Chapter 108 (Arc End)

Huo Haozhan was so shocked that he stepped back to double-check, ensuring he hadn’t entered the wrong house before going in.

At this hour, the usually bustling servants were nowhere to be seen, leaving the vast villa feeling somewhat empty and eerily quiet.

Huo Haozhan sat on the sofa, forcing himself to calm down as he quickly dialed his mother’s number.

“What’s going on?”

“Mom, what’s happening at home? Where are Yiyi and An An?”

Having boasted to his secretaries about leaving early to spend time with his son, Huo Haozhan found himself home without even a glimpse of his child.

“Oh, we forgot to tell you. I took Yiyi and An An on a trip. You’ll have to manage at home by yourself for a while.”

“What?”

A trip? And without him?

Huo Haozhan’s expression shifted repeatedly, unsure of what face to put on.

After hanging up, he sat there for a while to calm himself down.

So, his mother meant to leave him alone at home?

Calm down, he told himself. He’s seen it all before, hasn’t he?

Despite his self-reassurances, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. In a fit of frustration, he threw the cushion from the sofa onto the single armchair across from him.

This was intolerable! He had never experienced anything like this before!

This time, Mother Huo planned to take her daughter-in-law and grandson on a month-long overseas trip, so some of the housekeepers were given time off, leaving only two to take care of Huo Haozhan’s daily needs.

That evening, Bai Yiyi sent over a few photos to try and comfort Huo Haozhan.

In the photos, the three of them were looking at the camera, with An An smiling so broadly that his eyes were nearly invisible.

The three of them were already abroad, and even if he felt uneasy, there was nothing he could do but carry his grievances to work.

Bai Yiyi had made significant strides in her career, surprising even Mother Huo.

Moreover, her popularity had stabilized to the point where it didn’t matter if she didn’t update for a while.

She announced on her personal account that she would be traveling for a month, packed up her things, and left for abroad with Mother Huo.

Initially, Bai Yiyi hesitated about not bringing Huo Haozhan along, feeling it was a bit unfair to leave him out.

But she was quickly persuaded by Mother Huo’s few words and decided to keep silent, only informing Haozhan after they were already abroad.

Mother Huo was adept at the art of conversation, asking Bai Yiyi whether bringing Huo Haozhan would make their trip more enjoyable or bring them more happiness.

The answer was undoubtedly no.

Bai Yiyi loved shopping during trips, but Huo Haozhan had no interest in it. Even if he could endure accompanying her, his obvious lack of interest would dampen Bai Yiyi’s enjoyment.

Traveling with Mother Huo and Little An An, there were no such concerns.

Mother Huo was also keen on buying lots of beautiful clothes, and Little An An would even wobble around to help them choose.

Though his taste in clothes was still quite basic and needed nurturing, his enthusiasm and knack for cheering them on were already very satisfying.

The month-long trip was thoroughly enjoyable, and if it weren’t for Bai Yiyi’s assistant urging them to return, Bai Yiyi would have loved to extend it.

Not bringing Huo Haozhan turned out to be a good decision, and to make up for it, they prepared gifts for him upon their return.

Mother Huo even shared a story with Bai Yiyi about when Haozhan was little. Once, she forgot to bring him a gift back from a business trip, and fearing he would cry, she bought a toy from a nearby mall, which made him very happy.

He even bragged to his friends that it was a toy his mom brought back from abroad, not realizing it was identical to the ones from the local mall.

Hearing the word ‘toy’, Little An An, who had been dozing off, suddenly perked up, curiously watching his mom and grandma, his little hands opening and closing in the air as if trying to grab the toy.

“A toy~ Who’s it for~?”

Of course, they couldn’t say it was for his dad when he was little, so Mother Huo smoothly covered it up.

“My friend told me there’s a new toy store in the city. How about we go check it out this weekend?”

“Okay!”

An An agreed immediately, tidying his clothes and sitting more upright.

As he grew older, he learned more and more.

Now was the time when he was good at mimicking, trying to look not too happy, just like how his dad was calm and composed during meetings.

His serious attempt at acting grown-up made Mother Huo unable to suppress her smile, finding her little grandson more adorable the more she looked.

When Huo Haozhan heard they were coming back, he personally went to the airport to pick them up.

