Xia Mingyu immediately became nervous, her eyes filled with tears as if she were about to cry.
“Baby Tuan, Baby Yuan! Where are you!”
Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan hadn’t gone far—they were just under a big tree near the entrance.
“Mom, we’re here!”
Tuan Tuan ran back in a flash with his short little legs.
The soft flesh on his cheeks trembled as he moved.
He gave Xia Mingyu a big smile and hugged her leg, looking up and ingratiating himself.
“Mom, I want to play hide-and-seek with my little brother under the tree, is that okay?”
“Mom, I didn’t bathe or change clothes last night. Smell me—do I stink?”
“Mom, can you go back and get me a change of clothes? I want to bathe at the brigade leader’s house and then come back clean and fragrant before eating.”
He used “Mom” like punctuation—calling her after every sentence.
Xia Mingyu’s heart softened completely.
Tuan Tuan’s words made her forget everything.
“Alright, Mom will go get your clothes now. But you can only play hide-and-seek near the gate, don’t go far, and don’t go with strangers, understand?”
She gently patted his fluffy little head, her eyes full of love.
Xia Mingyu was already very beautiful. Though years of hardship had made her slightly haggard, her delicate features and slender waist, combined with her gentle maternal aura, made her even more tender and irresistible.
Si Konghuai, hiding under the tree, silently watched her.
His originally sharp and deep eyes softened without him realizing it.
Before coming here, he had only thought about responsibility.
Being a good father. A responsible husband. Making up for everything Xia Mingyu had suffered. Giving them a better life.
He had never considered whether he would like her or whether she was his type.
That didn’t matter.
Responsibility came first.
But after seeing her, his calm heart began to stir.
He had once thought that if she didn’t agree, he could let her stay here with the children and support them financially.
That would still count as fulfilling his duty as a father.
But now…
He had an overwhelming desire to take her and the children back.
It was no longer just about the children suffering less.
He wanted her to be rescued from suffering.
She deserved all the beauty in the world.
That scumbag Qiao Hongye did not deserve to stand beside her.
Nor did he deserve to ruin her life.
Si Konghuai’s gaze darkened, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
The strongest one was—
possess her.
She should be his wife.
Xia Mingyu didn’t notice anything. She squatted down and checked Tuan Tuan.
He didn’t smell at all. Saying he was “stinky” was just an exaggeration. On the train, although they couldn’t bathe, Si Konghuai had helped wipe him down with a wet towel so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
But his clothes had been worn for a while and really should be changed.
“Go play. Mom will be back soon.”
She pinched Tuan Tuan’s soft cheek and returned to the Qiao house.
Once she left, Tuan Tuan immediately put on a serious face and returned to the tree.
Holding his brother’s hand, he said solemnly:
“Now we can talk.”
“Yeah! Talk!”
Yuan Yuan nodded vigorously, copying his brother’s tone.
Both children stared seriously at Si Konghuai.
Three identical faces looked at each other.
Si Konghuai smiled helplessly and crouched down so he wouldn’t have to look up at them.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“We want to talk about whether you are our biological father.”
Tuan Tuan said coldly, lifting his chin with pride.
“Right! Talk!”
Yuan Yuan echoed fiercely.
Si Konghuai paused.
He hadn’t expected them to ask so directly.
But he had promised Xia Mingyu not to reveal anything.
How should he answer without lying… and without breaking his promise?
He thought quickly, then said slowly:
“This is something for adults.”
“No matter what our relationship is, I like you very much. If you want, you can treat me as an uncle… or as a father.”
He did not deny it, nor confirm it. Only gave a vague answer.
But children rarely interpret things so carefully.
Tuan Tuan immediately turned to his brother and translated:
“He admitted it! He is our real dad!”
“Ah!”
Yuan Yuan widened his eyes in shock.
He looked at Si Konghuai carefully.
“Wow… if Mom agrees, then being Dad is okay…”
Si Konghuai sighed helplessly.
“I didn’t admit it.”
Tuan Tuan ignored him completely and continued translating:
“He also said Mom told him not to reveal his identity!”
“Aah!”
Yuan Yuan was even more shocked.
Si Konghuai finally couldn’t hold back.
He pinched Tuan Tuan’s cheek lightly.
“I didn’t. I didn’t say that. Don’t talk nonsense.”
But then—
Tuan Tuan suddenly pushed his hand away.
He shouted loudly:
“Don’t touch me! You bad guy!”
And—
SLAP!
A small hand hit Si Konghuai’s face.
The slap Xia Mingyu never gave him—
Tuan Tuan delivered it instead.
Si Konghuai froze.
Even Yuan Yuan, following instinct, also slapped him once.
“Bad guy!”
He shouted too.
Silence fell.
The two children finally realized they might have gone too far.
Tuan Tuan quickly pulled Yuan Yuan behind him, standing protectively in front.
Though nervous, he still raised his chin proudly.
“I won’t let you bully my mom and my brother!”