Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 107
Chapter 107: Biological Parents
When Yuan Shiyuan woke up, he was alone.
A soft, thin blanket covered his lower abdomen, and the air conditioning had been adjusted to a comfortable temperature.
Curled up on the sofa, he lazily stretched, only to feel a cold, foreign sensation around his ankle.
Looking down, he saw an exquisite anklet encircling his ankle, adorned with several pure, translucent gemstones. Even Yuan Shiyuan, who knew little about jewelry, could tell at a glance that it was incredibly valuable.
Did Ying Mingche put this on me while I was sleeping?
Unaccustomed to wearing jewelry, Yuan Shiyuan bent his leg and tried to unfasten the anklet, but the clasp proved unusually complex. After fiddling with it for some time, he still couldn’t unfasten it.
Only then did he notice the bouquet of pink roses on the sofa armrest.
A postcard lay beside the flowers, its signature facing up and visible from Yuan Shiyuan’s angle.
It was from Ying Mingxi.
Yuan Shiyuan picked up the postcard. At the top was Ying Mingxi’s birthday greeting, and below that, a handwritten note: There’s cake in the fridge. Since you were asleep, I took the liberty of putting your birthday gift on for you.
“May your future shine brightly, and may peace reign in every year,” Yuan Shiyuan murmured softly, reading the blessing on the card before his gaze settled on the final line: “Happy Birthday.”
Knowing the birthday gift came from Ying Mingxi, he abandoned any thought of unwrapping it and instead gathered the bouquet of roses into his arms.
Yuan Shiyuan had no idea how long he’d slept, when Ying Mingche had left, or when Ying Mingxi had come and gone. Yet the roses, though some time had passed, retained their vibrant color. Ying Mingxi, concerned the bouquet might lose its shape, had carefully secured it with supports to prevent deformation.
The air conditioning in the lounge had been adjusted a few degrees warmer, no longer as frigid as before. And there was a thin blanket draped over him…
If his hunch was correct, these were all silent adjustments made by Ying Mingxi.
Yuan Shiyuan retrieved the cake from the refrigerator and scooped out a small spoonful.
He opened his mobile phone camera, pressed record, and brought the cake to his lips. A smudge of cream lingered at the corner of his mouth as he smiled at the camera, his eyes crinkling.
“Thank you, Brother Mingxi. The cake is delicious.”
After sending the video, Ying Mingxi didn’t reply immediately. Yuan Shiyuan paused for a moment, then sent a similar video to Ying Mingche, simply changing the name.
In the end, he didn’t dare indulge in the cake. He simply placed it in the refrigerator to chill before heading to the dance studio to continue practicing.
After weeks of rigorous training, Yuan Shiyuan’s stamina had improved significantly, so performing on stage shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
As he finished practicing, he noticed a tall figure standing in the doorway.
“Captain?”
Yuan Shiyuan bent down to grab a bottle of mineral water, casually tilting his head back to gulp down several mouthfuls, revealing a fleeting glimpse of his slender, supple waist.
He approached Pei Yanbing. “When did you get here? Do you need the dance studio?”
Feeling overheated, Yuan Shiyuan carelessly poured the remaining water over himself. Soaked to the bone, his thin clothes clung tightly to his body, their wet fabric tracing the sharp, alluring lines of his figure beneath.
A blush of crimson flushed his cheeks and neck, while his lips, still glistening from the water, appeared particularly fresh and tender.
Pei Yanbing stared at the slight parting of Yuan Shiyuan’s lips, then abruptly averted his gaze as if avoiding something.
“No,” the Alpha said. “Your family is here to see you. They’re waiting at the entrance.”
Surprised, Yuan Shiyuan thanked him and immediately sprinted toward the elevator.
His parents were ordinary people, and he tried his best to keep his work from interfering with their lives. So far, he had successfully shielded his family from the public eye.
It was his birthday, so he wasn’t surprised when Yuan Xing and her husband came to see him. But why were they waiting for him outside the company? The weather was so hot; he worried about his family waiting too long and ran the entire way.
“Slow down!”
Outside the company entrance, Yuan Xing and her husband were deep in conversation when a familiar pink flash caught their eyes through the glass doors. Their expressions softened instantly as they watched their child pant his way toward them.
