Since Gu Jianing had given birth to twins, her breast milk wasn’t enough.
So now, the two babies were being fed a combination of breast milk and formula.
Fortunately, both little ones were healthy, fair, and chubby.
While the children of Jiang Baihe and Zhang Shuwan sometimes fell ill, Xingxing and Yueyue never had such problems.
Gu Jianing knew it was because she had given them the Body-Strengthening Pills.
As for the 30% chance that the Body-Strengthening Pills could unlock hidden potential, Gu Jianing hadn’t noticed anything unusual in the two children so far.
When the babies turned one month old, Gu Jianing attached the protective talismans rewarded by the system to their wrists.
Though called “talismans,” they could freely change their appearance before being taken out.
Gu Jianing chose a simple and inconspicuous red-string design and fastened them around the babies’ fair, tender wrists, which resembled lotus roots.
Of course, she also gave them to Sheng Zexi, herself, her mother, Grandma Sang, and others.
They were also in the form of red strings, though she didn’t explain they were protective talismans—just a token of blessing for safety.
Yao Chunhua, Grandma Sang, and the others accepted them.
They simply saw them as Gu Jianing’s blessings.
Besides, since Xingxing and Yueyue were wearing them too, it felt like a family bond.
But Sheng Zexi, watching Gu Jianing tie the red string around his wrist, knew it was a real protective talisman—one that could save him in times of danger.
Seeing the talisman on Sheng Zexi’s wrist, Gu Jianing felt relieved.
After all, Brother Xi often went on missions and was the most likely to encounter danger.
With this talisman, she could rest a little easier.
A single talisman could only block one life-threatening danger.
If not for the rule that one person could only wear one talisman at a time, Gu Jianing would have given him several.
Just after she finished tying it, a soldier came to report that Sheng Zexi had a phone call—from Hua Zhenrong.
“I’ll go to the communications office to see what Zhenrong needs.”
“Alright.”
Soon, Sheng Zexi arrived at the communications office and picked up the phone.
“This is Sheng Zexi.”
“Axi, something big—something big has happened in your family!”
“What is it?”
Hua Zhenrong quickly relayed the news, and Sheng Zexi’s eyes widened instantly.
He had actually been right!
…
In the military compound in Beijing.
The Sheng family’s 10-year-old Sheng Zerui, Fang Wanrong’s son, had just been taken away by the military.
The reason: Sheng Zerui, like Li Shuyao, had been switched at birth—and the current Sheng Zerui was actually from R Country.
The moment she heard the news, Fang Wanrong felt as though her world had collapsed.
That was the son she had painstakingly raised for ten years.
She had poured so much effort into him and placed such high hopes on him.
But now, she was being told—
That wasn’t her son. He was from R Country.
And her real son… was dead?
No—Fang Wanrong refused to believe it!
Disheveled and devastated, Fang Wanrong practically crawled over to Sheng Xinhao, who was sitting on the sofa, and grabbed his hand.
“Husband, you have to save our A-Rui! He’s our son! You can’t just stand by and do nothing—this must be some scheme of Sheng Zexi’s! Yes, it has to be!”
Fang Wanrong was convinced that this was all a vicious plot by Sheng Zexi to eliminate his younger brother. How could her A-Rui not be her son?
Sheng Xinhao frowned, his expression dark. “Wanrong, what are you saying? What does this have to do with our eldest son?”
“The military officials just explained—because of Li Shuyao’s espionage case, they’re conducting a full investigation. Many people have been uncovered recently, and A-Rui is just one of them.”
“If the military took him away, it means they’ve already confirmed the evidence. Didn’t you see it yourself?”
“Wanrong, I understand your heartbreak. As his father, I’m heartbroken too. But there’s nothing we can do. Our A-Rui was switched at birth. The A-Rui we raised… isn’t our son.”
To be honest, when the Li Shuyao incident first came to light, Sheng Xinhao’s only thought was his earlier plan to make her his daughter-in-law. He hadn’t considered anything beyond that.
Even after learning that there were likely other infants like Li Shuyao—switched at birth to be raised as R Country agents—and that an investigation was underway, Sheng Xinhao never imagined such “luck” would befall his own family.
Especially since Sheng Zexi looked exactly like him.
That face alone was proof they were father and son.
As for his younger son, he hadn’t given it much thought.
Yet, against all odds, it had happened to his youngest.
His son, Sheng Zerui, had also been switched at birth—and had also died.
Just moments ago, he had watched Sheng Zerui struggle as he was taken away.
Sheng Xinhao couldn’t describe what he was feeling.
Even though he had long known his younger son wasn’t capable enough to inherit his position, Sheng Xinhao still loved him dearly.
Even if he couldn’t pass the family legacy to him, he had planned to ensure the boy lived a comfortable life—after all, he was still his flesh and blood.
But now, it turned out he wasn’t.
He was from R Country—and might have even grown up to be a spy.
At this point, Sheng Xinhao couldn’t help but feel a sliver of relief.
Sheng Zerui was still young—only ten years old—so the R Country operatives hadn’t made contact yet, nor had they tasked him with stealing any intelligence.
Sheng Xinhao realized that if Sheng Zerui were to gather intelligence, the most valuable target would be him.
If classified information had been leaked, causing major damage, the consequences for him would have been catastrophic.
And if—if—Sheng Zerui’s mission had been to assassinate him…
Would his life have been in danger?
The thought made Sheng Xinhao even more grateful that Sheng Zerui had been exposed and taken away.
So now, Sheng Xinhao’s emotions were complicated.
After comforting Fang Wanrong for a while, he retreated to his room.
Fang Wanrong was left alone in the living room, silently weeping.
Just then, Fang Manping rushed home after hearing the news.
“Mom! Why are you sitting on the floor? Why are you crying?”
“Mom, I heard… about A-Rui. They said he…”
Fang Wanrong broke down completely at the sight of her daughter. “A-Ping, your brother was taken away! They said A-Rui is from R Country… and that your real brother… is dead…”
She buried her face in her daughter’s shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
Fang Manping hadn’t expected the rumors to be true.
Her emotions were tangled.
To be honest, Fang Manping had never been particularly close to her younger brother, Sheng Zerui—though they weren’t estranged either.
Perhaps it was because, despite being just a child, Sheng Zerui had always been somewhat spoiled and even looked down on Fang Manping.
As for Fang Manping, while she didn’t like getting too close to him, she had constantly been pressured by her mother to do so.
Leave a Reply