CHAPTER 223: ENCOUNTER ZHAO CHUN AND OBJECT ON ROUTE 213 (2)

Tian Sangsang took a closer look—pink bodycon dress—wasn’t that Ji Yao’er?

But how could she know Zhao Chun? And the two of them seemed so flirtatious?

That guy was undeniably Zhao Chun. Fair skin, a straight nose, and handsome features. Even with glasses on, his overwhelming femininity couldn’t be hidden. Maybe these young people thought dressing like this was trendy, but Tian Sangsang really couldn’t bear this style.

Damn Zhao Chun, disappearing without a word, only to be living it up here!

Zhao Chun and Ji Yao’er crossed the street side by side, brushing past Tian Sangsang—

"Chun Zisu!" Meng Shuyan waved from his wheelchair, his big eyes crinkled into a smile.

Mom used to say that goodbyes are for better reunions. He had found his dad and now had come across Chun Zisu in the city. How exciting!

Zhao Chun and his group walked straight past without stopping.

Meng Shuyan blinked in confusion, staring at them. "Chun Zisu??" What the heck—why wasn’t Chun Zisu responding to him?!

"Zhao Chun?" Tian Sangsang turned and called out to him.

"Boss, someone’s calling you," Yao Yu whispered.

"No kidding." Zhao Chun turned around; he’d been aware of someone calling him since earlier. Chun Zisu? He wasn’t sure about that, but the name Zhao Chun had come through crystal clear.

Zhao Chun lifted his chin arrogantly. "You calling me?"

Ugh, this woman dressed like she’s straight out of a countryside fair. An African lady speaking such accurate Mandarin?

"Isn’t your name Zhao Chun?" Tian Sangsang frowned at him. Zhao Chun seemed off today.

Zhao Chun nodded. "Do you know me?"

Tian Sangsang smiled. "Don’t think you can hide behind those black glasses and I won’t recognize you."

Her smile was captivating, her eye corners slightly upturned, like blossoming peach flowers in her gaze. The teasing tone in her voice almost made it seem like they’d been old friends for ages.

Zhao Chun’s heart skipped—a thought so absurd: how could he possibly know an African woman? He didn’t remember studying in Africa.

"Zhao Chun?" Ji Yao’er whispered sweetly, "Do you know this Black lady?"

"No way. Who’d know someone this dark?" Zhao Chun felt embarrassed in front of the new beauty he’d just met. Seriously, even a random Black lady could call his name now?

He had met Ji Yao’er in a dance hall, where she’d told him she was studying dance. Dancing with her had been entrancing—she felt so soft and pliant. Whenever he was near Ji Yao’er, a surge of masculine desire welled up in him. Such a strong yearning—it felt like the time was right to start a relationship.

Ji Yao’er shot a condescending glance at Tian Sangsang. Still up to her old tricks—harassing Captain Jiang back in the village, and now randomly calling out to men on the street, all without considering her own worth. Remembering her brother-in-law’s words about Jiang Jinghuai’s displeasure with her, Ji Yao’er knew Tian Sangsang had gone to Jinghuai to snitch. That shameless woman! Always pretending to be one thing on the surface while secretly playing another role! Still, with Lu Chi as her brother-in-law, Ji Yao’er might respect Jiang Jinghuai, but she wasn’t terrified of him.

Tian Sangsang sneered coldly—a laugh that made Zhao Chun inexplicably feel a chill down below.

Oh dear lord, scary African woman—why did her laugh send shivers down his spine?

"Chun Zisu, don’t you recognize me anymore?" Meng Shuyan pouted, looking aggrieved, tears glossing his dark eyes.

Goodness, as if he were bullying a kid. Zhao Chun actually liked children. "Little guy, you’re really cute. Are you calling me Uncle Chun Zisu? But you’ve got the wrong person—I’m not your uncle."

"You are Chun Zisu," Meng Shuyan looked on the verge of tears.

"Sigh..."

"Let’s go—time to hit the dance hall," Ji Yao’er urged.

"Goodbye, little guy." Zhao Chun smiled politely and walked away with Ji Yao’er.

"Do you know those two?" Zhao Chun asked Yao Yu in low voice, pulling him closer.

"Nope, Boss. First time seeing them today," Yao Yu replied honestly.

"Not familiar..." Zhao Chun took off his glasses. "If even you don’t know them, then I certainly shouldn’t either." He glanced back. That kid seemed really upset... but he genuinely didn’t recognize him.

"Boss, could it be you forgot something? After all, you..." got memory problems.

Zhao Chun touched his chin. "Forgot a little, maybe—but no way I’d know an African woman and a kid. The kid might be cute, but he’s definitely not my nephew."

Yao Yu thought back to the woman’s demeanor—a rather distinctive personality if you ignored her looks.

"An African woman, huh? Speaking fluent Mandarin—since when did African women start showing up here? Normally, it’s us heading abroad, not the other way around."

"How should I know?" Zhao Chun glared at him.

"What are you guys talking about?" Ji Yao’er leaned in to ask.

Yao Yu immediately stepped away from Zhao Chun.

Ji Yao’er raised her brows. "Do you two know Tian Sangsang?"

"Tian Sangsang?" A jolt ran through Zhao Chun’s heart. He asked softly, "Her name is Tian Sangsang?" It was certainly a unique name.

"Yes. She’s the wife of a soldier from our army district. Just moved from the countryside this year to join him. She’s got a rather loose character—calling out to random men on the street like she did today isn’t a first for her."

Zhao Chun’s face twisted into disdain. "Sounds like a case of ugly people making more trouble. And what about the kid?"

"That’s her son."

Both Zhao Chun and Yao Yu were momentarily speechless.

"Mom, why did Chun Zisu treat me like this?"

"Chun Zisu’s forgotten me." Unable to hold back, Meng Shuyan burst into tears, hiccupping sobs.

"Son, oh son," Tian Sangsang felt a bit sad herself, wiping his tears. "Don’t cry, okay? Crying for someone like him isn’t worth it—he’s not truly your Chun Zisu."

Meng Shuyan quickly raised his gaze to her.

"Think about it. Is this how the Chun Zisu you know behaves?"

Meng Shuyan sorrowfully shook his head.

"Exactly. So he’s not Chun Zisu. He’s just someone who looks a lot like him."

"But they look too much alike—practically identical. I’m not a three-year-old; my eyes are perfectly fine." Meng Shuyan felt his mother was merely trying to comfort him. He hung his head in grief. That clearly was Chun Zisu. He knew because they’d slept together; who would know better than him?

"Yes, they look alike. He’s Zhao Chun’s twin brother—his name is Zhao Yuan," Tian Sangsang said with a serious face.

"Twin brother?" Meng Shuyan sniffled, finally stopping his tears.

"Mhm. Chun Zisu once told me he had a twin brother named Zhao Yuan. They’re identical twins, practically indistinguishable—even their own parents could barely tell them apart. Zhao Chun is in college, while his brother is a street hooligan who floats around like a ghost, day in and day out..."

"Today, Mom’s teaching you something important. We shouldn’t judge people only by appearances but by their essence. Think about Chun Zisu’s style before—how he dressed, how he behaved—does this guy fit that at all? Certainly not! So he’s not Zhao Chun! Now let’s go find the real Zhao Chun!"