BMHS Chapter 075.3

The cake and tea were consumed. They had come to the Yan residence intending to say something, but not a single word of what they had originally planned to say was uttered. Yet, time continued to pass, and now it was almost dinner time. It seemed a bit inappropriate for them to still be lingering.

“Cousin is here. You’ve worked hard today, so make sure to eat a bit more at dinner.”

Meng Ting, leaning against Yan Sui, was the first to see Zhen Han at the living room entrance, carrying a medical kit. He was now very concerned about Yan Manjia and also treated Zhen Han well. He Yue was about to undergo surgery, and Zhen Han had been assisting Dr. Gu Li and Dr. Bart these days, personally lending a hand.

After the surgery, Dr. Gu Li and Dr. Bart had both gone to rest, but Zhen Han and Li Yu hadn’t had the chance yet.

“Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law,” Zhen Han’s somewhat serious face broke into a smile. He nodded at Meng Ting, then his gaze shifted to Xiao Huimin, “You must be the patriarch of the Xiao family, I’m a doctor.”

Just this one sentence should be enough for the Xiao family to understand the meaning of his presence here.

“No need for an examination, Ting Ting is indeed mine and Ning Zhou’s child,” Xiao Huimin shook his head. Meng Ting really resembled Ning Zhou in her younger days, especially those eyes, they were strikingly similar. Moreover, he trusted his and Ning Zhou’s instincts.

“Let’s still do the examination, it wouldn’t be good to make a mistake,” Meng Ting seemed to have just realized that it wasn’t certain whether he was a child of the Xiao family.

If they were indeed his parents and didn’t separate him from Yan Sui, he could naturally acknowledge them. But if not, he didn’t want to take someone else’s mom and dad.

“Let’s confirm it first,” Yan Sui looked at Xiao Huimin and also spoke up, “If you want to acknowledge Ting Ting, this is necessary.”

They needed to confirm, and Yan Sui’s side needed to confirm as well.

Zhen Han directly took samples from Xiao Huimin and Meng Ting’s skin, then packed them into two portions, one for Xiao Zi’ang and one for him to take away.

There was no need to go elsewhere; the basement of the Yan residence had been quite well-equipped during this period, and Zhen Han’s diverse knowledge made him a veritable medical polymath[mfn]全才 (quán cái): all-rounder; versatile; polymath. A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, but some are gifted at explaining abstractly and creatively.[/mfn]. Having him conduct the examination was what Yan Sui felt most assured about.

As for Xiao Huimin’s side, they would have their own trusted people handle it.

Meng Ting’s quick acceptance actually highlighted the issue; once it was confirmed he wasn’t, he would probably disavow them just as swiftly.

Ning Zhou’s gaze turned to Meng Ting, who hesitated for a moment before telling the truth, “I’ll call you ‘Mom’ after the examination results come out. I was so happy earlier that I forgot about this.”

It wasn’t that he was happy to see Ning Zhou and the others, but he was happy because he was sure they wouldn’t separate him from Yan Sui.

Ning Zhou felt a bit frustrated, but she couldn’t vent this frustration on Meng Ting. She turned her head and glared at Xiao Huimin.

But she emphasized again, “Ting Ting, you didn’t call me wrong. I am your mother. I wouldn’t mistake my own child. I really am your mother.”

Meng Ting felt a bit troubled. Whenever Ning Zhou cried or seemed like she was about to cry, he also felt somewhat uncomfortable. He still didn’t address her as ‘Mom’, but he reached out and gently stroked Ning Zhou’s hair again. Once was unfamiliar, twice was familiar, and this was already the third time. Meng Ting did it quite naturally, “Be good, don’t cry.”

“When you cry, I feel uncomfortable too. I wasn’t like this before…”

Even when Yan Manjia cried, he didn’t feel much, but now he couldn’t bear to see Ning Zhou cry. This was quite perplexing for Meng Ting.

But when Xiao Huimin and the others heard his words, their hearts were struck. This was probably the bond between mother and child, more reliable than any test. However, as Yan Sui had said, they needed to conduct the test to officially bring Meng Ting back to the Xiao family.

“Also, I forgot to ask you something earlier.”

“What is it?” Ning Zhou asked with a trembling voice, both happy and sad, but Meng Ting still leaned in Yan Sui’s arms, where he felt the safest.

“It’s just… I’m a bit slow[mfn]笨 (bèn): heavy; cumbersome; strenuous; stupid; foolish; silly; slow-witted; clumsy; awkward.[/mfn]. If you find me lacking, you can just say so. It’s okay if you don’t want to acknowledge me.” He pondered his words and felt that ‘a bit slow’ didn’t quite fit the reality, so he corrected himself.

“I’ve always been like this… slow. I know you can sense it, so… if you don’t like me, you can just tell me directly.”

