Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Silence quickly conquered the living room.

No one talked, only Bai Lu had a crying, pouting face—she seemed to be the only lively one among them.

A while later…

Bai Musi took a glance at her dad, Bai Zhenhua, who gave a sigh and could not say anything else.

On the other hand, Bai Zhenhua shook his head, placed both hands behind him and went upstairs.

“Oh my! Is my obedient grandson back?”

At the entrance, Nanny Li pushed an old granny who was sitting on a wheelchair, inside the house. The old granny had a full head of white, silvery hair. She seemed a little thin and pallid, but her expression was similar to Bai Lu—she was also unusually excited.

“Where’s he? Where’s my Little Chuanchuan?”

The moment Bai Lu saw her great-grandmother who doted on Bai Muchuan, she was as though found an ally as she let go of her mom’s hands and dashed in front of her great-grandmother.

“Great-grandmother, you’re right. My Little Uncle is back! Let’s go and see him together.”

Grandma Bai’s originally smiling face disappeared when she saw Bai Lu.

She looked back at Nanny Li with a bewildered look. “Who is this little girl? She looks like a monkey with a pointed mouth. Why is she in our house?”

Nanny Li: “…”

Grandma Bai forgot again.

And that remark—”monkey with a pointed mouth”—it was too embarrassing.

Bai Lu almost broke out in tears due to the remark.

Bai Musi patted her back then she walked over to one side of the wheelchair. “Grandma, this is Bai Lu, your great-granddaughter…”

“Oh, my great-granddaughter, great-granddaughter, Bai Lu,” muttered Grandma Bai. Obviously, she did not have much impression, but she did not seem to care much about it. She turned to Nanny Li. “Why are you still in a daze? Quick! Push me upstairs, I need to see my eldest grandson…”

In the Bai Family, the one who pampered Bai Muchuan the most was Grandma Bai.

This was the matter that infuriated Mrs. Bai the most—Grandma Bai not only failed to recognize Bai Lu, but she also failed to recognize her as well. As for her own son, Bai Muxuan, Grandma Bai totally could not remember no matter how many times she had told her.

Both were Grandma Bai’s grandsons, but they received different treatments. How could she not feel hatred?

The moment Grandma Bai came back, she was in a rush to look for her precious grandson.

Mrs. Bai was enraged when she heard all these commotion in her room. She hung her head low and was fuming silently.

Bai Muxuan sighed softly. “Mom…”

Mrs. Bai sniffed. “My son, you’ve suffered.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“No, Mom’s really sorry. If Mom hadn’t been careless back then, you won’t be…”

As she talked about the incident of how she lost her child, Mrs. Bai’s eyes started to become red and seemed to be thinking about the painful memory.

“Mom,” Bai Muxuan quickly stopped her, “don’t talk about all these unhappy stuff. I’m already grown up. Those miserable times had past.”

That abduction incident changed his fate. It was impossible to say that he did not care about it.

But what was the use of saying that now?

Mrs. Bai was distraught; she felt as though there was a lump in her throat. “It hasn’t, Mom can’t get over it. Mom is sorry for you. I was too concerned about that little vixen back then and was so distracted that I lost you…”

“Mom!” Bai Muxuan felt helpless. “It’s already in the past. Now that we have reunited, let’s not talk about it anymore. Everyone is happy together, isn’t that good?”

“Wooo… I can’t take it lying down!”

As Mrs. Bai thought of that, she started to sob. When Bai Zhenhua came into the room, he saw his wife sobbing.

“That’s enough!” He furrowed his brows at that sight and his face was dark like charcoal. It’s not easy for a family to get together. What are you crying for? You’re not afraid of bad luck?”

Mrs. Bai was already in an agitated state. Now that she was reprimanded by her husband, she was provoked and couldn’t hold back her anger. Moreover, her son was by her side, so she was more confident to retort her husband.

