Xia Mingyu instantly grew tense, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Tuanbao, Yuanbao! Where are you!”
Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan hadn’t gone far, they were just playing under the large tree near the entrance.
“Mom, we’re here!”
Tuantuan scurried back on his short little legs, the flesh on his cheeks jiggling as he ran.
He beamed a wide smile at Xia Mingyu, then hugged her while looking up with an ingratiating expression.
“Mom, can I play hide-and-seek with my brother under the tree?”
“Mom, I didn’t bathe or change clothes last night. Smell me, do I stink?”
“Mom, could you go back and get me some clothes? I want to bathe at Grandpa Captain’s house, change into clean clothes, and get all fresh before eating.”
Tuantuan used “mom” like a comma, prefixing every sentence with it.
Xia Mingyu’s heart melted at his calls, forgetting everything else.
“Alright, mom will go get your clothes now. But you can only play hide-and-seek near the entrance—don’t go far, and absolutely don’t leave with anyone else, understand?”
Xia Mingyu gently stroked Tuantuan’s fluffy little head, her voice soft as she instructed him, her eyes filled with deep affection as she looked at him.
Xia Mingyu was naturally beautiful. Though years of hardship had left her somewhat haggard, her delicate features and slender waist combined with her maternal radiance made her all the more endearing.
She unconsciously drew people toward her.
Si Konghuai hid under the large tree, quietly watching Xia Mingyu. His profound, sharp gaze unconsciously softened.
For some reason, before coming here he had only intended to fulfill his responsibilities—to be a good father and husband, make up for Xia Mingyu’s past suffering, provide them with good living conditions, and ensure their future happiness.
He hadn’t considered whether he would like Xia Mingyu or if she was his type, because it didn’t matter.
Regardless of his feelings, he needed to take responsibility.
But after meeting Xia Mingyu, Si Konghuai’s perpetually calm heart suddenly grew restless.
He had previously considered that if Xia Mingyu disagreed, she could continue living here with the children.
He would just provide financial support to ensure their wellbeing—still fulfilling his paternal duties without letting Xia Mingyu and the children suffer.
But now, Si Konghuai felt an intense desire to bring Xia Mingyu and the children home with him.
Not only did he want the children to escape hardship, but even more so he wanted to rescue Xia Mingyu from her struggles—to give her happiness.
Someone as wonderful as Xia Mingyu deserved all the beautiful things in life!
That scoundrel Qiao Hongye wasn’t fit to stand by her side, much less qualified to ruin Xia Mingyu’s entire life!
Si Konghuai’s eyes deepened as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
The strongest one was—to claim Xia Mingyu.
She should be his wife!
Xia Mingyu remained unaware that she had caught someone’s attention as she crouched down to smell Tuantuan.
There was no odor on Tuantuan—his claim about stinking was exaggeration. Though they couldn’t bathe properly on the train, Si Konghuai had dampened a handkerchief to wipe him down, concerned he might feel uncomfortable.
Still, after wearing the same clothes for so long, they definitely needed changing.
“Go play, mom will be back soon.”
Xia Mingyu pinched Tuantuan’s soft, chubby cheek before heading back to the Qiao residence.
Tuantuan had successfully sent his mother away.
After Xia Mingyu walked away, he returned under the tree with a stern little face, looking serious.
Grabbing Yuanyuan’s hand, he looked up solemnly and declared, “Now we can talk.”
“Yes! Talk!” Yuanyuan, emboldened by his brother’s grip, widened his eyes and repeated his brother’s words with full force.
Both brothers stared seriously at Si Konghuai.
Three identical faces gathered together were not only pleasing to the eye but also particularly amusing.
Si Konghuai raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and crouched down so the two little kids wouldn’t have to look up at him.
“What do you want to talk to me about?”
Si Konghuai restrained himself from pinching the cheeks of the two Little Glutinous Rice Dumplings.
He had a feeling that if he dared to lay a hand on them while the brothers were being so serious, they would definitely get angry.
“Let’s talk about whether we are your biological sons,” Tuantuan said coldly, looking arrogantly at Si Konghuai.
Seeing his brother lift his chin, Yuanyuan quickly raised his own chubby chin and glared fiercely at Si Konghuai.
“Yes! Talk!” he said fiercely, though his voice still carried a childish tone.
The brothers’ personalities were indeed quite different, with Tuantuan clearly taking the lead. This time, Si Konghuai could easily tell them apart.
However, he hadn’t expected the two little ones to ask him so directly—they were small but sharp-minded.
But Si Konghuai had made a promise to Xia Mingyu; he couldn’t reveal his identity on his own.
How should he answer without breaking his promise to Xia Mingyu and without lying?
Otherwise, once the truth came out, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan would surely dislike him.
After thinking quickly for a few seconds, Si Konghuai slowly began to speak.
“This is a matter between adults.”
“Regardless of our relationship, I like both of you very much. If you’re willing, you can think of me as an uncle or as a father.”
Si Konghuai didn’t brush off Tuantuan and Yuanyuan; he gave a vague but sincere answer, looking directly at them with a serious tone and a respectful attitude.
Who talks like that normally?
Tuantuan understood. He turned his head abruptly and translated for Yuanyuan, “He admitted it! He is our biological father!”
“Ah!” Yuanyuan gasped in shock, blinking his eyes as he carefully examined this new father. He was better-looking than Uncle Lu and richer than Uncle Lu.
Well, having him as a father might not be so bad, as long as Mother agreed.
Yuanyuan adapted quickly, only slightly stunned before immediately accepting it.
Si Konghuai was both amused and exasperated by this.
“Tuantuan, I didn’t admit it.”
“Don’t go saying nonsense in front of your mother…”
“He must have told Mother not to tell us about his identity,” Tuantuan acted as a powerful translator for Si Konghuai, interpreting every word for Yuanyuan.
His chubby little face was stern as he pretended to be mature and calm, imitating an adult’s demeanor.
“Ah” Yuanyuan gasped in surprise again. Besides being shocked, he didn’t seem to know what else to say.
After all, his mind didn’t work as fast as his brother’s.
This time, Si Konghuai truly couldn’t hold back. He pinched Tuantuan’s soft, tender cheek while verbally denying it.
“I’m not, I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense.”
“Your mother forbade me from saying anything.”
That settles it!
How annoying—he really is our biological father!
Tuantuan suddenly slapped Si Konghuai’s hand away forcefully!
He shouted loudly.
“Don’t touch me, you villain!”
While shouting angrily, he slapped Si Konghuai across the face with his small hand.
The slap Xia Mingyu hadn’t delivered was executed by Tuantuan on her behalf.
Si Konghuai hadn’t expected Tuantuan to turn hostile so suddenly, and he froze in stunned surprise.
Unexpectedly, Yuanyuan—though still muddled and unaware—instinctively followed suit and slapped Si Konghuai too.
“Villain!”
He also yelled loudly.
Si Konghuai fixed his deep, intense gaze on the two brothers.
Only after they had finished hitting him did the brothers begin to feel afraid.
Tuantuan quickly pulled Yuanyuan away, positioning himself in front of his younger brother. He pressed his lips together tightly; though nervous and scared, his eyes still held a proud glint.
He declared bravely,
“I won’t allow you to bully my mother and my brother!”