Having received too much malice, Meng Ting had already learned to automatically filter out those looks or words of disdain or contempt directed at him. Now, he disliked those overly condescending pity even more. He didn’t need pity, even if he was indeed slow.

Meng Ting didn’t realize that his words were a heartfelt blow to everyone present. Even Yan Sui’s brows furrowed slightly, but they were soon smoothed out by Meng Ting.

Meng Ting didn’t feel sad saying these things, and he didn’t want Yan Sui to feel sad either.

His hand still lingered between Yan Sui’s brows, the seriousness on his face dissipating, his brows and eyes curving warmly and sincerely, “I know, you like me, you love me, I like you too, I love you.”

His hand still lingered on Yan Sui’s brow, the seriousness on his face fading, replaced by a warm and sincere smile, “I know, you like me, love me. I like you too, love you too.”

At any time and in any place, Meng Ting could use any gap to express his feelings to Yan Sui. This skill had been with Meng Ting since the moment he met Yan Sui, and this time was no exception. While others were feeling sad, they were being sweet and affectionate.

“It’s not being slow, Ting Ting isn’t slow,” Ning Zhou’s teary eyes drew Meng Ting’s attention back. She tentatively reached out her hand, and seeing that Meng Ting hesitated but didn’t avoid her, she finally touched his cheek.

She smiled through her tears, unable to tell if she was sad or happy, but she had to tell Meng Ting this.

“Ting Ting is Mom’s treasure, Mom’s most favorite and beloved treasure.”

Meng Ting blinked, hesitated slightly, then finally freed his hand from Yan Sui’s embrace and gently hugged Ning Zhou.

Before Ning Zhou could even react, Meng Ting had already let go, but this was the limit of what Meng Ting could do to comfort Ning Zhou.

“Please don’t be sad. Before the test results come out, I’ll still call you ‘Mom,’ okay?”

“Okay, okay…” Ning Zhou bit her lip, tears splashing onto the back of Meng Ting’s hand, which hadn’t fully withdrawn yet.

Meng Ting felt a bit at a loss. He suddenly glanced at Xiao Huimin, whose eyes were also slightly red, and said with a hint of disdain, “Dad is a bit slow, not even knowing to hug Mom and comfort her.”

Being called out like this by Meng Ting, Xiao Huimin didn’t feel embarrassed or anything. He nodded and admitted, “You’re right. Dad is slow.”

He wrapped his arms around Ning Zhou, letting her lean against him. He also knew that they wouldn’t be able to discuss anything serious with Yan Sui today. Just spending half an afternoon with Meng Ting wouldn’t be enough. Nothing else was as important as Meng Ting.

Xiao Huimin checked the time and whispered to Ning Zhou. Although Ning Zhou was extremely reluctant, she also knew when to stop. She gently nodded her head.

“Ting Ting, can Mom come see you again tomorrow?”

Hearing this, Meng Ting glanced at Yan Sui before nodding, “Okay.”

He and Yan Sui stood up to see Ning Zhou, Xiao Huimin, and the others off. They waited until the car was out of sight before turning back.

Meng Ting let out a sigh, stopped walking, and directly half-collapsed onto Yan Sui.

“Mom cries too much. She’s really difficult to coax.” Much more difficult than coaxing Yan Sui.

Yan Sui’s face showed a mix of amusement and helplessness. He reached out to ruffle Meng Ting’s hair, then hugged him tightly. After a moment, he finally asked, “Do you like them?”

This question wasn’t something Meng Ting needed to ponder or find difficult to answer. He quickly responded to Yan Sui.

“Mom is okay. I don’t like the others yet.”

But it was also true that he didn’t reject them. Otherwise, getting Meng Ting to call them wouldn’t have been so easy.

Yan Sui could guess that the Xiao family’s trip should be considered a success, but this was because they had encountered Meng Ting, whose heart had always been softer than anyone else’s.

“Yan Sui, don’t worry, I like you the most, always the most.”

Even Ning Zhou, who could influence his emotions, couldn’t compare to Yan Sui, not even close.
“If Dad and the brothers don’t like you, I won’t like them either.”

As for Ning Zhou, Meng Ting still had uncertainties, but regarding Xiao Huimin and Xiao Zi’ang, he could now assure Yan Sui.

Actually, it wasn’t exactly an assurance. Meng Ting felt this way in his heart and acted accordingly. Just because Yan Yu seemed to dislike Yan Sui, Meng Ting had recently given him a lesson.

Meng Ting’s words were quite effective on Yan Sui. After silently nursing a bit of jealousy, Yan Sui was thus soothed.

“Let’s eat something, and then you can accompany me to the study.”

“Okay,” Meng Ting responded, standing on his tiptoes to kiss Yan Sui’s lips. His tongue brushed against Yan Sui’s teeth, and as he settled back on his heels, he pursed his lips, savoring the taste, then looked up at Yan Sui and asked, “Sweet?”

