Chapter 139
Ni Ruolan looked at Mu Qingxuan in panic, only to see the girl tilting her head curiously, with a puzzled look on her face.
Mu Qingxuan tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing her small earlobes: "You can just speak frankly."
"Your grandfather and I have a life-long friendship, and we are also destined to be together." Ni Yeping's voice suddenly became low, "I want to adopt you as my granddaughter, I wonder if you are willing?"
He paused, his eyes falling on the familiar stubbornness between Mu Qingxuan's eyebrows: "I wanted to adopt you as my granddaughter. Now it seems that adopting you as my granddaughter can be regarded as a wish come true."
The mahogany round table glowed with a warm luster under the crystal chandelier. The celadon spoon in Mu Qingxuan's hand tapped lightly against the edge of the bowl, making a crisp sound.
Ni Yeping's words were like a stone thrown into the lake of her heart, and the ripples made her fingertips tremble slightly.
She raised her eyes to look at the old man, only to see that the collar of his navy blue Zhongshan suit was buttoned meticulously, and the white hair at his temples shone silver under the light.
The eyes that had interrogated countless prisoners were now filled with an almost childlike earnestness.
"Old Director..."
Mu Qingxuan's voice was a little hoarse. She had never thought that this old chief who was so famous in the police force would suddenly make such a request.
"I know this is sudden."
Ni Yeping seemed to see her embarrassment, and his fingertips gently stroked the table: "But I have thought it over carefully."
"From the first time I saw you in the ward to later learning that you were Comrade Hong Guo's granddaughter, my heart has never been at peace."
He paused, then looked up at Mu Qingxuan, his eyes full of sincerity: "Comrade Mu, I sincerely hope you can consider it. Your grandfather is my lifesaver, and I will remember this friendship for the rest of my life."
"Seeing you now is like seeing the shadow of his youth. This idea of adopting you is not just a spur-of-the-moment idea."
Mu Qingxuan was silent.
"Old Director,"
She took a deep breath and spoke carefully: "I understand your intention. But this matter is too serious. I want to discuss it with my family first. After all..."
"Of course, of course!"
Ni Yeping nodded repeatedly without waiting for her to finish.
Mu Qingxuan did not refuse directly. Ni Yeping's eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "This is a big deal. Naturally, I have to discuss it with my family. I'll wait for your news. Don't worry, don't worry!"
Ni Ruolan, who was standing by, held her forehead helplessly and said, "Dad, look at you. Did you scare Comrade Xiao Mu?"
She turned to Mu Qingxuan with an apologetic smile on her face: "Comrade Mu, I'm so sorry, my dad is just like that, he can't keep things to himself, and when he gets anxious he blurts everything out, I hope I didn't scare you."
Mu Qingxuan smiled back, but her gaze lingered slightly on Ni Yeping.
She knew clearly that the old man in front of her was once a vigorous and resolute soldier and an old police chief who was in charge of local public security. How could he be a reckless and impatient person?
His "anxiety" at this moment seemed to be like letting down all his defenses, revealing his most sincere side.
It was as if he had already regarded her as one of his own and there was no need to conceal his usual calmness.
The sunlight outside the window shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled light and shadows on the table.
Mu Qingxuan picked up the teacup, the warm tea slid down her throat, but it couldn't suppress the waves in her heart.
She looked at the undisguised expectation in Ni Yeping's eyes, and the helpless yet slightly gentle expression on Ni Ruolan's face. For a moment she didn't dare to look at him.
Mu Qingxuan lowered her head slightly, and her drooping hair concealed the surging emotions in her eyes.
At this time, Ni Ruolan sighed helplessly, breaking the brief silence.
"Comrade Xiao Mu, to be honest, my father had this idea for another reason."
Mu Qingxuan immediately raised her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity: "What's the reason?"
Her eyes moved back and forth between Ni Yeping and Ni Ruolan.
Ni Ruolan glanced at her father and saw him nod slightly before she spoke slowly, "I also have an older brother, but unfortunately, he and his sister-in-law died in the line of duty more than 20 years ago."
Her voice paused, with a sadness that was difficult to conceal: "Even the baby in my eldest sister-in-law's belly died because of this."
Having said that, she reached out and picked up the teacup, only to find that the tea in the cup had already gone cold.
Ni Yeping took over the conversation, his tone heavy and sincere: "If my eldest granddaughter survives, she will be about the same age as you."
He took off his reading glasses, wiped the lenses, and put them back on, his eyes full of nostalgia and anticipation.
"Every time I see you, I feel like I'm seeing my own granddaughter, so I can't help but think of adopting you."
Mu Qingxuan's eyes moved slightly as she looked at the undisguised sincerity and loneliness on the old man's face, and a complex feeling arose in her heart.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the floor.
When Mu Qingxuan returned to the Huo family, Yao Jinglan was sitting on a rattan chair, wearing reading glasses and holding a silver needle and embroidery frame in her hands.
But she didn't move her needle for a long time. She just stared out the window blankly, as if she was thinking about some difficult problem.
Hearing the noise, she slowly turned her head with a hint of melancholy on her face.
"Grandma, I'm back."
Mu Qingxuan walked over and sat gently next to Yao Jinglan.
She hesitated for a moment, then started to tell the story of the day.
"He wants to adopt me as his granddaughter..."
Yao Jinglan paused slightly and the embroidery frame in her hands almost slipped.
She didn't speak immediately, but just looked at Mu Qingxuan with complicated eyes full of melancholy.
After a while, she spoke softly, her voice a little hoarse: "What's the name of the old director?"
"Ni Yeping." Mu Qingxuan replied indifferently.
When she heard the name, Yao Jinglan's pupils suddenly shrank and an expression of shock instantly appeared on her face.
The embroidery frame in her hand fell to the ground with a "pop" and her body trembled slightly.
She murmured the three words "Ni Yeping" blankly, her eyes empty, as if she was lost in distant memories.
Mu Qingxuan frowned.
Yao Jinglan's various reactions today were so abnormal that she subconsciously thought that Yao Jinglan was feeling unwell.
Mu Qingxuan was just about to take Yao Jinglan's pulse, but as soon as she stretched out her hand, Yao Jinglan waved her hand to refuse.
After a while, Yao Jinglan came back to her senses.
She took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Xuanxuan, I hope you can agree to it."
"grandmother?"
Mu Qingxuan was even more surprised. This was totally unlike Yao Jinglan's usual style.
Yao Jinglan looked at her sadly, sighed, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes: "Find some time to arrange for us to have a meal together, so that I can meet the old director."
Mu Qingxuan looked at the expression on Yao Jinglan's face, was silent for a long time, and finally nodded.
"good."
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