Chen Zhisheng finished packing his luggage and realized he hadn't booked flights. "Right, I'll book tickets now..."
Suddenly, three plane tickets appeared before him.
He paused, looking at Shen Qingqing.
"I've already booked them. We can leave now, boarding in two hours."
"So you've arranged everything."
Chen Zhisheng subconsciously glanced at Fu Jingshu. Despite still finding him disagreeable, he couldn't help but say, "You're really lucky."
First, he encountered a good brother like his own, and now, such an intelligent woman.
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Of course, he's extremely lucky."
The three headed out, straight to the airport.
On the way, Chen Zhisheng couldn't stop asking about Nuonuo: what she looked like, her personality, why she was hospitalized, what illness she had...
Shen Qingqing was bombarded with questions and, before boarding, finally couldn't take it anymore, holding up a hand.
"Stop, don't ask me anymore. You'll see when we get there."
Chen Zhisheng had no choice but to fall silent.
However, during the short two-hour journey back, his mind was completely occupied by the child. When they deplaned, he was so absentminded that he almost tripped.
Fu Jingshu steadied him.
He awkwardly murmured a thank you.
Fu Jingshu remained silent, merely offering a polite steadying hand before turning to help his wife with her luggage, allowing her to walk ahead unburdened.
Witnessing this, Chen Zhisheng couldn't help but doubt his previous perceptions.
He had never been this considerate towards Lu Wanying before.
Had he ever truly loved Lu Wanying?
But he didn't dwell on it for long. The most important thing now was to see his child. Upon arriving at the hospital, he followed Shen Qingqing and the two of them hurried to the ward.
Seeing Nuonuo, so small and lying in the bed, his heart instantly softened.
She was so adorable!
The moment Nuonuo saw Fu Jingshu, her eyes lit up, but upon quickly seeing Shen Qingqing, she pouted and hid under the covers.
Fu Jingshu tugged at the blanket. "Come out."
His voice was as calm and steady as ever, without a ripple.
Nuonuo, however, dared not disobey. She cautiously revealed a pair of eyes. "Dad..."
Before she could finish, Shen Qingqing stepped forward and said, "Nuonuo, I've spoken to the doctor. You can be discharged. Let's go back to the Fu family's home first."
Hearing that she could return to the Fu family's home, Nuonuo refrained from protesting.
Chen Zhisheng's hands trembled, his heart pounding with excitement. He longed to hold the child but dared not approach rashly, fearing he would startle her.
Nuonuo glanced at him. Seeing a strange uncle, she averted her gaze and looked expectantly at Fu Jingshu.
Shen Qingqing pulled Fu Jingshu behind her, then tugged Chen Zhisheng forward, and said to Nuonuo, "This is Uncle Chen, he's your..."
Her sleeve was pulled. She turned to see Chen Zhisheng's pleading eyes.
She faltered slightly. The words "your Daddy" never left her lips.
It could wait until they got home.
Fu Jingshu handled Nuonuo's discharge procedures. The four of them then returned home, where Old Madam Fu, Shen Jinxi, and Chenchen immediately came to greet them.
Shen Qingqing had a leg dangling from each of her arms.
Fu Jingshu picked up the two children. With his strength, he held one in each arm and gestured with his eyes for his wife to follow. The family of four sat on the sofa.
Old Madam Fu sat opposite them, watching them with a kind gaze.
"And who is this?"
Shen Qingqing introduced, "Grandma, this is Chen Zhisheng."
Chen...
Old Madam Fu's smile subtly tightened as she thought of something. "What relation are you to Chen Zhifeng?"
Chen Zhisheng was somewhat surprised that the matriarch of the Fu family remembered his brother. "He was my elder brother."
Old Madam Fu's expression suddenly became complex. She let out a soft sigh and said nothing, instead instructing a servant to prepare a sumptuous meal.
"Then please stay for dinner."
Although she didn't know the purpose behind her grandson and granddaughter-in-law calling him back, she didn't ask any further questions.
