When Yan Shao returned home, it was nearly four o'clock. He tiptoed into the house. A small nightlight was on inside, and the living room was quiet. Clearly, everyone was asleep.
Yan Shao cautiously crept into the bedroom, gently closed the door, and turned around, only to see Zhu Qianying sitting cross-legged on the bed with a laptop on her lap, looking at something.
Yan Shao frowned and turned on the light in the room with one hand.
Zhu Qianying was momentarily blinded by the bright light and squinted at him. When she recognized him, she smiled and asked, "You're back?"
Yan Shao walked over, braced himself on the bed, and leaned down to kiss her lips.
"Why aren't you asleep yet? Didn't I tell you to go to bed early?"
Zhu Qianying reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, saying pitifully, "I can't sleep..."
Yan Shao pinched her cheek. "What's wrong? Can't you sleep because your husband isn't here?"
Zhu Qianying pursed her lips, looked at him, and nodded heavily.
But in fact, Yan Shao naturally knew why Zhu Qianying couldn't sleep, and Zhu Qianying herself knew even better.
"Go to sleep. We've found the person. We'll verify the details tomorrow."
Zhu Qianying then told Yan Shao about how Yan Bo had gotten the bill information from the orphanage director. After listening, Yan Shao cupped her face and kissed her again.
"I'm going to take a shower. We can talk about everything else after we get some sleep and are refreshed."
...
The next day, the entire Yan family got up very early, except for Zizai.
The four of them gathered together and discussed the information they had gathered the previous night. After Zizai woke up, the family of five had breakfast, and then Yan Shao and Yan Bo went out separately to collect more compelling evidence in different locations.
Of course, these tasks can be delegated to others.
However, this matter concerned the life and safety of the youngest member of the Yan family, so both father and son attached great importance to it and cared deeply about it. Therefore, they did not trust anyone else to interfere too much.
Of course, this excludes Ke Kai and Qin Xiu.
Accompanied by Ke Kai, Yan Shao went to the police station.
Yan Bo and Qin Xiu both joined the National Bank.
As for Zhu Qianying and Madam Yan, they were driven to Jingjing Restaurant shortly after finishing breakfast.
Regarding whether or not to let Chen Jing meet Zizai before the competition, Yan Shao's opinion was that it should be decided by Zhu Qianying herself.
He said that because, of course, Zhu Qianying, though hesitant, was more inclined to make a certain decision.
So, after finishing breakfast, Zhu Qianying called her mother first. "Mom, we got back last night. Zizai and I will come to see you in a little while. But when you see his face, please don't ask or say anything out of the ordinary!"
Zhu Qianying gave her mother a heads-up beforehand.
"What happened to Zizai's face?" Chen Jing asked with great concern on the other end of the phone.
"He scraped his face and hands while playing on the beach, and there are still some scars. Anyway, don't ask him about this trip; he's extremely bothered by it."
Zhu Qianying knew better than anyone that her mother was not like Madam Yan, who was used to seeing all kinds of things. Even the smallest thing could make her mother panic.
But this food exhibition is very important to my mother, so she absolutely cannot let her son's affairs affect her mood and emotions.
Left with no other choice, she had to rehearse her lines with Old Madam Yan and continue to keep the secret from her mother.
Sure enough, even with prior warning, Chen Jing's eyes immediately welled up with tears when she saw Zizai's appearance.
Fortunately, Zizai seemed unaffected, skipping and hopping to her, opening his arms and hugging her waist.
Chen Jing and Zizai were whispering to each other. After all, the grandmother and grandson hadn't seen each other for almost a week, and their affectionate interaction was something no one else could interfere with.
While Chen Jing and Madam Yan were taking Zizai across the street to buy snacks, Luo Yifan pulled Zhu Qianying to the checkout counter and whispered a question to her.
"Ying'er, did Zizai really get this scrape while playing in the US?"
Clearly, Luo Yifan was not as easily fooled as Chen Jing.
Zhu Qianying wasn't sure if he had heard something, but after thinking about it, this man was about to become her stepfather, so he was practically family. Perhaps there were some things she really shouldn't keep from him.
Besides, we should talk to him first, so that if Mom hears any rumors, he can find a way to cover it up and appease her.
With that thought in mind, Zhu Qianying briefly recounted Zizai's experience.
Luo Yifan was shocked after hearing this!
"How could someone be so terrifying? How could they bear to harm a five-year-old child?"
"Uncle Luo, please keep this to yourself and try not to let my mom know. I'm afraid it will affect her performance in the competition. Also, we should keep it from Xiaoyu as well, in case she has a miscarriage."
Luo Yifan nodded. "Don't worry, I'll handle this. If you need any help, just let me know. Zizai is my precious grandson too!"
Zhu Qianying then realized that she hadn't personally congratulated Luo Yifan yet.
"Uncle Luo, congratulations!"
Luo Yifan naturally understood what she meant by congratulating her.
He patted her head and said, "Thank you! We're family now, so feel free to tell me if you need anything!"
Zhu Qianying nodded. Although she was not related to him by blood, she could tell that he spoke from the heart and was not just saying it for show.
His sincerity deeply moved her.
His genuine dedication, despite being a complete stranger, only served to highlight the ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness of Takenozu and his son.
"Grandpa Luo, this is for you!"
Zizai, who had just returned from the snack shop across the street, handed a large lollipop to Luo Yifan.
Luo Yifan was quite surprised, but still happily accepted it.
"Thank you, Zai Zai!"
Chen Jing also held a lollipop of about the same size in her hand. She smiled and said to Luo Yifan, "You really got a great deal. Zizai bought the lollipop with his own money. We have one, and you have one too!"
Clearly, Zizai equates Luo Yifan's status with that of his grandparents and great-grandmother.
"Of course, I not only got a great deal, but I also gained two daughters and a grandson, didn't I?"
His words startled Old Madam Yan.
"Ah! You two... Oh dear, Ying'er, why didn't you tell me? Congratulations!"
While complaining about Zhu Qianying, Madam Yan gave Chen Jing a big hug and offered a series of heartfelt blessings.
"Sister Huai, this isn't Ying'er's fault. We plan to get our marriage certificate after the food expo, so it's still a long way off!"
Just as Luo Yifan was about to say something, Zizai looked up at Chen Jing and said, "Grandma, Grandpa Luo is a man of his word. A man of his word is as good as his bond. So, Grandpa Luo has already proposed, and he can't go back on his word!"
The little guy's words successfully made the adults present laugh.
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