Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Don’t Mind the Opinions of Others

For more than twenty years, Jin Fan could never understand why he and his younger brother, both sons, were treated so differently.

When Jin Huai Zhong was with Jin Muyang, he would listen intently to his thoughts and offer sound advice.

When Jin Muyang faced setbacks, Jin Huai Zhong would encourage him.

When Jin Muyang achieved good results, Jin Huai Zhong would excitedly hug him, laughing, his face filled with pride.

For every one of Jin Muyang’s important milestones, like birthdays or graduation ceremonies, Jin Huai Zhong would invite business elites for a grand celebration.

Even for a minor award, a celebratory ceremony was never missed.

In Jin Muyang’s eyes, Jin Huai Zhong was an excellent life mentor and a good father.

Everyone said that Jin Muyang must have saved the Galaxy in a past life to have such a wonderful father.

But when it came to Jin Fan, they said: Jin Huai Zhong must have had eight generations of bad luck to be stuck with a son like him.

Ever since he was young, Jin Huai Zhong had never cared about his grades, whether he got along with his classmates, or attended any of his life’s important events.

All because Jin Fan had been labeled a heavenly cursed lone star since childhood, he was treated with such prejudice.

Sometimes, Jin Fan would wonder if he was even Jin Huai Zhong’s son.

When he asked Mrs. Jin, she would tell him not to overthink things. “Even if Dad doesn’t love you, Mom still loves you!”

But Mrs. Jin’s love was all talk; she never followed through with any real acts of care.

Just like Jin Huai Zhong, she dedicated all her love and attention to her younger son.

“You’re holding a gift. Why don’t you go give it to him?” Shen Zhiyao suddenly spoke up.

Jin Fan feigned indifference, smiling carelessly. “It doesn’t really make a difference whether I give it to him or not.”

Shen Zhiyao encouraged him, “If you want to give it, then go. How the recipient treats the gift is another matter. Don’t worry so much about what others think. Go on!”

Jin Fan clutched the gift box, mustered his courage, and walked over. “Dad, Mom!”

Mrs. Jin turned around with a beaming smile. “I just heard you were back and was wondering why you hadn’t shown your face! And here you are. Xiao Fan, I heard your injuries have healed. Come here, let Mommy see. Sweetheart, you nearly scared me to death with that car accident, you know?”

She said she was scared to death, but she had stayed at the hospital for less than a day before leaving, entrusting him to the nurses.

Jin Fan didn’t dwell on it. He glanced timidly at Jin Huai Zhong and cautiously handed over the gift box in his hands.

“Dad, happy birthday. This is a brooch I designed myself, for a suit.”

Jin Huai Zhong took the birthday gift and opened it for a look. “Hm, it’s the thought that counts.”

Then he casually placed the gift on a nearby table, showing no intention of wearing it.

Jin Fan looked at the watch on Jin Huai Zhong’s wrist, a mix of complicated feelings churning within him.

Last year, he had also given Jin Huai Zhong an expensive watch. At the time, Jin Fan’s living allowance had been delayed, and to afford that watch, he had gone so far as to sell his beloved car.

But that watch had been set aside by Jin Huai Zhong, only to end up in the trash.

At the time, he thought his father was just used to fine things and wasn’t impressed.

That’s why this year, he gave his father a brooch he’d designed himself. Although it couldn’t compare to the exquisite craftsmanship of a luxury brand, the diamonds were ones he’d spent a fortune to buy from abroad.

To design this brooch well, he had even specifically studied jewelry design for several months.

But it just went to show that the unfavored child remains unfavored. No matter how much thought he put into it, regardless of cost, it wasn’t worth a mention.

Jin Huai Zhong noticed the disappointment in Jin Fan’s eyes and was about to say something.

Just then, Mrs. Jin reminded them, “It’s time. Let’s cut the cake!”

And so, Mrs. Jin took her husband’s arm with one hand and her younger son’s with the other. The happy family of three walked onto the stage and cut the cake amidst the blessings of all the guests.

Amid the lively atmosphere, Jin Fan stood dazedly in the crowd, feeling like a complete outsider.

At that moment, Jin Fan felt someone walk up beside him. He didn’t even have to look to know who it was.

Jin Fan sniffled and sighed. “Do you think I’m pathetic?”

“A little,” Shen Zhiyao said faintly.

Jin Fan gave a bitter laugh. “Just a little? Look at me. My father doesn’t dote on me, and my mother doesn’t love me. Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was an illegitimate child.”

Shen Zhiyao almost laughed. “Then you’re worse off than an illegitimate child. At least an illegitimate child wouldn’t have their destiny swapped.”

The mention of destiny reminded Jin Fan of his purpose for inviting Shen Zhiyao. He asked hurriedly, “Great-Grandmother, you’ve seen all my relatives. Did you find the person who stole my destiny?”

Shen Zhiyao’s icy gaze fell upon the stage.

On stage, Jin Huai Zhong finished his words of thanks and publicly announced that Jin Muyang would officially be joining the company as his assistant.

He was called an assistant, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that Jin Huai Zhong was preparing him for succession.

Meanwhile, Jin Fan, the eldest son, had graduated so many years ago, yet he had never even seen the inside of a subsidiary company, let alone the head office.

Even the title “Young Master Jin,” which others called him, seemed exceptionally ironic at this moment.

At this point, Jin Yong and Jin Gan cast mocking glances at him from a distance and began whispering among themselves. He didn’t have to hear them to know how nasty their words were.

“Are you envious of Jin Muyang?” Shen Zhiyao asked faintly.

Jin Fan sighed. “I’m not envious of Jin Muyang. After all, I haven’t learned any company management skills all these years; I’m not fit for such a great responsibility. I just don’t get it. We’re both Jin Huai Zhong’s children, so why does my dad fawn all over him but treat me with such disdain? Is it because he’ll be tainted by my bad luck if he gets too close to me?”

Shen Zhiyao nodded. “For now, that’s the case. If your dad arranged for you to join the company, never mind a subsidiary; even the head office would be doomed.”

Jin Fan was at a loss for words and could only sigh again. “Fine, I guess that’s understandable! But I’m still insanely jealous of my brother. What should I do? The jealousy is driving me crazy!”

But Shen Zhiyao said, “No need to be jealous. You two aren’t biological brothers.”

Her words left Jin Fan stunned. “What do you mean? Am I really my dad’s illegitimate son?”

Shen Zhiyao shook her head. “Jin Muyang is not your father’s biological son.”

Jin Fan: “…”

Although he had no affection for Jin Muyang, he never expected that Jin Muyang wasn’t his father’s biological son.

If he wasn’t a descendant of the Jin family, then whose son was he?

Jin Fan’s gaze fell on Mrs. Jin, and he quickly put two and two together. “She cheated on my dad!”

Shen Zhiyao chuckled lightly. “She didn’t just cheat on your dad. She’s not your biological mother, either.”

The information was too much to process. Jin Fan couldn’t react for a moment, his brain practically smoking from the effort.

“I’ve seen enough. There are too many people here, it’s not convenient to talk. Let’s go outside,” Shen Zhiyao said, then exited the banquet and went to the Jin family’s back garden.

At that moment, the guests were busy flattering Jin Huai Zhong, and even the servants were gathered at the party. There was no one in the back garden; it was utterly quiet.

The moment she stepped out, Jin Fan scrambled to follow her. “…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep