Chapter 30: Origins - Let Him Stay!


    <em>[TN: Su Yi Mo as a child was also addressed as Au Yi Mo]</em>


    "My mama… It''s not that she doesn''t want me… She is just sick, very sick… That''s why she cannot recognize me…" Ran Feng Ge muttered softly, "… and I don''t have the money to treat my mama and grandpa, that''s why… that''s why… the only way… the only way to get money was…"


    Su Yi Mo blinked rapidly for a few seconds, understandinging over him: "So, all you still want is just money!"


    Ran Feng Ge squeezed his fingers into fists, looking up at Au Yi Mo apologetically: "I am so sorry…"


    "Forget it…" Su Yi Mo said after seeing how guilty the cute little Ran Feng Ge looked, those big ck eyes full of guilt and sincerity, there was no way he could bring himself to be mean to Ran Feng Ge any longer. Little Su Yi Mo was about to ask Ran Feng Ge for his name when his daddy pushed open the door, stepping inside to say: "Ah Mo, your mummy is on the phone waiting for you!"


    "Really?" Su Yi Mo turned and ran towards his father, hugging his leg as he took the mobile phone over from his father''s hands, "Mummy!"


    The voice on the other end of the line was saying something, something that made little Su Yi Mo very happy as he nodded his head quickly, his lips forming into an ecstatic smile as he cooed: "Okay, then I''ll apany daddy to go pick you up tomorrow!" Master Su looked at how happy his beloved son was on the phone and smiled before turning to observe the boy lying on the bed.


    Bright curious eyes, cute, and mischievous looking, no matter how he looked at him, the boy in the bed did not look like someone who was able to scheme.


    Ran Feng Ge was a very intelligent little boy, with just a single look at the older man who had stepped into the room, he was able to deduce that this man was that older brother''s father, therefore, this meant that this man standing before him was the head of the house… <em>That means he would be able to help me!</em>


    Thinking up to this point, Ran Feng Ge quickly scrambled out from the bed he had been lying on, acting like an adult, and made his way to the older man. Giving the older man a deep bow, using his most polite voice, Ran Feng Ge said: "Sir, nice to meet you. I have a request to ask from you, if you would give me a chance to exin myself."


    Master Su looked at the little boy before him with perfect mannerism. He had to force the chuckle bubbling up in his chest down as he ced a serious expression on his face.


    "… And what is it that you would like to request from me?" Master Su asked curiously.


    Ran Feng Ge felt his confidence build as he looked at how earnest the older man was treating him: "Firstly, I would like to apologize for causing all the trouble and inconvenience due to my unruly act before - I apologize sincerely."


    "Secondly, I would like to thank you for calling a physician to attend to me when I was sick - thank you very much!"


    "Lastly, I would like to exin who I am. My name is Ran Feng Ge, my grandfather is Ran Cheng, I believe you must have heard of what has happened to my family…"


    Speaking till here, Ran Feng Ge''s confidence fell as quickly as his eyes to the ground.


    On the other hand, Master Su could not believe what he heard, his eyes widening in shock at the newly acquired information - <em>Ran Cheng?!</em><em>All the rumours and news that had been going around with regards to the famous G city''s superintendent, Ran Cheng?! This is his grandson?!</em>


    "Both my grandfather and mother are sick and are currently hospitalized. As a child, I am unable to work nor am I able to raise enough money to fund their treatments… That is why I could onlye up with such a childish method to raise funds… However, you can rest assured Sir, I will definitely repay everything to you!" Ran Feng Ge had started out strongly, trying to impress the older man before him, but he could not help the defeated tone in his voice as he muttered out hisst sentence, "That is… I can only… I will definitely repay you in full when I grow up…"


    "Sir, will you please lend me some money now?"


    At this moment, Ah Yi who had been out gathering information on Ran Feng Ge had just slipped into the room to update his master about the little boy before them. Just as he was leaving, he could not stop himself from looking at Ran Feng Ge sadly.


    Hearing both sets of information, Master Su felt his heart wrench for the little boy before him - what he had said was true. He had of course heard of what had happened to Ran Cheng and his family; his two sons had been thrown in jail, Ran Feng Ge had not mentioned anything about his uncles because he did not know what exactly had happened to his beloved uncles. To have had such a big tragedy thrust upon his little body at such a young age, and yet he was still able to stand on his own to try and seek out remedies.


    The old saying of losing people during hard times always rang true.


    The moment the Ran Family''s situation turned, people who were able and willing to lend a helping hand would have decreased drastically. To force a young child of his age to try and take matters into his small hands to try and gather money to help out the family was very dangerous and very na?ve.


    Out of curiosity, Master Su asked: "And what about your father?"


    Hearing this, Ran Feng Ge gritted his teeth, biting down on his lips hard, his fists tight, knuckles bing white. Because of how long Ran Feng Ge was taking to answer, Master Su had thought he was not going to get an answer.


    "He''s dead!" came the answer finally.


    <em>If it had not been for that bad man, nothing bad would have happened to my family. </em>


    Since he had always been non-existent in his life, Ran Feng Ge decided that it was better for him to die offpletely in his heart.


    Su Yi Mo who had just finished talking to his mummy on the phone, caught thest bit of Ran Feng Ge''s conversation with his daddy, the three words that had sounded - <em>He''s dead!</em> - made Su Yi Mo run back into the room quickly, only to see Ran Feng Ge with a very miserable expression on his face.


    Making his way quickly over to his new younger brother, "Little liar, don''t cry…" Su Yi Mo said as he grabbed onto Ran Feng Ge''s hands.


    Raising his head to look at Su Yi Mo, his bottom lips on the verge of bleeding from how hard he had been biting onto them, tears collecting at the corner of his eyes as he returned the grip on Su Yi Mo''s hands: "I am not crying!"


    "Daddy!" Su Yi Mo turned and looked at his father, his eyes screaming <em>Let him stay! Please let him stay! Please!! </em>


    Master Su felt his heart melt as he looked upon both boys before him. Ran Feng Ge was still a child but he was mature beyond his years even though his methods were still a little childish. He was more than willing to adopt him so that he could apany his beloved little son, however, Ran Feng Ge was not an orphan, all he wanted was to raise funds for his family.


    Looking at his son''s expectant look, Master Su could only think of the consequences of epting Ran Feng Ge into his family - he would be an extra link for others to use to harm his son Ah Mo. But because of the family''s overly-suspicious behavior, Ah Mo had to suffer all these years of not having any close friends. It was hard for Ah Mo to actively seek out something for his own pleasure instead of thinking of the family''s opinion, to let this opportunity to make his son happy pass was indeed quite regretful.


    "The medical fees for you grandfather and your mother, I will settle it for you. I will also hire professional caregivers to watch over them. I do not need you to repay me anything, all I ask from you is that you apany my son until they recover. How does that sound?" Master Su asked as he got down on his knees in front of Ran Feng Ge, his hand resting on the head of Ran Feng Ge as he messed up the little boy''s hair, "I am willing to use all that money in exchange for you apanying my son."


    Ran Feng Ge''s eyes shone bright: "Really?"


    All he needed to do was apany the older boy and he would be able to earn all that money. Even though Ran Feng Ge felt guilty for taking advantage of other people''s kindness he couldn''t help but wish for all of this to be true.


    "Of course it is real! My daddy is the best!" Su Yi Mo eximed excitedly as he pulled Ran Feng Ge into a hug, "Now you don''t have to go! This is so awesome!"


    Ran Feng Ge allowed himself to be dragged about by Su Yi Mo, but he still didn''t forget to turn around and give his thanks to Master Su.


    Master Su watched the two boys run about happily into the adjoining room before righting himself. A mysterious smile forming on his lips.


    ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–


    Trantor: Jypoonie


    Proofreaders: Lyrick