DBSNTM-99.1

He could feel ringing in his ears. It was like countless flies were flying in them.

His head was very heavy. He tried hard to raise his head, but he couldn’t make it. It was as if someone was pressing it down.

Zhan began to have trouble catching his breath.

He tried to hold his fists, but it was very difficult for him to bend his fingers.

Zhan was very dizzy.

He knew that he was injured, but he didn’t know if it was very serious.

Breathing became more difficult for him, and his vision went foggy, his sight was getting dim.

In his trance, he heard sirens going, then someone called.

“Zhan? Are you all right?” The man’s voice was familiar.

It seemed to be Cheng. Yes, it was indeed him.

Zhan was relieved. He moved his lips, trying to answer his question, but he could not make a sound.

He took a deep breath and calmed down a little, then he fainted.

Zhan had a dream.

He was only seven years old in the dream, he was a pretty little boy at that time.

He was very lively and clever. His classmates and teachers liked him very much.

Even so, Jingtong did not change her opinion of Zhan.

When Zhan returned home happily with his A paper, Jingtong never felt happy for him, let alone praise him.

“You got A again? Didn’t I tell you not to do so well in the exam?”

Jingtong looked at Zhan seriously in displeasure, It seemed that Jingtong was never satisfied with his excellent grades. It was as if Zhan had done something bad.

The smile faded slowly from Zhan’s face.

He whispered, “I got A last time. My teacher told me to work harder.”

But Jingtong didn’t listen to him. She threw Zhan’s paper on the ground heavily. “But Zanilia is not happy!”

Then she began to scold Zhan, “I’ve told you so many times. Don’t work so hard. That will make Zanilia unhappy. You must not get A next time.”

Zhan lowered his head and looked very obedient, so Jingtong was not that angry. She stroked Zhan’s head and changed her cold tone.

Jingtong turned to say gently, “Zhan, I’m doing this for us. You don’t want me to suffer in the Xiao’s, do you?”

At that time, Zhan was too little to understand what Jingtong really meant.

Zhan only wanted Jingtong to live a good life.

He wanted him and Jingtong to live well, and he didn’t want Jingtong to have a hard time.

So, Zhan shook his head, Jingtong smiled with satisfaction, “Good boy. Remember not to get A next time. It’s best if you fail.”

Zhan never knew why his bad grades could make their life at the Xiao’s easier. But he always listened to Jingtong. He wanted to make his mother happy.

So, in the next exam, he filled the paper with wrong answers. In the end, he only got C.

His teacher was very disappointed in him, but Jingtong was very satisfied.

Zhan even got Jingtong’s praise. “Zhan, well done.”

Zhan was not happy about Jingtong’s praises. He felt that something was wrong. He should be happy. After all, he just wanted Jingtong to be happy and praise him.

But why did Zhan feel unhappy now?

Jingtong continued, “Zhan, listen to me. You’re doing the right thing. You must do the same in the future, Remember it?”

Zhan did not say anything. He felt that something went wrong.

Suddenly, the sound of a car came from outside.

Jingtong’s eyes lit up. “It’s Zanilia. She’s back from school.”

Zanilia had a driver, who sent her to school and picked her up every day. Jianmin was not off work yet. So, it must be Zanilia.

“I have to go down and see her, Zanilia doesn’t like you. So, just stay in your room and don’t go down. Don’t ruin her day.” Then Jingtong walked out.

When she walked to the door, she turned around and reminded Zhan again. “Zhan, remember what I said.”

After saying that, Jingtong did not leave. Instead, she stood by the door and waited for Zhan’s reply.

“I will,” Zhan replied as Jingtong wanted. But actually, Zhan felt very upset.

Jingtong smiled, closed the door and went out quickly. Zhan sat on the chair for a while.

Then he walked to the door, opened it and walked out quietly.

The mansion was two stories high. Zhan could see the hall on the first floor from the balcony on the second floor.

