“I don’t have a husband. Who says a woman has to have a daughter by a certain age? That’s my business, and you don’t need to worry about it. I’m Shen Xi’s daughter. I have every right and qualification to live here, and to enjoy the same rights as every other child in the Shen family.
“Ms. Fang, I’m telling you now: you don’t get to scream and carry on in this house.
“Today was just a warning. Next time, I’ll break your arms and legs. If you want to call the police, go ahead. I’d like to ask them myself why the real Shen heiress spent twenty-three years living in the mountains.
“And how did that fake who took my place manage to do it?”
Fang Xuelian’s heart lurched with panic.
Shen Wansong took a deep breath and put on a puzzled expression.
“I’ll get to the bottom of this. If you really are—”
“I am.”
Yuetao said firmly.
“Yuetao, settle in here and make yourself at home. Don’t worry. From now on, no one will make things difficult for you. It may just take the others a little time to accept what’s happened.”
“It doesn’t matter if anyone wants to make trouble for me. They can come and try.”
“They won’t. You should get some rest first. It’s just that this room…”
Yuetao nodded. “This room is nice. I liked it as soon as I arrived. There are two guest rooms downstairs, so move your things out as soon as you can. Don’t disturb me tonight!”
Fang Xuelian’s eyes nearly popped out of her head again.
“You and that little—your daughter are going to live in our master bedroom?”
Yuetao nodded, looking at her as if she were an idiot.
“Got a problem? Then deal with it.”
Fang Xuelian felt like she was about to die of anger. The patience she had spent years cultivating was about to snap.
“Fine. If you like this room, stay in it for now.”
Shen Wansong didn’t want to look at that brat another second. He took Fang Xuelian by the arm and was about to leave when he turned around abruptly—and saw an enormous white dog at the doorway, mouth open, tongue lolling, staring at them ferociously.
“I-is this the dog you brought back?”
Datuanzi rolled its eyes at him and barked.
Niannian covered her little mouth and giggled.
“Uncle, even Datuantuan is laughing at you! Datuantuan is a…”
The rest of the little girl’s explanation was drowned out by Shen Wansong, who had been badly startled. He glared at Yuetao, tense, furious, and alarmed.
“Get that beast out of here! What if it hurts someone?”
Yuetao stroked Datuanzi’s head.
“A beast? Some people are worse than beasts. Tuanzi doesn’t bite, and it won’t hurt anyone for no reason—unless someone tries to hurt my daughter and me.”
Shen Wansong took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kill someone.
“Take it into the yard for now. If you insist on keeping a dog, you’ll need a license and vaccinations. Otherwise, the relevant authorities will come and take it away.”
Yuetao really hadn’t known about that.
“That much trouble? But it isn’t a dog!”
“Cats need licenses too. If you keep a pet, you have to register it. This is Kyoto, and a dog that big will be seen by the neighbors. They’ll report it.”
“I see. I’ll take care of it.”
Shen Wansong no longer had the energy to worry about a dog. He needed to figure out how to get this scourge out of the house as soon as possible. Otherwise, it looked like the whole family would never have a moment’s peace.
Once the room had quieted down, Yuetao stroked Datuanzi’s head and asked Niannian, “Niannian, have you had enough sleep?”
Niannian nodded her adorable little head. “Mm-hmm. Mama, Niannian misses Big Brother. I want to see him soon.”
Yuetao nodded. “Then go with Datuanzi.”
She tied two little pigtails in Xiaonaibao’s hair and changed her into a pretty little dress.
“Sweetheart, let Datuanzi take you to find your brother. Once you’ve found your brother and Daddy, send Tuanzi back. Xiaotuan will stay with you, all right?”
Niannian nodded.
“Okay!”
Yuetao wasn’t worried at all about letting Xiaonaibao go out on her own. Tuanzi and Xiaotuan would take good care of Niannian.
Next, she had to deal with her mother’s belongings as quickly as possible.
At the hospital,
the doctor finished examining little Shen Goudan.
“Mr. Shang, the child is perfectly healthy. He fainted just now because he hadn’t eaten and his blood sugar was low. As long as he eats properly from now on, he’ll be fine.”
“Mm.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The little boy was very polite, and the doctor liked him at once. Now that he was clean, he was as delicate and lovely as a little figurine, fair and rosy-cheeked, even prettier than a New Year’s picture. He was well-behaved and very polite, too.
The doctor added a reminder. “You’re welcome. Make sure you eat your meals on time from now on, okay?”
“Mm-hmm. Daddy, can you give Hengheng food every day?”
The little boy suddenly looked at Shang Zhan as he asked.
The doctor: “…”
The doctor’s expression changed as he looked at Shang Zhan.
Since when did Kyoto’s Crown Prince have a child? And one he didn’t even feed?
What was going on?
Shang Zhan: “…” Could a three-year-old really be so calculating?
“Of course.”
He answered the little boy firmly, without making any attempt to explain himself.
Although he already had a paternity test report, he’d still asked the hospital’s doctor to run another one.
The results would be ready at this time tomorrow.
At the hospital entrance, the door of a black minivan had just opened.
A sweet little voice called out, “Big Brother!”
The little boy in the man’s arms suddenly lit up and wriggled excitedly to get down.
“It’s my little sister!”
Shang Zhan’s heart gave a jolt, and he immediately looked around.
He couldn’t see anyone, but something soft and squishy suddenly clung to his leg.
He looked down. A little girl with two pigtails was gazing up at him with a beaming smile.
Her little pink face was almost identical to the one in his arms. The only difference was that one had pigtails and the other didn’t.
“Daddy!”
Her soft, sweet, babyish voice made Shang Zhan set down his wriggling son and crouch.
“Are you Niannian?”
The little girl’s eyes widened with delight. “Wow, Daddy, you’re amazing! You even know your pretty, clever little daughter’s name!”
Hengheng rolled his eyes, unable to stand it. Of course Daddy knew—he’d told him. But seeing how pleased Daddy looked at being praised as clever by his little sister, Hengheng decided not to point it out.
“Little sister, you came to find me so soon! Where’s Mama?”
“Taotao is at her mama’s house, beating up the grandma with lots of pink powder on her face.”
Hengheng: “Uh… Mama’s beating someone up again?”
“Mm-hmm. Taotao is very busy, so Niannian came to find Big Brother by herself. Big Brother, is Daddy nice to you? Does he give you food?”
Shang Zhan looked around, but there was no one else in sight—only the fleeting shadow of a large dog.
“Did your mother let you come find your brother by yourself?”
The little girl nodded seriously.
Shang Zhan was furious.
How could that woman be so irresponsible?