Chapter 1

Torrential rain poured down, lightning flashed and thunder roared, within the cold, high steel walls of the First Central Hospital.

Inside a high-end VIP private delivery room, the air was fresh and the environment exceptionally elegant.

At this moment, a handsome doctor with deep, bright eyes and well-defined features stood beside the hospital bed. He spoke in a low voice to the young and beautiful woman lying on the bed.

"Little sister, I'm not forcing you, but let me be honest with you. That child's organs are failing, and his nervous system is incomplete. The chances of him surviving are very low. Even if a miracle occurs and he survives by some fluke, there's a high probability that he'll be disabled and mentally retarded. And not just mildly; he may not even have basic cognitive abilities."

"Is there really nothing that can be done?"

The woman before him asked, weeping.

"Alas, there is absolutely no hope."

The doctor slowly took off his glasses, wiped them, and sighed helplessly.

"My poor child."

The woman was utterly devastated; it was as if she had been given a death sentence.

"However, a young couple from next door just arrived. They were on their way to the hospital to prepare for childbirth when they died in a car accident. The only fortunate thing is that the fetus in their womb was saved. We just need to switch the two children. Afterward, I'll erase all the evidence. As for this child, I'll find a way to adopt him and personally raise and care for him."

"But I can't bear to part with him."

"You must bear it, given his current condition. If he is born into a wealthy family, there's a high probability he'll be seen as a disgrace and erased. Even if he isn't erased, he'll spend his life being mocked. Moreover, your position is currently unstable. If such a thing were to happen, it might affect you. It's a small matter if you lose your position, but our family could also be implicated. Think carefully about it!"

"I understand."

The woman replied, tears streaming down her face, having made her decision.

"Good! I'll take care of it right away."

The doctor then turned and left the delivery room.

Not long after, a healthy infant born in the car accident was brought in by a nurse and placed beside the woman.

The woman looked at the infant placed beside her, tears falling drop by drop.

When everything was settled, the doctor headed towards the ordinary wards outside. He arrived at ward A302.

He pushed open the ward door, only to find it empty. He was stunned and shouted.

"Someone!"

"Doctor, what's wrong?"

Several nurses rushed over in a panic.

"Where's the infant?"

"The deceased's family took him away..."

.........

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Twenty years later, Z country, Shanghai &

"Good morning, landlord!"

"Morning."

Su Mo replied simply.

Everyone smiled as they placed their rent into Su Mo's bag.

At noon, Su Mo dragged the heavy snakeskin sack to the Siji Internet Cafe on the outskirts of town.

The Internet cafe looked a bit old, but it was in a very good location, directly opposite a prestigious university on New Street.

"Uncle Wang!"

Su Mo rarely called out.

A man with greying hair walked out. When he saw Su Mo, he quickly went up to help drag the sack.

"Xiao Mo, why don't you transfer the money? Why do you still collect cash?"

"When Grandpa left, he repeatedly told me that I must collect cash. If people have nothing to do, it's easy for them to get into trouble."

"That's true, I never see you go out. You can't go on like this."

Uncle Wang nodded in agreement.

"It's no fun going out alone."

"Alright, you've come at the right time. I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I might not rent anymore."

Uncle Wang sighed helplessly to Su Mo.

Su Mo was taken aback. He asked, puzzled, "Why aren't you renting? The rent here is very cheap. I don't rent to anyone else even if they want to. If it really doesn't work, I can just not collect your rent this year. You're Grandpa's best friend, after all."

The reason Su Mo charged such a low rent was that twelve years ago, he and his grandfather moved here from the high walls. They were alone and helpless, and the neighbors here took great care of them.

Later, Grandpa bought all the properties and land in this urban village from a real estate developer and managed them uniformly.

Two years ago, before his death, Grandpa specifically instructed him to keep everything as it was until they didn't want to rent or move out.

"Xiao Mo, I appreciate your sentiment, and I know what you're saying. But what you don't know is that the Internet cafe is really struggling. Young people these days don't like playing these anymore; they're all using VR devices. Especially with the recent release of the era-defining ZR technology and the epic masterpiece *Stellar Ring*, who's still playing these old manual computers? There isn't even a single person here all day."

"If you're not running the Internet cafe, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm planning to go back to my hometown to retire."

"But I remember that your relatives in your hometown have always relied on you to send them money. If you don't run this place, where will the income come from?"