's eyes were like a calm lake. "I found my mom and dad. They had been looking for me. My mom is very good to me."

Zou Lian was taken aback, staring blankly at him, her ears ringing as if she hadn't heard him clearly. "What did you say?"

"I said, I've found my mom and dad," Zou Xun said slowly but firmly. "You don't need to worry about me anymore."

Perhaps Zou Lian never worried.

After all, ever since she was diagnosed with the disease, she has been trapped in the panic of her illness and has been constantly throwing tantrums, as if she has never thought about his future.

After all, if Zou Lian leaves, he will be all alone.

The woman in the bed next to mine has been crying these past few days, worried about what will happen to her daughter without a mother in the future.

Zou Lian, however, seemed to have never been worried.

She never showed it.

Zou Lian's face darkened. "Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not kidding," Zou Xun explained. "My parents had been looking for me, so I went to the police station for a DNA test, and they found me right away."

Lin Chuanqiong and Jiang Fanxing have been looking for him.

If Zou Xun had even the slightest desire to find his parents, he could achieve it quickly by simply taking action.

Unfortunately, he only recently learned that he is not Zou Lian's biological child.

It was delayed by many years.

If he had known earlier, the family might have been reunited much sooner.

Zou Lian's breathing quickened, and the corners of her lips curved slightly, but she failed again after two seconds. Her gaze gradually turned vicious and sinister. "Your parents know how to take advantage of people. I've worked so hard to raise you, and they haven't contributed a single penny. Now they know to come over."

Zou Xun frowned. "No, they said they would pay you and use their connections to expedite finding a suitable kidney for you."

Zou Lian originally wanted to curse a few words, but when she heard that they would help her find a suitable kidney donor, she couldn't bring herself to curse.

She wanted to live.

She really wanted to live.

She hasn't lived enough yet.

The breath was stuck in my throat, unable to escape, so I could only grit my teeth and swallow it down.

"..."

Her face darkened. "Anyone can talk big, right?"

Zou Xun scratched his head and said, following Jiang Fanxing's instructions, "My...my father's surname is Lin."

The word "father" sounded like a hot potato to him, and he stammered out the word for a long time.

Zou Lian sneered, "What a pretentious act. There are plenty of people with the surname Lin in the world..."

Zou Xun whispered, "I heard that the building in the city center belongs to the Lin family."

"..."

Zou Lian fell silent again.

Because during the time she was in a loving relationship with Xie Xingbang, she was very knowledgeable about these things in high society.

Xie Xingbang, for example, has always been trying to curry favor with the eldest son of the Lin family.

Her lips moved, as if she wanted to laugh. "Your dad wouldn't happen to be Lin Chuanqiong, would he?"

"That seems to be the name," Zou Xun nodded.

Zou Lian's expression changed instantly.

Seeing her surprised expression, Zou Xun asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Although he had been doing various part-time jobs since he was a child, he had always worked in small restaurants, supermarkets, or squares and knew nothing about these things.

He only knew that his biological parents were probably in decent condition, but he didn't know exactly how amazing they were.

"Nothing much." Zou Lian slowly exhaled, then suddenly laughed out loud, as if she had thought of something.

Zou Xun frowned, knowing he wouldn't get anything out of Zou Lian, so he lowered his head and started searching for Lin Chuanqiong's name on his phone.

He just did a random search.

Unexpectedly, several entries popped up, each more authoritative than the last.

Zou Xun was stunned.

I was only just realizing how amazing my parents are.

Zou Lian was actually laughing at Xie Xingbang.

He fawned over Lin Chuanqiong so much before, but he bossed around Lin's son and nitpicked at him in every way.

The ward fell silent for a brief moment.

Zou Lian suddenly asked, "Are you happy?"

"What?" Zou Xun was taken aback. The photo on his phone was from Lin Chuanqiong's Baidu Baike page.

He was wearing a suit and looked quite young. The photo must have been taken a long time ago. He had a very handsome face with well-defined bone structure.

"You've gotten rid of this burden of mine and found rich parents. Aren't you very happy and proud?" Zou Lian looked at him coldly.