From afar, he saw An An holding Yiyi’s hand, walking towards them, and he quickly went to meet them, scooping An An into his arms.

After being apart for so long, he missed not only An An.

The longing after being separated from his son could be a bit exaggerated, as he planted a big kiss on An An’s cheek, leaving An An with a frown, like a wilted cabbage.

The emotions upon reuniting with his wife were more restrained; after exchanging a glance, both their lips curled up, everything understood without words.

…

In recent years, Bai Yiyi’s career had taken off dramatically, making her one of the few successful influencers who had successfully transitioned and established her own brand.

Her growth was so rapid that other influencers couldn’t keep up, no matter what they did.

While others were still relying on live-stream gifts to make a living, Bai Yiyi had already used her personal brand to make it onto the province’s rich list.

Moreover, she had never intended to sign with any agency from the start, so she didn’t have to share her earnings, which were astronomical.

It’s not that no one was envious or that no one tried to bring Bai Yiyi down.

Unfortunately, even the most inconspicuous assistant in her studio refused to expose any dirt.

And with the backing of the Huo Family’s company, she was truly married into a wealthy family, with a harmonious relationship with her husband and a mother-in-law who treated her like her own daughter. She even had a son, making for a harmonious family.

Anyone who wanted to bring Bai Yiyi down had to seriously consider their own capabilities before making a move.

While the Huo Family wasn’t the only powerful family, those willing to risk offending them to target Bai Yiyi found it wasn’t worth the effort, as the cost and reward didn’t match up.

The year An An graduated from elementary school, Bai Yiyi’s self-founded food company went public, and she became an idol to many.

The compensation offered by Su Xiaoyu’s mother back then earned Bai Yiyi a fortune every year.

Bai Yiyi wasn’t greedy; money was just a number to her now.

The year after her company went public, her parents came to trouble her, treating Bai Yiyi as the obedient daughter who would listen to them.

Their first request was for Bai Yiyi to buy a villa in the capital for her brother’s marriage, along with a nice car, and to buy a building in their hometown for them to collect rent.

Blood ties should have made them the closest of kin, yet the aged parents’ eyes were filled with endless greed.

Even after all these years without contact, not a word of concern was spoken.

In a daze, Bai Yiyi felt she wasn’t their daughter but a golden goose.

“Yiyi, we’ve worked so hard to raise you. Now it’s time for you to repay your parents. You wouldn’t refuse, would you?”

After Father Bai said this, Mother Bai quickly chimed in.

“Yiyi, it’s our fault for not having the ability to support you beyond college. Consider this money as a loan.”

Given their age and health, even if they wrote an IOU, they might not live to repay it.

So Bai Yiyi refused, not waiting for them to say anything unpleasant before having security escort them out.

Once, she had desperately craved familial love, hoping her obedience and success would earn more attention from her parents, even knowing they favored her brother.

But after stepping out into the world and meeting all sorts of people in business, she understood one thing.

Innate dislike couldn’t be changed, no matter what she did.

Moreover, she no longer needed to humbly beg for her parents’ love; she had plenty of love now.

Mother Huo’s presence was more like the ideal mother Bai Yiyi had always wanted. She was smart, independent, and wise, a mentor who guided her in the right direction.

If she strayed, Mother Huo would promptly remind her.

Mother Huo’s gentle yet strong nature was something Bai Yiyi, who was gentle to the point of having no aggression, most wished to possess.

Most importantly, Bai Yiyi could feel the affection in Mother Huo’s gaze, unlike her mother’s, which always carried disdain and dissatisfaction.

Now, Bai Yiyi had a husband who loved her deeply, a child who adored her, and many fans who liked her.

Many people saw her as an idol, and she was no longer the pitiful person she once was.

After being rejected, Bai Yiyi’s parents were unwilling to give up. Her brother, who had achieved nothing after dropping out of high school, had finally found a girlfriend through a matchmaker who demanded a house.

The elderly couple couldn’t come up with the money, so they turned to the now-capable Bai Yiyi.

What was a significant amount for them was just a drop in the bucket for Bai Yiyi.

Yet, she refused to fulfill such a small request, making her nothing but an ungrateful wretch!

After being thrown out by security, the couple began cursing their daughter on the roadside, spewing a string of vulgarities.

Across the street, a young man approached, asking:

“Mom, Dad, did it work?”

