The sound of running water and the clinking of dishes came from the kitchen after dinner. Han Feng sat on the living room sofa, watching his parents flip through the photo album that Su Wanwan had handed him. It was full of photos of Han Feng in embarrassing situations that she had secretly taken, and some of them were of Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan.
"This girl is really pretty." Han's mother pointed to one of the photos of Liu Mengran in front of the library, her eyes crinkling into slits with laughter. "She looks so gentle and quiet."
Mr. Han pushed up his nose and pointed to Su Wanwan's photo: "She's so lively, her smile is so cheerful."
Han Feng shook his head helplessly: "Dad, Mom, are you holding a beauty pageant?"
"You brat," Han's mother slapped her son's thigh, "your father and I came all the way to Kyoto just to see how you're doing, didn't we?" She lowered her voice, "and maybe see if we've found a suitable girl..."
"Mom!" Han Feng exclaimed, both amused and exasperated. "He's just a regular classmate."
Han's mother gave a meaningful "Oh," and was about to ask further when Su Wanwan floated out of the kitchen like a butterfly: "Uncle and Aunt, where do you want to go tomorrow? I'm a living map of Kyoto!"
Mr. Han closed the photo album, smiling broadly, and said, "It's fine for the two of us old folks to just stroll around; there's no need to trouble you young people."
"How can that be!" Su Wanwan plopped down next to Han's mother, affectionately taking her arm. "It's Auntie's first time in Kyoto, I must take you to eat the most authentic snacks and see the most beautiful scenery!"
Han's mother was delighted and patted Su Wanwan's hand gently, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say."
Just then, Liu Mengran came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fruit, her hair still damp. She quietly placed the fruit plate on the coffee table and carefully inserted toothpicks.
"Mengran, why don't you come along too?" Han's mother invited her to sit down, her eyes filled with the loving affection one would give a daughter.
Liu Mengran nodded slightly, a faint smile on her lips: "Yes, I've already checked the route, it won't be too tiring."
Han Feng felt a strange warmth welling up inside him as he watched this scene.
"Then I'll go throw out the trash!" Wang Hao suddenly picked up the trash bag and winked at Han Feng.
Su Wanwan jumped up as if she had suddenly remembered something: "I'll go help Sister Mengran clean up the kitchen!" She said, pulling Liu Mengran along and heading into the kitchen.
The living room fell silent instantly, with only the background noise of the evening news playing on the television. Han Feng was wondering about the two's unusual behavior when he saw his mother mysteriously approaching.
"Son, tell me the truth," Han's mother's eyes shone brightly, "Which of these two girls is my future daughter-in-law?"
Han Feng nearly spat out his tea: "Mom! What are you saying?!"
"Don't play dumb," Han's mother raised an eyebrow smugly. "Your mother has eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. The way those two girls looked at you, tsk tsk..."
Mr. Han put down his teacup and, unusually, joined in the gossip: "Xiao Feng, I have to remind you, you can't be careless when it comes to relationships. Both of them are good girls; you can't hold them back."
"No, Dad, Mom, what are you thinking..." Han Feng's ears burned, but the image of Liu Mengran holding his hand in the ward and Su Wanwan's eyes always carrying a sly smile flashed through his mind.
Pressing her advantage, Han's mother added, "If you ask me, Mengran is gentle and sensible, and Wanwan is lively and adorable; I'd like either of them as a daughter-in-law!"
"Mom!" Han Feng sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Are you asking me to marry two women for you?"
"You brat!" Han's mother made a move to hit him, "You dare!"
Han's father interjected sternly, "If you dare to bully that girl, I'll be the first to object."
Han Feng raised his hands in surrender: "I see now, in your hearts, your daughter-in-law is more important than your son, isn't that right?"
"Of course!" Han's mother said matter-of-factly. "If you miss out on such a wonderful girl, I'll break your legs!"
Amidst the family's laughter and chatter, Su Wanwan and Liu Mengran emerged from the kitchen. Han Feng noticed that Liu Mengran's ear tips were slightly red, wondering if she had overheard the conversation.
"Uncle and Aunt, it's getting late, you should get some rest." Su Wanwan thoughtfully massaged Han's mother's shoulders. "We'll leave at seven tomorrow to avoid the morning rush hour!"
Han's mother nodded repeatedly, and before leaving, she gave her son a knowing look, leaving Han Feng both amused and exasperated.
---This is the dividing line---
The next morning, as Han Feng was frying eggs in the kitchen wearing an apron, his parents were already dressed and waiting in the living room. The doorbell rang, and Su Wanwan and Liu Mengran walked in one after the other. One was wearing energetic sportswear, and the other was wearing a simple and elegant dress. Standing together, they looked like a vivid painting.
"Good morning, Uncle and Auntie!" Su Wanwan greeted them energetically. "The weather is absolutely fantastic today!"
Liu Mengran silently took the spatula from Han Feng: "I'll do it, you go change your clothes."
Han Feng was about to say he would go too, but his mother waved her hand, saying, "You go ahead with your work. Wanwan and Mengran are fine with us."
\"But......\"
"No buts," Han's mother said, leaving no room for refusal. "We'll be back for dinner tonight, so remember to prepare the food." With that, she pulled Han's father along, and they happily followed the two girls out the door.
Han Feng stood at the door, watching the four people leave, and suddenly felt a sense of being "abandoned".
All morning, Han Feng idly sat in the empty villa. He opened his WeChat Moments and saw a series of updates: a nine-grid photo posted by Su Wanwan showing his mother mimicking young people making a peace sign on a bridge; a profile picture of his father attentively listening to a tour guide, taken by Liu Mengran; and a happy group photo of the four of them. In every photo, his parents' smiles were brighter than he could remember at any moment.
"Ding—" The phone suddenly rang, and the screen displayed the three words "Lin Xiaoran".
\"Hello?\"
"Han Feng, where did you take my sister?" Lin Xiaoran's voice was as direct as ever. "I called her but she wouldn't answer."
Han Feng explained helplessly, "They took my parents out to play, leaving me alone at home."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "That's perfect, is this a convenient time for you? I have some questions I'd like to ask you about those gene-engineered warriors."
Han Feng's eyes lit up. He was bored at home alone, and he also wanted to learn about the secrets of the hidden families from Liu Xiaoran.
"How long have you been here?" Han Feng asked.
"It won't take long."
"Then come over now," Han Feng said decisively.
Lin Xiaoran paused for a moment, then said, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Hanging up the phone, Han Feng walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting bright spots of light on the floor. Beneath the seemingly peaceful daily life, undercurrents were surging: a gene research lab, a reclusive family, gene warriors created from a family's failed research overseas, and Mu Xiaoxiao, who always hid behind the scenes... What exactly happened to her after leaving Jiang City?
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