12

 Jiang Nian spent a very ordinary but happy period with his two sons.

Jiang Nian was a little puzzled as to why You Xingwen and the others hadn't come looking for him, ultimately attributing it to good luck.

In reality, Jiang Qiunian's machinations were undoubtedly behind the scenes.

He tasted the wonderful flavor of power; what he had longed for but couldn't obtain in his youth—his mother's companionship and the ability to control her thoughts—was now all realized. How could he let go? It

was simply too wonderful.

Time passed quickly; Jiang Qiunian would be turning eighteen in five days.

Jiang Nian was very happy; it meant he could finally leave this world. All his efforts hadn't been in vain; so many things had happened along the way, leaving him exhausted, but thankfully, it was a good ending.

Because he felt much more relaxed, Jiang Nian wasn't as cold and harsh towards Jiang Qiunian as before.

Jiang Qiunian sensed this.

That day, as usual, he came home and lifted his little mother out of bed. He chatted about what he'd been doing while massaging her sleepy shoulders. He was always so busy; he didn't get home until the early hours of the morning, and Jiang Nian was already asleep.

Jiang Nian felt annoyed and closed her eyes to catch up on sleep. Her delicate eyelashes fluttered, her brows furrowed slightly, and her little hands flailing wildly in the air before finally hitting Jiang Qiu Nian's incessantly chattering mouth.

The pressure was very light, almost like a caress. Jiang Qiunian took Jiang Nian's hand and said with annoyance, "Did I disturb Mom's rest? But I don't get to see you much each day."

Then, like a child, he forcefully buried his head in his mother's arms and acted spoiled. "I miss you so much, Mom. I think about you every minute of every day. Work is so tiring, I don't like it at all, but when I think about being able to support Mom, I feel happy."

Jiang Nian pushed Jiang Qiunian away, forced his eyes open, and pulled an envelope from under his pillow. It was bulging with money he had earned from his work. He yawned and handed it to Jiang Qiunian, saying, "Here you go. I don't need you to support me."

Jiang Qiunian took it and quietly put it back under his pillow. He said, "That's not what I meant. I just wanted Mom to care about me."

"You always hate me."

Jiang Nian thought that he would only be away from Jiang Qiunian for a few days, so being nicer to him was worthwhile. He blinked, shaking off his drowsiness, and propped himself up on Jiang Qiunian's strong shoulders. Then he lowered his head and placed a light kiss on Jiang Qiunian's exposed forehead, like he was coaxing a child, and in fact, he was.

He praised, "Good boy, good child."

But this gesture instantly turned Jiang Qiunian into a statue, motionless and stiff. His mind was like a stormy sea, turbulent and unable to calm down.

After regaining his senses, he grabbed his mother's hand urgently and asked, "Were you praising me just now?"

Jiang Nian was too sleepy, her eyes closed again, and nodded casually. Jiang Qiunian took a deep breath, then exhaled. No words could describe his feelings right now; if he had to say, he was about to explode.

Jiang Qiunian hugged Jiang Nian

tightly, as if trying to meld him into his own flesh and blood. His tone was light and cheerful, carrying the youthful energy of his age, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy... I love you, Mommy." Jiang Nian hummed softly, still half asleep, and whispered, "Mommy loves you too."

Jiang Qiunian's long-cherished wish was fulfilled on this ordinary, uneventful night. He crumpled Jiang Nian's pajamas in his hands, his eyes wide with tears streaming down his face.

He was so happy, so incredibly happy.

He knew his mother loved him.

Jiang Qiunian felt that at this moment, even death wouldn't matter.

In the following days, Jiang Nian would smile at Jiang Qiunian and occasionally praise him, telling him he'd worked hard and needed a rest. So Jiang Qiunian actually put aside his work, staying home to be with Jiang Nian. What could be more important than his mother?

Two flowers bloomed at once; Jiang Qiunian was happy, but Jiang Kehong began to feel unhappy. How could someone who only loved his mother love his brother?

Seeing his mother's gaze fixed on his brother, Jiang Kehong angrily smashed a bowl, but quickly cleaned it up and quietly apologized to his mother. Jiang Nian knew he was uncomfortable, so she just patted his head and didn't say much.

After she left this world, she would have to hand Jiang Kehong over to Zhou Gebai. Jiang Qiunian could be independent, but Jiang Kehong was still too young.

This blissful time would only last five days.

On Jiang Kehong's birthday, Jiang Nian paid for a large cake herself. She personally cooked a bowl of rather bland vegetarian noodles. Although Jiang Nian wasn't very good at cooking, she could still

manage simple noodles. The taste was just barely palatable, but Jiang Qiunian ate it happily, finding it more delicious than anything else, simply because it was his mother's cooking for him.

As evening approached, it was the height of summer outside the window, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees.

Jiang Nian placed the cake on the table, asked Jiang Qiu Nian to light the candles, and turned off the lights himself. He sat down and looked at Jiang Qiu Nian across from him, seeing his increasingly stable face, almost forgetting the impulsive child he once was. He felt a sense of relief and said, "Qiu Nian, happy birthday! Congratulations on becoming an adult. You're very sensible, and Mom is very relieved. You will definitely succeed in the future."

"Make a wish, little birthday star."

Jiang Nian seemed so gentle and full of maternal love, making Jiang Qiu Nian's heart burn. Being loved by his mother felt a million times better than he had imagined. Happiness was mixed with a deep fear, as if this happiness could be taken away at any moment, just like when he was a child.

So Jiang Qiu Nian prayed to heaven like the most devout believer. "

I want my mother to love me for a lifetime, forever."

He repeated this many times until the candles were almost burned out, then he opened his eyes and blew them out.

At the moment the candles went out, Jiang Nian also asked the system in his mind if he could leave the world.

