Yi Luowa stood motionless like a statue for a full five seconds. Tong Airui patiently waited. His wife was smarter than him. With everything he had just said, she surely understood. She just needed ti to process it all.
Yi Luowa’s curled lashes finally fluttered a little. "You suspect that Shiqing is Xi ichen’s daughter?"
Tong Airui nodded.
"If Shiqing is Xi ichen’s daughter, then what about Aunt Ni Lu’s child?"
Tong Airui didn’t respond; he only tightened his hold on her hand.
"Shiqing was born in Country F?" Yi Luowa muttered to herself, or maybe she was asking.
"Yes!"
"Was I born in the sa hospital as her?" Yi Luowa stared at him fixedly.
"No." Tong Airui shook his head. "I rember this very clearly. Mom even scolded Aunt Ni Lu about it—Aunt Ni Lu was still rushing around doing business even though it was her due date, and she ended up giving birth at a tiny hospital halfway through the trip."
"How far apart are the two hospitals?"
"I don’t know which hospital she gave birth in," Tong Airui said. "You’d have to ask Mom about that. I do rember Shiqing was born at around eight or nine o’clock—just a few hours after you." He said this while picking up his phone.
Yi Luowa quickly pressed down his hand. "It’s too late—don’t bother Mom now. The most urgent thing is to figure out whether Shiqing is really Aunt Ni Lu’s daughter. If she isn’t, then there’s no need for Bert to marry her. My situation can wait."
Tong Airui hesitated before putting down the phone. "Honestly, figuring out Shiqing’s identity will naturally reveal yours. Uncle and I have investigated this for so long. No one reported losing any babies during the ti you and Shiqing were born. The most likely scenario is that your identities were switched... I’ll arrange for soone to collect DNA samples from Shiqing and Aunt Ni Lu now."
Yi Luowa suddenly appeared tense, her clenched fists trembling slightly. "Try not to upset Aunt Ni Lu. Her emotions are very unstable—no accidents must happen."
"Okay." Tong Airui patted the back of her hand. "Don’t get too worked up. This is still just speculation—there’s a good chance Shiqing really is Aunt Ni Lu’s child."
Yi Luowa nodded. "There’s also another possibility. Neither Shiqing nor I are Aunt Ni Lu’s daughters."
Tong Airui paused slightly, phone in hand. This possibility was harder to dismiss. "Once we’ve gotten the DNA samples from Aunt Ni Lu and Shiqing, I’ll also need so of your hair."
Yi Luowa lifted her hand and pulled out a few strands of her hair, placing them on the table.
Tong Airui’s lips twitched slightly. She might claim she wasn’t anxious, but she was more impatient than anyone else.
Tong Airui dialed Yuan Hang’s number and explained everything. Yi Luowa remained standing beside him the entire ti.
Tong Airui chuckled, "Silly girl, are you planning to stand here until morning?"
Yi Luowa forced a stiff smile. "I’m adjusting myself. I’m almost back to normal now."
Tong Airui pulled her hand into his grasp, gripping it tightly. "Don’t stress yourself out too much—get so rest. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side."
Yi Luowa leaned weakly into his embrace. "Darling, I’m so grateful to have t you. As long as you’re with , I can handle whatever cos. But I have a feeling that neither Shiqing nor I are Aunt Ni Lu’s daughters. My hope just turned into disappointnt a mont ago."
"So what if you aren’t? Better! From what I can see, you truly care about Aunt Ni Lu. If it turns out you aren’t her daughter, we’ll keep searching. I promise I’ll help you find your birth parents."
Yi Luowa nuzzled herself against his chest. "Let’s not talk about this anymore. You’ve had a long day—go rest early."
"Alright." Tong Airui wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her.
The two climbed into bed together. Yi Luowa clung tightly to the collar of Tong Airui’s shirt, refusing to let go.
Tong Airui covered her hand with his, clasping her fingers tightly.
Yi Luowa gazed up at him. Feeling his hand envelop hers brought so solace to her heart.
They said no more, just listening to each other’s heartbeats. Yi Luowa intentionally tried to sync her heartbeat with his, but the more she tried, the faster hers raced.
"Knock, knock..." A knocking sound ca from the door.
Yi Luowa instantly sat up as though startled.
Tong Airui patted her hand. "It’s probably Yuan Hang with results."
Yi Luowa blinked, her deanor now like that of soone awaiting judgnt. She anticipated answers yet feared hearing them.
Tong Airui stroked her hair, turned over, got out of bed, picked up the few strands of hair from the table, placed them in an envelope, and stepped out.