Chen Zhisheng was initially unwilling to stay, but then he saw Nuonuo looking at Fu Jingshu and the twins in his arms with envious eyes. He felt that if he proposed to leave now, the child likely wouldn't go with him.
He tacitly agreed.
Shen Qingqing found an opportunity to explain Chen Zhisheng's relationship with Nuonuo to Old Madam Fu.
Old Madam Fu was quite surprised. "They are father and daughter?"
Shen Qingqing nodded slightly. "This is good. Once they acknowledge each other, Nuonuo can be handed over to Chen Zhisheng. It's much better than staying with Lu Wanying."
That woman would only corrupt the child eventually.
Old Madam Fu sighed softly. "Indeed. But how do we tell the child?"
Nuonuo was wholeheartedly convinced that Jingshu was her father. Even when he spoke to the twins, she would watch him enviously from the side.
Even though Jingshu offered her no hope, why was this child so attached to him?
Shen Qingqing could guess a part of it, it was all due to Lu Wanying's influence. "I think we should eat first. After the meal, we can announce this matter."
"Alright."
She anticipated that the announcement would inevitably lead to some drama, so it was better to have a peaceful meal first.
An hour later, dinner was served. At the table, Chen Zhisheng tried to express his concern for Nuonuo, and Nuonuo obediently accepted it all.
She thanked Uncle at every turn, saying, "Thank you, Uncle. Uncle is so good."
Seeing his daughter so well-behaved, Chen Zhisheng was filled with immense satisfaction.
Even Fu Jingshu and Shen Qingqing were surprised. They had originally worried that Nuonuo would reject Chen Zhisheng, but seeing this, she should be able to accept the truth quickly when it was revealed.
After dinner, they took the two children upstairs, leaving them with Old Madam Fu.
Fu Jingshu, Shen Qingqing, and Chen Zhisheng sat on the sofa, watching Nuonuo. Despite her young age, she was very perceptive. Feeling that something was amiss, she grew restless.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Shen Qingqing looked at Fu Jingshu. It would be best for him to announce this matter; only if he said it would Nuonuo believe it.
He spoke, concise and to the point, "He is your father."
Nuonuo froze.
Chen Zhisheng also froze for a moment, glaring angrily at Fu Jingshu. How could he be so direct? He should have been more tactful, giving the child time to process!
Shen Qingqing rubbed her forehead, feeling a little helpless. She should have known he was never one for subtlety.
"What he said is true, Nuonuo. Uncle Chen is your father. We did a paternity test, and it's confirmed that you are father and daughter."
Nuonuo looked at Chen Zhisheng incredulously.
No, this wasn't the father she had imagined!
"Waaah! I want Mommy..."
She burst into tears, rubbing her eyes with her small hands, unwilling to accept the reality before her. In her most panicked moments, all she wanted was Lu Wanying.
"Who is her mother?"
Chen Zhisheng was taken aback. Could it be the child's adoptive mother?
Shen Qingqing first tried to soothe Nuonuo, her methods simple and direct. "Stop crying, or I'll lock you up, and you'll never see your Mommy again."
Nuonuo's crying abruptly stopped.
Chen Zhisheng's eyes widened. "How can you treat my child like this?"
Shen Qingqing retorted impatiently, "If I don't, she'll cry endlessly. Can you coax her?"
Chen Zhisheng fell silent.
He couldn't.
"The child's Mommy is Lu Wanying."
Shen Qingqing dropped another bombshell, completely stunning Chen Zhisheng. He was utterly bewildered and couldn't react for a moment.
"What are you talking about?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head in exasperation and recounted Lu Wanying's wicked deeds truthfully.
Chen Zhisheng flew into a rage upon hearing this, but mindful of Nuonuo's presence, he gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger. "Lu Wanying actually did such a vicious thing!"
Stealing the child, watching him run himself ragged for her, living a life worse than that of a human or a ghost.
How could she be so heartless!