“Dad…..”
Jiang Chen’s pupils dilated suddenly, his voice became tense, and his mind was thrown into chaos.
Xiang Hong quickly patted Jiang Chen’s shoulder reassuringly, and said, “Brother Jiang, it’s like this, Xiao Chen…..”
“Uncle Xiang.” Jiang Chen interrupted Xiang Hong, his fingers tightening and stretching by his side. After a few times, he suppressed the heart that seemed to be jumping out of his chest, calmed down, and said in a hoarse voice: “This is our family business, I’ll be the one to tell my dad.”
“But…..” Xiang Hong looked at Jiang Chen, whose face was a little pale, and then at Jiang Zhuo, who had an inscrutable expression on his face. He felt uneasy and at the same time also guilty. If he had chosen a more hidden place for their conversation, the situation now would not have appeared.
Xiang Hong knew exactly how much Jiang Chen cared about the Jiang family. If Jiang Chen’s relationship with his adoptive parents was really strained because of his talkativeness, he would really be to blame.
“Uncle Xiang, please go to the waiting room. If my mother has any problems, can you tell us right away?” Jiang Chen’s voice had calmed down, and his tone was firm and held no room for question.
Xiang Hong opened his mouth, pressed Jiang Chen’s shoulder heavily, sighed and turned to leave.
It was evening at this time, the light of the setting sun overlapped with the shadows of the trees, and the soft golden light cast a halo on everything, creating a peaceful and idyllic scene.
Jiang Chen opened his mouth, but his planned words to explain the truth to his parents didn’t work at this time. He saw Jiang Zhuo’s unfamiliar expression, and the rationality and calmness that had just returned turned into indescribable sadness. He wanted to say a lot, but only the syllables from when he just learned to speak as a toddler came to his mouth: “Dad…..”
Jiang Zhuo had always been a caring and responsible father. He had never been absent from his son’s growth since he was a child. He was very familiar with every expression of Jiang Chen’s. It seemed that he had matured a lot, but in his eyes, he was still the little fella who would sit on his shoulder and hug his head and laugh.
He couldn’t have understood the expression on Jiang Chen’s face more at this moment. Ever since he overheard those words, his mind that had been roaring into confusion suddenly calmed down a little bit.
Jiang Chen was really not his biological son, and he probably knew about it a long time ago, but he had been hiding it the whole time.
Countless emotions surged, and he couldn’t tell whether it was more disbelief or more sadness and anger, but after seeing Jiang Chen showing such a helpless and aggrieved expression, one that hadn’t appeared since he was in elementary school, these emotions all turned into a sorrowful pain.
He heard it, his son said that he and his wife only had him, and his son also knew that they poured all their love on him…..just like the infinite softness that surged from the bottom of his heart when he hugged this little person for the first time filled with infinite expectations. This child saw their dedication and was grateful, and gave the warmth and equal love that parents want most in return.
Jiang Zhuo took a deep and long breath, and then exhaled slowly. He looked at Jiang Chen who was already half a head taller than him, put his hands on his shoulders, and led him to sit down on the stone bench beside them.
When the voice came out of his throat, it was calm and steady: “Can you explain to Dad about this?”
Jiang Chen’s Adam’s apple rolled, and he nodded slightly. He briefly explained what happened after He Yanfeng and the others found him. Out of selfishness, he did not mention that He Qianjian was their biological son.
After hearing the whole story, Jiang Zhuo was silent for a long time.
The setting sun was slanting to the west, the gray sky was infiltrated with orange, and the distant horizon was gradually dimming.
“This matter…..you did nothing wrong.”
Jiang Zhuo raised his head when the last ray of light in the sky disappeared. He looked at his son who had grown up before he knew it, and there was a hint of relief in his eyes. Under the relief, there was more surging pain.
He smiled, turned his head slightly to conceal his emotions, and then looked at Jiang Chen again, and he said firmly: “Chen Chen, you did nothing wrong, this matter…..your mother really can’t know for the time being, we wait until the time you agreed on with the He family arrives to tell her together.”
Seeing his father’s forced smile, Jiang Chen’s eyes reddened, but his heart gradually settled down. Just like every time when he was a child, no matter how big things happened, as long as his father said to him: You did nothing wrong. He would be able to walk forward firmly.
