The male supporting character was actually myself.

"Dad, please explain yourself clearly. What do you mean by 'the villa was sold'?" Yin Luoxi looked at her father, whose temples were graying and who looked a little old, with an incredulous expression. "If the suburban villa is gone, where will Mom and I live?"

How could you be so selfish?

"They made such an important decision without even consulting us?"

Mrs. Yin, with her exquisite makeup, frowned slightly as she touched the names marked with numbers on the wall where people measure height in the living room. Her eyes were red and filled with tears as she cried, "These are all the traces I recorded as Luo Xi and Zi Gui grew up!"

My poor cuckoo.

Honey, I don't want to stay here!

Wherever I go, please arrange for me to move out.

Everything here reminds me of my poor child…

"When I told you the business was in trouble, neither of you cared at all," Yin Bowen said expressionlessly, slumped on the sofa. "When Luo Xi heard about this, her biggest concern was whether her monthly allowance would be reduced."

Wife, you cried and begged me not to bother you with men's matters.

You said that's something I should consider, and I shouldn't let you, a patient, worry about these things.

So I sold all my assets except this house to pay off my debts.

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Missed Encounter

“You can’t say that,” Mrs. Yin said weakly, her eyes filled with tears and worry. “I was very ill at the time, and I didn’t understand anything about business matters when you talked to me about them.”

Why didn't you tell me you were going to sell other assets?

Yin Luoxi pouted slightly, saying with dissatisfaction, "I was just asking about the allowance casually. Dad didn't say it was serious enough to have to sell assets."

Besides, I wanted to help my dad with some of his worries, so I used my savings to try and earn more money, which is why I got scammed.

It's so hurtful that Dad said that!

"When I was heartbroken and desperate, you guys were still discussing where to go for food and fun." Yin Bowen shook his head with a bitter smile. "When I was at my wit's end, it was Jiang Chen—my own son—who reached out to help me!"

Now that the company is slowly recovering, I've seen through the true colors of you and your daughter.

Starting today, I will no longer give Luo Xi pocket money.

You're 26 years old and have been out of college for three years. As an established painter, it's time for you to become independent.

My wife, I am very grateful for your sacrifices in giving birth to our children.

But after the children started school, I encouraged you to do something you enjoy and to rekindle your artistic career. But you preferred to stay home as a housewife rather than go out, saying that the children were too young and needed your full attention.

During those years in the US, you said you were in poor health and stayed at home.

Now that you're back in China, you can visit Zigui if you miss him. The hospital has also issued a medical examination report proving that you are in good health, so you can do other things.

If you and your daughter want to stay here, then you will have a room.

If you don't want to live here, move out and rent a place yourself.

Anyway, I need to calm down and rest properly. You guys do whatever you want.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Yin collapsed to the ground, covered her face, and wept softly.

Yin Luoxi, however, was still angry. She dragged her suitcase and helped her up. "Mom, let's go! It's just about renting a place to live. I'm a world-class painter. I can buy a villa just by selling one of my paintings."

Let's go find a place to rent first.

"Once I finish creating and sell my paintings, I'll buy back the old villa!"

"Luo Xi, is this really how we're going to be?" Mrs. Yin looked back at her husband, who had already closed his eyes to rest and showed no intention of stopping her. She followed her daughter out, tears streaming down her face. "It's all because of Jiang Chen! Our family was perfectly fine before, and now it's all been ruined like this..."

Yin Bowen, who was already exhausted and wanted to rest, immediately jumped up from the sofa upon hearing her words, and threw the tea set on the table to the ground, cursing angrily: "Isn't it all because of you!"

They're so stupid they don't even realize their child has been switched!

Stop pretending, Yin Xinyue, you don't love anyone, you only love yourself!

I know I have failed in my duty.

But who's to blame?

You haven't worked a single day since we got married. You want a big house and a luxury car. What else can I do but work hard to earn money?

The day you were discharged from the hospital, I was discussing a collaboration with someone and was so busy that I didn't even have time to eat or drink all day.

When I got home that evening, I found out that my child had jaundice and wasn't feeling well, so the childcare worker took him to the hospital for treatment.

I rushed to the hospital, but it was too late and I missed the visiting time.

I repeatedly told you that you absolutely must go and see the child!

What did you do?

You've been pampered at home like a queen for over two months without ever visiting your child in the hospital!

The maid handed the child to the nanny, who then took the child to the hospital for treatment. You could have noticed the child had been switched if you had even glanced at the child during that time, but you didn't look at the child once!

From discharge to hospitalization, only six hours passed!

Stop saying you love your children. What mother could bear to go six hours without even glancing at her newborn child?

I've had enough of your hypocritical face. Go away, go away, stop pretending and crying.

Mrs. Yin's crying grew louder;

Yin Luoxi trembled with anger. "Let's go, Mom. This isn't our home anymore."

