Chapter 62

Yang Yunran was slightly at a loss for words. “You’re my…”

Xu Xing smiled faintly. “I am your father. You’re my child, Yunran.”

Yang Yunran stared blankly at the man in front of him, his mind buzzing. So, this was the person his uncle had mentioned… How did he end up here?

After a moment, he took a deep breath, regained his composure, glanced at the two bodyguards on either side, and then entered the private room.

Professor Chen hadn’t disclosed the exact identity of his parents today, only mentioning that both were highly accomplished entrepreneurs named Xu Xing and Yang Wanyu.

Yang Yunran had intended to postpone dealing with this matter. His work was demanding, and he had been distracted by his ex-boyfriend taking away the dog. He simply didn’t have time to chat and reunite with the original owner’s biological parents.

Who knew his biological father would come looking for him himself? Xu Xing pulled out a chair for him. “Please, sit.”

Yang Yunran sat down cautiously. “Mr. Xu… How did you suddenly…”

Xu Xing’s demeanor was very gentle. “I’m sorry, I was too hasty. Your uncle told me this afternoon that you were busy with work and couldn’t leave, so I took the liberty of flying over to find where you were having dinner. I hope I haven’t disrupted your work? Is your boss dining nearby? We can invite her over later.”

Yang Yunran quickly responded, “No, no need. My boss has already eaten. Mr. Xu, I’m sorry, I really was too busy this afternoon and didn’t check my phone…”

Xu Xing reassured him, saying it was okay. He folded his hands over his abdomen and continued, “Yunran, I am your biological father. You may have adoptive parents whom you get along well with, and today is the first time you’re meeting me, so I understand if you feel unfamiliar. But calling me ‘Mr.’ might be too formal. If it’s alright with you, calling me ‘father’ would be wonderful…”

Yang Yunran lowered his head, silently looking at the food on the table.

In truth, he had already called Yang Liming ‘dad’. Adding another ‘Mr. Xu’ didn’t seem like a big deal.

Moreover, Xu Xing seemed even more familiar to him than Yang Liming did. Perhaps there was a biological connection that naturally made him feel closer. Besides, since Xu Xing had come all this way to acknowledge him… Yang Yunran hesitated for a moment, then called out softly, “Dad.”

He didn’t look at Xu Xing’s expression, but Xu Xing’s eyes lit up unexpectedly. He hadn’t expected Yang Yunran to have so little resistance towards him.

“I’m not hungry anymore. I just ate… Um, I’ll accept your friend request first.” He tapped on his phone, approving the verification message. Then he continued, “I can chat with you for a bit, but I might have to go find my boss soon, or they’ll think I fell into the toilet.”

Similar to his first phone conversation with Yang Liming, Yang Yunran’s awkwardness was evident on his face. It had taken him quite some effort previously to get familiar with the role of Yang Liming and Chen Fangru’s son.

Xu Xing continued reassuringly, “It’s okay. You haven’t met me before, and you don’t know about me and your mother. Your mother… she’s not in good health. She’s in Canada waiting for surgery, so she couldn’t come here to see you this time. I’m afraid if she flew over in distress, it might delay her surgery, so I haven’t told her yet that I’ve found you. Considering your recent schedule, would it be convenient for you to accompany me to Toronto sometime soon? To visit your mother. She has been searching for you all these years, and she really wishes to see you—it’s been her lifelong wish.”

Yang Yunran heard about her poor health and thought of his own mother, who had passed away at a young age due to cancer. His mother had owned a hair salon, and exposure to chemicals led to her cancer. She had struggled to run the shop to pay for her medical expenses, and this was likely the main reason she had died in her thirties.

After considering for a moment, despite knowing that this might not be his biological mother but the original owner’s, he still said, “I’m quite busy lately. When I have time, I’ll visit her in Toronto. But I think… perhaps the child she’s been looking for all these years isn’t me.”

Xu Xing immediately responded, “I have a DNA report here. You are indeed my biological child.” He motioned to his secretary to bring it over.

Yang Yunran said, “There’s no need for a report. My uncle showed me. I mean, I know the whole story. Back then, Zhao Youmo and I were initially switched at the hospital, and Yang… I mean,” he paused, continuing, “my biological mother raised Zhao Youmo for two years before Zhao Youmo was accidentally abducted… and they were separated for many years. I’m wondering if… maybe the person she wants to see is actually Youmo?”

