Because Bo Xiyun was present, Gu Zheng didn't say much to Yi Zhongshen and simply brought his other younger brother over. He told Gu Sheng, "Take care of Xiyun and make sure to send your friend back home after you're done."
Gu Sheng readily assured him, "No problem."
Gu Zheng remained silent. He meant to express his concern about Gu Sheng's friend, but it seemed that Gu Sheng didn't fully grasp his intention.
In truth, Gu Zheng didn't have much confidence in his younger brother. Later, he went to talk to Mr. Gu and had a quiet conversation with him.
After their discussion, Gu Zheng finally left. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gu and the others were getting ready to go to the hospital.
(Tn: Mrs.Gu = Ms Song from previous chapter. for anyone who is confused.)
However, before they left the train station, Mr. Gu received an urgent phone call that required his immediate attention. This situation was not new to Mrs. Gu, but she felt somewhat apologetic to Bo Xiyun. After all, they came all the way to pick him up, and now Mr. Gu had to leave so soon.
Bo Xiyun reassured her, saying, "It's alright."
He then turned to Mr. Gu and said, "You go ahead and take care of your matters. Thank you for coming to pick me up."
Mr. Gu looked at him and patted his back, saying, "Take care on your way."
Afterward, Mr. Gu went to handle the urgent matter, while Bo Xiyun and Gu Sheng waited for the paternity test results.
This time, Mr. Gu handled things very delicately, especially when dealing with the precious and sophisticated equipment.
After Mr. Gu left, the spacious and large SUV only had four people, making the space more comfortable. Gu Sheng was driving, Mrs. Gu sat in the front passenger seat, and Bo Xiyun and Yi Zhongshen sat in the back.
(Tn: the author wrote Gu Zheng instead of YZS and confused me for a good while.)
Today was a rare sunny winter day in City B, and the temperature was not too cold. Bo Xiyun had rested well last night, so he shouldn't suffer from severe motion sickness.
However, his mind was not on motion sickness at the moment.
Bo Xiyun hesitated for a moment and asked Mrs. Song, who was in the front seat, "Are the other Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu still on their way back to City B?"
He remembered what Gu Sheng had said earlier, that young master Gu's parents were currently on their way back from another province.
Bo Xiyun added, "If they are busy with work, maybe they shouldn't be troubled to make another trip."
He could tell that the Gu family members went out of their way to come and pick him up. Both Gu Zeng and Mr. Gu had temporarily put aside their tasks to rush here.
Bo Xiyun didn't want to cause too much trouble for others.
Mrs. Gu understood his meaning and waved her hand, reassuring him.
"It's okay, everyone wanted to come and see you, it won't be a bother," Mrs. Gu said.
Right after her, Yi Zhongshen, who was sitting next to Bo Xiyun, added, "Besides, it's almost Chinese New Year."
"That's right," Mrs. Gu nodded in agreement, "During Chinese New Year, everyone comes back to reunite with family."
Bo Xiyun seemed to relax a bit at this moment and didn't ask further questions.
Mrs. Gu glanced at Yi Zhongshen through the rearview mirror, as if she had thought of something. In families like the Gu family and the Yi family, where the children were scattered in different places, it was common for them not to gather for Chinese New Year.
Yi Zhongshen had visited the Gu family for the New Year last year, and he knew that Uncle Gu didn't come back every year.
With Yi Zhongshen's comforting words, he was simply alleviating Bo Xiyun's psychological burden.
Mrs. Gu glanced at Yi Zhongshen again through the rearview mirror. She had always thought that he had a reserved personality, but now she realized that he could also be thoughtful and considerate.
It made sense. Mrs. Gu then turned her gaze to Bo Xiyun on the other side.
With such a good-looking and understanding child, who wouldn't have a soft spot for him?
The journey from the high-speed train station to the hospital took about twenty minutes. At first, Mrs. Gu would casually chat with Bo Xiyun, but later she refrained from speaking, concerned that the boy might not feel comfortable and needed rest.
She turned off the soothing background music and created a serene atmosphere in the car.
Occasionally, Mrs. Gu would glance at the backseat through the rearview mirror. Perhaps due to the continuous train ride, the boy's features showed signs of fatigue. His fair skin, illuminated by the winter sunlight coming through the car window, almost seemed translucent.
To the elder's eyes, he appeared a bit delicate, with insufficient vitality.
Mrs. Gu was considering how to find someone to help the child improve his health when she noticed Bo Xiyun suddenly open his eyes.
He looked at the boy beside him and, for some reason, burst into a smile. The faint smile on his slightly upturned face enlivened his features, transforming his ethereal and delicate appearance into something enchanting, like a pristine porcelain doll finally touched with a touch of vivid color.