Yi Luowa strained to catch their conversation, but the two seed determined to thwart her. Not a single word was spoken—only a glance from Tong Airui, and Yuan Hang nodded before leaving.
That night was agonizing for Yi Luowa—she couldn’t sleep, and Tong Airui suffered alongside her. It was only near dawn that they both dozed off for a short while.
This wasn’t their own ho, and with so much weighing on their minds, they were up before seven.
Yi Luowa was still washing her face when Ai Ni burst in hurriedly. "Brother! Sister-in-law! Aunt Ni Lu just had a fight with Shiqing—she slapped Shiqing so hard her nose got flattened!"
"Her nose got flattened?" Yi Luowa looked skeptically at Tong Airui, who was brushing his teeth nearby.
Tong Airui rinsed his mouth. "It’s fake."
"Brother, the doctor said Aunt Ni Lu’s nerves are unstable. She can’t take any more stress," Ai Ni said, gripping the doorfra with frustration. "What kind of unlucky streak do we have? At your engagent, things got chaotic. Now it’s my turn, and it’s even worse."
"Aunt Ni Lu’s nerves are unstable?!" Yi Luowa wiped her face with a towel and said with concern, "I noticed sothing seed off about her last night..."
"You Jia said Shiqing’s been suicidal lately. Aunt Ni Lu’s been on edge, terrified of sothing happening to Shiqing. When stress hits its limit, it inevitably takes its toll."
"Darling, I need to check on Aunt Ni Lu." Yi Luowa dropped her towel in a panic.
"I’ll go with you." Tong Airui set down his toothbrush and quickly splashed water on his face.
Ai Ni sighed. "You don’t need to rush. Mom and Aunt Ni Lu are with her right now."
"Where’s Shiqing?" Yi Luowa asked with a furrowed brow.
"She’s at the hospital—her nose is flattened, yet she still has the nerve to scare people by showing up!" Ai Ni grimaced.
Yi Luowa pressed her lips together, her emotions churning wildly. After Tong Airui finished washing his face, the three of them hurried toward Ni Lu’s quarters.
From inside the room ca Ni Lu’s cries of anguish. Tong Airui grabbed hold of Yi Luowa, who was about to enter. "Don’t interrupt Aunt Ni Lu—let her cry it out. She’ll feel better afterward."
Yi Luowa stopped in her tracks and stepped back silently to the gallery.
Inside the room, Ni Lu clung desperately to Tong Yao’s hand and said, "Sister-in-law, I thought all night about it. No matter what, I can’t let Shiqing marry Bert. A child like her will bring bad luck wherever she goes. I don’t want her to ruin the bond we’ve built over years of friendship.
This morning, I told Shiqing what I thought. She imdiately flew into a rage, accusing of not being her biological mother and of not caring about her at all. I was so heartbroken—I couldn’t help but hit her.
I’m not her real mom, but I’ve spoiled her so much! She spent tens of millions on just one costic surgery—not that the money matters. Ever since Rui’er brought Luowa into the family, she’s beco soone completely different. One day she wants this, the next day that. If I don’t agree, she threatens . It’s either slitting her wrists or overdosing on pills.
In just a few short months, my bank account has shrunk by at least seventy or eighty million. The money’s gone, but I’ve seen nothing in return. I asked her about it once, and she swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills right in front of .
Sister-in-law, what kind of fate is this? She isn’t my daughter—she’s a debt collector! So karmic curse from my past life has co to haunt now. All this misery—I can’t even tell you people about it. I have to endure it silently because if I don’t, none of you will even accept her. Boohoo... She isn’t my daughter, she’s a debt collector! She isn’t my daughter, she’s a debt collector..."
Ni Lu kept repeating those sa words. Tong Yao and Yan Zi exchanged glances. Tong Yao sighed, then embraced Ni Lu. "Ni Lu, I know you’re suffering, but don’t bottle it all up. Whatever happens, you can always co to —I can help you figure sothing out."
"Boohoo..." Ni Lu cried openly in Tong Yao’s arms. "Even if I die, I won’t let her marry Bert!"
"Ni Lu, we need to discuss this carefully. What does Jack think?" Yan Zi asked softly, choosing her tone cautiously so as not to further upset her.
"Last night he agreed to let Shiqing marry Bert, but after hearing out today, he changed his mind. He said we’ll just keep taking care of Shiqing forever, so she doesn’t bring misfortune to any other family. If she gets married, it’ll only humiliate us more."
Ni Lu suddenly grabbed her head in anguish and scread, "Debt collector! Debt collector—Sister-in-law, make this debt collector stay away from !"
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