Chapter 633: Explain (1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
An Qi smiled in a self-deprecating manner and said, “When we were little, I didn’t know how to tell Yue Yue. She was still little and she wouldn’t understand. The orphanage was full of orphans like her, so Yue Yue didn’t notice how she was different from other people. Until she went to kindergarten,
elementary school, she noticed that other kids had parents pick them up from school. Sometimes when it rained, there were people who sent umbrellas to the kids, but Yue Yue didn’t have all of those.”
Even though they knew that as an orphan, An Qi and An Yue’s life would definitely be harder than some other children’s, but when they really heard An Qi describe it, they still felt bad for them.
An Qi did not care about the crowd’s sympathetic gaze, as if she had used to receive gaze like this. “Staying in the same kindergarten and meeting each other every day, other children soon noticed Yue Yue was different from them. You know what kids are like. They started to pick on Yue Yue, calling her a
wild child who had no parents.”
Upon hearing that, Nie Xingzhi trembled. His hands clenched into fists again. His narrowed eyes gleamed with an obvious self-reproach.
“Yue Yue put up with it at first, but when the bullying got worse, she came back and asked me what was the meaning of a wild child. Everyone else had a mother and father. Why didn’t she have one? I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that her mother had died in childbirth, and I had never even met her
father, so I made up a lie. I told her that her mother and father had to leave to work on something, they could not come back to her for now. And when she grew up and became more mature, they would come back to take her home.”
An Qi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “When you tell too many lies, it becomes a habit. When Yue Yue really grew up and became more mature, she naturally interpreted my words as her parents had abandoned her. I wanted to clarify it with her, but the director of the orphanage told me that with
Yue Yue’s nature, she might overthink it if I told her at that time. She might think that her mother died because of her. After hearing what she said, it made it even harder for me to tell her.”
After listening to An Yue’s explanation, Zhao Youlin and the others subconsciously glanced at An Yue. Recalling An Yue’s previous reaction, they had to say that the orphanage director’s concerns were not unreasonable.
An Yue was stunned. She realized that she had overreacted a little just now. She blushed and pursed her lips, feeling embarra.s.sing.
“Now that An Qi has explained herself, next…” Zhao Youlin heaved a sigh of relief and tured her gaze toward Nie Xingzhi. She said with a smile, “Mr. Nie, shouldn’t you also explain to us? Why did you say you’re Yue Yue’s father? If you are really Yue Yue’s father, then why did you suddenly come here to
reunite with her since you’ve never looked for her for so many years?”
“That’s right. I want an explanation from you too.” Zhao Youlin and the others suddenly heard a familiar and commanding voice coming from behind them.
Everyone in the room reflexively turned their heads to look at the front door. They saw the old man looking at them with his crutch. Duan Yarong and Zhao Shunrong were standing behind him.
Zhao Youlin frowned. She only called Duan Yarong and Zhao Shuncheng. She did not tell Old Master Zhao, but how come he came home with them? Did they tell him?
The speculation was dismissed by Zhao Youlin as soon as it popped up in her mind. The place the old man went today was much farther than where these two people were today. If he could come with them, that only meant he had traveled back even before she told them what happened.
Was it really just a coincidence? Zhao Youlin’s eyebrows raised, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the faint smile on Uncle Zhao’s face. Her eyes glinted with instant realization. Uncle Zhao had probably informed the old man at once when he saw Nie Xingzhi barge in, looking aggressive.
Seeing that the elders had come home, An Qi politely gave up her seat immediately to the old man. She took the seat next to An Yue, Duan Yarong, and Zhao Shunrong sat with Zhao Youlin.
Once Duan Yarong sat down, she lowered her voice and anxiously asked, “Youlin, what is going on? Why did you ask us to hurry back? Did anything happen to Yue Yue?”
During their phone call, Zhao Youlin only said that Nie Xingzhi had come over to talk to An Yue about something important. Duan Yarong and Zhao Shunrong did not understand what was going on. The more they thought about it, the more they felt worried, so they dropped everything they were doing
and rushed home.
Zhao Youlin shook her head and gestured for the two to settle down and listen to them.
Duan Yarong opened her mouth and was about to ask again when the person sitting next to her held her hand. She turned her head to look and saw Zhao Shunrong shaking his head at her.
Duan Yarong was stunned. Although she was still curious, she held back and said nothing more.
The old man walked to the seat where An Qi had sat before and sat down. His stern eyes swept over everyone and fixed on Nie Xingzhi. Then, he asked something that surprised everyone. “Are you sure?”
Nie Xingzhi took on a solemn look, though when he looked at An Yue, there were a few traces of antic.i.p.ation and delight hidden deep in his eyes. “Yes.”
Hearing his answer, Zhao Youlin and the others were once again shocked. They stared at the old man with surprise and inquisition. “Grandpa, did you already know…”
The old man glanced at An Yue with a smile. Then, he calmly led the topic back to Nie Xingzhi. “It’s better to let him explain it to you.”
Everyone’s attention was suddenly focused on Nie Xingzhi again. Nie Xingzhi swallowed his saliva and said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Yue Yue’s mother and I… Were college cla.s.smates. Her mother was a popular and talented girl in college. I was also young and frivolous at that time. I got curious too when I heard
others talk about how beautiful and graceful this certain girl was. That’s why I…”
“You went to peek at her?” Several married men who had done the same thing before expressed great understanding of Nie Xingzhi’s behavior.
Nie Xingzhi blushed. He let out a light cough and continued, “Well, not just me. Everyone loves pretty girls. So every boy in our dorm went together. I just followed them.”
Zhao Youlin, Duan Yarong, An Qi and An Yue were speechless. It was one thing that they went to peek at girls, but they even went in groups. Boys could be very undignified.
“Ahem. I fell in love with Yue Ru at first sight. And you could probably imagine what happened next. I started to do everything I could to sweep her off her feet. Judging by my look, it shouldn’t be hard for you to imagine how handsome and charming I was at that time.”
‘When Nie Xingzhi said that, the crowd inevitably cast a contemptuous look at him.
Nie Xingzhi was speechless. ‘I’m your elder, after all. Can’t you at least show me some respect?”
“No matter what, there were a lot of people who were trying to win her heart, but I was the one she chose in the end!”
The others remained speechless.