Mrs. Gu observed for a while and finally noticed the reason behind the change—
When Bo Xiyun had closed his eyes to rest, Yi Zhongshen, sitting next to him, didn't want him to be disturbed by the swaying of the vehicle. So, he reached out to support him and let the boy lean on his chest.
Yi Zhongshen's arm circled around Bo Xiyun's waist, and his hand rested on the boy's abdomen, creating a tender and intimate gesture.
Bo Xiyun rested with his eyes closed, habitually holding one hand's fingertips with the other and lightly squeezing them from time to time. As a result, when Yi Zhongshen's fingers were close to his, Bo Xiyun inadvertently ended up squeezing Yi Zhongshen's fingers too.
Mrs. Gu understood the situation clearly because even after Bo Xiyun realized what happened and smiled, their fingers remained together without any intention of separating.
As Mrs. Gu watched, the boy closed his eyes and leaned back again, gently squeezing Yi Zhongshen's fingers, occasionally and rhythmically. It seemed like a natural and comfortable action for him.
Mrs. Gu couldn't help but feel that something might be off. Were these two kids really that close?
When the car reached the hospital's entrance, Bo Xiyun got out first, and Yi Zhongshen accompanied him. Mrs. Gu stayed in the front passenger seat, helping her son with directions while guiding Gu Sheng to the underground parking lot.
With only the two boys left in the car, Mrs. Gu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Xiaosheng, is there something going on between Yunyun and Zhongshen?"
(Tn: YunYun is from the name Xiyun. Chinese people create nicknames in this way, it's kinda cute.)
Mrs. Gu was still considering her words, but Gu Sheng seemed to have guessed what she was going to say and responded directly.
"Yes, they get along quite well. After all, they are brothers, and Zhongshen has always taken good care of Xiyun," Gu Sheng explained. He continued, expressing relief that the competition results were announced early, and Yi Zhongshen took his winter break at the same time, so Xiyun didn't have to suffer during this period.
(Tn: brothers not in the literal sense. no incest, don't worry)
Mrs. Gu had other speculations at first. After all, not only was Yi Zhongshen patient and attentive with people, but Xiyun also volunteered to sit with him in the car initially. However, seeing her son so confident about the academic reasons, she didn't pursue the matter any further. Perhaps she had overthought it.
The group entered the hospital, which was the place where Mrs. Gu was recovering. However, they didn't go directly to her. Upon entering, Ms. Song received a call from the doctor who was conducting the paternity test.
(Tn: in this para the first Mrs.Gu was the grandma so I changed the second Mrs.Gu to Ms.Song to avoid confusion.)
The paternity test could be done in many hospitals, so they didn't need to go elsewhere. Ms. Song chatted with the doctor while Gu Sheng briefly introduced Bo Xiyun to them.
In fact, according to Mrs. Gu's initial intentions, she didn't even want to do the paternity test anymore, as she believed that Bo Xiyun was indeed her missing grandson.
Would she still not recognize her own child?
The other members of the Gu family persuaded the elderly lady as they had been worried about this matter for many years. They even called Zhong Nanhai, the grandfather who was still there, and finally, the elderly lady agreed. After all, once the paternity test results are obtained, it will be used for Bo Xiyun's household registration and identity migration, which is responsible for the child.
Bo Xiyun's blood sample and hair follicles were already sent yesterday, and the Gu family also obtained a blood sample left by the youngest daughter, Gu Kongqin. However, Gu Kongqin's blood sample has been preserved for a long time, so, as a precaution, the Gu family decided to do a kinship test, as mentioned by Gu Song(Ms.Song), by comparing three sets of samples - one with Bo Xiyun, one with Gu Kongqin, and one with the grandfather and grandmother.
Bo Xiyun had no objections, and he agreed to the plan.
After making the call, Ms. Song went to see the doctor for the test, instructing Gu Sheng to take Bo Xiiyun to a quiet place to rest. Gu Sheng led the two to a two-story small western-style building nearby, which was different from the other large buildings in the hospital.
There were few people walking around, and the surroundings were filled with green plants. Even in winter, the evergreen trees were still lush, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Just as Gu Sheng arrived, a doctor called him over. Bo Xiyun fell behind and faintly heard the doctor say to Gu Sheng, "Are you a family member? Take this to the third floor of section A, yes, make sure the family member personally accompanies the patient."
Gu Sheng wanted to pat Bo Xiyun, but with the doctor's instructions, he couldn't do so. After settling Bo Xiyun, he took the things and went to section A.
