Chapter 117 Do I need to change my surname?
This family reunion did not have the usual grand ceremony in novels, nor the glitz and glamour of a wealthy family's dinner, nor the bloody arguments and the tug-of-war over DNA testing. It was just a family of three sitting around the dining table, slowly unpacking their thoughts that had been pent up for years, as real as the evening smoke outside the window.
"Niannian, Dad's hometown is in the south. Later, I will take you back to recognize your ancestors." Chen Ran's voice was softer than usual, as if he was afraid of disturbing this rare peace.
Su Nian bit her chopsticks and replied heartlessly, "Do I have to change my last name then?"
But if I change it to "Chen Nian"... Chen Nian... it sounds like she's indulging in longing, which is a bit unconventional! But we can't change both her first and last name, right?
Chen Ran subconsciously looked at Su Hong beside him, and his tone softened instantly, with a hint of uncertainty: "Shouldn't, shouldn't it be necessary..."
He looked so cautious, just like a man who was afraid of his wife.
Su Hong's eyes curled up at his amusement. She tapped the edge of the table with her fingertips and said with a hint of resentment, "You make it sound like I'm being unreasonable. Does it matter what the child's surname is? She's been called Su Nian since she was a child. The neighbors, classmates, and colleagues all know her. If she suddenly changed her surname, she would be the first one to be uncomfortable."
Chen Ran seemed to have grasped a step, nodding hurriedly, even his voice brighter: "That's right! Blood is engraved in the heart, not written in the household registration book. We don't tolerate formalism in our family!"
"Okay, stop talking so much." Su Hong interrupted him. When she turned to look at Su Nian, her eyes softened as if soaked in warm water. "When you give birth to the baby, let's go back to Dad's hometown as a family."
"I'm afraid your grandma won't be able to wait until then." Chen Ran said softly.
Su Nian raised her eyes, and Sherlock Holmes possessed her. "Wasn't she the one who didn't agree with you two being together in the beginning?"
Su Hong was stunned for a moment, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "How do you know? I have never told you these things."
"Since it's not because they don't love each other, then they must be forced to separate. That's how it's played out in idol dramas—there must be a wicked mother-in-law." Su Nian said it bluntly without beating around the bush.
"Don't talk nonsense, kid." Su Hong said helplessly, but her fingertips gently touched the back of her daughter's hand.
"So, I don't really want to go see that old man." Su Nian couldn't like the historical factors that hindered his family's happiness.
She has always been clear about what she loves and hates. It's not hatred, but she was raised by her mother alone. She doesn't want to give in to people who are insignificant to her.
"It's not that I hate her, I just don't want to go and see her. After all, the term 'grandfather's affection' hasn't been approved by me yet." Su Nian lowered his eyes and spoke frankly.
Chen Ran listened and suddenly felt warm in his heart - blood relationship is really a wonderful thing. His daughter's personality with clear likes and dislikes is exactly the same as his own. Even the expression of "too lazy to be perfunctory" is exactly the same.
To be honest, he himself was also very conflicted about his feelings towards the old lady. His daughter's attitude and words were also understandable.
He fished out a neatly folded red cloth bag from his pocket and gently pushed it in front of Su Nian. His voice was very soft: "This is what the old lady asked me to bring you. It's the key to the safe in our old house in the south. If you think it through in the future, we can go back to see her together. If you don't want to, it's okay. In the future... Dad just wants to make it up to you and your mother."
Su Nian stared at the red cloth bag on the table. The edges of the red cloth were a little worn white, and it was obvious that it had been repeatedly rubbed. She pushed the bag back to Chen Ran and said calmly, "You keep this."
She looked up at Su Hong, then at Chen Ran. After a long silence, she spoke softly, "I... just want to spend some quality time with my parents. As for going south... I'll need some time."
——Translation: Let me try the “family bucket” package first, and we’ll talk about the copy later.
"Okay! Okay!" Chen Ran nodded immediately. "Dad will always be here from now on."
When Si Yan came to pick up Su Nian, he had completely missed the core moment of the recognition, as if he was halfway late for a movie.
He pushed open the door of the private room, and the first thing that caught his eyes was the warm yellow light that filled the room - Chen Ran was busy serving Su Nian her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, and Su Hong smiled and reminded her, "Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you." Su Nian had a faint smile on her lips, and her eyes were more relaxed than ever before, and even her aura softened, as if she was a cat that had finally found a nest.
——It looks like a peaceful and tranquil life on earth.
"Ayan is here?" Su Hong was the first to see her son-in-law and quickly greeted him with a smile, "Have you eaten yet? If not, we can add two more dishes."
"Not yet. I fell behind on work recently. Thinking that Nian Nian would be with you guys tonight, I stayed at school for a while longer and came directly from there." Si Yan answered honestly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ran walked out and called the waiter to bring more dishes. Su Hong also stood up and went out, telling the waiter about Si Yan's favorite flavors.
Si Yan sat down in the empty seat next to Su Nian. Su Nian picked up a tissue and diligently wiped his forehead, saying with a hint of joking, "Thank you for your hard work, Professor Si!"
Si Yan was puzzled. He wasn't sweating or looking tired, yet his wife was so enthusiastic today. Was it possible that his mother-in-law and Mr. Chen were getting married soon? Or was there something else going on?
Seeing his confused look, Su Nian couldn't help laughing. She waved at him and motioned him to move his head closer.
Si Yan leaned forward obediently, and heard her lower her voice with a hint of pride: "Let me tell you something, Mr. Chen is my biological father."
"Dear... Dad?" Si Yan was completely confused.
He thought Chen Ran was his mother-in-law's new partner, the one who would become his stepfather. How did a genetic mutation suddenly occur, turning him into a biological father? How did this happen biologically? A dominant inheritance that was delayed for over twenty years?
"Well, if you think about it carefully, it means biological father, literally." Su Nian suppressed his laughter and added another sentence.
Wow! This is shocking news.
Even Si Yan, who usually had no interest in gossip and devoted himself to academics, could no longer sit still. He was about to ask his wife to explain the whole process in detail like writing a paper abstract when Su Hong and Chen Ran walked in.
"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad." Si Yan suddenly connected to the 5G network speed. He subconsciously responded and called "Dad" without any hesitation.
Su Nian watched from the side, secretly giving Si Yan an "awesome" gesture—this guy was quite sensible. He hadn't even paid the "change of heart fee" yet, and he was already calling "Dad" so smoothly!
Chen Ran also looked at Si Yan twice more, and the smile in his eyes deepened. Obviously, the clear and loud "Dad" that came out of his mouth made him feel particularly happy.
Su Hong, on the other hand, felt a little embarrassed. She didn't know what her son-in-law would think about the complicated situation in her family.
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