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A dilapidated residential building.
A young man in casual clothes turned the key and opened the rusty iron door. What followed was a moldy smell.
The first thing he saw was a rickety chair and a small table in the middle of the living room. Apart from the necessities of life, there was nothing else.
He walked over to his laptop and pressed the power button.
Ever since his mother passed away, Lu Ming had been alone.
He had depleted his modest savings just to bury his mother. If his colleague who was hired at the same on-campus job fair had not taken pity on him, he might not even have a place to stay.
So he was usually very frugal. Other than going to work, he basically did not go out and lived a quiet life.
He exhaled and picked up a photo beside the computer.
The woman in the photo was smiling like a flower as she held the child's hand. The man not far away waved at them.
He was Lu Ming's father—Lu Yaohua.
They were originally a happy family. Although their household circumstances were not good, they were very happy.
His parents would do their best to satisfy whatever he wanted.
However, this life did not last long. His father, Lu Yaohua, was rarely coming home.
Initially, he and his mother did not suspect anything at all. After all, his father's career was taking off at the time.
Later, when their family was slightly better off, Lu Yaohua started wearing tailored suits. They had not realized it back then. He was just an ordinary senior executive. Why would he buy such expensive clothes?
It was not until one day when their mother saw Lu Yaohua coaxing another woman that they realized that he had been spending time with this woman when he was supposedly working overtime and socializing.
He watched his usually gentle mother become hysterical, while his father said defensively, "This is just my client. Don't overthink it."
But not long after, Lu Yaohua firmly filed for divorce on the grounds that his mother was not worthy of him.
No matter what his mother said, Lu Yaohua did not relent.
In the end, their marriage was destroyed.
Lu Ming could never forget the smug look on Lu Yaohua's face that day.
Lu Yaohua even engaged a lawyer, which resulted in the court ruling that absolved him of obligations to pay alimony and child support.
Consequently, his mother's health, which was not good to begin with, broke down completely!
Not long after, Lu Yaohua married that woman.
Perhaps Lu Yaohua and that woman were really just clients in the beginning, but it was undeniable that after Lu Yaohua became rich, he abandoned them.
In order to survive, Lu Ming had no choice but to do odd jobs for some evil bosses. Sometimes, he did not get paid and the other party even threatened him with the fact that he was underaged.
He scrimped and saved to buy medicine for his mother, but her health was not improving.
The place they were living in became more rundown. In the end, they could only build a shed as their home. However, whenever it rained, the place would leak.
His mother's condition was getting worse.
Lu Ming had no choice but to look for his father. When he saw the luxurious house, he realized that the woman was a high society socialite from a wealthy family, the eldest daughter of the Tang family—Tang Wenyi!
Tang Wenyi looked down at him and said, "If you kneel down and kowtow to me, I don't mind giving money to help you. Just take it that I'm being kind."
Lu Ming could not stand her. Why would he kneel down?
He wanted to see Lu Yaohua but was stopped by Tang Wenyi.
He had only two choices. Either kneel or leave.
As he caught sight of Lu Yaohua on the second floor with his changed demeanor, he understood at last.
Lu Yaohua did not want to have anything to do with them anymore.
For his mother's sake, he knelt down dejectedly and kowtowed.
Tang Wenyi's self-satisfied laughter seemed to pierce his eardrums. "I thought your mom could teach you well, but it looks like it's nothing more than this."
Afterward, she threw a sum of money to Lu Ming. "From now on, you mother and son will have nothing to do with Yaohua."
That sum of money indeed made life a little easier for Lu Ming and his mother.
Her mother took the opportunity to find a part-time job. She worked as a waitress at the restaurant during the day and did handiwork at home at night.
A year later, her health failed due to exhaustion once again.
This time, his mother did not allow Lu Ming to spend money as he had already been admitted to university.
It could be said that he went to university using life-saving money.
But he could not watch his mother die, so he went around borrowing money.
In the end, his mother held on until the day he graduated.
