Charles Chase spoke earnestly, patiently waiting for Chi Chi to understand.
At first, Cecilia Ye looked bewildered, thinking he was just saying—like before—that he could be her brother.
But Charles Chase’s expression was too serious. Behind those gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes even glittered with unshed tears.
As if realizing something, Cecilia Ye blinked, a spark of hope flickering in her gaze—yet she feared she might be wrong.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. All she managed was a soft whisper: “Brother?”
“Yes, I’m your brother.”
He couldn’t bear to see Chi Chi look like that—hopeful yet so timid, like a little girl whose biggest wish has finally come true, but who fears it’s all just a dream.
“I asked you before if you wanted to find your family. Now, your brother has found you.”
He reached out, gently wiping away a teardrop clinging to Cecilia’s lashes.
“Besides me, there’s your mother. She loves you very much; she never wanted to abandon you. She misses you more than you can imagine, but there were things that made it impossible for her to come for you.”
Tears finally spilled from Cecilia Ye’s eyes. She shook her head, her shock beyond words. Her voice quivered with grief and longing. “My mother…?”
Charles Chase’s heart twisted with pain. He knew Chi Chi would cry, but he never expected to be hurting just as much himself.
“Yes. Do you want to see her?”
Sobbing, Cecilia’s tears fell like rain. “She didn’t… she didn’t abandon me?”
She covered her little face with her hands, overwhelmed. Sourness, joy, fear, and sadness—all these tangled feelings flooded her heart at once, wrapping her fragile soul tight.
That tiny ember of hope she’d buried for more than twenty years was finally being answered.
“No, she never abandoned you,” Charles Chase soothed, voice gentle and patient. “Leaving you at the orphanage was the only way she thought she could keep you safe.”
He just wanted to give his little sister the very best the world had to offer.
Fu Zhiyao stood by, brows furrowed as he watched her small frame tremble and listened to her sad cries. His heart ached for her.
His fists clenched at his sides as he tried—and failed—not to rush to her side and hold her close.
In the end, he gave in, coming to the edge of the sofa to gently comfort her. “Don’t cry. This is a good thing, isn’t it?”
“I just… I’m too happy, but also a little sad. I misunderstood for so long,” Cecilia Ye choked out between sobs.
Charles Chase gently pulled her hand out of Fu Zhiyao’s grasp. “Do you want to come with me and meet her now?”
Cecilia nodded, wiping her tears away. “Okay.”
Charles Chase helped her to her feet. Cecilia Ye glanced down at herself—her plain little white dress. Was it too simple?
She’d never seen her mother before. Shouldn’t she try to look her best? She didn’t know what having a mother was like, or what kind of person her mother was. Would her mother like her?
“Should…I change my clothes?”
“No need. You look perfect just like this.”
Cecilia Ye really did resemble Ye Jing: delicate brows, almond eyes—almost identical features. But illness had stolen Ye Jing’s radiance, leaving her far too thin.
Hearing his reassurance, Chi Chi finally relaxed a little.
Charles Chase started leading her out. Blocking Fu Zhiyao’s attempt to follow, his gaze was sharp as a blade.
“President Foster, this is a family matter. You don't need to come.”
His tone left no room for argument—he was as prickly toward Fu Zhiyao as ever.
Fu Zhiyao let out a cold laugh and grabbed Cecilia’s arm. “Cecilia Ye and I aren’t divorced. She’s still my wife.”
A cold standoff flared between the two men—neither willing to back down. Cecilia Ye quickly withdrew her hand from Fu Zhiyao, afraid they might start fighting again, as they had before.
After what happened last night, she still held some grudges against Fu Zhiyao.
Besides, she wasn’t sure what she would even see or feel when she met her mother. She didn’t want to be the girl who always relied on Fu Zhiyao—this, she could handle herself.
“Fu Zhiyao, I want to go on my own.”
She looked Fu Zhiyao square in the eyes, unwavering.
His brow furrowed, his tall frame standing rooted in place as he looked back at her.
Under his gaze, Cecilia Ye suddenly felt a little sad.
Once upon a time, she’d imagined that if she ever found her family, the first person she’d want to tell would be Fu Zhiyao.
For so many years, he had been by her side for nearly all of life’s major moments. But now… it felt like a thick wall had grown between them.
Charles Chase led her away from the house. As they passed, Fu Zhiyao stood motionless, a wave of pain squeezing his heart.
His Cecilia had found her family. He ought to be happy for her, but…
Would she leave him now?
Would she stop needing him?
…
Cecilia Ye followed Charles Chase to the car. As they drove toward the city center, she sat in the passenger seat, so nervous she kept twisting her fingers, barely even feeling it.
“Cecilia, your mother’s in the hospital right now, but she’s recovering. Don’t worry when you see her.”
He made sure to prepare her, concerned for her fragile mood.
Cecilia caught onto something in his words, turning her head, “My mom? We…”
The car stopped for a red light. Charles Chase turned to her, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Yes, it’s a bit complicated. She’s your mother, and I’m your brother.”
Cecilia Ye nodded. Everything felt surreal. When they first met—at the company’s annual gala—she had been in such a sorry state, and it was him who’d taken her to the hospital.
Back then, he was just a business associate of Fu Zhiyao.
So this is my brother, she thought, suddenly realizing she hadn’t even called him that yet. She opened her mouth but hesitated.
She’d always been slow to warm up to people, having taken ages to call the elders in the Fu family “grandpa” and “grandma.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; it was just too good to believe that someone so kind could truly be her family—that something so wonderful could happen to her.
Clenching her little hand, Cecilia finally summoned her courage and spoke softly, “Brother.”
Charles Chase’s hand halted on her hair. He forced down the tangle of emotions in his chest—excitement, a bittersweet ache, and a warmth that almost melted him.
He smiled at her. “Yeah.”
The light turned green. He pulled his hand back and gripped the steering wheel, his gaze serious as he focused on the road ahead.
So this is what it’s like to have a little sister, he thought. It really does feel wonderful.
Charles Chase forced himself to appear calm, keeping up the mature, steady image an older brother should have—even as joy threatened to burst from his heart.
The car finally stopped at the city’s Second Hospital. From the staff entrance, the two of them made their way to the VIP suite.