Father Bai waved his hand dismissively, replying with a look of disgust:

“Don’t mention it. That ungrateful daughter of ours refused!”

Hearing this, Younger Brother Bai’s face darkened. It was only when he needed money that he realized its importance.

He knew his parents couldn’t squeeze out more money, or they wouldn’t have spent so much on travel to come here.

While Younger Brother Bai was pondering his next move, two people passed by, discussing how easy it was to make money as an influencer.

Hearing this, Younger Brother Bai’s eyes lit up. If someone as useless as his sister could become a big influencer, surely he could too.

His parents had always praised him for being clever, and maybe he could do even better than his sister! Perhaps she’d even have to come begging to them.

Having researched the streaming industry after learning about his sister’s earnings, Younger Brother Bai knew that gaining popularity was crucial.

He crouched by the roadside, smoking a cigarette, pondering how to gain fame.

His unfocused gaze finally settled on Bai Yiyi’s company sign.

It was really like missing the obvious! Such a good opportunity was right in front of him.

With Bai Yiyi’s current fan base, what could generate more buzz than her refusal to support her parents, even kicking them out?

Following his son’s suggestion, the couple started a live stream, publicly accusing Bai Yiyi of being unfilial and even showing old family photos to prove their relationship.

“I know Yiyi looks down on us for being unsuccessful, but what can we do with our family’s situation? We scraped together everything to send her to college, hoping for a better life, but who would’ve thought…”

Mother Bai tearfully complained to the camera, her weathered face evoking sympathy and earning them a stream of gifts.

In the background, Younger Brother Bai calculated the gifts, realizing that in just a short time, they’d made as much as he would in a day! This was indeed a lucrative business!

Father Bai’s words were harsher, constantly blaming Bai Yiyi for marrying right after graduation without demanding a dowry.

“I didn’t even spend that much on my son’s education, yet all our money went to her college expenses. Now that we’re old and need help, she refuses.”

The evidence this family presented did prove their familial ties, and the world never lacked people who couldn’t stand others’ success.

“I never thought I’d come across such a shocking scandal!”

“Be careful, though; she has a reputation for suing people.”

“The previous incidents were fabricated, but this time the truth is out. Her own parents can’t be lying about her, right?”

“An An’s mom won’t even pay after her brother dropped out for her to attend college? That’s heartless.”

Bai Yiyi’s popularity was high, and the public loved such gossip, quickly pushing the topic to the trending list, drawing more onlookers.

Having not live-streamed for a long time, focusing solely on her brand, Bai Yiyi finally appeared on the platform to clarify the situation.

According to the law, her parents hadn’t reached the age where she was obligated to support them.

Bai Yiyi wasn’t ashamed of her past, explaining her parents’ favoritism towards her brother and how she completed college through student loans, then shared her extensive charity work over the years.

She had donated to major charities and personally instructed her assistant to carry out some, with amounts that were staggering.

The largest portion went to supporting girls who couldn’t complete their education due to financial constraints and providing feminine hygiene products to impoverished areas.

“I’m not trying to boast, just to show that everything I do is so these girls won’t have to be like I was.”

“Not just university; back in my second year of high school, they wanted me to drop out. I’m incredibly grateful to my class teacher who paid my tuition out of their own pocket.”

Soon after the livestream ended, some resourceful netizens began verifying the truth of her statements.

First, regarding charity, many people found the names Mother Huo and Bai Yiyi on various lists of gratitude, along with numerous charitable projects named ‘An An’.

Those who dug deeper discovered thank-you letters that hadn’t gained much attention before, most from girls in impoverished mountain areas.

They expressed gratitude for Bai Yiyi’s support and the subsidies for their families, which allowed them to attend school instead of being married off as teenagers, repeating the fate of the previous generation.

They also thanked Bai Yiyi for donating supplies that spared them from using outdated and unhygienic methods during their menstrual periods.

All the data pointed to Bai Yiyi spending billions on charity.

If Bai Yiyi was willing to spend so much on strangers’ children, why was she so heartless towards her own parents?

Almost everyone’s first reaction was that Bai Yiyi’s biological parents must have wronged her in some way!

Several of Bai Yiyi’s high school classmates came forward to confirm that she almost dropped out in her second year because her brother felt overshadowed by her better grades and didn’t want to continue his studies.