Before she died, she grabbed his hand tightly and said, "I'd been a burden to you… If you had followed Lu Yaohua back then… At least you wouldn't have to starve with me… Go find him… Otherwise, I wouldn't let him off even after I die…"
Over the years, Lu Yaohua's life had been getting better and better. His career was thriving, and he had gone from being a junior employee to one of the top 20 richest men in Shanghai.
Lu Ming understood his mother's intention. She was afraid that he would be crushed by these debts.
Although his mother had said so, Lu Ming was still unwilling to look for that person. He would rather bear the debts than bow down to Lu Yaohua.
He had once seen in the newspapers that Lu Yaohua and Tang Wenyi had a son. They had specially thrown an extravagant first-month birthday party for him, and more than half of the local wealthy people attended.
That day, Lu Yaohua was eating delicacies at the banquet.
He and his mother were having noodles with vegetables.
"Ding-Dong!"
"Ding-Dong!"
The ringing of the doorbell brought Lu Ming back to reality. He stuffed the photo into the drawer and asked while walking, "Who is it?"
"It's me."
Lu Ming stood rooted to the ground. "Is this familiar middle-aged voice… Lu Yaohua?" he wondered.
As though he wanted to confirm his guess, he opened the peephole and saw the same face as the one in the photo. There were only a few more wrinkles with the passing years.
He looked at Lu Yaohua, his mind in a blur.
"Why did this man show up uninvited?" he thought.
Lu Ming wondered if it was possible that his father wanted to apologize.
"After neglecting him for so many years, he now had the gall to apologize?" he fumed.
However, when he saw the teenager who resembled Lu Yaohua beside him, his hope was extinguished.
It seemed strange to Lu Ming that his father would apologize with Tang Wenyi and the child he had with her in tow.
He thought, "Could it be that they had come together to apologize for the kneeling incident back then?"
He shook his head. "Why would he apologize now, of all times?"
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a disdainful voice came from outside. "Mom, why do we have to come to such a godforsaken place? I'm afraid I'll get infected with some kind of germ!"
"It's fine. Just bear with it a little longer and shower a few times when you get back." The female voice said arrogantly.
The doorbell rang again. "Little Ming, I know you're at home. Can you open the door?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Ming lowered his head. It had been a long time since someone called him that.
Judging from the situation, he thought that Lu Yaohua might really be here to apologize.
He turned the doorknob.
[Memory]
At the Chinese Medical Academy.
A doctor in a white overall was looking gravely at a report.
Tang Wenyi nervously asked, "Dr. Chen, how is it?"
"This is bad."
Dr. Chen sighed heavily and said, "Your son has end-stage uremia. The only way for him to survive is to undergo a kidney transplant."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Tang Wenyi waved her hand and said ostentatiously, "It's good that he can survive. No matter how much it costs, we can pay. So, Dr. Chen, when can you arrange for the surgery?"
"If only it were that simple."
"I'm sorry," said Dr. Chen, looking troubled. "Our hospital has yet to find a suitable kidney for your son."
Tang Wenyi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"
"If your hospital doesn't have it, do other hospitals have it?" Lu Yaohua asked hurriedly.
Dr. Chen shook his head. "As far as I know, I'm afraid there's no kidney in Shanghai that can be matched."
Tang Wenyi slammed the table and said angrily, "Then what use do I have for you doctors?! I donate so much money to your hospital every year, but at the critical moment, you guys are useless!"
"Trust me, I'll have this place of yours smashed!"
Dr. Chen was shocked at her words. He trembled as he said, "Even if you smash our place, we really can't concoct a compatible kidney…"
Lu Yaohua frowned and patted his wife's shoulder comfortingly. Then he asked, "Will my son survive if he doesn't undergo surgery?"
"Mr. Lu, let me put it this way. If we can't find a suitable kidney, death is imminent."
Dr. Chen paused, as if he thought of something, but said nothing.
On seeing this, Tang Wenyi snorted. "If you don't come up with a solution today, you can expect to lose your job!"
"Dr. Chen, did you think of something? No matter what it takes, as long as you can save my son, I can give you anything!"
Lu Yaohua continued, "If the surgery is successful, I'll give you another 1,000,000 yuan."
A stick and a carrot. Dr. Chen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, there is another way. If we have the kidney of a sibling, that is fine too."
