Guan Baiyu waited until there were still ten minutes left before the agreed time before getting up and heading to the school gate.
Shi Zhen said, "I'll go with you; we'll drive there."
Guan Baiyu knew he wanted to back her up, and smiled, "Okay."
Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng had been waiting at the school gate for quite a while.
Mu Tian changed her clothes and put on lipstick to make herself look better.
She clutched Jiang Xingsheng's clothes, anxiously watching everyone coming and going.
"The person who called me sounded very young. Could it be my child?" Mu Tian suddenly asked Jiang Xingsheng.
Jiang Xingsheng didn't speak. He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, but didn't light it.
They have been looking for someone, but haven't found anyone who meets their requirements.
After all, their child was too young when he was lost... Normally, human traffickers don't abduct such young children.
Moreover, back then... to be honest, many people who wanted children would buy them directly from the parents or adopt them from relatives, since every family had many children at that time.
For this reason, the police suspected that someone was deliberately retaliating or trying to threaten him with the child, but no matter how hard they investigated, they found no clues.
It's so rare for someone to come knocking on our door, which is why Mu Tian is so nervous.
"Only five minutes left." Mu Tian glanced at her watch.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw a car stop next to them, and then Guan Baiyu and his brother, whom she had seen before, got out of the car.
It was Saturday afternoon, and there weren't many people at the school gate, which made Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng, who were just standing there, particularly conspicuous.
Guan Baiyu got out of the car and asked Mu Tian, "Are you Mu Tian?"
Mu Tian nodded, somewhat bewildered: "You...you..."
She never expected that it would be Guan Baiyu who came.
Guan Baiyu said, "Let's talk in the car."
Guan Baiyu is a student at H University, so he can be trusted. Besides, Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng don't have any classified missions on them right now... They readily got into the back seat of the car.
After getting into the car, Mu Tian kept staring at Guan Baiyu.
She had met Guan Baiyu before, but hadn't thought much of it at the time. But now... her emotions were in turmoil, and she felt lost and uncertain.
Guan Baiyu wouldn't say she looks that much like her, but if you look closely... you'll find that their eyes and face shape have many similarities.
And her child is exactly that age now.
She had even thought that this person and her child shared a character in their names!
This... might be her child, the child who was taken away from her!
Guan Baiyu sat in the passenger seat, looking at Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng. After a moment of silence, he took out his ID card and showed it to them: "I was probably bought before January 1, 1979. Later, when I was registered, my birthday was recorded using this date... However, the person who bought me back then has passed away, so I don't know the specifics... Let's do a paternity test to confirm if it's true."
After learning about this news last night, Guan Baiyu inquired online and found out that paternity tests are now available.
However, it seems that you need to apply to the relevant department before you can do it.
This isn't difficult; he felt Mu Tian could definitely handle it.
"You...I..." Mu Tian had a lot to say and a lot to ask, but she was stunned by Guan Baiyu's words.
Guan Baiyu... was remarkably calm.
"Shall we find a place to talk? We just received the news and don't know where to get a paternity test done," Shi Zhen said.
Shi Zhen drove to a nearby teahouse and booked a private room.
Changxi City is just a county-level city, so it lacks many things. The provincial capital is different; you can find buffets, teahouses, coffee shops, and basically anything you can think of.
In the teahouse, you only need to order tea; the snacks are complimentary. Since no one was in the mood to choose, everyone ordered Longjing tea, which cost ten yuan a pot.
Four pots of Longjing tea were served first, followed by complimentary snacks such as duck heads, braised tofu, and peanuts, which were placed on their table.
Mu Tian kept staring at Guan Baiyu, and Jiang Xingsheng was also uneasy. Shi Zhen spoke first: "Hello, my name is Shi Zhen, and I am Guan Baiyu's older brother."
Only then did Mu Tian say, "My name is Mu Tian."
Jiang Xingsheng said, "My name is Jiang Xingsheng."
After saying that, Jiang Xingsheng, perhaps feeling that it was too quiet, added, "The child we lost was named Jiang Yu. He was only one month old at the time..."
As Jiang Xingsheng spoke, he looked at Guan Baiyu.
His impression of Guan Baiyu was neither good nor bad.
At this point, he didn't have time to think about that... after all, such a big child had suddenly appeared.
