TL: Hua
Extra 23: Childhood Sweethearts If Line 3
Although Ye Rongxu had overeaten, fortunately, what he had filled up on was milk and soup dumpling broth, so a few more trips to the bathroom would fix it.
Zhang Yan, however, was terrified. Seeing how uncomfortable he was, he was filled with regret and self-reproach, apologizing guiltily to Ye Boxuan and Lin Xue, “I’m sorry, Uncle and Auntie; it’s all my fault for feeding Little Brother too many soup dumplings; that’s why Little Brother is uncomfortable.”
Lin Xue was slightly surprised, thinking this child was too cautious. She couldn’t help but pat his head and comfort him, “Don’t overthink it; this isn’t your fault. Nannan is skilled at pretending to be pitiful using this trick; it’s your first time seeing it, so of course you couldn’t resist. Let alone you, even Auntie and Uncle sometimes get fooled by that kid, and besides, you were just feeling sorry for Little Brother, and Little Brother is fine, isn’t he?”
Then she joked, half-seriously, “Next time, be a bit more ruthless; don’t let that kid fool you again.”
She then ruffled his hair and coaxed, “Go take a nap with your little brother now; maybe your mom will come pick you up when you wake up.”
She thought the child must be missing his family after being separated for so long, so she reassured him, “Your mom will be here soon.”
To her surprise, upon hearing this, Zhang Yan’s face turned pale instead of being comforted.
Lin Xue noticed and was about to ask what was wrong when he hastily nodded, said, “Thank you, Auntie,” and hurried back to the ward.
Lin Xue was stunned for a moment. After getting up, she turned to her husband and hesitantly asked, “This child… are his parents’ relationship at home not very good?”
He’s cautious, careful, sensitive, afraid of causing trouble for others, and doesn’t show any joy when his mother is mentioned. These are mostly due to a lack of love or a bad family environment.
Ye Boxuan sighed softly, pulling his wife closer by the shoulder, and said, “I’ve already sent someone to investigate. Also, I heard from Officer Xu that this child’s mother… doesn’t seem to like him much.”
Officer Xu was the female police officer who had previously briefed Ye Boxuan on Zhang Yan’s situation.
Lin Xue frowned slightly upon hearing this. She didn’t know the full story of another family’s affairs and found it difficult to comment. However, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Zhang Yan, this overly sensible child.
But for now, it was just what they heard from others. Everything would have to wait until Zhang Yan’s mother was contacted.
The couple gently closed the ward door, gave a few instructions to the bodyguards outside, and then went to eat.
Inside the ward, Ye Rongxu woke up after only half an hour of napping, his bright, clear eyes wide open, eyelashes curling and fluttering as he earnestly watched Zhang Yan sleeping beside him.
Zhang Yan was soon “stared” awake by him. He opened his drowsy eyes, stared blankly for a moment, then remembered where he was and quickly turned to look beside him.
Ye Rongxu, who was head-to-head with him and sharing a pillow, had been awake for who knows how long. Seeing him open his eyes, he happily asked, “Brother, do you need to pee?”
Zhang Yan paused for a second, seemed to understand something, and quickly led the little brother off the bed to the adjacent bathroom, asking earnestly, “Little brother, do you want me to help you take off your pants?”
Ye Rongxu was stunned for a moment, then said, “No need!”
He just wanted to go to the bathroom with his brother. Every time his mom went shopping with Aunt Zhao, they liked to go to the restroom hand-in-hand, leaving him and his dad, and sometimes Uncle Qin and his brother, waiting outside.
Mom and Aunt Zhao said that good friends go to the restroom together.
He used to not have good friends, but now he does! He could also hold hands with his good friend and go to the restroom together.
Ye Rongxu was excited and very happy.
Zhang Yan truly didn’t understand why the little sticky riceball was so happy about going to the bathroom. However, the other party had short arms and legs and was weak from being sick, so he ended up helping him take off his pants anyway.
The little sticky riceball wasn’t old, but he was easily shy. When Zhang Yan pulled his pants back up, his little face was beet red.