Lu Yaohua quickly remembered that he had another son. He looked at the man and asked, "Is it also fine if they have the same father but different mothers?"
"… Yes."
Dr. Chen nodded. He had heard some rumors about Lu Yaohua, so he naturally knew that he had a son outside; only, he felt sorry for the elder son.
He added, "If you can convince him to agree, our hospital will immediately arrange for surgery. It will depend on whether the other party is willing or not."
Tang Wenyi said nonchalantly, "So what if he doesn't want to? Yaohua, you'll make him agree, right? You won't feel bad for a mere bastard, right?"
Lu Yaohua replied matter-of-factly, "Why would I? After all, Lu Ze is our real son."
…
Whereupon, Lu Yaohua took a deep breath. He had to get Lu Ming to agree to this!
At the thought of this, he looked up at Lu Ming who had opened the door.
Lu Ming asked coldly, "Why are you here?"
Lu Yaohua forced a smile. "I just wanted to visit you. How have you been these past few years? Oh right, where's Wenfang? Is she at home?"
Upon hearing this, his heart turned even colder.
"Mom had passed on two years ago."
Lu Yaohua's expression froze for a few seconds.
Lu Ming continued, "What's your purpose for coming here? If you're here to see me, I don't think a normal person would choose to bring unrelated people along."
Tang Wenyi knew that he was implying something, so she rolled her eyes and muttered, "He really thinks he's a big shot now."
If not for the fact that she needed Lu Ming's help, would she have come personally?
Lu Yaohua pulled Lu Ze forward and said, "This is your older brother. Call him 'brother'."
Lu Ze looked at Lu Ming in disdain. Since when did he end up having to call a rag-and-bone man 'brother'?
Lu Yaohua gave him a warning look.
He reluctantly said, "Brother."
Lu Ming sneered. "I dare not accept being called 'brother' by you."
He looked at Lu Yaohua and asked, "Is there any other matter?"
Lu Yaohua saw that he was not moved and softened his attitude. He said, "Little Ming, your brother hasn't been sleeping or eating well recently. He doesn't even have any energy left. We only found out that he has end-stage uremia after his medical examination.
Little Ming, only you can save him now."
Lu Ming felt increasingly agitated.
He thought that Lu Yaohua had finally repented, but this did not turn out to be the case.
This person was still trying to exploit his last bit of value!
He clenched his fists. "No energy? Look at him! You're telling me this is called no energy?"
Lu Ze's face was flushed. At most, he looked a little pale. Moreover, Tang Wenyi had been making tonic soups for him recently, causing him to be slightly fat.
"No matter how miserable his life is, he just needs to wave his hand and there will still be one servant after another caring for him! But I'm living like a beggar, not knowing when my next meal will be!
You only think of me now? When you abandoned your wife and child a few years ago, have you ever been soft-hearted? Two years ago, you weren't even there when mom passed away!"
Lu Ming did not wish to suppress his anger anymore. In one breath, he vented all the grievances that had piled up over the years!
"Lu Yaohua! If he's your son, then who the f*ck am I?!"
Lu Yaohua was speechless.
Upon seeing this, Tang Wenyi said affectedly, "Since you're Yaohua's son, you're my son. We'll be family from now on. I also don't mind having you move into our house."
Lu Ze added, "I'll definitely treat you like my own brother…"
"Who's your family? I have nothing to do with your family!"
Lu Ming interrupted them. "You want my help? Dream on!"
Lu Yaohua said forcibly, "Little Ming, we're family. Can you bear to leave your family in the lurch?"
"Yeah! It's just a kidney, not your heart!" Tang Wenyi said matter-of-factly.
Lu Ze added, "You're the older brother. Isn't it perfectly justified for you to save your younger brother?"
Looking at the three of them, Lu Ming no longer held any hope in his so-called father.
At that moment, he could hear an electronic voice in his mind:
[Superior Selection System activated…]
[Option 1: Agree to the request. Reward: A halo for enduring humiliation.
Option 2: Decline the request. Reward: 51% of the shares of Wanke Real Estate—one the top 500 listed companies in the country.]
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