Spoiled Sparrow

A village in Y city.

"This little brat stole my chickens! He's so young and already so bad at everything, a jinx!"

"You ungrateful wretch, born of a mother but raised without one, I'll teach you a lesson for them!"

For several days in a row, chickens and ducks went missing from house to house in the village. The village is so small that everyone in the village knows each other.

Who would bother stealing these things?

The group joined forces and turned their anger towards Xiao Li, a homeless orphan.

They wouldn't listen to any explanations, only believing what they already knew, and beat him up without saying a word.

A young couple passing by couldn't bear to watch any longer.

They compensated several families for their losses before stopping.

"Honey, we should call the police and let them handle this. Otherwise, if you get involved this time, it will definitely happen again."

Pei Yu dampened a hot towel and gently wiped away the dirt from Xiao Li's body.

"Those people were so ruthless. If you wait for them to arrive, it'll be too late."

"Come here and take off his clothes, check if there are any other wounds."

Pei Yu stood up, pointed at her husband He Zhou, and said, "Hurry up."

"Here it comes, here it comes."

After the child was brought home, he didn't say a word, but just cooperated with the couple and obediently went through the physical examination.

The large and small bruises hidden under the clothes were shocking to behold.

"This is pure abuse!"

Having spent many years in the world of fame and fortune, Hezhou had never seen a child with so many wounds.

The couple took Xiaoli to the nearest large hospital overnight for a comprehensive examination.

Doctor: "This child has been starving for years and is suffering from chronic malnutrition. If this continues, it may affect his development."

......

For more than a year afterward, the couple kept Xiao Li at home.

Xiao Li also became the couple's personal tour guide.

Pei Yu: "Honey, I really like Xiao Li, how about we raise him?"

Pei Yu has always been in charge of domestic affairs, while He Zhou has been in charge of external affairs. He Zhou has never refused any of her requests.

And so, Xiao Li, who had been wandering outside, got her own name—He Li.

Soon, Pei Yu, who had been trying to conceive for many years without success, became pregnant here.

She had never been so happy. She hugged He Li tightly, saying, "Son, you're my lucky star!"

*

In the last few days of her pregnancy, Hezhou moved her family out of the resort and stayed at the hospital.

Soon, Pei Yu gave birth to a 6-pound baby girl.

He Zhou and Pei Yu were immersed in the joy of the arrival of their newborn child.

He Li, however, wore a very stiff smile.

One night, he sat alone outside the nursery.

Looking at my baby sister in the cradle, I couldn't help but smile. I realized how adorable babies are.

It seems that Widow Jiang was lying to him; she must be.

That night, a nurse took the little girl away. He sat on the stool, hesitating for a minute...

*

Twenty-three years later.

"So...you mean, I was stolen away by Shen Zhaolan?"

Ruan Qing looked at him in disbelief. She had considered that He Xun Nan might know about her background.

But unexpectedly, he turned out to be her brother...

The sheer volume of information instantly broke through her psychological defenses.

He Xunnan nodded: "That's right, so you're not an abandoned child. Come home with me."

Ruan Qing was pressing on her heart and couldn't breathe.

She knew she was very sad, but she couldn't cry.

She couldn't accept the truth for a moment: "Brother Xunnan, I..."

He Xunnan: "I know it's hard for you to accept right now, but... think of your parents, they've been waiting for you. Come with me, okay?"

Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, then He Xunnan suddenly became agitated, pressing his hand on the table: "You still have feelings for that man...?"

"I...."

Ruan Qing: "Sorry, I need time to process this."

He Xunnan was about to say something more when Louis called out to him through his earpiece.

"Mr. He, there is an old Chinese saying that goes, 'Haste makes waste.'"

He Xun Nan tried his best to suppress the urge to forcibly take her away and stood up.

"Nannan, Fu Chen is about to marry Zhao Xiyao. He is not good enough for you at all."

"If you want to leave, I can take you with me anytime."

Ruan Qing wanted to say something more, but her throat felt like it was blocked with cotton, and she couldn't say anything.

She sat there stunned and called Officer Zhang Yao.

"Hello, Miss Ruan."

Ruan Qing took a deep breath, calming her trembling voice: "Officer Zhang, I'm sorry to bother you so late. Have you received the results for my blood sample being entered into the database?"

Zhang Yao: "It's been entered into the database, but the results will take a few more days. I'll let you know via SMS when they're available."

"it is good."

Ruan Qing hung up the phone and got up to leave.

The man who listened to the entire conversation from inside the car had a look of utter despair in his eyes.

......

The next day at the castle

Sunlight streamed through the glass windows, shining directly onto Ruan Qing's face.

She frowned and opened her eyes uncomfortably.

The moment she saw her surroundings clearly, her heart sank to the bottom.

She had changed into pajamas, and all her belongings were nowhere to be found.

She got out of bed barefoot, stumbled to the door, and twisted the handle with all her might.

Not moving.

She instantly realized what was happening, and slammed her hands hard against the wooden door, her palms throbbing painfully.

"Fu Chen! Are you crazy?!"

No one responded.

She leaned against the door, slid down helplessly, and sat on the floor in despair.

She looked up and suddenly ran towards the window.

As they approached, their only hope was utterly shattered by the lock on the window.

She shouted through the crack, "Aunt Lan Yin! Are you there?"

I kept shouting until my voice was hoarse and I could no longer make a sound, and finally I heard footsteps becoming clearer outside the door.

She knelt by the door as if grasping at a straw, her voice hoarse as she asked, "Aunt Lan Yin, is that you?"

The people outside brought the food in through the custom-made doors and windows.

"Miss Ruan, please have your meal."

Ruan Qing anxiously reached out her hand, "Where's Fu Chen?! I need to see him!"

The maid did not reply, and her footsteps faded into the distance.

late at night.

Ruan Qing, who hadn't eaten all day, lay motionless on the bed.

The maid who brought the food opened the door, walked to her side, and shook her anxiously: "Miss?"

Seeing her pale face, the maid was so frightened that she fell to the ground.

The maid hurriedly scrambled to her feet and rushed out in a panic to call for help.

After confirming that the person had left, Ruan Qing immediately got out of bed and rushed out the door.

Fu Chen had led her through this ancient castle once before. She ran tirelessly along the route she remembered. In the empty castle, she was too afraid to look back.

The metallic taste of blood rising from her trachea swirled in her mouth, making her feel nauseous.

Fortunately, they didn't encounter anyone along the way and successfully escaped the castle.

She walked through the cold night in a thin nightgown, her hands and feet numb with cold. She hugged her arms to her chest and gritted her teeth as she walked step by step to the door.

Just as she was about to reach the iron gate, two blinding white lights suddenly pierced the darkness and struck her directly.

The blinding headlights made her unable to open her eyes. She dragged her frozen legs and turned to run away, but then she heard a man's deep voice behind her.

"I told you, stay by my side obediently."

"You want to get rid of me... only if I die."