“Bad luck? Who’s not having bad luck? Hah! Just by looking at how you pamper and dote on that wild child, you still want to lie to me that he’s not your biological son?”

“You—” Bai Zhenhua looked really grim. He pointed at his wife, his voice sounded low and restrained, clearly holding back his anger. “I warn you. Don’t spout nonsense—”

Mrs Bai sneered, “I’m spouting nonsense?” She suddenly stood up and walked toward him. “Do you really think I’m a fool? Bai Zhenhua, I’ve already talked to Cheng Wenzhu in private! Both Cheng Weiji and yourself put up a show for us for almost 20 years. Is that still not enough? Is it interesting to play us around like monkeys? Let me ask you now—do you dare to do a DNA paternity test?”

Bai Zhenhua stared at her, his eyes grim and gloomy as though a storm was brewing.

Mrs. Bai refused to admit defeat. She snorted and looked at him coldly.

“You sure have a good buddy. Share weal and woe with each other, huh? You told me he’s the illegitimate child of Cheng Weiji and you need to take good care of him as he’s the son of your best pal. We also need to help him keep this matter from Cheng Wenzhu. At first, I actually believed you. And what happened later on? Cheng Weiji told Cheng Wenzhu that the wild child is YOUR illegitimate son and that she has to keep the matter under the wraps. Hahah, both of you are playing dumb. Is it fun?”

“…”

“Bai Zhenhua, you’ve lied to me for so many years.” Mrs. Bai stared at him. “Is it still not enough?”

“I’m really curious,” she asked with a sneer, “who is his biological father?”

…

Jin City.

It was a day of rain showers after Bai Muchuan left.

It was an autumn rain which also made the weather colder.

Xiang Wan’s originally good mood was drenched when she was caught in a rain shower during her journey home.

The day was almost over, but that guy had not given her a phone call.

Indeed, when something gets hot fast , thought Xiang Wan, it gets cool fast as well.

Xiang Wan sat in front of her laptop, but she was unable to focus at all as her thoughts were wandering about. One moment she would think of this, the next moment, she would think of that. Her brain was as though in a mess, totally unable to enter into her writing mode.

It was the writer’s block.

In addition, she entered a vicious cycle as well.

The more she wanted to hurry up and write, the more she was unable to write.

When she finally squeezed out a sentence, she hated it so much that she wished she could go berserk.

She pulled her hair, listened to music, walked around her room, went to the toilet, ate some fruits, and watched TV programmes. Her figure kept appearing in each and every corner of the room. She sat down, got up, sat down again, lied on a side of her bed—she was just like a robot…

Finally, she could not help but send a WeChat message to Bai Muchuan.

“Your Excellency, what are you doing?”

This was the first time that she sent a WeChat message to Bai Muchuan.

Their chat screen was still on that 9,999 yuan red packet.

With the words “everlasting and unchanging”—

Well, they wanted to be together forever. So why should she be bothered about the short separation?

When she thought of this, her mood was good again.

Bai Muchuan took about two to three minutes to reply to her message.

“I’m at home. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet, have you eaten?”

“I haven’t as well. I’m talking to my grandma.”

It’s not easy for him to make a trip back home , thought Xiang Wan, moreover, he’s talking to his grandma. If he keeps looking at his mobile phone, that’s certainly not nice. She decided to stop chatting with him. “Better hurry to accompany your grandma. You don’t need to reply to me, I’ll work on my latest chapter.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for your update.”

“Hm, okay! Bye!”

The chat ended here; there was no other reply.

Xiang Wan stared at her mobile phone. She felt that these words had suddenly become cold without feelings.

Hmmm! Looks like she had also contracted a common problem of those who were in love—she was worried about losing him.

It’s only less than a day since he left! Xiang Wan, what are you so nervous for?

She calmed herself down and sat in front of the laptop once again.

