Shen Xi had always respected children, a habit formed when she was abroad, including knocking before entering.
As the children were growing up, she deeply understood the importance of cultivating their independence.
Letting go and giving them space to be independent and free was the most fundamental approach for parents.
However, seeing the three little ones with a hint of apprehension flickering in their wandering eyes, Shen Xi couldn't help but ask with a smile, "What are you doing? Acting like thieves."
Shuo Shuo, being more steady in temperament, calmly replied, "Nothing, just playing a little game."
"Oh. Playing a game? If you're playing, why be so startled? Mommy isn't an unreasonable mother, as long as you don't get addicted and harm your eyes." Shen Xi walked over, took Shuo Shuo and Yan Yan's little hands, and continued, "It's getting late, everyone go back to your rooms, wash up, and rest."
On the other side, Qin Si Ye exited WeChat, still pondering the words Chen Chen had sent him earlier.
He unconsciously opened his photo album and found the pictures taken when the five of them visited Dragon City Amusement Park.
When he saw the photo of him and Shen Xi together, and the warm family portrait, his mind became filled with myriad thoughts. Perhaps it was from that time that he had, in the depths of his heart, begun to consider them his family.
During this period, he had been living in the same neighborhood as them, seeing each other whenever they looked up. Although they didn't live under the same roof, their emotional connection had already surpassed everything else. His relationship with Shen Xi was built on affection, with the intention of marriage. He had also promised the three children that he would be their daddy. If he were to suddenly break ties with them, he felt his heart would be hollowed out.
He recalled how the three children affectionately called him "Daddy" at Dragon City Amusement Park, and his heart had long since melted. What if they weren't his biological children? As long as their hearts connected, it might be better than those biological father-son relationships that were merely a facade.
Looking at the three adorable and cherished children, Qin Si Ye couldn't help but raise his right hand and zoom in on their profile pictures. When his gaze settled on Chen Chen and Shuo Shuo's faces, he had never felt before that the eyebrows and eyes of these two children resembled his so much. Was it because they had spent so much time together that a father-son resemblance was starting to show?
Shen Xi, along with the nanny Xiao Lian, helped the three children wash up and settle down before returning to her own room. The moment she closed the door, she leaned against it, exhaling a long breath and gently closing her eyes. Reflecting on everything that had happened today, her heart churned with emotion. Alas, because of her, Qin Xiuzhi's birthday banquet had erupted into conflict, resulting in her fainting and being hospitalized. The reason she hadn't wanted Qin Si Ye to publicly disclose their relationship was precisely to avoid such consequences. Not everyone in the Qin family was as open-minded as Grandma, Uncle, or Si Yue, who could accept Shen Xi dating Qin Si Ye with three children of "unknown origin."
But unforeseen circumstances arose. She never imagined that yesterday, out of guilt, she had taken the children out to play, only to be photographed by Su Chengyu's sister. This had completely exposed her relationship with Qin Si Ye and the three children to the entire Qin family. However, Su Yixin seemed young and she had no prior interaction with her. For her to openly expose this matter in such a setting, she must have had someone behind her, supporting her. It was not hard to guess that Jiang Jie and Qin Xuelan were the masterminds behind this. It seemed that if she wanted the three children to be recognized by their paternal family, she needed to quickly clarify her relationship with Su Chengyu. But why hadn't that man returned yet? What exactly was he doing abroad?
Shen Xi lay in bed after showering, her mind still pondering this question. Qin Si Ye, with his germophobia and deep-seated hatred for Su Chengyu, even if he were to learn one day that Chen Chen and the other two were his biological children, could he accept that she had once been in a relationship with Su Chengyu? Would he snatch the children away, preventing her from ever seeing them again?
Just then, there was a knock on the door from outside. "Who is it?" Shen Xi glanced at the time; it was already ten-thirty at night, and she asked in surprise.
"It's me," came Qin Si Ye's deep, tired voice from outside the door. Shen Xi's heart trembled slightly. She had just gotten out of bed when she took two steps forward, and the door suddenly opened from the outside, a tall figure striding in quickly. Before she could react, she was pulled into a tight embrace. Shen Xi then remembered that she had been too preoccupied with her thoughts upon entering and had forgotten to lock the door. "Qin Si Ye, you're hugging me so tightly I can barely breathe, can you... can you loosen up a little?" Shen Xi coughed softly, her voice gentle.