The class teacher who helped Bai Yiyi complete her high school education received a house from Bai Yiyi, and now that teacher’s children work at her company with excellent benefits.

In addition, Bai Yiyi revealed her university student loan records.

Once the truth was clarified, Father Bai and Mother Bai could only slink back home with their son in disgrace. The incident spread so widely that even their neighbors knew about it.

Initially, people thought they just favored their son more, but it turned out they were willing to push their daughter to the brink.

Relatives and neighbors refused to associate with them, and even when they went shopping, people who recognized them refused to sell to them.

Younger Brother Bai’s arranged date cursed him out and deleted all contact information.

Bai Yiyi handled the entire situation on her own, and the ones she dealt with were her own family—the very people she was once most likely to soften for.

By the time Huo Haozhan and Mother Huo learned of the situation, Bai Yiyi had nearly resolved everything. That evening, they had the housekeeper prepare a lavish dinner.

At the dinner table, An An praised his mother with a serious face, calling her a super amazing hero.

Bai Yiyi took a sip of red wine from her glass and replied with a smile, “Of course, I have to set a good example for An An.”

Her smile was radiant, as if she had finally made peace with her tragic past that she was reluctant to mention.

Every step she took in the rest of her life would be filled with brilliance.

As An An grew older, everyone wondered whether he would inherit his father’s or mother’s company, but either way, he was destined to become a domineering CEO.

The fans were delighted to see their well-raised son achieving so much.

Unexpectedly, An An chose to pursue art, and it was discovered that he had won international awards for his paintings while still in middle school.

When An An was sixteen, Bai Yiyi was found to be pregnant again.

After a thorough medical examination confirmed that Bai Yiyi was in good health, she decided to have the second child after careful consideration.

Bai Yiyi didn’t have any particular obsession with having more children; this one was simply a matter of fate.

Once she was pregnant, Bai Yiyi couldn’t help but think that if the child were born, they could be groomed to inherit the family business.

An An loved painting, and while Bai Yiyi didn’t agree, she couldn’t bear to force An An to do something he didn’t like.

Inheriting the family business was indeed an issue; her mother-in-law had worked so hard to build it up, and if no one inherited it, she would be heartbroken even if she didn’t say so.

Bai Yiyi gave birth to a little girl, and Huo Haozhan initially thought he could enjoy her company, but the little girl, after being fun for the first three years, turned into a little poker face.

From a young age, she showed extraordinary talent in mathematics, and Bai Yiyi intentionally guided her in that direction. By middle school, Bai Shu was already learning alongside her parents.

After graduating from college, An An enjoyed traveling the world with his grandmother to find inspiration for his art.

Mother Huo, though aging, refused to admit it. Having her beloved grandson accompany her on travels made her the envy of her old friends, giving her a great sense of pride.

Due to not taking care of her health during pregnancy and working tirelessly in the early days of her business, even though Mother Huo paid attention to her health later, she still ended up in the hospital at seventy-five.

Huo An stayed by her side almost the entire time, taking care of her even more attentively than the nurses.

Two weeks later, the doctor called the family into the office to discuss the patient’s condition.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to save her, but even the most skilled doctors couldn’t stop the natural aging process.

Autumn had passed, and it was early winter, a rare beautiful day. Mother Huo looked in good spirits, and at her request, Huo An wheeled her to the hospital garden for a stroll.

Mother Huo, her hair white as snow, had become much thinner due to illness. The elderly fear the cold, but the warm sunlight on her body made her close her eyes in comfort.

After a while, finding the scenery pleasing, Mother Huo asked Huo An to stop.

When they stopped, Huo An knelt in front of his grandmother, and she gently stroked his head, her movements slow, just like when he was a child.

“An An.”

“Grandma, I’m here.”

“I keep thinking about when you were just born. Before you even had your first bath, I took one look at you, all dirty, and your father refused to hold you. I was the one who took you.”

Mother Huo’s voice was calm and soothing, but Huo An instinctively turned his head away, not wanting his grandmother to see his reddened eyes.

“When you had a fever and almost had complications, I even hit your father. You didn’t know that, did you?”

“Later, you got better and grew up, becoming more mischievous. You had to go to school, take various interest classes, and make your own friends, gradually forgetting about this old lady.”