“I can’t slow down,” Yuan Shiyuan gasped, his face flushed, but he looked up with a dazzling smile. “I wanted to see you both sooner!”
His eyes curved into crescents as he asked, “Is it hot out here? Let’s go inside…”
“No need to go in,” Yuan Xing replied, glancing at Father Yuan. Father Yuan immediately added, “Our friends are waiting in the car, and we have other plans later. We won’t go inside the company.”
Only then did Yuan Shiyuan notice the black car parked to the right of the stone steps below. As he emerged, the car seemed to inch closer, as if to get a better view of him.
The windows were tinted, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone inside was watching him intently.
The sensation of being watched from the shadows should have been unsettling, but he found it strangely comforting.
Yuan Shiyuan assumed the watcher was a friend of his parents and didn’t give it much thought. But when four exquisitely wrapped gift boxes suddenly appeared before him, his face lit up with delight.
“So many gifts! Are they all for me?” He bent down, hugging his parents in turn. “Mom, Dad, I love you!”
“Of course they’re for you, silly! Do we have any other treasures?” they chuckled. “These are all from your moms and dads.”
Yuan Shiyuan almost dropped the gifts; a flicker of confusion crossed his mind—why were there four?
“Can I open them now?”
“Open them when you get home, Little Yuan. We have something we need to take care of and have to leave soon.” Yuan Xing smoothed his slightly mussed pink hair. “Happy birthday, our darling is another year older.”
Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but he was too caught up in the joy of seeing his parents to dwell on it.
Only after he had left, clutching the four gift boxes, his figure disappearing from view, did Yuan Xing and her husband finally end the call they had been keeping open the entire time.
The car window rolled down, revealing Yu Jiao and her husband inside.
“Little Yuan has really grown a lot,” Father Yuan remarked with a sigh. “He used to be so tiny. Even in his teens, he looked skinnier than a seven-year-old.”
The moment they first saw the child, their hearts ached. They took him home and cared for him diligently, slowly nurturing their precious one back to health.
“He suffered so much as a child,” Yuan Xing murmured. “If he knew his birth parents had been searching for him all this time, and that he’d soon have another family to love him…”
“He’d be overjoyed, wouldn’t he?”
After the DNA test results came back, both families immediately agreed to keep it a secret for now. Yuan Xing and her husband decided not to tell Yuan Shiyuan yet, while Yu Jiao and her husband would keep it from the rest of their family.
This was a crucial time for Yuan Shiyuan. He was preparing for a new album release and an upcoming stage performance. At this critical juncture, it was best to let him maintain his focus, avoid any unexpected distractions, and keep him from losing focus.
Yuan Shiyuan had just turned a corner when Pei Yanbing stepped forward and naturally took the heavy gift box from his arms.
“Want to open it now?” Pei Yanbing asked.
“Maybe later,” Yuan Shiyuan replied after a moment’s thought. “Aren’t we rehearsing the dance soon? Are Brother Bo Jin and the others back yet?”
Pei Yanbing’s expression faltered, a subtle unease flickering in his eyes. Fortunately, his naturally impassive face, combined with Yuan Shiyuan’s lack of attentiveness, prevented him from noticing anything amiss.
“They should be back soon,” he said, then added, “I don’t know for sure.”
Yuan Shiyuan turned back in surprise. “Captain, you’ve actually said so much this time!”
As soon as the words left his lips, Yuan Shiyuan suddenly swayed. Pei Yanbing swiftly reached out with his free hand to steady him.
Once he regained his balance, Yuan Shiyuan heard the Alpha’s urgent voice at his ear: “Have you even eaten anything?”
“I had a little…” Yuan Shiyuan mumbled guiltily.
Pei Yanbing raised an eyebrow. “A little?”
“Okay, fine. Just a slice of toast after breakfast,” Yuan Shiyuan confessed, then quickly added, “I’m just trying to control my diet to look good on camera…”
“But you’re not…” Pei Yanbing glanced around, ensuring they were alone, yet still hesitated to speak plainly. “You’re still developing, right? You need proper nutrition. You can’t starve yourself.”
Yuan Shiyuan’s Omega traits were still maturing, demanding ample nutrients. Moreover, his rigorous daily dance practice burned immense energy.
The company employed a nutritionist, but Yuan Shiyuan had recently been so busy he often forgot to eat. After class, he’d plunge straight into dance practice, only realizing afterward that he’d skipped meals. By then, he wasn’t even very hungry and simply brushed it off.
