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 But his mother, who used to patiently watch him and agree to his trivial requests, remained silent this time. After a long while, she gently pulled away Jiang Qiunian's hand.

"...What does this mean?"

Jiang Qiunian couldn't believe it. Could it be? Why was his mother reacting like this?

"Mom?!" Jiang Qiunian truly couldn't understand. He desperately wanted an answer from his mother. He pressed himself against Jiang Nian again, acting like a child, hoping to evoke Jiang Nian's love. "Mom, why aren't you saying anything? Don't you really hate me anymore?"

"Qiu Nian..." This time, Jiang Nian didn't push Jiang Qiunian away. Instead, he half-covered his face with his hand, revealing only a cute chin and half a red lip. But Jiang Nian seemed to have no strength to speak, as if he was very disappointed in Jiang Qiunian. He said weakly, "Don't be stubborn, go out."

How could it be stubborn? How could wanting his mother not to hate him be stubborn?!

But... Jiang Qiunian couldn't ask. He looked at his mother, who was avoiding his gaze, and realized that even if he pressed for an answer, he would only get a disappointing response.

Jiang Qiunian sat up straight, watching his mother, her exposed, fragile neck, the faintly bulging blue veins. Jiang Nian, for the sake of her mission, could only pretend not to notice. The room was silent; an invisible barrier existed between mother and son.

Jiang Qiunian could only bite his lip hard, his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood before he could suppress his sobs. He didn't want to show weakness in front of his mother again.

He wouldn't be willful anymore; he would mature, he would become his mother's favorite child.

Then his mother wouldn't be disappointed in him.

Jiang Qiunian thought to himself. It

was too painful, the feeling of being disliked by his mother—Jiang Qiunian never wanted to experience it again. Tears streamed down his tender face, his lip was cut open, blood flowing, but even so, he still managed to force a chilling smile, promising Jiang Nian, "Mom, I won't be willful anymore, I'll be good."

However, Jiang Nian didn't see this side of Jiang Qiunian; otherwise, she would probably have instantly become wary.

After saying this, Jiang Qiunian left. The soft mattress bounced slightly under the weight. Jiang Nian covered his eyes with the back of his hand, lay on the bed for a long time, and only when he felt tired did he lower his hand. He curled up on his side and drifted off to sleep again.

So what he didn't know was that Jiang Qiunian hadn't gone far, but was waiting outside the door. Through the crack in the door, his gloomy eyes were fixed on Jiang Nian's figure.

This situation continued until Zhou Gebai appeared. The father and son stared at each other in the corridor. After a long while, Zhou Gebai frowned and looked at his seemingly mentally unstable adopted son, saying, "If you continue like this, you can forget about ever seeing your mother again."

"Mom won't agree, right?" Jiang Qiunian smiled indifferently. Even though he had only overheard those few sentences, Jiang Qiunian could analyze the aspects that were advantageous to him. For example, Zhou Gebai wanted to use his and Jiang Nian's child to bind Jiang Nian. Although it failed, in order to make it real, Zhou Gebai would continue to hide it from Jiang Nian, including the fact that Jiang Qiunian was an imposter.

Because if it were exposed, Jiang Nian would also suspect that her child with Zhou Gebai was fake.

Even if there was only the slightest negative outcome, Zhou Gebai wouldn't gamble.

Since that was the case, Jiang Qiunian was safe, and for Jiang Nian's sake, Zhou Gebai wouldn't harm him.

Zhou Gebai narrowed his eyes at Jiang Qiunian, feeling threatened. Jiang Qiunian suddenly smiled and said, "Don't worry, the only person in the world I won't hurt is Mom."

Zhou Gebai remained noncommittal.

Before returning to his room, Jiang Qiunian asked Zhou Gebai, "Has Mom named the baby?"

Zhou Gebai pushed open his and Jiang Nian's door, tossing out, "Jiang Kehong."

Jiang Qiunian pondered the name repeatedly, unable to find any auspicious meaning, before feeling reassured, even secretly pleased that his mother didn't care much for Jiang Kehong.

After entering the room, Zhou Gebai skillfully took off his clothes, slipped into bed, and embraced his wife. Jiang Nian, used to this, only subconsciously slapped Zhou Gebai, without opening her eyes.

Zhou Gebai gently kissed Jiang Nian's skin from her cheek to her neck.

During the past month, he had been dealing with You Xingxiu's affairs. To Zhou Gebai's surprise, although his older brother still retaliated against him in some ways, it wasn't as aggressive as he had imagined. Instead, he thanked him for taking care of Jiang Nian during the time he couldn't be with her.

This was strange. It

was as if something had held You Xingxiu back.

But thinking about it carefully, it made sense.

The You family was a very traditional family, with the family business inherited by the eldest son. However, the eldest son, Zhou Gebai's older brother You Xingwen, had left the family with his lover long ago and settled abroad. Zhou Gebai didn't know the specifics because at that time, he was traveling around with Jiang Nian, eventually ending up in B City. To avoid being found by the You family, they lay low for a long time, not daring to inquire about their whereabouts.

After the eldest son ran away, You Xingxiu, as the second son of the You family, had to shoulder the responsibilities of the eldest son. So, for the past few years, he has probably been cleaning up his elder brother's mess, which has kept him from finding Jiang Nian.

