Chapter 54

For several minutes, Jiang Yi held his phone in a daze, seemingly unable to think or argue.

Yang Yunran hung up quickly, afraid he might regret it and waver. He had hesitated about breaking up for at least a month, always fantasizing that Jiang Yi wasn’t like those scumbags in novels who would abandon their partners for resources, kicking aside both himself and Zhao Youmo.

Even though he found documents on eyeball extraction surgery on his computer, research on homosexual psychology, and annotations on how to act as a homosexual…

Even though Jiang Yi found it extremely difficult to say a simple “I love you,” unable to bring himself to say it.

Yang Yunran still harbored unrealistic fantasies about him.

Professor Chen’s words finally made him give up. As long as he took good care of himself, he could earn a lot more in bonuses.

Yang Yunran believed it was unnecessary to cling to such unrealistic expectations any longer.

After hanging up, Yang Yunran quickly blocked him. When Jiang Yi called back, it was exactly the second he was blocked.

The signal was cut off.

“Answer the phone.”

“Explain clearly.”

The message Jiang Yi sent him:

“Due to the recipient’s chat settings, your message could not be delivered.”

Jiang Yi was on the road, with cars honking behind him. He had to pull over to the side, holding the steering wheel with one hand while trying to message Yang Yunran again.

Message failed…

Yang Yunran was using an American card, which he had stopped using after returning to China.

So now Yang Yunran’s phone couldn’t be reached either.

Jiang Yi’s mind was still lingering on the reason for the breakup.

“Really, you’re living a lie.”

Is it really that bad?

Bad enough to break up??

To deal such a fatal blow when parting ways in this manner?

Everything from the past few days on the island of Hawaii seemed like a fleeting dream, dissipating before Jiang Yi’s eyes.

Because Yang Yunran was afraid of pain, Jiang Yi had held back.

Because it was Yang Yunran’s first time and it was too tight, he couldn’t control it well, so it had lasted ten minutes…

But could this really prove he was living a lie? Skills could be improved with practice, and his body had no issues. Just because of this reason, they were breaking up?

Jiang Yi’s breathing became slightly irregular as he considered many explanations. The most direct one was to immediately return home and show Yang Yunran he wasn’t living so poorly.

But Jiang Yi couldn’t leave right now. There were still matters in the lab to settle, so he couldn’t return to China immediately to find Yang Yunran.

He sent Yang Yunran an email:

“[I don’t accept the reason you gave. Wait for me to return to China.

If you must break up, not as a joke, objectively write out the reasons in no less than five hundred words in Chinese or English. I will objectively refute each one.

If it’s just about performance, I think we can try again. The bed at the Hawaii hotel was not very comfortable, the springs were too poor. We can try it at home, I’ll buy a very good bed. This time I’ll use a photon clock to time it. Less than thirty minutes of activity will prove I’m really bad, and if you cry, it’ll prove it’s your problem.]”

Yang Yunran, who received the email: “……”

Was his ex-boyfriend trying to debate with him?

Clearly, he was in great pain, but seeing this email made his mood even more complicated and difficult to express.

Yang Yunran did not reply and chose to reject his emails.

Jiang Yi saw that the email had been read but not replied to. He tried to send another one, but it was returned by the system.

A sense of powerlessness spread from his heart to his limbs, and he felt somewhat lost. Jiang Yi furrowed his brow.

Was his technique really so bad?

Jiang Yi couldn’t accept the breakup or this damn reason for it.

Just the day before Yang Yunran returned to China, they had been inseparable. How could the young lover who was so clingy suddenly change his mind?

Was it something that happened at home? Was it related to his family? Hearing the sorrow in his voice, was it someone else in bed? Was their bed skills better than his??

Yang Yunran wiped away his tears and went to bed.

Jiang Yi called Professor Chen, using his own methods to find out what had happened at Yang Yunran’s home and whether he was seeing someone else overseas and in China.

Professor Chen was very strict and, when asked about Yang Yunran, replied, “What did he tell you?”

Jiang Yi: “He told me everything.”

Professor Chen: “Ah? About Zhao Yumo… Did he tell you?”

Zhao Youmo?

The accompanying student?

Jiang Yi: “Yes.”

Zhao Youmo was the person who, whenever mentioned, would change Yang Yunran’s expression. Yang Yunran wouldn’t even let him have a bite of the dessert he bought.