Bo Xiyun sat down in the lobby, feeling warm inside. Through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, he could see the vast scenery outside. The indoor seats were cushioned and comfortable, so he didn't feel cold.
Bo Xiyun sat on the bench, with Yi Zhongshen sitting beside him. He looked out at the tall and straight pine trees, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a vibration sound broke the silence. It was Yi Zhongshen's phone.
He answered the call, murmured a few times, and quickly hung up.
Although he didn't say anything, Bo Xiyun turned to him and asked, "Do you need to handle something?"
Yi Zhongshen remained silent, lowering his head.
Bo Xiyun: "Go handle your business."
Yi Zhongshen didn't hurry to get up; he looked at Bo Xiyun and said, "It's about Bai's family."
Bo Xiyun casually asked, "Bai Xiu?"
"Some part of him," Yi Zhongshen didn't hide anything from the boy and asked, "Do you want to know?"
Bo Xiyun shook his head. He was telling the truth; he had no interest in Bai Xiu.
Yi Zhongshen raised his hand and gently touched the soft hair at the back of Bo Xiyun's head. His hand was long and wide, and half of it touched the slender neck of Bo Xiyun. However, due to the layer of clothing in between, Bo Xiyun, being sensitive as he was, didn't feel uncomfortable.
Instead, he felt a warm and affectionate sensation on the back of his neck.
"I'll be back soon," Yi Zhongshen assured him. "You can sit here for a while or stroll around nearby. There will be bodyguards following you, and you have my phone number."
Bo Xiyun obediently nodded and said, "Okay."
In the spacious and bright room, only Bo Xiyun remained, quietly watching the sunlight and the gentle breeze rustling through the branches outside.
Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him.
'Clatter'.
Bo Xiyun turned around and saw an unfamiliar old lady standing not far behind him. Her handbag had slipped from her grasp and fallen to the ground.
The lady was dressed elegantly, with a delicate brooch pinned to her chest. Her disheveled white hair showed no signs of chaos, only exuding an aura of refined elegance that comes with age.
Her timeless beauty transcended the years, making her a beauty that would be admired and praised no matter several decades ago or now.
However, there was a seriousness in her expression, giving an impression of authority rather than anger.
Bo Xiyun felt a vague sense of familiarity but didn't dwell on it. He walked over, picked up the lady's dropped handbag, and handed it back to her.
For some reason, the lady seemed a bit absent-minded, pausing for a moment before slowly accepting the bag from Bo Xiyun.
"Thank you," she said with a hint of gratitude.
"You're welcome," Bo Xiyun replied politely.
Bo Xiyun looked at the rolled-up sleeve of the old lady and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did you just have a blood draw?"
He noticed an unfinished cotton ball on the inside of her elbow.
Indeed, the lady nodded, "Yes."
She still held a cotton swab in her hand and was about to toss it into the medical waste bin nearby, but Bo Xiyun stopped her.
"You haven't applied pressure on the injection site long enough. You might get a bruise under the skin if you don't wait a bit longer."
The lady paused, turned to look at him, and her serious expression remained.
It was only then that Bo Xiyun recalled.
Finally, he realized where that familiar feeling came from.
This lady's expression resembled that of Mr. Gu and his elder brother.
But now was not the time to think about these things. Bo Xiyun noticed that the needle mark on her arm had started to bleed, so he offered, "Let me apply pressure for you, is that okay?"
The lady's lips moved, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she handed the cotton swab to Bo Xiyun.
He took the cotton swab and pressed it against the needle mark, guiding her to sit down on a nearby bench. He maintained a gentle pressure on the site to prevent further bleeding.
Every time after a blood draw, pressing the wound was always a bit troublesome. Pressing too hard would cause pain, and pressing too lightly wouldn't be effective. If you didn't bother to press it, bruises would easily form around the needle mark, making it even more painful when touched later.
But the young man's actions were quite skilled, and his pressure was just right. Even though the elderly lady had thin skin under which bones were easily felt, he made her feel completely comfortable.
Yet, it made people can't help but wonder.
How many times had this child experienced blood draws to be so proficient?
The lady didn't look at her previously bleeding needle mark. Instead, she stared at Bo Xiyun for quite some time before suddenly speaking.
"You're much more patient than she was."
Bo Xiyun was counting the seconds for how much longer he needed to apply pressure, and he was taken aback by her words.
"...?"
The lady continued, recalling the past.
"Before, she would frown if I didn't press the cotton swab properly and scold me for not being careful enough. Then she would come over and press the wound herself."
Bo Xiyun gradually realized what she meant, and his beautiful eyes widened.
