"That's impossible!" An Lanshu said sternly. "I will never acknowledge them as my grandsons in this lifetime, but they must share your surname!"
Nan Xiao's face immediately darkened. He knew his mother better than anyone. She wouldn't recognize the two children, so she wouldn't care what surname they had. The only reason she brought this up was to pave the way for her next unreasonable demand. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Are you telling me this first thing in the morning because you need me to do something?" Nan Xiao asked in a deep voice.
"This house is too big, and I feel too lonely living here by myself. If those two children don't change their surname, you will move in with me."
Nan Xiao's brows furrowed instantly. "I'm hanging up. I'm very busy today."
"Don't hang up yet! You haven't agreed to my terms!"
"It's early in the morning, and I don't want to upset you. I'm hanging up now." Nan Xiao didn't hesitate any longer and hung up the phone.
Lan Yuxi tilted her head, looking at him with a half-smile.
Nan Xiao reached out and ruffled her hair. "Let's go. If we have time, I'll take you and the children to see a movie."
"Okay!" Lan Yuxi curved her lips and hugged his arm tightly. "I'll change the children's nationality these few days and have them registered under your household, so they'll have the surname Nan."
"There's no need for such trouble."
"I don't want you to be caught in a difficult position between us."
"Sigh! I wish she thought the same way."
Lan Yuxi pursed her lips. "Don't sigh. Didn't you say you wanted to be happy and cheerful today?"
Lan Yuxi smiled, turned off her phone, and left with her.
Dragon's Love Photography.
Because Lan Yuxi and Nan Xiao had good foundations, they only needed a simple makeup before entering the shooting.
At noon, Nan Yi and Nan Er picked up Zhao Zhao and Mu Mu. The family of four had lunch outside and moved into the afternoon shooting session.
Seeing the radiant smiles on his father and mother's faces, Zhao Zhao couldn't help but smile too.
Since Lan Yuxi didn't want to shoot outdoors, they only did a few indoor sessions. After finishing shooting at five o'clock, Nan Xiao took her and the two children to have Western food near the cinema and then watched a movie before returning to Half Mountain Villa.
Zhao Zhao and Mu Mu were incredibly excited, their little faces still flushed even after being home for half a day.
The more excited the two children were, the more Nan Xiao felt guilty. Just having a family movie outing made them this happy, showing how much they longed for companionship. But such days would likely become fewer and fewer.
Looking at the two children playing, Nan Xiao said to Lan Yuxi, "I have to negotiate with Ming Zicheng tomorrow."
Lan Yuxi withdrew her gaze from the children and asked suspiciously, "What do you need to discuss with him?"
"I must have leave during the winter and summer vacations every year. I want to spend more time with you and the children."
Lan Yuxi lightly curved her lips. "Okay. If he disagrees, tell him it's my idea. If he still disagrees, I'll deal with him."
Nan Xiao nodded with a smile. "I discussed with Ming Zicheng a few days ago about which family to support. We couldn't decide in the end. Do you have any suitable candidates?"
Lan Yuxi glanced at him. "Are you trying to trick me again? You and Er Wan have already decided, haven't you? You're just not confident and want my opinion."
"Do we need to trick each other? It's genuinely not decided yet."
"The Huo family is suitable. They were once one of the Four Great Families. It's just that in Huo Ding's generation, he devoted himself to medicine and gradually withdrew from the Four Great Families. Moreover, Uncle Huo is now in politics. If you're looking for a successor, Uncle Huo is the best choice. As for the other two families..."
"The other two families... isn't there still one missing?"
"Don't you two intend to push out the Wang family? Although it will take some time, you can start considering it."
Nan Xiao nodded with a smile. "Continue."
"The Mu family in Jiangnan."
"Your ninth disciple's family?"
"Yes. Their strength is actually above the Xue family's, but they've always been low-key, and no one in their family is in politics. If you support them, it will be the best assistance for you and Er Wan. However, this matter must be personally discussed with the Mu family patriarch by my master and Er Wan."
Nan Xiao agreed with a nod. "What about the other family?"
Lan Yuxi thought for a moment. "I need to investigate this further, as some families have strong capabilities, but their character is unknown."
"Then let's finalize those two families first. As for the Wang family, we can't touch them for now, as the collapse of three of the Four Great Families at once would affect China's economy."
Lan Yuxi nodded. "When you asked Er Wan about the subway that day, you actually wanted the two families to take on this project, right?"
Nan Xiao nodded. "If they can secure this project, those two families will rise to prominence."
"Don't you want to be involved?"
"I'd rather leave the opportunity to others. Once I take that position, the Nan family will need to be even more low-key, otherwise, it will be very troublesome." Nan Xiao pulled her hand and said with a solemn expression, "There's also a very troublesome matter. Fu Ruixi has gone to work at Nan Corporation. To avoid employees mistaking you two for each other, you should attend the anniversary celebration with me."
Lan Yuxi glanced at him. "Knowing it's troublesome, why did you let her join the company?"
Nan Xiao sighed. "I had no choice. She insisted on returning to her old unit. Such an important place, how could I let her go? I could only make do with her joining Nan Corporation."
"Was she this difficult to deal with before?"
"I'm not too sure. She's several ranks below me, and I rarely had the chance to speak with her. I only noticed her figure and face shape were quite similar to yours, so I gave her this task."
"You really know how to find trouble for yourself." Lan Yuxi pulled her hand away, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. "I'll accompany you to the anniversary celebration, and then you can invite a few of her comrades who were usually close to her to attend."
Nan Xiao immediately understood her intention. "Okay."
"Don't tell her beforehand."
"Mm."
"I always feel like she's acting strangely, but I can't pinpoint what's wrong. Perhaps by having a few more 'touchstones,' we can reveal her true colors."
"I'll arrange this."
"Mm." Lan Yuxi saw Mu Mu running towards them and smiled, opening her arms.
Mu Mu pounced into Lan Yuxi's arms like a little train. "Mom, my brother is having surgery tomorrow. Can I go see him?"
"Of course! Mom will take you there tomorrow."
Zhao Zhao walked over with a tense expression. "Mom, after the anesthesia wears off, will my brother be in a lot of pain?"
Lan Yuxi smiled and rubbed his head. "No, with Mom and your second uncle here, he won't be in pain."