Nan Xiao uncomfortably touched his nose. "You're the only woman I have."
Lan Yuxi shot him a reproachful look. Was she really the only one? Then who was the woman who answered his phone?
Nan Xiangdong had told her that he had nothing with Xia Qianqian. At the time, she was so overwhelmed by how much he had done for her and by the hardships she had endured that she hadn't thought about it. Now, she remembered, but with the children present, she couldn't confront him.
Seeing disbelief written on her face, Nan Xiao explained again, "I'm not lying. I really only have you! They wanted to ask me about Zhou Ruotong, and I wanted to explain it all with you when you woke up."
Lan Yuxi slightly raised her delicate chin, her expression clearly indicating she also wanted to know.
Nan Xiao curved his lips into a smile. If the children weren't there, he would have pinched her.
"Zhou Mingjun is my elder brother's chess partner, and I met him through my brother. As for Zhou Ruotong, I've had very little contact with her. In my memory, I've never even spoken ten sentences with her. I don't know why their family harbored such inappropriate intentions towards me. If I had known, I wouldn't have taken Chaocao and Mumu to their house. Also, regarding her exposing you online this time, you don't need to do anything; I'll handle it."
After listening to his explanation, Lan Yuxi reached out and gently stroked the two children's heads. "Did you both hear that? Go downstairs and help Mommy check if there's anything online, okay?"
Chaocao nodded heavily and pulled his sister off the bed.
Nan Xiao watched the two children leave before sitting down on the edge of the bed.
But as soon as he sat down, Lan Yuxi kicked him off.
Nan Xiao fell onto the carpet with a thud. He looked up at her, seeing the anger in her eyes, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Lan Yuxi suppressed the urge to kill him and sternly asked, "Where were you on October 25, 2019?"
Nan Xiao froze. "Xiangdong told you even that?"
Lan Yuxi gave a cold laugh. "So he knew too. To think he spoke to me so righteously, as if it were true!"
"You can't blame him for that, it wasn't exactly an honorable thing."
Lan Yuxi's eyes instantly reddened, and the tear mole at the corner of her eye looked like a drop of blood.
Seeing that she was about to cry, Nan Xiao quickly stood up. He reached out to embrace her, intending to comfort her, but she pushed him away.
"Don't touch me! Xia Qianqian touched you, and I find it dirty!"
Nan Xiao was completely bewildered. It was true that Xia Qianqian had saved him back then, but she had only called for help, not touched him.
"She didn't touch me."
Lan Yuxi clenched her fists. He was still being stubborn even now!
Seeing her tremble with anger, Nan Xiao ignored her resistance and pulled her into his arms.
Just as Lan Yuxi was about to struggle, his deep, husky voice came from above her.
"Don't be angry anymore, okay? It hurts me to see you like this. I promise you, I'll never do anything foolish again, because I have people I want to protect. If I died, what would happen to you and the three children?"
Lan Yuxi heard something amiss. He had slept with Xia Qianqian, and now it had escalated to talking about death? Did Xia Qianqian have the plague?
Lan Yuxi gave up struggling and looked up at him. "What did you do that day?"
"Didn't Xiangdong tell you? That day, I jumped into the lake where you jumped. Xia Qianqian happened to see it, and she called for help to save me."
"You weren't with her?"
"I can't stand the sight of anyone from the Xia family. How could I be with her?"
"But that day, I called you, and she answered. She said she was... sleeping with you!"
Lan Yuxi stared at him intently after speaking.
Nan Xiao was initially surprised that she had called him, but when he heard the latter half, his face immediately darkened.
"She told you that? Damn it! When I find her, I'll skin her alive! I drank by the lake for most of the day that day, everyone in the family knows. After I jumped in the lake, Xiangdong and the others sent me to the hospital. I was in a coma until the next day and woke up. The medical staff here can testify for me... Oh, right. After I woke up, it was Mama Xia who brought me my phone. She said I'd left it by the lake..."
At this point, Nan Xiao swore.
"Xia Qianqian dared to answer your phone and say such shameless things! I've already found out she's in country Y, and I'm sending people to bring her back immediately."
Lan Yuxi's hand, which had been gripping his shirt, slowly loosened. "She ran away."
"Ran away?"
"Yes, when I sent people to catch her, she fled, and we've lost all trace of her since."
Nan Xiao's handsome brows furrowed slightly. "She doesn't have that much capability. Someone must be helping her. When morning comes, I'll send people to the old house in the countryside to ask Xia Chaoyang's wife if we can get any useful information."
"It's useless for you to look for her. I've been monitoring Liu Meiying's phone, and Xia Qianqian hasn't contacted her."
"Don't worry about those bothersome things, I'll handle them," Nan Xiao said, raising his hand to trace her beautiful features with his long fingers. "Xibao, we'll never be separated again, okay?"
From the moment he knew they weren't related by blood, his only thought was to never let go of her hand again. Even if there were more suitors around her, no matter how outstanding they were, he was confident he could drive them away. Xibao could only be his.
He had already missed four years; he didn't want to miss any more!
Lan Yuxi held his hand. She desperately wanted to agree, but...
Thinking of that old lady from the Nan family, Lan Yuxi's eyes dimmed.
"Let's talk about it later. There are more important things to do now."
Nan Xiao sensed her hesitation and internal conflict, and his hand on her cheek paused slightly.
Lan Yuxi averted her gaze, flustered by his crestfallen expression.
"I know, I'm not as outstanding as Mr. Shang..."
"What are you comparing yourself to him for!" Lan Yuxi quickly interrupted, not wanting him to misunderstand that she had any feelings for her elder brother.
Nan Xiao pulled her small head firmly against his chest, not wanting her to see his embarrassed, teary eyes.
"I know, there's no comparison between me and him... Yuxi..."
Before Nan Xiao could finish speaking, he was interrupted by their father, who barged in.
The old man saw the two of them embracing the moment he entered, making him awkward whether to enter or leave.
Lan Yuxi, blushing, pushed Nan Xiao away.
Nan Xiao looked displeased at his father. "Don't you know how to knock?"
"...I was just in a hurry!"
Lan Yuxi fumbled to smooth her hair, which Nan Xiao had ruffled. "Did that person leak more information?"
"No, I just wanted to ask you, your Lingyun mother's daughter... is she alright?"
Lan Yuxi pursed her lips. Sister Zixin had said she wouldn't acknowledge the Nan family. How should she answer?