The lady spoke gently, "And she would only scold others; others couldn't say anything about her. If someone mentioned her, she would just hold her book and start reading, ignoring everything they said."
Bo Xiyun was taken aback, "She..."
The lady smiled softly, her face showing a lively charm despite the fine wrinkles.
"She's your mother, my dear."
The lady looked at Bo Xiyun with a smile.
"Your mother."
Her smile gathered in her eyes and eventually turned into tears, sliding down her cheeks.
The old lady raised her hand and embraced the young man in front of her.
"My dear child, my precious little one... Grandma is here a bit late."
Even though she had been strong her whole life, why were there still so many tears?
And why were these tears so warm?
Bo Xiyun stood there in a daze but instinctively reached out and hugged the old lady back, gently patting her trembling body.
"It's okay... It's all right."
The old lady's body was frail, weak, and yet, she seemed to summon strength from somewhere.
She held him so tightly.
As if she was afraid of losing him again.
After a while, Granny Gu finally managed to suppress her emotions. She was about to take out a handkerchief from her handbag when she realized that her arm was still being cared for by the young man.
He was so considerate, not even moving the cotton ball.
Granny Gu was taken aback for a moment, but a tissue was already handed to her.
After passing the tissue to Granny Gu, Bo Xiyun withdrew his hand holding the cotton swab.
As he suspected, the needle mark had stopped bleeding, and there were no signs of bruising around it.
After tidying up Granny Gu's rolled-up sleeve, Bo Xiyun stood up and disposed of the cotton swab in the medical waste bin.
When he returned, Granny Gu seemed much calmer. Bo Xiyun asked, "Were you going somewhere just now? Do you have any other plans?"
Granny Gu continued to gaze at him and then shook her head, saying, "No, I just wanted to go outside and enjoy the sun. It's rare to see it these days."
"It's not too cold outside," Bo Xiyun said. "Shall we go out for a stroll?"
The two of them went outside, and Bo Xiyun noticed that Granny Gu's legs seemed to be a bit slow, and she walked with some difficulty.
However, she didn't bring a cane with her, and Bo Xiyun didn't inquire further. He knew that some elderly people didn't like to use canes unless absolutely necessary because they felt that relying on a cane meant admitting defeat.
He lowered his arm a bit to make it easier for Granny Gu to hold onto him.
Outside, the tiles on the ground were laid in a gentle slope without any difficult steps.
The air outside was fresh, and Bo Xiyun accompanied Granny Gu as they walked slowly, occasionally answering her questions.
They hadn't walked for long when several black elongated cars suddenly arrived at the end of the road, parking not far away.
Bo Xiyun and Granny Gu also stopped in their tracks.
The doors of the cars opened, and young men dressed in black suits got out of the front and rear cars. Finally, the middle car's door was opened.
An elderly man with graying hair and a kind face stepped out of the car.
Bo Xiyun hadn't intended to take a closer look, but when he saw the man's face clearly, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
This was a person he had seen on national television news before.
This was indeed a significant figure. When Bo Xiyun was still studying politics and current affairs, he had memorized this name for political news.
After the old man got out of the car, he walked towards their direction. Although his expression was amiable, the bodyguards around him exuded an aura of seriousness and authority.
Once Bo Xiyun came back to his senses, he was ready to support Granny Gu to the other side to make way for the people coming from the other cars.
However, he had a vague feeling that something was not right.
As the old man approached, he directly extended his hand to support Granny Gu, acting as if he was her cane, with a very skilled movement.
Bo Xiyun finally realized what was wrong—he had forgotten that this influential figure shared the surname Gu.
But when Granny Gu saw Bo Xiyun beside her, her initially firm refusal softened suddenly, and she even voluntarily changed her mind.
"Alright, let's go now," she said, as if afraid of being scolded for making a mistake.
"Eh?" Gu Sheng was taken aback. He didn't expect his usually stubborn grandmother to be easily persuaded. He looked at Bo Xiyun with a surprised expression.
Bo Xiyun had already guessed the reason. Granny Gu probably changed her mind so easily because she saw him and thought about how her daughter would scold her, prompting her to agree readily.
Afterward, Grandpa Gu supported Granny Gu to the nebulization room, as they couldn't have too many people inside at once. Bo Xiyun and Gu Sheng stayed downstairs.
(Tn: A nebulizer is a small machine that turns liquid medicine into a mist that can be easily inhaled. )
Not long after, when Gu Sheng finished his task and returned, he and the doctor took Grandpa Gu's blood sample and went to the testing room in Zone A.
In the lobby, it was now only Bo Xiyun and Yi Zhongshen left.
