"Yes, every year on your birthday, Mom would take photos of you and your brother for our family album. We have so many pictures, don't you remember?"
Faint noises came from outside the door. She wondered if Zhan Beijue's people were coming in for something.
What if someone came in and saw the children? It would be troublesome!
Jiang Nanfang, afraid that Zhan Beijue would discover the children, decided to take them away first.
"This isn't a good place to talk. Come with me to the hotel, and we can discuss everything there."
Zhan Jingge turned and exchanged a look with his brother, a flicker of realization in his eyes.
They had always thought their father and mother only had the two of them. Now, it seemed…
Exchanging glances, the telepathic siblings quickly reached a consensus.
"Okay, Mom, let's go quickly."
As she led the children into the elevator, Jiang Nanfang thought they were finally safe. She crouched down and hugged them tightly.
"Jingyu, Jing Tian, it's very dangerous to wander outside alone without an adult. Please don't scare Mommy like this anymore, okay?"
So the other pair of twins were named Jiang Jingyu and Jiang Jing Tian. Their names suited the siblings quite well.
Mommy's embrace was so warm and sweet.
It felt so good to have Mommy…
The two children were a little emotional.
"Mommy, I'm sorry. We'll never leave your sight again…"
The mother and her two children were experiencing a heartwarming reunion.
In the lounge, Zhan Beijue sat on the sofa with a cold expression.
In front of him, a row of tall bodyguards wearing sunglasses were all terrified and silent.
The hotel security captain, wiping sweat from his forehead, ran in to report, trembling.
"Found them, Mr. Zhan. The surveillance shows they haven't left yet; they're in the elevator right now."
"How did they get there?"
"It seems they were led by a woman…"
A woman?
Zhan Beijue's mind immediately went to Jiang Nanfang, who had suddenly appeared.
He raised his hand, loosened his tie, and slowly stood up.
"Immediately seal off the hotel. All of you, come with me to the first floor."
"Ding!" The elevator doors opened.
As Jiang Nanfang stepped out with the two children, a group of men surrounded them.
They were the same as the ones she had seen when she first arrived – a group of uniformed men with sunglasses, all tall and imposing bodyguards.
Without a word, they immediately pulled Jingge and Jingrui out from behind her.
"What are you doing? Why are you grabbing my children? Let them go!"
Jiang Nanfang stumbled back, but as soon as she regained her balance, she lunged to grab her children.
Two more security guards rushed over. Without any explanation, they pressed her against the wall.
The two men were incredibly strong. Even though Jiang Nanfang had practiced martial arts for several years, her resistance felt like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
At the end of the line of bodyguards, Zhan Beijue, dressed in a custom-made black evening gown, stood with his hands in his pockets.
He didn't speak or make any unnecessary movements, but his expressionless face and the icy aura around him made it clear that their father was angry.
The two children held hands and walked towards him, "Daddy—"
Zhan Beijue spoke coldly, looking at his son, almost word by word, "Have I not told you both not to talk to strangers, and even more so not to go with strangers?"
Zhan Jingrui met his gaze with some concern, "You have."
"But this time, it wasn't my brother's fault. The room was too stuffy, and I was bored, so I begged my brother to take me downstairs." Zhan Jingge stepped in front of his brother and said.
"...Then what about her?"
Zhan Beijue tilted his chin in Jiang Nanfang's direction.
"She looked pretty and gentle, so I thought she wasn't a bad person, and I asked her to help me press the elevator button."
Zhan Jingge knew exactly what was going on.
For so many years, her father had never allowed them to mention their mother in his presence.
She wouldn't dare to recount the real experience they just had.
However, she was still a child. As her eyes darted around, Zhan Beijue saw through her deception.
"Someone's being naughty and daring to lie to Daddy. It seems you won't be allowed any candy for the next six months."
Looking at his daughter's cunning little face, Zhan Beijue didn't expose her directly.
He bent down, scooped her into his arms, and gave her a veiled warning.
Zhan Jingge immediately pouted and hugged her father's neck, acting cute.
"Daddy, don't take away my candy~"
"Then tell me the truth, did she deliberately trick you into coming down? Did she want to take you away?"
"Why does Daddy think so badly of people? Auntie is so beautiful; she couldn't be a bad person."
Zhan Beijue looked at his innocent daughter and taught her with affection.
"From now on, remember this: you can't judge a book by its cover. The prettier a woman is, the more she will deceive."
"Anyone who dares to take another person's child away, especially my child, Zhan Beijue's child, must be sent for two days of free legal education."
Zhan Jingge pouted, her big eyes blinking.
"If I tell Daddy what really happened just now, will you not punish Auntie with legal education?"
Before Zhan Beijue could respond, she quickly added, "If Daddy doesn't say anything, I'll take it as a yes. Adults aren't allowed to lie to children, or they're turtles and bastards."
Although it was childish talk, the bodyguards nearby couldn't help but chuckle. Of all the people present, it was probably only this little princess who dared to call Zhan Beijue a turtle and a bastard.
"We just met, and we haven't said anything! I've said my piece, Daddy, you have to keep your promise and let that auntie go!"
This girl was so clever and cunning; it was too difficult to trick her.
Zhan Beijue called his assistant over to take them to the car first.
With the two children sent away, Zhan Beijue, his face dark, slowly approached the elevator entrance.
He had to admit that Jiang Nanfang now was a world apart from the one he remembered: with her ferocious appearance, peculiar personality, and complete lack of style.
Now, so fair-skinned and slender, wearing a beautiful dress and with her arms twisted by two bodyguards pressed against the wall, she looked almost pitiful.
Seeing this scene, Zhan Beijue couldn't pinpoint what had touched him, but he felt too lazy to argue with her anymore.
"For my daughter's sake, I'll let you off the hook today."
"Where you were for the past few years, that's where you should go back to. Don't appear before us again, or you'll face the consequences."
"Kidnapping children? Being the mother of my children? You are not worthy."
Jiang Nanfang had only known Zhan Beijue to be ruthless, but she hadn't expected him to be so cruel.
Years had passed, and she had never brought the children to Nancheng or interfered with his life.
Yet, he still saw her as a thorn in his side!
"These are my children! What right do you have to touch them?"
Right?
Hah!
First, she had secretly conceived, sold the children, then disappeared without a trace, and now, after her money ran out, she was back to steal the children. And she dared to talk about rights with him?
Zhan Beijue's gloomy face seemed to be freezing over, "You think it's ironic to talk about rights with me, Jiang Nanfang? A vixen like you is fit to be a mother?"
"...I'm a vixen?"
Jiang Nanfang gritted her teeth. She shouldn't have been so foolish to sleep with this scumbag back then.