A wealthy man came to the orphanage for charity and gave my brother and me two options.
One was to be his adopted son, and the other was to be sponsored by him to study.
My brother shouted “Dad” first, wanting to become the young master of the wealthy family.
“If you become the son of the wealthy man, even if you get into Tsinghua or Peking University in the future, you’ll still have to come and work 996 for me.”
But the wealthy man already had a biological son. My brother, a fake young master, was not favored at home at all. In the end, he was kidnapped and became disabled.
While I studied hard for several years, was successfully recommended to Tsinghua or Peking University, completed my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in succession, and finally successfully joined the wealthy man’s company as a senior executive with an annual salary of one million.
On the day the wealthy man invited me to the dinner party, my brother broke down and hysterically dragged me to jump off the building to die together.
When I opened my eyes again, we were back on the day the wealthy man gave us the choice.
This time, my brother pushed me forward.
“Knowledge is power. I want to go to school!”
“Brother, hurry up and shout Dad!”
1
I almost lost my footing and was pushed down by my brother.
In shock, looking at my brother’s complacent eyes, I suddenly realized that I had been reborn.
Reborn at a node in my life and destiny.
“Sir, my brother is afraid of hardship. He keeps talking day and night about wanting to be a rich second-generation and live a luxurious life. Please take him as your son.”
“I like studying and I’m not afraid of hardship. Knowledge can change fate. I choose to study.”
After hearing my brother’s words, the wealthy man’s eyes were full of appreciation.
For me, there was a bit of disappointment.
“Then you come with me, but I have to make the situation clear to you. Being my son doesn’t mean living a luxurious life, and there’s no capital to be unscrupulous.”
“Every month, I’ll only provide you with 50,000 yuan for living expenses. You have to figure out a way for the amount exceeding that.”
Hearing this, my brother’s chest trembled, and then he snorted disdainfully.
Last life, when he was adopted by the wealthy man, there was no regulation on how much money would be given to him every month.
So after getting the credit card, he almost squandered money and played all day and night.
Until later, when the wealthy man couldn’t stand it anymore, his consumption was restricted to 50,000 yuan per month.
And now he threw a pot of dirty water on me, saying that I was afraid of hardship and fond of luxury. This directly affected the wealthy man’s perception of me, causing him to form a stereotype about me just after meeting me.
Even the stage of testing me was omitted.
“Brother, your life is over.”
My brother provoked me in colloquial language, and his mouth was almost grinning to the sky with pride.
I didn’t look at him anymore.
Human effort can achieve anything.
The wealthy man just wanted to help us because he thought we were pitiful.
How to go on the road still depends on ourselves.
I took a step forward, bowed to thank him.
Then I said.
“Dad, I don’t need that much money. 20,000 yuan for living expenses per month is enough for me.”
The salary of the working – class here is more than 5,000 yuan. For me, 20,000 yuan is already a lot.
You know, when I was studying last life, the wealthy man only sponsored the tuition fees, and I had to earn the living expenses by myself.
I’ve experienced hard times.
The key is that he is kind – hearted. I don’t think I can take the kindness of a good person as a capital for squandering.
As soon as I directly cut off more than half, my brother was shocked and his face was full of sneers.
“Mr. Wealthy, it’s true that my brother is afraid of hardship, but he is very good at being worldly – wise.”
“He knows that asking for so much money at the beginning is likely to make people dislike him, so he has to do it step by step.”
“When kind – hearted people came to the orphanage with snacks and gifts, my brother didn’t take them at first.”
“After they came several times, those kind – hearted people directly noticed him and said he was so sensible.”
“After setting up the persona label, my brother asked for money from each of them. He was the first one in the orphanage to have a tablet computer.”
2
My brother’s dirty water kept splashing on me.
I don’t know why he hated me so much.
When making the choice last life, I was afraid that he would have a hard life, so I deliberately let him choose first.
Actually, the wealthy man had his eyes on me at that time.
Before a rich person decides to adopt, they will definitely understand the situation first.
My grades were excellent and my character was good. The dean and teachers wouldn’t lie.
But for my brother, I gave up this chance of being adopted.
After my brother entered the wealthy family, our contact was broken.
He should have been afraid that I would borrow money from him. Every time I called worried that he wasn’t doing well, he would shout that he had no money first, without noticing the cheers from the people around him when he opened a 100,000 – yuan champagne.
But I didn’t care. I was relieved to know that he was doing well and didn’t inquire further.
Until a few years later, I received a call from him on my own initiative.
He cursed me, saying that I deliberately let him choose first.
He blamed me for not telling him that the wealthy man had a biological son.
He also said that he soon fell out of favor and was kidnapped some time ago, so he lost a leg.
Now he can only live with the help of a cane and a wheelchair.
He said he hated me.
At that time, I was in the midst of my undergraduate-postgraduate integrated program. My first reaction was to fly back to see him.
But as I grew older, I found that I had changed. I was no longer so easily emotional.
Recalling my brother’s disdain and mockery towards me after being adopted, I clearly realized that he had changed.
