Chapter 49

Chapter 49

"049"

Forty minutes later, Xiao Lancui arrived at the hospital but didn't go inside.

The fastest paternity test in the capital took three hours to process.

Xiao Lancui found a convenience store nearby that sold Matcha Milk Pudding Ice Bread, grabbed a phone holder, and headed to the dining area.

During the morning rush, the food shelves and checkout counters were packed, but the dining area was relatively empty. Xiao Lancui planned to stay for a while, so he chose a small round table for one, tucked against the wall in the corner.

Still, the place was noisy.

Xiao Lancui pulled out his phone, set it on the stand, put on his glasses, and plugged in his earphones. He searched for public lectures by Qi Ying's advisor.

The internet age was great—finding people was easy. With a name and a school, he could easily look up the professor who studied Lu Ao, and there was no need for face-to-face interaction. There were plenty of public lectures available online.

The professor's surname was Yang.

The public lectures were compiled into a series. Xiao Lancui scrolled through the table of contents and quickly found the topic he wanted.

"The 28 Lost Years of Dali"

"The 28 years of history lost from Dali," Professor Yang said from the podium in the video, "are the 28 years of Lu Ao's life."

"As everyone knows, Lu Ao's biological mother left no name behind. There are many interesting theories in the academic community. Some believe she was a common woman Emperor Chengzong of Li met while traveling, or a princess who came for a marriage alliance with a foreign tribe. There's also the view that she was a favored consort of Emperor Chengzong's, surnamed Zhang."

"My personal view is this: I don't think Emperor Yingzong of Li deleted the records about his mother from Emperor Chengzong's reign. Rather, his mother was an obscure palace maid in the harem who was never put on the books."

Xiao Lancui took a bite of the Ice Bread, quite impressed with Professor Yang. She was absolutely right.

Xiao Lancui chewed the bread slowly, still listening closely to the lecture through his earphones.

"Instead, I believe Lu Ao deleted another figure from Emperor Chengzong's era."

On the screen, Professor Yang's eyes lit up with excitement. "A vanished top scholar."

Xiao Lancui's chewing stopped. He stared into the screen as Professor Yang's impassioned voice continued through his earphones. "I've combed through every folk legend from Emperor Chengzong's reign. There's a child prodigy surnamed Xiao, with the courtesy name Zixian. Legend has it he could compose poetry at age one, and at seven came up with a couplet that no one has matched to this day."

Xiao Lancui swallowed the bread. These legends were a bit much. He'd learned to read earlier than most kids and picked things up fast, but there was no way he was composing poetry at one—he could barely talk. As for the couplet at seven, it wasn't that nobody had matched it. In the second year of teaching Lu Ao to read, Lu Ao matched it.

It was just—rough around the edges, barely passing as neat.

Xiao Lancui found himself getting interested in Professor Yang's analysis. She'd really studied this for over forty years and basically nailed it.

Professor Yang's voice grew more excited through the earphones. "If we could open Emperor Yingzong of Li's tomb, I'm sure we'd find records of this beautiful genius."

The classroom was buzzing with excitement. A student asked, "Professor Yang, was Xiao Zixian really that beautiful?"

"Legend says he was very beautiful," Professor Yang said with a smile. "That's exactly why he became the vanished top scholar—too beautiful, so the emperor personally picked him as Tanhua, the third-place scholar."

"Emperor Chengzong of Li had four top scholars in total. The 'Records of Dali' notes that the fourth was a lucky guy whose luck outweighed his talent. You all should be familiar with the 'Records of Dali'—it's a book documenting the customs and people of Dali, completed after Emperor Yingzong of Li's sudden death, and scholars generally accept it as authentic. And in the year this lucky scholar passed, no Tanhua was appointed."

"So I speculate that Xiao Zixian was this vanished top scholar—the deleted Tanhua. He's also highly likely one of the reasons Lu Ao went from a heaven-sent wise ruler to a sudden Tyrant. After all—some of you should know from the many surviving unofficial histories."

Professor Yang smiled at the camera. "Emperor Yingzong of Li was into men."

"Cough, cough..." Xiao Lancui choked. The faintly sweet bread crumbs got stuck in his throat, and his pale face instantly flushed bright red.

He was kind of annoyed.

Bullshit!

Even if Lu Ao was into men, he wouldn't be so twisted as to covet a teacher who was like a father to him!

Xiao Lancui coughed hard, reaching up to turn off the video. Just then, his phone rang.

There was no name saved, but Xiao Lancui knew who it was.

Xie Jingfang.