A few days earlier, Bo Jin and the other Alphas had kept a close eye on him, even dragging him to the cafeteria to eat with them. But today, all the Alphas were occupied with their own schedules, and Yuan Shiyuan once again forgot to eat.
Pei Yanbing practically dragged Yuan Shiyuan to the cafeteria.
Worried about exceeding his calorie limit, Yuan Shiyuan picked at his food, leaving most of it untouched. Pei Yanbing finished the rest for him.
Lately, I haven’t craved S-rank pheromones as much, Yuan Shiyuan mused as he ate a vegetable salad. Could it be because I’m eating so little? Is my body struggling to keep up with its development, leaving me in a state of near-starvation?
After eating some food, Yuan Shiyuan’s stomach felt much more settled, and his steps grew more energetic. However, mindful of his strict physique management, he still didn’t dare overeat.
“Bo Jin and the others are back,” Pei Yanbing suddenly said. “They’re waiting for us in the dance studio.”
“Let’s go, then.” Before leaving, Yuan Shiyuan obediently finished the last sip of his fruit and vegetable juice, still sucking through the straw.
Night had fallen, and beyond the glass windows, the city’s towering buildings merged into a vast ocean of light.
Under the bright corridor lights, Yuan Shiyuan pushed open the dance studio door when a warm hand gently covered his eyes from behind.
With a soft click, the studio’s main lights went out. As if sensing his fear of the dark, Pei Yanbing tightly grasped his hand from beside him, reassuring him that he wasn’t alone.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” Pei Yanbing whispered into Yuan Shiyuan’s ear.
In the darkness, the melody of “Happy Birthday” slowly began to play. Peeking through the gaps between his fingers, Yuan Shiyuan glimpsed faint, warm light.
When Pei Yanbing removed his hand, firefly-like candle flames flickered into existence in the darkness that had terrified him moments before.
Above the small cake on the trolley, a miniature, adorable chibi version of Yuan Shiyuan had been drawn. The Alpha stood still, a smile spreading across his face as he looked at Yuan Shiyuan.
“Happy birthday, Brother!”
Yuan Shize?!
Yuan Shiyuan blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be training?”
“It’s your birthday. How could I possibly miss it?” Yuan Shize pulled Yuan Shiyuan over and gently pressed him into a sofa chair.
Several night-lights flickered to life nearby. Bo Jin glanced at the illumination, deemed it insufficient, and silently switched on two more night-lights.
“Happy birthday,” he murmured as he approached Yuan Shiyuan.
Yuan Shiyuan smiled back. He never imagined they’d pull off such a “childish” surprise.
Especially Bo Jin.
This was utterly unlike anything Bo Jin would do.
“Scared?” Jiang Heng asked.
Yuan Shiyuan knew he was referring to his fear of the dark and shook his head. “Not at all.”
Though the room was dim, multiple night-lights chased away the shadows, and the candles on the cake flickered warmly. Most importantly, all the people he trusted were by his side.
Under these circumstances, it was impossible to feel frightened.
Bo Jin reached out and covered Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes. “What about now?”
“With you beside me, of course I’m not afraid.” Yuan Shiyuan reached out and clasped Bo Jin’s wrist. Even with his sight taken away, he tilted his head back and smiled confidently.
Yuan Shize watched the Alpha beside his brother, a sour, heavy ache swelling in his chest. But he couldn’t let it show, let alone spoil his brother’s mood.
“Brother, what about me?” He approached with feigned grievance, crouching by the chair like a large, attention-starved dog.
As if sensing his brother’s presence, Yuan Shiyuan reached out, took Yuan Shize’s hand, and placed it on his knee. “Of course you’re included too.”
Footsteps approached from behind. Before the newcomer could speak, Yuan Shiyuan preemptively chuckled, “You’re included too. All of you.”
The Alpha paused for a moment, then deliberately lowered his voice. “Who am I?”
“You’re Jiang Heng, of course,” Yuan Shiyuan replied with a smile. “How could I not recognize your voice?”
“But if there were no voices, could you still recognize us?” Jiang Heng pressed relentlessly.
Yuan Shiyuan blinked, his playful banter suddenly turning serious as he considered the question.
Finally, he declared with resolute confidence, “Of course I could.”
