Lan Yuxi's tear mole at the corner of her eye twitched almost imperceptibly. "Lingyun's daughter died shortly after birth; otherwise, she wouldn't have adopted me."
Nan Xiao looked at her, a flicker of an unreadable light in his eyes. Every time this girl lied, her tear mole would twitch uncontrollably.
She was lying, which meant Sister Yun's child was still alive.
As for why she lied, she must have her reasons. He wouldn't expose her in front of his father.
Nan Zhenting's face fell with sadness upon hearing that the child had died. His usually upright back stooped slightly.
"Old man, are you alright?" Lan Yuxi got off the bed and helped him to the sofa.
Nan Zhenting waved his hand. "I'm fine, I'll be alright with a little rest."
"Then please sit for a moment, I'll get you some tea."
As Lan Yuxi was about to leave, Nan Zhenting stopped her.
"Don't bother with tea, I don't want any." Nan Zhenting recovered slightly, his complexion improving. "Yuxi, our Nan family has wronged you. But I know that no matter how much our family has wronged you, you will still help Nan Xiao. I thank you for that."
As Nan Zhenting spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Lan Yuxi.
Lan Yuxi quickly helped him up. "What are you doing! You're shortening my lifespan!"
Nan Zhenting's eyes reddened, and he held her hand tightly. "Yuxi, I know you are a good girl. It's all my fault. If I hadn't made a mistake, you and Nan Xiao would have been together long ago. If you don't dislike him and are willing to be with him, then no one can stop you. I'll make this decision for you!"
Nan Xiao looked at Lan Yuxi. His grandfather had said as much, so she shouldn't have any more worries, right?
Lan Yuxi avoided his intense gaze and bit her lower lip. "Grandpa, at this moment, we should first face the outside world together."
"Alas! What a sin!" Nan Zhenting's eyes were filled with sorrow. If he had done a DNA test for Lan Yuxi back then, these two children wouldn't have been separated for so many years.
Lan Yuxi reached out and rubbed his back. "Let me help you downstairs first. Let's resolve the matter online, and then everyone can rest."
Nan Zhenting sighed deeply and, supported by Lan Yuxi, left the room.
Nan Xiao clenched his fingers and followed them downstairs.
Downstairs, Zhao Zhao was pointing at the computer, talking to Nan Xiangbei. Seeing his mother come down, the little one stopped talking.
"Mommy~" Mumu jumped down from Ming Zicheng's lap and rushed into her mother's arms.
Lan Yuxi smiled and picked her up. "Are you sleepy?"
Mumu pouted and rubbed her eyes. "Sleepy."
"Then go to bed with your brother, okay? Mommy will come to you after she's done with her work."
Mumu's little hands clung tightly to her mother's neck. It was obvious to everyone that she didn't want to be separated from her mother.
Zhao Zhao walked over and pulled his sister's hand.
Mumu pursed her lips, and despite her reluctance, slid out of her mother's embrace.
Lan Yuxi ruffled both children's hair. "No more pretending to sleep this time. If I catch you, I'll spank your bottoms."
The two little ones nodded in unison.
Lan Yuxi looked at Zhao Zhao and said softly, "No matter what questions you have, we can discuss them tomorrow morning. So, don't overthink things, alright?"
Zhao Zhao nodded vigorously and, holding his sister's hand, obediently went upstairs.
Nan Xiao looked at the two children with deep emotion. In his eyes, Xi Bao was still a child, and he always worried about her. But she didn't need his worry at all; she not only built her career but also raised two children so well.
Ming Zicheng asked with some concern, "Senior sister, are you alright now?"
"I'm fine."
"Then have you considered my proposal?"
"Let's proceed with your script. Has the DNA result come out yet?"
Ming Zicheng checked the time. "It should be soon."
"Ding..." Just then, Ming Zicheng's phone rang.
Ming Zicheng opened the screen, looked at it, and then sent it to Lan Yuxi.
"The test result is out. Senior sister, please print it out; we'll need it later."
Lan Yuxi acknowledged and handed the phone to the butler.
The butler hurried to the study.
Ming Zicheng looked around and discussed with Nan Xiao, "Will we film here or in the study later?"
Nan Xiao looked at Lan Yuxi. "Where do you want to film? You decide."
Ming Zicheng smiled approvingly at Nan Xiao's tact.
"The study."
"Then should Xiang Dong and Xiang Bei go and get the equipment?" Nan Xiao asked again.
"Okay."
Once they had agreed, everyone went to the study.
Upon entering, Nan Zhenting went straight for the appraisal document in the butler's hand.
After seeing the appraisal results, he was finally relieved.
Everything was arranged.
Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi sat side by side on the sofa.
Lan Yuxi tilted her head to look at Nan Xiao and, seeing that his collar was a bit askew, naturally straightened it for him.
Nan Xiao smiled indulgently and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
After completing these gestures, Nan Xiao looked at Nan Xiangbei, who was standing behind the camera. "Are we ready to start?"
Nan Xiangbei was slightly taken aback. Could he say that he had already started recording?
Nan Xiangdong nudged him, and Nan Xiangbei finally came to his senses, raising his hand to give an ok sign.
Nan Xiao took Lan Yuxi's hand, his fingers sliding down to intertwine with hers.
Lan Yuxi felt a little uncomfortable but didn't show it on her face. After all, in Er Wan's script, they were a pair of ill-fated lovers forcibly separated by their elders, now rekindling their old flames after a long reunion, and were being affectionate.
Seeing that she didn't refuse him, Nan Xiao smiled at the camera.
"Hello everyone, I am Nan Xiao. First, I thank you all for your 'concern.' Secondly, I want to clarify one thing: Lan Yuxi is indeed the adopted daughter of my late elder brother. However, four years ago, she had already severed the adoption relationship with my sister-in-law.
I'm not afraid of you calling me perverted because I fell in love with her a long time ago. But she was young then, and my elder brother's adopted daughter. I lived with self-reproach every day. To cut off this inappropriate feeling, I even went on blind dates. But only I knew that no matter how outstanding the other person was, she couldn't compare to a single finger of Xi Bao in my heart."
Lan Yuxi squeezed his hand hard, signaling him not to speak recklessly and to try to stick to Er Wan's script.
Nan Xiao squeezed her hand back and continued, "My father saw my feelings and wanted my sister-in-law to break off the adoption with Xi Bao. Who knew, before the procedures were completed, there was an inside traitor in my family. I don't know why he did it, but he drugged me and Xi Bao and put us on the same bed.
Xi Bao couldn't accept this fact and went abroad alone. After she left, I searched for her all over the world like a madman, but I never heard from her. It wasn't until she heard that I had become a vegetative state that she, putting aside past grievances, returned and cured me.
Nan Xiao said, pulling Lan Yuxi's other hand, holding both her soft little hands tightly in his. "Xi Bao..."