From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Feng Mingjun said, "When I left, you were just a hundred days old, so it’s normal that you don’t remember me. I don’t blame you."

Xu Chunliang said, "You and dad left me with Grandpa for over twenty years without a word. I have neither memories of you nor much affection, but I don’t blame you either."

Feng Mingjun laughed, "You’ve really grown up. Over the years, I’ve often wondered how we’d meet again, and if we did, what I should say to you?"

Xu Chunliang asked, "When you left, did you decide to never see me again in this life?"

Feng Mingjun nodded, "I thought about it and tried to avoid it, but some issues you can’t dodge forever. Some people you have to face eventually." She raised her glass, clinking it with Xu Chunliang’s, and elegantly drank it all.

Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but admire his mother’s composure. Compared to Xu Jiaxuan’s guilt and unease, his mother seemed much more at ease, at least she showed no guilt on the surface. Her nature must be extremely dominant.

Feng Mingjun said, "Your birth was unexpected. Neither your father nor I were ready to welcome you."

Xu Chunliang raised his glass and said, "Thank you both for sparing my life."

Feng Mingjun laughed, her eyes bright as stars. She must have been a stunning beauty in her youth, and even now, she retained an extraordinary grace and charm.

Xu Chunliang drank his glass of wine and saw that Feng Mingjun didn’t drink, so he curiously asked, "Why aren’t you drinking?"

Feng Mingjun said, "Although we weren’t prepared, when we learned about you, we decided to have you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Let me ask a question I shouldn’t. Did you two get married?"

Feng Mingjun wasn’t embarrassed by her son’s sharp question, "We did marry. You are innocent. We couldn’t let you become an illegitimate child. We had to give you a legitimate status."

"Thank you!" Xu Chunliang found his parents increasingly interesting. They truly matched each other, equally peculiar.

Feng Mingjun said, "No need to thank us. Apart from giving you life, we didn’t raise you or fulfill any parental duties."

Xu Chunliang said, "Actually, that’s fine. You minimized your losses in time, and I didn’t end up owing too much. Each of us is happy."

Feng Mingjun said, "Seeing you now, I’m very pleased."

Xu Chunliang said, "Tell me about yourself. Are you happy in Vienna?"

Feng Mingjun was surprised, "Who said I’m in Vienna? Xu Jiaxuan? He can’t stop slandering me. What else did he say?"

Xu Chunliang said, "He said you have re-established a family..."

"He’s talking nonsense. I’m not married. I’m currently working at UNHCR, mainly doing international refugee protection work."

Feng Mingjun opened her handbag, took out her work ID, and handed it to her son. UNHCR stands for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

It translates to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, whose main purpose is to protect the rights and health of refugees.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is committed to ensuring everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country and find safety or return home voluntarily. Besides helping refugees resettle or return to their countries, the UNHCR seeks permanent solutions to their plight.

Only then did Xu Chunliang realize that Feng Mingjun had a UN red pass, indicating her extraordinary status.

Globally, his parents were considered elite. Yet, they agreed to relinquish parental duties, no wonder people say the more elite someone is, the more heartless they can be.

Though the mother and son sat together for a meal, there was a clear sense of estrangement between them, marked by calmness and restraint.

Feng Mingjun showed no signs of motherly affection, nor a hint of apology for abandoning him all those years ago.

Xu Chunliang bore no blame towards her, nor hatred. Life is such that becoming family is a matter of destiny and chance.

Feng Mingjun said, "Chunliang, may I call you that?"

Xu Chunliang nodded, "There are some things I might not be able to say."

Feng Mingjun understood he meant calling her ’mother’ and smiled, "If possible, I’d like for us to start as friends. Chunliang, do you hate me?"

"Do you regret having me?" Xu Chunliang asked in return.

Feng Mingjun shook her head.

Xu Chunliang said, "I never hated you. I’ve hardly paid attention to your matters. I’ve long been accustomed to my current life. I’m very content, and I’m an adult now, beyond the age of needing to rely on parents."

Feng Mingjun laughed, "You’re more open-minded than I imagined. In fact, I recognized you at first glance and hesitated whether to acknowledge you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Perhaps passing by each other would have been your best choice."

Feng Mingjun shook her head, "Even though I didn’t fulfill a mother’s responsibilities and don’t know how to be a mother, seeing you, I’m still proud because of you."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I’m just an ordinary person, with nothing for parents to be proud of."

Feng Mingjun said, "I’m not proud of your achievements. I’m proud of your existence."

Xu Chunliang pondered over her words repeatedly, didn’t that mean she was proud of herself? His mother was not simple at all, definitely not an ordinary woman.

"Can I ask you a question?"

