Chapter 529: Birth Mother

Chapter 529: Birth Mother

As the electric light faded, Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying had already seated themselves in the maglev flyer, swiftly departing from the Star Realm Department.

"That idiot Li Xuan, daring to disturb you." Zhao Manying scoffed derisively.

"No need to pay him any mind."

Ji Xinghuo had a poor impression of Li Xuan, but he bore no grudge that warranted death. As long as Li Xuan stopped pestering him like a pesky fly, he wouldn't bother with him either.

"Mhm." Zhao Manying nodded, "Where to now?"

"Tonight, Yunhai invited us to dinner at a century-old specialty restaurant. It's a little out of the way, but it offers privacy, and he's been raving about it, urging us to give it a try. He's mentioned it several times now." Ji Xinghuo replied with a smile.

Thanks to the massive boost in power of that Smoke Vulture, Lu Yunhai's status in his wife Fang Yinping's family had risen as well.

Nowadays, with his fame spreading across the globe, Ji Xinghuo didn't have many true friends left.

And he cherished those he had.

Three hours later.

That restaurant was indeed worthy of its reputation, and Ji Xinghuo and his companion left satisfied. They even brought takeout for Qinghong so it could sample the delicious cuisine.

"Roar!"

Qinghong's eyes lit up after taking a couple of bites, and it raised a claw in approval.

Doomsday, who had been hanging around, poked its head over to sniff at the food before retreating. It had learned to enjoy human food these past few days by freeloading off Qinghong, but its palate was more discerning than Qinghong's. Only a select few foods tickled its taste buds, and even then, it would get bored of them after a couple of meals.

Ji Xinghuo gently stroked the dragon horn on Doomsday's head to build a closer bond while casually browsing through the news on his phone.

Suddenly, a phone call came in.

He answered with a smile, "Big sister, still not resting at this late hour?"

"You're not asleep either." Ye Dongyun's image projected into the room, and she glanced around the living room, "Where's Manying?"

"She's taking a shower."

"Oh." Ye Dongyun nodded, but didn't continue the topic.

Ji Xinghuo could tell at a glance that she had something on her mind.

"Something's happened? Or are you facing difficulties in your cultivation? Big sister, just tell me, I'll definitely help you resolve it."

Ye Dongyun's talent was rather average, at best middling. Despite having access to abundant resources and guidance, and her own diligent and hardworking nature, devoting most of her time to cultivation, her evolution speed was still not considered fast.

"It's not about me." Ye Dongyun hesitated, "Actually, it's about you, and I've thought about it for a long time. I feel that you should be the one to decide."

"About me?"

Ji Xinghuo furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Yes." Ye Dongyun had clearly been thinking about this for a long while, "Feifei told me first. She's entered the entertainment industry and decided to become a star singer. Earlier last month, Feifei and her team met someone at a music concert who made a request to see you."

Ji Xinghuo paid it no mind. Nowadays, too many people wanted to meet him.

His family, friends, and classmates had all received such requests, to act as intermediaries and introduce them to him.

Their intentions were obvious.

He hadn't met a single one of them.

"Just have Feifei refuse on my behalf." Ji Xinghuo said.

"I thought so too, but this person's identity is no ordinary." Ye Dongyun said quietly, "Her name is Xin Yimo, and she claims to be your birth mother. She even has photos of you from when you were just born."

Ji Xinghuo froze.

The name Xin Yimo was unfamiliar, but he would never forget it.

On his 22nd birthday, he had seen his birth records and information about his biological parents. Xia Qingyu, Xin Yimo. The events from that year, their decision to abandon him, and the process of entrusting him to the government, along with their signed statement voluntarily forfeiting guardianship rights.

In the Star Realm, Ji Xinghuo had already met Xia Qingyu.

That man was a born philanderer, but aside from his promiscuity, he didn't have many other flaws.

Ji Xinghuo regarded him as an ordinary friend, a passerby in his life.

As for Xin Yimo, Ji Xinghuo held no special sentiments. He neither resented her for abandoning him during her low point in life nor expected to find a mother's warmth from her. He didn't want to disturb her life, a simple live-and-let-live attitude.

However...

Ji Xinghuo shook his head inwardly. It seemed that Xin Yimo didn't share his sentiments.

Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Ye Dongyun asked, "Younger brother, is she really your birth mother?"

"Should be." Ji Xinghuo nodded.

He had never mentioned Xin Yimo's name to anyone else. Xia Qingyu hadn't returned from the Star Realm, so only Xin Yimo herself could have known.

"Ms. Xin said that she only realized Ji Xinghuo was you after seeing your videos, and that you look exactly like your father." Ye Dongyun said, "Feifei didn't want to deal with her at first, but after hearing her story and thinking it might be true, she told me."

