Spoiled Sparrow

He Xunnan's final question was like an arrow piercing the heart, breaking through Shen Zhaolan's secret defenses that she had kept hidden for twenty-three years.

She kept deceiving herself and brainwashing herself until she finally believed it herself.

She experienced the pain of separation from her child right after giving birth. Her perfectly healthy baby was snatched away by her enemies. She couldn't accept this blow and went crazy in the hospital, hugging her child whenever she saw him.

Su Mingsheng had reached his limit with her crazy and irrational behavior until the day she saw a newborn baby being carried to the nursery by a nurse outside the delivery room, and she followed him as if she were mesmerized.

She suddenly felt that this little baby was her own child, a tiny baby girl, and even their cries were the same.

When no one was looking, she put on a nurse's uniform and hat and took the child away.

The baby in her arms was crying loudly, but she was overjoyed and immediately breastfed the child.

When Shen Zhaolan showed the child to Su Mingsheng, he truly thought she had gone mad.

Fortunately, she stopped going crazy all day and focused all her attention on the children, so she acquiesced and immediately took them away from Y City, never to return.

Shen Zhaolan felt all her strength drain away, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and she could no longer utter a single word of defense.

She remained silent, a hoarse whisper escaping her throat: "My child... my child..."

With a thud, she fell straight onto the cold tiles.

Tears streamed down her temples, and she was still humming incoherently.

Family bankruptcy, husband's suicide, daughter's death, and a long-hidden secret exposed...

He completely broke down.

"I'm so sorry, Qingqing..."

She closed her eyes, choked back tears, and murmured to herself, knowing that she could never go back to the way things were before.

He Xunnan stood there in front of her, his eyes showing not a trace of pity.

What she didn't know was that when she took the baby away, the young He Xunnan watched as the "nurse" sister took away her younger sister.

It wasn't until the adults discovered the child was missing that he realized he had watched his sister being stolen without doing anything.

If he were a little smarter, or a little older, would things be different?

During the years when his mother was constantly in tears, his family was experiencing the pain of losing loved ones, and He Xunnan was trapped in the year he was eight years old, tormented by self-blame for a full twenty-three years.

He wished Shen Zhaolan would atone with her death, but now was not the time.

He ordered someone to take the unconscious Shen Zhaolan away, composed himself, and turned back to the ward.

Although he was mentally prepared, at the moment of confirmation, the grievances and guilt he had kept bottled up for more than 20 years burst forth all at once.

The soft ticking of the medical equipment in the ward masked the tears that streamed down He Xun'nan's face.

He looked at Ruan Qing on the hospital bed and knelt heavily in front of her.

Her shoulders trembled slightly uncontrollably, her eyes were bloodshot, and suppressed tears dripped onto the back of her hand.

"Little sister, please forgive your brother..." He choked out in a low voice, speaking to Ruan Qing, but also to himself.

His restrained emotions finally erupted, and on this day, at the age of 31, he finally let go of 8-year-old He Li and found relief.

Seeking the south, seeking the camphor tree.

Fu Chen, who had just hung up the phone outside the door, frowned deeply. He looked at the scene with a solemn expression...

Just as he was about to push the door open, his phone suddenly vibrated.

The three characters "Fu Yancheng" appeared on the screen.

He hung up impatiently, and soon another call came in: Fu Gaohong, the old man of the Fu family.

Fu Chen frowned slightly, walked away, and answered the phone.

On the other end of the phone came the authoritative voice of Old Master Fu: "Fu Chen, return to the old mansion immediately."

One problem after another had arisen before the first one was resolved. He said in a very low voice, "Grandpa, I'm afraid it won't work today."

"Your father told me that it was all because of that girl of unknown origin who he mobilized the Fu family's manpower without authorization, causing rumors to spread everywhere. It's simply outrageous!"

Old Master Fu was most annoyed by those who disobeyed him. Fu Chen had repeatedly defied him, and he had reached his limit.

Fu Yancheng added fuel to the fire: "Father, I think we should arrange a marriage with the Zhao family as soon as possible to put an end to his thoughts."

Old Master Fu's voice fell again, issuing his final ultimatum.

"Your mother has finally come home, you don't want her to be disappointed, do you?"

Fu Chen's heart tightened suddenly; the subtle threat in those words was testing his bottom line.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand, Grandpa."

As soon as he finished speaking, the person on the other end hung up the phone decisively.

He stood silently outside the ward for a few seconds, suppressing his turbulent emotions, before turning and leaving.

The Fu family's old house, which started with the great-great-grandfather's generation, has been passed down through generations and has become a courtyard house that combines Chinese and Western styles.

The old man, Mr. Fu, sat solemnly in the main seat; at eighty years old, he still exuded dignity and spirit.

Fu Yancheng, who was standing beside him, was his only son. He was not as good as his father and son in business, but the old man had spoiled him for many years. He handed the company over to his grandson Fu Chen early on because he was afraid that Fu Yancheng would squander the family fortune.

The large living room was silent and the atmosphere was oppressive.

The old man spoke first: "Now that you're back, why don't you have a proper talk with your mother?"

The maid pushed the wheelchair out, and the mother, Lan Yin, sat in the wheelchair with a blank look in her eyes, as if she could not see the people in the hall.

Although she is over fifty years old, you can still see the beauty she had in her youth on her face.

Fu Chen knelt down and grasped her thin hand: "Mother."

Lan Yin did not reply, nor did she even glance at him.

Since the incident, Lan Yin has become a living "dead person," able to eat and sleep but no longer speaking or showing any emotion.

Fearing that the news would spread and bring shame upon the Fu family, the Fu family kept Lan Yin locked up in a remote ancient castle for many years, and decades have passed in the blink of an eye.

Looking into his mother's empty eyes, Fu Chen felt a surge of bitterness in his heart.

"Aunt Liu, let's take Mother to rest."

"Yes, young master."

The old man said coldly, "I'll cover up your matter, but the marriage alliance with the Zhao family can't be delayed any longer. Tomorrow night is the engagement banquet between the two families, and you must attend."

"I think the Zhao family's daughter is gentle and refined, a good match for you, and a suitable wife."

The old man patted him on the shoulder: "Don't associate with that girl anymore, or don't blame your grandfather for being heartless."

"You can only choose between the Fu family's assets and their true feelings."

Back then, Fu Yancheng chose the former option without hesitation.

He married Lan Yin, whom he had no feelings for, and forced her to give birth to Fu Chen.

Now, they want Fu Chen to repeat this step.

"You've always been stubborn. Your grandfather kindly advised you, but you couldn't protect her."

Fu Gaohong pressed on relentlessly. At first, he could turn a blind eye, thinking that Fu Chen was just playing around and would get tired of him after a while.

Who would have thought that they would release a tiger back into the mountains, and that the heir they had painstakingly cultivated would fall in love with a powerless orphan girl? What a joke!

As long as he has a breath left, he will never let her into the Fu family!

The old man concluded with a warning: "If you can't solve this, then Grandpa will 'help' you."