Chapter 10: The Real Heir in a Fake Young Master Heartthrob Novel

Last time Mrs. Gu visited the store, she bought an exquisite swing ornament that now sat on Shen Yijing’s desk. Jiujiu swayed back and forth on it, keeping his father company while he did homework.

“Jiujiu.”

“Hmm? What is it, Daddy?”

The bored little bird immediately hopped down from the swing upon hearing his name, scrambling over to sprawl across his father’s notebook. Propping his chin with his wings, he wiggled his claws happily.

Ah, his daddy was so clingy, couldn’t bear to be apart from precious Jiujiu for even a moment!

Just as Jiujiu was basking in these delightful thoughts, Shen Yijing scooped him back onto the swing and lifted the entire contraption. Though Jiujiu trusted his father completely, this sudden movement made him uneasy.

After retrieving a book that had been under the swing, Shen Yijing set Jiujiu back down. “Just needed to get the book.”

The chubby little bird who’d been convinced his daddy just wanted cuddles silently turned his backside toward Shen Yijing.

When Shen Yijing finished his homework and tried to play with Jiujiu, he realized the bird had been facing away from him for quite some time. “What’s wrong, Jiujiu?”

“Daddy’s changed! You’ve become so strange Jiujiu doesn’t recognize you anymore, wuwu~” Jiujiu pretended to wipe nonexistent tears with his wing. He’d thought Daddy wanted to kiss his head or snuggle, not that he was being considered a nuisance!

“No, I haven’t changed.”

Not knowing how to handle the deliberately sulky bird, Shen Yijing simply tucked Jiujiu into his pocket and carried him downstairs. The round fluffball struggled in the fabric prison but couldn’t escape.

As Shen Yijing descended, he overheard his parents discussing familiar names – Gu Qian and Huo Sitong. Huo Sitong’s parents had temporarily relented when she went on a hunger strike. Unwilling to blame their biological daughter, they instead condemned Gu Qian.

“That poor Gu Qian child. I heard he’s started working in the gardens, trimming branches late at night,” Mrs. Gu remarked while preparing vegetables, standing up after finishing Shen Yijing’s favorite dish.

“With parents like his, whatever misery he faces now is deserved,” Mr. Gu replied before taking the dish to the kitchen. Though they employed chefs, the couple enjoyed cooking for their family.

Shen Yijing paused, understanding Mrs. Gu’s lingering affection for the son she’d raised. Yet hearing her pity Gu Qian stirred strange discomfort. He absently stroked Jiujiu’s head in his pocket.

Time flowed swiftly. Shen Yijing, now a third grader, had transformed from a timid child into a bright, outgoing boy. Every weekend after homework, he played soccer at a nearby park with Jiujiu watching from a basket carried by a bodyguard.

After learning the Huo family adopted Gu Qian, the Gu family had moved to ensure Shen Yijing’s healthy upbringing, wanting neither lingering trauma from past events nor reminders of Gu Qian’s plight.

Today at the sparsely populated park, Jiujiu perched on the basket’s edge, swinging his claws and chirping encouragement. When Shen Yijing finished playing, he carried both soccer ball and basket home, eager to show his perfect test scores.

While crossing a street, sudden screams erupted. Before Shen Yijing could react, Jiujiu – who’d been nibbling a lollipop – shot up and viciously pecked the madwoman’s eye.

As the shrieking woman clutched her face, the bodyguard swiftly subdued her. Mr. Gu’s carefully chosen security detail made short work of the lunatic.

Only after staring for moments did Shen Yijing recognize her. Dark memories surfaced, making him step back instinctively. Police sirens wailed, overlapping with echoes from years past, feathersrowing his brow.

Before he could dwell, a tearful baby voice interrupted: “Wuwuwaaa! Daddy, Jiujiu’s dirty now! What’s the use of this beak? Just chop it off! Wuwu Jiujiu’s not the cleanest bird anymore~”

Too distraught to fly, the round fluffball came waddling over. “Chop it off!” Jiujiu demanded tearfully as Shen Yijing picked him up, using his wings to mime decapitation – he didn’t even want this head anymore.