“In truth, Grandma is very content with her life.”

“When the time comes, tell your dad to secretly bury me. I don’t want to see your dad’s dad.”

An An nodded gently against his grandmother’s knee, unable to speak, fearing that if he did, his voice would betray his tears. He even bit his lip hard to hold back.

“An An, take good care of yourself. Grandma will watch over my little darling from the heavens.”

Huo An always knew his grandmother was a staunch materialist, never expecting her to speak to him like this.

It was as if a switch had been flipped, and tears suddenly flowed uncontrollably.

Sniffling, Huo An felt his grandmother’s weakening hand gently lift his chin.

He couldn’t bear for her to exert herself, so he obediently followed her lead and looked into her eyes.

With a faint smile, she wiped away his tears.

“How old are you, still crying?”

“Mm, Grandma, you have to keep wiping my tears.”

Just as An An finished speaking, the hand that had once guided him from a bouncing child to a grown adult fell limp.

The pain in his heart spread, the tearing agony causing a momentary breathlessness. An An opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

After a long time, he clutched his grandmother’s hand, tears streaming down, his voice hoarse with sobs.

“Grandma…”

After Mother Huo’s funeral, her will was revealed. Her shares and properties were divided into two parts: one for Huo Haozhan, Bai Yiyi, and Bai Shu, and the other for An An.

When Bai Shu was born, Mother Huo was already quite old and didn’t have the energy to care for her, so emotionally, she wasn’t as close to her as she was to An An.

Moreover, Bai Shu was already a confirmed heir to the family business. To ensure her authority in the company, most of Bai Yiyi and Huo Haozhan’s shares would likely be transferred to her.

This arrangement was something Mother Huo had thought about for a long time.

Listening to the will, Huo An suddenly remembered how his grandmother used to tease him with his favorite pastries when he was little, making him choose between two he loved equally, only to give him both after enjoying his indecision.

What comforted Huo An was that among the properties his grandmother left him, one was her frequent residence, filled with memories of her.

He would take care of her favorite flowers in her stead.

Soon after, An An moved into the villa where his grandmother had spent most of her time, bringing along the old turtle that had been with them for countless years. He dedicated an entire floor to storing her belongings.

As he ran his fingers over familiar items, it felt as if his grandmother was there with him again.

The system, observing from its space, felt a pang of sympathy for An An. Yet, being human means enduring endless separations and reunions.

Their capacity for emotions and memories is limited, and as a self-protective mechanism, the painful memories gradually fade with time.

The system, usually composed of cold data and calculations, saw this as more of an exchange.

After experiencing familial love, one must endure heart-wrenching pain when life ends.

Later, An An also bid farewell to his father and mother, leaving only him and his sister. As his sister grew older, she specifically instructed her children to care for their solitary uncle.

Upon returning to the system space, to prevent accumulated emotions from causing a breakdown, the system immediately placed him into a sphere for cleansing emotions and memories.

Time passed, and An An returned to his original state when he first arrived, his eyes clear and full of curiosity as he opened them.

When the system appeared before him, he cautiously and curiously asked:

“Who are you? Why am I here?”

The system repeated the familiar script it had recited countless times.

“Really? Will I have a loving father and mother?”

In the memories of the young Xie Shi’an, most were occupied by the disdain from his parents and the servants who cared for him. He could clearly feel his parents’ rejection.

“There will be, though perhaps only one.”

Having reviewed the new world’s storyline, the system hesitantly informed him. In the previous world, An An had a complete family, with a loving father, mother, and grandmother.

But in the new world, there seemed to be no mother.

“That’s fine.”

An An smiled, his eyes narrowing, and he bowed to the system.

“Thank you.”

Without memories, it was bearable. But from the moment he gained them, An An had never felt anyone’s love. He desperately longed for a love of his own.

A father would do, or a mother.

If those were too greedy, even a little dog that only had eyes for him would suffice.

Xie Shi’an thought he hid his thoughts well, smiling like a cat that had stolen cream.

“Please prepare yourself, Host.”

The system reminded An An before sending him to the next world.

When An An arrived in the new place, he could vaguely feel someone holding him. He tried hard to open his eyes, but everything was blurry. All he could hear was a man’s rough voice tinged with disdain.

“Whose kid is this, crying quieter than a cat?”

———Arc End———