After using the restroom, they both washed their hands and then came out hand-in-hand.
The nurse outside saw that they were awake and came in to ask if they needed anything.
The little one immediately turned to ask Zhang Yan, “Brother, do you want some fwuit?”
He was referring to fruit.
Zhang Yan still felt lingering fear from eating too much a while ago and quickly shook his head, “I’m not hungry, I won’t eat.”
He paused, then squeezed the little one’s hand and earnestly instructed, “Little brother, you shouldn’t eat either. Wait until Auntie Lin comes back.”
Auntie Lin definitely wouldn’t let him eat just anything.
Ye Rongxu actually didn’t want to eat; he just couldn’t help but want to share things with his good friend. Seeing that Zhang Yan didn’t want fruit, he asked, “Then do you want to watch cartoons?”
Zhang Yan thought that watching cartoons wouldn’t make him full, so he nodded solemnly.
Ye Rongxu immediately cheered up and pulled him to climb onto the bed.
“Brother, let’s watch Dora the Explorer; it’s so good!” His voice was soft and sweet.
Zhang Yan didn’t know what Dora was, but he instinctively nodded.
The caregiver soon brought the laptop, set up the bedside table, placed the laptop on it, and asked kindly, “Young master, still watching Dora?”
Ye Rongxu nodded with “mm-hmm,” then suddenly thought of something and turned to ask, “Brother, have you watched it before?”
Zhang Yan was silent and honestly shook his head.
Ye Rongxu quickly turned back to the caregiver and softly said, “Sister, play the first episode.”
His brother hadn’t watched it, so he needed to take care of him.
The caregiver smiled and nodded, helped play the cartoon, gave a few instructions, and then quietly exited.
Soon, cheerful music filled the ward. Ye Rongxu quickly swayed his head, humming along to the music: “Dora~ Dora~”
This was a foreign language teaching cartoon that included some interactive and educational content.
Zhang Yan was already at kindergarten age, but Zhang Yun hadn’t sent him to school. It wasn’t until a few days ago that community workers found Zhang Yun, and only then did she promise to send Zhang Yan to school, but she would delay it until next year.
So Zhang Yan didn’t start kindergarten this year. He often saw his neighbor’s child carrying a small backpack, being sent to school by their parents, and he envied them greatly.
For some reason, at such a young age, he had a deep desire to go to school. Perhaps he had heard adults say things like “school is important,” or perhaps what he couldn’t have, he craved extra intensely, or perhaps he was simply naturally studious.
Now, watching the little girl and monkey in the cartoon teach words, he couldn’t help but softly follow along: “backpack…”
Ye Rongxu had sharp ears and heard him. He said earnestly, “Brother, you have to read it out loud! Dora said to shout loudly. Let’s say it together: backpack, backpack… is this the red book?”
He swayed his head, enunciating somewhat unclearly as he rhythmically repeated the sounds from the cartoon.
Zhang Yan’s ears turned red. He watched for a while, and seeing that the boy wasn’t embarrassed at all and was getting happier the more he read, he couldn’t help but be infected and started reading along.
Later, when the villain in the cartoon—Swiper the fox—appeared and the protagonists had to shout “Swiper, no swiping!” to scare the fox away, they both rhythmically shouted along.
Even though that phrase wasn’t in English.
When Lin Xue returned, she saw the two children sitting on the hospital bed watching cartoons together, their childlike voices reciting lines from the animation. It was incredibly cute and innocent. She couldn’t help but tease, “Oh, Nannan and Xiao Yan are learning English?”
Zhang Yan was a bit embarrassed, but Ye Rongxu just swayed his head and continued to chant, “Swiper the fox!”
The ward was filled with a warm atmosphere, but suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. “…Sir, no matter what your intentions are, I must take my son home today… You said that debt collector… Xiao Yan saved your son? Is that how you treat your savior, forcibly taking him away from me, his mother? I heard you’re the owner of a large company; does a big boss just do whatever he wants?”