Jingtong and Zanilia happened to walk in, Jingtong asked Zanilia with concern, “Do you like the canteen at school? I could bring you lunch tomorrow.”

Zhan was a little envious, Jingtong had never asked him this before. Jingtong only told him not to do well in the exam and not to make Zanilia angry.

Zhan was a little sad. He was choked up. He blinked his eyes and tears fell down his cheeks.

Zhan just wished that Jingtong could care more about him. Maybe Jingtong would also ask him about the canteen food. Or Jingtong could ask his teacher how Zhan did at school.

However, Jingtong said that she just wanted to live well with the Xiaos.

At the age of seven, Zhan knew that Zanilia was his half-sister. Zhan also knew that Jingtong had a rough time at the Xiao’s.

Zhan wiped his eyes on the back of his hand. He was sad and aggrieved.

However, Jingtong was his mother, Jingtong must have a reason to do so. Zhan thought he should listen to Jingtong, so Jingtong would be happier.

Zhan looked at Jingtong and Zanilia again. Now they were walking upstairs.

Jingtong was still talking to Zanilia with concerns, but Zanilia looked impatient.

Zhan did not know why Zanilia was so impatient.

Why did Zanilia look like this? Shouldn’t she be happy that someone cared about her?

Zhan only wished that Jingtong could care more for him.

As they walked closer, Zhan hid behind a pillar.

“Zanilia, I don’t want to talk too much. But I just care about you….”

Zhan poked his head out and looked at them.

Zanilia could not bear Jingtong anymore. She turned around and pushed Jingtong away.

Zanilia pushed Jingtong with a bit of strength, and Jingtong was caught off guard and fell.

Zanilia said coldly, “Who do you think you are? My mother?”

Zhan did not hear Zanilia’s words. He only saw Zanilia throw Jingtong to the ground.

Zhan immediately ran over to them, “Mom, are you alright?”

Jingtong stood up soon. “I’m fine.”

As she stood up, she secretly pushed Zhan away. Although Jingtong was indifferent to Zhan, Zhan still cared much about Jingtong.

Zhan stood at the side and looked at Jingtong carefully. Then he found that Jingtong’s hand was scratched. Zhan got a little angry.

He turned to Zanilia and shouted, “Why did you push my mother? She cares about you.”

Zanilia’s face changed. “Are you blaming me?”

“Zhan, what are you talking about?” Jingtong noticed it and tried to stop Zhan right away.

“Mom, Zanilia pushed you. It’s her fault!” Zhan turned around and argued with Jingtong seriously.

However, Jingtong only cared about Zanilia. So, Jingtong did not care what Zhan was thinking.

She said sternly, “Zhan, apologize to Zanilia!”

“Mom….” Zhan was frightened by Jingtong’s expression and looked at her helplessly.

Jingtong pulled Zhan’s arm and pushed him forward. “Apologize to Zanilia! Did you hear me?”

Zhan did not think that he was wrong, but he thought that he should listen to Jingtong. Zhan looked at Zanilia and couldn’t say anything.

Zanilia raised her chin and looked at Zhan arrogantly, Her eyes were filled with contempt.

Zanilia didn’t like Zhan at all, let alone Jingtong.

Zhan lowered his head and bit his lips. “Sister, I’m sorry.”

Zhan knew that Zanilia did not like to be called by him in this way, but Jingtong insisted that Zhan should call Zanilia like that.

“Don’t call me that! Who do you think you are? We’re not a family or anything else. How dare you call me that?”

Zanilia’s harsh words made Zhan very embarrassed and angry. However, Jingtong was here. Zhan could do nothing but clench his hands angrily.

Jingtong also looked awkward. However, she didn’t blame Zanilia at all when she spoke again.

“Zanilia, I know that you are angry at Zhan, Don’t worry. He won’t do that anymore. I’ve talked to him.”