“If you don’t believe me, try me.”
Yuan Shiyuan was in high spirits today and didn’t mind indulging in childish games. This recognition game reminded him of his childhood, when he’d only played it with his family.
He never imagined he’d relive this moment with his friends now.
A soft silk scarf gently covered Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes.
He sat casually in his chair, the darkness emphasizing the sharp lines of his nose and his slightly parted lips, making them appear particularly alluring.
“Who’s going first?” he challenged. “Or all at once?”
In the silence, a deliberate, slow footstep gradually approached. Unlike its usual rhythm, it carried a hint of hesitation and caution.
The person reached his side, caressed his cheek, then used a finger to scoop a dollop of whipped cream and squeeze it between his parted lips…
Who is it?
Yuan Shiyuan frowned in thought. The gesture felt somewhat lewd—it couldn’t be his younger brother or the captain. Could it be Bo Jin or Jiang Heng? But they didn’t seem like the type to do something like this either…
Noticing the Alpha was about to withdraw his hand, Yuan Shiyuan instinctively held him back, his tongue lightly licking the cream-covered finger.
The Alpha’s body stiffened momentarily, then pinched Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek with a punishing squeeze. He seemed completely oblivious to how provocative his actions were, his mind still preoccupied with figuring out who it was.
Calloused fingertips…
But the crucial thing was that almost all of them had calluses on their hands! Bo Jin had grown up abroad, practicing shooting since childhood, while Jiang Heng had worked many different jobs…
Yuan Shiyuan tentatively spoke, “Jiang Heng?”
“Wrong guess,” Bo Jin’s voice chimed in from the side.
He stepped forward, scooped up a dab of warm cream with his fingertip, and gently smeared it across Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek. Like a punishment.
Jiang Heng glanced at Bo Jin, said nothing, and silently retreated to the other side.
Yuan Shize watched the scene unfold, his brow furrowed.
His brother had clearly guessed right…
Yuan Shiyuan’s competitive spirit flared. “That was just a warm-up. Now it’s time to get serious.”
In the darkness, his other senses sharpened. His sense of smell was particularly acute, but the dance studio’s fresh air system was running, and the Alphas had just showered.
Otherwise, he could have distinguished them by their faint pheromones.
As Yuan Shiyuan pondered, someone suddenly approached him. He sniffed, detecting no pheromones, only a hint of… his own scent?
Had this person been near him for a long time? Or had they taken his jacket as a deception tactic?
Yuan Shiyuan reached out, feeling the person’s arm, waist, chest, and shoulder. He immediately ruled out his younger brother. Apart from his brother, all the others had “Big Refrigerator” builds…
After a moment’s contemplation, Yuan Shiyuan realized that, with his vision obstructed, distinguishing these Alphas was proving remarkably difficult.
“Can you release some pheromones to help me cheat?” Yuan Shiyuan tugged at the Alpha’s sleeve, his voice small and uncertain. “Captain?”
Yuan Shize: “Brother, is that even allowed?”
Though he called it cheating, no one stopped him. The Alpha standing before Yuan Shiyuan remained silent, but took Yuan Shiyuan’s hand, his thumb gently tracing the inside of Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist.
Without pheromones, relying solely on body heat and the texture of their bodies was proving too difficult.
Could it be Bo Jin? Yuan Shiyuan wondered. But Pei Yanbing’s body temperature can also be very hot sometimes…
After a moment’s hesitation, Yuan Shiyuan eliminated Pei Yanbing from consideration, recalling that his earlier calls to Pei Yanbing had gone unanswered.
“Brother Bo Jin?” Yuan Shiyuan called out with a hint of anticipation, but a dollop of warm cream landed on his lips. He instinctively licked it off, inadvertently taking some of the cream from the Alpha’s finger into his mouth.
“Wrong,” Jiang Heng said, suppressing a laugh. “That’s the captain.”
“……”
Yuan Shiyuan fell silent for a moment, then his face broke into an expression of utter astonishment.
Earlier, he had assumed the Alpha was Pei Yanbing, which was why he had spoken so freely. But when there was no response, he immediately ruled out the correct answer.
In his mind, Pei Yanbing would have undoubtedly cooperated with him.