Guan Baiyu poured himself a cup of tea, looked at Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng sitting in front of him, and took the initiative to speak: "I have no idea how I was bought back then, and I didn't leave anything behind. I don't have any birthmarks... I think a paternity test is the safest option, but we don't know much about the provincial capital and don't know where we can get it done."
Jiang Xingsheng then said, "I know someone... I'll contact them, and we can go tomorrow." It's getting late; it's definitely too late.
After they finished speaking, they remained silent for a moment. Then, Mu Tian suddenly asked, "How have you been these past years?"
“That’s good,” Guan Baiyu didn’t want to say more. “Our relationship is still uncertain. Some things can wait until the paternity test results are in…”
Mu Tian covered her eyes and sobbed.
Jiang Xingsheng thought it was a good idea and agreed: "Okay."
Guan Baiyu had no experience interacting with his parents. This was the first time he had ever been with the two people in front of him, and he couldn't treat them as his parents. In the end, he simply started eating.
The prices here are quite high; a pot of tea costs ten yuan, so it would cost them forty yuan for four people…
These snacks are a steal!
While eating, Guan Baiyu also recommended food to Shi Zhen.
Shi Zhen didn't say much throughout, but he seemed a bit nervous.
After all, the two people in front of them were university professors.
No matter how rich he was in his past life, he was just a nouveau riche. It's always a bit uncomfortable to be around someone like that.
However, Guan Baiyu kept offering him this and that, his attitude remaining unchanged...
Shi Zhen felt relieved. After eating a little, he said, "I'm going to the restroom."
Once outside, Shi Zhen paid the bill first, then found a place to stand for a while.
He was afraid that if he was there, Guan Baiyu and the others would have difficulty speaking up.
However, when he returned... the atmosphere in the private room was still very strange.
"Brother, is there something else you need to do? Let's go back," Guan Baiyu said.
"Okay," Shi Zhen agreed.
They've already arranged a time and place to meet tomorrow, so it's fine to see each other again tomorrow.
"We're leaving too," Mu Tian said hastily, and together with Jiang Xingsheng, they followed Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu out.
Once outside, Jiang Xingsheng said to the waiter, "Let's settle the bill."
"Sir, your bill has been settled," the waiter said with a smile.
Jiang Xingsheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that Shi Zhen had actually paid the bill when he said he was going to the toilet.
Today, he and Mu Tian really didn't act like elders in front of the two children.
Watching Guan Baiyu and Shi Zhen leave, Jiang Xingsheng said, "Those two kids are quite thoughtful."
"Yes, she's very sensible," Mu Tian said.
Previously, Cao Li felt that Guan Baiyu was too scheming, and she also felt that this was not good. However, if this was her own child... she would rather her own child be a little more scheming.
Of course, if it can be changed, it can be changed later...
Regardless... Mu Tian said, "I wish he were my child."
Mu Tian always hoped that her child could be happy and carefree like this.
This child has received a good education and enjoys a good standard of living; how wonderful!
When Mu Tian got home, she was very excited and kept talking to Jiang Xingsheng. She also wanted to ask people at school about Guan Baiyu's situation.
Her previous understanding of Guan Baiyu came from Cao Li's evaluation and some of Cai Huidong's accounts. At the time, she didn't think much of it, but now...
Mu Tian said, "Your nephew is always talking badly about people behind their backs, that's really not good. Guan Baiyu didn't do anything to him, did he?"
Jiang Xingsheng said, "I will teach him a lesson next time."
“That’s not necessary… but I don’t want to see him for now. I don’t want to see anyone. I…” Mu Tian was now almost completely preoccupied with the possibility that her child had been found.
So when Cai Huidong came over that day, Jiang Xingsheng used the excuse that Mu Tian wasn't feeling well to send him away.
The next day, the four met up nearby, and then Shi Zhen drove to the place where the paternity test was to be done.
Jiang Xingsheng wasn't familiar with this area, and neither was Shi Zhen. They circled around several times before finally finding the place.
Paternity testing has only been available in China for about ten years.
The DNA testing method used here for paternity testing is a technique discovered in the 1980s.
This method requires blood to be drawn, and the test results take about ten days to arrive. Guan Baiyu, Jiang Xingsheng, and Mu Tian each had their blood drawn before leaving.
"Let me treat you to a meal," Jiang Xingsheng said to Guan Baiyu.
