Chapter 11: Choices

The lights in the private room came back on.

“Applause…”

Liang Qiu Feiyan led the applause. Siblings cheered for Ji Xinghuo as the floating camera captured the moment.

Ji Xinghuo cut the cake and shared it with everyone.

Wang Zizhen, usually quiet, suddenly asked, “Big Brother, if your birth parents wanted you back, would you agree?”

The room fell silent.

Returning adopted children to their birth families means giving up the relationship with their foster families, leaving this home behind.

This question, buried for a long time, had never been asked before.

Until now.

Ji Xinghuo did not hesitate and firmly responded, “No.”

“That’s great!”

Liang Qiu Feiyan immediately cheered. She would be the saddest to see any sibling leave.

“Really?” Ye Dongyun was also very happy.

“Of course, big sister,” Ji Xinghuo replied seriously.

He had doubted himself for a long time, considering various possibilities until a few hours before the party, when he decided in his apartment.

Zhong Ming joked, “What if they had to give you up, not by choice, and now they truly want to make amends? If your birth parents were influential or wealthy, wouldn’t you consider it?”

Such cases are rare but not unheard of.

There was once an adopted child who found out his parents were billionaires. He left his foster family without hesitation and became rich.

“No matter the circumstance, I wouldn’t return,” Ji Xinghuo declared strongly. “We are always family!”

Zhong Ming nodded vigorously.

Ye Dongyun, Liang Qiu Feiyan, and Wang Zizhen moved closer and hugged Ji Xinghuo one by one.

“Big Brother, here.”

Wang Zizhen pulled out a pair of virtual glasses he was carrying.

Ji Xinghuo sat on the couch in the private room, put on the glasses, and the others waited quietly by his side.

Ji Xinghuo tapped the frame of the virtual glasses.

“Beep!”

The scene changed. He connected to the wireless network, and a login page appeared, along with a slight mental tremor as his thoughts synced with the system.

Ji Xinghuo entered his account and password.

This account and password, unique and tied to his real identity, are required to access the internet within the Asia-Pacific Community. It works on any platform, website, or social media.

He logged onto the official government website of civil affairs and immediately received a notification.

The flashing message icon was somewhat glaring.

Ji Xinghuo paused for a few seconds before opening it.

“Citizen Ji Xinghuo, there is a document about your birth information and custody rights that has reached its decryption deadline. Please review.”

Opening the document, a list of files appeared.

The first one was his birth certificate.

It was Ji Xinghuo’s first time seeing his birth certificate, dated July 23, 2201, at a maternity hospital in Strait City, previously named “Xin Ye.”

“Strait City…”

“So, this is where I was born?” Ji Xinghuo continued reading. The vital information of his parents on the birth certificate, father named “Xia Qingyu” and mother “Xin Yimo,” were born in 2159 and 2178 respectively.

“A 19-year difference.”

Ji Xinghuo suddenly had a bad premonition.

Indeed, the birth certificate stated the parents had no marital ties. Xin Yimo was unwed and pregnant by accident at 23.

There were their joint photographs in the archive.

Xia Qingyu looked no older than 42, almost in his thirties, very handsome, with expressive eyes and a confident demeanor. Xin Yimo, dressed as a youthful girl, nestled in his arms, looked up to him with adoration.

They looked well-matched, both attractive and together.

Watching the photo, Ji Xinghuo, who resembled the man somewhat, hummed with complex feelings.

The document also included two statements.

These were from the biological parents agreeing to relinquish their newborn’s custody rights to the government, signed electronically by both.

As expected, a clichéd story.

The man was a powerful mutant, handsome, likely wealthy, and knew how to charm a woman; he seduced a beautiful university student, resulting in an accident.

And that accident was him!

“Haha…”

Ji Xinghuo chuckled inwardly, not surprised by the outcome.

Most foster children have similar stories, either from accidental pregnancies or from broken homes, and very few parents who simply don’t want to raise children hand them over to the government.

No matter the case, the nature of being “abandoned” doesn’t change.

“It’s for the best.”

Ji Xinghuo opened the last two files, two emails forwarded by the Department of Civil Affairs from Xia Qingyu and Xin Yimo.

This meant they were still alive, at least not having met accidents.

Normally, parents wanting to reclaim a child would include contact information in this email as a step towards reestablishing a relationship.

If not, they wouldn’t bother to write.

“They even sent me emails…” Ji Xinghuo was slightly surprised as he opened Xia Qingyu’s, finding it empty, not a single word.

No contact details, no video content.

Only a pending transaction at the bottom from a trust fund in Chang’an, amounting to ten million Asian yuan!

Ji Xinghuo’s eyes widened as he checked the sum again. Yes, ten million.

This fund was literally money for the taking!

As a gift from his biological parents, no taxes applied, nor did he owe any responsibilities upon claiming it, and it certainly didn’t imply restoring family ties.