“And you!” Zanilia turned to look at Jingtong and said with disdain, “Don’t act like you’re my mother. I only have one mother, and she’s dead! You only make me sick!”

After saying that, Zanilia patted her clothes as if Jingtong and Zhan stained it.

Then she turned around and went back to her room, Zhan was relieved, as Zanilia finally left.

Then Zhan turned around and found that Jingtong was still looking in Zanilia’s direction. Zanilia had returned to her room and closed the door.

Zhan could only whisper to Jingtong, “Mom.”

Jingtong turned around. The smile on her face disappeared. She said coldly, “Follow me.”

Zhan followed Jingtong to his room. He walked behind Jingtong and closed the door. Zhan remembered that every time Jingtong talked to him, Jingtong closed the door tightly.

Jingtong had her back to Zhan, so Zhan could not see Jingtong’s face.

But he knew that Jingtong was angry.

“Mom….” Before Zhan could continue, Jingtong turned around and slapped him hard.

Jingtong almost used all her strength. Zhan staggered before he stood still.

Zhan felt a kind of ringing in his ears after Jingtong slapped him.

He was puzzled and looked at Jingtong in confusion.

Zhan covered his face and whispered, “Mom, why did you hit me?”

His voice was so low that only Zhan himself could hear it. However, it was too quiet in the room, Jingtong was very close to Zhan, so Jingtong also heard it.

“What did I tell you?” Jingtong looked at Zhan sternly. “I’ve told you a thousand times. Don’t get Zanilia mad. But you shouted at her just now!”

Jingtong was very angry when she mentioned this. “Do you know how much effort I put into getting her to treat me better? Now you wiped it all out!”

“You’re happy now?”

“Are you my son or my enemy?”

Hearing Jingtong’s accusations, Zhan opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He didn’t know what to say.

Jingtong was blaming him for everything, but he had no idea what he had done wrong. Zhan did not think that he was cursing Zanilia. He was just arguing with Zanilia.

From Zhan’s point of view, Zanilia was the one who had done something wrong.

However, Jingtong chose to blame Zhan instead of Zanilia.

Zhan remained silent, Jingtong thought that Zhan had recognized his mistake. Jingtong heaved a long sigh of relief. She bent down and stroked Zhan’s face.

“Zhan, I was a little carried away. I hope you understand that. I don’t want to do this either…”

Jingtong was still blaming Zhan. Zhan clenched his hands and tried to hold back his tears.

He said firmly in a low voice, “No.”

Jingtong did not get it, so she asked, “What?”

Zhan looked at Jingtong. He looked tough even though he was only a little kid.

He said firmly and clearly, “Mom, you’re wrong. It’s Zanilia who did something wrong. You’re just concerned about her. Even if she doesn’t like you, she shouldn’t push you.”

Zhan affirmed himself to be right.

Jingtong was stunned and then laughed angrily, “Zhan, do you think that I won’t punish you? You’re getting naughty. I’ve talked to you for so long, but you don’t understand anything!”

Zhan bit his lips. “No, I know it very well.”

Jingtong took a few deep breaths, and raised her hand but put it down in the end.

Zhan’s cheek was swollen after Jingtong slapped him. Although Jingtong was angry that Zhan was not sensible, she would not slap Zhan again. After all, Zhan was his son.

“You won’t have dinner today. Stay in the room and think about it. You can’t get out until you know what I really mean.” After saying that, Jingtong opened the door and left.

Zhan heard Jingtong banging the door.

Zhan couldn’t help but feel wronged and sad. He sniffed once or twice. He failed to handle it and cried in the end.

Even though he was grounded by Jingtong, he did not know why he had to think about it. He was not wrong.

Zhan sat on the ground and cried while murmuring, “It’s Zanilia’s fault….”

---

At dinner time, nobody knocked on the door or asked Zhan to eat.

Zhan touched his flat belly. He was so hungry that he walked to the door and tried to open it. He wanted to get downstairs and see if they were having dinner.

