After the Huo family sent people to track and investigate Xiao Zhang, they soon received news: the person who had been trading with Xiao Zhang turned out to be a distant cousin of a middle-aged photographer named Sun Kai!
This shocking discovery confirmed to Huo Shan that Huo Jinning’s suspicions had been correct all along.
From the very beginning, Huo Shan had been trying to call Huo Chengyu, but at first, there was no signal at all. Later, the phone was simply turned off, making it impossible to get in touch.
With no other choice, he kept sending messages through WeChat and SMS, hoping that Huo Chengyu would eventually see them and call home as soon as possible—because the situation was far too urgent.
“This past month has really been exhausting… but at least it was productive…”
When Huo Chengyu finally picked up his phone, the screen was flooded with a barrage of message notifications from his family.
Not daring to waste a single second, he immediately set off for home, determined to see his beloved little sister as soon as possible.
“Dad, Mom, I’m back! Did you miss me?” he shouted excitedly the moment he stepped through the door.
[Is this really my third brother?]
[Was there a mix-up at birth or something? He doesn’t look like the rest of us at all.]
[We’re all so good-looking, but he… ]
[Why is he so dark? Looks like he just came back from Africa.]
Huo Chengyu looked around, confused. The house was silent—no one responded.
He thought to himself: The only one who would call me “third brother” must be the sister we found. But she didn’t say anything just now, did she?
What was going on? Could he be hallucinating due to lack of sleep?
Yet when he laid eyes on his little sister, he instantly felt a wave of affection.
She was delicate and adorable, like a fresh flower just about to bloom—so lovable that it made you want to protect her at all costs.
In his eagerness to see her, Huo Chengyu hadn’t even taken time to clean himself up before rushing home.
After a month of traveling, his skin had become dark and sunburned, his beard unkempt, hair a wild mess, and he wore a worn-out set of outdoor clothes—he looked more like a vagrant than a photographer. He was a complete eyesore.
“Did you go begging or something, looking like that?” Zhao Qiuying said, her face full of disdain.
“Mom, how could you say that? I’m a proper professional photographer! I’d never stoop to begging!” Huo Chengyu protested.
“Hmph! Then clean yourself up. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your sister,” Zhao Qiuying scolded with a frown.
Taking the opportunity to change the subject, Huo Chengyu quickly squeezed past her and plopped down beside Huo Jinning, flashing a playful grin. “Hehe, at least my sister’s nice—she doesn’t complain like Mom does.”
“Sis, I’m your third brother. Sorry I came back in such a rush. Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping—you can buy whatever you want. Consider it my welcome gift to you.”
“Okay. Thank you, Third Brother.”
[Third Brother doesn’t seem very sharp… no wonder he got tricked.]
[No one else in the family is this silly. Was he really born to us?]
[Though, looking closely, his eyes do resemble the family’s.]
[Didn’t the original book describe Third Brother as someone with clear eyes, defined features, thick brows, and an upright, energetic aura, with a cheerful and sunny personality?]
[His personality fits, but the rest… hmm.]
[Such a cheerful Third Brother, and he ends up dying of depression—what a shame.]
No, this can’t be. Am I hallucinating from lack of sleep?
My sister clearly didn’t speak, so why did I hear her thoughts? Huo Chengyu was stunned.
Off to the side, Huo Shan and Zhao Qiuying exchanged glances. They had just realized something: their third son could hear Ningning’s inner voice—just like they could.
But the two of them chose not to expose the matter. Instead, they silently observed from the side, prepared to step in if necessary to prevent things from spiraling out of control.
“Little sister, your third brother has been quite dazed lately due to a lack of sleep. I’d better head back to my room to rest and recover. Tomorrow, when I’ve got more energy, I’ll spend time with you.”
“Okay, got it! Third Brother, go rest quickly!” Huo Jinning looked at her third brother—who resembled a clueless goose—and couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for him.
“You’re really so considerate, sis.” Unable to resist, Huo Chengyu reached out and gently pinched Huo Jinning’s chubby, round cheeks before turning to leave.
However, just as he reached the staircase, he was stopped by a voice calling out from behind:
“Oh no, I almost forgot! Third Brother, I heard from Mom and Dad that you went to photograph a primitive tribe this time. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Can you show me the pictures?”
Huo Jinning had been too distracted earlier by his disheveled appearance and had completely forgotten to ask about the important stuff.
“Of course! They’re all saved on a USB drive—I’ll get it for you.” Huo Chengyu reached into his travel bag and started searching.