“After a while…..” Jiang Zhuo rubbed Jiang Chen’s head, and said slowly, “I’ll take you to see the He family together.”
Jiang Chen blurted out: “For what?”
“Chen Chen.” Jiang Zhuo didn’t take back the hand on his head, just like when he lost his temper as a child, he patiently and gently reasoned with him: “Dr. Xiang was right just now, your mother and I are your parents, Mr. He and Mrs. He are also your parents, we raised you up, they gave you life, no matter what, you shouldn’t have any repulsion towards them.”
Before Jiang Chen could speak, Jiang Zhuo continued: “Your mother and I love you very much, but parents’ love for their children is not possessive. We love you and hope others will love you too. You love us, and your my mother and I are also okay with you loving other elders in your life, not to mention, they are your biological parents.”
Jiang Chen looked into Jiang Zhuo’s eyes and said seriously, “But in my eyes, my parents are only you and Mom.”
Jiang Zhuo was moved, but still shook his head, “Dad is very happy to hear you say that, but your mother and I don’t need you to do this, this matter can wait until…..”
“Brother Jiang, Xiao Chen.”
Xiang Hong’s voice interrupted the conversation, he said: “Sister Yang is about to enter the delivery room.”
Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhuo hurriedly got up and ran upstairs quickly.
Yang Si was still in good spirits. When Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhuo came back, although her face was pale, her voice was not weak: “Where did you two go? I didn’t see you even after searching for a long time.”
Jiang Zhuo paused, and said with a quick smile, “We were downstairs talking about names for the child, and we forgot the time while we were discussing.”
“You don’t even know if they are a boy or a girl yet, yet you are already naming them.” Even though she said so, Yang Si didn’t doubt it, and was a little curious: “You two have been discussing for so long, what did you come up with? What’s the name?”
“Jiang Ran.”
Yang Si and Jiang Zhuo looked at Jiang Chen at the same time, Jiang Chen smiled slightly and said, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, they can be called by this name.”
“Which Ran?” Yang Si smiled and asked.
“The ‘Ran’ that means to ascend gradually.”
Jiang Chen had long thought about what the name would be if he had a younger brother or younger sister. Although it is the parents who usually chooses the name, when he was doing an experiment one day, this name suddenly appeared in his mind. Seeing Yang Si’s belly, he always had acquiesced in his heart that his younger brother or sister had a name, so when Yang Si asked just now, he subconsciously said it.
“Ran…..” Jiang Zhuo pondered for a moment, then said slowly, “Ran Ran, it’s really a good name, it can be used by both boys and girls.”
Yang Si laughed and said: “You two, the child has not yet been born, and it’s already settled like this?”
When these words were uttered, her face changed, and she suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.
The nurse came up immediately and told Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhuo to leave the waiting room for now.
Not long after, the nurse just now came out, and she said: “She has been sent to the delivery room, you can stay here and wait.”
The waiting room for pregnant women in the VIP suite had a passage leading directly to the delivery room, and one could directly enter and exit through that passage before and after giving birth.
Jiang Zhuo grabbed the nurse’s arm and asked nervously, “How is my wife doing now?”
“Mrs. Jiang’s condition is very good. Just now our director came to see her and said that the fetal position is very proper and the opening is fully extended. There shouldn’t be any problems. Don’t worry.”
The nurse left after finishing speaking. The father and son waited outside the door. Although they couldn’t hear any sound, they still had anxious expressions.
“There won’t be any problems.” Xiang Hong comforted: “Just now the nurse said that Sister Yang’s pregnancy is very normal, and the delivery should go smoothly. You don’t have to worry too much.”
Jiang Zhuo nodded politely but perfunctorily, and couldn’t help pacing back and forth in the room, looking at the door of the waiting room from time to time.
Jiang Chen was also pale with nervousness. From ancient times to the present, childbirth had always been a huge challenge for women. Even if medical technology was more and more advanced, even in the future interstellar era, human females still faced a certain mortality rate in childbirth.
Even though he knew that this possibility was extremely low, when he thought of his mother inside, he couldn’t think about it calmly at all, he could only feel fear of any possible accidents happening.
