They hadn’t heard wrong, had they?
Why did Dabao call Shen Yan “Dad”?
Could it be that during the four years Shen Yan disappeared, he had another child outside?
Then what about Erbao and Xiaobao?
Everyone’s jaws nearly dropped in shock.
Shen Yan had been keeping a woman outside and even had three children!
It was like a huge scandal had just exploded in front of them. Everyone turned to look at Ruan Jiao Jiao with pity.
Ruan Jiao Jiao also realized what was going on. She had been right all along—this fox-like woman was Shen Yan’s mistress, and those three children were illegitimate!
No wonder they didn’t go back to the Shen household after arriving at the compound, but instead stayed at the Yin family’s place.
So they were staying with the mistress and her illegitimate children!
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Shen Yan.
“Shen Yan-ge, why did he call you Dad? That woman—she’s the woman you’ve been keeping outside, isn’t she? And your children are already this old! How could you do this to me and Yaozu? No wonder you wanted to drive us away as soon as you came back…”
Ruan Jiao Jiao cried pitifully, her whole body collapsing into the support of a nearby woman as if all strength had left her.
Her tearful accusation immediately moved the crowd. Many people looked at Ruan Ting He and the three children with disgust.
“So she’s a homewrecker who even dared to show up here!”
“Maybe she thinks having three kids gives her confidence.”
“Look at her face—she’s like a vixen. Who knows how many men she’s seduced.”
“You don’t know? My daughter-in-law works at the train station. She saw her hugging that Yin Ze fool yesterday, doing all kinds of shameless things!”
“What? She even seduced a fool? How disgusting!”
The sharp, gossiping voices came mostly from those stubborn parents who refused to admit fault earlier.
They were already close with Ruan Jiao Jiao and now, to vent their anger and support her, they threw out one insult after another.
Ruan Ting He was completely stunned by one piece of information—Shen Yan’s wife was Ruan Jiao Jiao.
She stood frozen, still unable to process this shocking revelation.
“Shut up!” Shen Yan roared coldly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. “She—”
Before he could finish, Ruan Ting He abruptly cut him off, almost instinctively avoiding the situation.
“Dabao, you’ve got the wrong person! He’s not your father!”
Dabao tightened his grip on Shen Yan’s pants, feeling wronged.
Just moments ago, when he saw his mother being surrounded and bullied, he had thought—if only someone could protect her.
Then Uncle Shen Yan had appeared.
Without hesitation, he had rushed over, hoping this uncle could protect his mother.
But he never expected that Uncle Shen Yan was already married!
The fat boy who had been bullying them was his son!
And that crying, pitiful woman was his wife!
Dabao suddenly realized he had made a mistake. He had only made things worse for his mother.
Uncle Shen Yan was “dirty” now. He didn’t want him as a father anymore.
Just then, another tall figure walked over.
Dabao’s eyes lit up. He immediately let go of Shen Yan and turned to the newcomer, running straight toward him.
“Dad!”
Yin Quan froze.
He looked down at the little boy hanging onto his leg, eyes full of tears and pleading innocence.
He had been ordered by his grandmother to come back and help Ruan Ting He and the children.
So this was what it meant—to come back and be a father for the kids?
He instinctively wanted to refuse—but when his eyes met Dabao’s pleading gaze, he hesitated.
“Dabao!”
Ruan Ting He hurried over, worried that Yin Quan would be displeased. She limped forward, trying to pull Dabao away.
Only then did everyone notice that her left ankle was swollen and red—clearly injured—yet she had not uttered a single word of pain.
Meanwhile, Ruan Jiao Jiao, who had no visible injuries, had been crying the entire time.
“You’re injured!”
“What happened to your foot?”
Shen Yan and Yin Quan spoke almost at the same time.
In sync, they both stepped forward and grabbed her arms from either side, afraid she would fall.
Yin Quan glanced at his own hand, confused by his reaction.
He clearly had doubts about her—but seeing her injured made his chest tighten uncontrollably.
As if she were someone extremely important to him.
Could this woman really have such charm that even he, his grandmother, and his brother were affected?
Ruan Ting He pulled her arm away from Shen Yan’s grip and said coldly, “I don’t need your concern.”
Shen Yan’s hand was left empty. His heart felt hollow as well.
Was he… being rejected?
Damn Ruan Jiao Jiao. If she cost him his future wife, he would make sure she paid for it.
Shen Yan’s cold gaze swept across the crowd.
“Today, I am going to make one thing very clear! Between me and Ruan Jiao Jiao—”
He was about to reveal the truth.
Ruan Jiao Jiao’s face turned deathly pale.
“Stop right there!”
A furious voice suddenly rang out as Qiao Xia arrived.
Ruan Jiao Jiao immediately felt relieved and rushed to her.
“Mom, you’re finally here! They’re bullying me and Yaozu to death! Shen Yan-ge is even siding with them…”
She broke off into sobs again, letting others fill in the rest with their imagination.
And they did exactly that.
Qiao Xia’s face instantly darkened as she imagined everything—Shen Yan protecting a mistress, humiliating his wife, abandoning his family…
She turned to Shen Yan angrily.
“Shen Yan! Is this how I taught you to behave? Ruan Jiao Jiao and Yaozu are your wife and child!”
“They are not!” Shen Yan said sharply. “I am going to make it clear today—”
“Shut up!”
Slap!
Qiao Xia slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed sharply, leaving a red handprint on his handsome face.
Her hand trembled immediately after. “Ah Yan… I didn’t mean to…”
But Shen Yan ignored her entirely.
He raised his voice even louder.
“I have never had any relationship with Ruan Jiao Jiao! The woman I was with four years ago was not her—she impersonated someone else! Those children are not mine!”
His words came out in one breath, firm and unstoppable.
Qiao Xia nearly fainted from rage.
“Shen Yan, how dare you—”
To stop him from continuing, she closed her eyes and pretended to faint.
“Mom!” Ruan Jiao Jiao cried out, catching her. “Mom, wake up! Don’t scare me!”
Then she turned to Shen Yan in despair.
“Shen Yan-ge, Mom fainted! Can you take her to the hospital first?”
Shen Yan stood there coldly.
He had seen this act too many times. Whenever she wanted to avoid responsibility, she used this trick.
So this time, he didn’t react at all.
Ignoring them both, he continued.
“Four years ago, I asked my teammate Li Bao to pick someone up for me. Ruan Jiao Jiao took advantage of the situation, impersonated my identity, and tricked him into bringing her into the compound to fake a marriage!”
“I left in a hurry and never expected her to shamelessly stay, use my identity as my wife, and even give birth to children while deceiving everyone!”
“Today, I, Shen Yan, officially state: Ruan Jiao Jiao is not my woman, and those children are not mine!”
“Shen Yan!” Ruan Jiao Jiao screamed, pale with fear. “You’re so heartless!”
Panicking and unable to argue further, she grabbed the stunned Shen Yaozu and ran away without looking back.
Qiao Xia, who had been pretending to faint, quickly “woke up” and chased after them.
“Jiao Jiao! Where are you going? Wait for Mom…”