Chapter 95
He Nianzhu's witty banter temporarily calmed the crying mother, but Xu Yirou's focus remained steadfast.
He Nianzhu was on tenterhooks, and subtly winked at her elder brother.
Xu Qingyan composed herself and said in a gentle voice, "Mom, I've thought about it carefully and I think you're right. No matter what, I should have informed you about such an important matter."
He recounted cautiously and earnestly: "Half a month ago, Xia Chuan and his father, Xia Jianming, suddenly contacted me and told me the truth about my background. Out of curiosity and a desire to be rigorous, I agreed to have a paternity test with Xia Jianming. The test results proved that they had not lied to me, and that I do indeed have a biological blood relationship with them."
"Xia Jianming hoped that I could inherit the Xia family business and become the heir of Xia Family Xintai Company, but I refused."
“I don’t consider myself a member of the Xia family. To me, you are my family.”
After hearing her son's words, Xu Yirou was quiet for two seconds, then gestured a couple of times in confusion: "Dabao, how did they recognize you? Dad is chubby with a big belly, not handsome at all, but you are tall and thin, super handsome, unlike his son."
The gossipy He Nianzhu said, "That's because men's prime is short, Mom. Don't be fooled by Xia Chuan's dad's big belly and weathered face; he was very beautiful when he was young."
Hsu Yi-jou expressed her doubts.
He Nianzhu pulled out the information he had found from his phone, tapped it, and a young man's face appeared on the screen. He had handsome eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, thin red lips, and a perfectly sculpted profile.
Judging from his facial features alone, he bears a striking resemblance to Xu Qingyan today.
However, Xu Qingyan's indifference and aloofness were even colder and sharper than Xia Jianming's when he was young.
Undoubtedly, Xu Qingyan inherited Xia Jianming's good looks, but his wicked and eccentric personality was copied by Xia Chuan.
If Xia Jianming hadn't inherited the family business at a young age and shouldered heavy responsibilities, he would have been even wilder than his son.
Xu Yirou opened her mouth wide like an egg and exclaimed "Wow!"
"Dabao, you and Dashan's dad look like twins."
"Right, Mom? If Xia Jianming comes to find Big Brother looking like this, we can skip the paternity test."
Recalling Xia Jianming's current appearance, the little dumpling's smile vanished instantly.
She grabbed her son's hand in a panic: "Dabao, will you grow up to be a fat, ugly old man?"
Xu Qingyan: ...
He Nianzhu burst out laughing: "Mom, if my older brother doesn't smoke or drink excessively, he probably won't turn into a fat old man."
Xu Yirou's forehead creased with worry: "Dabao, is what Erbao said true? Promise Mommy you won't turn into a fat, ugly old man, okay?"
Xu Qingyan glanced coolly at her silly younger brother, then gently promised her four-year-old mother:
"Mom, no matter how busy I am, I always make time to exercise for two hours every day. I also have a regular schedule. If nothing unexpected happens, I won't become a fat and ugly old man in the future."
With Da Bao's words, the cub felt reassured.
Her small shoulders relaxed, she patted her chest with her little hands, and smiled, "That's good, that's good."
The He family has never had ugly people. Several of their ancestors were handsome and outstanding scholars who ranked third in the imperial examinations. The father of the three siblings, He Ting, was a typical example of elegance, nobility, and refined beauty.
Even at seventy years old, Qiao Wen has developed an elegant and dignified figure that is pleasing to the eye.
In the He family, which is full of handsome men and beautiful women, Xu Yirou was naturally influenced and became a complete sucker for good looks.
Xu Yirou's big eyes darted left and right before finally settling on Xu Qingyan, and she cupped her son's face in her hands.
"Dabao, you're more handsome than Dashan's dad."
"Although he always has no expression and looks arrogant and unapproachable."
"Well, but Mommy thinks you'll definitely be a cool and handsome grandpa when you grow up."
Xu Qingyan's aloof, domineering CEO-like face was squeezed by his mother's little hands, making him look chubby and adding a touch of childish innocence.
"And what about me, Mom!" He Nianzhu grinned and leaned closer. "Am I an even more handsome old man than my older brother?"
Xu Yirou pinched Erbao's nose and shook it, laughing and saying, "I don't know if you're handsome or not, but Mommy knows you're definitely the naughtiest and most vain little old man."
He Nianzhu didn't dare to dodge and obediently let her tease her. She was secretly enjoying it, but said aloud, "Mom, please be gentle. I'm still counting on this face to earn money for you to spend."
"I'll make money by sending it."
Xu Yirou let go of her hand and proudly raised her chin: "I'm already very rich, I don't need you to earn money to support me."
There are countless zeros in my bank card.
She is the best summer job of the year.
"Your little money will be gone in a yacht purchase, what can you do with that?"
"!!!"
Xu Yirou glared angrily.
He Nianzhu: Oh no, I accidentally told the truth.
He sheepishly admitted his mistake: "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, Mom. You're a rich little lady with lots of money. I'll be counting on you to support me in the future."
Xu Yirou: "Huh???"
"Good heavens, Erbao, you actually want to sponge off your parents?!"
The mother of the four-year-old cub has maternal love, but not much, and this love disappears intermittently.
Xu Yirou slapped her thigh, her sweet, childlike voice trembling into a wavy line with incredible penetrating power:
"Oh dear, what sins have I committed? The son I raised with so much effort is eyeing the little bit of retirement money his mother has. Is there no justice in this world?"
"I'm going to take this to the United Nations!"
"..."