"No, my brother has to go back to Changxi City," Guan Baiyu said. After all this trouble, it's already late, and Shi Zhen needs to get back quickly.
They can easily buy something to eat on their own, but eating together takes a lot of time.
Shi Zhen drove Jiang Xingsheng and the others to their doorstep, then found a shop near the school and ordered two servings of fried rice with eggs, planning to go home after eating.
It was quite a coincidence that they had just started eating when Cai Huidong arrived with a group of people.
Today is the weekend, and Cai Huidong invited people to rehearse at the school. They rehearsed until noon, and then he said he wanted to treat everyone to a meal.
He didn't have much money, so he treated everyone to fried rice, and that's when he happened to see Guan Baiyu.
Seeing that Guan Baiyu was eating the cheapest fried rice, he looked down on it and ordered fried rice, then asked the owner to bring them several plates of cold dishes.
They eat better than Guan Baiyu!
Guan Baiyu was unaware that he harbored thoughts of suppressing him.
He greeted his classmate, quickly finished eating with Shi Zhen, and then saw Shi Zhen off.
"Guan Baiyu, who is that?" a girl in the class asked.
Guan Baiyu smiled and said, "He's my brother."
"Your brother is so handsome," the girl said.
“Yes,” Guan Baiyu laughed, “My sister-in-law thinks so too!” All the women around his brother should be cut off!
The family reunion took quite a while, so Guan Baiyu returned to the print shop and got back to work.
For the next few days, his life continued as usual, except that Mu Tian would come over from time to time and bring documents to him for printing or copying.
Guan Baiyu didn't treat her any differently, but to be honest, he was somewhat hoping that Mu Tian would be his mother.
He could sense that Mu Tian really, really liked her child.
The day they were tested was December 21st. In the blink of an eye, ten days have passed, and it's New Year's Day.
New Year's Day in 1998 was a Thursday.
Their department's New Year's Eve party was held outdoors that very evening.
Actually, there wasn't anything special going on. It was just one class after another performing on stage. Guan Baiyu was in the student council and was responsible for setting up the venue. That day, he worked with the others for a long time, setting up the stage, arranging chairs, and blowing up some balloons to hang up.
Of course, there weren't enough chairs, so many students who came to watch the performance had to stand.
Even so, the students at the school were still full of anticipation for the performance, and they gathered around even before the performance started.
They have too few recreational activities.
The school was bustling with activity, but Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian were trembling with excitement as they held their test reports.
They never expected that God would be so kind to them.
Guan Baiyu really is their child!
Although Mu Tian had been searching for her child, she had actually prepared herself for the possibility that she might never find the child.
And then... the child was found just like that, completely unexpectedly.
Of course, what makes them happiest is that the child is growing up very well.
Mu Tian had worried that her child would be sold to the mountains and have endless chores from a young age... Fortunately, that didn't happen!
After receiving the report, the two hugged each other and cried, then rushed to the school.
Just as they were about to call Guan Baiyu, they ran into several professors they had met not long ago, who greeted them with smiles.
Mu Tian greeted them with a smile.
She's in a great mood right now and is happy to see everyone.
Even Jiang Xingsheng, who was usually taciturn, had a look of joy on his face.
"Where are you all going?" one of the professors asked.
"Computer Science Department," Mu Tian answered quickly.
The professor laughed: "You guys go over there. The New Year's Eve party there is probably not much to see."
"New Year's Eve party?" Mu Tian asked, puzzled.
"What? You didn't come to see the New Year's Eve gala?" the group asked curiously.
"We came to see the New Year's Eve gala," Mu Tian said with a smile.
Mu Tian was strikingly beautiful, and today her eyes seemed to sparkle, making her even more eye-catching. The professors were secretly amazed – how did Mu Tian suddenly change her appearance?
They knew Mu Tian and Jiang Xingsheng, but also knew that the two were newcomers and not very familiar with each other. One of the professors asked, "Do you know where their department's party is being held? Shall I take you there?" "Okay, thank you," Mu Tian said.
The three of them walked inside together, and Mu Tian couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhang, do you know Guan Baiyu?"
Jiang Xingsheng felt that she was a little too excited, which was why she asked about Guan Baiyu, a professor who didn't teach Guan Baiyu at all.
This professor is from the English department. He might not even be able to recognize all the students in his own department, let alone those from other departments.