Xu Xing listened calmly. After Yang Yunran finished, Xu Xing shook his head disapprovingly. “Your mother raised another child until the age of two, but after all these years, finding him is just an obsession. To your mother, you are the most important child, and to me as well. We have a blood bond. Also, your mother and I had parted ways before you were born. We only reunited and married in recent years.” He briefly explained that he was concerned about his biological children, not someone like Youmo whom he had never met. Especially considering Yang Yunran, who had grown up in a sheltered environment, the recent changes should make the child very frightened and sad.

Xu Xing continued, “You resemble your mother a lot.” His eyes softened as he gazed at Yang Yunran’s face, leaning in and saying, “Ranran, for the love you’ve missed out on in the past twenty-something years, we will make it up to you. Whether you want to continue singing and become a star, or inherit our family business, your mother and I will support you unconditionally.”

“It’s alright… Thank you, but let’s talk about these things later,” Yang Yunran couldn’t comfortably engage intimately with his biological father whom he was meeting for the first time without any barriers. Xu Xing was a composed and successful man, inscrutable in his demeanor, and his attitude remained consistent, always smiling at Yang Yunran.

Not knowing what else to say, Yang Yunran said, “My boss is looking for me. I should probably head back… Thank you for coming to see me. I’ll visit… her in Toronto when I have the time.”

As he stood up, Xu Xing also rose, adjusting his suit collar. “Ranran, Dad wants to ask if you’re facing any difficulties in your career, or if you need any help?”

“No, no, I’m doing fine,” Yang Yunran replied.

And he was indeed doing fine—stable high income, not an exploitative boss, a somewhat slippery but generally responsible agent, and a cute and reliable assistant. Yang Yunran was currently satisfied with his life.

Deep in thought, Xu Xing said, “Then let me arrange a new house for you. I heard you’re living in a small one provided by the company. You don’t have a car either, just one assistant might not be enough. I’ll also arrange a few bodyguards for you… and maybe a chef for your meals. What kind of dishes do you like? I haven’t thoroughly understood these details yet.”

“No need!!” Yang Yunran was taken aback. Honestly, he had thought the original owner’s background was particularly tragic, and the books hadn’t mentioned anything like this. After all, once the protagonist slapped the original owner’s face, the original owner promptly disappeared. The current developments were somewhat beyond his comprehension.

Yang Yunran forced himself to say, “One assistant is enough for me. After all, I’m not a big star with fans chasing me. I don’t need bodyguards, and there’s no need to change the house. Really, my life is fine as it is. There’s no need to make up for anything…”

Yang Yunran bowed slightly to him and said, “I’ll go find my boss now. Maybe… we’ll see each other again.”

“Ranran, I’ll have a car sent to take you back later. I’ll text you my number, so save it. I might take you home in a while,” Xu Xing said. He hoped to bring Yang Yunran to Toronto soon to see Yang Wanyu. After Yang Yunran left, Xu Xing asked his secretary for Yang Yunran’s work details.

He wanted to know what Yang Yunran had been busy with lately and if there was a chance to adjust things for him. How was his company? Were there any contracts causing trouble for the kid? Did they need to forcefully acquire any?

Yang Yunran had been busy with recording tasks recently. When he returned to his room, Zhou Kai was outside talking on the phone.

He angrily instructed his assistant, Xiao Du, to keep an eye on Jiang Fan. “What is he up to? Keep track of his phone and make sure he doesn’t get into a relationship! I’ve just canceled his endorsement contracts and given them to other artists to teach him a lesson!”

Xiao Du didn’t even know where Jiang Fan was right now and couldn’t answer his boss’s accusations.

Zhou Kai was furious. “Find him immediately! Bring him back! I warn you, if he does this again, contacting people he shouldn’t, I’ll blacklist him!”

Zhou Kai had just realized that if Yang Yunran and Jiang Fan got back together, Jiang Yi would become his ex completely. At dinner, Mr. Lin might inadvertently mention giving Jiang Yi a million.

If Yang Yunran were to ask Jiang Yi, Jiang Yi would definitely not admit it, but it might still leak out.

He didn’t ask for much money, to tell the truth. Helping Mr. Lin sign Yang Yunran, just taking one million, how could that be considered a lot? Zhou Kai didn’t want this matter to affect his relationship with the artist. After careful consideration, he thought it safer for Yang Yunran and Jiang Yi to reconcile. If not, he would give Jiang Yi twenty thousand dollars to look convincingly poor.

Knowing Mr. Lin’s personality, he wouldn’t gossip without reason, especially when they’re still in a relationship. Once they break up, it’s uncertain.

