Chapter 699: Chapter 699: Gratitude
In the living room, each person had their own little thoughts, and the only people who were probably truly overjoyed were Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong.
At such a tense mont, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong nearly leapt up from the sofa, their faces a mix of anxiety and excitent.
“Could it be Mingxin returning?” Old Madam Zhong tried to suppress her inner excitent, but her trembling hands and choked voice betrayed her emotions.
“It should be,” Old Master Zhong said as he took his wife’s hand. “Don’t get too excited, lest your blood pressure goes up again.”
Although he said this, his own emotions were no less intense than Old Madam Zhong’s.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that at this mont, neither spouse could control the tumult in their hearts.
They had never expected, in their lifetis, to be able to see their youngest son again. Although they had always insisted their son must be alive, they were also very clear in their hearts that after so many years without any news, the chances of ill fate were likely greater.
Later, their granddaughter brought them a glimr of hope, but they were still bracing for the worst.
Unexpectedly, their granddaughter had actually found their youngest son, and now he was about to return ho.
Such joyous news, how could they suppress the excitent and elation within their hearts!
“Dad, Mom, please, calm down,” Zhong Minghao stood up and began to soothe them. “If sothing happens to your health because of Mingxin’s return, he wouldn’t be happy either.”
“That’s right, that’s right, Mingxin is finally back, we can’t let the child be sad,” Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong tried to calm themselves down and then turned to head out and greet him.
However, after being persuaded by Zhong Minghao and Zhong Mingyu, the elder couple reluctantly waited inside. But they didn’t sit down; instead, they stood there, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the direction of the door.
At last, amid everyone’s anxious expectation, a party of four people slowly walked in. Leading the way was the long-lost Zhong Mingxin.
Seeing Zhong Mingxin, Zhong Minghao and Zhong Mingyu felt a mont of disorientation. The brother from their mories almost imdiately overlapped with the man before them. After more than twenty years, they had both developed gray hair. Yet, Zhong Mingxin seed to have changed very little; even ti seed to have favored him, leaving hardly any traces on his face.
Though they felt a tinge of jealousy toward their younger brother, when they saw him return, they were ultimately happy. After all, he was their blood brother, and the fact that Zhong Mingxin was still alive was good news.
Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong were, undoubtedly, the happiest to see Zhong Mingxin. Tears welled up in their eyes as they couldn’t take their gaze off him, not blinking even for a second, fearing that if they did, Zhong Mingxin might vanish from in front of them.
From the mont he entered, Zhong Mingxin’s eyes and heart were only for his parents.
He stepped forward swiftly and knelt down with a thud, giving Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong three kowtows, “Dad, Mom, your unfilial son has returned.”
Old Madam Zhong could no longer hold back. She crouched down, embraced Zhong Mingxin, and burst into loud sobbing, “My son! My son! You’ve finally co back; you’ve finally decided to see your parents. Do you know how much we’ve missed you over the years!”
“I’m sorry, Mom, I have wronged you and Dad. Your unfilial son has caused you worry,” apologized Zhong Mingxin, while also releasing his own deep longing.
And so, Old Madam Zhong and Zhong Mingxin knelt on the floor, embracing and weeping bitterly.
This scene moved everyone present.
Old Master Zhong stood there, his eyes red and the corners shimring with tears.
Half an hour later, everyone had taken their seats, their eyes slightly red but their emotions were now more stable.
Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong had intended to sit beside Zhong Mingxin, but they also noticed the presence of Baili Lele.
Thus, Zhong Mingxin and Baili Lele sat together.
The mbers of the Zhong Family gazed at Baili Lele with curiosity, their looks shifting between her and Zhong Mingxin.
Obviously, they were all curious about Baili Lele’s identity.
Today, with the return of Zhong Mingxin, already a significant event, he had also brought back a woman, and their intimate deanor towards each other made it clear that their relationship was not ordinary.
Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong had a bellyful of words for Zhong Mingxin and wanted to know why he had disappeared for so many years.
However, with Baili Lele present, it was not appropriate to continue probing in such a setting.
Zhong Mingxin, noticing everyone’s curious gazes, calmly introduced her after taking his seat, “This is Baili Lele. She is my future wife and Nianyao’s biological mother.”
Upon hearing the na Baili Lele, everyone’s hearts already harbored a guess. The “Nianyao” in Zhong Niangyao’s na—whom did it refer to? Now, the truth had finally co to light.
Baili Lele, also cultivated within a distinguished family, handled such an occasion with aplomb.
She stood up, bowed slightly to the crowd, then slowly walked up to Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong, curtsied deeply, and when she rose again, her face was all seriousness, “Uncle, Aunt, I am truly grateful to you. Without you, Nianyao wouldn’t have grown up to be as cheerful and confident as she is now.”
These were sincere words from her heart. As Nianyao’s parents, they hadn’t been able to accompany their daughter. If it weren’t for the affectionate care of grandparents like Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong, Zhong Niangyao could not have possibly lived so carefree and content.
“Child, you don’t need to thank us; we were only doing what we should,” said Old Madam Zhong as she reached out and took Baili Lele’s hands, patting them gently, “Now that you and Mingxin have returned, you should just stay together from now on. That would be the greatest thanks you could give us.”
Baili Lele nodded repeatedly.
The atmosphere was exceptionally warm and affectionate, but then an untily voice rang out, breaking the congenial mood.
“But Aunt, what exactly happened between you and Third Uncle back then? Why haven’t you co to see Zhong Niangyao all this ti? Are you really her biological mother? You two don’t look alike at all?”
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