[As long as I get those photos first, his assistant won’t be able to get the negatives.
Once I download the photos, I’ll have the time-stamped evidence. That way, when they try to frame my third brother, I can smack them in the face with proof, hehe.]
“Sis, you…” Huo Chengyu looked at Jinning, who had her head lowered. He opened his mouth as if to ask whether she had just spoken in her mind—but before he could finish, another voice interrupted him.
“Chengyu! Did you find it yet? What’s taking so long?” Their father, Huo Shan, called out impatiently from a distance.
“Ah, found it! It’s right here!” Huo Chengyu quickly replied.
He casually handed over the camera he was holding, and whatever he had wanted to ask vanished from his mind with the interruption.
“Third Brother, don’t worry, I’ll just take a look. I won’t break it,” Huo Jinning said as she took the camera, reassuring him multiple times.
“It’s fine, sis, take your time,” Huo Chengyu said, rubbing his tired eyes and waving his hand to show he didn’t mind.
“Chengyu, hurry up and get some rest!” their mother, Zhao Qiuying, chimed in, urging him to go to bed—clearly worried he might say something he shouldn’t and raise Jinning’s suspicions.
“Alright,” Huo Chengyu replied, yawning as he nodded. After a full month of shooting and rushing home to see his sister, he hadn’t had a proper rest. He was now completely exhausted.
“Dad, Mom, let’s look at the photos Third Brother took together!” Huo Jinning couldn’t wait to open the camera and see the award-winning shots, eager to discover what made them so captivating.
“Mm, okay. Let’s watch it on the TV. Big screen—looks good.” Although Zhao Qiuying always spoke critically of Huo Chengyu, deep down she was still very proud of him.
Since childhood, Huo Chengyu had lived a life of luxury, but for photography, he could endure rough conditions outdoors for a month or even half a year, disregarding his appearance—it truly hadn’t been easy for him.
“Alright.”
“Mom, look at this one—it’s so beautiful! And this one too! How are they all so stunning?” Huo Jinning was genuinely impressed by her third brother’s photography.
“Dad, Mom, let’s download them and send them to the family group chat so Big Brother and Sis can see them too—they’re not home.” Huo Jinning wanted to preserve as much evidence as possible.
“Mm, okay.” Huo Shan naturally understood his daughter’s intent and cooperated fully.
[No wonder these photos won so many awards—they’re just too well taken.
I don’t even know how to describe it.
This is the first time anyone has authentically captured the primitive tribes of China.
No wonder the world was shocked!
That Sun Kai is truly despicable and shameless.
Just wait—I’ll deal with you.
I’m so furious.
That’s it—tonight I’m eating two extra bowls of rice.]
At first, seeing how angry their daughter was, Huo Shan and Zhao Qiuying had planned to say a few words to comfort her. But when they heard “eat two extra bowls of rice,” they couldn’t hold back their laughter and burst out laughing on the spot.
“Dad, Mom, what are you laughing at?” Huo Jinning looked at them in confusion.
“Uh, well…” Zhao Qiuying hesitated, unsure how to respond, so she pushed the question to Huo Shan.
What could he do? Naturally, a man had to back up his wife.
“Oh, we just suddenly remembered how mischievous your third brother was as a kid—climbing trees to steal bird eggs, pulling little girls’ braids. It was pretty funny, right, honey?” Huo Shan quickly came up with an excuse and picked up the conversation.
“Mm-hmm, that’s right. Your third brother was the naughtiest one when he was little!” Zhao Qiuying chimed in.
“Who would’ve thought Third Brother was so mischievous back then?” Huo Jinning pretended to be surprised and played along.
[That’s all? I already knew that.
Third Brother did way more than that—like secretly swapping Dad’s antique coins for one-yuan coins. Dad still doesn’t know.
He used those ancient coins in vending machines to buy drinks.
That little money-waster—those coins could’ve bought a truckload of drinks.]
Huo Shan: This unfilial son… I don’t even want to talk about it.
[And in primary school, he stole Big Brother’s homework notebook and got him scolded.
And Mom’s perfume? He gave it to some girl at school.]
Zhao Qiuying: So that’s where my perfume kept disappearing to… I never noticed before.
[And after Second Brother became a celebrity, he secretly sold his stuff.
And… ugh, I don’t even feel like listing the rest.]
Huo Shan immediately found an excuse to slip away to his collection room—to go inspect whether his ancient coins were still there.
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