MCFEM C28

Chapter 28 – This Beam of Light Became a Sin

A beam of light shone into the iron tower, exposing the filth and sordidness within—and for that, the beam itself became guilty.*

Ye Chen looked calmly at the person in front of him. His chopsticks lay untouched at his side.

That voice in his head had long since dissipated, but the faint buzzing still echoed in his ears.

For once, he couldn’t bring himself to smile. He simply stared, motionless, at Gu Yang.

“What are you looking at?”

Even in a private dinner between the two of them, Gu Yang still used the communal chopsticks. Clearly, the Gu family’s manners were deeply ingrained. His dining posture was poised, refined, faultless.

Like a beautiful piece of porcelain, placed there to be admired—without needing to serve any other purpose.

Though they hadn’t interacted much, Ye Chen knew well enough: the one destined to inherit the Gu family was Gu Qingxu, already dipping into the family business as a second-year high schooler.

By contrast, Gu Yang clearly remained an outsider.

Suddenly, Ye Chen remembered something from long ago.

A woman had been rushed into the hospital by ambulance.

By the time she arrived, she was unconscious. Even a gastric lavage hadn’t saved her.

The Gu family’s patriarch had raged, pointing at the doctors and nurses, declaring, If you can’t save her, I’ll have you all buried with her.

There had been a boy there as well.

But with the chaos then, no one had spared a glance for the child.

No one but him.

Even then, they hadn’t exchanged a single word.

He’d only watched from afar.

Hospitals revealed every facet of human life. And Ye family hospitals, being private, catered only to the wealthy.

And the dramas of the rich were even more entertaining.

He’d once seen a well-dressed middle-aged man, face full of panic, wheel a pregnant woman into surgery.

Days later, the same man returned, equally frantic—only the woman on the gurney seemed to have changed.

He’d tugged the man’s sleeve, whispered in his ear: Which one’s your mistress?

The man’s face twisted into something disgraceful. Then he bent to whisper to his father.

And a stinging slap landed across his face, burning for a long while after.

He’d wanted so badly to ask that boy, but hadn’t dared, fearing another slap.

Was the woman rushed into surgery your mother?

That man raving outside—he doesn’t look like your father. What’s he doing here?

Why don’t you look sad at all?

When his own mother had gone into emergency surgery, he had screamed louder than anyone.

The social circle in Jiangcheng was indeed small. Who would have thought, after so many turns, they’d end up classmates.

After silently scrutinizing Gu Yang for a long time, Ye Chen finally forced a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Nothing. Just thinking—this dinner was the right call.”

Surely, plenty already hated Gu Yang.

Shen Mingjun, Nie Ying, Lu Ran.

After all, these were things that couldn’t stand the light of day.

And for them, the problem wasn’t the sins themselves, but the one who revealed them.

…

And so it was for him, too.

—

Lu Ran jolted awake from bed.

The servant carrying his herbal medicine hurried over, only to be slapped aside.

The porcelain bowl crashed to the floor, shattering. The noise startled Madam Lu in the next room. She ran in barefoot, slippers forgotten.

“Ranran, what happened?”

The terror on Lu Ran’s face hadn’t faded. He panted, dazed eyes fixed on her.

Madam Lu sat by his bed and held him.

“A nightmare? There, there—it’s alright. Mama’s here.” She gently patted his back to soothe him, signaling the servant to leave.

“What’s wrong with Ranran? Did he have another attack?” Mr. Lu, setting aside his company papers, came over. Lu Zheng followed, shutting the door.

Their love for Lu Ran was undeniable. By the time they’d decided on a second child, the company had stabilized. They’d had more time to devote to him, unlike with their eldest who’d largely been left to the nanny.

And since this child had asthma from early on, they had poured even more attention into him, adding the share once owed to his elder brother.

So even after learning the truth, they couldn’t let go.

Lu Ran clutched Madam Lu’s hand. Surrounded by his family, he finally steadied himself enough to speak, his voice full of grievance.

“I dreamed you didn’t want me anymore. You drove me out of the house, still in pajamas. You wouldn’t even let me wear clothes. I stood barefoot outside, pounding on the door, but you never opened it.”

“How could we ever do that? This is your home—who dares throw you out?” Madam Lu quickly comforted him.

Mr. Lu came forward too, both parents coaxing in turn.

Lu Zheng watched, hesitated, then offered, “Dad, Mom, you stay here with Ranran. I’ll handle the rest of the documents.”

As he stepped out, he caught a figure at the staircase corner. The servants wouldn’t dare eavesdrop. He called out: “Lu Ji.”

The one about to ascend the stairs froze, turned back coldly. “What is it?”

“Ranran’s always been like this—throws tantrums when things don’t go his way. Don’t take it too seriously.” Lu Zheng said. “No need to move to the school dorm. Give it a few days, he’ll settle.”

At those words, Lu Ji laughed, sharp and self-mocking.

“No need. My dorm’s already assigned. I got in as a special admit—the fees are covered anyway.”

“It’s not about money.” Lu Zheng frowned. “You moved out without a word—did you think about Mom’s feelings? Can’t you tell the family before you act? If the He family hadn’t called just now, we’d still be in the dark.”

Standing above, Lu Ji looked down. “Me moving out—isn’t that exactly what you all want?”

“How can you say that? Dad had a room prepared for you long ago. Mom decorated it herself. We never meant to push you away, Lu Ji. You’re the one who won’t let go of this knot.”

“Ranran’s lived here eighteen years. How could we possibly… cast him out over this?”

At the mention of Lu Ran, Lu Ji’s face darkened.

He turned without another word.

Lu Zheng watched his retreating back, then turned to the calendar on the wall. His face shifted, thoughtful.

