"The root of disaster? What exactly happened between the Zheng and Keene families over ten years ago?"
Evan Lin's heart stirred at these words, and he asked curiously.
Evan only knew that Joy Zheng had left the Oceanport Zheng Clan because she was driven out by her family, but he had never learned the exact reason.
It wasn’t the kind of thing Evan could just ask Joy Zheng about directly—otherwise, it’d be like ripping open an old wound in her heart all over again.
"Drop the act! Don’t tell me you’re not that woman’s son, trying to play dumb and slip through the cracks!"
Rowan Zhu snorted, glaring at Evan with pure contempt. He figured Evan was just a coward, afraid of trouble and trying to cut ties with the Zhengs in hopes that Old Master Zhu would step in and protect him: "I've already checked—you’re the kid who came from Whitewood with Joy Zheng!"
Evan frowned and looked up at Old Master Zhu sitting above, completely ignoring Rowan Zhu’s words. "I’m asking you—what happened over ten years ago?"
"More than ten years ago, the Zheng and Keene families were generational allies. Henry Keene from the Keene family always liked Joy Zheng from the Zhengs, and the two families had already agreed to a marriage. But at the last moment, Joy Zheng suddenly turned up pregnant."
"She refused to name the father of the child, and in the end, she went straight to the Keene family to break things off, rejecting the engagement and shaming both families."
"After that, the Keene family was furious and demanded an explanation. That was when the news broke that Joy Zheng had been expelled from the Zheng family."
"First, you can stay at the Zhu clan tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll personally take you to the Zheng estate and hand you over to the Zheng and Keene families. What happens to you after that—your fate—is up to them."
Hearing Old Master Zhu’s words, Yvonne Zhu grew even more anxious. Beside her, Bryce Gu kept taking deep breaths to calm himself, inwardly bitter—he could only blame Old Master Zhu for not believing him. This was basically kicking Master Lin from Seacrest out the door.
"Second, you can leave right now. I won’t send anyone to interfere with your freedom—you can go wherever you want. But once you walk out that door, don’t tell anyone you came from the Zhu clan. Whether you get caught or manage to escape Oceanport, that’s up to your own luck."
Old Master Zhu finished speaking and said nothing more.
Rowan Zhu crossed his arms and looked at Evan. "Time to choose. Don’t waste our time."
Yvonne Zhu looked nervous, and Bryce Gu also glanced at Evan.
"Thank you for telling me all this."
Evan nodded slightly, didn’t hesitate for a second, and walked straight out.
"Where are you going?"
Seeing Evan leave, Yvonne Zhu jumped up to follow him.
"Yvonne!"
Old Master Zhu barked coldly.
Yvonne Zhu shuddered. She’d just stepped forward, but before her foot hit the ground, she froze in place.
Bryce Gu opened his mouth, but didn’t say a word.
Once Old Master Zhu made a decision, no one could change it.
"It’s fine. We’ll meet again soon."
Evan glanced at Yvonne Zhu, smiled, and then walked slowly into the rain, his figure growing blurry in the distance.
"Meet again soon?"
Rowan Zhu sneered, "I bet he has no idea how terrifying the Keene family is!"
"Does he really think that just because he bled all over the Zheng estate last night, he’s not a Zheng anymore? The Keenes aren’t that stupid! And now he’s come to our Zhu clan pretending to be Master Lin from Seacrest—does this kid think everyone’s an idiot?"
Rowan Zhu banged the table repeatedly.
"But he really is Master Lin from Seacrest! And he called to get Selina released!"
Yvonne Zhu wouldn’t back down, wanting to argue.
"So where’s Selina? Hm? Didn’t you say he called and got her released? Where is she now?"
Rowan Zhu stared at Yvonne Zhu and kept asking.
"She’s... probably still on the way."
Yvonne Zhu’s voice faltered.
Evan made the call this morning, but now it’s night and Selina Zhu still hasn’t arrived.
"So she’s not back! And you actually believe him? What power does he have to convince the Southriver Sword Sect to release someone? Who does he think he is!"
Rowan Zhu pressed on, relentless.
Old Master Zhu frowned. "Rowan, that’s enough!"
"Dad, I know you dote on Yvonne, but you can’t let her mess around on this!" Rowan Zhu snorted. "If this keeps up, today she brings home a fake Master Lin from Seacrest, and tomorrow she might bring back a dead Master Morgan!"
"Then our Zhu clan would be a total mess!"
Rowan Zhu’s voice boomed. Old Master Zhu shook his head. "It’s late. Go to bed—tomorrow morning, we visit the Zheng estate."
"Stop arguing about that boy. He has nothing to do with our Zhu clan!"
"Enough. Disperse."
Evan walked out of the Zhu estate, strolling through Oceanport’s rainy streets. The cold wind and rain were parted by an invisible force, never touching him.
Evan held his battered old Nokia phone, standing on the city street where racer Ma Long once drove. The city lights ahead looked like a sea of stars.
"I never imagined things were like that back then."
"Turns out Mom suffered way more than I thought."
Evan took a deep breath.
"I never wanted Mom to worry about my identity, but now I have no choice but to reveal a little more."
Evan seemed to make up his mind and started dialing several numbers.