The screen was flashing with white light that felt metallic. As she looked at the screen, she felt that the words on it were changed, somehow. They did not feel like what they were supposed to be—to the extent that she could not recognize it…

I must be crazy! Xiang Wan concluded in her head— missing someone can be an illness too.

…

When Fang Yuanyuan came back, she was still pulling her hair.

Hearing the faint talking sounds outside, Xiang Wan took off her headset, put it on the table, and went out of the bedroom.

However, when she saw the people that came into her house, she was thrown off balance.

“Youngest aunt… you, why are you here?”

Fang Yuanyuan was not the only one who came back. Xiang Wan’s youngest aunt, Tan Yuechun, and her cousin, Xing Feifei, were also here.

The moment they stepped inside the house, Xing Feifei looked around the place. “This house’s not bad,” she remarked. Afterward, she sat on the sofa and started to play with her mobile phone.

Xiang Wan need not bother with Xing Feifei as she was always behaving like that. She only looked at her youngest aunt quietly as she did not know of her purpose in coming here.

Tan Yuechun remained motionless where a few seconds passed just like that without a word. Xiang Wan could not stay quiet anymore.

“Youngest aunt, please come in and take a seat. I’ll get you a glass of water…”

Tan Yuechun wore a pair of high heel shoes. Her still attractive figure was accentuated by a Burberry trench coat that made her look noble and graceful but unfeeling at the same time.

She walked slowly and sat down on the sofa, keeping her back straight habitually. She sat with an elegant posture of a lady and looked at Xiang Wan for a long while before she asked a question unhurriedly.

“I’ve heard that you have a boyfriend…”

Xiang Wan felt awkward and immediately looked toward Fang Yuanyuan out of reflex.

Fang Yuanyuan bit her lower lip and looked at her innocently. She did not dare to say a word.

Tan Yuechun’s gaze went to and fro from the two girls and knew what was going on. “You need not look at her! She’s not the one who told me.”

If it was not Fang Yuanyuan, then it had to be her mom.

“Yes!” Xiang Wan admitted immediately. “I just starting dating not too long ago. I haven’t been too sure about it yet… so I haven’t told you.”

“Hur!” Tan Yuechun gave a disparaging smile and rolled her eyes. “Not too sure about it yet you went ahead to cohabit with him?”

“…”

Oh heavens, mom!

What is she thinking by telling Youngest aunt everything when she knew very well what she is like?

A lot of thoughts popped up in Xiang Wan’s mind.

But after thinking it through, she immediately understood her mom.

Before youngest aunt, her mom would not be able to hold her fort. Just by throwing her a few questions, she would have told youngest aunt everything she knew.

Nevertheless, she dared not say the words she used to coax her mom to her youngest aunt as well.

Xiang Wan paused for a moment and took a look at Bai Muchuan’s room. “It’s not like this. Youngest aunt, we didn’t cohabit… currently, we are only considered housemates. You can ask Yuanyuan about it…”

“Yes, yes, yes. We rented this house together, we’re housemates.” Facing the pressure coming from youngest aunt, Fang Yuanyuan decided to take the bull by the horns by taking Xiang Wan’s side. However, as she felt that she was “testifying” against her conscience, her face was flushed red. “Both slept in their own rooms and we shared the rent.”

Tan Yuechun snorted the moment she heard the words “housemates” and “shared the rent”.

In her opinion, only one word could be used to describe men who rent houses—poor.

Moreover, a man who rented an apartment with his girlfriend and wanted his girlfriend to share the rent could only be described in three words—poor and stingy.

If a man had money and a house, why would he need to rent a room?

Therefore, when her Second Sister told her about the young man, Little Bai, who was an ordinary employee but owned a car and a house, she was not interested at all. She even thought that he had intentionally boasted in front of her Second Sister.

Nevertheless, she did not intent to delve into this to save some face for her two nieces.

“It’s best that you did not cohabit with him. Seems like you’re not that dense.”

Xiang Wan pursed her lips tightly as Youngest aunt shot her a cold glance. She didn’t know what to say.

