Jiang Shizheng was left completely stunned. His eyes darkened as he watched Fu Chengyan.
“It seems like there are some things that can’t be hidden from you.” Jiang Shizheng smiled coldly, sadness welling up in his eye. “Sigh… It’s all our fault, my fault. Back then…” He shook his head as he continued, “That’s right. It’s exactly like what you’re thinking. Nuan isn’t a child of the Shi family but the child of my youngest daughter.”
“Your youngest daughter?” Fu Chengyan narrowed his eyes. “Why haven’t I heard you mention it?”
“What’s the point? She’s dead!”
“Dead?” Fu Chengyan obviously didn’t expect Jiang Shizheng to say that. There was still a fierce look in his eyes as he stared at the latter. “Grandpa, is she really dead?”
The older man froze and a hint of guilt flashed through his eyes as he looked at Fu Chengyan. He pursed his lips and was obviously anxious when he said, “She’s dead in my eyes!”
The fierce look in Fu Chengyan’s eyes faded away. “So you’re saying that May’s mother isn’t dead. Where is she, then?”
“Why are you asking these? Isn’t Nuan doing well now? What’s the point of these questions?” Jiang Shizheng sighed as he patted his knees. His eyes darkened while he said, “What can you possibly do even after knowing all these?”
“May cares about it!”
“Listen to me. She might not even have a better life after knowing the truth.”
“But she has the right to know. No matter how good or bad things are, May deserves the right to decide on this matter, doesn’t she?” Fu Chengyan didn’t look away, instead, he stared directly into Jiang Shizheng’s eyes. Naturally, he could see the pained look in the latter’s eyes.
“Don’t you think this is unfair to May?”
“Just stop mentioning this. As for Nuan, Shen Qianan, and Shen Shixiu, there are no relations between them. Well, even if there is, they have nothing to do with each other now. Both of them have the surname Shen, while Nuan’s surname is Shi. This is a fact that cannot be changed.”
Seeing that Jiang Shizheng was so insistent, Fu Chengyan knew that it wasn’t easy for him to get the truth out of the former. That was why he didn’t continue questioning.
When Aunt Fei returned, she couldn’t help but feel curious when she saw Fu Chengyan but couldn’t find Shi Nuan anywhere. However, she could guess what had happened when she saw Jiang Shizheng’s grim expression.
Jiang Shizheng was originally planning to ask Fu Chengyan to stay for dinner but when the latter thought about Shi Nuan and the people waiting at the Fu residence, he didn’t stay any longer.
However, after he left the courtyard of the Jiang residence, Aunt Fei called out as she rushed to him, “Sir!”
Fu Chengyan was about to get into the car but at the sight of Aunt Fei rushing to him, he quickly closed the car door and replied, “Yes, Aunt Fei!”
They had known each other for a long time. Aunt Fei had been working at the Jiang family since he was still studying.
He narrowed his eyes as his gaze landed on her. Fu Chengyan had heard from Shi Nuan that Aunt Fei had actually taken care of Jiang Yu. So technically, Shi Nuan should be calling her Grandma.
Anything?”
Aunt Fei nodded but she only talked after taking a look behind her, “Sir, can we talk elsewhere?”
He nodded and said, “Sure.”
“Okay. Let’s go out front. It’s much quiet there and there aren’t many people.”
Upon hearing that, a quizzical look appeared in his eyes as he watched Aunt Fei’s outstretched arm.
Both of them reached an empty spot near the Jiang family’s courtyard. After looking around, Aunt Fei sighed, “I was sure that you already knew some things when I noticed that you came alone today. You’re such a smart man after all.”
Fu Chengyan raised his brows and a smile appeared on his face. “What do you mean when you said I know some things?”
“Don’t you want to know about the true identity of Little Miss?”
The man’s eyes turned cold but they shone as he asked, “You knew, Aunt Fei?”
She nodded. “I’ve been with the Jiang family for so many years. This has always been the Jiang family’s secret, and weighs heavy on Old Master Jiang’s heart.”
“Oh?”
“He lost his wife during his middle age, with two daughters under his care. The older daughter is Jiang Yu, and the younger one is Jiang Yuan. He had adopted the older daughter back then, based on an old custom in order for Jiang Yuan would be raised more easily. That’s why he adopted another daughter.”
He really had no idea.
In fact, Fu Chengyan didn’t know that Jiang Shizheng had two daughters. He always thought that the latter only had one daughter, Jiang Yu. Who knew that he actually had another named Jiang Yuan.
“What happened after that?”
“The second daughter, Ms. Jiang Yuan grew up to be a beautiful woman. Many men from other families liked her and had suitors everywhere,” Aunt Fei explained. She grinned as she said, “She looked just like her mother, so beautiful! But… Ms. Jiang Yuan had never gotten married in her life before.”
“Not married? Then May…”
“You know about this too?” Aunt Fei smiled. “Ms. Jiang Yuan loved to perform. She became a celebrity when she was young. And she seldom contacted the family. That year, I remember it was heavily snowing the day she brought a child back. Her whole body was as cold as ice. But she left after leaving the child here. And she never came back after that.”
“Is May the child you’re talking about?”