A shrill voice faintly pierced the ward. Lin Xue was stunned for a moment and instinctively pulled open the ward door.
On the hospital bed, Zhang Yan was the first to recognize Zhang Yun’s voice from outside. He had just shown a happy expression, but upon hearing the subsequent words, his face gradually turned pale again.
“Little brother, you watch by yourself; I’m going out for a moment.” He gently patted Ye Rongxu, then got off the bed and rushed out.
Ye Rongxu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stopped watching the cartoon and also scrambled off the bed.
Outside the ward, Zhang Yun was causing a scene. Ye Boxuan was trying to explain to her that Zhang Yan had saved his son and had some injuries, which was why they brought him to the hospital. He also mentioned that the police were still investigating the human trafficking case and had scheduled to come to the hospital tomorrow to ask Zhang Yan about what he knew.
To his surprise, when Zhang Yun heard the words “police,” she suddenly became even more agitated.
Just then, the ward door opened. Lin Xue stepped out and asked, “What’s going on?” Zhang Yan also followed closely behind her.
When Zhang Yun saw Zhang Yan, her eyes clearly lit up, and she seemed to relax slightly.
Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, actually seeing a hint of importance in her gaze. In that moment, he suddenly realized that Zhang Yun seemed to care about him after all, and a slight warmth surged in his heart.
But the next moment, Zhang Yun lunged over, her eyes terrifyingly fierce, and she screeched, “Zhang Yan, get over here! Hurry up and come home with me! Who told you to run off?”
Zhang Yan was so scared that he instinctively retreated. The warmth he had just felt instantly vanished, leaving only fear.
The bodyguard, seeing Zhang Yun suddenly lunge, quickly stopped her.
Lin Xue looked surprised. At this point, she understood that the woman in front of her was Zhang Yan’s mother, but she didn’t understand why the woman was so agitated. She thought there might be some misunderstanding and quickly tried to comfort her.
To her surprise, Ye Rongxu came running out in his little furry slippers, “pat-pat-pat.” Seeing a fierce-looking woman being held back by the bodyguard, vigorously waving her hands towards them as if trying to grab something, he was so scared that he quickly backed away.
But soon, he realized the woman was trying to grab his brother Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan… His brother had saved him before, so he should save his brother too.
Thinking this, he mustered his courage and stood beside Zhang Yan, shouting loudly at the woman, “Swiper, no swiping!”
Instantly, the scene fell silent, as if crows flew over everyone’s heads.
Zhang Yun was stunned for a moment as well.
Ye Rongxu thought it worked and quickly grabbed Zhang Yan’s hand, encouraging him, “Brother, let’s shout together! That way, the bad guys will be scared away!”
Just like Swiper the fox in the cartoon.
After saying that, he continued to crisply shout at Zhang Yun, “Swiper, no swiping! Swiper…”
Ye Boxuan and Lin Xue, who finally recovered from the shock, were clutching their foreheads, trying to suppress their laughter.
Zhang Yun was visibly angry and was about to say something when the elevator doors nearby suddenly “dinged” open, and an elegantly dressed woman stepped out.
She turned her head to look and instantly froze.
The woman who stepped out of the elevator was carrying a bag and seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. She was surprised by the scene in front of her and quickly looked at Lin Xue, asking, “Ah Xue, this is…”
Lin Xue saw her and quickly greeted her, “Yun Zhao.”
She then explained the situation and casually asked, “Yun Zhao, are you here to see Nannan?”
Xie Yunzhao nodded. She had been a little anxious when she first stepped out of the elevator, but seeing Ye Rongxu standing perfectly well at the ward entrance, as obedient and adorable as ever, she knew there was nothing serious and felt relieved. She said, “Yes, I just heard your sister mention Nannan’s situation. Coincidentally, I brought my mom for a follow-up check-up at the hospital today, so I hurried over to see him.”
As she spoke, she saw Zhang Yun being held back by the Ye family’s bodyguards and was surprised again, saying, “Xiao Zhang? Why are you here too?”
