Chapter 437: Chapter 437: Three Questions Unknown
Wei Yuning only allowed herself to relax after Wei Ting disappeared from her sight.
Gao Han glanced at her disdainfully, “Is your little uncle really that scary?”
Wei Yuning retorted, “Mommy, you’re acting like you’re not afraid of him either. Who was the one being all respectful to him just now?”
Gao Han: “…”
“Mommy, why do you think Little Uncle came back when he was doing just fine abroad?”
“How would I know? If you’re curious, ask him yourself.”
Wei Yuning pouted as she sat on the sofa.
She wasn’t going to do that—she wasn’t stupid enough to ask such a thing.
Then she asked again, “Do you think Little Uncle won’t leave this time?”
Gao Han: “No idea, don’t ask me.”
“Mommy, why is it that you know nothing about everything?”
“I’m not a worm inside your uncle’s stomach. How would I know? What, do you think I have mind reading techniques or the Heavenly Eye?”
“…”
Wei Yuning lowered her head, lost in thought about life for a while.
If Little Uncle didn’t leave, given his relationship with her father, he would definitely show up at their house often. Wouldn’t that mean she’d be living in constant fear in the future?
No way, she didn’t want a life like that.
As she pondered this, her forehead was gently tapped by someone.
Wei Yuning looked up at Mrs. Gao Han, who had just hit her. “Mommy, why did you hit me? I didn’t even do anything.”
Gao Han said, “I haven’t even asked you yet—how did you end up coming back with your little uncle?”
Wei Yuning quickly recounted the story in detail.
“How would I know that taking a cab would lead to me getting rear-ended, and on top of that, running into him? Might as well go buy a lottery ticket with luck like this.”
Seriously, could anyone beat this kind of luck?
Afterward, Gao Han looked at her with a face full of grievance.
“And it’s all your fault. If you guys had informed me earlier about checking out of the hotel, I wouldn’t have had to call for a cab at the hotel. If I hadn’t called for a cab, I wouldn’t have run into him.”
Gao Han cleared her throat. “It wasn’t deliberate on our part; we just happened to forget. Besides, it’s not like your Little Uncle eats people. Why are you so scared of him? Unless… are you hiding something from us?”
Wei Yuning replied, “Do I look like someone with a guilty conscience?”
Gao Han studied her for a moment, then said seriously, “You actually do.”
“…”
“Alright, go tidy up your room. All your stuff has been moved there. Your room is on the second floor, first door to the right.”
After giving that instruction, Gao Han got up and left.
Wei Yuning sat on the sofa in a daze for a few more minutes before heading upstairs.
Meanwhile, in the study on the first floor:
“Ah Yao, you’re staying this time, right?” Wei Ting asked as he looked at him.
He was the first to know about Wei Junyao’s return.
The man, regardless of who he was facing, carried himself with an air of aloof indifference.
In contrast, he and Wei Ting were like two opposites.
One was refined and gentle; the other was sinister and distant.
The two brothers had a twenty-year age gap between them.
Back when he was brought to the Wei Family, everyone regarded him like a venomous snake, hurling insults at both him and his mother. The only person who treated him differently was the man before him—the only one willing to accept him.
After all, even his so-called biological father refused to acknowledge him as an illegitimate son.
He responded, “Mm, not leaving for now.”
Wei Ting poured him a cup of tea and said, “Have you gone to see the old man?”
Wei Junyao answered curtly, “No.”
Wei Ting sighed. “I know you don’t like the old man, and it’s true he went too far back then. But he’s still your father. Now that he doesn’t have many years left, if you feel up to it, go see him. If not, don’t force yourself.”
Wei Junyao knew Wei Ting was worried he’d be labeled an ‘unfilial son’ in front of the Wei Family.
But he didn’t care about such things. He’d long made enemies out of the Wei Family, and superficial reputations didn’t matter to him.
He was never a virtuous person, so he naturally wasn’t concerned with these things.
Instead of responding to Wei Ting’s advice, he changed the topic: “Is it confirmed about the child?”
When Lan Yan was brought up, a smile appeared on Wei Ting’s face.
Just half an hour ago, he had received the paternity test report.
Lan Yan was indeed his child.
However, he wasn’t in a hurry to approach her.
“Mm, it’s confirmed—she is the child from back then.”
“Congratulations, big brother.”
Wei Junyao knew that Wei Ting’s greatest wish all these years was to have a child of his own.
Sadly, the car accident back then robbed him of that possibility.
Over the years, he and his wife had tried countless methods but to no avail.
Eventually, they had to give up.
Wei Ting smiled lightly. “Don’t congratulate me just yet. What about you?”
