"Baby, Xi Nian might be your brother."
Yuran’s smile froze on her face, somewhat incredulously, "Xiaoqi, what did you say...?"
Bo Yan could predict all of Yuran’s reactions except for her calmness. He looked at her worriedly, holding her tightly, as if his forcefulness brought her somewhat back to her senses, her eyelashes trembling as she looked up at him.
She wanted to speak several times but ultimately couldn’t open her mouth; her throat felt dry, and she was somewhat at a loss for where to begin.
Seeing her , Bo Yan slowly explained, "Baby, are you wondering, since Xi Nian is your brother, why he didn’t recognize you directly?"
Yuran shook her head, "Not entirely, I just find it somewhat unbelievable. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem to be from the same bloodline as me, so I didn’t think deeply about it. I’ve told you before, during the short time I spent with him, I felt a strange sense of familiarity.
But I never imagined, this familiarity would turn out to be such a relationship. I’m just a bit shocked, that’s all. Xiaoqi, how did you come to know about this?"
Bo Yan raised an eyebrow, "He came looking for me."
"Xi Nian sought you out, talked to you about me, could it be..."
Bo Yan nodded, "After knowing of Fu Yuran’s death, Xi Nian didn’t believe it. After all, all his plans included Fu Yuran, but facts are facts. As for why he noticed you and researched your acting, I think Xi Nian should tell you that himself."
Yuran: "...Is my acting so easily recognizable as Fu Yuran?"
Bo Yan shook his head.
"Then why did both you and Xi Nian, after studying my films, know that I am Fu Yuran?"
Bo Yan’s eyes shimmered with an almost imperceptible fond indulgence, "Baby, only those who care enough about you will not overlook any minor details. Others simply wouldn’t pay attention, so it’s just that Xi Nian and I care about you more, that’s all."
Yuran didn’t know what to say at once. She wasn’t sure whether she should meet Xi Nian or just keep things balanced.
If Xi Nian was her brother, then that meant Huanya also partly belonged to her. However, she didn’t want to get involved in the massive entity that was Huanya; it was too troublesome, so she wasn’t eager about acknowledging Xi Nian. After hearing everything, she didn’t feel it was particularly strange or special.
Bo Yan looked at her, slightly puzzled, "Baby, what are your own thoughts on this?"
Yuran laughed, fiddling with the button on Bo Yan’s shirt, "Xiaoqi, I want to take a moment to think. Right now, I don’t want to join the war at Huanya. Of course, even in the future, just because Xi Nian is my brother, it doesn’t mean I covet Huanya. I am still me, your wife, Zhizhi’s mom. As for any other identities, I hope they stay buried."
Bo Yan could have never imagined Yuran would say such a thing. He looked at her with affection, "Initially, you must have wanted to be with your own family, right? Xi Nian, as a person, is actually not bad."
Yuran nodded, "I know."
Yuran, "It’s probably because he’s too good, so I feel it’s better not to get involved, just in case he disappears one day. Xiaoqi, I too am someone with little sense of security. All of my security comes from you and Zhizhi. If you had given up on me even slightly at the start, I might have never married in this lifetime."
Bo Yan laughed, "You know I would never give up on you, and certainly would never not marry you."
All of a sudden, Yuran thought back to the robber-like behavior of someone when confessing his feelings to her, and burst into laughter, lightening her mood considerably; it no longer felt so heavy, "Xiaoqi, when you decided to confess your feelings to me, why did you think I would definitely agree to you?"
Bo Yan laughed, a slight lift at the corner of his eyebrows, "I didn’t feel certain that I could definitely win you over, but I never considered giving up. If you didn’t agree, I’d persist until you did. For me, liking someone isn’t an easy thing."
On this point, Yuran didn’t rebut.
After all, if Bo Yan liked someone, what business was it for a latecomer like her?
When Bo Yan’s mother and the senior Bo came back with Zhizhi, the hall was eerily quiet. Bo Yan’s mother even asked Auntie Zhang in confusion, "Did Xiaoqi and the baby go out too?"
Zhizhi looked at Auntie Zhang with surprise, his two big eyes brimming with a sense of being abandoned. Auntie Zhang couldn’t withstand his gaze and hurriedly said, "No, no, the young master and young mistress are in their room, discussing something. They should be done soon."
Bo Yan’s mother glanced at the senior Bo thoughtfully, "Could they be preparing for a second child?"
The senior Bo stumbled in shock, nearly falling, "My dear, can we not talk about these things in front of the children?"
Zhizhi became interested instantly, tugging at Bo Yan’s mother’s hand and looking up in anticipation, "Grandma, are Mom and Dad in their room making a little sister for Zhizhi?"
The senior Bo was speechless. Seeing their strange expressions and not getting an answer, Zhizhi persisted, "Grandma, Grandma, tell me."
Mrs. Bo patted Zhizhi’s head and said, "Zhizhi, what grandma just said was only a guess, I am not certain. If you want a little sister, you should discuss it with Mom and Dad yourself, okay? The decision lies in your mother’s hands. You are a core member of the family, so you can join in the discussion, okay?"
Zhizhi thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, I’ll go talk to Mom and Dad."
The cozy atmosphere between Yuran and Bo Yan in their room was quickly interrupted by Zhizhi. Bo Yan, helpless, went to open the door, and Zhizhi charged in, searching all around the room.
Yuran stared at the back of Zhizhi’s head in confusion and asked, "Zhizhi, what are you looking for?"
Zhizhi replied seriously, "Mom, Dad, are you in the room making a little sister for Zhizhi? Where is she? Has she come out yet?"
Bo Yan was speechless for a good while before he walked over, picked up Zhizhi, and patiently explained, "Zhizhi, getting a little sister isn’t that quick, and remember, you came out of Mom’s stomach too. You stayed in there for ten months. Even if we want a little sister, it will take a long time."
Zhizhi stared at Yuran’s belly, "Mom, is the little sister in there now?"
Yuran: "...No, Zhizhi, Dad and I aren’t planning on having a child this year, so... can we fulfill your wish for a little sister a bit later?"
To be honest, even if Yuran wanted a child now, Bo Yan would refuse because he was scared once during Zhizhi’s birth. He couldn’t bear the thought of going through it again and didn’t dare to take a risk with Yuran.
But seeing Zhizhi’s smile and Yuran’s expectant look, he couldn’t bring himself to say no. So, he could only turn his face away, not responding.
Yuran found it unamusing. Zhizhi, being sensitive, quickly asked Yuran, "Mom, does Dad not want a little sister? He looks completely unhappy."