Chapter 19: A Star Found: A Brother’s Reunion

The successive incidents had left Cai Zhen and Chen Guoliang’s faces utterly ghastly.

The neighbors exchanged bewildered glances. While they knew Xiang Chen wasn’t Chen Guoliang’s biological child, they had no idea he had been bought from traffickers.

Given that Xiang Chen had just been unfairly accused, they were unsure whether these new claims held any truth.

The only person profoundly affected was Song Wenbin. He was intimately aware of Xu Hengzhou’s abduction by traffickers, which instinctively made him pay close attention to similar situations.

Song Wenbin’s gaze settled on Xiang Chen. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that Xiang Chen indeed bore no resemblance to the family.

Just as he was about to approach Xiang Chen and ask a few questions, Cai Zhen and Chen Guoliang, having reached their limit, disregarded the neighbors’ expressions.

They grabbed Xiang Chen, intent on dragging him back into the house immediately. Cai Zhen, fearing Xiang Chen would speak further, pressed her hand even tighter over his mouth.

Xiang Chen struggled for breath, clawing at her wrist to pry her hand away. The small red mole on his hand instantly caught Song Wenbin’s eye.

No one was quite sure what happened next. They only knew that the new factory director, Song, suddenly rushed forward, pulling Cai Zhen away with such force that she nearly stumbled.

He then embraced Xiang Chen, gripping his hand tightly and refusing to let go.

“What’s going on?”

“What happened?”

The neighbors were utterly confused. Chen Guoliang, steadying Cai Zhen, who had just regained her footing, asked with a grim expression, “What is the meaning of this?”

Song Wenbin completely ignored him. Turning to Xu Hengzhou, he urged, “Quick, come take a look. Is the position right? Is it…”

He left the last words unsaid, but Xu Hengzhou knew he was asking, ‘Is it your younger brother?’

Xu Hengzhou knelt beside a bewildered Xiang Chen. He lifted the boy’s chubby little hand and, feigning seriousness, stared at the small red mole for a long time.

He then frowned, saying, “It seems to be in this position, and the color is very similar. I can’t quite remember clearly…”

Song Wenbin suppressed the excitement in his eyes and asked Xiang Chen as gently as possible, “How old are you? You said you’re not from this family. Where are your mom and dad? How did you get here?”

Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen instantly panicked. Disregarding Song Wenbin’s identity, they rushed forward, trying to snatch Xiang Chen back and gloss over the situation.

“The child is talking nonsense, don’t believe him. Give the child back to us.”

Song Wenbin scooped up Xiang Chen, dodging Chen Guoliang’s reaching hands. His gaze turned cold. “Are you going to wait until I call the public security bureau before you behave yourselves?”

Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen froze in terror, watching as Song Wenbin’s expression softened as he continued to question Xiang Chen.

Xiang Chen instinctively wanted to glance at Xu Hengzhou for guidance, but remembering his instructions, he forced himself not to look.

He then meticulously recounted to Song Wenbin how he had come to Chen Guoliang’s house. As for his former parents, he stuck to the trafficker’s story:

He had gotten lost from his mother on the road. This time, however, he omitted the embellishment about his father knowing someone in uniform.

Xiang Chen also described the day’s events: the candy his mother had given him, which he had kept hidden, unwilling to eat.

He had given one piece to Chen Xiaohua, and then Cai Zhen and Chen Fen accused him of stealing.

Song Wenbin listened intently. The age matched, the birthmark matched, and he had been abducted by traffickers. The probability was high.

However, the identity of his original parents remained a question. Who knew if he was truly their biological child?

Song Wenbin frowned in thought for a moment, then glanced at Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen, who were glaring nearby.

He made up his mind: the child could not stay with this family. If he truly was Xu Dashan’s youngest son, how could he be left to suffer at the hands of others?

To accuse and bully such a small child was utterly shameless. Moreover, even if he wasn’t Xu Dashan’s child, he was still a poor, abducted child who couldn’t be abandoned.

Of course, Song Wenbin understood that taking someone’s child without reason was unreasonable. So, he deliberately looked at Chen Guoliang with a stern expression.

“My younger brother’s youngest son went missing. He’s the same age as this child and also has a small red mole on his hand. What do you have to say about that?”

The surrounding neighbors had just finished processing Xiang Chen’s abduction story. Hearing Song Wenbin’s words, they instinctively connected the two.

They concluded that Xiang Chen must be the new factory director’s missing nephew, which explained his intense emotion. They also realized they had misunderstood Xiang Chen earlier and felt deceived by Cai Zhen’s family, glaring at them with ill will.

Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen were stunned. How had this child suddenly become the factory director’s nephew? Hadn’t his mother said this child was from out of town, without any relatives?

Wait, the new factory director was also from out of town! Thinking this, Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen immediately felt guilty.

They had bought a child who turned out to be from the factory director’s family. Wasn’t this just asking for trouble? They no longer dared to demand Xiang Chen back.

Seeing this, Song Wenbin held Xiang Chen, intending to return indoors first. He would deal with the subsequent matters later.

The child had been frightened just now, and he couldn’t let him get entangled with this family any longer.

Chen Guoliang stood behind them with a dark expression, not daring to speak. Cai Zhen, unwilling to give up, called out, “Director Song, we spent a lot of money and food to buy your nephew.”

Song Wenbin turned around, looking at Cai Zhen without speaking.

Cai Zhen tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a laugh. “You see, if we hadn’t bought your nephew, he would still be with the traffickers right now. Who knows where he would have been sold to suffer…”

Song Wenbin sneered, disinclined to argue with such a person. He stated directly, “I’ll reimburse you for the money and food.”

“Don’t ever think about our child again. If you dare to harbor any ill intentions, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

With that, he ignored the beaming Cai Zhen, held Xiang Chen, and, after Xu Hengzhou opened the door, went straight into the house.

