Shu Rongjun snorted coldly, "Everyone, we’re gathered here today to celebrate Jingli and Tang Xi’s return. Keep your mouths shut."
"Fine then, since you have all decided, there’s not much we can say. I just hope we won’t have a scandal a few years down the line about the real heiress being recognized, which would be even more humiliating."
Shu Rongjun gave a cold laugh, "Fourth Brother, if you think being part of the Shu Family is so disgraceful, why don’t you sell the 5% of Shu Corporation shares you hold? I’ll buy them back right now at double the market price, how about that?"
The one called Fourth Brother was Shu Rongjun’s fourth cousin.
Usually, he was idle and only relied on the dividends from the Shu Family shares.
After his father died, the family fortune he left behind was mostly squandered by Fourth Brother.
However, the old master always remembered the affection of bygone days and looked after this younger relative to some extent.
Fourth Brother’s complexion changed, and he did not speak out again, despite his dissatisfaction, fearing Shu Rongjun’s words even more.
Shu Rongjun’s expression softened as he looked at Shu Jingli and Tang Xi, "Jingli, Tang Xi, welcome back."
Shen Qinglin slowly began to speak at this moment, "We all here are of the Shu Family, my kin. I know you must have many questions. I will answer them all. But after I do, I hope you will transfer the shares that rightfully belong to me back to my daughter."
Shu Rongjun nodded, "Of course!"
He had been preserving his younger sister’s belongings all this while.
Tang Xi glanced at Shen Qinglin, hesitatingly moving her lips, "Are you really my mother?"
"When did you start recognizing me?"
"To be precise, it was the first moment I saw you in North City. When I first laid eyes on you there, I felt a familiar sensation, a bond of kinship."
Shu Yiming beside them was momentarily stunned.
He looked towards Tang Xi.
Because he had felt the same way; the first time he met Tang Xi, he thought that she bore a striking resemblance to his aunt, feeling an unusual connection with her. He told his father and grandfather about it, but no one believed him; after all, every year, many would falsly claim to be the Shu Family heiress, and every time, it was a lie.
He had thought then that perhaps there were just too many look-alikes in the world. Later, he still followed the news about Tang Xi, but most of what surrounded her were nasty rumors and gossip, about her impropriety, being kicked out of the hospital, luring several rich young masters at the same time, and flitting between wealthy young men.
Now, Shu Yiming truly regretted it.
He should have persisted back then.
He always felt strange about Su Mengshu, even when she arrived at the Shu Family, even though Su Mengshu wore the bracelet left behind by his aunt, he felt a foreignness from Su Mengshu. Her spoiled arrogance and tantrums weren’t at all like what he’d expect from his aunt’s daughter.
It turned out, there were traces to follow all along.
"Later, I saw your design work; your designs are talented, and I loved them at first sight and wished to take you as my apprentice. These past twenty-seven years, I have been searching for my daughter’s whereabouts. I found many girls who resembled my daughter, but each time the paternity test came back empty. So, when you gave me that familiar feeling, I didn’t dare guess. But then you saved me, and your blood type matched mine, a rare one at that. That’s when I thought, maybe, just maybe, just maybe this time, it’s real..."
When she reached this point, Shen Qinglin’s tears fell. She excitedly grabbed Tang Xi’s hand.
Her palm was hot, the warm strength enveloping Tang Xi, but Tang Xi’s fingers were cool and trembled slightly.
"I secretly saved a strand of your hair and had Mai En run a paternity test. Indeed, you are my child. I’m sorry, Yunxi, for letting you wait outside for so long. Mom only found you now, I’m sorry my daughter." Saying this, Shen Qinglin shed tears profusely, her tears falling onto the back of Tang Xi’s hand.
She felt a scorch across her being.
She mumbled the name again, "Yunxi."
"Yes, Yunxi, the name mom gave you, Lu Yunxi."
Tang Xi’s eyelashes trembled as she looked at Shen Qinglin’s teary eyes in front of her, feeling a tightness in her heart and listening to this name, "Who is my father?"
At that moment, Shen Qinglin’s expression in her eyes changed, "Your father... is no longer with us."
Shu Chong’an’s pupils also grew turbid and dull, sitting on the sofa with a cane propped on his right side, his voice raspy and deep, "Jingli, I know... about the matter back then..."