Zhou Kai was quite weary. He flipped through his phone emails and found Jiang Yi’s previous email and the noted phone number.

He dialed the number, it connected, and a cold voice answered, “Who is this?”

Zhou Kai quickly changed his tone, “Dear Evan, I’m Yang Yunran’s agent, Kevin. Do you remember me? You emailed earlier about wanting to audition for the lead role in Yang Teacher’s MV. Do you still have that interest?”

Jiang Yi: “Oh, it’s you.”

What an attitude. Zhou Kai: “Yes, it’s me. We all think you’re very suitable in all aspects, and Yang Teacher also thinks you’re OK. Could you come for a screen test at your convenience? Shall I send you the address?”

Jiang Yi: “Did Yang Yunran say he wants me to come?” Jiang Yi recalled what Yang Yunran had said earlier about supporting him as much as possible in his career.

Jiang Yi didn’t need that. Upon hearing that Yang Yunran was reluctant to let him go, he still wanted to see himself, so he concluded that the intimacy on the bed in the afternoon was effective and could happen several more times.

Jiang Yi’s car was parked at the door of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He had been waiting here for two hours, occasionally looking at the door, then at the computer screen, saying, “Is Jiang Fan your artist?”

Zhou Kai twitched, “Yes, you ask this…”

Jiang Yi’s voice was calm, “What is the relationship between Jiang Fan and Yang Yunran?”

Zhou Kai: “This, I don’t know…” According to the rules, he couldn’t disclose an artist’s privacy, even if the other person was the artist’s boyfriend, oh no, ex-boyfriend.

Jiang Yi looked up and saw a fully armed man at the hotel door, dressed more tightly than Yang Yunran who came to the hotel in the afternoon. Jiang Yi judged his figure, which was close to 185 according to the data. There was a short female agent beside him, consistent with photos taken by netizens.

“I see him.” Jiang Yi opened the car door and said, “Let’s talk later.”

Zhou Kai exploded, “Why are you looking for him? Are you going to beat him up?!”

Although Jiang Fan was unhappy, Zhou Kai still didn’t want this matter to get hot. Zhou Kai immediately said, “There’s no need. He and Yang Yunran haven’t been in contact for a long time! I warned Jiang Fan not to contact Yang Yunran again. Don’t hit him!”

Jiang Yi locked the car and walked towards Jiang Fan and the agent. Wearing Bluetooth headphones, he asked Zhou Kai, “When did they break up?”

Zhou Kai didn’t know!

Zhou Kai said, “It probably wasn’t long before you and Yang Yunran fell in love. Anyway, Yang Yunran clearly didn’t like him. Just now at dinner, he even said, ‘Let me find Jiang Fan, don’t let Jiang Fan contact him!!'”

“Is that so.” Jiang Yi was expressionless.

Zhou Kai was about to go crazy and immediately called his subordinate agent on standby, “Are you at the hotel door? Hurry up, hurry up, you’ve been targeted!”

Xiao Du exclaimed, “Huh?” Before he could react, the window of the nanny’s car was knocked.

It was already ten thirty in the evening.

Jiang Fan sat in the car with a weary face, wearing a duck tongue cap, hands in pockets.

He heard someone knock on the car window and looked out, seeing a tall, handsome man with mixed-race features.

Seemed like trouble.

The other party was indifferent, saying, “Jiang Fan, get out of the car.”

Jiang Fan inexplicably sat up, “Is he calling me?”

Xiao Du urged the driver, “Drive fast!!”

“Who is that?” Jiang Fan asked.

The agent turned back to look, “How would I know! Kevin, she asked Zhou Kai on the phone,” Who’s that? Handsome, not like a paparazzi.”

Zhou Kai said, “Hard to say in a word, avoid him next time, especially Jiang Fan. You take him back to the dormitory. The lunatic, what’s the point of going to a hotel to book a room? Ready to make a big news for me? Let Jiang Fan calm down for a while. I canceled all his activities this month.”

Listening beside him, Jiang Fan couldn’t hold back anymore, “Why are you treating me like this?! There’s an important recording in a few days! All teammates are going, and those silly celebrities are going, but not me?!”

Zhou Kai shouted, “Because you’re disobedient! When did I take such an artist as you, and dare you to contact Yang Yunran again?”

Jiang Fan: “I didn’t contact him… And we didn’t do anything. Kevin, I won’t be photographed, really.” His voice was somewhat pitiful, “Besides, we really love each other.”