Was the breakup related to this person?

Jiang Yi thought Yang Yunran might have done something with Zhao and felt disappointed.

He said without emotion: “He told me about Zhao Youmo.”

Professor Chen couldn’t be fooled easily: “How much did he say?”

“Zhao Youmo is also in China, and Yang Yunran… is very worried.”

“Jiang Yi, what do you really know? What are you asking?” This matter was something Professor Chen would never speak lightly about. He felt that Jiang Yi might not know much, that it might be Yang Yang who complained to him.

Jiang Yi didn’t care about Zhao XX. He only cared about one thing: “He’s not in a good mood now, and I want to comfort him. I need to know the reason.”

Professor Chen was even more confused. Jiang Yi’s probing concern was completely unreasonable.

“Are you fond of our baby? ?”

Jiang Yi paused for three seconds. He was weighing whether to say yes or no. He wanted Professor Chen to be his ally, not an obstacle.

Saying “yes,” would Professor Chen help him?

Probably not.

“No.” Jiang Yi denied it, his voice is very calm. “Because he’s in a very bad mood, I’m not sure of the specific reason and want to help him.”

This still sounded very forced. Involving household matters and privacy, Professor Chen smiled and said, “You’re far away in the United States, how can you console him? If there’s nothing wrong with his emotions, I know how to handle it.”

Jiang Yi said, “I will return to China soon. I will handle his emotional issues.”

“Jiang Yi, I can only say so much. I appreciate your concern for him, thank you very much. When you return to China, if you are still in my research institute, I’ll increase your subsidies and improve your treatment, okay? Even if you’re not here, I’ll do my best to provide you with resources. I can’t say more than that.”

Professor Chen quickly hung up, using an excuse to end the call. He thought Jiang Yi was really meddling too much, which didn’t seem like Jiang Yi’s usual character. He always felt like Jiang Yi might have feelings for Yang Yunran?

— But Professor Chen couldn’t really scold Jiang Yi. After all, the breakthrough in regenerative transplantation was right on Jiang Yi.

Currently, there are many biologists worldwide researching regenerative transplantation, but Jiang Yi is undoubtedly one of the best. At his age, achieving such heights is extremely rare.

Professor Chen also relied on Jiang Yi to produce results quickly, to transplant Yang Yunran’s right eye. Therefore, arguing over the phone was out of the question.

He also needed to find a way to get him back to China. He heard that American labs were willing to leave behind Jiang Yi’s research results and offered tens of millions of dollars to persuade him to stay and continue his research.

If Jiang Yi insisted on leaving, sharing the results and returning to China to continue research, the American lab would build on his foundation, allowing other biologists to continue studying stem cell regenerative transplantation, and Jiang Yi would also receive a hefty reward.

Professor Chen learned that it was an astronomical figure.

“This kid Jiang Yi…” Professor Chen sat on the swivel chair in his study, admitting, “He’s truly a genius. If he cares so much about ‘baby’, and if he really has feelings for him, it’s better than ‘baby’ finding some unscrupulous person.”

–

Yang Yunran has been in poor spirits lately. Assistant Douou noticed and brought him a box of face masks from the company.

It was from Jade’s high-end line, priced at 120 yuan per box.

The assistant told him, “Although this brand is quite cheap, it’s really good. It’s no worse than Guerlain. I quietly took some from the company. This brand has our artist endorsing it in advertisements.”

Yang Yunran wasn’t in the mood to use face masks, so naturally, he didn’t open them to see the missing person inside.

“Doudou, take them back for yourself.”

Doudou said, “Brother Ran, I’ll leave a few boxes for you. I’ll take the rest. Don’t stay up late. You’ve got two closed comedones!”

“I didn’t stay up late…” Yang Yunran said, “I just have insomnia.”

Doudou asked cautiously, “Is it because of family matters?” Doudou recently heard him on the phone with his father, who seemed to be asking him to come home, but Yang Yunran said he was working and had no time.

Yang Yunran didn’t answer. His relationship with his parents was never deep. He deliberately reduced contact over the past six months and didn’t go home, thus never building a deep emotional connection. Whether he was kicked out of the house or not made no difference to him, and he couldn’t possibly spend their money. Perhaps he would go back when he had time to take a look, but it would be meaningless.

