Chapter 161: Xu Ping'an Collapsed and Shen Anyu Laughed!
The incident of the true and false young masters of the Shanghai Xu Family has come to a preliminary close, but the ripples it caused were just beginning to spread.
The reported death of the true young master, Xu He, who allegedly fell off a cliff in a tragic hiking accident, caused immense grief to the Xu Family patriarchs. The news struck them like a thunderbolt on a clear day. They had lost their son before they even knew him.
However, being kind-hearted (and perhaps too soft), they did not bring the nanny, Wang Qin, who had been with them for over twenty years, to legal justice immediately.
They merely expelled Wang Qin from the villa.
"Get out! And never let us see your face again!"
This mercy was not only because of their inherent kindness, but also because, after their private investigation, they learned a complex truth. Wang Qin had intended to switch the children back twenty years ago but failed. She had confessed voluntarily out of guilt. And most importantly, she had not mistreated Xu He within her limited means.
It should be known that as the most senior nanny, essentially the head housekeeper of the wealthy Shanghai Xu Family, Wang Qin had a substantial income. She earned nearly 500,000 Yuan annually with bonuses—a fortune for an ordinary person.
Yet, she lived extremely frugally. She wore old clothes, used a cracked phone, and never took vacations.
The eldest daughter of the Xu Family, Xu Ruoshui, had even joked about it in the past, calling her "Auntie Miser." But only now did they realize the truth.
Most of Wang Qin's income was sent to Xu He in the remote mountain village.
Although Xu He lived in poverty geographically, he was the local 'King of the Kids' financially because he had a lot of pocket money sent by his "Auntie." While it was nowhere near the billions of the Shanghai Xu Family, he did not suffer from hunger or cold.
Xu He climbing with his friends, slipping, falling off the cliff, and leaving no remains was an accident—something Wang Qin had not anticipated and, legally, could not be blamed for directly.
So, in the end, the Xu Family only expelled Wang Qin and did not pursue further accountability or imprisonment. They were too broken by grief to seek revenge on a servant.
As for Xu Ping'an, the false young master...
The disheartened Xu Family no longer wished to see him. Every time they looked at his face, they were reminded of the son they lost.
"You... you remind us of the lie. Please leave."
They also drove him out.
Overnight, the world turned upside down.
While Shen Anyu was comfortable in his penthouse, enjoying the company of beauties...
Xu Ping'an transformed from the only son of the Shanghai Xu Family, heir to billions of assets, driving Ferraris and wearing Patek Philippes... into a homeless dog expelled from his palace.
The unwillingness, anger, frustration, fear, and confusion in Xu Ping'an's heart were like a volcano ready to erupt!
He stood on the street outside the villa complex, clutching a single suitcase of clothes. The security guards who used to salute him now looked at him with pity and scorn.
"Why?! Why me?!"
Towards his birth mother, Wang Qin, who was waiting for him by the bus stop, Xu Ping'an felt no affection. Only displaced, burning anger!
If it were before, he and Wang Qin had an excellent relationship. He was raised by Wang Qin herself; she had breastfed him, rocked him to sleep, and healed his scrapes. Their bond was closer than most mothers and sons!
But now? Knowing that Wang Qin was his birth mother—the reason he lost his status?
Xu Ping'an felt only disdain! He felt dirty!
If Shen Anyu were here, watching this scene, he would probably sneer in amusement.
'Look at this ungrateful wolf.'
Although Wang Qin had committed a wrongdoing by replacing the true heir with a fake, she had not wronged Xu Ping'an in the slightest. She had given him the best life possible.
If Wang Qin had not switched the children, how could Xu Ping'an have lived in luxury for twenty years? How could he have enjoyed top-tier education, fine dining, and the respect of society? He would have been the one growing up in the mountains!
He should be thanking her for the twenty-year vacation from reality.
At this moment, however, Xu Ping'an didn't see it that way. Because his identity was exposed and he no longer enjoyed the treatment of the Xu Family's true young master, he felt robbed.
He walked up to Wang Qin, his face twisted.
"You! It's all your fault!"
He was full of contempt, scolding, and cursing towards his birth mother.
"Why did you confess? Why didn't you take the secret to your grave?! You stupid woman!"
Wang Qin's heart was filled with boundless sorrow and deep regret. Tears streamed down her face, washing away her cheap makeup.
Twenty years ago, the 'Civet Cat for a Prince' swap was the biggest mistake she ever made. A moment of greed that ruined two families.
Later, she wanted to switch them back, but there was no opportunity. Fear held her tongue.
Recently, just as she was preparing to confess to redeem her soul... the incident of Xu He falling off a cliff occurred.
And now, her true biological child, Xu Ping'an—the son she sinned for—harbored such resentment towards her.
This made Wang Qin feel that evil begets evil. Perhaps it was Heaven punishing her. Karma had finally come to collect the debt.
"Ping'an... I'm sorry... Mom is sorry..."
However, in this life, could she still atone? Could she still compensate the Shanghai Xu Family? Could she make her biological child, Xu Ping'an, acknowledge her again?
If she could achieve these two things, even if it meant selling her Soul to the devil and dying a terrible death, Wang Qin would be willing!
Seeing the sorrow and love in Wang Qin's eyes, Xu Ping'an's heart did not soften. It hardened.
He snorted coldly, said nothing more, and strode away towards the city center, dragging his suitcase.
Wang Qin, ignoring her fatigue and heartache, followed closely behind him like a shadow.
She discovered that Xu Ping'an was going to a real estate agency to rent a house.