So I advised him to recover well and actively cooperate with the treatment, and then hung up the phone.
The gears of fate were still turning incessantly.
After I graduated, a company wanted to hire me with an extremely high salary.
I was extremely happy at that time.
When I arrived at the scene, I found out that it was the wealthy man’s company.
It turned out that for so many years, he had been paying attention to me.
Since the day of the choice, he hadn’t stopped paying attention to me.
He appreciated me very much and said that I was very suitable for their company.
He even frankly said that his first plan was to choose me as his son.
Now that I couldn’t be his son, I could be a confidant subordinate.
However, when I was invited to the dinner party.
I saw my brother whom I hadn’t seen for many years. When he saw me becoming successful, there was no surprise or touch in his eyes.
But deep jealousy!
He pulled me to the rooftop and said that I had changed his life, that the one who should have studied at that time should have been him.
I had ruined his life.
At that moment, I completely saw through him. I didn’t want to explain and turned to leave.
But I didn’t expect that his mentality had already been distorted. In a fit of rage, he actually hugged me and jumped off the building.
3
I took a deep breath and returned to reality.
Just as I was about to defend myself, the dean came over.
“Mr. Lin, welcome! Thank you for your love and support.”
“Have you chosen the adopted son yet? Tianci is very obedient. Both teachers and children like him, and he has a very strong learning talent. He’s preparing to strive for Tsinghua or Peking University.”
My name is Wang Tianci.
The dean was talking about me.
So, I didn’t need to praise myself.
After hearing this, the wealthy man looked at me suspiciously: “Tianci, do you perform so well in the orphanage?”
“He has a good relationship with the dean!”
My brother was afraid that I would gain favor and immediately raised his hand to interrupt.
“My brother often plays chess with the dean. They have a good relationship.”
The dean naturally saw something and was well – aware of my brother’s little thoughts.
He interrupted my brother’s speech with an unnatural light cough.
Then he smiled.
“Tianci’s chess – playing skills are also very excellent.”
“Mr. Lin, judging a person is not by words. I think it won’t be long before you find out how correct your choice is.”
The wealthy man nodded in agreement when he heard this. His expression softened a little, and he patted me on the shoulder.
“Okay, Tianci, let’s go.”
I was led out of the orphanage by the wealthy man.
A luxury car was parked at the door.
When I was about to get in the car, my brother ran over quickly and pushed me away.
He quickly opened the passenger – side door.
“Mr. Wealthy, please.”
The wealthy man was slightly taken aback and then politely refused: “Thank you, I don’t sit in the passenger seat.”
The smile on my brother’s face suddenly froze.
I opened the door and said casually: “The seat behind the driver’s seat is the safest. Dad, please get in the car.”
The wealthy man nodded affirmatively.
I left the orphanage with him.
Through the car window, I saw my brother show an evil and complacent smile.
As if I could hear him say: “Let’s see how you fight with me in this life.”
I just thought it was ridiculous.
Would a person who only seeks pleasure be willing to calm down and study?
Did my brother think that the qualification for being recommended to a top university fell from the sky?
4
The wealthy man lived in Tomson Yipin. Because I had been there last life, I wasn’t much shocked.
And I showed a calm expression without deliberately concealing it.
Unexpectedly, the wealthy man was more satisfied with me.
It turned out that from the beginning, he had been secretly observing my reaction:
“Tianci, to be my son, you have to be calm. I’m very satisfied with your performance today.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“What do you think of your brother Tiancheng?”
I answered without thinking: “His mind is still immature.”
The wealthy man said “good” twice after hearing this.
“Not bad, Tianci. I like your character.”
“Tell the kitchen to cook more dishes. Today, I want to have a good chat and drink some wine with my son.”
“The child is still in high school. What wine to drink?”
Mrs. Li, the wealthy man’s wife, frowned and tried to persuade him.
Then she came to me with concern: “Are you Tianci? Nice to meet you. From now on, you can call me Mom.”
“Mom.”
“Hey, hehe! This child is so cute. Come on, Mom will show you your bedroom.”
Mrs. Li took me to the bedroom and told me in a considerate manner not to be too restrained. She said it might be uncomfortable at first, but it would get better slowly.
I nodded seriously, and my eyes became moist unconsciously.
Our biological parents died in a car accident when my brother and I were only a few years old.
The relatives in our family said that raising sons was a burden, and none of them were willing to take us in.
Less than a month after our parents died, we were sent to the orphanage.
Sometimes kind – hearted people came to see us, and some people smiled and asked me to call them Mom.
Every time I called, and I called very sweetly.
Living in that environment, we all learned a skill called pleasing others.
Only by pleasing others would they donate, and we could have enough to eat and new clothes to wear.
Having never experienced motherly love, when I saw Mrs. Li’s kind face, I couldn’t hold back my emotions for a while.
Is this motherly love?
It could really be so warm.
I had never envied my brother, but now I did. I envied that he had such a gentle and considerate mom last life.
