Chapter 6: Waaaah, My Eyes Are Crying

Evan sat obediently in the interrogation chair, both hands cuffed and resting on the table. Across from him, two stern-faced officers sat upright, radiating righteousness. Above their heads, the words "Confess for Leniency, Resist and Face Severity" were boldly displayed.

The interrogation room was dimly lit, with only a few spotlights illuminating the table, forming a circle of light that enclosed Evan and the officers like a stage.

For a moment, Evan was dazed. What the hell just happened?

Why had a police car chased them down and pulled them over?

Kidnapping? Hostage situation?

What???

"I don't buy your lousy excuse!" one officer declared righteously. "You claim you were picking up your parents—how could you possibly not recognize your own mother and father?"

"They went abroad years ago," Evan explained. "I really forgot what they looked like at the moment. You know what it's like to blank out, right?"

"The victims also said you threatened them."

"I DIDN'T!!" Evan was on the verge of tears. "My family isn't short on money—why the hell would I be a kidnapper?!"

"What's your relationship with Jose Turnner?"

"He's my driver."

The officers exchanged glances and flipped through Evan's personal records: Youngest son of the Wells family. Yeah, definitely not short on money.

"Money isn't the only motive."

"But I really don't know them! I just mistook them for my parents, Officer," Evan said. "They were on the same flight as my actual parents. You can check—it was an honest mistake."

"Then what about the things you said to them? Those vague and suspicious remarks?"

"I swear I meant nothing by them!"

—

Hane suspected Evan's brain must have short-circuited.

He'd asked him to pick up their parents, and this dumbass grabbed the wrong couple?!

Probably only God knew what he had done to get mistaken for a kidnapper and hauled into the police station.

By the time Hane arrived, Evan and Jose were sitting on tiny plastic stools, eating instant noodles. Evan even plucked the braised egg from his own bowl and dropped it into Jose's.

"You poor guy, getting locked up for no reason because of me." Evan patted Jose's shoulder. "Eat up, don't hold back."

Jose was moved to tears. "Young Master…"

"I hope you won't blame me. I swear I didn't do it on purpose." Evan added half of his sausage to Jose's bowl. "Good thing I won't have a criminal record—imagine how guilty I'd feel if I did."

Jose's eyes welled up. "Young Master, I could never blame you."

"Honestly, it's been years since I last saw my parents. Their faces have blurred in my memory. Who would've thought I'd recognize the wrong people today? I really dragged you down with me."

"It's fine. If it happens again, I'll sit in jail with you!"

Standing at the doorway, Hane witnessed the entire exchange.

This idiot might be dumb as a rock, but damn, he's got some top-tier PUA skills.

Just as Evan was comforting Jose, he looked up and spotted Hane standing in the doorway, dressed in a crisp suit with his jacket draped over one arm. He had clearly come straight from work.

"Big Brother."

Evan stood up, unconsciously twisting the hem of his shirt, looking like a guilty little quail.

"Didn't I specifically tell you not to cause trouble?"

Evan's thin shoulders trembled slightly. He pursed his lips. "S-So… are Mom and Dad home now?"

"Because of you, they're spending the night at the airport."

"Oh."

Evan responded softly and fell silent. Hane's assistant went off to settle the situation, while Hane personally dragged the troublemaker to the car.

"Bro, I don't wanna sit—" Evan latched onto the car door.

"Don't push it. Mom and Dad are still waiting at home." Hane opened the door, ready to shove Evan inside.

No way. Evan still had a stomach full of instant noodles. If he got in that car, he'd throw up before they even started moving. He covered his mouth and backed away. "I don't wanna sit."

"What's with the attitude? I haven't even chewed you out yet."

"Boss…" Jose interjected hesitantly. "Um, Young Master gets carsick. He threw up several times on the way here."

Hane's furrowed brows eased slightly as he looked at Evan. The kid was still clinging pitifully to the car door, but the moment their eyes met, he quickly let go.

—

Half an hour later, at a nearby pharmacy, Evan took the motion sickness pills Hane handed him. When he twisted the cap, he realized it had already been loosened for him in advance.

"Thanks, Big Bro."

"I never knew you got carsick."

"Newly acquired skill."

"I told you to pick up Mom and Dad. How do you forget their faces after just a few years? And you not only grabbed the wrong people, but also got reported and thrown in jail. Are you not ashamed?" Hane crossed his arms and leaned back.

"I made a mistake, okay? But how was I supposed to know that couple would actually follow me? They didn't even say anything!" Evan grumbled.

"With Jose's massive build looming behind you, and you throwing out threatening remarks, you think they dared to say anything?" Hane shot back. "The police said you threatened them. What exactly did you say? You didn't actually spout nonsense to Mom and Dad, did you?"

"I just said… that you're really strong now, and I'm really strong too. That you could smash bricks with your bare hands, and that I could shove both Mom and Dad into a sack and carry them away."

Hane: "..."

"I just wanted to make them happy, so I made a little joke. But I didn't expect I'd gotten the wrong parents from the start."

"You seriously don't remember what our parents look like?"

Evan took a sip of warm water and said nothing.

—

Late at night, the Wells residence was brightly lit.

After years of living abroad, Rick and Jane were finally back. Uncle John had been preparing dinner ever since Evan left to pick them up, but now, although Rick and Jane were home, their son wasn't.

