Chapter 141

"The reason why I don't agree to let you adopt Xuanxuan as your granddaughter is because you are originally blood-related grandfather and granddaughter."

As soon as the words fell, the entire box fell into silence, with only the ticking sound of the clock in the corner being clearly audible.

Ni Yeping's legs suddenly went weak and he fell heavily into the chair, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

He stretched out his hand tremblingly, wanting to touch the jade pendant in the box, but stopped in mid-air, turbid old tears slowly sliding down his wrinkles: "This... How is this possible..."

Mu Qingxuan only felt a buzzing in her ears and her mind went blank.

Huo Changfeng's bony hand quietly covered Mu Qingxuan's cold fingertips. The warmth of his palm came through her thin skin, and he squeezed it gently to comfort her.

Mu Qingxuan looked back, her eyelashes still showing a hint of shock.

There was a hint of confusion in her pupils, like a lonely boat drifting in the fog, helpless and hesitant.

Ni Ruolan staggered and held onto the back of the mahogany chair, "Comrade Xiao Mu is actually my niece?"

Her voice was full of disbelief, her eyebrows trembled violently, and her eyes moved back and forth between Mu Qingxuan and the two jade pendants. She couldn't believe her ears.

The air in the entire box froze, and everyone's eyes were directed to Yao Jinglan who was sitting upright.

The old man's wrinkled hands gently stroked the hem of his cheongsam, and the dark-patterned fabric wrinkled at his knuckles.

"Perhaps only my old man knows the specific situation."

Yao Jinglan's voice seemed to be squeezed out from the deepest part of her chest, with sobs that were difficult to conceal, "That year he went to the back mountain to collect herbs, and when he came back he was holding a swaddling child in his arms. The child was covered in blood, and the umbilical cord was not yet completely cut..."

She pointed to the jade pendant in the wooden box with trembling hands: "The old man said that the jade pendant was tied to the swaddling clothes, and there was blood on the corners. With red eyes, he said that since the biological parents don't want the child, there is no need to find the biological parents of the child, let us raise the child."

Ni Ruolan's pupils shrank, and she retorted: "Impossible! My elder brother and his wife would never abandon their child. Could it be..."

Her voice stopped abruptly and her eyes suddenly turned to Ni Yeping, whose face was ashen.

The old director's hand, which was holding his forehead, trembled slightly and his face looked gloomy.

He suddenly realized that given Mu Qingxuan's age, she was born at the time when his eldest son and daughter-in-law died in a mission.

Maybe it was because of that mission that they had to make such a decision.

Ni Yeping sighed and murmured, "Fate plays tricks on me."

Yao Jinglan glanced at Mu Qingxuan's dazed profile, and her wrinkled hand gently covered the back of her cold hand, as if she wanted to rub all her thirty years of apologies into this warm touch.

Her Adam's apple rolled, and tears welled up in her cloudy eyes: "Xuanxuan, grandma is sorry for you. I have kept these things from you for so many years..."

Mu Qingxuan dug her nails deep into her palms, her knuckles turning white but she forced a smile: "I know grandma is doing this for my own good."

Before she finished her words, Yao Jinglan suddenly pulled her into her arms and patted her back soothingly.

"Whether you recognize your ancestors or not is entirely up to you."

When Yao Jinglan let go of her hand, the corners of her eyes were wet with tears.

She pointed to the jade pendant that fit perfectly on the table: "But remember——"

"You will always be my good granddaughter."

Mu Qingxuan's vision blurred.

Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the celadon teacup, and the coolness of the cup wall penetrated her skin.

Mu Qingxuan took a deep breath and looked up at Ni Yeping. The light cast a layer of silver light on the old man's graying temples.

Ni Yeping's eyes were now filled with cautious anticipation.

"Old Director, I'm sorry, my mind is a bit confused right now, and I haven't thought it through yet..."

Mu Qingxuan's voice was as light as a feather, and the ending tone trembled slightly.

She could feel Huo Changfeng's hand on her shoulder quietly tightening, and the warmth of his palm came through the fabric, bringing silent comfort.

"Hey - Qingxuan girl, there's nothing to be embarrassed about!"

Ni Yeping waved his hands quickly: "How can you figure this out just by thinking it through? Just think about it slowly. Grandpa will wait for you no matter how long you think about it!"

As he spoke, he suddenly realized that he had blurted out the word "grandpa". His old cheeks flushed slightly, but his eyes showed unmistakable earnestness.

Mu Qingxuan looked at the undisguised gentleness and understanding in the old man's eyes, and her tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

She was about to say something when she saw Ni Yeping leaning forward, stroking the table lightly with his wrinkled hands, as if he was a little embarrassed.

"but……"

Ni Yeping paused, and when he raised his eyes, there was a hint of pleading in his eyes: "Can you please stop calling me old director?"

"How about calling me 'Grandpa'?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an almost humble expectation, as if he was afraid that this request would be rejected.

The air suddenly became quiet, as if even a silver needle falling to the ground could be heard clearly.

Mu Qingxuan was slightly startled, her eyes falling on Ni Yeping's lips which were pursed due to nervousness.

"Grandpa...Grandpa."

Mu Qingxuan spoke softly, and two words flowed out from between her lips and teeth, with a hint of awkwardness, but extremely clear.

Even if there were no other reasons, considering Ni Yeping's age and his friendship with Mu Hongguo, Mu Qingxuan should respectfully call him grandpa based on the virtue of "respecting the elderly".

As soon as he finished speaking, Ni Yeping's pupils suddenly shrank, as if he was hit hard by something.

He opened his mouth, his Adam's apple rolled violently, but no sound came out.

The next second, turbid tears suddenly flowed from the corners of his eyes, slid down his wrinkled cheeks, and dripped onto his dark Mao suit, leaving a small dark mark.

“Okay…Okay…”

The old man choked up, nodded vigorously, and reached out to wipe his face, but he couldn't wipe away the tears that kept pouring out.

"Qingxuan girl, good child..."

He repeated, his voice trembling with excitement, but with unprecedented satisfaction and joy.

Ni Ruolan's fingers rubbed back and forth on the clasp of her pearl handbag, and her carefully painted brows were slightly furrowed.

Her hesitant gaze was like willow catkins in spring, lightly falling on Mu Qingxuan.

She opened her mouth and her Adam's apple moved, but in the end she couldn't utter a word. She could only look at Mu Qingxuan cautiously with a look of desire and uneasiness in her eyes.

When Mu Qingxuan lowered her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Ni Ruolan's actions and instantly understood something.

She suddenly thought of this capable and strong woman when she first met her, but now she was like a child who was afraid of being rejected, and a soft feeling arose in her heart.

"aunt."

The clear voice was like the sound of a spring, breaking the stagnant air.

Ni Ruolan raised her head suddenly, and there seemed to be tiny pieces of light condensed on her eyelashes.

"Why!"

She responded almost immediately, her voice filled with excitement that she wasn't even aware of, and she frantically searched for her bag.

"Aunt has already prepared a gift for you!"