He glanced at the time—not a minute more or less, exactly three hours and two minutes.

On the other end, Xie Jingfang's voice was trembling noticeably. "Where are you?"

Before Xiao Lancui could answer, Xie Jingfang pressed again, urgent, "Where are you right now? I'm coming to find you!"

Xiao Lancui picked up the bag from the table and stood up to leave. "No need. I'll be at the hospital shortly."

Across from the convenience store, Lu Ao pulled his cap down and stopped following Xiao Lancui.

The shop was small and cramped—he was worried about being spotted, so he hadn't gone in. He only saw from a distance that Xiao Lancui coughed for a while, his pale complexion turning red, as if he were annoyed.

Xiao Lancui always kept his emotions perfectly in check. The only time he'd ever gotten annoyed was when he refused to get married.

What had just happened to make Xiao Lancui instantly annoyed?

Lu Ao ruled out the possibilities, hailed a cab, and headed back to the neighborhood. Tomorrow Xiao Lancui would take him to get his stitches out. Today—

Xiao Lancui had things to do.

*

Xiao Lancui walked into the hospital lobby, and a familiar figure rushed in like the wind, throwing her arms around him.

Xie Jingfang held on tight, not wanting to let go of Xiao Lancui again. She choked, trying to speak but couldn't make a sound, just sobbing uncontrollably.

The next moment, she felt an arm gently wrap around her back, then a slightly cool hand patted her shoulder twice. Xiao Lancui's concerned voice said, "Has something happened?"

Xiao Lancui paused for a second, then added two simple words, "Auntie."

Xie Jingfang's last thread of composure shattered instantly. She lifted her head, tear-filled eyes carefully tracing every inch of Xiao Lancui's face, and blurted out, "No! I'm not your auntie! I'm your mother, I'm your mother!"

Xiao Lancui echoed, "Yes, you are my mother. In my heart, I've always considered you my mother."

Xie Jingfang shook her head desperately, tears and snot flowing freely. Both hands clutched Xiao Lancui's arms tightly, as if afraid he would disappear. She sobbed, "Not considered—I really am your mother, child. I'm your biological mother, the one who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you!"

Xiao Lancui felt the fire wasn't burning hot enough. His lips parted slightly, then pressed together lightly. "Has something happened to Second Brother? Auntie, you seem to be overwrought and mistaking me for someone else. I am—"

"You're Xiao Lancui, you're my son!" Xie Jingfang interrupted, crying without stopping. Suddenly remembering something, she released one hand and frantically reached into her pocket.

Soon she pulled out two thin sheets of paper, showing them to Xiao Lancui without daring to blink. Tears slid into her mouth, full of bitterness, with a hint of an indescribable sweetness. "Look clearly—you and I share a biological relationship!"

Xiao Lancui didn't need to look to know. He casually scanned the line reading "a biological parent-child relationship exists with sample No. 2," then met Xie Jingfang's agitated gaze.

He calmly took Xie Jingfang's arm and led her toward the fire exit. "Come with me. This isn't the place to talk."

His calm, composed reaction gradually stopped Xie Jingfang's crying. Xie Jingfang stared blankly for a long moment. When they reached the fire stairwell, she asked in disbelief, "You knew already?"

She was almost certain. "When did you find out, and why didn't you tell me?"

Xiao Lancui shot back, "That's not what matters. What matters is whether you want to acknowledge me as your son."

Xie Jingfang shook off her dazed state. She hadn't thought about it—hadn't had time to think about anything. The moment she confirmed Xiao Lancui was her biological son, all she wanted was to find him, hold him tight, and never be separated from him again.

Xie Jingfang couldn't answer.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Lancui's mouth. "That's the reason." He showed no resentment or bitterness, just spoke matter-of-factly. "You've given 21 years of maternal love to Xiao Anfeng. On paper, you and I are already mother and son—nothing has to change. Just remember that."

Every word hit Xie Jingfang like a punch to the chest. She couldn't catch her breath. If she'd had any hesitation a second ago, now she just wanted to slap herself repeatedly.

How could she not recognize her own flesh and blood?

How could she let her child suffer for twenty years?

How could she—

Poison her own child with her own hands—

For someone else's child.

A bastard full of betrayal and deceit, who'd also stolen her time with Xiao Lancui!

Xie Jingfang reached out and grabbed Xiao Lancui's hand. "I want to claim you as my son—not just on paper. Everyone's going to know you're my child!"

She gripped Xiao Lancui's hand, shoved open the fire door with her other hand, and strode purposefully toward the elevator lobby.