Moreover, he disliked having his fate tied to others’ hands. If one day Zhao Youmo came out and stabbed him in the back, everything would end up like in those books. He hated the feeling of being at the mercy of fate.

Yang Yunran decided to distance himself from their relationship. He stopped initiating contact, even making himself appear indifferent.

His uncle wasn’t too busy with work and often drove over to see him. “Busy today?”

“It’s okay, just recording songs and live streaming, nothing much,” Yang Yunran replied, his face pale. Professor Chen waited for him to get into the car and drove out of the parking lot. “You’ve been back home for almost a week now, but you haven’t seen your mom. You haven’t called her either?”

“Uncle, is Zhao Youmo really my twin brother? Don’t lie to me. Is my mom with him now?”

“Who told you?” Professor Chen asked.

“Zhao Youmo did. He actually thinks we’re twins and asked me why we don’t look alike at all. So I had our hair tested for DNA.”

Professor Chen: “…”

He couldn’t understand why Yang Yunran was so troubled, eager to distance himself from the Yang family!

Yang Yunran didn’t think this twin scam could last long. It was better to withdraw before any emotional attachment formed, rather than risk being expelled later.

Professor Chen frowned. “Where did you get the test done? Have the results come out?”

“Not yet. I’ll pick them up tomorrow,” Yang Yunran pretended not to care, playing with his phone and looking every bit like the pampered son he used to be, retaining a striking resemblance of about seventy to eighty percent.

“Baby…” Professor Chen faltered. “Mom said she’d come to have dinner with you, and your dad said he shouldn’t have argued with you. He wouldn’t curse you for being gay, but you didn’t reply to your dad’s messages either.”

“I replied ‘okay’.”

This only annoyed Yang Liming, who thought he was heartless. But no one blamed him for the mistake.

God knows Yang Yunran went to get the test done himself!

Professor Chen was sweating profusely, feeling anxious. He planned to check which hospital it was and change the results first, since Yang Wanyu hadn’t yet arrived in Beijing.

He called the assistant from their group to coordinate, but the assistant was vague, as if something had gone wrong.

Professor Chen took him to a private room in the restaurant, where Chen Fangru was sitting, looking deeply troubled.

Yang Yunran pushed the door open, unsure of how to address her. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “Mom.”

After all, he had called her a few times over the phone, so it came out naturally.

Chen Fangru’s face relaxed a bit from the burden. She was wearing a simple, long dress and an Australian white pearl necklace around her neck. She smiled at him and said, “Yang Yang, Mom didn’t come to pick you up that day because something came up suddenly. When I came back, I heard you had a fight with your dad. We’re all family, so why argue with your dad and leave home?”

Yang Yunran sat down, not too close to her. “Dad couldn’t accept my sexual orientation, so we argued. It’s not like I ran away from home. I can earn my own living now. The company arranged a rental for me, closer to the office, so it’s convenient.”

Chen Fangru: “Actually, your dad isn’t incapable of… accepting your sexual orientation.”

It’s just that with a big family and business to carry on, it’s instinctual. And before, Yang Yunran clearly promised, “Once I turn 25, I’ll settle down and come back to marry and have children.” Now he’s denying it, of course, they’ll argue.

Chen Fangru asked how the house he’s living in outside is, whether it’s good or not.

Yang Yunran said it’s pretty good.

His attitude was somewhat distant, and Chen Fangru sensed it too, so she looked at Chen Fangzhou.

Does Yangyang know? Didn’t you say they were twins? Why is he like this?

Chen Fangzhou was afraid the table would collapse and didn’t dare to say anything at all.

Without thinking much, Chen Fangru emphasized, “Momo is your twin brother, which surprised me too. When he was born, we all thought he had died, but it turns out your dad’s business rival intervened.”

For the same reason, she reiterated, “Yangyang, even though there’s another child in the family, our love for you won’t diminish.”

She worried that she wouldn’t be able to accept it for a while. She had become her twin brother, who had been a low-profile follower and companion teacher in front of him before.

Chen Fangru cautiously said, “I heard Momo say you’re doing well in the US and your relationship is good.”

Yang Yunran: “Yes, it’s okay. But I don’t think we’re like twins. I went to see him a few days ago, took a few hairs, and plan to have a test to see if we are really twins.”

