'What a bunch of fools.'

'They'd rather trust an adopted son of unknown origin—and even a nanny—than me.'

'I'm a son who just returned to acknowledge my family. Even an outsider wouldn't be beaten by a nanny in someone else's house, right?'

Calling this a room arrangement was a joke.

This was no different from a prison cell.

A urinal in the room, and I had to carry it to the yard to clean it every morning?

Even rural homes weren't like this anymore.

My mother looked embarrassed and helpless, instinctively turning to my father for guidance.

A flicker of doubt crossed my father's face. He frowned and fell silent, clearly thinking.

Before he could speak, Cedrick cut in.

"Brother, I heard you're from the Loess Plateau," he said casually.

"Don't people there live in cave dwellings? Isn't it normal to empty a urinal every morning?"

"Aunt Millie is honest and hardworking. Why did you bully her?"

"Mom and Dad work so hard every day. Can you stop causing trouble?"

"If you're angry, come at me instead. Why don't you just hit me?"

He looked at me with disdain, as if he had already seen through my so-called ‘schemes.'

My mother immediately pulled him into her arms, heart aching.

"Cedrick, you don't need to endure this. You're the treasure we cherish the most. How could we ever let someone hit you?"

"Try touching him again and I'll make you pay!" Adeline pointed at me and shouted, her voice sharp and vicious like a street thug's.

I sighed.

"Our research institute chose the Loess Plateau to ensure environmental stability for experiments," I said calmly.

"This isn't the 1980s. Who still lives in cave dwellings now?"

"If you didn't want me to come back, you didn't have to go this far."

"Putting a urinal in a villa—has the Zamora family really fallen into such bizarre habits?"

The moment Cedrick realized he had been publicly exposed and was clearly in the wrong, he threw himself into my mother's arms and started crying loudly, like a spoiled child.

And my mother... actually cried along with him.

I pushed the door open.

A cloud of dust surged out, making me cough repeatedly.

The room looked like an unfinished construction site.

The walls were scarred with shovel marks, chunks of plaster peeling off. One of the windows was broken, cold air whistling in.

"Ahem... you're really impressive," I said helplessly, covering my mouth as I coughed.

My father finally saw the room clearly. His face darkened.

"Why hasn't this room been renovated yet?"

"I ordered it a long time ago."

"Dad, it's winter," Cedrick replied awkwardly under my father's gaze.

"No workers are willing to come."

I nearly laughed.

[Is he actually brainless, or just pretending?]

[Do renovation workers choose seasons now? Did he do it himself?]

[No. I have to contact the research institute today.]

[Staying in this dump any longer might actually lower my intelligence. That would be a loss to the country.]

My father was so furious that he immediately arranged for me to stay temporarily in the guest room.

—

News of the Zamora Group's biological son returning home quickly spread.

Some competitors, well aware of the Zamora family's blatant favoritism toward Cedrick, deliberately fanned the flames online, waiting to see the real and fake young masters fight for power and profit.

True to expectations, the Zamora family soon announced a formal recognition banquet.

But I knew very well—this so-called banquet was nothing more than a superficial move to placate the shareholders.

The banquet was scheduled for the evening, yet as the supposed protagonist, I received almost no attention.

Instead, Cedrick bounced around like an overexcited dog—shopping for clothes, contacting clients, acting as though he were the star of the night.

Time slipped by quickly, and evening arrived in the blink of an eye.

Guests began to arrive one after another.

The first floor had been transformed into a banquet hall. Long tables were laid out with exquisite dishes and an assortment of branded wines and spirits.

Cedrick stood at the entrance holding a tall glass, smiling brightly as he greeted guests, his mouth full of cloying pleasantries that made my stomach churn.

Although I had been called downstairs early as well, the Zamora family deliberately—or perhaps subconsciously—kept their distance from me. Almost no one paid me any attention.

I was more than happy with that.

I tucked myself into a corner, phone in hand, reviewing research materials.

I was completely absorbed when my grip suddenly loosened.

By the time I reacted, my phone was already gone.

On the screen, the biological reaction process under the microscope was still playing.

My heart nearly stopped.

"What are you doing? Give it back to me—now!"

Cedrick held my phone casually, clearly unconcerned.

"Brother, today is a big day for our Zamora family."

"The whole family is busy because of you. If you won't help receive guests, fine—but how can you sit here playing with your phone so shamelessly?"

"Phone... that phone is classified!" I panicked and stood up abruptly. "Give it back to me immediately!"

I didn't even have time to argue properly before rushing toward him.

But Cedrick was clearly prepared.

He took several steps back, retreating straight into the center of the banquet hall. Raising the phone high, he deliberately raised his voice.

"Brother, even if you don't like us, there's no need to act like this."

"Your parents are hosting a recognition banquet just to help you integrate into the family. Can't you consider the bigger picture for once?"

"No—give me my phone!"

I was already on the verge of collapse.

What was displayed on that screen was a top-level national secret.

If it leaked—even a fraction—the consequences would be unimaginable.

Cedrick's eyes gleamed, his tone growing sharper.

"Your phone is basically your life, huh? Can't you stand being separated from it for even a moment?"

"You don't even understand basic etiquette. How have you managed to survive all these years?"

