Qin Xuanye never imagined life could be so dramatic.
His ex-girlfriend, who had dumped him a year and a half ago, would re-enter his life in this manner.
And as the true daughter of the Chen family, his fiancée's sister, no less.
They were clearly exes.
Yet she could call him 'brother-in-law' without a hint of awkwardness.
Her heart really was made of stone.
Impossible to warm.
Chen Ruanruan was the first to notice something off about the way Qin Xuanye was looking at Chen Liuyue.
She gently patted his arm.
Prompting him to respond.
Qin Xuanye snapped back to reality and shot her a cold glance.
"Hello."
Chen Zhenye, noticing their exchange seemed less than pleasant, took the initiative to break the ice:
"Xuanye studies at Qinghe University, right next to Jinghai University. He's in the same year as you both."
"Young people of the same age will have plenty to talk about in the future."
Chen Liuyue said obediently, "Okay, Dad. If I have any academic questions in the future, I'll ask brother-in-law for advice."
Qin Xuanye responded with another cold nod.
But Chen Ruanruan sensed something was amiss.
Xuanye's emotions never fluctuated this much when he was with her, but she didn't dare say anything in front of all the elders.
The focus of today's gathering was, of course, Chen Liuyue and Chen Ruanruan.
Facing the situation of the switched lives due to the mistaken identities at birth,
Chen Zhenye first stated his position: "Liuyue is a member of the Chen family. I plan to bring her home to live with us."
Tao Tian smiled warmly and nodded repeatedly.
"That's only right."
Chen Zhenye then looked at Chen Ruanruan.
"Ruanruan is also the apple of our eye, raised and nurtured by us since childhood."
"She's studying dance at Jinghai University. Just yesterday, she went to the neighboring province for a dance competition and won a provincial award."
Hearing this, Jin Minjia's eyes lit up, and she looked at Chen Ruanruan with increasing approval.
"That's thanks to your excellent upbringing."
Seizing the moment, Wu Peihua added, "So, we'd like Ruanruan to continue staying with the Chen family. After all, she's familiar with everything here after all these years."
As soon as these words were spoken,
the previously harmonious atmosphere at the dinner table instantly grew tense.
Jin Minjia was the first to lose her composure. She slammed the table and stood up, saying,
"The two girls were accidentally switched at birth. Now that Liuyue is back with the Chen family, you still want to keep my daughter from coming home?"
Chen Zhenye quickly waved his hands.
Wearing a businessman's smile that was both shrewd and amiable, he explained,
"Teacher Jin, please don't be upset."
"There's no doubt that Ruanruan is your and Tao Tian's daughter."
"You are both intellectuals, a highly educated family. We deeply respect that."
"However, from a material standpoint, staying with the Chen family would provide better opportunities for her development."
"After she graduates from university, we plan to send Ruanruan abroad to further her dance studies."
Jin Minjia's lips curled with sarcasm. "Our family isn't incapable of funding her study abroad either?!"
Chen Zhenye shook his head. "That's not what I meant."
Seeing this, Tao Tian patted Jin Minjia and said quietly,
"Alright, don't get angry yet. We're all here to discuss this. Let's not give the girls a show."
Jin Minjia glared at him before reluctantly sitting back down.
Wu Hongjun, the family patriarch who had been silent until now, looked at his daughter and son-in-law and asked,
"So, this is your decision?"
Wu Peihua hurriedly said, "Dad, you know Ruanruan is my life. How could I bear to let her leave!"
Chen Zhenye also wore a troubled expression.
After all, Ruanruan's engagement to the Qin family was set in stone; he needed this daughter.
Wu Hongjun then slowly turned his gaze to Chen Ruanruan.
His tone was gentle as he asked,
"Ruanruan, what are your own thoughts on this?"
"Grandpa."
Chen Ruanruan's eyes welled up as soon as she uttered these two words.
Ever since she entered and sat down for the meal, she had noticed that her grandparents, who used to dote on her the most, were now seated on either side of Chen Liuyue, talking to her with concern and serving her food.
When she arrived, they had only given her a faint nod.
That sense of disparity was something Chen Ruanruan simply couldn't accept.
Now, seeing her grandfather looking at her with that same gentle, reliable expression, a pang of sorrow hit Chen Ruanruan's nose.
She couldn't control her emotions.
Qin Xuanye, noticing this, thoughtfully handed her a tissue.
At almost the same moment, Chen Liuyue also swiftly offered a tissue.
Their actions were nearly simultaneous.
Their tissues met in front of Chen Ruanruan. Meeting Qin Xuanye's probing gaze, Chen Liuyue smiled with an air of pure innocence.
She even tilted her head slightly.
Her voice was crisp and sweet.
"Brother-in-law and I had the same thought."
"Sister, here, wipe your tears."
"I know you can't bear to leave Mom and Dad, just like I can't bear to leave Uncle Tao and Auntie Jin. But..."
Life is full of meetings and partings, ebbs and flows. As long as the feelings remain, it won't be affected by physical distance.
Chen Haotian had initially thought Chen Liuyue was being kind when she offered the tissue.
But upon hearing her last words,
he couldn't help but speak up angrily:
"Chen Liuyue! Ruanruan is my sister. I won't let her leave the Chen family. Don't even think about it!"
Chen Liuyue pursed her lips, looking like a frightened little hamster.
A panicked expression appeared in her eyes.
She glanced timidly at her grandparents, seemingly seeking protection.
She muttered softly,
"I didn't say I wanted sister to leave. I was just trying to comfort her."
"I know I'm clumsy with words, and what I say doesn't sound good..."
"But brother is being too harsh. I'm your sister too."
As her final words fell,
Wu Hongjun and Qian Xiaofen both looked at their grandson Chen Haotian with reproach.
Liuyue was his biological sister.
Yet this boy kept insisting on protecting Ruanruan; his heart was completely biased!
Wu Hongjun said, "Enough, Haotian. Be quiet. Let Ruanruan decide this for herself."
By now, Chen Ruanruan had taken the tissue from Qin Xuanye and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Facing the gazes of everyone directed at her,
She looked gently yet firmly at Tao Tian and Jin Minjia, mustering her courage to address them, "Dad, Mom."
The Tao couple exchanged a glance, their excitement evident as they almost fidgeted with anticipation.
Wu Peihua, however, seemed as if the life had been drained from her, her fingers trembling with fear.
It's over. Was her Ruanruan really going to leave her?
And return to the Tao family?
Just as everyone was thinking this, they heard Chen Ruanruan continue:
"I'm very grateful that you gave birth to me, that you gave me life."
"But for nearly twenty years, it was Mom and Dad from the Chen family who raised me, who gave me a second life. I'm sorry, please forgive my selfishness."
"I still wish to stay by their side to repay their kindness."
"Of course, in my spare time, I'll also come stay at the Tao house for a few days. You won't refuse me, will you?"
Tao Tian listened and nodded with a smile, saying elegantly, "We won't."
Before he could finish, Jin Minjia nudged him.
Cutting him off.
She straightened her back as if preparing for battle, raised her voice, and said,
"Ruanruan, no matter what, you are our biological daughter."
"If you want to live with the Chen family, fine!"
"But you must change your surname to Tao, and you must come home to live for one week every month. That is my bottom line."
