They were older than Xiang Yang, arrogant and domineering, humiliating him with their mother’s strong support. When Xiang Yang was seven, his father, following someone’s scheme, sent him abroad and arranged a nanny to care for him. Imagine how a young child who didn’t know English survived there.
During this time, Xiang Yang returned to the country three times, always going directly to the hospital. The first visit was for a DNA test at his grandfather’s request to confirm his identity. The second was due to Gao Zhan Peng’s wife’s fear that Xiang Yang would claim their inheritance, requiring another DNA test. The third visit was at his aunt’s request, again for inheritance purposes. One DNA test from an authoritative institution is definitive, but these hypocrites didn’t trust one another and kept dragging Xiang Yang back and forth. Such experiences must have deeply wounded him.
The painful memories were unbearable, piercing his mother’s heart. Jiang’s mother cried while speaking.
Xiang Yang remained abroad until he was fourteen. Upon returning, he said to her, “Mom, don’t abandon me anymore. I won’t go anywhere; I’ll stay by your side.”
After returning, he couldn’t read or write Chinese, speaking only simple phrases. At school, he was bullied by classmates who called him a ‘fake foreigner,’ and he would respond with violence. Xiang Yang was a stubborn child who never admitted defeat. He studied late into the night, and his teachers and classmates thought he was a genius. He once told me, ‘Mom, no one will ever make decisions for me again. My life will be in my own hands.’ Such words reflected how hard he had lived abroad. To save money for a ticket home, he secretly drew pictures on the street. After seven years, he rushed back, yearning for a place to belong.
He Jiangyang’s father took over the family business and repeatedly suggested bringing Xiangyang back, but I believe he will never return to the Gao family. Such a man deprived Xiangyang of maternal love and never showed him paternal love, casting a heavy shadow over his childhood. I know Xiangyang harbors hatred for those who bullied and tormented him.
His father once declared that Xiangyang would never amount to anything and would ultimately have to come back to him.
“I know Xiangyang wants to succeed and doesn’t want to lose to his father or anyone who has bullied him. But many paths lead to success; there’s no need for constant conflict. I worry he might be degrading himself to make his father regret it. Looking at him now, I’m truly worried! Jing Xin, you don’t know how excellent he was before!”
Jiang’s mother grabbed Jing Xin’s hand: “You must help me take care of Xiangyang. He’s a pitiful child with a bad temper but a good heart. After I’m gone, I fear he’ll be alone.”
“Auntie, you’re still so young; you’ll live to a hundred! In a few years, when Xiangyang gets married and has children, you’ll be surrounded by grandchildren. How happy that would be! And I’ll visit often.”
Jing Xin felt puzzled, only wanting to say something nice to make her happy. She had always lamented her lack of social grace, her inability to read others’ thoughts, leaving her tongue-tied.
Jiang’s mother raised her head, her eyes filled with desolation. “Jing Xin, I won’t live much longer. A month ago, I started feeling unwell, constantly tired and unable to eat. At the hospital, they discovered stomach cancer.”
The doctor said it’s late-stage and has spread. Surgery is no longer an option. I won’t live much longer; this disease progresses quickly. I haven’t told Xiangyang. He has already suffered too much, and I don’t want him to worry about me.
Jing Xin’s pupils contracted in shock. Tears welled up as she wiped them away, saying, “Auntie, how is this possible? How could you get this disease?”
Jing Xin felt only sadness and deep sorrow. She had always accepted fate but now resented the unfairness and cruelty of the world. However, she could do nothing.
She was not a doctor and had no miraculous healing powers. She collapsed on Jiang’s mother’s shoulder, crying like a child.
Jiang’s mother embraced her. “Child, don’t be sad. Life and death are predetermined. Today’s consequences are yesterday’s seeds. I made mistakes, and now heaven is punishing me. I blame no one. Death is not scary; everyone must walk this path. I just can’t bear to leave Xiangyang alone. I hope to see someone who can care for him before I die, but I don’t have time anymore.”
Thinking of her poor son, sadness swept over her heart.
“It will happen, Auntie. That person will definitely appear. Auntie, please take care of yourself.”
The two in the courtyard cried in each other’s arms, unaware of Jiang Xiangyang standing in the blazing sun behind them.
Chapter Thirteen: His Fragility
At four, watching his older siblings happily nestled beside the nanny, he stubbornly turned away, thinking his mother would one day take him away.
At six, his older brother won first place in an exam, and his father lifted him high, spinning him around. He hid in a corner, feeling dejected as his father ignored him.
In the dark night, he began to hate his mother for leaving him in this cold place.
At seven, his domineering sister pushed him down for breaking her porcelain doll and stepped on his thin arm. He questioned in his heart: “Mother, why don’t you want me?”
After enduring bullying from the young masters and misses of the Lin family, despair consumed him, filling his heart with hatred.
He hated his father, but hated his mother even more. Who in the world doesn’t consider their child their heart and soul? She had abandoned him outside, not seeing him for over a decade.
Could there be such a heartless mother? Was Jiang Xiangyang’s mother truly so unfeeling?
Why don’t you want me? After learning to think at a young age, this question consumed him. No one answered; perhaps this was the fate of all illegitimate children—abandoned and despised.
Gradually, he accepted this fate, waiting to grow strong enough to take control of his destiny. Despite living under others’ roofs and enduring bullying, he grew like a small tree, becoming taller and more outstanding than children his age.
On Christmas of his seventh year, his father sent him to Canada, discarding him like a burden. Following the nanny’s supposed kind arrangement, he was left in a foreign country, never to be inquired about again.
The nanny, aunt, father, and everyone in the Gao family watched him warily, always fearing he might take their property. As he grew older, he began to understand what being an illegitimate child meant.
He began learning about his family through online media and gossip, uncovering the man his father was.
He secretly saved enough for a ticket home and, at fourteen, eagerly escaped back.
Flying at thirty thousand feet, he looked out indifferently at the floating clouds outside, clenching his fist. This lifetime, his fate would no longer be controlled by the Gao family.
He swore that whatever Gao Zhanhong disliked, he, Jiang Xiangyang, would do.
Jiang Xiangyang never expected that upon returning, the first thing he wanted to do was find his mother.
His mother held him tightly, stroking his hair and crying painfully. Tears wet his face. In her warm embrace, the hatred he had accumulated towards her over the years crumbled in an instant.
Connected by heart, he understood his mother’s pain—her longing, difficult life, helplessness, and emotional wounds—seemingly in a moment.
At nineteen, when he dropped out to pursue his dreams, he had considered her feelings. For the past two years, he hadn’t dared to fight for fear of causing her worry.
She was his only warmth in this world. Without her, he would be left with only hatred for the Gao family and perhaps a life filled with sorrow.
His hands by his sides slowly formed tight fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands.
