"Xiaolei," Fang Dongqiang gently cupped He Xiaolei's face, kissed her forehead, and said in a deep and solemn voice, "There's something I need to tell you."
"What's wrong? I feel like you guys are all acting strange today." He Xiaolei looked up at Fang Dongqiang.
"Xiaolei," Fang Dongqiang pulled her closer, holding her tightly in his arms. His embrace was reassuring.
He Xiaolei's heart raced, and she became inexplicably nervous. "Dongqiang, what is it? Tell me! I'm listening." Her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes.
"Xiaolei, you still have a biological father and mother."
Those words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake. He Xiaolei's nose stung, and two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks. "You found out too?"
"You know that yourself?" Fang Dongqiang was stunned.
“I know I’m not my parents’ biological child, but they’re so good to me. I can’t ask, because they’ll be upset. When I’m all alone, I wonder, who gave birth to me? Why didn’t they want me?” He Xiaolei said, her voice trembling.
Fang Dongqiang pulled a tissue from the table and carefully wiped away He Xiaolei's tears, gently stroking the corners of her reddened eyes with his fingertips. "Xiaolei, I'm here. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."
These words seemed to shatter He Xiaolei's defenses, and she burst into tears. "I never expected that my boyfriend, Dong Qiang, would tell me this news. Where did I come from? Who gave birth to me?"
Fang Dongqiang's eyes also reddened, and he continued to hug He Xiaolei tightly, "Xiaolei, you have an older sister and a younger brother, who are from the same village as me."
He Xiaolei got out of his arms, staring at Fang Dongqiang without moving, her face full of disbelief.
Downstairs, He Xiaolei's parents listened to the sounds coming from upstairs at the top of the stairs, occasionally exchanging a complicated and worried look.
Fang Dongqiang told He Xiaolei about Fang Shugen's family situation in the room. "Xiaolei, your parents love you very much. They just found out who your biological parents are and told you. What they care about most is your feelings."
He Xiaolei nodded. "I know they're good to me, Dongqiang. Now that we've talked things out, I'm at home. Will our relationship be okay in the future..." He Xiaolei tilted her head back in Fang Dongqiang's arms, her eyes filled with unknown unease.
"No, it won't happen," Fang Dongqiang patted her back gently. "Xiaolei, you'll still be the same at home as before. You'll still be their most beloved daughter. Their kindness in raising you is greater than heaven."
“Yes, I love them.” He Xiaolei nodded.
“Okay, they must be very worried about you downstairs. Let’s go down as soon as possible so they don’t worry. Also, now that it’s just the two of us, tell me your attitude towards your biological parents so I can be aware of what to do and know how to handle things.”
He Xiaolei's eyes dimmed. "Dongqiang, I'm so conflicted. I don't know what to do. They don't want me anymore, should I still go back to acknowledge them? But they're from the same village as you, should I just pretend I don't know anything? If I acknowledge them, will Mom and Dad be heartbroken? Dongqiang, what should I do? I don't know." Although she had known for a long time that she wasn't their biological child, when the truth was laid bare before her, her mind was still in complete turmoil.
"Xiaolei, this situation is really difficult for you. Would you like to hear my opinion?"
"willing."
"Your mother, your birth mother, is like my mother. Although she is different from others in spirit, her love is the same. No mother doesn't love her child. Let her know that you are doing well now. I also want to thank her for giving birth to you. Your parents raised you, which is why we have the opportunity to be together."
"They all don't want me anymore?" He Xiaolei's voice lowered again.
“First of all, we need to respect your opinion. If you have no objections, I’ll go back tomorrow and ask Uncle Shugen what he thinks, as well as some details from that time. I know your mother who gave birth to you must miss you. Just like my mother, she may not remember other things, but she always remembers how good she was to me.” As he spoke, Fang Dongqiang’s eyes also reddened.
He Xiaolei snuggled close to Fang Dongqiang's face and said, "Dongqiang, I'll do whatever you say."
"Okay, let's go downstairs so your parents won't worry about you."
He Xiaolei stood still, looking at Fang Dongqiang, "It's okay, I'm here. Your parents brought you here and talked to you because they love you. They've lived with you for 20 years! From now on, we'll always be family!"
Fang Dongqiang gripped He Xiaolei's hand tightly, and He Xiaolei followed him toward the door.
As they reached the door, He Xiaolei pulled Fang Dongqiang aside, saying, "You'll stay with me tonight."
Fang Dongqiang touched He Xiaolei's face. At this moment, she really needed someone with her. "Okay, I'll go tell your parents."
With Fang Dongqiang around, He Xiaolei felt much more at ease and wasn't afraid of anything anymore.
Hearing the door open, He Xiaolei's parents quickly sat down in the living room.
"Mom and Dad, thank you for bringing me here. Thank you for telling me everything," He Xiaolei said with tears in her eyes as soon as she and Fang Dongqiang entered.
He Xiaolei's parents breathed a sigh of relief. "Xiaolei, it wasn't that your parents deliberately wanted to keep it from you before."
“Dad, Mom, I know, I understand.” He Xiaolei stepped forward and hugged her mother’s arm. “We will always be a family. You will always be my mom and dad, and I will always be your daughter. I love you.”
He Xiaolei's mother's nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face. "Xiaolei, Mom and Dad love you too."
"Dongqiang, thank you!" He Xiaolei's parents nodded to Fang Dongqiang, their eyes full of gratitude.
“Xiaolei’s dad, Xiaolei’s mom, I’ll have Xiaolei go and acknowledge them. We’re all from the same village. Since we know each other, let’s be open and honest. I don’t want to keep things to myself. I’ll go back tomorrow.”
"Okay, Dongqiang, you've taken care of this." He Xiaolei's father said.
He Xiaolei stayed close to Fang Dongqiang the whole time, and her parents could tell that their daughter was extremely dependent on him. The matter was discussed smoothly because Fang Dongqiang was there, and He Xiaolei listened to him.
They sat for a while, then Fang Dongqiang took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say, "Xiaolei's dad, Xiaolei's mom, I want to stay here with Xiaolei tonight."
“This…” Xiaolei’s mother hesitated and looked at Xiaolei’s father.
"I'm just staying with Xiaolei; I won't do anything to hurt her," Fang Dongqiang said earnestly, looking at them.
He Xiaolei's mother was still somewhat hesitant and did not respond.
"Xiaolei's dad, Xiaolei's mom, please believe me. Since I'm saying this to your faces, I definitely don't have any bad intentions,"
To persuade them, Fang Dongqiang gritted his teeth and spoke his mind, "In my place, none of us have, none of us have... We all have opportunities to be alone together, and that's based on our own self-discipline."
He Xiaolei hid her face behind Fang Dongqiang's arm and pinched his waist. This Fang Dongqiang would say anything to stay with her.
"Dongqiang, it's not that we don't believe you." He Xiaolei's father glanced at He Xiaolei; he also felt sorry for his daughter, who needed comfort and companionship at this time. He then turned to He Xiaolei's mother and said, "Go and get a blanket and pillow for Xiaolei's room later."
"Oh!" He Xiaolei's mother nodded helplessly.
“Let’s go upstairs to get the blankets. Xiaolei, come upstairs with me.” He Xiaolei’s mother winked at He Xiaolei’s father, “You chat with Dongqiang for a while longer.”
"Okay, you guys go up first."
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