Wei Junyao looked confused. “What about me?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Wei Ting gave him a sideways glance. “You’re no spring chicken anymore—you’re already in your late thirties. It’s time you settled down. Your career doesn’t concern me, but you can’t stay single forever. You should build a family of your own.”
The man replied with no expression, “I don’t have such plans for now.”
Wei Ting, both helpless and firm, said, “No plans yet? Then how long are you planning to wait? You’ve got to have some sort of deadline.”
Wei Junyao replied, “I’ll let things take their natural course.”
“…”
“Stop with this ‘natural course’ nonsense. After the New Year, I’ll have your sister-in-law arrange some blind dates for you. She has lots of experience with this. After all, she’s been busy setting up blind dates for Yuning in the past couple of years.”
Wei Junyao was caught off guard. “Sister-in-law arranged blind dates for Xiao Ning?”
Wei Ting nodded. “Your sister-in-law heard some rumors and got worried Xiao Ning might like girls instead of boys, so she arranged for her to meet different types of guys.”
Wei Junyao frowned discreetly. Did Wei Yuning like girls?
He remarked coolly, “Is that even a thing?”
Wei Ting sighed. “Your sister-in-law just wanted to play it safe. Yuning has always been unpredictable, creating all kinds of drama for her over the years.”
Wei Junyao didn’t say anything in response.
Then Wei Ting added, “This New Year, your sister-in-law and I won’t be returning to the Wei Family. If you don’t want to go back either, you can stay in Yue City and celebrate with us.”
Wei Junyao agreed. “Alright.”
“And after the New Year, I’ll go ahead and set up those blind dates for you,” Wei Ting reiterated.
Wei Junyao: “…”
——
By Thursday.
Lan Yan almost spent the entire day at the research institute.
It wasn’t until six in the evening she finally left the laboratory.
Returning to her office, she noticed a missed call from Xiao Si.
She hit the callback button.
After a few rings, the call was answered.
Xiao Si asked, “Finished for the day?”
Lan Yan hummed in response. “Where are you?”
“I’m just outside your research institute.”
“Alright, wait a bit. I’ll change and come down.”
“No rush. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“…”
Ten minutes later, when Lan Yan stepped outside, she immediately saw Xiao Si’s car.
Once inside, she asked, “Did you get the stuff I asked for?”
She had purchased some items for Mr. Xiao and asked him to pick them up since she didn’t have time.
“Got them.”
“Ah, thanks for the trouble.”
Xiao Si turned to look at her. “Just saying ‘thanks’ seems a little insincere.”
Lan Yan leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. “Is this sincere enough?”
“Still a little short. A deep kiss would be even more heartfelt.”
“Don’t push your luck. Hurry up and drive, or we’ll be late.”
Xiao Si didn’t argue further and started the car, speeding away.
“By the way, Wei Yuning didn’t contact you today, did she?”
He had asked this question repeatedly over the past couple of days.
Lan Yan replied, “No.”
She looked at him in confusion. “What are you worried about?”
Xiao Si said seriously, “I’m worried she’s up to something. That girl just screams trouble and unreliability.”
Lan Yan: “…”
She found that Wei Yuning and Xiao Si actually had something in common.
Although Wei Yuning hadn’t arranged to meet her these past two days, she did reach out on WeChat, seemingly just to chat.
The conversations revolved around Wei Yuning complaining about Xiao Si, saying he was unreliable and warning Lan Yan not to be fooled by his good looks.
So she remarked, “You two actually have pretty good chemistry.”
Xiao Si asked, “What did you say? Chemistry? With who?”
Lan Yan didn’t answer, instead changing the topic. “How’s Dong Junhao doing?”
Xiao Si replied, “No major rejection symptoms for now. The recovery is going well. If it stays this way for a few more days, he should be discharged before the New Year.”
“Since when do you care about him?” Xiao Si glanced back at her.
“I’m not concerned. Just curious.”
Recently, without the chaos from the Dong Family, she had been much more at ease.
Even Hu Yunqin had kept her promise not to cause trouble for her anymore.
When the two returned to the Xiao residence, Xiao Lanxin had just arrived.
“Yanyan, you’re here too!”
Seeing Lan Yan, Xiao Lanxin’s face brightened with a smile.
Lan Yan greeted her, “Auntie.”
Xiao Lanxin happily responded.
Xiao Si also called out, “Auntie, you’re here too?”
“You brat, why wouldn’t I be here?” Xiao Lanxin glared at him. “I don’t need your permission to come and celebrate my brother’s birthday.”
Xiao Si pursed his lips. “Alright, just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
He was mostly worried about being lectured non-stop by his aunt.
Xiao Lanxin ignored him.
Just as he was about to hold Lan Yan’s hand, Xiao Lanxin was quicker, grabbing Lan Yan’s hand and leading her inside.
