Although unfortunate, Shen Qingqing gave her no reaction, which made Lu Wanying feel as if she were punching cotton, but the thought of Fu Jingshu's change filled her with joy.
Later, Fu Jingshu called Lin Mo. He rushed over, and they spoke a few words at the door before Fu Jingshu turned back, arousing no suspicion.
As it was expedited, the results came out in less than half an hour. The group was waiting by the dining table to eat when Fu Jingshu found an excuse to ask Shen Qingqing to go to the study with him.
He stared at the results for a long time without reacting, while Shen Qingqing, eager to know the outcome, snatched it to look.
The results showed that they were indeed mother and daughter.
She immediately knitted her brows and said, "How could this be?"
Fu Jingshu didn't know either. He only said, "No matter what, her attitude towards Nuonuo has always been strange. I will continue to investigate, and if I find any doubts, I will tell you immediately."
"Mm."
Shen Qingqing placed the documents on the table. Outside, a servant's voice called out, "Sir, Miss Shen, it's time to eat."
The two had no choice but to go downstairs. By the time they arrived, all the dishes were already laid out on the table, but there was still an empty seat for the nourishing soup that was served at every meal.
It was for the old madam to drink, and the longer it simmered, the more fragrant and mellow it became.
Nuonuo slid off her stool and ran towards the kitchen. Seeing the servants busy, she volunteered, "Let me help you, Auntie."
After all, she was the young lady of the house, and the servants dared not let her lift a finger. "My dear little ancestor, you'd better go out and wait. Dinner will be ready soon."
"I want to help you."
"But if the master finds out, he'll fire me."
"It's okay, Daddy agreed." Fu Jingshu hadn't actually told her to call him Daddy, but she liked him very much. He was tall and handsome, just like the father she had imagined.
As soon as she heard the word "Daddy," the servant dared not stop her.
When Madam Fu, along with the two children, returned, they saw everyone seated at the table except Nuonuo. She asked, "Where is Nuonuo?"
"Great-Grandmother, I'm here!"
Nuonuo's voice came from the kitchen. Madam Fu's gaze fell on the kitchen door. Fang Ru, standing beside her, smiled and said, "The child insisted on bringing it herself as soon as she heard the soup was for you."
Madam Fu gently reprimanded, "She's still just a child. Did you really let her into the kitchen?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a sound of something breaking came from the kitchen, followed by a servant rushing out, "The little miss is injured."
Fang Ru quickly went to carry the child out.
Madam Fu then saw that the child was quite badly hurt. Two blisters had formed on her small hands, red and swollen. Her eyes turned red, tears welling up, but she didn't cry out.
She was still a child, after all. Madam Fu sighed and said, "Fang Ru, go get the medicine box and bandage her."
Fang Ru replied with an "Aye" and hurried off.
Lu Wanying hugged Nuonuo and gently soothed, "Does it hurt?"
Nuonuo shook her head, her choked voice trembling slightly. "It doesn't hurt, Great-Grandmother. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I wanted to bring you the soup. The servant auntie said that drinking it hot is good for your health. I..."
She slowly lowered her head, her soft hair falling down, making her appear fragile and pitiable.
"I'm too stupid..."
Madam Fu was not made of steel and could not help but be moved. "Leave these things to the adults. You are still a child, you don't need to do them."
"I want to be filial to you. Can you not dislike me?"
Nuonuo raised her pale little face, her forehead covered in sweat. Despite being in so much pain that even speaking was difficult, she insisted on looking at Madam Fu.
For some reason, Madam Fu also felt a pang of sadness. This was not the carefree demeanor of a child her age.
She was calculating, but also timid in her desire to win others' favor.
"I don't dislike you. You should get your medicine."
Nuonuo quickly smiled, but the next second, the pain made her bite her lip, and tears finally escaped her eyes. She instinctively looked at Lu Wanying.
Mommy didn't like her crying.
But Lu Wanying didn't get angry. She gently coaxed her, "Don't cry, Mommy is here."
Mommy is so gentle. Nuonuo looked at her foolishly, burying her small face in her mommy's embrace, and became even more determined to please her great-grandmother. Mommy was so good to her for just one sentence from her great-grandmother.
Fang Ru returned quickly and applied medicine to Nuonuo.
While getting her medicine applied, Nuonuo kept looking at Madam Fu and then at the twins snuggled beside Shen Qingqing. "Great-Grandmother, I really know I was wrong. I just want to get along with my two older brothers. Can my brothers stop ignoring me?"
Her eyes were full of anticipation. To be fair, she was very cute, with large eyes and a small mouth, like a Barbie doll.
But her expression always bore a resemblance to Lu Wanying, who looked pitiful and tearful.
She was practically her spitting image.
Chenchen and Xixi didn't like people like that. They preferred their quiet, angelic little sister Xingyao and were unwilling to play along with her pathetic act. So, Xixi gave Chenchen a look.
Chenchen immediately understood and yawned.
Xixi immediately said, "Mommy, Brother is tired. Brother is not feeling well and can't stay up late."
Shen Qingqing paused and subconsciously checked the time. It was only seven o'clock. Was that considered staying up late?
Madam Fu didn't think so much. Hearing this, of course, she couldn't bear for her precious darling to stay up late. "Then hurry upstairs and rest."
Chenchen and Xixi stood up hand in hand and said in unison, "Goodnight, Great-Grandmother. Goodnight, Daddy and Mommy."
As for Grandma and Grandpa and little sister...
What were those? They couldn't be eaten, nor could they be seen!
Until the two children went upstairs, Fang Ru and Fu Tingyi didn't receive a single "goodnight." They were so angry they felt a pain in their livers, but they dared not say anything in front of Madam Fu.
Nuonuo watched the backs of the two brothers with longing, but knowing that haste makes waste, she held back and remained silent.
Back in their room, the brothers took off their shoes and sat facing each other, cross-legged on the bed. Xixi propped his chin on his hand. "I originally planned to teach her a lesson with itching powder, but I didn't expect it to cause an allergic reaction and give her a rash. She managed to play the victim."
"You really did it."
Chenchen had already suspected something, but he wasn't sure.
Xixi pouted. "I know what you're going to say. I just couldn't stand her bullying Mommy. At such a young age, she's so scheming, acting one way to your face and another behind your back. What kind of person is she!"
"You shouldn't have done that. If we're found out, it won't affect us, but they'll blame Mommy."
If someone said, "You can't teach your child properly, mother's fault," it would implicate Mommy.
Xixi thought about it and nodded. "I understand. I won't do it again."
Chenchen believed his brother would keep his word and didn't dwell on the matter. Instead, he said, "Don't you find it strange, Nuonuo's attitude towards Lu Wanying?"