Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
â What?!â Shi Nian and Yun Nan looked at Hai Hua in shock.
Hai Hua said, âI was shocked when I saw the photos. All I could think of was the photo of my cousin when she went missing; she was only a few years old. After so many years, my impression of her had already solidified; I could only see her as the girl she was then. When I saw what I thought was the embroidered portrait of my aunt in the hall downstairs, I suddenly realized that if my cousin was still alive, she would already be a middle-aged woman in her forties.â
âItâs been so many years; we shouldâve realized we were unlikely to find her with such outdated photos of her. Sheâd grown up, and I thought, â What ifshe looks like my aunt or uncle? So, I sent the photos to my family group, andâif things go as expectedâthey should already be on their way here.â
Shi Nian and Yun Nan were speechless. However, Yun Nan understood Hai Huaâs current feelings very well. âBut, if my mother isnât their daughter, wonât your aunt and uncle be sad?â Yun Nan stated worriedly. âMy mother has already passed away. How can we verify it?â Yun Nan was always used to thinking from othersâ perspectives, always thinking of others.
âDid your mother have a great influence on your personality?â Hai Hua asked. âWas she considerate, gentle, thoughtful, determined, and never looked back once she set her mind on something?â
Shi Nian was already nodding before Yun Nan could nod. âBased on what you just mentioned, it seems thereâs an even higher possibility that Yun Nanâs mother is your cousin. Although Yun Nan is the Yun familyâs daughter, she was brought up by her adoptive mother. Her personality is naturally more influenced by her adoptive mother. What you listed out just now are all Yun Nanâs personality traits, which means theyâre traits her adoptive mother also shared. Could it be that your aunt also has these traits?â
Hai Hua lightly nodded. âYes, so when I first met Yun Nan, I didnât feel she was unfamiliar; instead, I felt very close to her. At the time, I thought it was probably because Yun Nan had a good personality. Now, it seems that there
might have been another reason: it might be because she reminded me of my
aunt.â
When Hai Hua turned to Yun Nan, Yun Nan was already in tears. âMy momâ my mom spent her entire life looking for her biological parents and passed on with the greatest regretâ¦â
Yun Nan cried bitterly. Shi Nian held her in his arms and gently patted her back. âThere, there. Calm down. Weâll talk about this when we meet Hai Huaâs aunt tomorrow. Try and remember if your mother left anything behind that can help us verify her identity.â
Yun Nan sobbed and shook her head. âThe family that bought her abused her since she was young. How could she have been able to keep anything from her original familyââ
Yun Nan paused. Shi Nian and Hai Hua looked at her, nerves on edge.
Yun Nan didnât care to wipe away the tears on her face. âMy mom said that she once had a jade piece. Her adoptive mother snatched it away, wanting it to be her sonâs betrothal gift. My mom said the jade was very beautiful. She drew it for me beforeâ¦â
Yun Nan swiftly got up to grab a pen or a pencil. âHai Hua, Iâll draw it out for you! Iâll draw it now!â
Hai Hua stopped Yun Nan by pressing down on her hand, saying, âNo, donât draw it now!â
Yun Nan looked at her in confusion. Hai Hua calmly said, âYou should wait until you meet my aunt. Then, you can both draw it together! Since your adoptive mother has passed away, verifying her identity will be even more difficult, so why donât we all be more cautious and not rush into things? Itâs best to wait until my aunt arrives before we start piecing things together.â Yun Nan slowly nodded, and her tears fell once more.
It was a sleepless night for them. Shi Nian draped a thin blanket over his shoulders and sat on the balcony with Yun Nan in his arms. He knew that, right now, comforting words would be useless to Yun Nan. It was better to accompany her and spend the long night with her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âTell me, what if sheâs not their daughter?â Yun Nan was obviously anxious as she asked.
Shi Nian replied, âWasnât your mother disappointed many times when she was alive? Then why would she care if she was disappointed this one more time? Yun Nan, relax a little. If it turns out that she is their daughter, youâll have fulfilled your motherâs long-cherished wish, and everyone will be happy.â
âIf sheâs not their daughter, weâll be good hosts and treat it as welcoming them here for a tour. Theyâve lost their daughter and suffered for their entire lives. Itâs at least a comfort for them to come here and meet someone with the same experience, â Shi Nian advised.
Yun Nan felt that his words made sense and nodded. âThank you! With you around, I feel so safe,â Yun Nan told him her feelings truthfully.
Shi Nian was delighted and was secretly very happy. Not wanting Yun Nan to be nervous any further, he changed the topic, âThe stars here are so beautiful. Yun Nan, were you happy when you were a child? Did you like to look at the stars?â
Yun Nan looked at the stars and nodded. âYes, I was. Iâd always been a happy child. Mom and I would squeeze on the recliner, and Dad would tell us stories. My mom especially admired my dad; in her eyes, Dad was a knowledgeable and cultured person. She was more fascinated by those stories than I was. I think she was so fascinated because my dad was the storyteller. Their love was the best love Iâve ever seen.â
At the mention of her adoptive parents, Yun Nan softened..