Seeing me shed tears, Mrs. Li comforted me with a smile. As she smiled, her eyes also turned red.
“Tianci, come on, let’s go eat.”
5
At the dinner table, Mr. Lin pushed a glass of wine towards me.
Mrs. Li frowned at him: “I said the child is young and still in school. What wine to drink? It’s bad for the brain.”
Mr. Lin looked at me for a long time and then asked: “Before you two brothers made the choice, do you remember my requirements?”
“Dad, I remember. Choosing to be your son means automatically giving up my studies.”
“That’s right, because if you can have both, the choice loses its meaning. So this glass of wine is, so to speak, cutting off your other path and the beginning of changing your fate.”
Mrs. Li understood and quickly asked Mr. Lin.
“Is it necessary? Tianci is so obedient and smart. If you don’t let him go to school, what’s the difference between him and a fool in the future? We adopted him to cultivate him.”
“This is the game rule. If he can still go to school, how will his brother think? Where is my prestige?”
“But…” Mrs. Li still wanted to speak for me.
I knew the wealthy man was also in a difficult situation.
And he had made it very clear.
If being an adopted son could still go to school, then the other option would be invalid, and no one would choose it.
“Mom, listen to Dad. This is indeed fairer.”
I picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp.
The alcohol made me cough.
Mr. Lin and Mrs. Li just looked at me, not saying a word for a long time.
“Sigh.”
Mrs. Li sighed, as if she thought this was unfair.
Or as if she thought I was a talent worthy of cultivation and was afraid of missing out on me.
Mr. Lin took a deep breath: “Tianci, be obedient in the future. Being my son won’t make you suffer.”
I nodded and then asked: “Dad, can I take the college entrance examination?”
Mr. Lin frowned: “Didn’t you hear what I just said clearly?”
“I heard it clearly. I won’t go to school, but I just want to experience the atmosphere of the college entrance examination. After all, isn’t the first turning point in most people’s lives the college entrance examination?”
“Promise Tianci. Students study late into the night, all for the college entrance examination, to stand out.” Mrs. Li fought for me.
Mr. Lin was wealthy and couldn’t understand the importance of the college entrance examination to ordinary people at all.
“You’ve just finished the first half of the first year of high school. What’s the point of taking the college entrance examination without studying for two and a half years? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
“I’m not afraid.” I answered very seriously.
“Okay, if you’re not afraid, then go. But don’t be unable to bear the blow then.”
“Thank you, Dad!” I stood up happily and bowed to Mr. Lin.
Last life, I was recommended to Tsinghua or Peking University with excellent grades and didn’t need to take the college entrance examination at all.
But I also wanted to know my own strength. After the college entrance examination, I searched for the real test papers on the Internet and did them blindly once.
At that time, I estimated my score to be at least 700 points.
It can be said that the questions of the college entrance examination were engraved in my mind.
If the full score is 750, if I don’t get 740 points now, it’s disrespectful to myself.
Although I was reborn and forced to make a choice, the knob of fate was always in my own hands!
Obviously, my brother didn’t expect this.
At this time, he sent me a message.
The wealthy man’s house is very big, right? It must be very comfortable, right?
But I want to tell you, he still has a biological son abroad. You’ll never be favored.
For the sake of me being your real brother, I’ll reveal a secret to you. The brother you haven’t met yet likes people with high emotional intelligence the most.
6
He was trying to kill me.
Although I didn’t live in Mr. Lin’s house last life, out of concern for my brother, I knew a lot about his living environment.
Mr. Lin pays attention to charity and is a loving ambassador.
Mrs. Li is gentle, considerate, and kind – looking.
But they gave birth to a son with a strong sense of jealousy and possessiveness.
Their son showed extreme resistance after learning that he had an adopted brother.
He was afraid that his brother would steal his favor and divide the family property in the future.
It can be said that my brother’s kidnapping last life might have been his doing.
He also wanted me to be more emotionally intelligent? The higher the emotional intelligence, the more likely to be attacked.
The best way was not to fight and just leave directly.
Go to college through the college entrance examination and follow the path of last life.
And sometimes people have to recognize themselves. An adopted one is an adopted one, and a biological one is a biological one.
If you don’t know your place and put yourself in a position you shouldn’t be in, it’s undoubtedly courting death.
Brother, I’ll explore the way for you first. Wait.
Not long after my brother sent the message , my phone rang. A deep male voice sounded, with an unfriendly tone: “Are you that orphan named Wang Tianci?”
“Hello, may I ask who you are?”
“Lin Zihao, the eldest young master of the Lin Group.”
“Hello, Young Master.”
This address of “Young Master” left him speechless for a long time on the phone. He was silent for a while.
“Wang Tianci, I heard that my dad adopted you?”
“Yes, that’s the case. Mr. Lin indeed recognized me as his son.”
“Good, then I’ll make it clear. An adopted one is just an adopted one. Don’t play with fire. I’m the biological son.”
“Young Master, of course I know that, which is why I keep calling you Young Master.”
“Please rest assured. After I take the college entrance examination, I’ll leave this city immediately.”