"Something so disgraceful!"

Adeline suddenly appeared from somewhere, joining in without hesitation.

"You've embarrassed the entire Zamora family!"

"Do you... do you realize this is a crime?" I lunged forward again, my voice shaking.

Adeline smoothly took the phone from Cedrick's hand and smiled coldly at me.

"You want it? Then come and get it."

I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and stepped forward.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch the phone—Adeline suddenly tossed it high over my head.

Cedrick, standing opposite me, caught it steadily.

"Brother, the phone's over here."

He shook it lightly, grinning, like someone teasing a dog.

Laughter and whispers spread through the surrounding guests, all eyes drawn to the spectacle.

At the noise, my parents finally noticed and hurried over, frowning.

By then, my legs had gone weak. I sank to the floor, unable to muster the strength to stand.

My father looked down at me, then at the siblings, his brows tightly knit.

"Enough. Stop fooling around. What kind of behavior is this? Give him back his phone."

Cedrick glanced at the screen, quickly losing interest.

"You even set an alarm?" he scoffed. "You really know how to pretend. Are you fantasizing about being some kind of national secret agent?"

"Ridiculous!" Adeline added sharply.

My gaze locked onto the red ‘Alarm Activated' screen.

Instead of panic, relief finally washed over me.

Phones used by researchers at our institute were custom-made.

Not only did they surpass commercial devices in functionality, they also carried the highest level of confidentiality protection.

The moment the phone was taken, fingerprint and iris verification had been automatically triggered.

After Cedrick and Adeline tossed it back and forth, verification had failed repeatedly.

Which meant—through the internal warning channel, an alert had already been sent to the nearest special operations unit.

"Everyone, please forgive us."

My father raised his wineglass, not sparing me a glance as I sat on the floor. His smile was practiced, impeccable.

"My son grew up in the mountains and doesn't understand proper etiquette. Please don't take offense."

Seeing my father's attitude, Cedrick immediately followed up with a cooperative smile.

"My brother has already been arranged to work in the company's cleaning department. He'll get used to things soon. Please don't worry."

"Heh."

Adeline stood nearby, arms crossed, her tone light but pointed.

"Our Zamora family wouldn't let just anyone come back and disrupt Evermont Corporation."

With the three of them working in seamless coordination, the shareholders who had been watching closely began to relax. One by one, smiles returned to their faces.

I stood up slowly, gripping the phone in my hand—the device now no different from a brick—and spoke coldly.

"You'd better think carefully about how you're going to explain this later."

My mother shot me an annoyed look.

"Why are you being so stubborn? We were just joking with you. Aren't you overreacting?"

"I've said everything I needed to say," I replied flatly. "If you won't listen, there's nothing more I can do."

At that moment, an elderly man with graying hair but a straight, imposing posture stepped forward.

"I heard your young master works in scientific research," he said calmly.

"His qualifications shouldn't be low. And judging from what just happened, it was actually Mr. Cedrick and Miss Adeline who went a bit too far."

"Mr. Chandler, it's not what you think."

My mother immediately moved to his side, smiling warmly.

"This child is too unruly. Cedrick and Adeline were just trying to help him integrate into the family. Who would've thought he couldn't take a joke? He's far too sensitive."

Mr. Chandler chuckled lightly.

"Well, it's your family's matter. As long as it doesn't affect our cooperation, I won't interfere."

"Of course, of course." My father hurried to explain. "Children will have their disagreements. Don't worry—it won't affect the group in any way."

With that, the farce was quickly brushed aside.

No one cared anymore—except me, the one who had been toyed with like a dog.

I returned to the corner, phone in hand, watching coldly as the Zamora family wove effortlessly among the guests.

The segment that had originally been meant to introduce me was quietly canceled.

Instead, the announcement that Cedrick would soon be appointed Deputy Director of the CEO's Office made him the undisputed protagonist of the banquet.

People crowded around him, flattering smiles plastered on their faces. Cedrick's cheeks were flushed with excitement, his laughter sharp and grating as it rang through the hall.

After finishing a round of socializing, Mr. Chandler walked over to me.

He hesitated, then lowered his voice.

"Young man... are you from the Life Research Institute?"

My heart tightened.

I instinctively straightened, then shrank back slightly, studying his face more carefully.

It looked... familiar.

Before I could respond, a sudden wave of cheers erupted from the center of the hall.

"Thank you all for your trust!" Cedrick raised his glass high.

"I promise we'll live up to expectations! Come—this toast is to everyone!"

Applause and praise followed immediately.

"Chairman Zamora really raised a fine son."

"At such a young age, he's already sharing the burden."

"We'll be relying on Director Zamora's care from now on."

My parents and Adeline stood to the side, watching Cedrick with undisguised pride and satisfaction.

Just as everyone lifted their glasses—

Clatter.

The sharp sound of glass shattering rang out, followed by heavy, synchronized footsteps from upstairs.

Bang!

Before anyone could react, the villa's main gate was violently forced open.

A group of special agents in black combat uniforms stormed in, weapons raised, their presence cold and overwhelming.

The banquet hall fell into dead silence.

"The signal jammer is functioning normally!"

"Target located and confirmed—Senior Researcher Julian. Target is safe. Requesting protection authorization!"