However, he couldn’t open the door.

Someone locked it from outside, Zhan was flustered and started patting the door.

“Open the door!”

“Is anybody there? Open the door!”

“Mom, I was wrong. Please open the door.”

Being locked up was very terrible for Zhan.

He was only seven years old. However, no one came to open the door until his voice became hoarse.

It was dinner time. Everyone was in the dining hall, and the servants were also downstairs.

Even if there were servants passing by, they didn’t dare to open the door for Zhan.

In the dining hall downstairs.

Xiao Shenhai sat at the table as the host. He looked around with a commanding appearance.

In the end, his gaze fell on Jingtong as he asked, “Where is your son?”

Shenhai frowned slightly. Everyone knew he was not happy now.

Jingtong was most afraid of Shenhai, the master of the Xiao’s, She knew that Shenhai did not like her, so she made a lot of efforts.

However, Shenhai had never changed his opinion of her after so many years.

Jingtong lowered her head. She did not dare to look at Shenhai. “Zhan is not feeling well, so he doesn’t want to have dinner.”

Looking at Jingtong, Shenhai was very disappointed that she was still so timid.

So, he turned to stare at Jianmin. “It’s your own business to educate your children, I won’t interfere.”

Jingtong did not know what Shenhai meant, so she also turned to look at Jianmin. However, Jianmin was glaring at her.

Jingtong was also afraid of Jianmin. She panicked when he glared at her.

Zanilia noticed Jingtong’s reactions.

A nine-year-old child had known a lot of things. More than the adults thought they should know, especially girls.

Jianmin respected Shenhai very much. That was why Jianmin told his two kids to be good at dinner every day. Because Shenhai valued dinner, Jianmin couldn’t let his children cause any troubles.

Zhan did not come down for dinner, which got Shenhai mad.

After dinner, Shenhai went out for a walk.

After Shenhai left, Zanilia decided to tell Jianmin everything.

She pouted and said, “Dad!”

“What’s wrong, honey?”

Jianmin loved Zanilia and Feng’s mother very much. However, not long after Zanilia was born, her mother passed away. Zanilia could never know what her mother was like, so Jianmin was biased and loved her more.

Jianmin loved Zanilia more than Feng. So, Jianmin’s face changed when Zanilia pouted and looked unhappy.

He turned to look at Jingtong angrily. “What’s going on? What happened to Zanilia?”

“I…” Jingtong looked at Zanilia, not knowing what to say.

Zanilia interrupted her. “Dad, her son shouted at me today.”

“What?” Jianmin’s face sank.

He turned to Jingtong again. “How did you teach your son? How dare he shout at Zanilia? You’re such a terrible mother! I asked you to take good care of Zanilia. But what have you done to her?”

Jingtong had always known that Jianmin did not like Zhan very much, and neither did she.

Therefore, she didn’t feel bothered when Jianmin muttered about their som. Instead, she began to complain more and more about Zhan in her heart.

It was all Zhan’s fault.

Jingtong hurriedly said, “It is Zhan’s fault. I’ll give him an earful. Don’t be angry.”

Jianmin married Jingtong mainly because Jingtong was beautiful and loyal to him, Jianmin found Jingtong’s attitude satisfactory. He didn’t say anything else.

However, Zanilia was not satisfied that Jianmin had let Zhan off so easily.

Previously, she had heard the private discussions of the servants at home. They said Zhan was prettier and better at study than her.

In short, in their eyes, Zhan was better than her in everything.

Zanilia had been spoiled since childhood, and Jianmin had satisfied her all needs. How could she stand such comments? She hated Zhan and Jingtong in her heart.

To be honest, Jingtong treated her well, much better than Zhan.

However, Zhan looked like Jingtong.

When she saw Jingtong’s face, she couldn’t help thinking about Zhan, which made her angry.

“Dad!” Zanilia hugged Jianmin’s arm with a wronged expression, “I feel Zhan dares to scold me only because he is prettier and better at study than me. He feels that he is better than me in everything.”

