1 After my family went bankrupt, I was sent back to my biological parents. My CEO sister dropped her prayer beads when she saw my bleached blonde hair. "Are you here to collect protection money?" I whistled loudly, rolled up my sleeves to reveal the dragon on my left arm and the tiger on my right. "Hey sis! My family's broke, lend me some cash to spend~" My adoptive parents, who cut their vacation short to rush back, nearly fainted when they saw my nose ring. Their expressions cracked: "Oh my god! How did our son turn into a delinquent?" My family went bankrupt because a rival set a trap and tampered with a contract. On the day the court sealed our property, my parents looked solemn and told me I was picked up from a dumpster, and now they had found my biological parents. They had told me this a thousand times before, and I always thought it was a joke. Because they also said my sister was a prize from a claw machine. And my little brother was a free gift with a recycling drop-off. It wasn't until they dropped me off in front of my biological parents' mansion that I realized they were serious! My sister, Cherry, held my hand reluctantly. "No wonder I'm Cherry, Little Brother is Chase, and you're Charlie. Turns out we're not the same breed." My little brother, Chase, looked grave. "Second Brother, don't forget us when you're rich." They didn't hesitate for a second before dumping me and running. I stood in front of a mansion ten times bigger than our old apartment, completely confused. If I'm not mistaken, this is a property of the Sterling family. That multinational corporation worth billions. I can't believe a wealthy family would throw me in a dumpster just because I'm a boy. Tsk! I pulled a piece of gum from my pocket, threw it in my mouth, and looked down at myself. Ripped jeans, skull T-shirt, hair bleached like corn silk, and a nose ring sparkling in the sun. I rang the doorbell. No answer. Rang again, still no answer. I squatted down to act like a mushroom, pulling out my phone to call my adoptive mom to see if she could take me back for a while. Just then, the door suddenly opened. An impossibly tall woman, wearing a high-end black dress, appeared in front of me. She was holding a string of expensive prayer beads, her features deep as a sculpture. The moment she saw me, the beads fell to the ground with a clatter. Ooh~ Isn't this the "Buddhist CEO" from novels? I've finally seen one in the flesh! I heard these people love counting beads—eating, sleeping, pooping, always counting! More schemes in their heads than seeds in a lotus pod! "Are you... here to collect protection money?" Sarah's voice was low, carrying a hint of confusion and shock. I whistled loudly, blowing a bubble with my gum until it popped. Then I rolled up my sleeves, revealing the temporary tattoos I applied yesterday. Left Green Dragon, Right White Tiger. "Hey sis! My family's broke, lend me some cash to spend~" I deliberately used my most punk tone and winked at her. Her expression looked like she'd been struck by lightning, lips moving as if reciting sutras. "Sis, who is it?" A childish voice came from inside, interrupting my stare-down with Sarah. Sis? My eyes lit up again. Novels always have a standard setup. Where there's a real son, there's a fake son. The fake son is always beloved by all, while the real son is vicious and brainless, ending up dead or crippled! I narrowed my eyes, ready for battle. However, when the owner of the voice bounced to the door, my eyes nearly popped out. This is the fake son? I stared at the little boy with short hair in a black suit, my brain crashing on the spot. He's five at most, right? Zack was looking at me curiously with big round eyes. This age doesn't qualify for a fake son plot! Is there another one hiding inside? "Second Brother? Sis, is this Second Brother?" He looked at me in surprise. The atmosphere was a bit weird. 