But Pei Yanbing turned out to be nothing like the honest man Yuan Shiyuan had imagined. He was even a bit sly, hiding his mischievousness deep inside…
“That was an accident,” Yuan Shiyuan insisted, his voice strained. “I guessed it was the captain, but he didn’t respond, so I assumed it wasn’t him…”
“So you guessed me instead?” Bo Jin chuckled. “After sleeping with me so many times, you still can’t recognize me?”
“How is that the same thing?”
These Alphas had their pheromones so tightly suppressed, and they’d even showered, leaving only the scent of bath gel. When Yuan Shiyuan got close, he could only sense a group of Big Refrigerators nearby. He’d groped around for ages, but couldn’t find any discernible differences.
Aside from their faces, the most obvious distinction… was something he couldn’t exactly touch in public.
If he could just get his hands on the Citrus Lobe, he’d recognize him instantly.
Yuan Shiyuan removed the silk scarf covering his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he stood up too abruptly, and darkness flashed before his eyes.
His legs buckled, and he collapsed forward without warning.
Yuan Shiyuan had a very long dream.
In the dream, he was his younger self again, crouching in the courtyard with a black-haired boy, counting ants. Both of them were no bigger than radish seedlings.
One day, Yuan Shiyuan suddenly saw his younger self toddling up to the caretaker’s room, tilting his innocent face upward to ask, “Why don’t I have a mommy and daddy? Did I do something wrong?”
The caretaker gently stroked his head. “Little Yuan, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Xiao Yuanshiyuan couldn’t understand. He had read in children’s books that if children were good, they would receive the love of a mommy and daddy. As a young child, he would lie on his cool mat, propping his chin on his hands, and think in frustration,
But I’ve been so, so good.
Yuan Shiyuan jolted awake.
He gazed around at the cold, white metal equipment, the faint scent of disinfectant hanging in the air.
A discomfort stirred in his lower abdomen. He reached down and felt a faint warmth radiating beneath his skin.
Just then, Yuan Shiyuan noticed several empty vials of S-rank Pheromone Extract in the nearby trash can.
“You’re awake?”
The doctor turned, his voice gentle yet firm. “Your body is at a critical stage of development, especially the maturation of your Omega traits. You need sufficient nutrition and high-quality S-rank pheromones. You can’t keep dieting so strictly, and you’ve been pushing yourself too hard physically lately without proper rest. That’s why you fainted…”
“Your hormone levels are fluctuating abnormally, indicating your heat period is imminent. We must prepare in advance,” the doctor said earnestly, looking at him. “You remember my previous recommendation, right?”
Yuan Shiyuan’s toes curled involuntarily as he awkwardly brought his knees together. “…I remember.”
“Find several S-rank Alphas to help me through my heat period,” Yuan Shiyuan repeated, his voice growing softer. Then he couldn’t help but ask, “But do I really have to… let them inside?”
If it was just edging, he could handle it. But the thought of letting an Alpha actually enter him felt deeply unsettling.
Friends don’t… have sex…
“If I let them ejaculate outside first and then use tools to assist, would that work? I tried it before and it felt… okay, but I didn’t dare let him feed me too much. Because the sensation was… too strange.”
So strange it frightened me.
The pleasure had been overwhelming, even causing him to lose control. Yuan Shiyuan didn’t dare continue, terrified of some even more terrifying and uncontrollable accident.
“You’ve tried it?” The doctor was astonished. Yuan Shiyuan, who had previously shown such strong resistance to this method, had actually experimented with it!
“It can provide some temporary relief,” he explained, “but what you really need is… you understand. True, deep connection allows the pheromones to penetrate more thoroughly. The exchange frequency becomes higher, more intimate, and the absorption is far more effective.”
“Only this way can you safely and effectively get through your heat period.”
Just as I thought.
Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t surprised. He tugged at the bedsheets and sighed softly. “Alright, then let me pick one first.”
The doctor looked puzzled. “Pick one?”
“Mm-hmm,” Yuan Shiyuan replied honestly. “The smallest one.”
The once-solemn doctor couldn’t help but chuckle. “Silly child, the bigger ones work better. Besides, the deeper the pheromones penetrate, the more comfortable you’ll be. It can even help develop your underdeveloped reproductive cavity… And how small can an S-rank Alpha’s be anyway?”
Yuan Shiyuan raised a hand to stop this dangerous topic, retorting, “How can you just ‘help develop’ it in passing?”