Basically, it was a free handout.

Usually calm, Ji Xinghuo found his heart racing at this scenario.

He checked the transfer’s additional information, which originated twelve years ago when he was just ten.

Xia Qingyu’s intentions were clear—he didn’t wish to take up the responsibilities of a father, but it wasn’t a complete abandonment. This ten million was his compensation to his child. Taking this money meant they were even, with no obligations to seek each other in the future.

“This man has some decency.”

Ji Xinghuo could guess the kind of person Xia Qingyu was.

A man seeking power enjoying life along the evolutionary ladder while not turning away from wealth or pleasures but ensuring none interfered with his ascension as a more potent mutant.

Faced with trouble, he’d leave; if not possible, he’d flee instantly.

Later feeling guilty, he probably did what he could within his limits to amend, making peace with his conscience.

Such mutants were many, too numerous to count.

“Xia Qingyu’s strength must be quite good, at least a high-level mutant. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have managed to set aside ten million in a fund years ago.”

“He’s likely even stronger now.”

Ji Xinghuo pondered for a moment and searched online for Xia Qingyu, to no avail.

The Asia-Pacific government protects personal privacy intensely. Unless one is a public figure or has made information public online, it’s impossible to find information about ordinary people.

This would require very high clearance.

Ji Xinghuo lacked such clearance and thus couldn’t find anything.

He didn’t immediately claim the ten million Asian yuan. The transfer had a twenty-year period; there was no hurry. He then opened the email from Xin Yimo, sent last month.

The first thing he saw was a lengthy letter, several thousand words long.

Ji Xinghuo read it patiently.

In the letter, she introduced herself as a native of Strait City in Southeast Province, currently married with a son and a daughter, and running a sizeable entertainment media company with her husband. The company was quite well-known in the industry, valued at over a billion, and seeking to go public. Her husband’s family was influential in Strait City.

Attached were dozens of photos of the company, luxury homes, and daily life, showcasing her economic strength.

Lastly, there was a video.

Ji Xinghuo hesitated briefly but opened the video. A woman looking to be in her thirties appeared, surrounded by a lavishly decorated living room. From the background, she was in a high-rise building, with a seascape visible not far from the window.

She hadn’t changed much from her file photo, only more elegantly dressed and mature.

“Xia Ye, please forgive me…”

Xin Yimo, with a face of sorrow and regret, told the story of those years.

She had just graduated from university when she met Xia Qingyu in Chang’an, deceived by his sweet words. They dated for months, and she unexpectedly became pregnant, prompting her to consider marriage and keeping the child. Xia Qingyu disappeared overnight once he learned of the pregnancy.

Panicked, she had to return home to await the birth, trying to contact Xia Qingyu all the while, to no avail.

“I was young then, with no experience raising a child,”

“and I was so angry at that time, almost insane, always hoping to find that scoundrel Xia Qingyu, thinking he might have a change of heart.”

“It was only when you were born that I realized I had no custody rights.”

“I was caring for you and studying for certifications at the same time. Life was a mess, and my mental state wasn’t great. I was afraid I couldn’t provide a good life for you, so…”

At this, Xin Yimo’s face was filled with regret, and she began to cry.

The video cut briefly here.

She regained her composure, showing a happy face as she continued, “I’ve remembered every birthday of yours. When you turned eighteen, I learned from the government that you were doing well, and I’ve been happy for you ever since.”

“A few years ago, I began preparing to take you back home. My husband supports this, promising to treat you as his own child. Your younger brother and sister are eager to have a big brother.”

“Son, if you come home, mom will provide the best conditions for you.”

“Whatever you want to do, become a mutant, pursue academics, or start a business, I will support you fully.”

“In the future, you could also inherit our family business.”

“Xia Ye, please come back!”

After watching the video, Ji Xinghuo realized he wasn’t as unmoved as he thought. His emotions fluctuated, and it took a few minutes to calm down.

Xin Yimo’s emotions were genuine, although there might be some exaggeration or falsehoods concerning Xia Qingyu, but she truly wanted to mend their mother-son relationship.

Yet, Ji Xinghuo shook his head internally.

He noticed some details in the letter and video content; when Xin Yimo mentioned her husband and family, she wasn’t as confident as she claimed.

At least on this matter, she couldn’t fully decide; there was definitely some contention.

The so-called company and billion-dollar estate might be attractive to others, but not worth the time and effort for him to compete, only to end up with nothing. He would rather strive independently.

With the All-Seeing Star Eyes, everything is possible!

After a brief consideration.

Ji Xinghuo looked at the contact details in the email but eventually backed out. By not initiating contact, Xin Yimo couldn’t find him, nor did she know his current name.

“I won’t disturb your family and life, wish you all the best.”

Ji Xinghuo closed the document, took off the virtual glasses, and saw his siblings around him, smiling.