“College entrance examination? I heard from your brother that if you choose to be an adopted son, you automatically give up your studies. Are you fooling me?”
“No, I talked to Mr. Lin about this today.”
“The agreement at that time was that you couldn’t go to school, not that you couldn’t take the college entrance examination.”
“Hehe, you don’t go to school but take the college entrance examination? What do you think I’ll believe you?”
“Young Master, I’ve always had excellent academic performance. Although I’ve only studied for half a year, I can’t get a zero score either.”
“Even if it’s a junior college, I’ll go.”
“Are you telling the truth?”
“Every word is true. I swear to God. And Young Master, you don’t have to worry about the property issue. I can position myself correctly.”
“I’m already very content that Mr. Lin is willing to raise me.”
“Good! Wang Tianci, then I’ll give you a guarantee. As long as you go to school after the college entrance examination, I’ll cover your living expenses. I’ll give you 80,000 yuan per month!”
“Thank you, Young Master. Then I’ll thank you in advance.”
After hanging up the phone, I felt completely relaxed, with a smile on my lips.
This is fate. Good people have good fates.
If I take the college entrance examination, whether I do well or not, my brother will surely make things worse for me.
He will accuse Mr. Lin of not keeping his promise.
Mr. Lin, due to his promise, is likely to stop financially supporting me.
But at this time, his biological son comes in handy.
My dear brother, you were inferior to me last life, and in this life, you’re even more so.
7
Striving hard, studying late into the night, come on!
My brother posted a photo of a simple dormitory in his WeChat Moments.
Under the cheap incandescent lamp, he was studying earnestly.
The students in the same dormitory, as a foil, were either playing with their phones or smoking.
The shooting angle was just right, forming a sharp contrast with him.
Soon, he commented on it himself below.
Studying is the only way out. You may not believe it, but my brother would rather be an adopted son and live a life of luxury than study.
Do you think I made the wrong choice?
Someone replied: Are you out of your mind? Isn’t the ultimate goal of going to school to live a life of luxury?
No, going to school is to realize self – value. Living a life of luxury is the lowest – level need. I’m different from my brother. Let him enjoy himself.
I took a closer look and found that the comment section of my brother’s post was entirely orchestrated and filled with comments from his alternate accounts.
He wasn’t stupid. He must have known that the wealthy man had paid attention to me last life.
The purpose of posting this in Moments now was to show it to the wealthy man.
Even, a few seconds later, I found that I couldn’t see this post anymore.
Well, he probably set it to be visible to some people.
I didn’t take this kind of clownish behavior to heart at all. Everything would be revealed after the college entrance examination.
8
After moving into Mr. Lin’s house, Mr. Lin would give me 50,000 yuan on the first day of each month.
I hardly went out and stayed at home every day, helping with some housework.
This was my little return to them.
One day, Mrs. Li came over with a smile and took the broom from me.
“Tianci, there are nannies to do the housework at home. You don’t need to do it.”
“I see that you haven’t gone out for almost a month. Why don’t you go out and have a look?”
I smiled simply and replied, “Mom, I don’t know where to go, so I didn’t go out.”
Mrs. Li thought for a while and suddenly had an idea.
“Coincidentally, Mom is free today. How about I take you to a fun place?”
“Okay.”
Mrs. Li took me to an amusement park, and then to a shooting club to teach me shooting.
After we got tired from playing, she took me to have a big meal, eating things I had never eaten before.
After the meal, I rushed to pay the bill.
Mrs. Li was taken aback: “Tianci, when you go out with Mom, you don’t need to spend your pocket money.”
I looked at her seriously: “Mom, I’m very happy that you can take the time to take me out to play. Besides, I’m not short of money. Isn’t it only natural for me to treat Mom to a meal?”
Mrs. Li heard this and touched my head: “If only your elder brother had your awareness. He’s always asking me for money. Tianci, you’re so sensible.”
Mrs. Li told me about her biological son the day after I entered the house.
She had always been honest with me and had no secrets.
In the evening, I found that Mrs. Li had posted a WeChat Moment.
It was a nine – grid picture, all of which were photos of us having fun today.
She also added a caption: A relaxing and happy weekend, and I was treated by my son.
I originally thought it was just a simple WeChat Moment.
Unexpectedly, my brother made it into something like a huge event.
He commented below.
Congratulations to Mrs. Li for adopting an obedient, sensible, and high – EQ child. There’s no one more filial than my brother in the world. This is really your fate.
With my brother’s personal ability, I believe he will shine in the Lin Group in the future.
9
The comment was meant to stir up trouble.
After he posted it, he sent me a private message.
Why didn’t she take me out last life? She never smiled like that or even posted about me in her Moments!
Why can you have this?
I’m suffering in school. Although it’s bitter first and then sweet, I still can’t stand you living more comfortably than me at any time!
You scheming little person. It’s only been a little over a month, and you’ve already won their hearts. I really admire you!
But don’t be too happy too soon. Hehe, because there’s a big disaster that you don’t even notice.
The big disaster he mentioned should refer to Mr. Lin’s biological son.
And the kidnapping that disabled him last life.
There’s no need to talk too much to an ignorant person.
He ignored me last life, and I don’t want to talk to him this life either.
But because of his few comments, Lin Zihao, who was having a good time abroad, returned to the country.
When he got home, the look he gave me was full of malice and rejection.
“Hello, Young Master.”
“What Young Master? He’s your elder brother.” Mrs. Li smiled and pulled Lin Zihao over to introduce him to me.
Lin Zihao kept staring at me and shook off Mrs. Li’s hand in disgust.
“Mom, do you lack a son? Do you have to adopt another one?”
“What are you talking about? Tianci lost his parents since childhood. We’re just cultivating him by the way.”
“Cultivate what? He doesn’t even go to school. What can be cultivated?”
“Mom, send him to school immediately. I’ll pay for his education. After he graduates, he can come back and work in our company! Forget about adopting him!”
After hearing this, to be honest, I highly agreed.
Ultimately, I would have to return to that track. The earlier, the less trouble.
I was just about to step forward to say a few words when Mr. Lin appeared.
“Shut up!”
He walked over with a stern face.
Unexpectedly, he said something in front of Lin Zihao that made my spine tingle.
“If you feel a sense of crisis, then work hard yourself. Don’t think that just because you’re my biological son, the company will be handed over to you in the future!”
10
Lin Zihao’s eyes widened after hearing this, and he looked at me with a vicious gaze.
“Wang Tianci, you’re really good at playing tricks!”
I was about to explain immediately. If this misunderstanding took root in his mind, I would be in danger.
Never underestimate the ability of a rich person to deal with others.
But Mr. Lin didn’t give me a chance to explain at all. He opened his mouth and said.
“Tianci, you don’t need to worry about it. Just be yourself!”
“Lin Zihao, listen carefully. If you don’t work hard, you’ll be eliminated. This is the social reality!”
“Watch out. You only have one chance to choose!”
Mr. Lin threw an admission application form on Lin Zihao’s face.
“Go or not, it’s up to you!”
Lin Zihao picked up the admission notice with a cold smile, nodding continuously.
“Good, good! You really are something!”
After saying that, he left angrily.
Before leaving, I saw a fierce look in his eyes.
My heart sank.
He seemed likely to do something bad to me.
11
After he left, Mr. Lin didn’t explain anything to me. He just said “useless person” and left.
I went back to my room alone and lay on the bed, my heart still pounding.
The past events of last life and this life overlapped in my mind, and I had a guess.
Could I be Mr. Lin’s pawn?
Last life, he used my brother, and this life, he used me to stimulate Lin Zihao.
But after careful analysis, my brother was completely a playboy last life and probably couldn’t pose a threat.
So why? Could Mr. Lin really have such an idea?
Impossible, it must be impossible!
He didn’t even let me go to school. How could he hand the company over to me?
The fog was thick, and I was a bit distracted.
At this moment, I truly felt the crisis. I felt that danger was gradually approaching me.
I had to leave here immediately, or else I wasn’t sure when Lin Zihao would do something to me.
Just as I was thinking about what to do, my phone rang.
It was a message notification sound.
I opened it and saw that my brother had mentioned me in his WeChat Moments.
The pictures were several test papers, each with excellent grades.
The caption was Hard work pays off. Tsinghua or Peking University is within reach. It seems that studying is really the only way out. Brother, how are you recently? @Wang Tianci
I snorted and replied: Very well. Little brother, you must study hard and apply for the Lin Group in the future.
That’s for sure. I will definitely return in the most awesome way! I won’t let Mr. Lin down!
He actually dared to reply to me.
He completely didn’t know that Lin Zihao had been paying attention to both of us all the time.
He was afraid that we would cause any trouble that might affect him.
But it was understandable. He thought that by suppressing me, he could achieve his goal and completely ignored his words and deeds.
This is the consequence of being simple – minded.
12
After the incident when Lin Zihao came home, I never went out.
I stayed at home all day.
I was so cautious that I didn’t even go out to pick up my express delivery.
Lin Zihao was probably really stimulated and actually enrolled in school.
I vaguely remember that when Mr. Lin came home that day, he was cursing, saying that Lin Zihao had finally become a bit sensible and went to a high school even better than my brother’s.
Although he was cursing, he actually looked very happy.
From this moment, I became more certain that no matter who he adopted, it wouldn’t affect Lin Zihao’s position in his heart.
Falling out of favor didn’t exist because there was no such thing as being favored in the first place.
I also became more convinced that I had been used in that incident.
Of course, these weren’t the most important things. The important thing was that I could relax a bit for the time being.
Because the high school Lin Zihao attended was a boarding school with closed – management.
13
Time flew by.
A year later, when my brother and Lin Zihao were in the second half of their sophomore year of high school, Mr. Lin invited my brother to come to our house as a guest.
We hadn’t seen each other for a year. When we met again, my brother looked me up and down coldly.