Xiao Lancui threw in one last push. He pulled Xie Jingfang back, and she turned to face him. He said, "Think it over. If you tell the truth now, Xiao Anfeng's the one who'll get hurt the most. Can you really do that?"

Xie Jingfang's eyes were red and swollen, tears glistening in them. She looked at Xiao Lancui for a long moment, then couldn't help reaching up to gently stroke his cool cheek. "How can you be so thoughtful, my child? Someone's going to get hurt today, but it won't be you."

Tears spilled out again. "From now on, Mom's not letting anyone hurt you."

She grabbed Xiao Lancui's hand again and tugged him along.

The stage was set. Xiao Lancui stayed quiet, following Xie Jingfang into the elevator. The elevator stopped at a middle floor, the doors slid open, and a familiar face stepped in—then froze, staring at Xiao Lancui in surprise. "Racing God Xiao, back in the hospital again?"

Xiao Lancui glanced at the fruit basket Huo Shenan was carrying, and since Huo Shenan hadn't pressed a floor button, he knew the guy was there to see Xiao Anfeng.

He didn't mind having an extra witness, so he gave a casual nod. But Xie Jingfang's heart clenched at the word "again"—it reminded her of Xiao Lancui falling into the sea.

Her heart was pounding.

She'd almost forgotten—last time, Xiao Anfeng had claimed she pushed Xiao Lancui into the sea. Xiao Lancui's fall wasn't an accident!

"You must be Auntie." Huo Shenan cut into Xie Jingfang's thoughts, putting on his best good-boy act in front of an elder, smiling as he chatted. "You look so young—you two look more like siblings!"

Xie Jingfang's expression softened. "Do we really look alike?"

Huo Shenan had no idea how much things had changed, and cheerfully agreed, "Like two peas in a pod!"

The elevator doors opened, and Xie Jingfang said sincerely, "Thank you." She led Xiao Lancui out first.

At the ward door, Xie Jingfang's hand, still holding Xiao Lancui's, started trembling again. Xiao Lancui's voice stayed calm. "You can still back out."

Xie Jingfang pushed open the door.

Inside the ward, Xiao Liqin had pulled a chair up to the bedside and was peeling a mangosteen—Xiao Anfeng's favorite fruit.

Xiao Mian was sprawled on the sofa, playing on his phone.

Xiao Anfeng was buried under the blanket, face hidden.

When Xie Jingfang and Xiao Lancui walked in, Xiao Mian noticed them first. He shot up. "Third Brother—" Then he saw Xie Jingfang holding Xiao Lancui's hand. He froze for a second, jaw dropping. "Mom, what's going on?"

Xiao Liqin looked up at the sound, and seeing Xie Jingfang's swollen, tear-streaked eyes and her tight grip on Xiao Lancui, his hands shook—the plump white mangosteen flesh slipped from his fingers and hit the floor.

His first instinct was to block Xiao Anfeng's line of sight, but it was too late.

Xiao Anfeng heard "Third Brother" and threw off the blanket, sitting bolt upright. Seeing the two at the door, he froze for a second, then all his old and new grievances came flooding back. He jumped off the bed and charged at Xiao Lancui barefoot, shoving him hard in the chest. "You bastard, what did you do to my mom?"

Xiao Lancui, of course, didn't dodge. He let Xiao Anfeng shove him into the ward door, while pulling his hand free from Xie Jingfang's grip.

In a split second, Xiao Lancui's back slammed into the door with a dull thud. It actually hurt—he let out a low grunt.

"Touch my mom and I'll end you!" Xiao Anfeng grabbed Xiao Lancui's collar and was about to throw another punch when, in the next instant, the woman he was trying to protect screamed and shoved him hard.

Xiao Anfeng was completely caught off guard. Xiao Lancui had no intention of falling for nothing—he made it look like he was struggling as he pried Xiao Anfeng's hand off his collar, and the next second, Xiao Anfeng went flying on his own.

He hit the floor, his palm stinging. Xiao Anfeng turned his hand over—his right palm was scraped and bleeding, blood dripping onto the ground. He was stunned, looking up at Xie Jingfang in disbelief, and cried out, "Mom?"

Xiao Liqin moved quickly to stop Xie Jingfang, but it was too late.

Xiao Lancui clutched his neck, leaning against the doorframe, and coughed lightly.

Xie Jingfang pulled out the paternity test, her hand shaking as she flung it at Xiao Anfeng's face, and screamed without a shred of doubt—

"You're the bastard! Don't you dare touch my son!"