Just like him, the second brother, You Xingxiu, who used to be the most arrogant and disdainful of everyone, is now much more composed. The only

thing that hasn't changed is Jiang Nian, who is carefully protected by Zhou Gebai, treated like a precious gem, and still so innocent.

This innocence isn't a personality trait, but rather an expression that time hasn't left its mark on Jiang Nian; she is still so beautiful and young, making Zhou Gebai utterly captivated.

Sometimes, seeing that Jiang Nian's appearance remains unchanged, while Zhou Gebai, burdened by his career and weathered by the elements, has matured considerably, the two seem to be many years apart in age. This frightens Zhou Gebai; he fears that Jiang Nian, whom he forcibly took, will despise him because of this, since his only advantage is his handsome face.

If he lost even his good looks, Jiang Nian would definitely hate him even more.

Zhou Gebai thought for a long time, his mind filled with countless thoughts, and finally concluded that no matter what, he had to hold on to his wife tightly.

You Xingxiu had lost to him before, and he wouldn't win now.

Feeling his wife's warm body, Zhou Gebai felt comfortable, rested his head on Jiang Nian's shoulder, and fell into a deep sleep along with his wife's breathing.

When Zhou Gebai woke up the next day, he found that Jiang Nian had gotten up earlier than him and was sitting blankly on the edge of the bed, her slender and graceful back exposed. Zhou Gebai propped himself up on his elbows and asked, "What's wrong, wife? Did you have a nightmare? Don't be afraid, it's all fake. Your husband is here with you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Nian suddenly said, "Zhou Gebai, don't lock me up anymore. I've thought it through. I can live my life (the mission) however I want."

"Besides, with Jiang Kehong, I have no intention of leaving."

It should be said that apart from the initial days, Jiang Nian never thought of escaping again, but Zhou Gebai was like someone who had been bitten by a snake once and was afraid of ropes for ten years. He still kept a close watch on her, leaving her no room to breathe.

Hearing these words, which could be described as a compromise, Zhou Gebai almost thought he was still dreaming. He slapped himself hard, the sharp sound startling Jiang Nian.

The pain drove Zhou Gebai to madness; his wish, cherished for over a decade, had actually come true.

Zhou Gebai didn't like children, nor did he have any desire to procreate. But a voice in his head kept telling him that only if Jiang Nian had his child would she choose to stay.

It wasn't a hallucination; it was real.

Whether Jiang Nian was truly exhausted or had yielded because of their bond, the result was Zhou Gebai's triumph.

Zhou Gebai knew he had wronged Jiang Nian. The fact that she hadn't killed him but instead chose to live with him made it hard for Zhou Gebai not to feel that heaven was smiling upon him.

Zhou Gebai chuckled foolishly, "Really? You're not lying to me, wife?"

Jiang Nian, seeing that the mission was at its most crucial moment, had no intention of lying to Zhou Gebai. He adjusted his loose nightgown, his pink fingertips resting below his collarbone. His delicate profile was backlit, tinged with a faint halo. Jiang Nian said, "I'm not lying to you. You used to not let me get close to Jiang Qiu Nian, but now I want to treat Jiang Ke Hong well myself."

"To make up for past regrets."

What regrets? Jiang Nian didn't say, but Zhou Gebai could easily imagine a whole bunch. He felt a pang of heartache. He stepped forward and hugged Jiang Nian's slender waist, coaxing her softly, "I was a jerk before, I'm sorry. From now on, I'll do whatever you say. But there's no need to be so good to that kid Jiang Kehong. It's not good for you to tire yourself out. I've hired a whole bunch of nannies, you don't need to worry about him."

Zhou Gebai meant what he said. Except for occasionally holding the still-infant Jiang Kehong, everything else was done by nannies. But it was strange, Jiang Kehong was still an infant and couldn't control his crying, but once Jiang Nian held him, he would immediately stop crying, grinning foolishly and touching Jiang Nian's falling hair with his little hands.

This scene was so heartwarming, making Jiang Qiunian, who had just finished class, feel incredibly resentful.

His mother had completely forgotten about him after having a child.

Jiang Qiunian put on a fake smile, put down his schoolbag, and walked towards Jiang Nian, wanting a hug from his mother who could come and go as she pleased, a hug that would restore his freedom.

But Jiang Nian, holding Jiang Kehong, subtly avoided Jiang Qiu Nian's outstretched hand.

Jiang Qiu Nian, seemingly unfazed by the raised hands, could only retract them with apparent ease. He appeared completely unaffected by Jiang Nian's coldness and indifference, continuing to cheerfully describe his school life as before. Just

when Jiang Qiu Nian thought his pain was at its peak, Jiang Nian would always deliver another precise blow, intensifying his suffering. Jiang

Nian interrupted Jiang Qiu Nian, ignoring the pleading look in his eyes, coldly saying, "Qiu Nian, I'm not very interested in your school life. Don't say anything more."

His mother.

She would gaze intently at his face, listen attentively to his words, rejoice in his successes, and grieve for his disappointments.

Finally, when his father was away, his gentle mother would give him a warm, fragrant embrace. Being held by his mother felt like being back in the womb, allowing him to forget all his troubles and find only peace.

But now...

That's it. His mother had taken back all the love he'd given him.

Jiang Qiunian felt as if he'd fallen into an ice cave.

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