Seeing Jiang Chen’s expression, Jiang Zhuo walked up to him and put his arms around his shoulders. When Jiang Chen turned his head, he comforted him, “Don’t be afraid, your mother will be fine.”
Jiang Chen nodded, but his eyes did not move from the door of the waiting room.
Xiang Hong stood on the side, and looking at the father and son clinging to each other, he let go of the worry in his heart, but also couldn’t help worrying about his friend. Jiang Chen and his adoptive parents had such a good relationship, if Jiang Zhuo and Yang Si were not willing to let go, it might be difficult for his friend’s family to really get the child’s approval and affection.
As soon as he thought of this, his cell phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, Xiang Hong turned his head to look at the father and son pair, and walked out quietly.
“How is it?”
Xiang Hong stood in the corridor and said in a low voice, “Sister Yang has already entered the delivery room, there is no problem.”
“I know.” He Yanfeng paused, and said, “How about Xiao Chen and Jiang Zhuo…?”
“I didn’t hear their conversation, but just looking at the situation, it seems the talk went well.”
He Yanfeng breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good.”
Xiang Hong thought for a while, and said: “Since Jiang Zhuo already knows the true identities of Xiao Chen and Qian Jian, why don’t we find a time and let them get in touch. No matter what, Jiang Zhuo is Qian Jian’s biological father. With him helping to persuade, it should be easier for Yang Si to accept this matter.”
He Yanfeng pondered for a moment, “This matter can indeed be considered.”
Xiang Hong thought of the warm atmosphere when the family of three talked just now, and sighed softly in his heart, a little worried for his friend, but this was still his friend’s family matter after all, and his friend was well aware of the situation of the Jiang family, so he didn’t need to say anymore words that would put salt on his wound.
Thinking of this, Xiang Hong said, “How’s Qian Jian doing?”
He Yanfeng’s tone became slightly indifferent: “I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t checked. Only after I checked did I find out how many things he had done behind our backs for so many years.”
Xiang Hong glanced at the closed door of the ward, and lowered his voice: “Does he know about their switched identities? Just who was behind it all, did you find out?”
“It’s not clear yet.” He Yanfeng’s voice was a bit cold: “However, it is very likely that He Qianjian knew about it long ago, otherwise he would not have sent someone to follow Jiang Chen and report his situation to him when he didn’t know Jiang Chen at all.”
Xiang Hong asked: “Does your father know about this?”
“For now, no.” He Yanfeng said: “Although he also likes Xiao Chen, before Qian Yang came back, my father and mother thought that Qian Jian was the eldest son and grandson of our He family, and they practically raised him for a period of time when he was young. Their relationship is different, and my father’s blood pressure has been a little high recently, so we didn’t dare to tell him.”
“What does your brother think?”
Xiang Hong asked about He Yanjun.
He Yanfeng said lightly: “To wait, we all want to see who is behind this incident and what their purpose is.”
“Don’t worry too much.” Xiang Hong comforted: “Even if someone behind the scenes switched Qian Jian and Xiao Chen, after so many years, he has never really hurt Xiao Chen. Jiang Chen is now working in the research institute, and there won’t be a safety issue again.”
“I have yet to find out what happened in Chengyang Square last time, so I can’t let that matter go at all.” He Yanfeng rubbed the space between his brows and lowered his voice: “The police came to question He Qianjian. He went to Li De the day before Jiang Chen encountered the hitman.”
Xiang Hong was taken aback for a moment, he didn’t expect that there would be such a thing, and suddenly thought of something. He subconsciously asked: “Is there something wrong with him?”
“He said he was there to see a female intern.” He Yanfeng said indifferently: “I sent someone to find that female intern later, and she has no relation with him, and she didn’t see him at all that day. It seems He Qianjian went to Li De and only took a ride in an elevator and nothing else.”
Xiang Hong frowned slightly, thought for a while, and said, “Maybe it’s really just a coincidence?”
He Yanfeng’s voice was cold: “Every time I find something about him, I am more disappointed in him. Back then, Yang Yun and I thought it was just a coincidence or misunderstanding, but now after investigating, only then did I realize that nothing was a coincidence or a misunderstanding. Now, he has no credibility with me any longer. I will investigate that matter. If that hitman was really instigated by him, he will not only leave the He family, there will also be a price to pay.”