Zhou Kai: “Love my ass! Did you see the guy just now? Handsome, right? Better looking than you, he’s Yang Yunran’s real boyfriend! Do you think he’d like you or him? Don’t you have any self-awareness? Fans praise you all day, do you really think you’re a celestial being? What era is it that you still believe in true love? You’re not comfortable unless you make a move, right? With people watching you everywhere, your teammates are working on their careers, and you want to date? Making trouble for yourself and others, are you sick?”

Zhou Kai was about to make him cry. Since Jiang Fan debuted, he has encountered praise a thousand times and attacks a million times, especially from fans of his teammates, who constantly criticized him.

He’s now fragile emotionally, his mood collapsing: “But you can’t… you can’t take away my opportunities! I’ve put in so much effort. Others can go up, why can’t I? I’m also earning money for the company.”

He argued with Zhou Kai for a while. Zhou Kai called him stupid, confused, a useless idiot and finally hung up the phone, asking Xiao Du to take care of him: “Don’t let him use his phone, don’t connect to the internet or go out. Make sure he practices dancing at home diligently and thinks about acting.”

Xiao Du shrugged at Jiang Fan, “If you make him unhappy, you’ll be sidelined in the future. Polish your acting skills well, and you’ll be able to secure the supporting role you were promised before.”

“Will this affect my career path now? Will he still support me?” Jiang Fan cried in frustration, pulling his hat over his face and reclining in his seat.

Meanwhile, Yang Yunran made three or four calls, but Jiang Fan’s phone was off every time.

He guessed it might be because Jiang Yi called back in the afternoon and scared him.

Yang Yunran was puzzled, but he wanted to find out when Jiang Fan and the original owner started dating. He also messaged Jimmy and Zhao Youmo.

“Do you know Jiang Fan?”

Jimmy was probably asleep and didn’t respond, but Zhao Yumo did.

Zhao Youmo replied, “Who is Jiang Fan?”

Yang Yunran replied, “His English name is Evan, and he looks like this.”

Yang Yunran sent a picture of Jiang Fan.

Since he left home recently, Yang Yunran had little contact with Zhao Youmo, and everything he heard was from the agent.

Zhao Youmo seemed to have entered a smooth plot.

Zhao Youmo replied quickly, “Looks familiar, a bit like one of your ex-boyfriends before, but just a bit. He looks even more handsome in this photo.”

Because Jiang Fan had undergone plastic surgery, and there was a big difference between how stars were packaged and their amateur days, Zhao Youmo couldn’t be entirely sure.

Yang Yunran asked him again, “So, my ex-boyfriend was also named Evan?”

Zhao Youmo found it strange and replied, “Roy, I don’t know which one you’re referring to. The recent one or the one before that?”

After an ineffective communication for a while, Yang Yunran went to the bathroom to make a call.

Through their exchange of messages, he found out that besides Jiang Yi, he indeed had an ex-boyfriend named Evan, who bore some resemblance to Jiang Fan in the photo. However, Zhao Youmo could only give a fifty percent similarity answer.

Yang Yunran pondered quietly for a while, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this.

He had a vague and unsettling suspicion. Though he couldn’t accept it deep down, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed plausible. Did the original owner have two relationships at once, with two Evans—one being Jiang Fan, a scumbag who started trouble and then abandoned him, and the other being Jiang Yi?

It was Jiang Fan who changed his mind, not Jiang Yi… because Jiang Fan didn’t seem like a good person, but Jiang Yi… seemed pretty decent.

Right?

Yang Yunran rubbed his forehead, contemplating. If this Jiang Fan was indeed a former lover of the original owner, how could they have lost touch for so long without any communication, only for him to suddenly reappear?

Zhao Youmo continued, “Oh, Roy… about the recent online news, about… the plane incident, I didn’t expect it to turn out that way… implicating you. I’ve deleted the posts. Mom found a public relations person for me and said it will be cleaned up tonight, so it won’t be traced back to you and me.” Having just returned to the wealthy family for a month, Zhao Youmo had originally believed Yang Yunran was his twin brother, although it sounded unreliable, he still believed it

Then Yang Yunran took his hair for analysis and suddenly told him, “Actually, we’re not brothers. We were switched at birth in the hospital. You are the young master of the Yang family. I’m sorry, I won’t live here anymore and will try not to appear in front of you.”

When Zhao Youmo first heard about the hospital mix-up and that Yang Yunran wasn’t a Yang family child but he was, his mind was completely thrown off balance.

Yang Yunran got everything that didn’t belong to him! Meanwhile, he, who was originally born in Rome, had been barely surviving like an animal all these years.