She immediately spoke up, her voice trembling:
"Ping'an... don't waste money. You can live with me. I'm renting a place here in Modu. It's small, but it's home."
With her high income over the years, she could have afforded to buy a house in Modu. But most of it had been sent to Xu He, so she hadn't bought one and was still renting an old apartment in a cheaper district.
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping'an frowned deeply. Disgust flashed in his eyes.
"Live with you? In a slum?"
He didn't want to live in the Modu University dormitory; his relationship with his roommates wasn't good (he was too arrogant), and having lived in a villa, he couldn't stand such a crowded, noisy environment with shared bathrooms.
As for living with his birth mother, Wang Qin?
Xu Ping'an snorted coldly and flatly refused.
"No! Stay away from me!"
He absolutely did not want to see that woman. Seeing her reminded him of his lowly origins.
Although Xu Ping'an also knew rationally that Wang Qin had given him everything... emotion overrode logic. He felt displaced anger. He needed someone to blame, and she was the easiest target.
Such is human nature; even if one knows better, one cannot avoid the darkness in one's heart.
Xu Ping'an ignored her and walked into a agency. He found a listing for a large, well-decorated luxury apartment near the university.
"This one. 8,000 a month. I'll take it."
Although it was far from comparable to the Xu Family's Villa, Xu Ping'an felt it would do for now. He still had his pride.
However, an embarrassing situation soon occurred.
[Transaction Declined]
The card reader beeped harshly.
"Try this one."
[Transaction Declined]
"And this one!"
[Transaction Declined]
All his credit cards, supplementary cards, and bank accounts linked to the Xu Family had been frozen instantly. He had zero cents to his name.
"You little brat... are you playing games with me?"
The landlord, a middle-aged local man with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked at Xu Ping'an with disdain. He looked at the pile of useless cards.
"You have no money in your bank card, WeChat Pay, or Alipay, and you still want to rent a luxury apartment? Do you think this is a charity?"
"I... I am the Young Master of the Xu Family! I will pay you later!" Xu Ping'an stammered, his face red.
"Xu Family? Never heard of you. Look at your clothes... they are yesterday's style. Get out of here and play around somewhere else! Don't waste my time!"
SLAM!
The landlord slammed the iron gate shut without ceremony, nearly hitting Xu Ping'an's nose.
Xu Ping'an stood awkwardly in place on the street, dust swirling around his ankles. His face alternated between green and white.
Passersby glanced at him and whispered.
Only then did the reality hit him like a physical blow.
He was no longer the True Young Master of the Shanghai Xu Family. He was no longer a prodigal son who casually had hundreds of thousands in pocket money to spend on drinks and games.
He was thoroughly swept out. Penniless. Powerless.
"Damn it! Everyone bullies the fallen tiger!"
"A dragon trapped in a shallow pool is mocked by shrimps! I'm not angry... I'm not angry... I will rise sooner or later!"
Xu Ping'an clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He said through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with a fanatical light.
"I am a Child of Destiny! I have awakened the [Damage Reflection Aura]! I am a great figure destined for greatness in the future!"
"I wouldn't stoop to the level of a petty landlord. When the time comes... when I make my millions... I will buy this whole building and make this small landlord kneel and kowtow to me in apology! I will make him eat his words!"
Sons of Destiny like him were euphemistically called "decisive and ruthless," but in reality, they were petty, vindictive men who held grudges for the smallest grievances. They lived for the "Face-Slapping" moment to vent their fragile egos.
The landlord's disdainful expression had already sealed his fate in Xu Ping'an's heart.
"He will pay."
"Ping'an..."
Wang Qin, standing by with her cheap luggage bags, timidly looked at her son. She saw his desperation.
"You can stay at my place. Please. Don't sleep on the street."
Xu Ping'an's face twitched. He looked at the sky. It was getting dark. He had nowhere to go.
He was extremely unwilling in his heart. His pride screamed "NO!"
But he had no choice. He certainly didn't want to go back to the Modu University dormitory and be mocked by those poor students he used to bully.
If people found out he was the false young master... he shuddered at the thought of their mocking faces.
Looking at his birth mother, Wang Qin, whose eyes were full of anticipation and nervousness...
Xu Ping'an snorted coldly. He didn't say "Thank you." He just said awkwardly:
"Fine. I'll temporarily stay at your place. Just for a few days! When I have money, I'll move out immediately!"
He justified it to himself.
'I have the Damage Reflection Aura. Making money will be easy!'
'I can go to underground black boxing! Who can hurt me? I will stand there and let them punch me, and they will knock themselves out! I will be the King of Fighters!'
'Or even staged accidents (Porcelain)! I can find a luxury car—maybe a Rolls Royce—get hit by it, take zero damage, and demand millions in compensation! It's foolproof!'
World boxing champions earn millions. He would earn billions!
"That's wonderful! Ping'an, come with Mom! I'll cook your favorite braised pork!"
Wang Qin immediately became overjoyed. She didn't mind Xu Ping'an's bad attitude or his arrogance.
After so many years of hiding, they could finally interact openly as mother and son.
For the past twenty years, although she doted on him, she had to call him "Young Master." Now, she could call him "Son."
At this moment, Wang Qin had only two wishes: to take good care of her son, Xu Ping'an, and to find a way to work hard to compensate the Shanghai Xu Family for her sins.
She picked up his heavy suitcase, refusing to let him carry it, and led the way to the slums.
However... Wang Qin did not realize the darkness of the future.
She did not realize that a true devil—Shen Anyu—had already set his sights on her and her son.
And for a Villain, a "Mother" character was not just a background NPC. She was a target.
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