Zou Xun: "..."

His face was expressionless.

He simply watched Zou Lian quietly.

After a long while, he said, "I am very happy, but not because my parents are rich. It's because I have found my own parents. Even if they were street sweepers, I would still be happy. And I have no intention of abandoning you. I will take care of you in your old age."

Zou Lian: "..."

She pursed her lips.

Zou Xun continued, "I'm telling you now only because I thought you would be happy for me."

Zou Lian gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

A month later, Zou Xun went to visit Jiang Fanxing.

Through a pane of glass, he saw his father for the first time.

The man stared at him for a long time without saying a word.

My gaze slowly moved from his eyes to his nose and mouth.

Finally, laughing, he said, "I told you I could find it."

As the years went by, everyone around felt that it was gone forever.

But he just felt he could find it again.

Holding onto this unwavering belief, he never gave up.

Fortunately, we found it now, even if it's a bit late.

The father and son exchanged a few awkward words.

Then it was Jiang Fanxing again.

The couple looked at each other through the glass for a while before Jiang Fanxing picked up the microphone and said, "Don't worry, Mom is feeling better recently. Last week, the board of directors collectively voted to remove you...removing Lin Qingyuan from his position."

Lin Chuanqiong waited until she finished speaking before asking, "And you? Are you alright?"

"I..." Jiang Fanxing paused for a few seconds before saying, "I'm fine."

"Okay." He smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Wait for me to come out."

……

Xu Jingwang woke up at nine o'clock in the morning.

He finished washing up and came out of the bedroom; the villa was empty.

Lin Wu was nowhere to be seen.

The housekeeper had prepared the meal. "Sir, what would you like for lunch today? Miss Lin left early."

Previously, she would have directly asked Lin Wu these kinds of questions.

Xu Jingwang held the coffee cup, head down, and said, "I'm fine with anything."

Aunt: "Okay."

After she finished speaking, she started to worry again.

What I fear most is being too casual; I'm fine with anything.

Xu Jingwang finished his entire cup of coffee, his expression indifferent. Just as he was about to go back to sleep, he received a message.

Melancholy Sweetie: [Are you busy this afternoon?]

He paused, then looked down and replied: "No."

Melancholy Sweetie: [A new movie recently came out, and my two younger brothers went to see it and said it was great, but I've been a bit busy lately, so no one's going to watch it with me.]

Xu Jingwang: "..."

He looked at the sentence over and over again, a little worried that he might have misunderstood it.

Until the person on the other end replied pitifully.

Melancholy Sweetie: [Waaaaah, I'm so pathetic! Nobody wants to go to the movies with me.]

There is no misunderstanding.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he quickly typed: "I'll go with you."

Melancholy Sweetie: [Okay then, hehe.]

After receiving a reply, Lin Wu was about to put away her phone when Lin Si's lazy voice came from behind her.

"Dinner's ready."

"They're here."

She got up from the sofa.

The family of four sat around the dining table.

"Do we still need to go to the hospital today?" Jiang Fanxing asked Zou Xun.

"No need." Zou Xun shook his head. "She said she doesn't want to see me. With a caregiver here, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Fine, I won't go. I'll just get yelled at anyway," Lin Si said unhappily.

He had wanted to go to the hospital to scold Zou Lian for a long time, but Ms. Jiang stopped him from going.

Zou Xun smiled.

Jiang Fanxing then looked at Lin Si, "And you? What are you planning to do today?"

"Playing games." Lin Si basically stays at home playing games every day, and recently he's been thinking about buying a webcam to become a game streamer.

He used to dream of becoming a professional gamer, but he's too old now and has a criminal record.

Being a game streamer is actually not bad; you can play games, and if you do it well, your income potential is high.

"Where's Wuwu?" Jiang Fanxing asked again.

"I'm going to see a movie this afternoon," Lin Wu said with a smile.

It's a sunny day today, and the restaurant is very well lit, illuminating the entire room.

This was a scene that Lin Wumeng wouldn't have dared to dream of even six months ago.

(End of the Past Life Chapter)

I'll write about the wedding in the timeline of the main text tomorrow.