Yan Shu felt an uncontrollable chill in her heart. It wasn't that she rejected the child, but rather that she couldn't accept what Yan Yaoyao had done.

It leaves one feeling like they have a fishbone stuck in their throat.

Chen Lan chuckled and pulled Yan Yaoyao to her feet.

"From today onwards, Yan Yaoyao is my daughter. I will have someone transfer her household registration later. Please cooperate. Of course, Yan Qiao, the Yan family only has one daughter, so please be sensible."

Yan Qiao hummed in agreement, "I know, I'll hurry."

As she reached the door, Yan Yaoyao glanced back and saw the distress on Yan Shu and Song Yinsheng's faces. She panicked.

That was out of heartache for Yan Qiao. Although she longed to return to the Yan family, she never considered abandoning her adoptive parents.

Why can't she have both?

Chen Lan loved her more, partly because of Chen Zhou.

Yan Shu and Song Yinsheng have had a relationship with her for nearly twenty years, how could they accept Yan Qiao so quickly!

After they left, the private room fell silent.

Yan Shu asked, "You haven't come to see me for a while. Is it because you found out about this?"

Yan Qiao nodded. "I'm so sorry because I didn't know how to face you. The reason Ms. Chen Lan knew the truth about this was because I told her. If I hadn't told her, Yan Yaoyao might not have hurt you like this."

Yan Shu covered her eyes and cried, "You don't need to apologize. You are also a victim in this matter. You don't need to apologize to us here."

She knew very well what kind of people Chen Lan and Yan Yaohui were, and that Yan Qiao had probably suffered a lot of grievances in the Yan family.

Yan Qiao forced a smile, "Actually, no. Just as Yan Yaoyao said, I live a life of luxury in the Yan family."

Song Yinsheng's expression was complicated; he didn't believe a word she said.

Chen Lan was able to choose Yan Yaoyao without hesitation, but treated Yan Qiao like trash. How could he possibly treat her well?

"Now that Yao Yao has chosen to return to the Yan family, what are your plans?"

Yan Qiao said, "I'm currently preparing for next year's college entrance examination. I'm not a child anymore, so I don't need to worry too much."

Every word she uttered, feigning strength, tore at Yan Shu's heart.

At this age, most people are still in school and still rely on their families. How can they not be children?

If there were someone else to rely on, who would be willing to be so independent?

After a moment's consideration, Song Yinsheng said, "Would you like to come home with us? Feelings need time to develop. You probably wouldn't believe me if I said how deep my feelings for you are now. But from the first moment I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity, like we were reuniting after many years. That's probably the magic of blood ties. Qiaoqiao, Dad sincerely welcomes you home."

Yan Shu quickly added, "Mom too. When you were in my belly, we went through the dictionary again and again to name you, decorated your room, and eagerly awaited your birth. Loving you is instinct, and whether you grow up by my side or not doesn't affect my love for my daughter."

Looking at their eager and expectant eyes, Yan Qiao felt somewhat apprehensive and at a loss for what to do with such strong emotions.

She had never experienced the feeling of family care before; it was all too unfamiliar to her.

"I want to do a paternity test first. If the results confirm that I am your biological daughter, then I will go home with you."

She decided to give herself a chance, to take a gamble, because she also wanted a home.

Yan Shu let her have her way: "If doing this will make you feel more at ease, then do it."

Song Yinsheng picked up the menu and started ordering, saying with a smile, "We'll talk about that later, let's eat first."

After finishing their meal and leaving the mall, Yan Yaoyao, who had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, quickly stepped forward.

"Dad, Mom, can I say a few words to you?"

Yan Shu's expression turned slightly cold. "No one told you not to speak. You were speaking quite well inside just now."

Yan Yaoyao felt a pang of guilt and gritted her teeth, turning her head to the side.

"Yan Qiao, could you go over there? I want to talk to my parents alone."

She deliberately emphasized the words "my parents".

Yan Qiao nodded and walked to the side to wait, before Yan Shu could stop her.

Looking at her lonely figure from behind, Yan Shu's expression turned cold.

"Get to the point. I don't have much patience to listen to you here."

Yan Yaoyao burst into tears, "Mom, don't you recognize me anymore?"

"It's not that I don't recognize you, it's that you don't recognize me." Yan Shu turned her face away.

Yan Yaoyao looked sorrowful: "Is it just because I want to acknowledge my birth mother?"

Yan Shu sneered, "No one cares if you acknowledge your birth mother, but if you have, why are you doing it so secretly like a thief? And why are you putting one down and praising the other? Can't you please Chen Lan without belittling us?"

Anyone would feel heartbroken to hear their child, whom they have raised for nineteen years, insult them in front of others.

“I was wrong, I really know I was wrong! I was just too impatient. I was afraid you would be unhappy if I acknowledged my biological mother, so I wanted to keep it from you. But I never thought of abandoning you. In my heart, you are closer than my own parents.”

Song Yinsheng lowered his eyes. "Alright, your mother is still angry. You should go back first, so that Chen Lan won't be unhappy either."

All he wanted to do now was get rid of Yan Yaoyao as soon as possible.

His gentle manner made Yan Yaoyao stop crying and start laughing.

"dad……"

"Go back quickly."

Yan Yaoyao had stopped crying; she knew that her parents still loved her.

Nineteen years of affection cannot be replaced by a few days of quiet companionship.

As Yan Yaoyao passed by Yan Qiao, she stopped in her tracks.

"Yan Qiao, I will remember everything you did to me before. Now it's your turn. I will make you taste what it's like to have nothing."

Xiaoqi was furious. "She's so outrageous! She's trying to steal your parents away!"

I don't care about anyone who tries to take me away. But I won't be left with nothing; I still have my pension, so please hurry up and take advantage of it.

Xiaoqi immediately stopped talking. What a little debt collector!

Yan Shu, standing to the side, became increasingly disappointed in Yan Yaoyao.

“I didn’t understand why Yao Yao was like this before, but now I finally understand. She and Chen Lan are exactly the same, extremely selfish.”

Song Yinsheng deeply agreed, "Indeed."

Yan Shu sighed, "When she said those things, it wasn't because she really couldn't bear to part with us, her parents; it was just her possessiveness at play. She already has her own biological parents, yet she still wants to take us all, leaving Qiaoqiao with nothing. To put it bluntly, she just wants to use us to get revenge on Qiaoqiao."

Song Yinsheng shook his head in disappointment. "Don't think too much about it. Let's go get the test done first."

Yan Shu walked to Yan Qiao's side and took her hand.

"Why are your hands so cold? We need to get to the hospital right away."

Yan Qiao was taken aback. "Are we still doing it?"

"Why do you ask that? Of course I did it. Once the results are out, Mom and Dad will take you home."

Yan Qiao couldn't quite describe her feelings. It was as if she was just one step away from a cliff, but someone pulled her back. She felt a sense of relief, like she had been reborn, but she couldn't help but fear that she might be pushed off the cliff again.

"good."

Even with expedited processing, the results won't be available until the next day after the test is completed.

After sending Yan Qiao back to Courtyard No. 5, Yan Shu said, "Old Song, take me to the mall again. I wanted to order a set of jewelry today, but I didn't manage to buy any."

Since it was Yan Qiao's first time returning home, she was definitely going to give her a gift.

Song Yinsheng said, "Buy it, order the most expensive one, count me in."