Chapter 501 - 474
Liang Linan said, "We’re all family, no need to be so formal." He drove a BMW X3, opened the door, and let his younger siblings in.
Liang Linan intended to head straight home, but Xu Chunliang asked him to drop him off at his father’s friend’s place first without explaining the reason, as discussing this matter on the first day of the lunar year felt a bit inauspicious.
The place Xu Chunliang was going to was Binjiang Changsheng, a luxury residential area in Hu Hai, where the residents were either rich or influential.
Liang Linan found it a bit strange. His cousin was quite extraordinary. He had already been impressed with Xu Chunliang’s abilities during their last meeting in Dongzhou. Though their family was well-off, Binjiang Changsheng was still a place they could only dream of.
Zhen Chun had told Liang Linan about Xu Chunliang becoming the deputy town chief. Now, in his presence, Liang Linan no longer felt the superiority he once had. Despite his modest educational background, this little cousin was both scholarly and martial, thriving in Dongzhou.
When they arrived at Binjiang Changsheng, it was already 1:30 PM. Xu Chunliang got out of the car in front of the gate and asked Liang Linan to take Zhen Chun and leave first.
Xu Chunliang first went to buy a flower basket nearby. Due to the strict registration system of this high-end residential area, he not only had to register his ID but also provide the identity information of his father’s acquaintance.
The community management informed the host, and only after receiving permission was Xu Chunliang allowed in.
Xu Chunliang had heard of this place before. The average house price here was about fifteen million since most units exceeded two hundred square meters. Homes costing tens of millions or even luxury villas over a billion were not uncommon.
The neighborhood had a designated mourning hall located in Qingya Pavilion amidst a Su-style garden landscape.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Qingya Pavilion sat south of a clear lake and north of Binjiang Changsheng’s buildings.
In front of Qingya Pavilion were many floral wreaths with two staff members dressed in black suits and white gloves to guide guests. However, due to it being the first day of the lunar year, few guests paid their respects, making the scene quite desolate.
Xu Chunliang handed over the flower basket to the staff and stepped into the mourning hall.
There were only a few people in the hall, all dressed in black.
Xu Chunliang first went to the registration area to offer ten thousand yuan on behalf of his father, then bowed in front of the deceased’s photo. Chen Biyuan was very beautiful and had passed away at forty-eight, a young age for a charming woman.
Upon learning her age and seeing her appearance, Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but speculate about her relationship with his father. Though unfamiliar with Chen Biyuan, he knew his father very well. Old Xu wasn’t exactly an honest man, and in his younger days, he had been quite the philanderer, and even now hadn’t completely settled down.
Before her death, Chen Biyuan was an expert at the Hu Hai Drug Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an academician.
Xu Chunliang felt deep respect; she was indeed a bona fide expert. What puzzled him was how his father came to know her. It seemed Old Xu had many hidden secrets.
After bowing, Xu Chunliang shook hands with the family. Chen Biyuan’s husband, Qian Guoguang, was in the foreign trade business. Their daughter, Qian Chunyi, was eighteen, a senior in high school, and a rather fair and delicate young lady.
When Qian Guoguang heard Xu Chunliang was representing Xu Jiaxuan, he shook his hand and said, "So you’re Mr. Xu’s son, you’ve grown so much."
Xu Chunliang asked, "How did Auntie pass away?"
With tears in his eyes, Qian Guoguang replied, "A car accident..." He was too grief-stricken to continue.
Xu Chunliang patted his hand comfortingly, "Take care and accept this change."
He had no intention of staying long, releasing Qian Guoguang’s hand. As he approached Qian Chunyi, he nodded to her in solidarity, and her clear eyes met his.
As Xu Chunliang was leaving, Qian Chunyi followed him to the door and said, "No need to see me out, go back."
Qian Chunyi said, "You’re Xu Chunliang, right?"
Xu Chunliang paused, perhaps she had overheard his earlier conversation with Qian Guoguang: "That’s me!"
Qian Chunyi said, "I’ve seen your photos and watched your videos."
Xu Chunliang recalled the recent viral incident. His influence was certainly far-reaching, already spreading across the East China Region.
Qian Chunyi looked around. Xu Chunliang could tell she wanted to say something, but before he could ask, Qian Chunyi reached out her hand to him. When he shook it, he felt a cool, hard object in his palm. Qian Chunyi whispered, "Please thank Uncle Xu for me."
Xu Chunliang got the hint, withdrew his hand slyly, and put it in his pocket, advising her, "Study well. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to contact me." He gave her his phone number.
Without speaking, Qian Chunyi turned back to the mourning hall.
As Xu Chunliang was about to leave, he noticed an elegant woman in black approaching.
She seemed to have noticed him too, and as their eyes met briefly, Xu Chunliang chose to briskly walk away.
Once outside the community, he touched the object in his pocket, which felt like a pendant. Could his father and Chen Biyuan have had a relationship?
