Uncle Ya excitedly scrambled to his feet and pulled Zhou Zerui aside. He glared furiously at Qi Huan, his mouth moving rapidly as he shouted something unintelligible.
Qi Huan found Uncle Ya’s reaction very strange.
Zhou Zerui explained, “Uncle Ya, he’s the Qi family’s eldest young master—the top heir of one of the most powerful families in the capital.”
Once he understood, Uncle Ya began gesturing in sign language with both hands.
Zhou Zerui was about to translate for Qi Huan when Jiang Youli said, “Huanhuan, Uncle Ya was asking who you are and what you’re doing here.”
Zhou Zerui froze. “President Jiang, you know sign language?”
Qi Huan was not surprised. To him, there was nothing Little Li’er couldn’t do. After all, she had once said that every year, the uncles and aunties in her village taught her a new skill.
Jiang Youli said, “Yes. I studied it for a year.”
The admiration in Zhou Zerui’s eyes deepened, while a profound sense of inferiority took root in his heart.
Uncle Ya continued gesturing angrily.
Jiang Youli translated, “Uncle Ya says that no matter who you are, you should get out immediately!”
After translating, Jiang Youli raised an eyebrow. “Uncle Ya’s reaction is a little unusual.”
Qi Huan said gently, “Uncle Ya, you know me, don’t you? Is there some misunderstanding between us?”
Uncle Ya let out a series of loud, unintelligible cries while waving his hands vigorously.
Jiang Youli said, “He says he doesn’t know you and wants you to leave immediately.”
Then she added, “Huanhuan, Uncle Ya seems very wary. And clearly, he only became this hostile after learning that you’re from the Qi family.”
Zhou Zerui explained, “Uncle Ya, you just woke up. Please don’t get worked up. This is President Jiang. She was the one who brought you back to consciousness. She means us no harm.”
Uncle Ya paused at that. He turned to look at Jiang Youli, a trace of scrutiny appearing in his eyes, and began communicating with her in sign language.
[What is your purpose in coming here?]
Jiang Youli said, “My fiancé, Qi Huan, came here today because he suspects that Zhou Zerui is his biological younger brother, Qi Yue.”
At those words, Uncle Ya’s expression turned complicated.
“Uncle Ya, you do know me, don’t you?” Qi Huan’s eyes darkened. After a moment, he continued probing, “There’s no need to hide it anymore. Zhou Zerui is my biological younger brother. I came today to take him home.”
Zhou Zerui froze. “But the result hasn’t—”
Before he could finish saying, “The result isn’t out yet,” Qi Huan interrupted him.
“Uncle Ya, what are you so afraid of? Are you afraid people will discover that Zhou Zerui is my biological younger brother?”
Uncle Ya clenched his fists tightly, his expression growing even more complicated.
After a long while, as if he had finally made up his mind, he began gesturing in sign language.
At the same time, he continued shouting hoarsely.
Jiang Youli translated, “Uncle Ya says that the Qi family are all bastards. They actually sold a blood relative to human traffickers. The people of the Qi family aren’t even human.”
Qi Huan lowered his eyes, guilt written across his face.
He was not angry at Uncle Ya’s words. Instead, he continued gently, “Uncle Ya, you’re right to curse us. The people of the Qi family are heartless, ungrateful beasts.”
From Uncle Ya’s words, Zhou Zerui could also basically confirm that he truly was Qi Huan’s biological younger brother.
“Uncle Ya, you don’t trust anyone in the Qi family, so you never intended to send my younger brother back to us, did you?” Qi Huan voiced his guess.
Uncle Ya continued gesturing indignantly, and Jiang Youli patiently translated:
“Uncle Ya says that the Qi family’s old master is a heartless man. Just because some damned fortune-teller said that a baby would affect the Qi family’s financial fortunes, he had the nerve to order the child’s own father to send away his month-old grandson.”
“Who knows whether every single person in the Qi family is just as heartless? Why would I send my benefactor’s child into a den of wolves?”
Qi Huan smiled bitterly.
No wonder.
After hearing from Auntie Ya that his biological younger brother had been rescued, he had always been puzzled. If the person who rescued his brother really had been the backup his mother had urgently summoned, then why had that person never considered returning his brother to the Qi family after all these years?
Now he understood. The person who had rescued his brother—Uncle Ya—did not trust a single member of the Qi family.
And it made sense. Back then, Grandpa had been the head of the Qi family, yet he had decided to send away his own grandson. In Uncle Ya’s eyes, no one in the Qi family could be trusted. Naturally, he had been afraid to let Zhou Zerui acknowledge the Qi family.
If his identity were exposed, Zhou Zerui might very well have faced a fatal danger.
Qi Huan looked at Uncle Ya and said slowly, word by word, “Uncle Ya, I’m Qi Huan. I’m Cheng Xiran’s son—and Qi Yue’s biological older brother.”
Cheng Xiran was his mother’s name.
At the mention of his mother, Uncle Ya finally began to calm down.
“Uncle Ya, believe me. I won’t hurt my younger brother,” Qi Huan continued to explain gently. “Uncle Ya, for my mother’s sake, will you listen to me tell you what happened over the past three years?”
Seeing that Qi Huan truly had no intention of using force or harming Zhou Zerui, Uncle Ya did not interrupt him. He merely let out two low sounds in acknowledgment.
Noticing that Uncle Ya’s guard had relaxed slightly, Qi Huan began recounting everything in detail—how he had won Grandpa’s approval three years ago and how he had persuaded him to bring his younger brother back to the Qi family.
“Three years ago, I convinced my grandfather to bring my younger brother back to the Qi family. I never expected that the person I brought home wouldn’t be my biological brother at all, but the illegitimate son whom Qi Tianxiang had switched in his place.”
The moment Uncle Ya heard the name Qi Tianxiang, his eyes flew wide, as though they might split apart. He gritted his teeth tightly and made a series of furious gestures.
Jiang Youli hurriedly translated, “Qi Tianxiang is a beast who’s worse than an animal! That bastard deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces and torn apart by five horses!”
Qi Huan silently lowered his head and gently stroked his legs, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
He said slowly, “Those two—the fake younger brother and Qi Tianxiang’s illegitimate daughter—were the ones who harmed my legs. Fortunately, I survived. It was also from that moment onward that I began to suspect Qi Yue’s identity. After investigating, I finally confirmed that he wasn’t my biological younger brother.”
He continued, “So I began searching for my biological younger brother throughout the country. After a long and arduous search, it was my fiancée, Jiang Youli, who reminded me to come here.”
Uncle Ya’s gaze moved from Qi Huan’s face to his legs, and his expression filled with sorrow. He began to gesture.
“I saw the news. Your legs were crippled by the kidnappers when you went to rescue your adopted daughter.” Jiang Youli watched Uncle Ya’s signs as she translated. “You were in such danger even within the Qi family. There’s no way I’m going to let Zhou Zerui return to a place as savage as that—a place that devours people without leaving even the bones.”
“So you can’t take Zhou Zerui away.”
