The next morning,
"Morning Dad, morning Mom," Shin greeted and kissed them.
"Morning, son, why did you wake up so early today? It's only 5 a.m." Warren said this while reading the newspaper and sipping coffee without even looking up at him.
"Nothing, Dad, I just feel like waking up early today,” Shin said while smiling ear to ear as if he were anticipating something.
Katelyn shakes her head and smiles, seeing how excited her son is, but then Shin slowly narrows his eyes and pouts as every minute passes by.
"Happy 11th birthday, son. We wanted to pretend not to remember your birthday and surprise you in the afternoon after school. But I don't want to see you sad all day thinking we've forgotten your birthday." Katelyn said, placing a bowl of longevity noodles and a red egg before him.
"I thought you forgot, mum, dad?" Shin finally brightened up.
"You're no fun at all, honey; we talked about this last night." "You betrayed me, traitor." Warren sulked and crossed his arms.
"Ahh, my giant baby is sulking, huh?" "What should I do then?" Katelyn cupped her husband's face and pressed them together, making it look like a puckered fish, then kissed him lovingly.
"Eiw! Mom, Dad, hello! I'm still here. It's my birthday today, but you kissed Dad instead of me. So unfair, hmp!" Shin also pretended to be sulking, then crossed his arms while pouting. Like father, like son.
"Oh, what should I do now?" "My giant baby and my little baby are now both sulking." Katelyn said she was pretending to be sad.
"Hehe, I'm just joking, mom." "Thanks, Mom; thanks, Dad; I love you both." Shin giggles
Warren and Katelyn got up and hugged him, then they kissed him together, Katelyn on the right cheek and Warren on the left cheek. a picture-perfect picture of a happy family that Shin thought would last as long as they lived.
Shin was so happy and hugged his parents back.
"Oh, wait here, I have something to give you," Katelyn said. She went to their bedroom and came back after a short time, carrying a small box.
"Here, this is for you," she said, handing Shin the box. Shin took the box and opened it. It's a pendant.
I should have given this to you before. I'm sorry, son, I've kept this for so long. Although you do not come from my womb, for me, you are my son. My love for you will never change. I and Dad love you so much. It doesn't matter if you're not of our flesh and blood. "Always remember that, son." Katelyn stated it with teary eyes, while Warren tried so hard not to shed tears.
Shin just smiled and hugged his parents so tight. Dad, Mom, it's my birthday today, but you made me cry."
"Aww, sorry, honey," they said in unison.
They broke the heartfelt hug and laughed at their dramatic performance early in the morning.
"You can wear this necklace now. You were wearing it when we found you. and there's an initial letter engraved on it." "Here, take a look; it's RX."
Shin looked at the pendant, and there were really letters carved and also numbers on the other side. "RX, 10 05"
"Mom, dad If I was wearing this when you found me, then maybe this is my real name and the number is my birthday." Shin came to that conclusion.
"That's why we decided to choose this day as your birthday after seeing this," said Warren.
"Here, this is a bracelet made of red strings. You're also wearing this; I only remove it when you're growing up. You can't wear it now because it's for a baby. and because it doesn't fit your wrist anymore. But you can keep it to yourself now that you're growing so fast, my baby." Katelyn said while patting his head.
"Okay, okay, enough drama, Mom, Dad, or I will be late for school." Shin complained, though he wasn't serious about it.
"Okay, go take a shower now and come back for breakfast; I'll walk you to school." Warren said
The husband and wife just watched their son walk upstairs while reminiscing about the day they found Shin. Shin is growing up to be a good and humble child; they were so proud of him.
"They found Shin at the front door of their old apartment in Beijing. It was 3 a.m. They were sleeping soundly when they heard a baby cry. The baby was crying nonstop. maybe crying of hunger and cold as the baby is on the floor with only a blanket wrapping around his little, fragile body. The couple brought the baby inside, but the baby still keeps crying.
"Hon, I think the baby is hungry." "Go to the convenience store and buy milk and a feeding bottle." Said Katelyn
Warren hurriedly put on his coat, picked up his wallet, and ran to the convenience store.
"The couple were married for almost eight years. However, Mrs. Katelyn Wei couldn't conceive a child. So when they found Shin in front of their door, they thanked the heavens and Almighty God for making their wish come true. to have a baby, although it is not from their flesh and blood. They were furious at the baby's parents for abandoning him, but they were also thankful that the child was left at their front door.