“Guan Baiyu? I know him. That’s an easy name to remember, hahaha! He’s the highest scorer in this year’s class, the top scorer in J City, and third in the province,” Professor Zhang said.
Upon hearing this, Mu Tian was both surprised and delighted: "He's that amazing?"
"Yes... but actually, our school's computer science department isn't the strongest, so I don't know why he came here," Professor Zhang said.
Mu Tian was overjoyed: "This is fate!"
"Hahaha!" Professor Zhang laughed again. "By the way, this kid knows quite a few people. A few days ago, he introduced some part-time jobs to my students, teaching spoken English, with an hourly wage of twenty yuan. I was tempted by them."
"He has a lot of ideas," Mu Tian said happily.
Professor Zhang asked, "I heard you have a relative in the computer science department, is it him?"
“No,” Mu Tian said, “he is my son!”
Professor Zhang was surprised: "You found it?"
Mu Tian smiled, tears welling in her eyes: "Yes, we found it!"
The three arrived at the location, but the New Year's Eve party had not yet started.
It was quite a coincidence that Guan Baiyu had just finished his work and was eating the bread he had just received when they happened to see him.
Mu Tian went over almost immediately: "Why are you eating bread? Let's go to the cafeteria and get something to eat, I..."
As she spoke, she was about to cry.
Upon seeing this, Guan Baiyu immediately said to his classmate, "I have something to do, I'll be leaving for a bit."
After he finished speaking, he took Mu Tian's hand and walked outside.
Judging from Mu Tian's expression, he guessed the outcome.
He wasn't sure before, so he remained calm and composed when facing Mu Tian. But now that he was certain, Guan Baiyu felt uneasy.
He led Mu Tian to an empty classroom nearby, and soon Jiang Xingsheng arrived as well.
"Please sit down." Guan Baiyu found a chair for Mu Tian to sit on.
As soon as Mu Tian sat down, she buried her face in her arms on the table and burst into tears.
Guan Baiyu looked at her, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.
He was also born amidst much anticipation, but unfortunately...
Guan Baiyu's feelings were complicated, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
The first memory he had of his life was seeing Zhang Xiumei holding Guan Jinjin. He went over and followed Zhang Xiumei to her side, but Zhang Xiumei raised one foot and made a shooing motion.
Zhang Xiumei didn't really want to kick him; she just thought he was in the way.
When he was a child, he really wanted his own father and mother.
For a time, he hated his mother and resented her for abandoning him.
As he grew older and gained more experience, his mindset became much more peaceful. Or rather, he learned to make peace with himself since he was powerless to change anything.
He can only rely on himself, so he should live well.
However, things changed after he met Shi Zhen.
Finally, Jiang Xingsheng spoke up: "Xiaoyu, the test results are in, you are indeed our child..."
"Can I take a look?" Guan Baiyu asked.
Jiang Xingsheng immediately gave the test report to Guan Baiyu.
After reading it, Guan Baiyu was also somewhat agitated, and his voice struggled to remain steady: "I didn't expect that I..."
Jiang Xingsheng spoke first: "How have you been all these years? Did your brother's family adopt you?"
"No, I was initially adopted by the Guan family, and later I lived with my brother... I'm fine." Guan Baiyu didn't want to tell people about all the things he had experienced over the years as soon as they met.
The main problem is that if he were to tell her, Mu Tian would probably keep crying.
Thinking this, Guan Baiyu asked, "Have you been looking for me all this time?"
“We’ll come to see you whenever we have time. Actually, we’ve been to all the police stations around here, but we haven’t heard from you before,” Jiang Xingsheng said.
Guan Baiyu said, "I didn't know I had been abducted before..."
He thought for a moment and then told them about the Guan family.
However, he didn't say how he was living, since Mu Tian was crying the whole time.
Moreover... he doesn't mind telling his troubles to strangers in order to get some benefits, but he doesn't want to say much to his relatives.
He never told Shi Zhen anything about his grandmother.
After listening, Jiang Xingsheng and Mu Tian finally understood why they hadn't been able to find Guan Baiyu.
Guan Baiyu's grandmother fabricated an identity for him, and everyone in the village believed it, so naturally no one thought there was anything wrong with Guan Baiyu's background.
No wonder they couldn't find anything back then!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com