After the others left, he stood in front of me.
“Brother, I heard that you’re so cowardly that you don’t even dare to go out of the house.”
“Are you afraid of being kidnapped? Don’t worry. You’re not favored, so no one will kidnap you.”
My smile didn’t reach my eyes as I replied, “Weren’t you kidnapped last life even though you weren’t favored?”
“My situation was different.”
“How was it different? Was it Lin Zihao who kidnapped you?”
My brother’s eyes widened suddenly: “How do you know?”
“Anyone with a bit of brains can guess. You, of course, don’t know because you have no brains.”
“You’re insulting me! I tell you, my current academic performance has long surpassed yours last life!”
My brother gritted his teeth and said with a ferocious smile, word by word: “Your glory last life will be mine in this life!”
“Glory can be created at any time. If you want it, take it. The ability to hold on to it is the real skill.”
“Hehe, hahaha! Do I need to hold on to it? You don’t even have the right to go to school, not even the right to take the college entrance examination. How can you surpass me?”
My smile remained unchanged: “Fate is something that no one can predict, right?”
“Hahaha, you’re making me laugh to death. If you can change your fate against the odds, I’ll die in front of you!”
“Are you stupid? Don’t you see? At the moment of choice, you lost to me!”
“Mr. Lin appreciates those who choose to go to school. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have invited me back for dinner at this time!”
“I remember you came back after graduation last life, right? I’m a full five years earlier than you! Five years!”
“So what?” I said indifferently.
My brother’s eyes turned red with anger: “Wang Tianci, I fucking hate your pretense of being calm! You make me really disgusted, you know that?”
14
“What are you two brothers talking about?” Mrs. Li came over.
My brother immediately put on an innocent face.
“Nothing, Auntie. I’m just chatting with my brother about recent things. He said he’s very happy to see my current good grades.”
“He said I will definitely be able to get into Tsinghua University and change my fate, reverse my life.”
“Getting into Tsinghua University isn’t something you can just talk about!”
Lin Zihao appeared with a cold face.
My brother quickly flattered him: “What the Young Master said is right. I heard that the Young Master has also been performing well in school recently.”
“What? Did you send someone to investigate me?”
My brother dug a hole for himself and quickly explained: “It wasn’t me. My brother told me.”
Another pot of dirty water was splashed on me.
I looked innocent but said, “He asked me, kept asking me about the Young Master’s grades. He also said that he was determined to surpass you, saying that you…”
Lin Zihao’s face became more and more unpleasant: “What else did he say?”
“He said you’re a playboy, and even if you get into a good school, you have no foundation. You’ll be eliminated sooner or later.”
Lin Zihao’s face turned completely dark: “Wang Tiancheng, are you trying to pick a fight?”
Wang Tiancheng was so scared that he almost raised his hands in surrender.
“I didn’t say those words. Wang Tianci, don’t slander me!”
“Young Master, Tiancheng is young and speaks without thinking. Don’t take it to heart.”
I stepped on my brother’s head and stomped on it hard.
You’re the only one who can splash dirty water? I can too!
What goes around comes around.
15
“Wang Tiancheng, remember what you said today. I’m telling you, I will definitely surpass you in the college entrance examination!”
“Your grades are nothing compared to the accurate question – predicting before the exam!”
The school Lin Zihao attended had an annual tuition fee of hundreds of thousands of yuan, and the teaching staff there was simply unprecedented.
So his provocation was not an empty threat.
My brother wanted to say something to defend himself. After all, Lin Zihao was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
But several times, the words stopped at his lips. Until he saw Mr. Lin coming, he seemed to see a savior and rushed over immediately.
He took out a large stack of test papers.
“Mr. Lin, thank you for your sponsorship. These are the results I’ve achieved in these days as a return to you.”
Mr. Lin took them and nodded while looking at them:
“Zihao, take a look. Look at him.”
I almost burst out laughing.
My brother originally wanted to show off, but instead, he buried himself deeper. The expression on my brother’s face was so awkward that it was indescribable.
It was precisely because of these report cards that the originally boring dinner party turned into a criticism session. Mr. Lin praised my brother non – stop and promised that if he could maintain good grades, he would reserve a senior management position for him in the future. My brother met Lin Zihao’s murderous gaze several times and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He successfully attracted Lin Zihao’s resentment towards him. Compared to me, who couldn’t even go to school, my brother was obviously a greater threat to Lin Zihao.
16
In the next six months, my brother’s moments on WeChat became significantly fewer. Well, not necessarily fewer. Maybe the viewing permission was getting more and more restricted. One day, when I was watching TV at home, I saw Mr. Lin walking in with a phone. He glanced at me a few times and said to the person on the phone, “You’re violating our previous agreement. The agreement was that I would provide you with tuition fees, and you had to bear the rest by yourself.” After chatting for a while longer, Mr. Lin covered the microphone and asked me, “Tianci, your brother is short of money and wants to borrow some from me for turnover. Do you have any objections?”