Xiao Si: “…”
Why was everyone trying to steal his girl?
This was *his* person, wasn’t it?
Lan Yan handed her gift to Mr. Xiao after entering.
“Uncle Xiao, happy birthday! I wish you good health and happiness every day. May all your wishes come true.”
Mr. Xiao smiled and said, “Thank you, thank you. I accept both your gift and your blessings. Have a seat.”
From the side, Xiao Lanxin teased, “Yanyan, my brother probably only has one wish left, and that’s for you to marry into our family.”
“Am I right, brother?”
“That wish does exist,” Mr. Xiao admitted, looking at Lan Yan. “But don’t feel pressured. Take things at your own pace. No need to cater to us.”
Lan Yan smiled and said, “I understand. Thank you, Uncle Xiao.”
At this moment, Mrs. Xiao walked out from the kitchen.
Mrs. Xiao said, “Everyone’s here. Go wash up—dinner’s ready.”
Lan Yan had planned to arrive earlier to help in the kitchen, but it seemed everything was already prepared.
As soon as Xiao Si entered, he walked over to Lan Yan and said, “Let’s go wash our hands.”
Lan Yan: “…I can do that by myself.”
Washing hands didn’t require two people, and this might make them look ridiculous in front of others.
Xiao Si didn’t care about such trivialities, grabbing her hand and heading for the first-floor restroom.
Mr. Xiao and the others pretended not to notice, turning a blind eye.
“When did that brat become so clingy?” Xiao Lanxin muttered.
In the restroom:
The two stood behind the sink, with Lan Yan held securely in Xiao Si’s arms.
Initially, she thought he might try something.
But he simply squeezed some hand soap and meticulously helped her wash her hands.
Her hands, compared to his, seemed incredibly small. Just one of his palms could envelop both of hers.
Lan Yan stared at his long, slender fingers, momentarily dazed.
In the past, she thought her senior’s hands looked stunning, particularly when holding a scalpel on the operating table—it was mesmerizing.
But now, she realized the hands of the man in front of her were just as captivating.
She recalled the single time she’d seen him wield a scalpel in front of her.
Such beautiful fingers; they must be quite the sight while performing surgery.
Noticing her daydreaming through the mirror, Xiao Si leaned in and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Lan Yan raised her eyes and met his gaze in the mirror, “Picturing you holding a scalpel.”
“What’s it like?” he asked.
She mulled it over briefly before responding, “Elegant.”
The man chuckled softly, then grabbed a paper towel to dry both their hands.
Tossing the towel into the nearby trash can, he swiftly turned her around, cupping her shoulders to face him.
They were now face-to-face.
Lan Yan found herself trapped between the sink and his chest.
With both hands braced on either side of the sink, he leaned closer.
As he gazed at her, his lips curled slightly, his eyes brimming with amusement. “These hands of mine aren’t just elegant with scalpels—they’re quite adept too. Would you like to find out?”
Lan Yan squinted her eyes briefly. “Not interested. Keep them to yourself.”
He inched closer, “Are you sure you’re not curious?”
As he drew nearer, she leaned back instinctively.
But there was no retreat.
“Do you want me to be curious, or do you want me to act oblivious?” she retorted, throwing the question back at him.
Of course, she knew exactly what he meant.
But she wouldn’t spell it out.
“What if I said I want you to be curious?”
“Then you already have your answer, don’t you? No need for me to say it.”
She attempted to brush him off, raising a hand to push him away.
But he was faster, seizing her wrists and pinning them behind her.
“Xiao Si… mmph…”
His warm tongue invaded her mouth, taking complete control.
When they finally left the restroom, ten minutes had passed.
The two returned to the living room, feigning nonchalance.
Only Xiao Lanxin was there.
She glanced at the couple, then directed her gaze at Xiao Si. “A moment longer, and I’d have assumed you both fell into the toilet. Was about to send someone to fish you out.”
Xiao Si smirked, “No need to worry, Auntie. We’re just particular about cleanliness, that’s all.”
Xiao Lanxin wisely refrained from saying more. Lan Yan’s flushed ears already revealed enough.
Spare the girl too much embarrassment, or she might lose her appetite.
“Alright, let’s eat.”
Though Mr. Xiao’s birthday celebration was simple, it was heartwarming.
Sharing a joyful meal with family, everyone in harmony—it was all he could ever need.
After dinner, they sang a birthday song for Mr. Xiao.
The process was simple but full of happiness.
——
By the next noon:
Just after leaving the laboratory, Lan Yan glanced at her phone to find a rescue message from Wei Yuning.
It contained just two words—”Help me”—along with an address.
She called her back immediately, expecting no one to answer.
Unexpectedly, Wei Yuning picked up, her tearful voice almost wailing, “Lan! Please come save me, quick!”