He had been abducted, later wandering homeless, working as a lackey and tutor for Yang Yunran, scraping for tips based on his mood…

——It wasn’t until today, more than twenty years later, that the truth finally came to light! He couldn’t accept it those days. Zhao Youmo didn’t go to work at home, playing with his phone listlessly, looking confusedly at this strange and once unreachable dream.

Just like dreaming…

He used to think a lot about what he would do when he got rich in the future. He wanted to donate a new building to the orphanage, donate money to the children every year, hire good teachers for them, and let them get an education… He also wanted to enjoy something he had never enjoyed before. He wanted a vacation, to go to the island, to buy a house and a car, to sit in first class once…

Now he really has everything, falling from the sky. And he has family now.

Zhao Youmo never thought that this new life he had created casually would bring such an immeasurable amount of internet traffic. A company wanted to sign him, saying he had huge commercial potential! Zhao Youmo was shocked to see some revenue from the traffic backstage. It turned out that making money as an internet celebrity was so easy – just a few days of being cursed and he had tens of thousands.

Someone even wanted to buy his account for 200,000!

When Yang Liming heard about his own ideas, he also encouraged him to start a business.

Zhao Youmo asked Yang Yunran about the internet celebrity incubation business.

However, Yang Yunran was indifferent to him.

“I posted that private jet by accident when my mother took me to Sanya… It was my first time with my mom,” Zhao Youmo explained to him. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I posted it.”

Perhaps because many people cursed him in private messages, scolding him for being poor and pretending, he felt like he had his mouth covered.

When a person reaches the top in a moment, without going through long-term efforts, it is impossible to control one’s desires.

Yang Yunran caught his words: “You posted those things because you couldn’t control yourself, right?”

Zhao Youmo: “Yeah… kinda. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but I really didn’t mean it. Netizens are meddling, not liking me. But it’s okay now, I deleted the post and got some public relations, so it should be fine.”

Yang Yunran whispered, “It doesn’t matter how you handle it, you don’t need to consider my feelings. After all, it’s your thing, your plane. I’ve already cleared my account, so you can post whatever you want in the future.”

Because Zhao Youmo was the one being criticized rather than Yang Yunran, Zhao Youmo didn’t apologize. He simply explained the whole matter clearly and finally said, “I don’t want you to misunderstand, Roy. Whenever you’re free, you can come home and visit. Mom and Dad often mention you, and I don’t know how you’ve been outside…”

The two completed a switch in their identities, and Zhao Youmo’s way of speaking had also changed from before.

He used to be more cautious, afraid of offending Yang Yunran, but now they were more equal.

Yang Yunran was almost the same as before, with no noticeable difference in attitude, treating Zhao Youmo just like an ordinary friend.

After finishing their conversation, Yang Yunran put on his mask and hat again and touched up the kiss marks on his neck with a concealer that Doudou had given him, before finally leaving the restroom.

He had spent quite some time on the phone call, but the bodyguard was still waiting outside for him. The bodyguard bowed respectfully and addressed him as “Young Master”: “Please this way, sir.”

Yang Yunran hesitated, “Um… Mr. Xu, where is he?”

The bodyguard replied respectfully, “Mr. Xu is waiting for you in the car.”

Yang Yunran had never experienced fatherly love since he was young, having only briefly received some from Yang Liming. Perhaps from Professor Chen, he had also received affection from an elder. He didn’t understand how to get along with his father, but Xu Hang didn’t seem to be the type of person he could refuse. While appearing polite and mild-mannered, he actually had a strong desire to control and was always resolute.

Yang Yunran had seen people like this before, knowing that refusing was pointless.

This had gone beyond Yang Yunran’s control over the plot. Everyone was a part of the plot, including himself, but not his biological parents.

He didn’t know much about his parents, unlike the couple Yang Liming and his wife, and he was afraid of the unknown.

As he descended the stairs, a black luxury car was parked outside the restaurant door. Six or seven bodyguards escorted Yang Yunran into the car, while people around whispered and wondered who he was.

Fully equipped, yet bewildered, Yang Yunran looked up and saw a nearby black Buick with hazard lights on, its headlights glaring.

The Buick turned into the bend, and rolled down the window as if prepared to pick him up. Faintly visible through the windshield was the handsome profile of his former boyfriend.

Soon after, Yang Yunran received a call from Jiang Yi.

Help! How did Jiang Yi know I was here for dinner? Who told him!!

Yang Yunran paused for a second, then quickly answered, “Don’t get out of the car or come over here, my dad’s here!”