Now it was Lin Xue’s turn to be surprised, and she asked, “Yun Zhao, you know her… this Ms. Zhang?”
Xie Yunzhao smiled and said, “Yes, I know her. She is…”
As she spoke, she saw Zhang Yun’s face turn pale. Realizing that Zhang Yun might not want people to know she was a nanny, she changed the subject: “She’s an employee of Qijiang’s company.”
Then she quickly walked over, wanting to pull Lin Xue aside for a private talk, but her gaze swept over Zhang Yan, who was standing at the ward entrance for a moment, and for some reason, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
Her gaze unexpectedly lingered for a long time until Lin Xue called out to her. She suddenly snapped back to reality, suppressing that strange feeling in her heart, and quickly pulled Lin Xue to a spot not far away, lowering her voice to ask, “Xiao Zhang is the mother of the child who saved Nannan, the one you just mentioned?”
Lin Xue nodded, feeling curious. “How do you know her?”
She thought Zhang Yun was truly an employee of Qin Group and wondered why Yun Zhao specifically remembered this particular employee among so many at Qin Group.
Now that there was no one else around and only the two of them could hear, Xie Yunzhao explained, “No, she’s the nanny our family just hired, specifically to take care of Jingxu. She only started a few days ago; you haven’t met her yet.”
Lin Xue said in surprise, “That’s too much of a coincidence.”
Xie Yunzhao nodded, also finding it coincidental, and then added, “Don’t worry, since it’s a misunderstanding, I’ll just have a good talk with Xiao Zhang.”
After their conversation, they returned together, arm-in-arm.
Xie Yunzhao had always been polite to the staff in her household, and now knowing that Zhang Yun’s son had just saved her best friend’s son, she became even more polite. She advised, “Xiao Zhang, please don’t get too agitated. Ah Xue and Director Ye are my friends. They have no ill intentions. They saw your son had injuries and brought him to the hospital for examination. Besides, your child saved Nannan. Ah Xue and her husband are already so grateful, and the two children also get along well…”
She was interrupted abruptly by Zhang Yun, who said urgently, “No, Madam, I don’t want any thanks. I just want to take my son home immediately.”
As she spoke, she even seemed somewhat scared and trembling.
Xie Yunzhao was stunned, not expecting the situation to be like this. She couldn’t help but turn to look at Lin Xue.
Lin Xue gave her a helpless expression, while Ye Boxuan frowned and shook his head. This Ms. Zhang had been emotionally unstable from the moment she arrived and wouldn’t listen to them.
If it were anyone else, they might have simply ignored it, but Zhang Yan had, after all, saved their Nannan, and they had also heard that Zhang Yun wasn’t good to her son…
Lin Xue pondered for a moment, then turned and gently asked Zhang Yan, “Xiao Yan, do you want to go back with your mom now or stay here for a night and go back after the doctor has examined you?”
In truth, Zhang Yan had already been examined, but she deliberately said this, wanting to use it as an excuse to delay for a night.
Ye Boxuan had only just sent someone to investigate at noon. They needed to wait at least until Zhang Yan’s situation was clear before making a decision. If his mother truly treated him poorly, they definitely couldn’t let him go back just like that.
Xie Yunzhao also unconsciously looked at Zhang Yan again. For some reason, the more she looked at this child, the more familiar he seemed.
When Zhang Yan looked at Lin Xue, he accidentally met her gaze. Instinctively, Xie Yunzhao quickly offered a smile.
Zhang Yan froze for a moment, a strange feeling in his heart, and quickly averted his gaze.
He knew he should hurry back with Zhang Yun. If he didn’t go back now and returned later, he might be scolded again and perhaps even hit.
Although he was happy to spend time with the little sticky riceball, Auntie Lin, and Uncle Ye, they were, after all, people from two different worlds. Cinderella in the fairy tale had to leave the ball when the clock struck midnight, and he, too, should leave now.
The magic would disappear, happiness and beauty would all disappear, but…
His slightly stiff fingers were suddenly grasped by a soft, small hand. Zhang Yan stiffened and instinctively turned his head.