“Bullshit! You are the best. Zhan is nobody.” Jianmin’s heart ached.

Xiao Feng couldn’t listen anymore when he was still in the middle of his meal.

He put down his chopsticks and said, “Dad, Zhan is also your son. Even if you don’t like him, you don’t have to put it that way, do you?”

After Jianmin’s wife passed away, Xiao Feng was brought up by Shenhai, Compared to Jianmin, Shenhai was a reasonable man, so Feng, who was brought up by him, was naturally more reasonable than Zanilia.

On the other hand, Feng and Shenhai were closer. He wasn’t that close to his biological father, Jianmin.

This was another reason why Jianmin loved Zanilia so much.

Jianmin whispered, “You know nothing. Finish your meal and go study.”

Feng rolled his eyes, stood up and went upstairs. As soon as he went up the stairs, he heard something coming from the other end of the corridor.

He followed the voice and walked to Zhan’s room.

Feng leant his ear against the door and heard Zhan’s weak voice, “Mom, please open the door…” His voice was already extremely hoarse.

Feng straightened his body and reached out to open the door, only to find that the door was already locked.

He slammed the door twice. “Zhan? Are you there?”

Zhan, who was kneeling by the door in the room, suddenly heard Feng’s voice from outside and thought that it was his hallucination.

He quieted down and leant his ear to listen carefully to what was happening outside.

Noticing that it was quiet inside, Feng shouted, “Zhan?”

Zhan recognized Feng’s voice. He hurriedly stood up and anxiously shouted, “Feng!”

Feng asked him, “Who locked you in?”

“It’s … Mom.” Zhan lowered his voice.

Feng did not hear it clearly, “Who?”

Zhan repeated, “It’s my mother.”

“Your mother?” Feng remembered that in the movie he had seen before, the heroine went crazy and locked her son in his room.

So, he asked Zhan, “Why? What’s wrong with her?”

Zhan was stunned by Feng’s question.

But soon, Zhan retorted, “No, there is nothing wrong with her.”

“Wait, I’ll get someone to open the door for you!”

Feng wasn’t interested in whether there was something wrong with Jingtong, After Feng finished speaking, he turned around and went downstairs to look for help.

Zhan leaned against the door and tried to listen to the sound outside, but he could not hear anything.

Feng had already left.

Seven-year-old child could be very sensitive.

Zhan could clearly feel that no one in the Xiao family liked him, especially Zanilia, who had an indescribable hostility towards him.

Actually, he didn’t have much contact with Feng, but he could feel that Feng didn’t hate him as much as Zanilia did.

He thought that Feng was not lying when he said that he would find someone to open the door.

After Feng left, Zhan stood by the door and waited for Feng to find someone to open the door for him.

Not long after, someone was outside the door.

Zhan lay by the door and faintly heard Feng’s voice, “Open this door.”

Hearing this, Zhan hurriedly retreated aside and waited for the people outside to open the door. Shortly, the door was opened from outside.

As soon as the door opened, Zhan saw the servant and Feng standing outside, Zhan gratefully said, “Thank you, Feng!”

Seeing this, the servant who opened the door nodded slightly at Feng, “Young Master, I’ll leave you now,”

“Go.” Feng waved his hand, signaling the servant to leave.

Then, Feng turned to look at Zhan, “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Go down and find something to eat.”

He left as soon as he finished speaking, Zhan looked at Feng and shouted, “Thank you, Feng!”

This might not be a big deal for Feng. However, this was the first time Zhan felt the kindness of someone from the Xiao family.

Normally, Feng did not pay much attention to him, and Zhan did his best not to have any friction with Feng. Consequently, everything was in peace between them.

Hearing this, Feng frowned and turned to look at him.

Zhan stood at the door and looked at him with his bloodshot eyes, smiling.