“So it’s almost that day. No wonder…”

—

It was said that most people lacked memories of early childhood. The phenomenon even had a name: childhood amnesia.

But Lu Ran remembered vividly.

Even if he wanted to forget, his dreams dragged him back, again and again, to that freezing warehouse.

Why hadn’t the guard been there? Why hadn’t the door been locked?

He’d lifted the unsecured rolling shutter. The clang as it slammed upward had thrilled him. He’d entered like it was a brand-new adventure map.

Aunt Ye had followed, calling his name, telling him to come back.

But he’d insisted they play hide-and-seek. She had to find him.

He’d hidden well, curled between two boxes, the scent of medicinal herbs heavy in the cold air. Too excited to feel the chill.

After a while, her voice had grown faint, strained. She said she felt unwell, begged to pause the game.

He hadn’t believed it. Other kids had used that same trick. When he reluctantly came out, they’d crowed victory.

He refused to be fooled. He would stay hidden until she found him.

Then—he’d heard the heavy thud of something falling.

Lu Ran woke with a start again. He hurled his pillow, tore at his blankets, thrashing until his breathing faltered, then gradually stilled.

In the past, he’d have roused the whole house.

But now, he lacked the courage.

Nor did he want Lu Ji to see him humiliated.

A sudden shiver gripped him.

Did Ye Chen hate him that much?

Would he help Lu Ji, join forces to drive him out of the Lu family?

Yes. The paternity test had been done at Ye family’s hospital.

He wasn’t his parents’ biological child. Lu Ji, that wretch, was.

And Ye Chen knew so much already. If his original family’s deeds were exposed…

Lu Ran didn’t dare imagine.

Outside, the sky was still pitch black. He sat upright in bed, sleepless, eyes slowly focusing.

…It was all Gu Yang’s fault.

Why did he have to say these things—no, why did he transmit them with his mind?

How was that even possible?

Was Gu Yang even human?

He’d always thought him strange.

Watching tearjerker films, the whole theater bawled while his face stayed blank. Sometimes he’d laugh at the oddest moments.

Now it was downright chilling.

Truth was, he barely knew Gu Yang. They weren’t even that close. So why, why suddenly…

He scrolled through his contacts, pausing at He Ming’an’s name.

Of the people he knew, He Ming’an was closest to Gu Yang. They seemed to know each other long before.

But he wasn’t close with He Ming’an either. And by the rumors, He Ming’an should be avoiding him now.

Opening the chat app, he found several small groups with 99+ unread messages.

Their class had endless group chats in every combination. Lu Ran had muted them all. Now he clicked in one by one.

—

The next day at school, Gu Yang’s exhaustion showed plainly. He entered the classroom and collapsed onto his desk.

“Stayed up cultivating immortality again?” Yu Bai teased. “Don’t sleep at night, nap in class—you’re a role model, truly.”

He’d heard Gu Yang saw a therapist for insomnia, but suspected it wasn’t mental—just a wrecked biological clock.

Whenever Yu Bai was up late, Gu Yang replied instantly.

What he needed wasn’t a doctor, but someone to confiscate his phone at bedtime.

“By the way, what’d you and Ye Chen talk about over dinner last night?” Yu Bai pried.

“Who knows. He started with a big confession, then spent the rest of the meal staring at my face while I ate.”

Yu Bai: “…”

How could you make it sound so ambiguous?

Of course, Yu Bai knew better—Ye Chen must’ve pulled Gu Yang aside to dig for intel.

But what exactly, he didn’t dare ask.

Partly for lack of words, partly because though they seemed closer sharing gossip, some would gladly kill to protect their scandals.

Another sleepless one.

Yu Bai watched Lu Ran enter, dark circles stark under his eyes.

Understandable, given the humiliation yesterday. That he still showed up on time was surprising enough.

As soon as he entered, the classroom air tightened. Eyes glanced his way.

Before, he’d have glared and demanded answers. Now he could only grit his teeth and pretend not to see.

All because of his identity.

From their view, he was a fake young master, usurping another’s place. Despicable.

No matter the spin, it was nothing but parasitism. Worse—his mother had deliberately swapped him in for comfort.

Straight out of a melodrama.

Still, since the Lu family had chosen to keep him, the final outcome remained to be seen.

So no one pounced immediately.

What if the fake, by sheer chance, became real?

Lu Ran reached his seat. After a steadying breath, he turned left.

Yes—his desk neighbor was Gu Yang.

Enemies, face to face.

Last night, after reading those chats, he’d nearly crushed his phone with regret.

If only he’d checked earlier—he wouldn’t have walked blind into slaughter.

Shen Mingjun’s family scandal, Ying Jiayi’s parasitic father, Nie Ying’s illegitimate birth.

He’d thought his own life dramatic enough. Turns out everyone’s was.

If it hadn’t touched him, it might even have been entertaining.

He cursed Gu Yang a thousand times over.

And hearing Yu Bai mention dinner with Ye Chen—what had they discussed? Did Ye Chen know about that incident eight years ago?

Looking up, he caught Ye Chen’s gaze.

Heart lurching, he looked away.

But realized—Ye Chen hadn’t been looking at him.

His gaze was fixed on Gu Yang.

For once, his expression wasn’t playful. He stared a few seconds, then shifted. But not before mouthing words at Lu Ran.

Fake young master.

Pain stabbed Lu Ran’s chest. He forced himself calm, lest he end up in the hospital again.

Gu Yang, that bastard.

Why did he pry into everyone else’s secrets, never his own?

Just then, Gu Yang’s inner voice rang out.

【Why did the Gu family go bankrupt and end up acquired by Nie Ying? This plot’s absurd.】

【Or is it just because Gu Qingxu really had no brains.】

【And me—I killed myself not long after the bankruptcy, without even a reason given. What was that? A death pact? How touching.】