Ji Xinghuo glanced at Ye Dongyun, "Big sister must have investigated already?"

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you." Ye Dongyun smiled helplessly, "Of course, I had to be careful with something like this. I couldn't just rush to tell you about it."

She sent over a document.

"This is the information I got from my investigation. Younger brother, take a look yourself.

Relying solely on her personal connections, she had thoroughly investigated Xin Yimo's situation, including her current married life.

After abandoning her son, Xin Yimo had returned to Haizhou Strait and worked in the film and television industry.

Two years later, she met her current husband.

She married at the age of thirty.

For a woman of ordinary birth but with a decent resume, excellent work capabilities, and outstanding beauty, marrying into the Qi family, who held considerable influence in Haizhou Strait's entertainment industry, was a definite class ascension.

After giving birth to a son and a daughter in the following years, she solidified her position as the Qi family's matriarch and began participating in the family's media and entertainment company.

A few years ago, the Qi family's company successfully went public.

By this year, its stock price had increased severalfold, with a total market value of nearly 10 billion.

To outsiders, Xin Yimo and her husband seemed like successful individuals with a thriving career, two children, and a happy family life. They were the epitome of success, leading a life that 99% of people could only dream of, leaving the vast majority in a state of envy and admiration.

However, beneath this glamorous facade, Xin Yimo harbored difficulties and bitterness that she could hardly confide in others.

For over a decade, the couple had been emotionally estranged and lived separately.

The root of their marital issues lay in Xin Yimo's husband's belief that she interfered too much in the company. The Qi family's true decision-maker was her father-in-law, and besides her husband, there were three other children who held high-ranking positions in the company, all of whom disapproved of Xin Yimo.

Ji Xinghuo lost interest after reading this part.

The power struggles within this family business held no novelty for him, and he had no desire to delve further into their internal affairs.

The document also mentioned that Xin Yimo's husband was suspected of having extramarital affairs and keeping multiple mistresses.

It even included profiles of these women.

Ji Xinghuo skimmed through them casually, his thoughts trailing off, "Quite an eclectic taste..."

He closed the document.

"Do you want to meet her?" Ye Dongyun asked, "Ms. Xin has been in Chang'an for a month now and hasn't returned."

"Just once." Ji Xinghuo didn't hesitate for too long before replying, "Big sister, help me arrange a place, and then contact her. Let's set the meeting for tomorrow afternoon. I'll head there after I'm done with my cultivation."

He didn't want to get involved in Xin Yimo's life and give her any false hopes.

A single meeting would be his way of repaying her for giving him life.

"Alright, I'll take care of it right away."

Ye Dongyun hung up and, a few minutes later, sent a message that she had made the necessary arrangements, along with the address for the meeting.

Ji Xinghuo put down his phone and gazed out at the night view, lost in thought.

Zhao Manying emerged, wearing her pajamas. She had been in the room next door but came over and sat by Ji Xinghuo's side, her voice soft as she asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Ji Xinghuo turned to hold her hand, a smile on his face, "I'm just feeling a bit emotional. Their accidental encounter years ago brought me into this world. If things had been slightly different, if Xia Qingyu had been more responsible, or if Xin Yimo had passed the guardianship exam on time, who knows what I would be like now?"

"You're still you!" Zhao Manying nodded gently, "The most important thing is that the current you is the best outcome!"

Ji Xinghuo sighed, "Yes..."

"Do you want me to accompany you tomorrow?" Zhao Manying asked again.

"No need." A complex emotion flashed in Ji Xinghuo's eyes as he replied, "I'm afraid it won't be a heartwarming scene."

The next afternoon.

Ji Xinghuo finished his cultivation earlier than usual and left the Ether Institute alone. He boarded a maglev car and headed toward the agreed-upon location.

On the way, he used his electromagnetic sensing ability to scan the destination and lock onto his target.

Soon, he had a grasp of the situation.

His expression remained unchanged.

The maglev car stopped at the base of a building in the Jingwei District, and Ji Xinghuo exited, his appearance altered so as not to draw any attention. He entered the building and took the elevator to the 124th floor, where a high-end business club was located.

He entered the club using his invisibility and made his way to a luxurious private room, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

As he entered, Ji Xinghuo restored his original appearance.

There were four people in the room.

Two men and two women, a middle-aged couple with their children, all dressed elegantly, clearly a wealthy family. However, at that moment, their faces were tense, and they stood up upon seeing someone enter.

"Xiaoyue!"

A woman with delicate features exclaimed in excitement.

Ji Xinghuo looked at her, feeling a sense of familiarity and strangeness at the same time. Familiar because he had seen the video she left in the citizen archives a few years ago, and strange because this was the first time he was laying eyes on her in person.

