Xia Mingyu emphasized.
“Alright, no problem. Rest assured, I keep my word. I will absolutely not take the initiative to reveal my identity to Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan.”
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll only be their uncle, not their father.”
Si Konghuai nodded solemnly in promise, his gaze firm.
With his righteous demeanor, most people would believe his words, but Xia Mingyu found this assurance insufficient.
“You need to write me a written pledge.”
“If you break your promise, I’ll go to your military unit and report you! I’ll find your superiors!”
Xia Mingyu declared resolutely, her chin held high and her eyes proud.
Men’s words were as reliable as flatulence—she wouldn’t be easily fooled again.
“Fine, agreed.”
Her expression resembled a kitten showing its claws—appearing fierce yet somehow adorable in its ferocity.
Si Konghuai couldn’t help but smile faintly. Raising an eyebrow, he agreed.
He immediately fetched paper and pen to write Xia Mingyu the pledge, guaranteeing he would never take the initiative to disclose the matter to Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan.
He specifically emphasized the words “take the initiative.”
Should he violate the agreement, he must immediately leave Xia Mingyu and her two sons, forever forfeiting any claim to Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan.
Moreover, he would compensate Xia Mingyu five hundred thousand yuan, voluntarily resign from his military position, and reflect on his shame behind closed doors.
Si Konghuai wrote with utmost seriousness—not only signing his name but even borrowing ink paste to imprint his thumbprint.
His sincerity was undeniable.
And five hundred thousand yuan was an astronomical sum in this era.
Even though Xia Mingyu came from an unusual background, her eyes still trembled slightly at the amount.
She carefully stored the pledge, took several deep breaths to calm herself, and only then returned with Si Konghuai to face Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan.
“Mom, what were you and Uncle doing? Why did it take so long?”
Tuantuan couldn’t resist hugging Xia Mingyu’s leg, looking up curiously.
Mom and Uncle were acting strangely, always talking about things they couldn’t understand.
“Yeah, Mom, you were gone for ages.”
Yuanyuan hugged Xia Mingyu’s other leg, echoing his brother’s question like a parrot—wherever his brother went, he followed.
“Mom was thanking Uncle. If not for him, it might have taken much longer to find you.”
Xia Mingyu smiled, her eyes curving slightly as she casually deflected her son’s question.
She bent down to pick up both sons.
Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan were already four years old—fair and chubby, with considerable weight.
Although in Si Konghuai and the Old Master’s eyes, the brothers weren’t plump enough, having suffered in the countryside.
In reality, their arms and legs were quite fleshy and heavy. Xia Mingyu had worked hard to raise her sons fair, chubby, and strong.
Carrying both simultaneously still required some effort.
Si Konghuai’s heart ached as he frowned, reaching out to her.
“Let me carry one for you, Comrade Xia.”
“Yes, let him help carry one. Or I can carry one—we’re both strong enough to handle children without trouble.”
Lu Ning chimed in support.
But Xia Mingyu shook her head. Having regained what was lost, she couldn’t bear to be parted from her children.
She coldly refused.
“No need, I’ll carry them myself. When I get tired, I’ll put them down and let them walk on their own.”
After saying this, Xia Mingyu took the lead, carrying Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan as she walked ahead.
Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan couldn’t resist kissing Xia Mingyu, especially Tuan Tuan.
Normally, he was very sensible and wouldn’t let Xia Mingyu carry him, but after being sold to Jing Shi once, he was genuinely frightened and couldn’t help but cling to Xia Mingyu a little more.
He chattered away to Xia Mingyu, vividly describing the novel, large courtyards and cars in Jing Shi…
Yuan Yuan listened, completely captivated.
“Wow! Big brother is so amazing!”
Yuan Yuan chimed in supportively, her voice soft and childish.
The mother and her two children walked ahead, while Lu Ning pulled Si Konghuai back a step and quietly asked,
“How did it go? Did you clear the air? What did you talk about?”
“Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are your children, right? They look so much like you—they can’t not be! If they really aren’t, I think it’d be fine to take them as godchildren. Bringing them back would make the Old Master overjoyed.”
“It was my fault, and I’ve already cleared things up with Comrade Xia. However, she doesn’t want me to acknowledge Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan as my own, so don’t slip up.”
Si Konghuai quickly explained the whole story to Lu Ning, including the agreement between him and Xia Mingyu.
“Serves you right!”
“If I didn’t know you and your character, I wouldn’t believe a word of this even if you told me!”
Lu Ning couldn’t help but roll his eyes and gave Si Konghuai a hard punch.
Now that he hadn’t suffered any hardship and got two children for free, it was only natural that their mother was unwilling.
Si Konghuai smiled bitterly, as if he would believe it either.
“Don’t slip up.”
Si Konghuai warned Lu Ning to keep his mouth shut and not say anything he shouldn’t.
“Got it, I definitely won’t talk nonsense to the children. This is between you two.”
“So you’re just giving up like that? Do Uncle, Aunt, and the Old Master know? If they find out, they won’t let it go, right?”
Si Konghuai might be willing to let the children call him Uncle, but his parents and grandfather might not be so accommodating.
Especially the Old Master, who was eagerly longing for great-grandchildren.
“The Old Master already knows. He said if I can’t bring the children back, he’ll pack up and come here to stay with them.”
Si Konghuai had a headache. If the Old Master really came, how would Xia Mingyu see him then?
She’d definitely think he went back on his word and was even less of a good person.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. So you’d better obediently make amends and convince Comrade Xia to bring the children back to live with you. Otherwise, you’re really done for.”
Lu Ning clicked his tongue in amazement.
At this point, he couldn’t resist elbowing Si Konghuai and asked with a mischievous grin,
“You didn’t have any memories before, but now that you’ve met her in person, what do you think of Comrade Xia?”
“Do you just want to take responsibility, or do you have other intentions…”
He winked suggestively, clearly not having anything good to say.
“Get lost.”
What kind of time is this to be talking about this?
Si Konghuai shot Lu Ning a cold glance, telling him to go cool off somewhere else.
However, as he looked at Xia Mingyu’s slender back, his mind uncontrollably flashed back to her moist eyes and proud expression from earlier.
She… is wonderful.
A thousand words condensed into just two, summarizing Si Konghuai’s stirring heart.
He was even grateful that the person that night was Xia Mingyu.
Si Konghuai shook off Lu Ning and quickened his pace to catch up.
“Yuanyuan? Are you Yuanyuan? Or are you Tuantuan?”
“You two look exactly alike. Uncle can’t tell you apart. Comrade Xia, how do you usually distinguish between them?”
Si Konghuai looked at the two identical adorable little dumplings, his heart softening. However, when placing them side by side, he truly couldn’t tell who was who.
He examined them carefully.
Xia Mingyu pressed her lips tightly together, unwilling to engage with him.
But Tuantuan had already developed an immense fondness for this wealthy uncle and chattered away, introducing himself to Si Konghuai.
Their faces were identical, but one had a mole on the left buttock and the other on the right, making it quite easy to tell them apart.
If not looking at their bottoms, then you had to observe their personalities.
“Yuanyuan is very shy and doesn’t dare talk to strangers easily. He’s clingy and cries a lot, unlike me…”
Tuantuan put his little hands on his hips and blabbered on, completely selling out his younger brother.
“Brother! You’re mean! I won’t give you any candy!”
Yuanyuan pouted angrily, crossing his arms and starting to sulk.
“Oh, Yuanyuan is also stingy, hehe”
Tuantuan was deliberately teasing Yuanyuan. The brothers’ daily squabbles fascinated Si Konghuai.
Before they knew it, they had reached the village entrance.
Some people were chatting at the village entrance. When they saw Si Konghuai, they screamed in shock.
“Oh my! Ming Yu, you found the children’s father!”
“This bastard looks exactly like Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan!”