Joey Fang's voice trembled with fury as she glared at the man before her.
"What's the point of saying this after the agreement has been signed, Lyong? You returned my son, but if it wasn't for you and that incident back then, how could Mo have lost it? It was so hard to find, and then you lost it again!"
Under the heat of her emotions, Joey Fang's vision blurred. Her heart pounded in her chest as waves of regret and frustration surged through her. Then, without warning, her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor.
"Mom!"
Lin Xia's panicked cry echoed in the hall as chaos erupted. The servants and family members scrambled in shock.
"Uncle Li, get the car! We're taking her to the hospital!" Lin Xia shouted.
The Lynn family immediately sprang into action, lifting Joey Fang's unconscious form and rushing her out the door. Within moments, the car sped away, leaving behind an eerie silence.
Standing by the doorway, Yang Mo exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling in measured relief. He turned his head slightly and took in a breath of the crisp morning air.
For the first time in his life, the weight pressing down on him had lifted.
The burden that had shackled him to the Lynn family had finally disappeared.
He no longer needed to endure their cold gazes or strive for the affection they refused to give him.
He was free.
At one point, he had longed for their love. He had dreamed of having three sisters who cared for him, a brother to play with, and parents who supported him unconditionally. But now, he understood—their deep-seated prejudices had made it impossible for him to ever have their love. And now that he had let them go, there was no turning back.
He smirked.
"In the future, you won't even have the right to wish for it yourselves."
At the Yang family residence, Yang Chang and Fang Dongmei had already tidied up his room in anticipation of his return. The bedsheets and comforter had been replaced with the newest ones, and the desk and wardrobe had been neatly arranged.
As soon as Yang Mo entered, Yang Chang approached him with a warm, fatherly smile, patting his shoulder before pulling him to sit on the bed.
"Son, the Lynn family didn't give you a hard time, did they?" he asked, concern evident in his eyes.
Yang Mo shook his head, offering a small, bitter smile. "It's okay, Dad. They never treated me as family to begin with. I doubt they're too unhappy about my departure."
Fang Dongmei sighed and shook her head in frustration. "These prestigious families have wealth, influence, and all the privileges one could wish for… So why are they so blinded by prejudice? Why couldn't they see the wonderful child they had?"
Yang Chang nodded in agreement. "Honestly, there's nothing to envy about them. What's the use of having money if you can't even live happily as a family?"
Yang Mo chuckled at their words. "You're right, Mom and Dad."
But deep inside, he knew—his current knowledge and skills were more than enough to change his own destiny. It was only a matter of time before he built his own fortune.
Just then, he remembered something and glanced around. "By the way, where's Star Moon? Did she already leave?"
Fang Dongmei's face lit up with amusement. "Oh, that girl? She was called back home, but before leaving, she made sure to tell me that you owe her some roasted chicken legs and that she'd be coming over again tonight."
Yang Mo laughed, shaking his head. "So that's what's on her mind? Roasted chicken legs?"
He stretched lazily before standing up. "Mom, I'm heading out for a stroll. Just in time to buy some chicken legs for my little sister, Star Moon."
Fang Dongmei smiled warmly. "Go on, then. I also bought some ribs earlier to make your favorite rib soup."
Hearing this, Yang Mo felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.
They remembered his favorite things.
As soon as Yang Mo left the house, Yang Qing spoke up. "By the way, if I remember correctly, the day after tomorrow is Sha's birthday, right? Should we do something for him?"
Yang Chang nodded. "You remember correctly. Let's sneak out later tonight and order a birthday cake. We can surprise him when the time comes."
"Good idea," Fang Dongmei agreed. "One of us should mark it on the calendar, and one of us should set a reminder on the phone."
Yang Qing grinned. "I'll mark it on my phone then. Oh, and let's invite the Star Moon family too. We haven't gotten together in a long time."
Yang Chang clapped his hands together. "Perfect! I'll go buy some extra wine for the celebration."
But before he could leave, Fang Dongmei shot him a sharp glare. "Drinking again? Do you even know what's going on with your body? Do you want to leave our child fatherless?"
Yang Chang quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! Just a small drink! I'm just happy that our kid is back."
Fang Dongmei sighed, shaking her head. "Men…"
The Next Morning
Before dawn, Yang Mo woke up early.
Back when he lived in the Lynn family villa, he had to wake up at the crack of dawn and walk to school since they never gave him money for transportation. Over time, this habit had become ingrained in him.
As he made his way to the kitchen, he saw Yang Chang and Fang Dongmei already busy preparing ingredients for their breakfast shop.
"Mom, Dad, let me help you."
Fang Dongmei immediately waved him off. "No, no! The eggs are boiling in the pot. Eat first. The steamed buns will be done soon."
Yang Chang nodded. "She's right. You still have school, and your college entrance exams aren't too far away."
Like most parents, they placed a heavy emphasis on education. Having struggled in life due to their own lack of schooling, they wanted Yang Mo to have a better future.
Yang Mo chuckled. "Don't worry, Mom and Dad. Your son is great at his studies."
Although his school was just an ordinary second-rate high school, his grades were among the top in all of Jinghai.
After breakfast, he helped Yang Qing wrap a few more buns before grabbing his school bag and heading out.
Standing in front of Jinghai People's High School, he looked up at the familiar building.
Memories—both old and new—rushed through his mind.
It had been a long time since he was last here.
And this time, everything would be different.