06

 Jiang Qiunian finally got his wish.

When he came out of the hospital, the car to take him to Jiang Nian's new house pulled up. Sitting in the wheelchair, Jiang Qiunian was expressionless, but his eyes were full of satisfaction.

His mother had softened.

That proved that his mother still loved him, but he didn't know why her attitude towards him had suddenly changed.

What was it?

Zhou Gebai, Jiang Kehong, or the strange man who appeared at the hospital that day?

No matter who it was, Jiang Qiunian didn't care anymore. He felt that he had found a way to bind his mother. However, this idea didn't last long before it was ruthlessly stopped by Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian was indeed afraid. If something happened to the male lead, this mission would be pointless. He didn't expect the male lead to be so extreme.

Jiang Nian's new home is in City C, a sea-view apartment. Opening the window brings a strong sea breeze, which Jiang Nian isn't used to. She closes the window, turns on the air conditioner, and then turns to look at Jiang Qiu Nian in his wheelchair not far away. Her expression is serious. She says, "Qiu Nian, why did you do something so dangerous?"

"I don't know, Mom. I just realized what was happening." Jiang Qiu Nian knows he can't tell the truth; he doesn't want to leave a bad impression on his mother.

Jiang Qiu Nian pushes his wheelchair. A few days have passed since his surgery, and his complexion has regained some color. Sitting in the wheelchair, Jiang Qiu Nian is much shorter than Jiang Nian. He says ingratiatingly, "Mom, look, I didn't cry out in pain. Aren't I a good boy?"

"No..." Jiang Nian murmurs softly.

This male lead is too strange.

In the plot outline the system gave him, the male lead at most felt his adoptive parents were biased, but didn't do anything extreme. He even coldly observed and disliked his adoptive parents, only starting to crush everyone after gaining complete power.

But now, looking at Jiang Qiunian's hopeful eyes and his almost self-destructive words and actions, Jiang Nian was so different from the original male lead.

Jiang Nian half-squatted down, holding onto the armrests of the wheelchair, looking at this child who had never caused him any worry. He was very serious, to the point of being harsh. He said, "What you're doing is wrong." "

You should speak up when you feel pain. Jumping off a building is not advisable. Hurting yourself is wrong."

Jiang Nian tried to straighten Jiang Qiunian.

But Jiang Qiunian seemed unable to understand. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck. He said in a calm, resolute voice, "But Mom, if I don't do this, will you even look at me?"

"I will look at you..."

"No! You won't!" Jiang Qiunian denied loudly. He buried himself in his mother's body, smelling the faint floral scent on her body, his fingers tightly gripping the ends of her hair. He said, "Mom, don't lie to me, I can see it."

"You're starting to give up on me."

Jiang Qiunian was too perceptive.

Jiang Nian was speechless.

At this moment, the system had to speak up to remind its host, "The mission is paramount. Every protagonist in every world has their predetermined fate. Niannian, your soft heart will only harm Jiang Qiunian."

Jiang Nian closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, she had hardened her heart. Jiang Qiunian had never been willing to treat his mother harshly, so with a slight struggle, Jiang Qiunian withdrew his arms from hers. Jiang Nian stood up, his emotions indescribable. He looked down at Jiang Qiunian, who seemed to know that his mother's next words wouldn't be kind. His fingers clenched tightly, and his eyes, unfocused, stared at the patterns on the floor.

Sure enough, Jiang Nian withdrew his kindness and said coldly, "Next time you hurt yourself, I won't feel sorry for you."

This kind of pity was indulgence, which would only embolden Jiang Qiunian, making him disregard his health and repeatedly harm himself just to gain Jiang Nian's pity.

“Jiang Qiunian, I know you’re smart, don’t disappoint me.”

After a long pause, Jiang Qiunian replied sullenly, “Okay, I’ll listen to Mom.”

Jiang Qiunian soon learned the bitter lesson of insisting on coming along. After their conversation that day, his mother began to openly show her favoritism.

She favored Jiang Kehong.

Unlike him, who had been cared for by servants since he could remember and only occasionally received his mother’s care, Jiang Kehong was held gently by Jiang Nian every day, like a real mother, her eyes only for her child, full of love.

This Jiang Nian was particularly attractive to Jiang Qiunian.

He just wanted his mother to care about him a little more, but he couldn’t. Jiang Nian treated him like a stranger, even relying on servants to relay messages.

He was like a transparent person in this house.

In less than half a year, Jiang Qiunian exploded. When he tried to kill Jiang Kehong, Jiang Nian discovered him. He cried and poured out his pain to Jiang Nian, but received no response. Jiang Qiunian then forcibly sent him back to school.

For the past six months, Zhou Gebai would take a car overnight to see Jiang Nian whenever he had time. Apart from being exhausted, he was in much the same condition as in B City.

You Xingxiu also obediently restrained himself and didn't bother Jiang Nian too much.

Everything was developing in a normal direction.

But that was only on the surface.

Jiang Kehong turned three.

Zhou Gebai, annoyed that Jiang Kehong was disturbing his precious time with his wife, sent Jiang Kehong to kindergarten.

Jiang Nian was exhausted from dealing with Zhou Gebai while also secretly comforting You Xingxiu.

But fortunately, Jiang Qiunian seemed to have suddenly grown up and become exceptionally sensible. He was no longer as impulsive as he used to be, and seemed to have lost his obsession with Jiang Nian. Instead, he was polite and grew taller and stronger. Occasionally, Jiang Nian would bump into Jiang Qiunian changing clothes and could see the various scars on his body and his well-defined abs.