Having an S-rank alpha casually drill into my reproductive cavity…
How utterly offensive!
The doctor asked curiously, “Why did only three of your boyfriends come? What about the twins? Did you kick them to the curb?”
After a moment of pondering, he added, “Hmm… there seems to be a new face in the mix?”
“He’s not my boyfriend! We’re brothers, friends, good buddies!” Yuan Shiyuan retorted.
“Was the one who used the auxiliary tool to inject you with S-rank pheromone extract also your brother, friend, good buddy?”
Yuan Shiyuan fell silent instantly.
The doctor suppressed a smirk and pressed further, “Does this count as brotherly incest?”
Yuan Shiyuan’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
His eyes darted nervously, his toes unconsciously scuffing the floor. He stammered, unable to even muster a feeble denial.
Seeing his flustered state, the doctor finally chuckled. “Just kidding. Feeling a bit clearer now? It’s normal to be disoriented and uncomfortable after waking up. Are you feeling better now?”
So, those strange remarks were just to help him regain consciousness, not the doctor’s true thoughts…
Yuan Shiyuan touched his still-burning earlobe and replied softly, “Much better now.”
“That’s good. Your parents have been very worried about you. When you go out, remember to communicate with them properly and don’t let them worry.”
The nurse drew back the curtain. Through the one-way glass, a couple sat on the bench in the corridor. Yuan Shiyuan recognized the woman—her amber eyes, so similar to his own, had left a deep impression.
But he had no memory of the man.
“Your parents have been waiting for you outside for a long time, they haven’t left at all.”
Yuan Shiyuan was about to correct her—They’re not my parents—but the words caught in his throat, emerging instead as, “How do you know they’re my mom and dad?”
The doctor looked at him earnestly and said, “Because they cried for a long time when they heard you were sick.”
When Yuan Shiyuan left the ward, Yuan Xing and her husband hadn’t yet returned, likely still handling paperwork.
Instead, the unfamiliar couple rushed toward him as soon as he appeared, their expressions anxious and concerned.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“Still uncomfortable?”
“Would you like some water…?”
Their overly attentive behavior made Yuan Shiyuan feel uneasy. Yet he found it hard to harbor any ill feelings toward the couple before him, so he merely took a polite half-step back.
“Thank you, Auntie and Uncle. I’m doing much better now,” he said, his tone polite yet distant. “The doctor said there’s nothing seriously wrong.”
Yu Jiao’s outstretched hand froze mid-air for a moment before slowly retracting.
“It’s good to hear you’re okay,” she repeated, her voice trembling slightly. “Good to hear you’re okay…”
“Little Yuan?”
A familiar voice called out from beside him. Yuan Shiyuan immediately turned, his eyes filled with familial affection and dependence, his voice carrying a hint of unconscious affection.
“Where did you guys go just now?”
“To get your medicine and the prescription. Your dad was worried you’d be thirsty when you woke up, so he went to fetch you some water.”
Father Yuan handed him a thermos. Yuan Shiyuan took it and tilted his head back, gulping down a large mouthful. “Thanks, Dad! I feel much better now.”
Much better? If Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t suddenly collapsed, they wouldn’t have realized he hadn’t been eating properly these past few days.
He’d even lost quite a bit of weight.
After all their painstaking efforts to help Yuan Shiyuan gain some weight, he had already begun to lose it again.
Worry clouded Yuan Xing’s eyes as her gaze drifted past Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder to meet the silent couple watching from a distance. Yu Jiao and her husband stood quietly, observing everything without interfering or speaking, just as they had originally agreed.
“Little Yuan, did you greet them earlier?” Yuan Xing asked softly.
Yuan Shiyuan nodded.
“Come here, I need to tell you something,” Yuan Xing whispered, pulling him aside. “I was planning to wait longer to tell you…”
But now that Yuan Shiyuan had already met his biological parents, perhaps this was the right moment.
They moved to a quiet corner.
Yu Jiao and her husband remained in their spot, trying their best to minimize their presence and avoid disrupting the family’s life. Unbeknownst to them, their gazes burned with an intense heat, radiating unmistakable warmth and tenderness toward Yuan Shiyuan.
These were not the eyes of ordinary elders. Yuan Shiyuan, being remarkably perceptive, must have noticed something.
