Nan Gong Qiong, who liked Manx cats

Chapter 9 Meeting the Child's Mother

"You, with children already, haven't told me or your dad when you'll bring the child's mother to meet us," she said.

After a pause, she added, "Have your parents come back early too."

Xuan Mohan finally understood what his grandmother meant and said, a little helplessly, "Grandma, this isn't my child. I met him by chance."

Grandma Xuan became a little angry. "You still won't admit it at this point? The child looks so much like you!"

Mu Jingxuan, standing nearby, had a flash of inspiration. He finally understood why this child had seemed familiar the first time he saw him. He looked at his good friend across from him. They had grown up together…

Xuan Mohan became even more helpless. He had realized this after separating from the child yesterday. After all, he had seen this face since childhood. Perhaps they were destined to be together, though it was impossible for them to be his children…

Seeing her grandson remain silent, Grandma Xuan grew angrier. She left with a final word, "Come back to the old house tonight!"

"Uncle, I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

After spending only a short time together, Lan Lexuan had grown fond of this kind and approachable old lady. Seeing her so angry made Lan Lexuan feel a bit down.

"It has nothing to do with you. I'll have someone take you back." Even at this moment, Xuan Mohan was very patient with the child.

"Take the gifts back with you too. I don't know if you'll like this Lego set. Doesn't the little girl like hair clips? Take them back and see if she likes them. Don't refuse, it's what Uncle wants to give you."

Mu Jingxuan: I never knew Mo could be so chatty.

After Lan Lexuan left, Mu Jingxuan looked at his good friend and teased him:

"This child is really strange. He looks so much like you did as a child. If we didn't know any better, we'd think they were your children!"

"No," Xuan Mohan replied with absolute certainty.

Hearing this, Mu Jingxuan didn't ask further. Mo had always been principled. Considering that incident back then and his firm denial, it was most likely not his child. He still had some trust in his brother.

However, neither of them expected that Xuan Mohan's first lapse in reliability would cause him to miss an early opportunity for recognition and create an obstacle in his romantic path…

Meanwhile, Lan Lexuan, who had returned home, was sulking on the sofa.

Lan Hanyu saw him and thought his brother hadn't gotten the hair clip and was about to comfort him.

His gaze fell on the gifts on the other end of the sofa, and he changed his tune. "Did Xuan Mohan buy these?"

He walked over and opened them. One was a Lego set, which was more suitable for his younger brother, and he liked it too.

The other box contained many items: various hair clips, headbands, cute hair ties, dolls, a harmonica, and more. He noticed one hair clip was the same as the one his sister had worn yesterday.

"He's really thoughtful. If he were their biological father, it would be quite good. At least he could protect Mommy, give Mommy a good life, and… give them a complete family."

"Mmm~" Lan Lexuan let out a low, listless sound from his throat.

Remembering something, he took something out from his embrace. "Brother, here." His brother had asked him to get the hair clip and hadn't said what it was for, and he didn't want to ask now.

Taking the hair clip, Lan Hanyu asked, puzzled, "You got the item back, so why are you still unhappy?"

He knew his younger brother's character well enough.

He recounted the entire incident to his brother, who then simply said, "Hmm, quite clever."

"Brother, you didn't even hear the main point!" Lan Lexuan was a little exasperated.

"Mm, I heard it. You'll understand later," Lan Hanyu said, a deep meaning in his smile as he looked at his brother.

In the evening, at the Xuan family's old residence, looking at the brightly lit house before him, he knew he would disappoint his grandmother again tonight. He pursed his lips and slowly walked inside.

As expected, Grandma was sitting on the living room sofa, leaning on her cane, waiting for him to return.

After taking off his coat and handing it to a servant, only three people were left in the living room. He walked to the sofa opposite his grandmother and sat down.

Seeing her grandson sit down without saying a word, Grandma Xuan's blood pressure surged again. She rapped her cane on the floor, the "thump thump" resounding. "Speak!"

Xuan Mohan pondered how to phrase it. His grandmother was old and shouldn't be agitated, but she insisted on an answer…

Aunt Zhang couldn't stand it anymore. "Young Master, just go along with the old lady's wishes. Isn't she thinking about the family?"

Only Aunt Zhang, an elder in the household who had been with Grandma Xuan since childhood, dared to speak to Xuan Mohan in such a way.

"Grandma, I can't have children in this lifetime."

Grandma Xuan felt a loud buzzing in her ears. "What did you say?"

"Grandma, do you remember my last year in the army ten years ago? We were ambushed, and I was forced to swallow a certain drug. Later, military doctors examined my blood samples and found that… I won't be able to have children anymore."

"No, that's impossible. Medical technology is advanced now. Jingxuan's medical skills are so good, he can surely do it."

Grandma Xuan shook her head, still finding it hard to believe.

"Besides refining his medical skills abroad all these years, Xuan has also been secretly trying to break down this drug, but… he hasn't achieved much success."

Grandma Xuan felt the world go black. When she could see again, she shakily gripped Aunt Zhang's arm and went upstairs. From Xuan Mohan's perspective, he could see his grandmother's slightly hunched back…