Xiang Hong opened his mouth and didn’t know what to say. He still remembered how He Yanfeng was still sympathetic and loving to He Qianjian at the beginning of finding out his true identity and never thought of expelling him from the He family.
When they talked about this matter at that time, although his friend felt upset, he said that he would think of it as He Qianjian leaving home as an adult. In any case, he was going to get married sooner or later, and leaving early didn’t mean anything. That he would say this, in fact, meant that he did not intend to give up on He Qianjian at all. That they quickly accepted and quickly calmed down, it was also because in the hearts of his friend and his wife, He Qianjian was still their child, they just had one more child now.
It was just that no one expected so many things to be found out later, especially involving He Qianmin’s car accident back then, which had always been a knot in the heart of He Yanfeng and his wife. If He Qianjian really hired the hitman, then He Yanfeng’s last trace of affection towards He Qianjian was bound to be cut off.
Xiang Hong also watched He Qianjian grow up. In his eyes, although He Qianjian was a little too mature and sophisticated, he was never a bad boy. Occasionally, when he saw him giving in to Qian Min taking care of Qian Yu, he also felt that he was very sensible. If these were all masks that He Qianjian showed them, then he, who had maintained a flawless mask for so many years, must have a deep and terrifying mind.
After not hearing Xiang Hong’s response for a long time, He Yanfeng said: “It’s not convenient for me to go there now, so please help me keep an eye on Xiao Chen. If the Jiang family needs any help, please let me know at any time.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Xiang Hong stood there for a while before opening the door and going inside.
Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhuo were all focused on the delivery room, they didn’t notice Xiang Hong going out and coming in at all. At this time, Yang Si had only been in for a little more than ten minutes, but they both felt as if several hours had passed.
“I sent someone to the cafeteria to bring up two nutritious meals.” Xiang Hong took the food basket from the nurse, walked to the center of the sitting room with a smile, took out the lunch box, and said, “Brother Jiang, you and Xiao Chen haven’t eaten yet, so eat something now.”
Jiang Zhuo was distracted by his words, but he didn’t move. Instead, he told Jiang Chen, “You’ve been in the lab today, go and eat something, don’t starve yourself.”
Jiang Chen was not hungry now, and he didn’t have an appetite at all. He said: “I’m not hungry, Dad, go and eat first.”
Jiang Zhuo: “I’m not hungry either.”
Xiang Hong looked helplessly at the father and son pair, and persuaded: “Brother Jiang, sister-in-law will not come out for a while. When sister-in-law comes out, you have to take care of both child and adult. If you don’t eat now, you won’t have time to eat later.” And only when you are full, will you have the energy to take care of her.”
Only then did Jiang Zhuo turn around. He thought for a bit, and pulled Jiang Chen to the sofa to sit down: “Your Uncle Xiang is right, eat something first.”
Jiang Chen could only grab a bowl of porridge and drink it absentmindedly. After taking a few sips, the mobile phone that was put on the side rang. He casually picked it up and saw that it was an unfamiliar number, so he put down the phone without paying it any attention. After a while, the phone stopped ringing only to then ring again.
“Could it be the research institute?” Jiang Zhuo said: “They are quite persistent, it should be something urgent, answer it and see who it is.”
Jiang Chen shook his head: “It won’t be the research institute.” Despite saying this, he still connected the call.
“Hello?”
As soon as he answered, he was hurriedly interrupted by the other side. Shen Xu’s anxious, tearful voice sounded: “Jiangzi, something happened to Huo Bo.”
Jiang Chen hurriedly stood up, and didn’t even notice when the porridge bowl was overturned, “What’s wrong with Huo Bo? Where are you?”
“He is injured, and we are now in Yan No. 2 Hospital.” Shen Xu’s tone was filled with deep guilt: “I shouldn’t have argued with others. If it wasn’t for me, Huo Bo wouldn’t have had an accident…..”
“Don’t say anymore.” Jiang Chen didn’t know the specific situation, and when he heard Shen Xu’s panicked voice, he became anxious instantly: “Tell me, where is Huo Bo’s injury? How is the injury? How is the situation now?”