Her daughter was named Qian Chunyi, and he was called Xu Chunliang. Was it coincidence or intentional that they shared a character in their names? To uncover the truth, he figured only his father would know.
Xu Chunliang waited by the roadside for a while, but there were few taxis nearby, and those that passed by were all full. Just as he was about to take out his phone to call a cab, a Maybach stopped beside him. The window rolled down, revealing a graceful and noble face—it was the elegant woman in black he had just encountered.
"Get in the car!"
Xu Chunliang was taken aback for a moment, looked around, and confirmed there was no one else near him.
The elegant woman said, "It’s you! Hurry up and get in the car!"
Xu Chunliang shook his head, "No need to trouble you." He felt like he had seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t recall where.
The elegant woman closed the window, and the Maybach slowly drove forward about fifty meters before stopping again. The driver got out and opened the door, and the elegant woman in black stepped out of the car.
Xu Chunliang watched as the woman approached him with elegant strides, feeling puzzled. Why had she come again? Could it be because of what Qian Chunyi had entrusted to him? No, they had been very discreet about it.
The elegant woman in black came to Xu Chunliang, her eyes sizing him up.
Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Madam, have we met before?"
The elegant woman in black softly said, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Feng Mingjun."
Xu Chunliang was shaken to the core. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity at first sight, no wonder she invited him to get in the car earlier. So she was Feng Mingjun, Xu Jiaxuan’s ex-wife, and also his biological mother!
Xu Chunliang did not know what his mother looked like, because after giving birth to him, she left him with Xu Jiaxuan, who soon went abroad and handed him over to Xu Changshan.
It could be said that Xu Chunliang had grown up without feeling any parental love. Meeting his mother under such circumstances was something he never anticipated, and he was unsure if Xu Jiaxuan knew about it. One thing he could affirm was that his parents and Chen Biyuan had a good relationship.
According to Xu Jiaxuan, his mother married a phony foreigner in Vienna.
In Xu Chunliang’s view, he and his parents had essentially become three separate families, each living their own lives. His parents brought him into this world, but it was his grandfather who raised him to adulthood. The debt of birth is greater than the human, the debt of upbringing is greater than the sky.
Of course, Xu Chunliang’s heart was closer to his grandfather. Even though his father spared no expense to buy him a villa last year, it no longer mattered much to him. Xu Jiaxuan’s actions were merely icing on the cake, not a timely help. As his grandfather would say, where were his parents when their child needed them the most?
Xu Chunliang quickly realized his mother was no ordinary person. After recognizing him, she did not enact the typical drama of a tearful mother-son reunion.
Feng Mingjun remained composed as she looked at her biological son and smiled, "You’ve grown into a fine young man. If I hadn’t seen your video two days ago, I wouldn’t have dared to recognize you."
Xu Chunliang silently sighed. The saying that fame can be daunting is indeed true. His accidental rise to fame after the incident at Hidden Dragon Lake had even brought his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in over twenty years, to seek him out.
However, judging by Feng Mingjun’s attire and demeanor, she seemed to be living well now, likely in no worse conditions than Xu Jiaxuan.
Xu Chunliang said, "I’m sorry, I don’t have any impression of you." He wasn’t lying; he hadn’t seen a single photo or received a phone call in all these years.
As a mother, Feng Mingjun was heartless. No matter what, he was a life she had brought into this world, yet she hadn’t inquired about him for over twenty years, as if he didn’t exist. In this regard, she had even less sense of responsibility than Xu Jiaxuan.
Feng Mingjun said, "It’s understandable. After all, we haven’t seen each other since you were born. Are you free? I haven’t had a meal yet. Let’s eat together."
Xu Chunliang studied his mother and finally nodded.
The driver took them to a nearby high-end restaurant, where membership was required.
After ordering the dishes, Feng Mingjun consulted Xu Chunliang, "Red wine or white wine?"
Xu Chunliang said, "White wine, please."
Feng Mingjun ordered a bottle of fifty-year-old Maotai, showcasing her substantial wealth.
The restaurant specialized in Hangzhou cuisine, with dishes that were delicately prepared but a bit bland for Xu Chunliang’s taste.
Feng Mingjun raised her glass, "I booked this place ahead of time. I thought I’d be spending the New Year alone, but didn’t expect to meet you."
Xu Chunliang clinked glasses with her, "Old Xu entrusted me to come over."
He pondered inwardly if his mother had booked this place expecting to have lunch with his father. After all, they both had an unusually close relationship with the deceased. Maybe Feng Mingjun thought Xu Jiaxuan would definitely come.
Feng Mingjun drank her wine and softly said, "I had expected him to come in person. Chen Biyuan is our mutual friend."
Since Feng Mingjun had asked the servers to leave, Xu Chunliang picked up the decanter and refilled her glass.
Feng Mingjun looked at her son and smiled, "You still resemble me more."
Xu Chunliang said, "I couldn’t tell."