Feng couldn’t tell what he felt in his heart. In fact, he really didn’t hate Zhan. He just didn’t like Jingtong, and Zhan was her son.

Zhan watched as Feng’s figure disappeared. Only then did he walk downstairs. After a few steps, Zhan stopped again, because he recalled Jingtong’s words.

Jingtong grounded him in his room. He was not allowed to be out of the room and have dinner until he admitted his fault.

If Jingtong saw him leave the room, she would be angry, right?

He didn’t want Jingtong to be angry.

Zhan hesitated to go back to his room. Right at this moment, Jingtong appeared at the end of the corridor.

Zhan’s expression changed as he froze on the spot and waited for Jingtong to come over.

When Jingtong got closer, Zhan noticed that her expression was extremely ugly.

Thus, Zhan called out carefully. “Mom….”

There was a trace of timidity in his voice.

Jingtong’s face was cold as she reached out and grabbed Zhan’s arm, pulling him into his room rudely.

After entering, she slammed the door. Zhan shrunk his shoulders in fright at the sound of the door closing.

He could feel Jingtong’s anger at this moment, so he was scared.

Jingtong reached out and grabbed Zhan’s head, forcing Zhan to look up at her.

“How dare you ask Feng to open the door for you? Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?”

Jingtong pulled Zhan’s hair so hard that Zhan was in pain and his voice trembled slightly, “Mom, it hurts.”

“I just want you to feel the pain. Do you know how careful and difficult it is for me to live in the Xiao family?” Jingtong pulled even harder, as if she was venting her anger.

Zhan’s eyes were filled with tears, but he didn’t dare to cry out in pain anymore.

He bit his lips and said, “Then let’s leave the Xiao’s. If we leave, you won’t be in such a difficult and painful situation.”

Jingtong always told Zhan how painful and difficult her life was. Zhan kept her words in mind. Zhan felt that since Jingtong was in such pain, she should leave the Xiao’s.

After leaving, Jingtong would not be in such pain. She didn’t have to spend time with Zanilia who hated her anymore.

“Leave?” Jingtong was so shocked that she let go of his hand, “Zhan, are you talking nonsense? How could we leave?”

“But you…”

Zhan still wanted to say something, but Jingtong interrupted him, “As long as you listen to me, we can still live a good life in the Xiao family. Do you understand?”

Jingtong’s tone was unusually tough, Zhan could only nod obediently.

After that, Zhan was more obedient to Jingtong than before.

Jingtong told him not to get full mark in the exam, so he would not get full mark in the exam.

Sometimes he did well in the exam and sometimes he failed.

At first, the teacher would talk to him after each exam, but then she gradually stopped looking for him. Jingtong was very satisfied with Zhan’s exam results.

Zhan thought that if he could make Jingtong happy by doing poorly in the exam, he would be willing to.

Zhan ran a newspaper independently and won the prize in the art festival of his school that year.

The reward was a pen. It was an ordinary pen, but it was a reward, so he was very happy.

He thought that if he showed it to his mother, his mother would be happy, right?

But he quickly remembered the exam paper he had taken back. He thought that his mother would be happy for his full mark, but Jingtong would be angry instead of happy.

Zhan realized that Jingtong would not be happy about what he thought would make Jingtong happy.

So, he silently put the pen back into his bag.

After school, he crossed the alley and walked home along an old street as usual, When he passed an intersection, he stopped to wait for the green light.

Just as he stood there, he heard footsteps behind him.

Zhan turned around and saw that it was a little boy. He was taller than him, and he should be older than him. The clothes on his body were a little dirty.

Zhan felt that this boy was a little weird, but this boy looked pretty. Zhan stared at the boy out of curiosity.

But the boy, as if he hadn’t seen Zhan, walked straight past him and onto the road.

Zhan saw that it was a red light. Not far away, another car drove over.

Seeing that the boy was still slowly crossing the road, Zhan couldn’t help but shout, “Hey!”