Chen Fangru turned pale.

This is something Yang Yunran might do, but the only possible outcome of his actions is finding out that their test was wrong!

But the final result will only be a great mess, and then the absurd discovery that “I’m not actually biological.”

So Chen Fangru advised him, “This test, Yangyang, isn’t necessary… Your dad and I have already confirmed. He is your twin brother, and you are real siblings. If you don’t like him, it’s okay. Just don’t see each other often in the future. Dad and Mom’s inheritance will still be half yours.”

Yang Yunran had no interest in her inheritance. This type of promise, which could be withdrawn at any time, was not worth anticipating.

He said calmly, “Mom, let’s wait for the test results.”

Midway through the meal, Chen Fangru took Chen Fangzhou out and asked, “What’s going on? Why did he go for a test? What result does he want?”

“I don’t know what Baby’s thinking,” Professor Chen said, upset. “Leaving the family won’t benefit him. Maintaining the status quo is good enough, but he insists on breaking it.”

Chen Fangru grabbed Professor Chen’s arm with her fingers and said, “If the result turns out against him, he’ll come back to cause trouble. What will we do then… and we can’t tell him the truth.”

Given Yang Yunran’s personality, it’s hard to say what he’ll do. She was worried and afraid that if Yang Yunran couldn’t accept it and jumped off a building, it was possible.

Chen Fangru: “Get that Ms. Yang to come to Beijing quickly!”

Yesterday she mentioned Yang Yunran in front of Zhao Youmo, “Momo, do you still want to study in the US? Like Youran. Mom will send you there, to the best school. I’ll make sure you get in.”

Zhao Youmo said, “My undergraduate degree isn’t good, so it’s difficult to apply to good schools… Before, Roy, that is, Yunran, helped me with recommendation letters, and the professor advised me to accumulate two years of work experience before applying.”

Chen Fangru asked him, “But your grades have always been excellent.” It was in the foundation office’s records that Zhao Youmo had consistently been at the top of his class since childhood. “How could you fail on the day of the college entrance exam?”

Zhao Youmo explained, “The day before my exam, there was an unexpected car accident…”

Although Zhao Youmo suspected that Yang Yunran might be behind it—since the motorcycle was driven by a friend of Yang Yunran’s at the time, who was also a rich second-generation with no academic achievements—he had no evidence and didn’t tell his mother about his suspicions. He felt somewhat constrained in front of Chen Fangru, finding it hard to get used to the fact that this elegant and expensive-looking woman on the foundation’s posters was actually his mother…

Chen Fangru felt extremely upset hearing about all the difficulties Zhao Youmo had faced. Knowing that Zhao Youmo seemed to have a decent relationship with Yang Yunran—since Yang Yunran had even asked a Harvard professor to write recommendation letters for him—this lessened some of her suspicions. However, she feared that Zhao Youmo might harbor feelings of imbalance and inner conflict from having been a follower and companion teacher to Yang Yunran in the past.

After all, she herself couldn’t accept this!

She felt overwhelmingly guilty every time she thought about it. Her own biological son had been right under her nose all these years! She had picked up Yang Yunran from school, attended parent-teacher meetings… and in the sponsorship materials of the foundation, Zhao Youmo’s name appeared more than once! Every page stated how exceptional he was.

A child so outstanding, yet treated as a companion to her adopted son… Living in shared accommodation in the US and in China, in cramped, dark rooms with moldy curtains. When she helped Zhao Youmo tidy up, she was shocked.

And with so much overlap, she knew nothing at all…

She thought, if their relationship was good and both were accepting, perhaps they could be “brothers.”

So, they had this meal.

The situation was likely to get out of control, so Professor Chen went to call Yang Wanyu.

Meanwhile, Yang Liming had also rechecked with the institution and confirmed that Zhao Youmo was his biological son. They had indeed made a mistake.

Yang Yunran was not his child—

After meeting with Zhao Youmo, Yang Liming decided to pass on the task of continuing the family line to Zhao Youmo and suggested he go on blind dates.

Naturally, he wouldn’t make things difficult for Yang Yunran again because of his sexual orientation. There was no reason for such arguments. Yang Liming wanted to reconcile, but Yang Yunran’s responses to his texts and calls were cold, claiming he was busy.

It pained him deeply.

He didn’t come for dinner today either.