It had been two and a half years. Last life, my brother had lived a life of extravagance for so long and had never been short of money until his death. This life, making him earn his own living expenses, coupled with the pressure of study, finally exposed his true nature after struggling for two and a half years. Yesterday, the debt – collection calls had even reached me. This guy had left my phone number as the emergency contact when taking out a loan. I picked up the remote control to change the channel and said with a smile, “Mr. Lin, I don’t agree.” Mr. Lin nodded and said to the other end of the phone, “Figure it out yourself.”
Shortly after hanging up the phone, my brother sent me a message asking me for money. I’m a straightforward person. I like to block people directly.
17
Time flew by, and another six months passed. In these six months, I lost count of how many debt – collection calls I received. Later, Mr. Lin also started getting these calls, and he was so angry that he lost his temper frequently. On the eve of the college entrance examination, Lin Zihao, who had been silent for half a year, suddenly contacted me. Do you remember the previous agreement? I advise you to leave my house as soon as possible! Otherwise, you’ll end up like Wang Tiancheng!
“What do you mean?”
I set a trap for Wang Tiancheng, and he got trapped in the world of money. Now he owes more than two million yuan, and he can’t pay it off in his lifetime by himself! I know you might not fall for this, but I have plenty of ways to deal with you! You’d better watch out!
I only replied with one sentence: “I’ll leave after the college entrance examination, Young Master. Don’t forget the sponsorship you promised me.”
In the evening, when I was packing my exam supplies, Mr. Lin came in. “Tianci, don’t go take the exam.”
“Dad, why?”
“Are you going to embarrass yourself? Your brother has already made me lose face! His grades have plummeted, and he’s in a huge amount of debt!”
“Dad, you have to believe me. I have the ability to get good grades!”
“You have the ability? You haven’t even gone to school or read a book. Do you think you’re a genius?”
“Okay, don’t say any more. My decision is made. You don’t need to go tomorrow. Just stay at home honestly.” Mr. Lin had a straight face throughout and left after saying that. Before leaving, he also dropped a sentence: “I misjudged you. Sigh.”
18
Before dawn the next day, I got my exam permit ready and was about to sneak out. But I suddenly found that the door of my room was locked tightly. I pushed it hard, but I couldn’t open it at all. I couldn’t go through the window either; this was the 12th floor. Mom, open the door for me. I quickly sent a WeChat message to Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li came to the door: “Tianci, listen to your dad. Don’t go. Your dad is under a lot of pressure now. People are saying that he sponsored two… useless people.”
“Mom, I’m not useless. Please believe me!”
“Mom, this is the only way I can go in my life. If I don’t take the exam today, my life will be over.”
“Mom, I want to live.”
Mrs. Li was silent for a long time.
Finally, I heard the sound of the door lock. Mrs. Li stood by the door, sighing: “Tianci, why do you have to take this path? Even if you get into a junior college, if you choose to go to school, the family can’t keep you anymore. Aren’t you asking for trouble?”
I didn’t say anything. I picked up my exam supplies and ran outside.
“Stop!”
“Tianci, I’m telling you, if you go out this door, I’ll immediately announce that I’m cutting off the adoptive – father – son relationship with you!” Mr. Lin appeared out of nowhere and shouted sternly.
I turned around and bowed to them: “Mom and Dad, thank you for taking care of me these days.”
“From now on, I’m going to walk my own path!”
After saying that, I immediately ran away and rushed to the examination hall.
19
Outside the examination hall, my brother saw me. “You heartless thing, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to take the exam.”
“Take the exam? Hahaha! Wang Tianci, are you trying to make me laugh?”
After saying that, my brother shouted loudly: “Everyone, look! The adopted son of Mr. Lin, the richest man in the city, is at the examination hall!”
Because of my brother’s debt incident, Mr. Lin had been in the spotlight recently. Plus, there were reporters at the college entrance examination site. As soon as they heard that the adopted son was also here, they all pointed their cameras at me. They sneered and asked, “I heard that the adopted son doesn’t even have the right to go to school. Classmate Wang Tianci, are you sure you’re here to take the exam?”
“Your adoptive father has been criticized severely. Everyone says he has no vision. You suddenly come to take the exam today. Are you trying to make your adoptive father even more embarrassed?”
“An adoptive father is still a father. We think you should be grateful and stay at home with him instead of coming out to embarrass him.”
The reporters talked one after another.
The students who came to take the exam also burst into laughter:
This is so funny. After missing so much school, you come to take the college entrance examination? After living a rich life for a while, do you think you’re a child prodigy?”
“I despise people like you the most. You gave up your future just to live a rich life.”
My brother was extremely proud after hearing this: “That’s right. He just can’t bear any hardship.”
“Come on, look at yourself. Don’t you know how much debt you have?” I sneered back.
He became furious and pointed at me: “No matter how bad I am, I’m still better than him! Just wait and see! If he can score more than 300 points, I’ll eat shit while standing on my head!”
20
I walked towards the examination hall amidst the discussions of the crowd. It could be said that I was being pointed at and even spat on all the way. At this time, Lin Zihao came over and gave me a few test papers. “Remember these questions. Maybe you can get into a junior college by guessing.”