The little sticky riceball beside him gripped his hand tightly, his pale, frightened face reflected in those tearful eyes.
“Brother, don’t go.” The little sticky rice ball clung tightly to his hand, his voice choked.
“The feeling of surely regretting it if he left suddenly surged from the bottom of his heart again. Zhang Yan stared blankly at the little sticky riceball for a long time, then suddenly grasped his hand and nodded forcefully, promising, “Mm, I won’t go.”
Getting scolded can wait; that’s a matter for tomorrow. At least tonight, he could continue to be with the little sticky riceball.
*
Because Zhang Yan refused to leave, and Lin Xue and Ye Boxuan deliberately held her back, Zhang Yun ultimately couldn’t take Zhang Yan away.
After the matter was temporarily resolved, Lin Xue settled the two children and went with Xie Yunzhao to see Xie Yunzhao’s mother.
Xie Yunzhao had brought her mother to the hospital for a checkup and happened to hear about Ye Rongxu’s accident, so she rushed over to visit.
As they walked downstairs, Lin Xue recalled Zhang Yun’s dazed and anxious appearance when she left and was a little worried. She pulled Xie Yunzhao and said, “Yun Zhao, I feel like Ms. Zhang’s mental state isn’t very stable. It’s one thing for her to do other work at your home, but isn’t it inappropriate for her to take care of Jingxu?”
Xie Yunzhao frowned and said, “I noticed that too, but she’s usually not like this, and she’s been responsible and diligent with Jingxu. Sigh, I’ll go back and talk to her.”
If it were anyone else, she would have directly fired them. But considering that her son had saved Ye Rongxu, firing her directly wasn’t ideal. After thinking it over, Xie Yunzhao decided to reassign her first.
The two chatted as they walked.
When they reached downstairs, Lin Xue was stunned when she saw Xie Yunzhao’s mother. She finally understood the source of the familiar feeling she’d had when she first clearly saw Zhang Yan’s appearance—Zhang Yan seemed to… resemble Yun Zhao’s mother, especially his eyes.
Xie Yunzhao’s mother had Russian ancestry, and although the features were no longer very obvious by the time they reached Xie Yunzhao’s mother, one could still see some hints in her slightly deeper eye sockets.
Xie Yunzhao and her sister, Xie Yunhua, both resembled their father and completely lacked these features.
But that little boy named Zhang Yan seemed to resemble the old lady not just in his eye sockets but also in the shape of his eyes.
Xie Yunzhao saw Lin Xue freeze and couldn’t help but feel curious, teasingly asking, “What’s wrong, Ah Xue? Don’t you recognize my mom anymore?”
Lin Xue snapped back to reality, quickly shook her head, and affectionately called the old lady “Aunt Chang.” Afterwards, during their conversation, she couldn’t help but compare.
Old Madam Xie was a kind and easygoing person, with benevolent wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Because of these wrinkles, the shape of her eyes wasn’t actually that similar to Zhang Yan’s.
The reason Lin Xue felt they were similar was because she remembered photos of the old lady when she was younger.
Perhaps Zhang Yan also had mixed-race genes, leading to deep-set eyes?
She secretly shook her head, suppressing this strange feeling, and got up to say goodbye.
Unbeknownst to her, after she left, Xie Yunzhao also couldn’t help but carefully observe her own mother.
Old Madam Xie looked at her helplessly and also teased, “What’s wrong with you today, girl? Don’t you recognize me either?”
Xie Yunzhao shook her head, but after thinking for a moment, she couldn’t help but say, “Mom, today I met a little boy who I feel looks a bit like you when you were young.”
“A little boy?” The old lady chuckled.
*
Lin Xue returned upstairs, just as Ye Boxuan received the information his subordinates had investigated.
He flipped through the newly printed documents page by page, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
Lin Xue approached, gently smoothed his brow, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Boxuan sighed, handing her the documents, and said, “Take a look.”
