"Ah Lan, you're thinking about our child, aren't you?"
Xiao Shuihan suddenly straightened Luo Yilan's body, looking at her with slightly reddened eyes.
Luo Yilan gently rubbed the corner of his eye with her fingers and nodded heavily.
“Our child… should be about the same age as him by now.”
A wave of sadness washed over Xiao Shuihan, and his eyes reddened further. He lowered his head and rested his head on Luo Yilan's shoulder, as if seeking comfort.
"But...we lost him."
As soon as she finished speaking, even Luo Yilan's eyes became bloodshot, and she reached out and gently stroked the back of his head.
How could I not feel regret?
Countless nights, when it was just the two of them, Xiao Shuihan would cry on her shoulder, and she would hold him with red eyes, swallowing her tears.
She and Xiao Shuihan complement each other in personality. Xiao Shuihan may seem cynical, but he is actually gentle and sensitive, much more emotional than she is.
She is consistent inside and out, indifferent and rational, but she cannot remain calm when faced with her beloved husband and lost child.
She gently patted Xiao Shuihan's shoulder, a look of daze flashing in her eyes.
When she saw Chu Liyue and Xiao Wujie, it was like seeing herself as a young woman with Xiao Shuihan.
Many years ago, Xiao Shuihan was a handsome and refined gentleman, unparalleled in the world, renowned throughout Lingnan for his exceptional talent and good looks.
She came from an ordinary background and was relatively unknown.
When they got together, everyone thought she was the one who was marrying above her station, but those who really knew them knew that she was the one in a stronger position between them.
When Xiao Fengyin first saw Xiao Shuihan sleeping in her arms, her jaw almost dropped in astonishment.
Her exceptionally talented and handsome third uncle acted like a spoiled child in front of his third aunt. Later, when she asked Xiao Yuxuan and Xiao Linzui about it, she was told: "They don't act like this in public. You'll have to get used to it in private."
Later, Lao He also secretly said that he once suspected that Xiao Shuihan had a split personality, because the Xiao Shuihan in front of Luo Yilan was a completely different person from the Xiao Shuihan in front of others.
At the dinner table, Chu Liyue saw Xiao Wujie's undisguised dependence on her. Many people were astonished by this way of getting along, but she was not.
Because Xiao Shuihan has always been clingy to her in private, and that hasn't changed even now that he's over forty.
The difference is that people of their age are more conservative and won't be as overtly conservative in public as Xiao Wujie.
After a moment, she reached out and stroked Xiao Shuihan's head, looking directly into his reddened eyes:
"You also have your own suspicions?"
She and Xiao Shuihan were of one mind; she was the person who understood him best in the world, without exception.
She could tell that he also had this suspicion, but neither of them dared to say it or even think about it.
The crimson in Xiao Shuihan's eyes faded slightly, and he gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice:
“Something’s not right with the old man. His trip to the capital to visit friends was definitely a cover. I can’t think of many reasons why he would travel all the way to the capital for half a month and then bring back a child.”
“The key point is that this child also has the surname Xiao, and is also twenty years old.”
"I……"
His eyes were brimming with tears, and as he spoke, his eyes were completely red: "I can even see your shadow in his eyes and brows."
Those involved are often blinded by their own feelings; initially, they were completely dominated by a sense of intimacy and didn't notice these details at all.
But as you come to realize it, the overlooked details flood your mind, gradually forming a hazy picture. The more you think about it, the clearer it becomes.
When some of the most crucial images were about to appear, he trembled with fear, almost unable to face them.
Luo Yilan's fair hands unconsciously clenched into fists; what Xiao Shuihan had thought of, she had also thought of.
After carefully considering Lao He's "Young Master...", she felt that he might have meant to call him "Young Master".
He clearly knew something; perhaps he did it on purpose, he was hinting at something to her.
As Luo Yilan's thoughts wandered, Xiao Shuihan kept his eyes fixed on her. Just by looking at her expression, he knew what she was thinking.
"Old man, the old man definitely knows a lot."
"This was all arranged by him on purpose."
Luo Yilan snapped out of her daze and met Xiao Shuihan's gaze. Xiao Shuihan suppressed the turmoil in his heart, suddenly took her hand, stood up and walked outside, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
"Let's go find the old man."
"Ask him for clarification."
Xiao Qianshan's room was located at the deepest part of the Xiao family's old house. Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan walked through the brightly lit area to reach the depths of the old house.
From a distance, Xiao Qianshan's room was still lit.
As I got closer, I saw that even the door was open.
It was as if they had known he would come for a long time and had been waiting for him.
Sure enough, an old, slightly hunched figure stepped out of the doorway—it was Old He.
He smiled faintly and said in a deep voice, "Shui Han, Yi Lan, the master is not asleep and is waiting for you."
Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan exchanged a glance, realizing they had come to the right place.
Xiao Shuihan stared intently at Old He, "Uncle He, do you also know something? Are you all deliberately hiding it from me?"
Old He chuckled and shook his head, stepping aside: "Since you've come, it proves you already have the answer in your heart. The master will explain everything to you."
Xiao Shuihan looked into the dimly lit room, his hand clasped tightly with Luo Yilan's, and he tightened his grip, his hands even becoming damp with sweat.
The answer is just one step away; step into this room and everything will be revealed.
He had searched for many years without success, but he never gave up. Now that the answer was right in front of him, he was nervous.
After all these years, he should have been numb with disappointment by now. He felt that this was the closest he had ever come to the truth.
He already has the answer in his heart, but what if his answer is wrong?
That would be too cruel.
Luo Yilan held his hand tightly. Although her face was expressionless, the light reflected in her eyes flickered.
The two looked at each other silently, took a deep breath, and finally stepped into the house.
The room was dimly lit with old-fashioned retro lighting. Xiao Qianshan sat under the light, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, staring at a piece of paper on the table.
Hearing the noise, he looked up at Xiao Shuihan and the other person, showing no surprise whatsoever.
Before Xiao Shuihan could speak, he took off his glasses, rose slowly, picked up the paper on the table, walked to the coffee table, and said calmly:
"Sit down for a while, I'll send someone to call the eldest and second eldest brothers."
Xiao Shuihan, unsure of his intentions, said in a deep voice, "Father, do you know why I've come here?"
Xiao Qianshan didn't look at him, his fingers gently stroking the paper in his hand. "About that child, Wu Jie."
Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan were instantly shocked. Xiao Shuihan couldn't help but open his mouth again, but Luo Yilan stopped him. The two sat side by side on the sofa and waited.
In just a moment, Xiao Yuxuan and Xiao Linzui rushed over.
Upon seeing Xiao Shuihan, and noticing the subtle atmosphere in the room, the two exchanged different expressions.
After the two sat down, all eyes were on Xiao Qianshan. He raised his eyes, and his voice, like a muffled thunderclap, struck straight into everyone's hearts, sending chills down their spines:
"Shui Han and Xiao Lan's child has been found."
"It is without calamity."
He unfolded the papers in his hand and pushed them in front of Xiao Shuihan and the other person: "These are your paternity test results."
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