“No need.”
“No need? Wang Tianci, I’m telling you, even if you get a zero, you have to get out of the Lin family!”
“Don’t worry. Once I leave the Lin family today, I won’t go back.”
During the few years I lived in the Lin family, I received 50,000 yuan every month, and I hardly spent any of it. It was enough to support my expenses for several years and even for starting a business in the future. It didn’t matter if Lin Zihao didn’t keep his promise and didn’t give me money for college. I was already prepared to draw a clear line from them.
“You’re getting cocky with a little bit of opportunity. Look at how these people are scolding you today, calling you a useless person! You’ve shamed the Lin family!”
I didn’t answer. I just looked at him and left a sentence: “Treat your parents well. They love you very much.”
“Everything they prepared for you was never meant for anyone else.”
Dinglingling –
After saying that, I turned around, ignoring the astonished Lin Zihao. I just wiped the spittle on my face randomly and ran into my examination hall.
21
As expected, the questions were exactly the same as what I remembered. I left the examination hall in only half of the exam time. As a result, I was inevitably surrounded and interviewed by reporters again. Ironically, they were waiting to interview the first person to come out of the examination hall, originally intending to ask about the difficulty of the exam. When they saw it was me, the reporters who had run halfway stopped. Their tone was sarcastic:
“You don’t know anything but still take the exam. Why did you come out so soon?”
“Is he trying to get the limelight by being the first one out of the examination hall?”
“Don’t interview him, everyone. Don’t fall for his trick.”
A group of reporters looked at me with disdain as I walked further and further away.
In the following few days of the exam, for several subjects, I was the first one to come out of the examination hall. Now the internet exploded. Everyone was scolding me, saying that I was ungrateful and that I should be revoked of my school status. They said that I was even trying to get attention from the college entrance examination and that I was shameless.
I was lying on the hotel bed, silently enduring these temporary misunderstandings and insults. At this time, my phone rang. It was a WeChat message from Mrs. Li. Tianci, have you finished the exam? Come back. I made your favorite braised pork for dinner tonight.
Looking at this simple line of text, I was stunned for a full ten minutes. Mom… I won’t come back. I’m just waiting to go to college.
Don’t say that. Your dad isn’t angry with you. He said later that taking the exam was your own choice, and he supports you. Look, he hasn’t even issued a certificate to cut off the adoptive – father – son relationship with you.
To be honest, my heart was inevitably touched. But…
Mom, please tell Dad for me that I won’t let him down. Wait until I return after my studies.
22
During the period of waiting for the results, the attacks on me on the internet never stopped. They got worse and worse.
Until the results were announced.
My score was shielded as expected. In the end, I got 741 points, almost a perfect score, and won the title of the top scorer in the college entrance examination. Now the internet really went crazy. All kinds of short – video platforms were filled with my stories and photos. The top ten of the hot search list were all occupied by me alone.
Of course, immediately some people stood up and said that I cheated, or that someone had leaked the test questions to me. The relevant department immediately launched an investigation, but the result was that I didn’t cheat; I was completely innocent.
To avoid suspicion, my test papers were also made public. The result shocked the whole network!
Everyone was shocked at how good I was. The experts who set the questions were not only shocked but also a bit confused.
Because the answers I wrote were flawless, so standard that it was astonishing.
They even made videos overnight to analyze my answers and said that I was a top – notch genius rarely seen in a thousand years and must be cultivated with emphasis. They also specifically mentioned the Lin family, saying that Mr. Lin had a sharp eye and spotted a child prodigy at a glance.
In the middle of the night, Mr. Lin and Mrs. Li called.
“Tianci, you… you…” Mr. Lin stammered and couldn’t say a complete sentence for a long time.
“Dad misunderstood you and almost ruined your future.”
“It’s okay, Mr. Lin… Mr. Lin.” This was the address I decided to use after thinking for a long time.
There was silence on the other end of the phone again.
“So you’re not going to forgive me?”
“It’s not that, Mr. Lin. It’s me who broke the agreement, so our adoptive – father – son relationship is automatically terminated.”
“Wait until I return after my studies, and then I’ll repay you.”
Mr. Lin was a smart person. He guessed what I meant in an instant and replied, “Okay, Tianci. The door of the Lin Group will always be open for you!”
23
Early the next morning, I received a message. My brother had died in a car accident. It was said that after failing the exam, he was wandering around the street and was hit and run over by a drunk driver and died on the spot.
So some words can’t be said casually.
Since I was his only direct relative, I received a large sum of compensation.
As for Lin Zihao, he hadn’t contacted me since the exam results came out. I don’t know why.
But after I went to college, I received 80,000 yuan every month.
My life, without any accidents, returned to the right track.
Now the questions I think about the most are…
After graduation, should I go to work at the Lin Group?
Will Lin Zihao still be on guard against and attack me?
I smiled.
When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out.
As long as I stick to being myself, I will be the master of my own fate!
– End –