He studied Xin Yimo's features carefully. In her fifties, she had maintained her appearance well, looking a decade or so younger than her actual age.

Xin Yimo was incredibly moved and stepped forward to embrace him.

Ji Xinghuo immediately withdrew his hand and looked towards the others.

"Let me introduce them to you." Xin Yimo regained her composure, "This is my husband, Qi Zhang."

"Director Qi."

Ji Xinghuo nodded at Qi Zhang.

Qi Zhang was stunned. This was his work title, and only his colleagues and subordinates addressed him as such. Just from this greeting, he realized that Ji Xinghuo was well-informed about him, and he felt both thrilled and nervous, his voice shaking as he replied, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Ji!"

At that moment, Xin Yimo pulled the two young people forward and introduced them, "This is Qi Ming and Qi Xin."

Ji Xinghuo had reviewed their profiles before.

Qi Ming was 20 years old and still in university. He was a wealthy second-generation heir who performed poorly in his studies but persistently trained to become an Extraordinary. Qi Xin, on the other hand, was only 17 years old and had inherited her mother's beauty, exuding a charming aura of youthful vitality.

Ever since Ji Xinghuo had entered the room, the two of them had been staring at him with dazed expressions, as if they were sleepwalking.

"Ji, Ji, Mr. Ji, you, you..." Qi Ming stuttered in excitement.

Qi Xin's eyes were wide as saucers.

"You two always idolized Mr. Ji, didn't you?" Xin Yimo chided them, "Now that you've met him, why can't you even speak properly?" She turned to Ji Xinghuo and apologized, "I'm sorry for their behavior."

"It's fine."

Ji Xinghuo smiled. Since publicly revealing his appearance, he had often encountered such reactions when recognized in public, so he was used to it.

"Director Qi, please wait outside with the others. I'd like to speak with Ms. Xin alone."

"Yes, yes!"

Disappointment flashed across Qi Zhang's face, but he dared not disobey Ji Xinghuo's request. He reluctantly led the two reluctant children out of the private room.

Once the door closed, the room fell silent.

Ji Xinghuo casually sat down, and Xin Yimo watched his every move, hesitating to speak. She finally sat down across from him and asked, "On your 22nd birthday, did you receive the message and video I left for you?"

"I did." Ji Xinghuo replied.

"Then why didn't you contact me?" Tears welled up in Xin Yimo's eyes as she said, "Over the years, I've regretted my decision every day. I've been preparing to take you back, and when you finally turned 22, I heard nothing from you."

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"You don't know, the day I saw your video, I recognized you instantly as my Xiao Ye!" Xin Yimo lowered her head and wiped her face, "In my entire life, I've never been so happy as I was to finally have news of my son."

"Your appearance is identical to Xia Qingyu's."

"And your year of birth, 2201!"

"I just never imagined..."

Xin Yimo's expression was a mix of joy and shock as she recalled that day, "That you would be Ji Xinghuo!"

She gazed at Ji Xinghuo, still finding it hard to believe.

The number one person in the world, Ji Xinghuo!

The formidable and renowned Ji Xinghuo!

The greatest genius and strongest person in human history, and he was her long-lost son! Even now, seeing Ji Xinghuo in person and recognizing the resemblance to that good-for-nothing man, Xin Yimo still found it hard to believe that the wrinkled baby she had given up could become such an extraordinary figure!

Xin Yimo was immersed in her joy, but it was soon shattered.

"I've been doing well in my public family, and I don't want to disturb your life." Ji Xinghuo said calmly.

She caught the underlying message, "But I am your biological mother..."

"There are no buts."

Ji Xinghuo didn't want to hear any more of this nonsense and cut her off, "Ms. Xin, there's no point in discussing this now."

He turned his head towards the door and called out, "Director Qi, please come in."

Qi Zhang immediately entered with the two children in tow.

Before he could say anything, Ji Xinghuo spoke, "I don't want to see my name associated with the 'Limitless Sky Media Group' in any news or media outlet, nor do I want to see any negative reports about Ms. Xin. Is that clear?"

Ji Xinghuo's voice was not loud.

But each word was like a thunderclap exploding in Qi Zhang's ears, leaving him pale and speechless.

Xin Yimo's expression also changed drastically. She realized that Ji Xinghuo had known everything all along and exclaimed, "Xiao Ye..."

Ji Xinghuo's gaze swept across her and the two young people, nodding slightly.

Their eyes flickered with electric light.

Then there was a thunderous boom, and they were sent flying out of the window. By the time they regained their senses, Ji Xinghuo had already disappeared into the horizon.

Xin Yimo stared in the direction he had vanished, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end