Yan Sui didn’t care that they were still on the lawn not far from the entrance. He leaned down and kissed Meng Ting thoroughly, tasting him completely before replying, “Sweet.”

With Meng Ting around, every day of his life was sweet.

Meng Ting didn’t reflect on how ambiguous his question was; instead, he felt that Yan Sui was constantly tempting him. But he liked this kind of temptation. He gently nodded and said, “That’s because I ate a sweet cake.”

“You must be hungry too. You just fed me the other portion…” As he spoke, he took Yan Sui’s hand and led him inside, walking briskly as if any delay would truly starve Yan Sui.

***

On the other side, Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou, who had just gotten into the car, remained silent even after driving for a long time. They were truly reluctant to part with Meng Ting, especially Ning Zhou, who kept looking back even after getting into the car.

But her emotions were completely different from when they had first arrived. The previous anxiety, fear, and excitement were all gone. She had truly pulled herself together, “Ting Ting is our Nuo Nuo. He didn’t die, he really didn’t die.”

“Mm, I know,” How could Xiao Huimin not understand the feelings and the rising anger in Ning Zhou’s heart after she had calmed down?

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Yan Sui about other matters. Those people won’t get away with it.”

“Nuo Nuo is so cute…” Xiao Zi’ang suddenly exclaimed. He felt a bit strange saying this, but everyone, including his father, nodded in agreement.

Ning Zhou’s expression suddenly changed, and she looked at Xiao Zi’ang.

“Arrange for me to meet… Li Yifei tomorrow after I see Ting Ting.”

When she uttered the name Li Yifei, the expression on her face surprised Xiao Huimin and the others for a moment. Ning Zhou had a gentle nature and rarely showed true anger, but now her face was filled with undisguised rage and hatred.

Xiao Huimin and his two sons had also seen Meng Ting’s information. Even if they hadn’t known before, they now understood who Li Yifei was. Apart from ending up in an orphanage, all of Meng Ting’s misfortunes were connected to this woman.

“Her original name was Li Mei. My mother once sponsored her…”

Li Yifei’s family was not from a wealthy or prestigious background. When she first came to Beicheng to attend university, she didn’t have enough money for tuition and took a job at a club, where she was nearly assaulted by a customer. Ning Zhou’s mother and her friends happened to be there and intervened, rescuing her. Upon learning about Li Mei’s situation, Ning Zhou’s mother sponsored her university education and later even sent her abroad for further studies.

After completing her studies, Li Yifei returned to express her gratitude to the Ning family, and Ning Zhou had met her. However, Ning Zhou didn’t have much of an impression of Li Yifei, neither positive nor negative—they were merely a nodding acquaintances.

Later, Ning Zhou heard that Li Yifei had become someone’s second wife. Her mother was so furious that she even sent someone to ask if Li Yifei had been forced into it. The matter was eventually dropped, but from then on, Li Yifei was no longer allowed to enter the Ning household, even if she came to visit.

Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin were childhood sweethearts. By the time they were old enough to understand what liking the opposite sex meant, they had already confessed their feelings to each other.

On the day Ning Zhou received her college entrance exam results, Xiao Huimin proposed to her. Their families were well-matched, and Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin had a strong relationship, so they held a grand wedding that summer.

Whether Li Yifei sent a gift, Ning Zhou couldn’t remember. But she was clear that she and her mother had only shown kindness to Li Yifei, not enmity. Yet, Li Yifei had treated her child, Meng Ting, so cruelly. Meng Ting looked so much like her, and the scandal back then had been widely known—Li Yifei couldn’t have been unaware.

Not only had she not informed them of Meng Ting’s whereabouts, but she had also tried to destroy Meng Ting mentally. She had dared to let Wu Fengjiao abuse Meng Ting and even had the audacity to instruct a despicable old man to molest Meng Ting…

Ning Zhou was still shaking with anger when she thought of this. Even if Li Yifei died, she would not be able to compensate Meng Ting for what he had gone through.

[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 075.3″]
點頭之交 (diǎn tóu zhī jiāo): nodding acquaintance; the friendship is very shallow, and the person only nodded when they met.

不了了之 (bù liǎo liǎo zhī): lit. let it go; to end it unresolved; to settle a matter by leaving it unsettled; to leave something unresolved; to end up with nothing definite; conclude without conclusion; leave things as they were; shelve the matter; let the question drop; to settle things in a way that cannot be settled; to put aside the unfinished things and consider it as finished.

門當戶對 (mén dāng hù duì): the families are well-matched in terms of social status (idiom); (of a prospective marriage partner) an appropriate match; to be well-matched in terms of socio-economic status (for purposes of marriage); to have similar family backgrounds.
[/dropdown]

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