"Wait... who is Taotao?" Jin Lan's head buzzed. He saw the timid little girl, exceptionally beautiful, with a rare kind of beauty but lacking confidence, appearing very afraid.
"Oh, I was just about to tell you two about this. Jiang Yan is Taotao, the daughter I adopted for you two," Jin Qing pulled Taotao forward to show Jin Lan.
"How is she? Pretty, right? I specifically picked a pretty one. Taotao, quickly call Daddy." Jin Qing nudged the child. The child dared not speak. She was only four or five years old, still unfamiliar with everything, not even daring to cry aloud.
Jin Lan was shocked by his sister's actions. After a long moment of stunned silence, he found his voice, "Sis, what are you doing?"
"Isn't it all for your own good? What's wrong with Taotao? If you don't want her, she'll end up on the streets, begging! You two aren't short of money, what's wrong with raising one more child? Besides, I had someone look into Taotao's fortune. She's destined for great wealth and prosperity, and she'll bring children. Then Jiang Yan will be able to have a baby." Jin Qing spoke with conviction.
Jin Lan now understood why Jiang Yan, who usually tolerated his sister, had completely exploded. Anyone in this situation would react.
"We don't want this child. Take her back where you got her from!" Jin Lan turned to look at his wife. He saw her excitedly pull an agreement from her bag and throw it at him. With red eyes, she said, "You've gone too far!"
She couldn't have children. Who did that inconvenience? She refused to have them then. Was it impossible for her to live alone for the rest of her life?
Jin Lan now felt it was absurd. His sister had truly gone too far this time.
Previously, when Jin Qing provoked Jiang Yan, she did it behind Jin Lan's back, so he didn't know much. Today, he finally witnessed how excessive his sister could be, adopting a child without even consulting them. This was outrageous!
Jin Lan reached out and grabbed Jiang Yan's hand. Jiang Yan tried to pull away, but he held it firmly and said, "Let's go. I had no idea about adopting a child. I won't agree to it, and I certainly won't agree to a divorce! Come on, let's talk."
"Jin Lan, I've already completed all the procedures for you. If you don't want her, you can relinquish her for adoption. Then Taotao will have to wait to be adopted again. Do you know how much harm that would do to her?" Jin Qing said calmly. In truth, she didn't care about Taotao's fate or the feelings of Jiang Yan and Jin Lan. She only knew she had to accomplish this and make them keep the child.
"The harm is caused by you. What does it have to do with us? Hurry up and send the child away," Jin Lan shouted angrily.
Taotao was truly scared. She understood what relinquishing for adoption meant and began to cry. She didn't dare to cry out loud, fearing she would be disliked, and only shed tears silently.
"Look at the sin you two have committed! Children without parents are already pitiful. Our family isn't lacking food. What's wrong with keeping her? Go ahead and make a fuss. I've brought the child, and if you don't want her, you can send her back yourselves. Taotao, remember, these are your mom and dad." Jin Qing stood up and left.
Taotao was terribly frightened and immediately chased after her, wanting to leave with her. But Jin Qing's footsteps were quick, and she left, closing the door behind her.
Terrified, Taotao could only squat down by the door and cry.
"Yan Yan, I know my sister has gone too far this time. I won't let her mess around anymore. Don't rush into a divorce. Give me a chance. I won't let her disturb our lives again, okay?" Jin Lan didn't have the energy to care about the child; he just wanted to comfort his wife.