After getting his mother’s permission, Xu Chunliang said, "Why did you and Old Xu separate back then?"

"Incompatible values!" Feng Mingjun replied tersely. She raised her wrist to check the time.

Xu Chunliang noticed she was wearing a Rolex Rainbow Daytona worth millions.

Feng Mingjun said, "I have something scheduled at three in the afternoon." She was indeed extraordinary, unlike a normal mother who would cancel everything to reunite with her son after a long separation. She showed no trace of longing, and Xu Chunliang began to understand why she could leave so freely back then.

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s New Year’s, let’s have some dumplings."

Feng Mingjun looked at him quietly: "Sure!"

After lunch, mother and son parted at the restaurant entrance. Feng Mingjun did not offer to send him off. Before leaving, Feng Mingjun made a request, hoping Xu Chunliang would not tell Xu Jiaxuan about their meeting. Xu Chunliang agreed to her request.

As he watched the Maybach drive away, Xu Chunliang felt a bit confused, uncertain if there would be another day for them to meet.

This trip was worthwhile, at least he met his long unseen mother. Was one of the reasons his father didn’t attend the memorial in person to avoid meeting her?

Xu Chunliang placed his hand in his pocket, feeling the item, letting its edges rotate at his fingertips. It seemed to be a hexagonal prism pendant. The item Qian Chunyi secretly gave him seemed to be a secret belonging only to his father and Chen Biyuan.

Xu Chunliang googled Chen Biyuan’s information; there was pitifully little about the academician online. He intended to video call his father but decided to wait for him to reach out instead.

His Aunt’s family lived in Jing’an; the four of them resided in a three-bedroom, two-living room house with a total area of 140 square meters. His cousin Liang Linan also bought a house in full last year but hadn’t moved in yet. Their family was doing quite well.

Xu Chunliang hadn’t intended to visit his aunt’s house, but Zhen Chun’s presence revealed his whereabouts, and not visiting them for New Year’s would seem impolite.

Xu Chunliang specially bought some gifts.

When Uncle Liang Shude opened the door and saw him carrying so many things, he said, "Chunliang is here, why did you bring so many things?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Since it’s such a rare visit, I must see my aunt. Uncle, don’t get too excited; these gifts are for my aunt."

Liang Shude couldn’t help but laugh; despite his youth, this young man navigated social matters well.

Cousin Liang Lixin came over to hand him slippers. Liang Shude feigned nonchalance, "No need to change, just come in."

Xu Chunliang said, "The house is so clean, I’m afraid of dirtying it." He handed the items to Liang Lixin and put on the slippers.

Zhen Chun came out of the room upon hearing his voice: "Cousin, where have you been? It’s been so long!"

Xu Chunliang said, "Met an online friend."

Liang Linan laughed, "Spent so long, surely not one of those who put you on the spot."

Zhen Chun asked, "Was it a girl?"

"How did you know?"

Zhen Chun said, "I’ll tell Mei Ru Xue unless you send me a big red envelope."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’ve long known you’re ungrateful, despite how fond I am of you."

Aunt Xu Jia’an came over, took out two prepared red envelopes, handing one to Zhen Chun and one to Xu Chunliang: "I’ll distribute the red envelopes."

Xu Chunliang greeted his aunt, noticing there were elders at his aunt’s house, namely Liang Linan’s parents, who had come to celebrate the New Year with them.

Xu Chunliang wished the elders a happy New Year. They were very polite to him, lacking the warmth usually present among relatives, indicating he wasn’t a welcomed guest.

Xu Chunliang realized that his and Zhen Chun’s arrival disrupted their lives, though clueless Zhen Chun hadn’t noticed.

Xu Chunliang was only moderately impressed with his aunt, mainly due to her attitude towards his grandfather. When trouble struck Huichun Hall last time, she hadn’t rushed back to Dongzhou first thing.

Before the New Year, she also didn’t return to visit the old man. Customarily, daughters visit their natal family on the second day of the New Year, but with high-speed trains being so convenient, she had early on excused herself, citing work being too busy, unable to return to Dongzhou for the New Year.

Liang Linan said, "Chunliang, how long will you stay in Hu Hai?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m heading back tomorrow."

Xu Jia’an said, "Then don’t leave tonight, stay with your cousin."

A fleeting displeasure crossed Liang Linan’s face, which Xu Chunliang caught. Xu Chunliang knew this cousin was a bit petty; although they were cousins, there wasn’t much deep affection between them. If you’re unwilling to have me stay, I never intended to stay here anyway.

Xu Chunliang smiled, "No, I’ve already booked a hotel."

Two more Chapters are up, seeking support with monthly tickets, I forgot the Chapter title last time.