When Jiang Biyun apologized, Chen Xiting also clasped her hands together in front of her face as an expression of regret.
"It’s okay." He Zhilan slightly shook her head in resignation, "I didn’t intend to hide it from you anyway, I just never found the opportunity to tell you."
Seeing that He Zhilan wasn’t angry, Jiang Biyun and Chen Xiting let out a huge sigh of relief. Then, both of them squeezed Tan Heqian away and sat on either side of He Zhilan, inquiring about her searching for her biological parents.
Noticing He Zhilan’s grim expression, Tan Heqian took it upon himself to tell the story of how she was taken by a trafficker when she was six years old. He also told them about He Zhilan and his childhood as neighbors, and even her current difficulties. He told them everything he could simply and quickly.
However, by the time Tan Heqian finished his tale, Chan Xiting and Jiang Biyun were already looking at He Zhilan with tear-filled eyes.
"Isn’t that just too tragic?" Chen Xiting sobbed uncontrollably while expressing her anger towards the traffickers, then both her and Jiang Biyun burst into tears while hugging and comforting He Zhilan.
Tan Heqian yet again realized the sensitivity and empathy of girls. Thankfully, there weren’t many passersby here, otherwise, it would look like he, a grown man, had made three girls cry.
"Hey Hey Hey! Are you two here to make He Zhilan cry or to comfort her?" Tan Heqian couldn’t bear to watch any longer, so he nudged the weeping pair.
"We’re just saddened for He Zhilan," said Chen Xiting, sniffing back her tears, "I never knew that He Zhilan had been burdened by so much. Kidnapped at six years old, twelve years have passed, she must have missed home terribly."
These sympathetic feelings weren’t exaggerated at all. This was the first time Chen Xiting and Jiang Biyun truly understood what sorrow and grief mean.
"Hold on, He Zhilan, didn’t you say your parents surname were Gu and Lan? Gu En’s cousin’s surname is Lan and her surname is Gu. Could there be any possibility that Gu En is related to you? You remember your grandparents are from the capital, also, your father was a soldier, could it be..."
"Could Gu En be your sister or cousin, something like that?" Chen Xiting quickly continued.
He Zhilan shook her head, "I’ve made inquiries through Gu En’s friends. The Gu family never lost a child. Besides, I’m the only daughter in my family. If there were any others, they would have been born a lot later than me, after I was kidnapped. Also, as far as I can remember, I don’t have any sisters or cousins, but I do remember having a lot of second cousins and relatives."
The three nodded in unison, sighed collectively, and once again cursed the trafficker.
Then, thinking about Lan Song, He Zhilan added, "However, it’s possible my parents are distant relatives of the Lan or Gu family. The current generation might not remember, but the older relatives may know! If only I could meet the elder members of the Gu or Lan families, perhaps I could ask them."
"Both families are powerful and influential in the capital. Not to mention the Gu family, who raised a brash and arrogant daughter like Gu En, how could we, mere common folk, ever get in contact with such a family?" Jiang Biyun raised the most practical concern.