Lin Xue was curious, took the documents, and in a short while, her expression also gradually worsened.
“How can a mother be like this? Not sending her child to kindergarten and not even feeding him?”
The more Lin Xue read the documents, the more she felt sorry for Zhang Yan.
The documents didn’t actually say that Zhang Yun intentionally starved Zhang Yan, but they revealed that Zhang Yun was often away from home in the past two years, frequenting nightclubs and similar places, and would only return after two or three days.
If the child were older, it might be excusable, but Zhang Yan was only three years old at the time. Abandoning a three-year-old child alone at home—wasn’t that child abandonment?
No, it should be considered a form of murder; at this point, it was literally starving a child to death! Fortunately, a kind neighbor heard the child crying and went to give him something to eat.
“Ms. Zhang seems to dislike Xiao Yan very much. When registering his household, she even named him ‘Yan,’ meaning ‘disgusting,'” Ye Boxuan added.
Lin Xue grew angrier the more she listened. “If you don’t like children, don’t have them! How can you have a child and not raise him? I heard she even beats and scolds Xiao Yan. I seriously doubt if she’s even Xiao Yan’s biological mother.”
Perhaps because her own child had recently been almost abducted, Lin Xue was particularly sensitive to this. As she spoke, she suddenly made a connection, her expression stiffening as she said, “Could it be… that he’s really not her biological child?”
Ye Boxuan was stunned for a moment and instinctively said, “There’s no evidence for that.”
“No.” Lin Xue waved her hand, saying, “Didn’t you notice? Xiao Yan is exquisitely beautiful and doesn’t resemble Ms. Zhang at all.”
Ye Boxuan hadn’t paid much attention to that detail. Hearing her words, he said, “Maybe Xiao Yan resembles his father?”
“No, no,” Lin Xue shook her head, analyzing, “Xiao Yan is like Nannan; at first glance, he’s so beautiful he looks like a little girl. Unless his dad is also beautiful, otherwise… You see, Nannan resembles me, so I think he’s more likely to resemble his mother, grandmother, or maternal grandmother…”
Maternal grandmother?
Lin Xue paused for a moment, then suddenly pulled out her phone and showed Ye Boxuan a photo of Xie Yunzhao’s mother when she was young: “Look, doesn’t Xiao Yan look like Aunt Chang when she was young?”
With the photo comparison, there really was some resemblance.
Ye Boxuan also showed a surprised expression. Could Zhang Yan be a child of the Xie family?
But whose child in the Xie family could he be? Xie Yunzhao? Xie Yunming? Xie Yunhua?
None of them seemed to fit.
“Why don’t we just do a paternity test? It’s not expensive,” Lin Xue decided.
Ye Boxuan, however, felt that this small suspicion wasn’t a strong enough reason.
“I’ll go talk to Yun Zhao,” Lin Xue said, giving him a glare. “Otherwise, what better way is there to verify it? I truly feel that Ms. Zhang might not be Xiao Yan’s biological mother.”
Earlier, downstairs, when she chatted with Xie Yunzhao, she learned that when Zhang Yun was at the Qin family’s home, she was very diligent and responsible towards Qin Jingxu, even to the point of being overly doting.
However, from the investigation, she was negligent and even harsh towards her own son, to the point of being irresponsible.
Setting everything else aside, how could she let her child starve to the point of running to Mount Dalin to dig for wild vegetables?
Although they lived near the foothills and Mount Dalin was a small mountain in a flat area, not very tall with no dangerous wild animals, Xiao Yan was only five years old after all.
Moreover, she heard Xie Yunzhao say that Zhang Yun had originally taken Qin Jingxu to a playground near Mount Dalin today.
She was already near Mount Dalin, so close to home, and yet she didn’t bother to check on her own child?
Another point was that Xie Yunzhao didn’t even know that Zhang Yun had a son.
When discussing this, Xie Yunzhao was also very surprised, saying, “She said before that she was alone at home, and now suddenly she has a son. She never mentioned it. Sigh, I don’t know if she couldn’t manage to come over. If I had known earlier, I would have asked her to live in with the child, which would have made it easier to take care of him.”
