Li Junping was absolutely furious with Qin Feng. Pointing at Qin Ru Hai, she said, "Listen to what your daughter is saying! How can she be so lazy? And your younger son, Qin Fen, didn’t even come back for my birthday! Tell me, is there not one child in the Qin family who has made something of themselves?"
As soon as Qin Ru Hai heard this, he shot her a look and immediately stopped her, "Stop talking nonsense! Since you don’t have to cook, just go and rest."
Li Junping seemed to realize she had said something wrong, quickly shut her mouth, and, trying to control her emotions, patted Qin Jian’s arm, "Go on, don’t let An Hao be in the kitchen alone."
Qin Jian nodded thoughtfully.
In the kitchen, An Hao began to wash and cut vegetables, while Qin Jian sat in front of the stove starting the fire.
As An Hao prepared the food, she recalled the expressions and dialogue between Qin Ru Hai and Liu Junping, her hands mechanically chopping.
"An Hao!" Qin Jian suddenly called out to her, abruptly standing up and rushing over to grab the hand that was holding the kitchen knife.
By the time An Hao came to her senses, she saw the kitchen knife positioned right above her other hand; if the knife had fallen, it would have certainly cut her hand.
"What were you thinking about, huh?" Qin Jian’s voice rang out close to her ear, "Do you know that losing focus while chopping is very dangerous?"
An Hao turned her head and saw the concern and reproach in his eyes, feeling a warmth in her heart, "I was indeed distracted just now. I was thinking about what my Aunt said earlier."
"Which part?" Qin Jian asked.
"The part where she said, ’Your Qin family’s children’...aren’t you a child of the Qin family? I see you as the pride of Uncle and Aunt! How could you..." An Hao’s words trailed off, faintly feeling something was amiss, but she did not dwell on it further.
"I heard it too." And Qin Jian had seen very clearly the sudden flare of resistance in his father’s eyes; he too was pondering this question.
Ever since he was little, people in the village claimed he stood out for his looks, better looking than any of the Qin family’s children.
As he grew older, some even said he didn’t resemble Qin Ru Hai’s son, which once led Qin Ru Hai into a fight!
Although the villagers said such things, he had never doubted his identity for a moment!
After growing up and leaving for school, the matter was never mentioned again, until the incident just now.
"An Hao, do you see any resemblance between me and my parents or my sister?" Qin Jian looked down at An Hao and asked.
An Hao carefully examined Qin Jian for a while, shaking her head, "I can’t see any resemblance."
"You think so too?" Qin Jian’s brows furrowed, could it be he really wasn’t a child of the Qin family?
Seeing the creases in his brow, An Hao gently raised her hand to smooth them out, "If you have doubts, ask about it after some time. Let’s not delve into it today."
"I know." Qin Jian gently took An Hao’s hand, kissed it, and then said to her, "You sit down and rest for a bit. I’ll chop the vegetables, and you can cook them later."
"You, chop vegetables?" An Hao laughed, "Do you even know how? Let me do it!"
"Who says I can’t! Even though I’ve been away for school all these years, I am the Boss of the house, and I did my share of chores when I was young," Qin Jian said, "You go and rest a while. I’ll chop the vegetables!"