Because he needed to raise his biological son, Yang Liming wanted to teach him business.

After Yang Yunran’s career as a star was hit, Yang Liming once again tried to persuade him to study seriously and cultivate him.

This time it was half successful, but then this happened.

Yang Yunran and Chen Fangzhou, and Chen Fangru finished their meal and went home. His attitude was distant, noticeable to both at the table. They thought he was being childish, only hurting himself this way.

Yang Yunran did not express any opinion on this. He hoped to completely sever ties. However, out of the responsibility of foster parents who had raised him for twenty years, he would provide for their old age in the future.

A few days later, Yang Yunran contacted a large foster care center and sent Harry there. He spent most of the day accompanying him, watching Harry swim happily there, and found the caregivers to be very professional. After that, he headed straight to the airport.

Assistant Doudou helped him push a small suitcase as they went to get their boarding passes.

It was only when Yang Yunran picked up his ticket that he realized, “Doudou, did the company book you in economy class?”

Doudou nodded, “Yes, Ran Ge, that’s how assistants usually travel.”

Yang Yunran took out his card, “Let me upgrade you, I have miles.”

Doudou’s eyes widened, “Oh my god!! Thank you, Ran Ge!!” Super rich second-generation people are really different!

“No problem, it’s a three-hour flight to Changsha, economy class would be too tough.” Yang Yunran wouldn’t let those around him suffer.

They boarded the plane, in business class. Yang Yunran casually flipped through a magazine. The passing flight attendants repeatedly stole glances at him, as if they recognized him as a celebrity. They saw his name on the list but couldn’t quite place him with the online Yang Yunran.

As the plane was about to land, a flight attendant bowed and whispered to him, “Mr. Yang, could you please give me an autograph?”

Yang Yunran had encountered this kind of thing often before, so he was very used to it, although this was his first time since he came into this world.

He hesitated for a second, then nodded calmly, “Sure, where would you like me to sign?”

Doudou hadn’t anticipated this, “I… I have a pen in my luggage!”

The flight attendant flashed a sweet smile, “Use my pen, you really are so handsome in person! I’m a big supporter of yours!”

It wasn’t clear if she was his fan or just thought he was good-looking.

Passengers in the nearby business class were all turning their heads.

“Is he a celebrity?”

“Which celebrity? I don’t recognize him, haven’t seen him online.”

“Mom, this brother is so good-looking!”

Yang Yunran dressed very simply for the flight, in a white T-shirt and black pants. His hair was neatly groomed. Having spent a long time in Boston, not many Americans would stare at him and call him handsome.

Because to Americans, he probably looked like a good-looking minor, that’s all.

Returning to China was a whole new situation!

After arriving at Huanghua Airport and disembarking, passers-by kept turning their heads to look. His rate of turning heads was a hundred percent—Doudou hadn’t expected so many people to notice Yang Yunran!

Although Ran Ge was quite good-looking, standing 180 cm tall, or 183 to 184 cm with shoes, his figure was slender but not overly so. His face was only the size of a palm, with skin that wasn’t pale but had a milky complexion. His unadorned features were delicate, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, a handsome appearance completely different from the photos online.

The only thing lacking was that recently, he seemed a bit unwell, so his complexion wasn’t great.

Yang Yunran considered himself a mess, so he didn’t wear a mask.

Even though Harry was just an ordinary internet singer, the program team still sent a car to pick up Yang Yunran.

After getting into the car with his assistant, Yang Yunran sat in the back seat while Doudou naturally took the front passenger seat. Turning around, Doudou said, “Ran Ge, have some water.”

“Thanks.” Yang Yunran took it and closed his eyes gently.

He had come to Changsha this time to record a show, aiming to earn the 1.2 million yuan performance fee, wearing a mask during the recording.

He might have to travel frequently over the next three months, so the company rented a house for him near the studio.

Doudou asked him proactively, “Ran Ge, our company’s artists will have a performance at Meixi Lake Theater in a few days. Have you watched the show? It’s the live broadcast night of a recent popular talent show group. I have internal tickets here, we can go and have some fun~”

Yang Yunran wasn’t interested, although Doudou had already raised his phone to show him, “It’s him, Evan is our company’s trainee.”

“…Why do I keep hearing about Evan everywhere.” Yang Yunran’s heart was pricked again.