So, Zhang Yun had deliberately concealed the fact that she had a son.
The more Lin Xue thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong with Zhang Yun. Without hesitation, she called Xie Yunzhao as she went downstairs.
Xie Yunzhao had just arrived at the parking lot with her mother and hadn’t left yet.
Lin Xue hurried over.
When she returned to the ward, Ye Boxuan had just pulled out a few strands of Zhang Yan’s hair. Seeing her return, he turned and went out, saying, “Let’s go.”
Lin Xue stood at the doorway, blinking at him.
Ye Boxuan sighed, knowing what his wife intended to do, and could only offer unconditional support.
After the samples were sent, Ye Boxuan requested an expedited process, and the results came out at nine o’clock that evening.
Upon receiving the results, Lin Xue took a deep breath before gently opening the report, her eyes widening in shock.
She had indeed suspected that Zhang Yan might be a child of the Xie family because he resembled Xie Yunzhao’s mother when she was young. But she never expected that he would be…
When she went to find Xie Yunzhao, she told her about her hypothesis.
Xie Yunzhao also felt that Zhang Yan resembled her mother in her youth and was confused. Since they were best friends and close enough to talk about anything, she immediately pulled out a few strands of hair with follicles for Lin Xue. It so happened that she was about to take her mother back to their old family home and planned to ask her parents after returning and then rush back to the hospital.
Neither of them had suspected the child had anything to do with Xie Yunzhao herself. They only suspected whether Xiao Yan’s elders had some connection to Old Madam Xie, for example, whether Old Madam Xie had any siblings.
But the results were unexpected… it turned out that Xie Yunzhao and Xiao Yan were biological mother and son.
Ye Boxuan was also genuinely shocked for a moment when he saw the result.
Neither of them doubted Xie Yunzhao’s character. Instead, their immediate thought was about Zhang Yun’s strange behavior.
Zhang Yun was so afraid of leaving Xiao Yan in the hospital, so afraid of the police coming to question him. Could it be… she already knew something?
Ye Boxuan remained silent for a long time, then spoke, “How should we tell Xie Yunzhao about this?”
Lin Xue held the report, grabbed her hair, and slowly crouched down, saying, “Wait a moment, let me calm down.”
—
Inside the ward, Ye Rongxu and Zhang Yan had just finished washing up and were lying obediently on the bed, ready to sleep.
The caregiver turned off the lights and left, leaving the room in darkness.
Ye Rongxu quickly turned over, his small body wiggling and squirming into the arms of the person next to him.
Zhang Yan opened his eyes, looking down at him by the light filtering through the curtain gap, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Rongxu obediently asked, “Brother, are you afraid of the dark?”
“No,” Zhang Yan replied like a little man. Guessing that the little brother was afraid of the dark, he firmly hugged him with his small arm, comforting him, “Little brother, don’t be afraid either; I’m here.”
Ye Rongxu nodded, his voice soft and sweet. “I’m not afraid either. I was afraid you were afraid, brother.”
Zhang Yan: “…”
“Oh, right, brother, will you still be here tomorrow?”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan’s expression dimmed.
Tomorrow, he would definitely have to go home, but…
“I’ll be here tomorrow morning,” he promised softly.
Little Ye Rongxu, however, wasn’t satisfied. He frowned his delicate brows and asked, “Brother, will that bad person from earlier take you away tomorrow?”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan’s thin body stiffened.
Ye Rongxu noticed and quickly said, “Brother, don’t be afraid. If she comes to take you again tomorrow, we’ll shout ‘Swiper, no swiping!’ together and scare her away. She was scared away by me today!”
Zhang Yan felt bitter in his heart. Actually, that wasn’t a bad person; that was…
The ward door was suddenly pushed open, and a trembling figure gently entered.
The two little ones on the bed froze in fright, thinking the caregiver had returned to check on them, and quickly closed their eyes, pretending to be asleep.
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