"Gen Hong, I actually thought about telling you back then. But considering how many years have passed, firstly, finding the child is a problem; secondly, we've raised Wen Jing like a treasure for so many years, and I was afraid she wouldn't be able to accept the truth when she found out; as for Yan Yan, I thought that if they exchanged her, it meant that family must have liked her a lot! If we were to rashly seek them out and reveal her background, it would be a significant blow to her." Xie Qiao wiped away her tears.
"So after considering everything, I decided to pretend it never happened. I truly believed that this was the best course of action for everyone. I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I just didn't expect that family to be so wicked..." She covered her face and sobbed.
Mao Gen Hong, in his usual habit, paid little attention to his health and had long forgotten about regular check-ups. Hearing his wife's confession, his eyes also turned red. He held Xie Qiao and comforted her, "Xiao Qiao, you silly girl, how could you have known that family was so heartless? If anyone is to blame, it's me. I wasn't attentive enough to you all..."
Xiao Wen Qiang watched as Mao Gen Hong so easily forgave Xie Qiao, feeling that their professed love for the original owner was utterly hypocritical. Since these parents were so selfish, she wouldn't be a "green tea" if she retaliated.
So, as Mao Gen Hong was holding his wife, he heard his daughter's slightly choked voice from beside him: "Dad, Mom, you can't be blamed for this! Actually, when I think about it, I can understand Mom. After all, you've lived with Wen Jing for over ten years, and your bond is the most sincere. I only share a blood relation with you, but we've been forced apart for so many years, so naturally, there isn't such a deep emotional foundation. I was being unrealistic, which is why I felt jealous when I heard Mom say she loved Wen Jing the most."
Xiao Wen Qiang sniffled, putting on a pitiable expression, and continued, "Don't worry, I won't do that again. Wen Jing is right; I shouldn't have naively thought that Mom and Dad's polite words were sincere. From now on, I will know my place. As Wen Jing said, I'll just consider myself a servant living in this house."
Hearing Xiao Wen Qiang's words, Mao Gen Hong's expression grew worse. By the end, he let go of Xie Qiao, raised his hand, and delivered a resounding slap to Mao Wen Jing.
Mao Wen Jing was stunned by the blow. She covered her face and looked at Mao Gen Hong in disbelief, "You actually hit me because of that wretched woman?"
Xie Qiao quickly stepped forward and embraced her beloved daughter, exclaiming to her husband, "Wen Jing is still a child, why did you hit her?"
"A child? Did you hear what she said? Doesn't she deserve to be hit?"
Mao Wen Jing was furious and began to speak recklessly, "Did I say anything wrong? This wretched woman grew up in a place full of broke nobodies, and her poverty seeps through everything! Someone like her is too dirty even to be our family's servant!"
Xie Qiao saw her husband's chest heaving violently and rushed forward to cover Mao Wen Jing's mouth, "My little ancestor, please stop talking, I beg you not to anger your father anymore!"
Mao Wen Jing pushed her away and continued, "You've never spoken harshly to me since I was little. Now that this woman is here, you start yelling at me and now you've even hit me! I'm right, you have your biological child now, and you don't want me anymore! You also said you loved me the most, it was all lies!" She pushed Xie Qiao away, covered her face, and ran out of the private room crying.
Xie Qiao anxiously looked at the door, then at her husband, sighed, and finally chased after her daughter.
Mao Gen Hong seemed to deflate, slowly slumping into his chair. He wiped his face fiercely, then said to Xiao Wen Qiang, "Yan Yan, don't listen to Wen Jing's nonsense. The separation all these years is our fault for not protecting you right from birth, it's not your fault. Please give Wen Jing some time, she's not inherently bad. If she says such things again, tell me, and I will punish her."
He then turned back to Xie Yinuo and Zheng Xiao, who had been standing awkwardly in a daze for a long time, "I apologize for today. We were supposed to have a happy reunion dinner, and you had to witness this. It's getting late, let me give you a ride back!"
"Uncle Mao, it's alright. The road isn't far, Yinuo and I can walk back and consider it a stroll." Zheng Xiao gave his good brother a look.
Xie Yinuo immediately understood and chimed in, "Yes, Uncle. We can walk. You and Sister Qingyan can go home first!"
Mao Gen Hong was in no mood for anything else. Seeing that they both agreed, he accepted, paid the bill, and left with Xiao Wen Qiang.
On the way, Xie Yinuo mused, "I thought today was going to be a joyous, happy reunion, but I never expected it to end like this! Wen Jing is really so thoughtless, how could she say such things about Sister Qingyan!"
"Do you think Mao Wen Jing is the only one with problems?" Zheng Xiao looked at the person beside him. He hadn't realized his good friend was so naive.
"You mean my aunt? But she explained! She was also a victim back then; it was Zhang Ju who swapped her child. Even though she found out early, she considered many factors before making that decision!" Xie Yinuo involuntarily defended his own family.
"Let's not talk about the baby swap or five years ago. Let's talk about now. Your aunt clearly still favors Mao Wen Jing more, right? You haven't forgotten that your Sister Qingyan still can't live on the second floor?"
"Uh... that ten-year bond, maybe it's not something that can change overnight!"
"Then don't say one thing and do another. A parent's love isn't expressed through words, but through actions." Zheng Xiao actually thought of his own father, who always claimed he loved his mother and him the most! Yet, his "most loved" included a mistress and another son? It was disgusting!
"That's true! My Sister Qingyan is truly the most pitiable. I'll have to be nicer to her from now on..." Xie Yinuo mumbled.
"Mmm..." Zheng Xiao vaguely felt that this Sister Qingyan wasn't as pure as she seemed, but he didn't find this little cleverness annoying, so he didn't say anything more.
At this moment, the not-so-pure Xiao Wen Qiang and Mao Gen Hong had just returned to the Mao family villa.
Xie Qiao and Mao Wen Jing had already returned, but Mao Wen Jing locked herself in her room the moment she entered, refusing to open the door no matter who knocked.
Seeing them return, Xie Qiao forced a smile at Xiao Wen Qiang and said, "Yan Yan, Mom was a bit busy recently and didn't intentionally neglect to prepare your room. I just had the housekeeper clean it, shall we put your bedding in later?"
"Okay, thank you, Mom." Xiao Wen Qiang politely thanked her, thinking inwardly that Xie Qiao finally remembered her daughter lived in the first-floor servant's quarters. It wasn't easy. If not for Mao Gen Hong's genuine kindness towards her, even the maids would have bullied her with this attitude.
"Yan Yan, do you resent Mom, thinking I treat Wen Jing better than you?" Xie Qiao asked while tidying the bed behind closed doors.
"Mom, I already said before, I was just a little jealous, but I definitely don't blame you." Xiao Wen Qiang keenly sensed that Xie Qiao's words were not simple.
"Oh, is that so? I thought you blamed me, which is why you spoke to your dad like that at the restaurant? Do you know how much it hurt me to hear you say that?" Xie Qiao wondered if she was overthinking, and continued to test her.
Award-winning actress Xiao Wen Qiang perfectly controlled her expression, feigning a wronged look, "Mom, I truly don't blame you! Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry! I'm not very good with words, I... I'll try to speak less from now on. Mom, please don't be sad, it makes me feel bad too..."
Looking at the child's young face, on the verge of tears from anxiety, Xie Qiao finally let go of her suspicion. She probably didn't do it intentionally, did she?
However, she didn't notice the subtle, mocking smile that appeared on the child's face as she bent down to adjust the duvet.