"Child, you know that, don't you?"
As soon as Luo Yilan finished speaking, Xiao Shuihan's eyes widened in shock, and Xiao Wujie suddenly raised his eyes.
He stared in a daze at Luo Yilan's face, which was both aloof and noble, yet radiated a maternal softness.
He knows.
He had a feeling when he saw Xiao Qianshan in the capital.
Upon arriving at the Xiao family's residence, he was struck by the strange occurrences and had his own suspicions, but he preferred to believe he was wrong.
He understood everything when he finally met Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan.
But understanding everything did not bring him joy; instead, it plunged him into a state of immense fear and confusion.
He was already extremely satisfied with everything he had, and he no longer hoped for more.
He admitted that he had longed for family affection, but the darkness of the orphanage enveloped him too early, seeping into his very bones and blood, day after day, draining him of all his desire for family affection.
Things he was unwilling or even dared not hope for suddenly fell upon him like objects from outer space, leaving him bewildered.
He could actually sense the debt and longing that Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan felt for him.
Things that have always been out of reach, even when placed right in front of us, still make us afraid to touch them.
He didn't blame them; he knew that what happened back then was not what they wanted.
He doesn't hate them, after all, without them giving him life, he wouldn't have everything he has now.
But he had never experienced or possessed it, and he didn't know how to face them.
I have no idea how to be honest with them.
Just like now, faced with Luo Yilan's words, he didn't even know how to answer.
Just as his lips were moving, unsure of what to do, Luo Yilan spoke again.
Her eyes were bloodshot, her usually cold voice trembled uncontrollably, and her questioning tone turned into a statement:
"Wu Jie, good child, I know you've seen through it."
Seemingly wanting to give Xiao Wujie some sense of security, she gently moved back a little, blinked lightly, suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes, and spoke comfortingly:
"Good child, don't be afraid, it's okay."
"We will not hurt you, nor will we force you."
"We are already very content to see you again and know that you are alright."
Her smile was incredibly forced, yet she still managed to keep her voice as soft as possible:
"Good child, don't feel pressured. You did nothing wrong, and we have no right to blame you."
"We don't ask for much, we just want you not to be afraid of us, and to let us see you."
"Okay?"
The cold-faced queen who was out in the public eye was now completely gone. She was no longer the fearsome heroine that everyone feared, but simply a mother tormented by inner turmoil.
Her words contained no attempt to elicit sympathy or moral blackmail; they were simply the genuine longing of a mother for her child to return home.
The final "Okay?" even carried a tone of negotiation or even pleading.
Xiao Wujie's gaze flickered, and an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart, accompanied by a strange spasm in his chest; in short, it was unpleasant.
An invisible thread connected him to Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan. The bewilderment and helplessness in his heart did not disappear, but he was inexplicably filled with heartache and pain.
He could sense their feelings; he didn't want to refuse, but he didn't know how to comfort them.
In the end, he could only suppress the turbulent air in his chest, nod very slightly, his pale lips moving but unable to utter a single word.
But neither Xiao Shuihan nor Luo Yilan showed any blame on their faces. The former had tears welling up in his eyes, and his voice was extremely hoarse as he nodded repeatedly.
"Good, good boy."
"Don't be sad, don't put pressure on yourself, we are very happy."
"I'm really happy."
It was clear that Xiao Wujie felt unsafe with them, so Xiao Shuihan quickly took Luo Yilan's hand and stood up, soothingly saying in a hoarse voice:
"Good child, you should rest well and not think too much."
We'll come see you again tomorrow.
After saying that, he immediately took Luo Yilan's hand and walked quickly out of the room.
The moment the door opened, Xiao Qianshan and Chu Liyue were standing outside.
Chu Liyue's pretty face turned slightly cold, and her delicate brows furrowed.
She had actually been there for a long time. When she and Xiao Qianshan arrived at the door, they just heard Luo Yilan's voice from inside the house: "Child, you know, right?"
Her first thought was to go inside. She knew Xiao Wujie's emotions best, and Luo Yilan's words would definitely put him under great pressure.
But she could also see that the Xiao family's attitude towards Xiao Wujie was genuine and touching. Xiao Wujie just didn't know how to face them, not that he disliked them.
She also lacked the warmth of family when she was young. If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have met Xiao Wujie and now they are committed to each other for life.
She once had no desire for family affection, but as she returned to the capital, the selfless and fearless dedication of Chu Mingcheng and Bai Jingxuan eventually cracked a fissure in her cold heart.
If possible, she also hoped that Xiao Wujie could have loving parents who could be his strong support.
She suppressed her impulse and did not go in immediately, but she could not hear Xiao Wujie's movements. The frustration in her heart made her want to break down the door countless times, but Xiao Qianshan stopped her each time.
The dignified head of the Xiao family looked at her with a deep gaze that even carried a hint of pleading. She eventually stood outside the door and listened to the whole thing.
Upon seeing Xiao Shuihan and the other person come out, he immediately stepped into the room.
Xiao Qianshan looked at the two people with reddened eyes, his gaze extremely complicated. After a long while, he sighed softly and left with them.
*
In the antique-style restaurant, everyone at the table was subtly glancing at Xiao Shuihan.
His eyes were still red, and he didn't touch any of the exquisite dishes on the table. He just silently drank glass after glass of wine in front of him.
Xiao Fengyin's expression was stiff. She scratched her head several times and gave Luo Yilan a look.
Is my third uncle really alright?
Luo Yilan's gaze was complicated. She shook her head slightly at her, silently calculating the amount in her mind. When the amount was reached, she would naturally stop him.
The dining table was deathly silent, save for the crisp sound of Xiao Shuihan's wine glass clinking against the table, which echoed continuously.
Seeing that his face was flushed from drinking, Xiao Yuxuan, with his cold expression, frowned and said in a deep voice:
"Third brother, that's enough."
"Let's start the banquet before we even get to recognize the children."
His words were like knives, and the gentle-natured Xiao Linzui quickly tried to smooth things over in a softer tone:
"Third brother, drinking too much is bad for your health. I'm just worried about you."
"It's good to talk things out. After all, the child has been away for so many years, it's normal for them to be a little estranged."
"Since the child doesn't blame you, it's just a matter of time."
Xiao Shuihan continued pouring wine as if he hadn't heard them. Just as he was about to tilt his head back and drink it all in one gulp, Luo Yilan frowned slightly and reached out to grab his hand.
His noble face carried an air of authority, and his voice, though gentle, was undeniably firm.
"Okay, stop drinking."
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