Shen Dang retorted, "Can’t I go with you?"
Before Qiao Xi could respond, he spoke with a hint of seriousness, "As your ex-husband, as well as your current suitor, future boyfriend, or even husband, is it so strange for me to accompany you to pay respects to your aunt?"
At this moment, he exuded an aggressive aura, persistently asking her, "Don’t you want me to go with you?"
Three questions were thrown at her in quick succession, leaving Qiao Xi bewildered.
It felt like what he was saying was reasonable, yet there was an undertone that something was off.
Qiao Xi stared at him blankly, her scattered thoughts finally coming together, "Shen Dang, I feel like you’re twisting logic to your favor." Follow current novels on NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
Well, if he was, so be it.
Shen Dang stated solemnly, "I think I should meet your aunt."
"I want to pursue her daughter, I should at least say hi, right? I’m serious, this is no joke."
Because of Shen Dang’s words, a wave of emotion gently stirred within Qiao Xi, threatening to overwhelm her.
On this matter, Shen Dang displayed the attitude he ought to have.
Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted?
Qiao Xi remained silent for a long while, finally relenting, "Then come with me when you’re free."
Seeing her agree, Shen Dang’s eyes and brows moved slightly, and the corners of his mouth twitched, "Hmm, you set the time, I’ll pick you up tomorrow."
"Okay," Qiao Xi said, "I’ll tell you the time tomorrow."
Feeling a bit hungry, Qiao Xi grabbed a late-night snack with Shen Dang outside.
Of course, Shen Dang didn’t eat; he just watched her.
Afterward, Shen Dang dropped Qiao Xi off at home before leaving.
Ran Jing couldn’t wait to see the results of the paternity test, so she didn’t wait for the hospital to deliver them and drove there herself.
Shen Hongxuan accompanied her.
Having obtained the report, Ran Jing scanned it to the end.
Upon seeing the results displayed, she heaved a sigh of relief.
Then she grew even angrier, her brows furrowing enough to crush a fly, "This Chu Wan really is something! To think she’d try to pin such a disgusting matter on our Ah Dang, the whole Chu Family is tarred with the same brush. Now I’d like to hear what the Chu Family has left to say!"
She flung her hand in anger, "Let’s go, we’re making a trip to the Chu Family right now!"
Shen Hongxuan was much calmer, holding her hand, "What’s the rush? Let’s first tell Ah Dang the results."
Ran Jing, "Your son knows the results."
Shen Hongxuan, resigned, "We still need to show him the report, he has to show it to Qiao Xi too."
"Oh, right!" She slapped her forehead, "Look at me, all worked up and forgetting."
Right now, nothing was more important than a paternity test proving her son’s innocence.
Chu Wan dialed Shen Dang’s number.
Shen Dang was driving to Qiao Xi’s place.
When the call came in, he put on his Bluetooth earpiece and answered lazily, "Hello?"
"I’ve come with your dad to get the paternity results. I don’t know how Chu Wan can have such thick skin!"
Ran Jing was still angry thinking about it.
Shen Dang responded indifferently, "Just send the results to my phone, I’m busy and can’t come over."
Ran Jing paused before asking, "Where are you going?"
Ran Jing couldn’t help but laugh with a "Aiyo," "Make sure you explain this properly to Xixi."
Their relationship was already fragile, and with this incident, not just Qiao Xi, even Ran Jing felt uncomfortable.
Shen Dang hummed, "Like I need you to tell me?"
Ran Jing scoffed, "I’m only worried you might not be able to woo her. It’s been so long with no progress."
All his mother did was poke fun at him.
Shen Dang ended the call.
Soon after, a photo sent by Ran Jing arrived on WeChat.
Shen Dang glanced at it with narrowed eyes, focusing on driving.
Meanwhile, Qiao Xi was on the phone with Chen Jiayan.
Chen Jiayan was planning to pick her up but, upon hearing that Shen Dang was also going, he said he’d wait for Qiao Xi at the cemetery.
Shen Dang arrived downstairs and Qiao Xi, grabbing her purse, went out the door.
She got into the car, "Let’s go."
Shen Dang eyed her up and down.
Noticing his scrutinizing gaze, Qiao Xi asked oddly, "What are you looking at?"
She was dressed in jeans today, showcasing her slender, straight legs, and a white shirt on top, her slightly curled hair all tied up at the back, with natural bangs hanging lazily by her temples, exuding an air of casual elegance.
It was a refreshing sight to behold.
"Nothing," he replied.
Shen Dang unlocked his phone, opened the photo, and handed the phone to Qiao Xi.
Qiao Xi, puzzled, "What’s this?"
"Take a look for yourself."
Shen Dang started the car.
Qiao Xi bent her head to look; after recognizing what it was, she handed the phone back to Shen Dang.
Whether Chu Wan, who kept claiming the child was Shen Dang’s, could accept this was not for her to ponder.
"Why is she pregnant with someone else’s child?"
Qiao Xi was simply curious.
"It’s definitely not mine," Shen Dang said with a chill in his voice, "It’s none of my business, but if you want to know, I can have it checked out."
Qiao Xi replied nonchalantly, "Let it be if we don’t know, I was just asking, there’s no need to investigate."
On the way, Qiao Xi bought some items for the ritual and her mother’s favorite sunflowers from a flower shop.
For the latter half of the journey, Qiao Xi remained unusually quiet.
Shen Dang figured her mood might not be good, so he focused on driving without disturbing her.
The wind was comfortably breezy.
When Shen Dang parked the car, he noticed a Bentley parked by the road.
"Brother Jiayan is here too," Qiao Xi said as she opened the car door and got out.
Shen Dang raised an eyebrow, followed her out, and walked up to Qiao Xi, taking her hand and the items from her.
Qiao Xi was left holding only a bouquet of flowers.
Boss Shen, marking his territory, watched Chen Jiayan approach them.
Chen Jiayan’s gaze was understated as he glanced over Shen Dang.
The two briefly made eye contact, nodded at each other as a sign of acknowledgement, and then looked away.
Chen Jiayan then said to Qiao Xi, "Let’s head up."
The three of them walked up the staircase together.
The tall, lush trees on both sides provided a cool shade.
Walking under their shadow seemed to bring an unexplainable chill.
Sunlight was mostly blocked by the leaves.
Reaching the last set of stairs, they stepped back into the sunlight, the warmth dispelling the coolness.
They then arrived in front of a gravestone.
The name of Qiao Xi’s mother.
The woman in the photo looked very young, with features five or six points similar to Qiao Xi’s but without Qiao Xi’s aloofness, and instead a gentle, tender feel.
Qiao Xi and Chen Jiayan placed the flowers they had brought in front of the gravestone.
"Mom," Qiao Xi smiled slightly, "Brother Jiayuan and I came to see you."
Chen Jiayan called out, "Godmother."
Shen Dang wasn’t to be outdone, "Auntie, hello, it’s my first time meeting you, I’m Xixi’s husband."