2 I decided to strike first, pulling a crumpled paper from my pocket and slapping it on Sarah's chest. "I'm not a scammer!" Sarah forgot to pick up her beads. Seeing the paternity test, her face changed. It clearly showed a 99.9% probability of paternity between me and Mr. Sterling. I didn't know when my adoptive mom did this behind my back, only shoving it to me before sending me out. I crossed my arms. "How about you give me a sum of money? Buy out this relationship, and I promise never to appear in front of you again! My lips are sealed!" Sarah looked like she'd been punched. She slowly folded the report, her voice low. "No." I froze. What no? No money? So stingy? Isn't the Sterling family rich? A little leak from their fingernails would be enough to pay off my adoptive parents' debts. "A son of the Sterling family cannot be left wandering outside." "You were deliberately taken and abandoned by a nanny sent by a rival." "Dad got into a car accident looking for you and recuperated for half a year. Mom almost committed suicide. The family company nearly collapsed." Sarah said word by word, her eyes reddening. They didn't throw me away? The rival was so toxic, going straight for the heart by dumping a child?! Sarah not only refused to let me go but also called the Sterling couple who were traveling abroad. She asked the butler to take me to my room to drop off my luggage first. I wanted to refuse, but couldn't think of a reason. The second-floor hallway was long, rooms on both sides. The butler stopped at the door at the very end. "This is your room, Second Young Master." I pushed the door open and widened my eyes. This isn't a room; it's a prince's palace! The whole room was decorated luxuriously and exquisitely. The corner was piled with gift boxes. Big and small, colorful, stacked from floor to ceiling. My tattered backpack looked out of place in such a room. "Is this... a mistake?" My throat tightened. "Madam personally arranged this for you, redecorating it every year according to your age." Every year? I was shaken. So, even though I wasn't here, they remembered me? Zack stood behind me at some point, holding an Ultraman toy. He pointed to the gift boxes in the corner. "Mom celebrates Second Brother's birthday every year, buying lots and lots of gifts. Even though you weren't here, I helped blow out the candles!" "You... you mean these are all for me?" "Yup!" He nodded vigorously. "Mom said Second Brother would come home one day, so she wanted to make up for all the birthday gifts!" My chest felt tight, like I'd been punched hard. Did they really look for me for so many years? "Zack. Tell me honestly, is there... an adopted brother in the house? Older than you?" Zack blinked his big eyes. "Adopted brother?" "Like..." I chose my words carefully. "While I was gone, did Mom and Dad adopt another boy to replace me?" Zack looked confused. "Mom and Dad do charity, but why would they raise someone else as a son?" I was stunned. No one? How can there be no fake son? Then who is my enemy? Isn't that how novels are written? Real son returns, fake son sets traps. 3 My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and saw a dozen messages popping up in the "Happy Family" WeChat group. Clicking into the chat, the latest was from Chase: [ @Charlie Did you see the fake son? Remember, don't be like those vicious supporting characters in novels. We need to be independent men! ] I couldn't help laughing. This kid watches too much TV. Then Cherry sent an eye-roll emoji: [ @Charlie, if you can't survive there, come back. We're having pickles tonight, won't starve you anyway. ] Then she @'d our parents: [ @Mom @Dad When are you taking Chase and me to find our rich parents? ] [ We want to experience the high life too. ] Just as I was about to reply, Mom sent a voice message. I clicked it, and her loud voice filled the corridor. "You silly child, what rich parents! Look at those eyelids, those cheeks, exactly like mine! Obviously biological! Need to find who?" Zack tilted his head curiously, surprised. "Is that Second Brother's family?" I nodded, a bit proud. My adoptive parents always treated me well. Sometimes, things Cherry didn't have, Chase and I would definitely have. Cherry sent a disappointed emoji. Chase followed immediately. "What about me? I'm so handsome, Dad's genes can't be this good?" Mom sent another voice message. I could imagine her rolling her eyes. "Getting cocky? Look in the mirror. One takes after me, one takes after your stupid dad! Only Charlie is tall and fair. He was the face of our family, now only the ugly ones are left, can't even show you off." I burst out laughing, then felt my eyes heat up. This was the familiar family atmosphere. Roasting each other, yet indescribably intimate. I typed a reply. [ Mom, Sis and Bro will be sad if you say that. ] Cherry: [ The path to riches is broken! @Charlie, introduce me to a rich heir later. I'll eat soft rice with my own ability! ] Mom: [ Rebellious daughter! Executed! ] Chase: [ Sis, take me with you. My teeth are bad too, can't eat hard rice. By the way! Second Brother, how is it there? Really no fake son? ] I hesitated: [ Really none, just a five-year-old little brother. ] Cherry: [ Done for, so you're inheriting the fortune? Don't forget us! ] Dad suddenly popped up: [ @Charlie How do they treat you? ] How do they treat me? I don't know either; the Sterling couple is still on the plane. So far, seems okay. Finally, I just replied: "Okay." Cherry was relentless: [ What does okay mean? Gave money? How much? ] I rolled my eyes. [ Sis, can you have some ambition? ] Chase interjected: [ Second Brother, if they bully you, come back! ] Just as I wanted to reply, there was a gentle knock on the door. Sarah stood at my door, handing over a phone. "Charlie, put your number in." I raised an eyebrow and took the phone. The screen was unlocked, open to the new contact page. I deliberately typed my number slowly, putting "Big Bro Charlie" as the name. Sarah took the phone back, saw the name, and the corner of her mouth twitched imperceptibly. She calmly deleted it and re-entered "Charlie" to save. Then she pulled a card from her inner jacket pocket. Black matte texture, gold lettering shining under the light. My eyes went straight. 4 Is this the legendary Centurion Card? "Take it." Sarah handed the card over. "My personal welcome gift." I took the card, fingers trembling a bit. At my adoptive parents', my monthly allowance was at most three thousand, after much begging. This card supposedly could buy a plane, and she just gave it to me? "How much is in here?" I asked shamelessly. "Enough to buy the entire downtown villa district." I immediately stuffed the card in my pocket, afraid she'd regret it. Fireworks were going off in my heart. This isn't finding parents; this is winning the lottery! "Thanks, Sis!" I blurted out, then froze. I actually called her Sis? Sarah obviously noticed the address too. Her eyes changed subtly, but she quickly recovered. "Mom and Dad arrive at seven. Do you want to change first?" She left after saying that, leaving me at the door, touching the black card in my pocket, heart beating like I just ran a marathon. Change? Ripped jeans, black T-shirt, dragon and tiger tattoos, plus a shiny nose ring and blonde hair. What's wrong with this look? So cool! But for the sake of the black card, I decided to tidy up reluctantly. I took off a pair of earrings and changed into a slightly more normal T-shirt. At least no skull pattern. Hair was hopeless for now. At 6:50 PM, I sat on the living room sofa, shaking my leg nervously. Zack sat next to me, his short legs shaking along with mine. "Second Brother, are you nervous?" He asked innocently. "Who, who's nervous?" "I'm just, just hungry!" Zack nodded, suddenly pulling a candy from his pocket. "For you!" I took the candy, heart softening. How is this little guy so cute? Hearing car sounds outside, he jumped up. "Mom and Dad are back!" My legs shook even harder. First to enter was Mr. Sterling, in a sharp suit, radiating an aura that made one afraid to breathe loud. Behind him was Mrs. Sterling, wearing an elegant long dress, carrying a Hermès bag. The moment they saw me, they froze at the door in sync. Mr. Sterling tripped over his own feet, nearly falling flat. Mrs. Sterling gasped, holding the door frame. "This, this is..." Mr. Sterling's voice trembled. Sarah nodded. "Dad, Mom, this is Charlie." "Oh my god! My Charlie... how did he turn into a criminal?" Mrs. Sterling clutched her chest. I looked down at myself. Didn't I tidy up? Compared to the first look, this is very restrained, okay! Zack ran over and hugged Mrs. Sterling's leg. "Mom! Second Brother is super cool!" Mr. Sterling recovered, giving a thumbs up. "Has my style from back in the day!" Me?? Mrs. Sterling and Sarah turned to look at Mr. Sterling simultaneously, equally shocked. "David, you dyed your hair and got a nose ring when you were young? How did I not know?" Mrs. Sterling's voice pitched up an octave. Mr. Sterling coughed, slightly embarrassed. "Not that, but I had long hair! And was in a band!" I stared wide-eyed at his sophisticated appearance. Hard to imagine my bio-dad was a rocker in his youth. Mrs. Sterling took a deep breath, turning her attention back to me, asking hesitantly. "Charlie, how, how many lives do you have on your hands?" I blinked, suddenly wanting to prank them.
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