Or rather, she knew that no matter what she say, it would be futile before her Youngest aunt.

Her Youngest aunt always insisted on her own views and opinions. It was therefore difficult to change what she had determined.

“I remember Little Cheng also stayed in this neighborhood?” Tan Yuechun remembered that Cheng Zheng mentioned about the name of the neighborhood before but did not know which block he was staying at.

Of course, she did not know that the one who rented the apartment to them was Cheng Zheng.

Tan Yuechun had a reproaching look on her face. “I have no idea how I should lecture you! What if Little Cheng knew about this? You’re not worried if he’ll still want you after knowing all this?”

Pffft! This time, Xiang Wan really could not control her laughter.

She looked at her Youngest aunt, Tan Yuechun, seriously without blinking. “Youngest aunt, I’m not an item. I don’t need him to want me.”

Tan Yuechun was a little stunned. She saw Xiang Wan’s cold, solemn expression and was worried that she might hurt her self-esteem. Thus, she softened her stance.

“Okay, fine, I shouldn’t have said that. Nowadays, young women like you wanted freedom in everything you do, but can you choose your boyfriend so casually? Wanwan, this is a matter that affects your life. To a woman, if their marriage hurts them, it would be an irreversible wound in their life, do you understand?

“I understand!” Xiang Wan could feel her Youngest aunt’s sincere words and earnest wishes for her.

She didn’t completely disagree with her Youngest aunt’s point of view.

Perhaps from the perspective of what she had seen, Youngest aunt just did not want them to suffer.

But the person she wanted was never Cheng Zheng, so how could she just let Youngest aunt take control over this matter?

After deliberating for a while, she knew that she was unable to convince Youngest aunt. Hence, she could only push the blame to Cheng Zheng.

“Youngest aunt, it’s really impossible between me and Captain Cheng. He told me before that I’m not his cup of tea…”

“You’re still lying to me?” Tan Yuechun suddenly felt a little angry. She gave a snort and beckoned to her. “Come over here!”

Xiang Wan did not know why and what Youngest aunt was about to do. She walked over to her helplessly.

“Youngest aunt…”

Tan Yuechun looked at her but did not say anything.

Instead, she took out her mobile phone from her handbag and tapped on a voice chat.

“Yuechun ah! You need to hurry and think of a way for me. My son is definitely crazy over your niece. He told me he likes her and wanted no one else… Originally, I was thinking since both of them are not suitable for each other, I will help him look for another girl. There are so many good girls out there, surely, there will be another one that he will like? Guess what he said to me?

“He got angry at me! He said he didn’t want anyone else!

“Yuechun ah, you really landed me in a fix this time!

“You know how much hardship I’ve suffered for this son… and the buckets of tears I’ve shred. Back then, his father did not put us in his heart, all of his attention was with that little vixen. It was not easy for me to give birth to him, even tougher to raise him up…

“When I was pregnant with him, I might have cried too much that he was born with poor health. He was always sick when young and it’s not easy for me to nurture him to become healthy like he is now. Do you think I have it easy?

“Fortunately, my son grew up well, he’s able to understand me, treats me well, he’s filial to me… He never went against my wishes… In the first place, he had refused to go for the blind date you set up for him and your niece. I’m the one who forced him to go. I told him that it’s his Aunty Yuechun’s niece: pretty and good, he should go and have a look…

“Well, he listened to me! But look what happened? He’s totally involved and unable to snap out of it. I’ve screwed this up for my son. Yuechun, we’ve been sisters for decades. I only have one child—he’s my pride and joy. I really can’t bear to see him sad. Do as you deem fit, I remember you gave me your assurance in the beginning…”

Obviously, the voice she heard belonged to Cheng Zheng’s mom—Mrs. Cheng.

As for Xiang Wan herself, she never knew that she was being weighed and discussed by these people like a piece of merchandise…