The answer was no.

Jiang Nian felt a chill for a moment. He asked the system, "Why?"

The system checked the backend and helplessly told Jiang Nian, "The progress bar isn't full. First, Jiang Qiunian doesn't hate you. Second, Jiang Qiunian's business empire is going astray."

Jiang Nian couldn't help but meet Jiang Qiunian's bright eyes. Even in the dim light from the window, it was clear that those deep eyes only reflected Jiang Nian's image. Jiang Nian's lips were pressed into a straight line.

Immersed in happiness, Jiang Qiunian didn't notice Jiang Nian's worsening expression. He got up to turn on the light, and by then, Jiang Nian's expression had returned to normal.

While Jiang Qiunian was cutting the cake, Jiang Nian asked the system, "What does the second one mean? What does 'went astray' mean?"

The system replied, "Jiang Qiunian's original business empire was built on the foundation of his adoptive father's influence, but now no one supports him. He's resorting to any means to climb higher, his goals have changed, and the rudimentary form of his business empire can no longer be formed."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner..." If Jiang Nian had known earlier, he wouldn't have brought Jiang Qiunian with him; he would have left him with Zhou Gebai.

The system sighed, "You can only judge something after it's been done."

Jiang Nian felt a weight on his heart and couldn't speak.

Jiang Qiunian could have had a much better life...

But it wasn't too late; things could still be changed.

Jiang Nian secretly resolved to get everything back on track and let Jiang Qiu Nian be a successful business tycoon.

Unaware of the dangerous thoughts swirling in Jiang Nian's mind, Jiang Qiu Nian carefully cut a large piece of chocolate from the cake for her, watching her eat it, his smile uncontrollable.

He even cut a small piece for Jiang Ke Hong, but Jiang Ke Hong was sulking; his mother hadn't cooked him noodles for his birthday, so he didn't eat the cake. Jiang Qiu Nian

didn't mind.

Jiang Nian's warmth and love were enough for him to ignore anything he disliked.

But this happiness ended the next day.

When Jiang Qiu Nian woke up, his first instinct was to look for Jiang Nian, but she wasn't in the cozy house. He assumed his mother had just gone out, but when he discovered Jiang Ke Hong was also gone, his heart tightened. This helplessness and panic reached its peak when he noticed some clothes were missing from Jiang Nian's wardrobe. Jiang Nian's salary, which she usually

hid under her pillow, and her pocket money, which she kept in her piggy bank, were also gone.

Jiang Qiunian's hands trembled so much he could barely hold his phone. His fingers swiped for a long time before he finally opened the interface. After sending a message to his subordinates searching for Jiang Nian, he desperately dialed her number.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is not answering..."

His mother had blocked him.

Jiang Qiunian slammed his phone to the ground, the screen shattering instantly.

The screen went black. Jiang Qiunian paced around the house several times, anxiety overwhelming him. He was afraid Jiang Nian had just gone out for a short while and would be back soon. What if she came back and didn't see him?

But he couldn't bear it. Jiang Qiunian took out his spare phone, removed the broken SIM card, and inserted it. No one contacted him; his subordinates were still searching.

Jiang Qiunian covered his face with his hands and chuckled.

He hastily put on some clothes, grabbed his phone, and ran outside to look for Jiang Nian in the places she had gone back to, but she wasn't there, nowhere.

Jiang Qiunian still held onto a sliver of hope. He felt his mother wouldn't do this to him.

His mother had recently started to love him.

How could she leave him?

He must be dreaming, it must be a nightmare. Ignoring the stares of passersby, Jiang Qiunian punched himself hard, hoping to wake up quickly. But when he opened his eyes again, he was still on the bustling street.

People were coming and going, but the person he wanted to see wasn't there.

Mom…

Jiang Qiunian returned home. He tried calling Jiang Nian several times with different phone numbers, and after being rejected repeatedly, Jiang Nian finally answered.

Neither of them spoke. After a long while, Jiang Qiunian said, “Mom, why aren’t you home yet? It’s too late, it’s not safe.”

He had so much to say, so many questions to ask, but in the end, he still humbly hoped that Jiang Nian would come back. If Jiang Nian came back, Jiang Qiunian could pretend nothing had happened.

Jiang Nian sighed softly, a sigh that struck Jiang Qiunian’s heart heavily.

Jiang Nian said, “Jiang Qiunian, you’re an adult now. It’s better for you to be alone. Don’t look for me, don’t bother me, that’s all.”

Then she hung up.

The phone shattered again.

What did she mean by saying he was an adult and it was better for him to be alone?

Why?

When Zhou Gebai received Jiang Nian's text message and address, and arrived at the home in the Happiness Community of B City with his men, it was already late at night, even though they had rushed. The door wasn't closed, and Zhou Gebai pushed it open gently.

The lights were off inside. Zhou Gebai called out to Nian Nian a few times, but there was no response. He then turned on the light. The

sudden brightness illuminated the shattered state of the living room. Amidst the pile of broken things, Jiang Qiu Nian sat with his head bowed.

Zhou Gebai frowned and asked, "Where's your mother?"

Hearing these two words, Jiang Qiu Nian, who had been motionless as if dead, finally raised his head.

Jiang Nian had only been gone for less than a day, but Jiang Qiu Nian seemed to have waited for years. His eyes were red and bloodshot, and stubble had sprouted on his chin. He looked as if he had been stripped of all hope and will. He said expressionlessly, "Abandoned."

Zhou Gebai didn't understand and asked, "What?"

"I was abandoned by my mother again."

This was the second time… the second time Jiang Nian had abandoned him.

There wouldn't be a next time. He wouldn't give his mother another chance.

Zhou Gebai's eyes instantly filled with extreme hatred as he looked at Jiang Qiunian. A hatred

that was endless and without end.

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