He’d sensed the woman’s murderous intent toward Shen Yijing. Faced with such madness, Jiujiu hadn’t hesitated to strike at her eyes.

Jiujiu, who had a very clear understanding of himself, knew he was mostly just a useless little bird who could only resort to underhanded tactics.

He didn’t regret saving his father, but now he felt particularly disgusted with his own filth.

Burying his head in his father’s embrace, he began chirping and wailing loudly.

While bystanders only heard the little bird’s incessant cries, Shen Yijing could discern his weeping – the initially clear voice gradually growing hoarse from prolonged crying.

Shen Yijing soothingly stroked his head, leaning close to Jiujiu’s ear to whisper:
“It’s okay. Daddy won’t dislike Jiujiu. Not even if you’re dirty.”

Normally easy to comfort, Jiujiu was now too overwhelmed by his own misery to accept this. He retorted without thinking:
“The mouth is on Jiujiu’s body, so Jiujiu gets to be disgusted!”

How could he have pecked such a filthy human soul! Jiujiu felt his current state was worse than when he used to scavenge through trash for food.
“Daddy doesn’t care about Jiujiu and keeps spouting nonsense. Jiujiu obviously isn’t Daddy’s favorite little treasure anymore.”

“I do care. Not nonsense. Yes, you’ve always been.”

The bond forged through their journey from clueless beginnings to present understanding had long secured Jiujiu’s irreplaceable position in Shen Yijing’s heart.

Hearing this, Jiujiu’s sobs paused momentarily. Between sniffles, he asked:
“Really?”

To placate this temperamental chick, Shen Yijing nodded without hesitation.

Resting his head on his father’s shoulder, Jiujiu still felt somewhat wronged yet couldn’t suppress a budding delight.

Heheh! All those years accompanying Daddy finally paid off – now Father truly acknowledged Jiujiu as his precious treasure!

Mother Shen, recently released from prison, grew resentful of the root cause behind everything after witnessing her child’s current life.

She couldn’t stop thinking: If not for Shen Yijing, Gu Qian would still be the beloved child of doting parents with boundless prospects, destined to inherit the Gu family business.

Instead, he remained with the Huo family, pandering to that young mistress while enduring disdain from her parents.

After secretly observing her biological son’s living conditions, Mother Shen began concocting twisted schemes.

She’d heard Madam Gu’s health couldn’t sustain raising another child. So… if Shen Yijing died, might they turn to Gu Qian whom they’d raised for so long?

However faint this hope, Mother Shen wanted to try. Yet a mere bird ruined everything.

When Father Gu and Madam Gu at the company received the news, they rushed to the police station. Seeing the familiar woman, Madam Gu nearly slapped her in rage.

Officers only intervened after the slap, urging her to calm down.

Shen Yijing sat on the police station corridor bench, using tissue after tissue to wipe Jiujiu’s beak.

The restless bird kept twisting his head for more wiping every few moments.

Though Shen Yijing hadn’t witnessed the incident’s beginning, he knew clearly: without Jiujiu, he’d have been injured.

When Mother Shen was apprehended, her tools were confiscated. Handcuffed inside, her ashen face showed understanding – having studied law in prison, she knew she’d never walk free again.

On the way home, Shen Yijing described the events to his mother, especially praising the listless Jiujiu drooping in his basket.

“Jiujiu was that amazing? We’ll make him strawberry cake tonight to reward our brave little hero.”

The dispirited bird perked up, lifting his claw to demand two portions.

But when Madam Gu presented the freshly baked strawberry cake, Jiujiu barely smelled it before flying to the trash can to retch.

Shen Yijing immediately set down the cake, supporting Jiujiu’s chest to prevent him from face-planting into the bin.

“Waaah, Daddy just chop it off for me!”