Zhao Sulan was reading the letter, and Meng Chuyue wasn’t idle either. She walked over to Zhao Xiaoxin, looked at her gently, and then said, "Hello, Zhao Xiaoxin, I am your sister born to the same mother but different fathers."
In the stunned silence of Zhao Xiaoxin and Lin Fangwei, she turned to Lin Fangwei, "Lin Fangwei, you knew early on that you were the daughter of Meng Wanhua and Lin Youdong, didn’t you? And you thought I was the daughter of Zhao Sulan and Lin Youdong, right?"
"Unfortunately, though you are indeed Lin Youdong and Meng Wanhua’s daughter, and I am Zhao Sulan’s daughter, I am not her child with Lin Youdong—Zhao Xiaoxin is."
"You’re somewhat confused, right?"
"No matter, listen slowly."
"Here’s what happened: Ms. Zhao Sulan had a scandalous affair before her marriage, sneaking into my father, Mr. Han’s bed. After my father was driven away by her actions, she quietly gave birth to me and handed me over to Old Madam Lee, who has been raising Zhao Xiaoxin for all these years."
"Close to Zhao Xiaoxin’s birth, Zhao Sulan, disdaining her for being Lin Youdong’s daughter, decided to resort to a baby swap—switching the lives of two daughters both born to her but with different fathers. Look, how selfish."
"She thought she was being clever, but unfortunately, fate played a trick on her. Meng Wanhua learned about it coincidentally. In order to get revenge for Zhao Sulan stealing her husband, she swapped her child with Mr. Han’s child, which is me, ahead of time..."
"That’s how it is. If you don’t believe it, please go do a paternity test."
Having said this, Meng Chuyue took out a voice recorder and played a recording of Zhao Sulan and Lin Fangwei discussing how to get Zhao Xiaoxin to a kidney without asking first, then said to Zhao Xiaoxin, "Even a tiger won’t eat its cubs, but Zhao Sulan, such a mother, I cannot reach. I henceforth have no plans to acknowledge her. Zhao Xiaoxin, she’s equally heartless towards you. So, what do you plan to do? Will you obediently your kidney as she wishes, or will you come with me? As your sister from the same mother but different fathers, I promise you that as long as you are not ungrateful or lazy, I can ensure you live without worries and free from anyone’s manipulation."
Zhao Xiaoxin took a deep breath, quickly packed her few belongings, and with determined eyes, said, "I’ll go with you, sister."
Meng Chuyue couldn’t help but hug her, thinking, Hell, I’ve finally got a blood relative.
It wasn’t an impulsive decision for her to open her arms to Zhao Xiaoxin.
In her previous life, she had met Zhao Xiaoxin a few times.
The first time was also around this time.
In her previous life, Zhao Sulan managed to find "her niece" Zhao Xiaoxin a job at a weaving factory.
Later, Zhao Xiaoxin herself married a factory mechanic and lived a life of poverty. Still, she was so grateful that every New Year, she would give a gift to Zhao Sulan, her paternal aunt.
Later, when their true identities were exposed, Zhao Xiaoxin cried bitterly but didn’t return to the Lin family, choosing instead to sever ties with both the Lin and Zhao families.
Zhao Xiaoxin was kind, honest, and clear-headed; Meng Chuyue was willing to befriend her.
Plus, now she needed Zhao Xiaoxin as an ally to resist Zhao Sulan’s emotional manipulations.
Upon leaving the house, Zhao Xiaoxin looked at Meng Chuyue with a careful smile, "Sister, you’re so beautiful."
Meng Chuyue smiled and stroked her head, "You are very beautiful too. Remember, your birthday is actually on the first day of the sixth lunar month in 1978, just barely over eighteen years old. And as for me, my birthday should be the one you had. So tell me, what specific day is my birthday? I’ve only ever known roughly."
"It’s March 16, 1977," Zhao Xiaoxin said, then sneaked a glance at Shen Ci.
Of course, her clear, melancholic eyes held only curiosity and nothing else.
Shen Ci gave her a slight smile and took her luggage, "I am your brother-in-law, though your sister and I are not married yet. You can call me elder brother for now."