“He bled a lot on his head. I don’t know the specific situation. He just entered the operating room.” Jiang Chen’s calm voice infected Shen Xu, and he calmed down a little, thoughts becoming more organized: “My parents these days have been away on business, and I don’t have that much money with me, do you have money?”
“Yes.” Jiang Chen glanced at the door of the waiting room, and took a deep breath: “Shi Fengyue is Yan No. 2 Hospital’s doctor, I’ll call him and ask him to go and have a look, and send the money over by the way. Don’t panic or worry, I will rush over in a while, and you can tell me about Huo Bo’s situation at any time then.”
Although they couldn’t hear the voice from the other end, Jiang Zhuo and Xiang Hong could hear what Jiang Chen said. Seeing him put down his phone, Jiang Zhuo immediately said, “What’s happened to Xiao Bo?”
Jiang Chen: “His head got injured, and he’s in the operating room for emergency treatment. I don’t know the situation yet.”
Jiang Zhuo stood up, “Go and have a look, we’re not far from Yan No. 2 Hospital, you’ll be there in half an hour, while I’ll watch over your mother.”
“Do you need my help?” Xiang Hong said: “I know Yan No. 2 Hospital’s doctors, and I can send someone to check on your friend’s condition.”
“No need.” Jiang Chen glanced at the waiting room, made a call on his phone, shook his head and said, “Shi Fengyue is over there, I’ll ask him to go and have a look.”
Xiang Hong nodded when he heard these words, Shi Fengyue was Yan No. 2 Hospital’s doctor, and it was indeed more suitable for him to help.
The call was quickly connected, and Jiang Chen briefly explained Huo Bo’s situation. Shi Fengyue was not on duty today, but he was also near the hospital. After hearing this, he said, “I’ll go there right away, and don’t worry about the hospital bill.”
Jiang Chen: “Thank you, I’ll be there in a while.”
“Did something happen on your side?”
Based on Shi Fengyue’s understanding of Jiang Chen, if there was no particularly important matter, even if he was in the laboratory, Jiang Chen would definitely rush over immediately instead of saying he wpuld be there in a while.
“My mother is in the delivery room now.”
Shi Fengyue paused, and his tone became softer: “Don’t worry, you have me.”
For some reason, upon hearing his words, Jiang Chen actually felt a little more at ease. He twitched the corner of his lips upwards and said, “Thank you.”
As soon as the words were uttered, the door of the waiting room was pushed open, and the nurse came in with a smile and a bundle in her arms, “A successful birth, the mother and daughter are both safe, the little princess weighs six pounds, and is a very healthy child.”
Jiang Chen was taken aback, and quickly walked over. Jiang Zhuo also got up instantly, and walked over in two large steps.
“Where’s my mother?”
“Where’s my wife?”
The nurse said with a smile: “She is still inside, and will be able to come out after tidying up.”
Only then did Jiang Chen feel relieved, and lowered his head to look at the little stranger in the baby swaddle. She was small, pink and wrinkled, a little ugly, but the sight made his heart soften.
Seeing him staring so eagerly, the nurse smiled and said, “The elder brother can hold her for a bit, as long as you are careful.”
Jiang Chen took over the bundle carefully, and feeling the light weight in his arms, his whole body became stiff. He neither dared to use strength or loosen his grip, for fear of hurting her or dropping her.
The nurse was also afraid that Jiang Chen would not know the severity, so she quickly took the baby and handed her to Jiang Zhuo: “The papa can hold her for a while too.”
Jiang Zhuo immediately took over, and as soon as he held the bundle, there was a sound, and Yang Si was pushed out.
“Let me take a look.” Yang Si seemed in good energy, and stretched out her hand with a smile: “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Very beautiful.” Jiang Zhuo immediately went forward with his daughter in his arms, so that his wife could take a closer look.
Yang Si smiled and gazed down into the little face for a while. She beckoned Jiang Chen to come over, took his hand and put it on the baby’s hand, and said with a smile: “From now on we will be a family of four, Mom and Dad, Jiang Chen and Jiang Ran.”
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