Yuan Xing looked at Yu Jiao, then at Yuan Shiyuan. Their eyes were strikingly similar.
“Little Yuan,” she began, “do you remember your birth parents?” As soon as she spoke, Yuan Shiyuan frowned, as if about to interrupt. But Yuan Xing pressed on, “They’ve been looking for you… for many years.”
Yuan Shiyuan froze. “What?”
His frown deepened. “I know I was abandoned shortly after birth. They didn’t want me. You…”
You don’t need to comfort me.
Before he could finish, a choked sob erupted from the corner: “That’s not true!”
“We’ve been searching for you all this time. The entire family has been searching. For nearly nineteen years, we never gave up.”
“When you were little, your father had an important meeting in Jingzhou. We brought you along… But we never imagined his political rivals would target a child.”
“We realized you were missing almost immediately, and everyone started searching. We finally tracked down the person who took you at the train station, but he had lost you! Even he didn’t know where you were…”
Even with their swift response, they were still a step too late. Xiao Yuanshiyuan had been taken to the bustling train station. Back then, surveillance was rudimentary, and information wasn’t yet linked to personal identities, making it easy to disappear into the crowd.
During a bathroom break, the man, annoyed by the child’s incessant crying, temporarily placed Xiao Yuanshiyuan on the sink. When he emerged from the stall, the child was gone without a trace.
He’d most likely been snatched by human traffickers.
When Yu Jiao and the others finally arrived, they received this devastating news like a bolt from the blue.
The train station teemed with people, and with that one loss, nineteen years vanished into thin air.
“We never stopped looking for you.”
As if afraid Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t believe her, Yu Jiao’s fingers trembled slightly as she lit up her mobile phone screen. The album displayed a series of proofs:
- Missing person posters printed with a blurry photo of his childhood self.
- Police reports carefully preserved in plastic sleeves, their dates clearly visible.
- Plane and train ticket stubs from their years of searching across the country… each ticket a journey fueled by hope.
It was then that Yuan Shiyuan learned the truth about the woman’s identity. She was a member of the Yu Family—the same Yu Family that Pei Yanbing had once mentioned to him!
Even if he hadn’t been paying particular attention, Yuan Shiyuan knew the Yu Family had a child who had been lost for many years. They had searched tirelessly, never giving up hope. He had seen their missing person notices countless times—on the sides of delivery boxes, in public service announcements on television, and everywhere in between.
Yet, in all his wildest imaginings, Yuan Shiyuan could never have conceived that the child the entire Yu Family had been searching for day and night for years was… him!
“Our whole family has missed you terribly. Even though you weren’t home, we celebrated your birthday every year and prepared gifts for you. All those birthday gifts are carefully stored at home, waiting for the day you return so we can give them to you all at once…”
By now, she was sobbing uncontrollably. No matter how capable and strong-willed she usually appeared, at that moment, she was simply a mother yearning to be reunited with her lost child.
As if a tidal wave had crashed around him, Yuan Shiyuan instinctively stumbled backward. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
Yuan Xing gently took his slightly cold hand and looked at him with unwavering resolve, offering silent encouragement.
Yuan Shiyuan’s mind reeled. He stared fixedly at Yuan Xing, then his gaze drifted away in bewilderment.
After a long moment, he finally murmured in a daze, “When I was little, I always thought I was a stray, an unwanted child…”
Father Yu pulled his wife into his arms, his gaze both pained and utterly sincere as he turned to Yuan Shiyuan. “Little Yuan, do you know your original name? You’re Yu Yuan. We’ve always believed it was fate that brought you into our lives. The day you were born, your grandmother and the others went to get a peace talisman, praying for your lifelong safety… Every single one of us loves you deeply.”
“How could we ever bear to abandon you? How could we possibly forsake you?”
“You’re the precious treasure our whole family had longed for…”
Yu Jiao wiped away her tears, her voice hoarse yet restrained. “I’m sorry, I lost my composure. We had planned to tell you at a more appropriate time… Little Yuan, please don’t feel burdened. We would never interfere with or disrupt your current life. We know Mr. Yuan and the others have raised you wonderfully—they’re your irreplaceable family, and we’re deeply grateful to them…”
“But you can have two families, two sets of parents who love you.”
“Would you be willing?” she asked softly, tears shimmering in her eyes mingled with hope. “Would you be willing… to give us another chance to love you too?”