Jiang Nian didn't know where the scars came from, and wanted to ask but couldn't. Instead, Jiang Qiunian casually put on his clothes and walked over to Jiang Nian, saying, "Mom seems to be in a good mood today."

This Jiang Qiunian was no longer the child Jiang Nian could see; his imposing presence rivaled that of Zhou Gebai and the others, making Jiang Nian feel uncomfortable.

Jiang Nian didn't speak.

Jiang Qiunian was used to it; he had also become able to hide all his emotions. He wasn't nearsighted, but he still wore rimless glasses, which made him appear as calm as the sea.

He looked through the lenses at his mother, whose appearance hadn't changed in many years—small, delicate, his mother.

He said, "Aren't you going to pick up Jiang Kehong? It's after school now."

To make Jiang Qiunian feel bad, Jiang Nian would pretend to be a good mother and pick up Jiang Kehong whenever Jiang Qiunian was home.

Jiang Nian hummed in agreement, walked around Jiang Qiunian, and went downstairs. Jiang Qiunian stood on the second floor, his unfathomable eyes following Jiang Nian's movements.

Jiang Nian felt a little uncomfortable with this Jiang Qiu Nian. It wasn't that he missed the old Jiang Qiu Nian; he just felt it was too strange, like a stagnant pool with turbulent undercurrents.

That sense of danger made Jiang Nian uneasy.

He sat absentmindedly in the car, waiting for the maid to bring Jiang Ke Hong over. Jiang Ke Hong could already walk on his own and was being led by the maid towards his mother.

Jiang Kehong was more innocent.

Or perhaps it was because he couldn't pretend much at his age; aside from school and playing, he clung to Jiang Nian, ignoring everyone else.

Just as Jiang Nian picked up Jiang Kehong, intending to go home, the other car door suddenly opened, revealing You Xingxiu.

You Xingxiu sat down naturally next to Jiang Nian. Seeing that the maid and driver didn't react, Jiang Nian knew they had probably been bribed by You Xingxiu.

You Xingxiu had matured; he had probably just come from a meeting, still wearing his suit. After sitting down, he closed the car door on Jiang Nian's side, then sat up straight and said to her, "Three years, Nian Nian, I can't take it anymore."

Jiang Nian, holding Jiang Kehong, glared at You Xingxiu and said, "Only two more years, and you can't take it anymore?"

Jiang Kehong wasn't interested in the suddenly appearing You Xingxiu. He nestled in his mother's arms, gazing at the button patterns on her clothes; his mother's soft, fragrant body captivated him.

You Xingxiu had no intention of arguing with Jiang Nian. He stated the facts, "What you can't bear is just two short years, but for me it's countless days and months, more than ten years of torment."

"Sixteen years... no, more than sixteen years. I've spent most of my life waiting for you to leave another man and come to see me."

"What are you doing now?" Jiang Nian retorted.

You Xingxiu didn't say much. He reached out and straightened Jiang Nian's collar, smoothing it out, before saying, "Let's go home."

He was referring to the driver.

The car started moving. Jiang Nian knew she couldn't resist You Xingxiu, so she didn't do anything. You Xingxiu was quite pleased. He even had the leisure to say to Jiang Kehong, "Little guy, I'm your new dad."

Jiang Kehong looked at You Xingxiu, then at his mother, before saying, "Mom?"

Jiang Nian, with a serious face, stroked Jiang Kehong's head. Jiang Kehong was no longer so curious, basking in Jiang Nian's palm.

All the way, You Xingxiu had been planning their future together with Jiang Nian. He'd rehearsed these plans a thousand times in his mind, so they flowed naturally from his lips.

Even though his planned partner was indifferent to him.

You Xingxiu narrowed his eyes and asked sincerely, "You used to only want me, why did you change your mind?"

"Didn't you only want You Xingxiu?"

"It didn't matter who it was." Jiang Nian looked at You Xingxiu, not understanding why he kept bringing this up. He answered earnestly, "When I was young, I thought there was only one choice, but later I realized they were all the same."

"Haha, all the same… Since they're all the same, why did you only reject me?" You Xingxiu grabbed Jiang Nian's chin, pressing him close to his face. Their eyes met, one filled with deep affection, the other calm.

You Xingxiu said, "If you don't care, then being with me later won't make any difference, right?"

Just as he finished speaking ,

a powerful impact slammed into the car.

Jiang Nian flinched as You Xingxiu pulled her into his arms. You Xingxiu's sharp eyes looked behind the car; it was a modified motorcycle, and the rider was a young man.

The driver asked, "Boss, should we stop?"

You Xingxiu, still holding Jiang Nian, replied nonchalantly, "Keep going."

However, the motorcycle behind persisted, ramming into them repeatedly. The impacts weren't too strong, as if they were afraid of hurting anyone, but they were still annoying. Worried about disturbing Jiang Nian, You Xingxiu had to ask the driver to stop on a less crowded road.

The young man on the motorcycle also stopped.

The driver got out to talk, but the young man ignored him, walked to Jiang Nian's car window, and tapped on it a few times with the back of his fingers. Once the window rolled down, the young man removed his helmet, revealing Jiang Qiu Nian's handsome face. He

acted as if he didn't see You Xingxiu beside Jiang Nian, greeting her as if nothing was wrong, "Mom, where are you going?"

"You're going the wrong way home."

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