He Nianzhu stood there dumbfounded, caught off guard. (jpg)
Coming to my senses: Damn it, who showed his mom the "Mala" meme?!
She's only four years old! Four! Years old!
Xu Qingyan sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. The family's number one little troublemaker had begun his performance.
Xu Yirou's fake wailing caused the villa's servants to turn their backs and chuckle, while Uncle Yun, watching from a distance, was also at a loss for words.
"Mom, you're not old at all. You're only four years old. How can I be considered a freeloader?"
"Oh, so you're a leech, you're bad!"
The four-year-old mistress of the villa said arrogantly, "Erbao, go write a self-criticism!"
He Nianzhu, who had recently cobbled together a 2,000-word self-criticism: ...
No, not again? This is never going to end.
I'm so frustrated I could cry!
*
There are no secrets between the three close siblings. Xu Niancheng received a group message at the same time, knowing that Xu Qingyan and Xia Jianming's affair had been exposed to their mother.
During the conversation between the mother and her two sons, the two brothers tacitly steered the conversation in other directions, deliberately diverting the mother's attention from other aspects of the matter.
The three siblings formed a united front and decided to prevent the Xia family from getting close to Xu Yirou, not even a single child.
As evening fell, the orange-red sunset bathed the bedroom, as if splashing a vibrant color onto a monochromatic canvas.
Looking out the window, the man has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his back is as straight as a pine tree, and he stands quietly.
"Is there any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"
His long, clean fingers gently caressed the wedding ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
"What a joke, would I dare make this call if there were no result?" A smug snort came from the phone.
Having navigated the cutthroat world of business for many years, Xu Qingyan could easily see that the Xia family's reunion was suspicious. Therefore, on the day the Xia family came to her door, Xu Qingyan did not hesitate to tell Xu Yue.
The Xu family made their fortune in media and also run some gray-market businesses. No one is more well-informed about news and information than them; they are veritable modern-day insiders.
"Ayan, I've found out." On the other end of the phone, Xu Yue's smile gradually faded, and his handsome features turned slightly cold. "This matter is a bit complicated. Are you sure you want to know?"
"explain."
Xu Yue took a deep breath and said slowly, "Back then, you were abandoned in the poor and remote Huangshan Village right after you were born. In fact, it was all planned by Xia Jianming's wife, Qin Yuan."
"It was all so that you would be trapped in the mountains with no hope of ever getting out. Even so, she was still not at ease. After you were adopted by Aunt Rou, she secretly bribed the villagers to monitor your lives."
"The people monitoring you changed several times over those years."
This extremely perverse surveillance continued until after Xu Yirou and He Ting got married. He Ting keenly sensed something was wrong. As the eldest son of the He family, he naturally had his own network of influence and easily found out the identity of the person behind it all.
The whole thing happened quietly, without alerting anyone, but Qin Yuan, who was sitting calmly behind the scenes, received a warning from He Ting.
Rats in the gutter will scatter in panic the moment they see light, and Qin Yuan was equally terrified when exposed to people, trembling as she withdrew all surveillance.
However, it was too late. The Xia family's business suffered a major blow that year, and their assets shrank by more than half. Xia Jianming was extremely busy and looked disheveled, lamenting that the year was unlucky.
Qin Yuan, who is usually high-profile and assertive, unusually retreated to a corner and devoted himself to chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha in the Buddhist hall.
Everyone assumed that the decline of the Xia family had taught the proud Qin Yuan to be more humble, but she knew the truth better than anyone.
The ins and outs of the matter unfolded slowly like a scroll in Xu Yue's narration.
Xu Qingyan was speechless for a moment, never expecting that her father's shadow was also involved.
When he married his mother, he was just four years old. His childhood was undoubtedly happy and carefree, completely unaware of the disgusting spying lurking in the shadows.
Even after they grew up, their father never mentioned it to any of them.
Xu Qingyan couldn't help but recall He Ting's gentle, breeze-like face and his always smiling eyes. She remembered hugging his broad chest as a child and supporting him with her strong arms from below.
The phone's radio reception was excellent; Xu Yue didn't need to turn up the volume. He could clearly hear the heavy, muffled breathing coming from the receiver simply by listening closely.
Xu Yue could roughly guess what Xu Qingyan was thinking.
He sighed silently and decided to comfort his good friend.
"Ayan, you probably don't know what I envy most about you."
No, I know.
"?" Xu Yue clicked his tongue. "Then tell me, what does the heir of Dingsheng Group envy most about you?"
“I have family.”
"...If I remember correctly, my old man and old woman are still alive and kicking."
Xu Qingyan smiled faintly: "I have loving parents, respectful younger siblings, a loving wife, and a lovely daughter."
He didn't ask those two hate-inducing words—"And you?"
Xu Yue felt insulted and remained speechless for half a minute before gritting his teeth:
"You're just showing off because of how much I 'favor' you, kid. If it were anyone else, I would have already thrown that punch."
Xu Yue, in his life, hated pretentious people and those who were quick to finish off others; none of them could escape his clutches with a smile.
Xu Qingyan was the only exception.
Tsk, who told him to be the first person he truly admired? This fish that slipped through the net was terrifyingly strong, abnormally so.
"And you."
Xu Qingyan's clear voice drifted out calmly: "Parents, wife and daughters, younger siblings, brothers, aren't these things something you should envy?"
Brother, Xu Yue's eyes lit up.
He touched his nose, and then he took back the rest of his sentence.
His buddy is a real tough guy, incredibly strong.
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