Rick was livid when he got back. Being forgotten at the airport for over half an hour was already infuriating, and then Hane told him Evan had landed himself in the police station again.

Did that brat need a beating?

Jane, however, had been sitting on the sofa, flipping through a magazine for over thirty minutes. She glanced outside at the darkening sky and asked, "Why aren't they back yet?"

"Uncle John, call Hane again and ask what's going on," Rick instructed. Then he turned to Jane. "If you're hungry, we can eat first. No need to wait for them."

"No," Jane said. "It's been so long since I've seen the boys—I'd rather wait."

The kitchen staff kept the food warm in the thermal containers. In the meantime, Uncle John brought out a fruit platter and a bottle of purple-hued sparkling grape wine. Jane took a sip and nodded. "This is nice. Let's get more tomorrow."

"This was made by Young Master Evan himself."

"Evan made it?"

"He saw some good grapes at the market the other day and decided to make his own wine. He said it's best enjoyed now while it's fizzy—any longer, and it'll turn bitter."

"At least he has some good instincts." Jane nodded, then paused. "It's been years since I last saw him… How has he been?"

"Young Master Evan has everything he needs, so he's doing well. But… he must have missed you both a lot." Uncle John added, "When I went to tidy his room this morning, I saw the family photo still sitting on his bedside table."

Jane froze for a moment.

"That poor child."

As they were speaking, a rustling sound came from the front door. Hane was helping Evan sit down by the entryway to change his shoes. Looking up and seeing their parents sitting on the sofa, he nodded, looking somewhat pleased. "Mom, Dad!"

Evan quickly propped himself up against the cabinet and bowed his head. "Hello, Dad. Hello, Mom."

"Why are you just getting home now?" Rick asked sternly. "Did it not occur to you that we were waiting?"

"Evan got carsick and threw up the whole way," Hane replied, handing his coat to Uncle John. "This kid's constitution is awful—one car ride, and he's a mess."

Jane said, "There's fish porridge for dinner. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

Evan stared blankly at the running water in the sink. The original host's parents hadn't treated him particularly badly—so how exactly was he supposed to treat them?

No matter what, his very existence had been the reason their marriage suffered. That was undeniable.

So it was understandable that Jane kept her distance from him. But at the very least, the original host had grown up with food, clothing, and comfort—far better off than Evan had been in his past life.

The only difference was that the original host had never known he was an illegitimate child, so he had accepted all these benefits without guilt.

Evan couldn't just be a freeloader in the Wells family forever. As he'd said before—when he had the means, he would leave.

He scooped up some water, rinsed his mouth, then walked out to the dining room. The other three family members were already seated. Jane was sipping her sparkling wine, and when she saw Evan, she greeted him with an unexpectedly warm smile. "Evan, come eat."

No one mentioned the police station incident, and Evan quietly breathed a sigh of relief as he took his seat.

Jane studied him for a long time. He did bear some resemblance to her husband, but he looked nothing like her. She sighed imperceptibly. "Eat up."

"Okay."

—

Years ago, after the truth came out, Evan's birth mother had shown up at the Wells family home with a newborn in her arms, threatening that if Rick refused to acknowledge the child, she would throw Evan onto the ground right then and there.

Rick had told Jane everything the day after he had been drugged. She couldn't accept it at the time—her husband, manipulated and trapped into infidelity. But in the end, she couldn't place all the blame on Rick. More importantly, he had handled the situation well afterward. She had caused a scene, sure, but Rick had let her—only begging her not to divorce him.

In the end, she softened.

What she never expected was that a few months later, she would suddenly have another son.

The whole thing had shaken not just Rick and Jane but also seven-year-old Hane, who had no idea how to process it.

Jane hadn't intended to care. But then she saw that baby, screaming miserably in his mother's arms, his tiny face flushed purple with exertion. And his mother? She didn't even bother to comfort him.

Jane had hated that woman—the woman who had wrecked her marriage and her family. She had wished she would just die.

But the child… The child was innocent.

Even so, Jane could never truly accept Evan. Even after all these years.

Just as Evan himself had once said—she had allowed him to grow up well-fed, well-clothed, and free from mistreatment. That was already kindness enough.

Jane watched Evan as he quietly sipped his porridge. After a moment, she picked up some side dishes with her chopsticks and placed them in his bowl. "How is school going?"

"The same as always," Evan murmured, taking another sip of the fish porridge. The soft, tender flavor instantly awakened his appetite. Without even looking at what Jane had given him, he picked it up and ate it in one bite.

"We're hosting a banquet at home tomorrow," Jane said. "I think your wine is quite good. Could we serve some to the guests?"

Before she could finish speaking, Evan's eyes reddened, and a layer of tears instantly welled up.

Evan: "…"

What kind of monster puts chili oil in cucumbers?!

He was dying. He was literally about to breathe fire.

"You…" Jane hesitated. "If you don't want to, that's fine."

"No." Evan buried his face in his bowl, tears plopping down into his porridge. His nose twitched.

"I'd love to. I really, really would."

Rick was silent for a long moment. In the end, he just reached out and patted Evan's shoulder.

There were things he wanted to say. But in the end, he couldn't find the words.