Xiao Wujie's voice was very soft, like a feather falling to the ground, yet it instantly silenced the entire room.
Xiao Shuihan seemed to have been electrocuted, and stopped clearing the dishes.
Luo Yilan's expression remained unchanged, but her pupils suddenly contracted.
The air seemed to stand still at that moment; apart from Xiao Wujie's soft breathing, there was not a single rustling sound.
"Child, what did you say?"
Luo Yilan's eyes finally regained a glimmer of light. Her frozen fingers didn't know what to do, and for a moment, her voice became hoarse.
Xiao Shuihan's fingers trembled several times, barely managing to keep the chopsticks from falling. An expression of disbelief appeared in his eyes, and his lips moved slightly:
"I...did I hear that right?"
Xiao Wujie's fingers gripped the hem of his robe, his long eyelashes trembled, and after taking a deep breath, he raised his eyes, his voice soft yet clear:
"Mom, thank you."
He turned his gaze to Xiao Shuihan, straightening his back ramrod straight, and whispered, "And... Dad."
With a "thud," Xiao Shuihan's chopsticks fell to the ground.
Crimson blood vessels spread visibly across his eyes, like cracks appearing in the earth, causing Xiao Shuihan's entire eye to tremble.
"Ah... Ah Lan, my son is calling me Dad..."
As if possessed, he pinched his face hard with his long fingers until he left a painful red mark before slightly loosening his grip.
He looked at Luo Yilan, a smile slowly spreading across his face. It was a silly smile, like a child suddenly hit by candy and cake falling from the sky, his face full of dreams, yet he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth.
“Ah Lan, your son calls me Dad and you Mom.”
"I was... called Daddy..."
"Haha, I'm being called Dad, and you... you're being called Mom."
His eyes trembled, and as he murmured in a daze, Luo Yilan's eyes also surged with turmoil. Her fair hands trembled uncontrollably, and she suddenly grabbed Xiao Shuihan's hand tightly, interlocking their fingers.
In just a moment, her eyes were stained red, her gaze was almost fixed on Xiao Wujie, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She murmured softly, "Child...can you call me again?"
Xiao Wujie felt flustered and looked away under her gaze. Hearing her words, he suddenly looked up at her, his lips moved slightly, his throat was dry, and he could hardly make a sound.
Luo Yilan suddenly raised her hand and shook her head: "No...no need, sweetie, can...Mommy hug you?"
Xiao Wujie's tightly clenched knuckles twitched slightly, his thin lips unconsciously pursed, and he nodded.
He was so nervous that his mind went blank, and he instinctively opened his arms to make it easier for her to hug him.
The next second, he was pulled into a warm embrace.
Luo Yilan hugged him tightly, so tightly that it seemed she wanted to stuff him back into her body so that he would never be lost again.
Her body trembled violently, and within seconds, Xiao Wujie's own shoulder was soaked with a hot, wet liquid.
Before he could react, he was held even tighter.
Luo Yilan hugged him, and Xiao Shuihan hugged both of them at the same time.
His tears flowed like a torrent, large drops falling onto Xiao Wujie and Luo Yilan's shoulders, his voice choked and broken:
"Ah Lan, our son is back! Our son has recognized us!"
"Our son has recognized us!"
He tightened his grip on her arm, letting out a hoarse cry:
"Son, my good boy, I'm sorry, it's all our fault."
"Good boy, you're finally back!"
"That's great! That's great!"
Xiao Wujie was held tightly by them, sandwiched between them, unable to move an inch.
But he didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, he felt a strange warm current flowing through his body.
Apart from Chu Liyue's embrace, this was the warmest embrace he had ever felt.
Today's events happened very suddenly. For Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan, it was a stroke of good luck, but for him, it was by no means something he had planned for.
Human hearts are a very complex thing. Chu Liyue told him that she would be busy for a while, and that Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan would come to keep her company. Her intention to help them recognize each other was obvious.
He wasn't against recognizing Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan, but having never experienced it before, he felt completely lost and helpless.
He couldn't even bring himself to call them "Mom and Dad," let alone acknowledge them as his parents.
Chu Liyue's actions were undoubtedly pushing him forward, hoping he would face the situation bravely. The fact that they were blood relatives could not be changed, and Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan's true feelings were obvious; running away was not the solution.
He didn't want to disappoint her, nor did he want to disappoint them.
They tried every means to get close to him and please him, and he tried his best to please them.
He had no experience with this and could only follow his instincts, so the process of recognizing his partner seemed to be very slow.
Although he was ill and Chu Liyue wouldn't let him do anything, it didn't mean he wasn't aware of anything.
He had his own worries. He knew clearly how much pressure Chu Liyue was under, and how there were treacherous undercurrents surging behind her. But he was bedridden with illness, his supernatural abilities were exhausted, and he was a useless person. All he could do was worry.
Lin Qingyi's words finally woke him up. It was not easy for him to survive and get to where he is now. He may not be able to do much now, but at least he should do his best to reduce their worries and lighten their burden.
No one can handle matters concerning his parents and the Xiao family for him.
He's about to have surgery and won't be here for long. Once he's on the operating table, life and death will be separated by a single thought.
No one can guarantee whether he will see a bright future.
Even in death, he wanted to die cleanly, not wanting them to live the rest of their lives in regret because of him.
The breakthrough in his relationship with Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan ultimately lies with him. Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan feel guilty towards him and are unwilling to force him. They are cautious in front of him and dare not mention recognizing each other.
However, his confusion and helplessness caused the relationship to stagnate. After spending several days together, he could fully understand their sincerity and their longing to recognize each other.
He had already accepted them in his heart. With the future uncertain, he decided to push himself. When Luo Yilan wiped his mouth with genuine emotion, he was deeply moved and mustered up his courage to call out "Mom and Dad".
Even if you asked him to shout it now, he probably wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it.
But a train that goes astray will never reach its destination. Only by getting back on track can it make rapid progress.
Taking this step means they can get along and integrate in a more genuine way.
His fate was uncertain, and he didn't want them to keep waiting, nor could he bear to trample on their sincerity.
Once I actually said it, I suddenly felt a sense of relief, and many things weren't as difficult as I had imagined.
He had no regrets about his decision. He was held tightly in their arms, and the bitter emotions they had suppressed for many years poured out in his ears.
His heart trembled inexplicably, and tears welled up in his eyes. An invisible thread seemed to bind the three of them together.
He took a breath, closed his moist eyes, gently lowered his head, pressed his forehead against Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan's, and gently embraced them.
Like duckweed adrift, we are alone at the ends of the earth; after ten years of wandering, we finally reunite.
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