The very next day, they moved to Chongqing. Warren's application to a pharmaceutical company in Chongqing has been approved. Their luggage was already packed before Shin appeared.
They didn't hide the truth from Shin. Shin knows that he's not the biological son of his parents. They told Shin when he was five years old. So Shin could slowly accept the truth and not get hurt in the future if he learned about it.
Shin came back to the table after freshening up and changing into his school uniform. After breakfast, his dad walked him to school. His friends were waiting for him at the school entrance.
"Happy Birthday, Shinshin!" His friends Luke, Riley, Marius, and Dylan shouted in chorus upon spotting him walking along with his dad. They were in the same class, and they have never separated since kindergarten.
They're now in 6th grade, though they were supposed to be in 5th grade. They accelerated in one year. Why not? They are a group of geniuses.
Shin has an IQ of 228. Luke has an IQ of 225, and Dylan has an IQ of 220. Marius with 218 and Riley has an IQ of 210
They've got an offer to accelerate their studies to a higher grade. but they declined the offer. The kids wanted to enjoy being normal kids. They wanted to experience the life of normal kids. playing, hanging out, doing naughty things, and so on from time to time.
"Thanks, guys." "High five," Shin replied, raising his palm for a high five. They love doing it every day, whenever they meet.
Shin's father just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. Seeing his beloved son happy makes him ten times happier.
"Shin, I'm going home now. Go to your room now, kids, and take care, okay? and invite your friends at home later after class ends," said Warren.
"Okay, dad. Bye, dad. Bye, uncle!" The kids sang in unison.
They wave their hands at Shin's dad and walk to their classroom.
After class, Shin invited his friends to their house, just like his father told him! Not far from their house, Shin and his friends spotted two black vehicles with tinted windows parked on the side of the road. They didn't pay much attention to it, so the boys just continued walking to the house. Shin also invited his classmates for his birthday celebration.
At 7 in the evening, the party's over, and Shin's friends have already gone home. And now Shin was helping his father and mother clean the house, washing the dirty dishes, and mopping the floor.
"You can go and have some rest now. I know you're already tired. Go wash and sleep well." Said Katelyn. "Let me and Dad finish the cleaning."
"Okay, Mom and Dad, thank you so much for today." "Good night, Mom, and good night, Dad." Shin then pulled his parents into a bone-crushing embrace and kissed them before going to his room upstairs. He was so tired but so happy as well that it never crossed his mind that it would be the last time he was able to hug them and feel their warmth.
"It's 11 In the evening, Shin was sleeping soundly in his bedroom when he heard noises downstairs. He slowly got up and pecked his head into a slightly open door. "It seems like mom and dad have a visitor, but why at this hour?" He thought and looked at the wall clock in his bedroom, and it was already 11 o'clock. Shin flinched and was startled when he heard a man shouting.
"You what?!!! You're a freaking bastard! I lost billions of dollars because of you! You ruined my project! You ruined everything! Now tell me, "Why should I spare your lowly lives, huh?" "Is your life worth a billion?"
The man said this and spit on Warren's face. "Boys, you know what to do; take care of these pests!" "Yes, sir," those men in black suits said in unison, and the boss walked out, followed by two bodyguards.
Shin, who's only listening from his room upstairs, is unaware of what is happening downstairs. He thought it was just a simple argument regarding his dad's job until he heard a gunshot and her mother screamed, followed by another couple of gunshots and loud thuds.
Shin trembled but gathered all his strength and ran downstairs, but he halted and hid on the staircase when he spotted the men in black suits striding towards the door and then shutting it.
Shin just stood still on the staircase and couldn't utter a single word. His mind went dark, and his feet couldn't move a single step while trembling in horror. His parents were bathing in their own blood.
The sights before him are too terrifying until he hears his mother's faint voice.
"Shin," Katelyn mumbles.
"M-Mom!"
Shin hurriedly ran to his mother and cupped her face. "Mom, what is happening? Please don't leave me. P-please... D-don't!" Shin spoke with a trembling voice. His eyes were back and forth between his mom and his dad's lifeless body on the floor.
"Sshh," Katelyn was trying to calm her son. "H-h-honey...d-don't cry...Mom and Dad will always be here." Katelyn used all her remaining strength and put her hands on Shin's chest.
"F-find your biological parents, live happily, and don't cry... so much," was Katelyn's last word. Shin could feel his mother's heaviness and her hands that slid down from his chest.
"N-No!