At this moment, at the back entrance of Yunyang Resort Hotel, two cars were parked. Several security guards stood at a distance, neither too close nor too far.
The scene, however, was eerily quiet.
Shen Xingyi remained seated in the car, but the usual cold detachment on his face had been completely shattered.
Xu Xiu ignored his shock, turned around, and walked over to the stone, pulling over the “witness.”
Xu Zhirang was still holding that blade of grass, looking completely dazed as he was led in front of Shen Xingyi.
Father and son suddenly faced each other. Their strikingly similar faces seemed to say everything without words.
Xu Xiu glanced back and forth between them, silently clicking her tongue.
Putting them together really did make them look even more alike.
She looked at Shen Xingyi, who still sat motionless as if frozen, and tapped on the car door with her knuckles.
“Aren’t you getting out?”
Didn’t he notice that the child had to tilt his head up just to see him through the car window?
No sense at all.
Only then did Shen Xingyi snap back to his senses and instinctively open the car door.
Even he didn’t realize he had so easily followed Xu Xiu’s words.
After getting out of the car, Xu Xiu noticed that the man was very tall—so tall that Xu Zhirang still had to look up.
But that wasn’t important anymore. She lowered her head and said to Xu Zhirang:
“This is your father.”
Xu Zhirang studied the tall man in front of him seriously.
Mm. Just as his mother said—he really did look like him.
He withdrew his gaze, then tugged at his mother’s hand and said matter-of-factly:
“Mom, I’ve seen Dad already. Let’s go home quickly.”
If they were any later, they’d miss the last subway train.
Xu Zhirang’s words surprised both Xu Xiu and Shen Xingyi.
Xu Xiu hadn’t expected her son to be so calm, as if he were just visiting a tourist attraction—seeing him once and then wanting to leave immediately.
There was none of the emotional “father-son reunion” scene she had imagined.
It was nothing like the novel had described.
Compared to Xu Xiu’s simple confusion, Shen Xingyi’s emotions were far more complicated.
Although it still couldn’t be confirmed whether the child was truly his, he already subconsciously believed it.
And so, naturally, he didn’t think the child’s reaction was his own idea.
Most likely, he had been taught in advance.
His thoughts drifted naturally to the child’s mother—the woman before him.
Her appearance was too sudden, too suspicious.
Was this a calculated move?
He couldn’t help but suspect it.
Xu Xiu didn’t notice his deep, probing gaze and only looked down at Xu Zhirang.
After a moment, she said:
“You finally got to meet your dad, so spend some time with him properly. I’ll come pick you up in a few days.”
The moment she said this, the little boy’s expression changed instantly. He tightened his grip on her hand.
“Mom, are you not going to want me anymore?”
His voice trembled, eyes turning red.
Xu Xiu hadn’t expected him to be so sensitive. Seeing his suddenly tense face, she quickly reassured him:
“What are you saying? Of course Mom won’t abandon you. It’s just that your dad wants to spend time with you first.”
Xu Zhirang blinked, then thought of a better solution.
“Then why doesn’t Dad just come live with us?”
That way, he could stay with both parents and not leave his mom.
Xu Xiu felt a vein twitch in her temple.
As a domineering CEO male lead, there was no way Shen Xingyi would lower himself to live in her old, shabby apartment building.
She had calculated everything—except that as the “genius adorable son” of a novel, Xu Zhirang would completely ignore the original plot.
He had outright refused to go home with his biological father.
Seeing those tearful eyes looking up at her, Xu Xiu found herself unable to say anything harsh.
It felt like if she turned to leave, those faintly trembling tears would immediately fall.
So after a moment’s thought, she looked up at Shen Xingyi:
“Let’s do this. You probably won’t believe me if I just say it, so we’ll do a paternity test first. The child will come home with me. Once the results are out, we’ll talk again.”
Before Shen Xingyi could respond, she added:
“Even though it’s late, President Shen can definitely get the DNA testing center to open for you, right? So let’s not waste time—let’s go now.”
With that, she unceremoniously got into Shen Xingyi’s car.
And Shen Xingyi, who had been completely “arranged” without any say in the matter, experienced for the first time what it felt like to be controlled by someone else.
Strangely, he didn’t feel much resistance.
Without thinking further, he also got in.
After all, this truly was the best solution.
The others, finally able to move again after being frozen in shock, followed in confusion and got into the car as well.
In the back seat, Xu Zhirang sat between his mother and father, looking left and right.
The atmosphere was silent. No one spoke.
Shen Xingyi, though outwardly calm again, still hadn’t fully recovered internally.
He might… have a son.
Or perhaps the “might” would soon be removed. He had a strong feeling.
Then he thought of that woman again.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at her—she was calmly looking out the window, as if none of this had anything to do with her.
And yet everything happening tonight revolved around her.
Whether it was that night four years ago, or this child.
At the thought of that night, Shen Xingyi’s hand tightened on his knee.
That had been the only time he lost control of himself.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then a small voice suddenly broke the silence:
“Are you sleepy?”
Shen Xingyi opened his eyes and looked at the little figure beside him.
Those very familiar almond-shaped eyes were staring directly at him.
“I’m not,” he replied.
After that brief exchange, the car fell into awkward silence again.
Soon, they arrived at the paternity testing center.
The staff had already been notified in advance, so the procedure was completed quickly.
After getting back into the car, Xu Xiu naturally gave her home address.
She smiled at Shen Xingyi:
“President Shen doesn’t mind giving us a ride home, right?”
Shen Xingyi said nothing, only signaling the driver to go.
When the car stopped outside the residential area, he adjusted his glasses and looked at the surroundings.
The gate was closed, and the car could not go further in.
Xu Xiu got out with Xu Zhirang.
Just as they were about to leave, Shen Xingyi also stepped out.
The three of them stood facing each other in silence.
After a moment, Xu Xiu suddenly understood and said to Xu Zhirang:
“Introduce yourself to your dad.”
She had almost forgotten—they still didn’t know each other well.
Xu Zhirang was suddenly pushed forward and instinctively introduced himself in English.
Shen Xingyi’s eyes flickered slightly, and he responded in English as well, then turned to Xu Xiu:
“Miss Xu has been living in Country Y?”
“Just for a few years,” she replied casually.
Shen Xingyi immediately recalled those chance encounters abroad.
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Xu Xiu saw him fall silent again and said to Xu Zhirang:
“Say goodbye to Dad. We’re going home.”
Then she turned and entered the residential complex.
Watching the two figures disappear behind the gate, Shen Xingyi got back into the car and dialed a number.
“I want the results tonight.”