From the moment Jiang Chen forced his way in and pushed Zi Gui out, this place was no longer our home!

Your daughter is all grown up and capable of taking care of you.

Let him stay here by himself and wait for his own son to support him!

Dragging a heavy suitcase and supporting her mother, Yin Luoxi walked aimlessly down the now unfamiliar streets.

Eight years is enough time for a city to undergo tremendous changes.

Yin Luoxi, who had never returned after going abroad, still remembered this place from eight years ago. However, many buildings were gone, and the brand-new, spacious streets and the new residential areas that had sprung up around her made her old home look even older.

A police car drove past.

Unbeknownst to Yin Luoxi and his wife, they were considering where to rent a place to stay.

I want a nicer environment, a bigger house, and more luxurious decorations, but I don't have much money in my bank account...

"Mom?!" Sitting in the back seat of the police car, Du Zigui glanced at the familiar figure and instantly recognized Mrs. Yin, who hadn't changed much. He twisted his head back as hard as he could and shouted, "Mom! Mom, it's me, Zigui! Come save me, Mom!"

"Behave yourself!" the policeman guarding him snapped. "Don't try anything funny. Your mother's in prison. Everyone in Renjin City knows that Du Pingping was sentenced to life imprisonment for child abduction and abuse. Stop pretending."

The police car sped past.

The closed glass blocked his shouts, and as the police car turned and drove towards the police station, Mrs. Yin and the others ultimately missed Du Zigui.

But a glimmer of hope rose in Du Zigui's heart.

Dad, Mom, and my sister are back!

I just glanced at her, and Mom doesn't seem to have changed much;

Could the beautiful woman next to her be her older sister?

Thinking back to his sister's beauty eight years ago, a familiar, strange feeling rekindled within him.

Playing games next to my sister, the faint fragrance lingering around my nose;

The soft touch of her back as she hugged me from behind while I was stealing fruit;

The playful fighting that occurred while Mom was discussing the child's development at the dinner table;

The night Jiang Chen shamelessly came to his door, he pretended to be scared and cried so his sister could come to his room to sleep with him. The two of them hugged tightly on the small bed...

Memories of our past time together flooded my mind.

Du Zigui felt his heart pounding, and a certain part of him stood tall and firm.

I only now understand what that restless feeling I had in my youth meant.

He was certain that he had fallen in love with his sister!

For a fleeting moment, Du Zigui felt a sense of relief. Thankfully, Jiang Chen appeared; otherwise, how could he have even considered such a societally unacceptable relationship?

But then he felt resentful.

Why didn't Du Pingping torture him to death back then?

That way, I wouldn't lose my wonderful life. And if I accidentally discovered that I wasn't related to my sister by blood, maybe my parents would agree to our marriage right away...

"Du Jiangchen, why don't you just die!" he cursed inwardly as the police took him to the interrogation room.

"Achoo!" Jiang Chen sneezed. His girlfriend, Shu Muyu, asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold on the plane? I'll go turn down the air conditioning in the room."

Jiang Chen leaned back lazily on the sofa and laughed, "I'm so sad. My girlfriend came to visit but refused to stay in my big villa. She insisted on staying in a hotel!"

Shu Muyu used the remote control to adjust the air conditioner and said coquettishly, "We're not engaged yet, what's the point of living together? Hey? The air conditioner is broken? Adjusting the temperature doesn't seem to work anymore. I'll call the front desk and have them fix it."

"The updated script is still following the original plot, even the broken air conditioner hasn't changed." The little white cat lazily lay on the table eating dessert, gloating, "What a pity, the male lead is already in jail!"

Chapter Twenty-Four: Sister, it's me, Zigui!

Jiang Chen took the blanket from his girlfriend and wrapped it around her as well. The two of them leaned against the sofa and looked at each other.

"I'll go to your house to propose marriage, let's get engaged." He said with a very serious expression.

Shu Muyu blushed immediately. "My mother probably won't agree. She's always been very worried about your family background."

“Auntie’s concerns are understandable.” Jiang Chen frowned slightly and said softly, “This kind of family does indeed have significant problems. Let’s wait a bit longer. I’ll take care of everything. Then we can propose marriage!”

She hesitated for a moment, then whispered in a barely audible voice, "Actually, it's okay. My dad agrees, and I'll..."

"No, I have to resolve all the issues. Your aunt and uncle only have you as their precious daughter, and I need to put their minds at ease and earn their heartfelt blessings for our marriage!"

"Then I'll wait for you." Shu Muyu buried her blushing face in his neck and whispered in his ear.

Two days later, it was Jiang Chen's birthday.

He held a small birthday party at his luxury villa.

Yin Bowen was busy with work, so he sent him a small gift and called early in the morning to wish him a happy birthday.