Wu Guangming stood at the doorway, glanced at the two adults and two children inside, and offered an awkward smile, saying he would leave first.

His initial intention was the same as Cai Zhen’s: to curry favor with the new factory director. He hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a dramatic scene.

Now that they clearly had personal matters to attend to, Wu Guangming wisely excused himself.

Song Wenbin escorted him. “I’m truly sorry, as you can see, I have matters to attend to. Today was really troublesome, Comrade Wu. Thank you.”

“You’re too kind,” Wu Guangming quickly replied. “It’s a good thing the child has been found. If Cai Zhen’s family dares to cause trouble, the factory won’t ignore it. You’re busy, I’ll be leaving now.”

Given Wu Guangming’s position, he technically wasn’t qualified to speak on behalf of the factory. However, he was a shrewd man.

Cai Zhen’s family was clearly in the wrong; no one would be so blind as to side with them. So, he simply offered some kind words to gain favor with Song Wenbin.

Song Wenbin naturally understood his small intentions, but everyone appreciated kind words. Thus, Song Wenbin smiled and accepted his goodwill.

Inside the house, Xiang Chen remained utterly bewildered. How had he suddenly become the factory director’s nephew? And Xu Hengzhou, why was he staring at his hand?

Was there something wrong with having a mole? Xu Hengzhou was amused by his bewildered, innocent little expression.

He had finally brought the little fellow into his territory. Now, he could pinch him however he liked. Thinking this, Xu Hengzhou immediately reached out and gently squeezed the soft flesh of Xiang Chen’s cheeks, feeling utterly delighted.

Xiang Chen didn’t understand why he was suddenly being pinched. He stared at Xu Hengzhou foolishly, waiting for an explanation.

Just as Xu Hengzhou was about to speak, Song Wenbin suddenly entered. Xu Hengzhou’s hand instantly moved to the red spot on Xiang Chen’s forehead, and he said in a gentle tone, “Does it hurt? Big brother will rub it for you.”

Xiang Chen: “???”

Song Wenbin closed the door and approached the two. Seeing the harmonious interaction between the two youngsters, he asked Xu Hengzhou, “So, you’re already acting like a big brother?”

Hu Hengzhou’s eyes were filled with melancholy, and his expression carried a hint of uncertainty. “Uncle, the more I look, the more I feel this child resembles my younger brother. He feels so familiar.”

“Am I just missing him too much and seeing things?”

Song Wenbin paused. Any lingering doubts he had were now mostly dispelled. After all, they were blood brothers; a familial connection and some intuition were normal.

He was now almost certain that Xiang Chen was Xu Dashan’s youngest son.

Song Wenbin patted Xu Hengzhou’s back, comforting him. “It must be your younger brother. It’s good that he’s been found. You two should live well from now on. I can finally feel I’ve done right by Dashan.”

Hu Hengzhou’s face was filled with emotion. “Uncle, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, who knows where my brother and I would be.”

He then pulled Xiang Chen closer. “Little brother, I’ll take good care of you from now on. I’ll never lose you again.”

Song Wenbin watched the two brothers, full of affection for each other, feeling immensely satisfied. Heaven had finally taken care of him; both children had been found.

Xiang Chen was held loosely by Xu Hengzhou, his face a canvas of question marks. ‘No, Male God, what’s going on? What younger brother? How did I become your younger brother? Did I lose my memory when I transmigrated?’

Although utterly baffled, Xiang Chen knew this wasn’t the time to ask questions. Any doubts could be clarified with Xu Hengzhou privately.

For now, he needed to cooperate. So, Xiang Chen leaned closer to Xu Hengzhou, a docile smile appearing on his little ‘bun’ face.

He tentatively called out, “Big brother…”

Xu Hengzhou froze. The little sprout obediently leaned against him, his dark eyes sparkling, softly calling him ‘big brother’.

It felt as if this little one had suddenly reached into his heart, softening it completely. He had always had a good impression of Xiang Chen, and had been touched by him before, but it was different now.

Back then, he had considered a romantic relationship. Now, it truly felt like he wanted to cherish him as a younger brother.

“Come, call me too,” Song Wenbin said, watching enviously from the side. His older nephew had probably been alone for too long and was quite independent.

Unlike his little nephew, who was soft and obedient, just looking at him made one want to dote on him.

Xiang Chen instinctively looked to Xu Hengzhou. Xu Hengzhou smiled, “Call him Uncle.”

Xiang Chen obediently called out, “Uncle,” to Song Wenbin.

Song Wenbin said with a hint of sourness, “They’re truly brothers. In such a short time, he only listens to his big brother.”

These words inexplicably pleased Xu Hengzhou, and his gaze towards Xiang Chen softened even more.

“Hey, what was the little nephew’s name again?” Song Wenbin was about to call Xiang Chen when he suddenly realized he didn’t have a name to use.

Xiang Chen instantly reacted. ‘I can’t be called a strange name anymore!’

“My name is Xiang Chen!” he loudly declared to Song Wenbin.

“Xiang Chen?!” Song Wenbin thought for a moment. It was probably the name given by the adoptive family. Should he change it?

Xiang Chen secretly glanced at Song Wenbin, afraid he would give him some name like ‘Guo’ or ‘Hong’ or ‘Zhi’. He whispered, “I’m just Xiang Chen. My mama said I’m a little star…”

As he spoke, Xiang Chen’s eyes welled up slightly. He was born at night, a night filled with countless stars. His mother named him ‘Chen,’ saying he was a little star.

Xiang Chen’s childhood nickname was ‘Xingxing,’ meaning ‘star.’ Later, when his mother, maternal grandfather, and maternal grandmother passed away, no one ever called him by that nickname again.