Aunt Fei nodded. “Yes. It’s Little Miss!”
“Then how did May end up with the Shi family?” Since Shi Nuan’s biological mother is Jiang Yuan, then Jiang Shizheng is her biological grandfather. Why did he let May go to the Shi family?
“Old Master Jiang was still working in the university when this happened. A child who suddenly popped up was just like a ticking time bomb. Besides, Ms. Jiang Yu had already given birth to Shi Wei when that happened. She said she wanted to care for the child, and Old Master Shi seemed very willing too. So this was how it all happened. Missy was taken away by Ms. Jiang Yu to the Shi family, and she was then announced to the outside world that she’s the second daughter of the Shi family.”
“So you’re saying that Old Master Shi agreed to this?”
“Yes. I felt puzzled about it too. Why would he agree to let Ms. Jiang Yu take care of Nuan? But this was to be kept a secret to the outside, so we kept quiet about it. However, Little Miss has had a tough time all these years. In the first few years, Ms. Jiang Yu did indeed treat her very well. But after that…” Aunt Fei shook her head and said, “Luckily Old Master Shi treated Nuan well.”
“Why are you telling me all these, Aunt Fei?” Fu Chengyan asked because Jiang Shizheng would never talk about these. Normally, Aunt Fei was never a blabbermouth. She was very loyal as she was able to work for the Jiang family for so many years.
She smiled. “I can tell that you actually treat Little Miss very well, Sir.”
Fu Chengyan nodded upon hearing her words. “Yes. I would never mistreat May.”
“Honestly, there were a few times when Missy asked me about her true identity.”
“She asked you about it?” Fu Chengyan had never expected it. “Did you tell her?”
“No. How could I tell her? I’m worried that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Besides, Ms. Jiang Yuan went missing without a trace when it all happened.”
Missing without a trace?
Fu Chengyan nodded when he caught the main point. “Alright. I won’t tell May about this for now. I’ll investigate first, then we can think of a way to tell her. I’m worried that if May finds out about this now, it’ll affect her mood and health.”
“Yes, yes. That’s what I think too. Now that she’s pregnant, we should keep this from her first. It won’t be good if she got agitated by it.” Aunt Fei sighed before she continued, “So please don’t tell her now, Sir.” She then added, “Oh, right! There’s this thing… I don’t know if I should talk about it…”
“Please tell me.” Fu Chengyan was actually very respectful towards Aunt Fei.
She smiled. “Ms. Jiang Yuan is back.”
Fu Chengyan understood it clearly now. He had actually guessed as much but hadn’t confirmed it.
Aunt Fei knew that he already knew when she saw the look on his face. “Old Master Jiang isn’t in great health lately. He’s not in a great mood too. It’s all because of Ms. Jiang Yuan.”
“She came back to the Jiang residence?”
Fu Chengyan was a smart man. He immediately thought of Jiang Shizheng’s odd expression the other day and managed to piece everything together. “Alright, I’ll be mindful of this and find out the reason she came back. Did she mention May when she came back?”
“Well…”
When he saw Aunt Fei’s troubled look, his eyes darkened and he asked, “Didn’t she talk about the reason she’s back?”
“It’s for work. And she came to visit Old Master Jiang as well.”
“Okay, I understood now.”
After sending Aunt Fei away, Fu Chengyan remained on the spot for a moment more. His eyes darkened as he fidgeted with his amber-colored cufflinks. Then, he quickly made his way to his car and drove back to the Fu residence.
It was extremely lively at the Fu residence as there was a family banquet. Even Fu Jiayu and her family were there. Cheng Jing held Cheng An in his arms while she carried a light suitcase as they made their way in. A servant rushed to them upon their arrival. “Young Madam, Sir! Little Miss!”
“Where’s Grandpa?” Fu Jiayu asked as she removed her shoes. She was surprised to see Shi Nuan when she entered the living room. Ning Xin was sitting beside the latter while Song Zhenyan was sitting not far away from them.
When Cheng Jing saw his wife froze on the spot, he put down Cheng An and patted lightly on her back. She immediately snapped back to her senses. “Hi, Aunt Ning, Nuan!”
Fu Jiayu deliberately ignored Song Zhenyan. She said as she bent down to carry Cheng An. “Nuan, I see that you’ve finally found the time to come here.”
“Jiayu!” Shi Nuan smiled and reached out to shake the little girl’s hand. “An, long time no see!”
“Aunt Nuan, carry me!” Cheng An was overjoyed to see her. She reached out and asked for hugs from her aunt. Shi Nuan smiled faintly at the sight. But just as she was about to carry the girl, Song Zhenyan’s voice interrupted them, “An, come to Grandma. Your Aunt Nuan is pregnant now. She won’t be able to carry you.”
Everyone froze when she finished her sentence. Fu Jiayu stared at Shi Nuan in disbelief and then at Song Zhenyan.
She was the one who was most surprised by the situation because not only did Song Zhenyan talk to Cheng An, but she also found out that Shi Nuan was pregnant. Fu Jiayu instinctively glanced at Shi Nuan’s belly before carrying Cheng An. “Nuan, you’re pregnant?”