(Tn: looks like YZS is back)
The young man stared straight out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, his gaze fixed on the direction where Gu Sheng had left. Yi Zhongshen observed him for a while and asked in a low voice, "What are you thinking about?"
The young man pursed his lips in response.
"I'm thinking about genetic inheritance and chromosomes... The male XY chromosome comes from the mother, and the mother's XX chromosomes come from the grandfather's XY chromosome and the grandmother's XX chromosome," he said, still lost in thought.
"Either my grandfather or grandmother might match with their grandchild," he continued.
Yi Zhongshen knew that Bo Xiyun's mind was in turmoil right now. No matter how composed he usually was, he was still just a seventeen-year-old kid.
The test result didn't matter to Yi Zhongshen. But he also understood that without experiencing the same situation, it's not easy to comfort someone in this situation.
He simply said, "You'll be able to rest soon."
He raised his hand and gently covered the young man's slender nape, stroking it softly like comforting a cat.
"Gu Sheng's family has a Golden Wyvern, you can hold it and see when we get back."
Mentioning the cat, Bo Xiyun's attention seemed to be finally drawn back.
"Yeah..." Bo Xiyun regained his composure and asked, "Are you done with your work?"
Yi Zhongshen replied, "I only took a phone call, not busy. I have time today, I'll be around in the afternoon."
Bo Xiyun recalled that Yi Zhongshen came directly from the high-speed rail station to the hospital.
"Don't you want to go home first and check on things?" Bo Xiyun suggested.
"It's the Lunar New Year, and when I get home, all the kids will become quiet," Yi Zhongshen explained.
Bo Xiyun couldn't help but smile. It seemed like the kids were scared by him?
He asked, "Don't you think it's too noisy with so many kids around?"
Yi Zhongshen fell silent for a moment and replied, "No, I don't mind. I just want to accompany the kid."
(Tn: kid= BXY not literally of course)
Bo Xiyun was slightly taken aback by his response. Yi Zhongshen's palm still gently covered the nape of his neck, providing warmth and support.
He said, "I just want to be with the kid."
(Tn: they are just flirting, nothing weird)
Bo Xiyun paused, not sure how to respond.
In an instant, Bo Xiyun's rationality couldn't even process Yi Zhongshen's mention of "the kids" because such affection had been missing from Bo Xiyun's life since childhood.
But at the same time, his brain provided the only answer he needed to know.
There would be no other possibilities.
Yi Zhongshen wanted to be with him, and him alone.
Before Bo Xiyun could respond, Yi Zhongshen spoke again.
"Scared that he would find it noisy."
Bo Xiyun chuckled and said softly, "He won't."
In a strange way, Bo Xiyun felt like he was touching upon that unfamiliar feeling of being cherished by someone—something he had never experienced before with anyone else.
Yi Zhongshen rarely expressed himself directly with words, and throughout their time together, he had only said "I like you" when Bo Xiyun caught him.
Despite appearing cold and distant to others, every action and word seemed to reveal the depth of his hidden affection.
*
The two of them didn't wait long in the lobby before Gu Sheng returned, accompanied by Ms. Song.
Upon learning that Grandma Gu was still undergoing nebulization treatment, Ms. Song didn't rush upstairs. Instead, she handed a letter to one of Gu Grandfather's security guards, instructing him to deliver it inside.
Bo Xiyun didn't pay much attention to Ms. Song's actions, assuming it was related to Grandfather Gu's affairs.
Unexpectedly, after Ms. Song finished giving the letter, she turned to him with a look of relief and sorrow in her eyes.
Bo Xiyun was somewhat surprised and asked, "Is there something?"
"The results are out," Ms. Song smiled, but her voice was trembling a bit, and she covered her lips.
"Both of them match perfectly... as mother and son."
She couldn't hold back her emotions and reached out to embrace the boy in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I made you wait for so long."
Bo Xiyun didn't expect the test results to come out so quickly; he thought they would have to wait until the evening. He was momentarily stunned but quickly embraced her back.
"Yes... Yes."
Grandma Gu's treatment was supposed to take some more time, but perhaps because of her rare cooperation today and the knowledge of the test results, not long after, the security guard came down and said that the two elderly had returned to their room.
Ms. Song then led the children upstairs. On the way, she told Bo Xiyun, "By the way, I forgot to mention earlier. We had already arranged it. Tonight, my older brother and sister-in-law have arrived, and we'll go out to eat and welcome you."
By the time Bo Xiyun turned his head, they had already reached the door of the hospital room.
He then noticed that the building was quite spacious, but only Grandma Gu was staying there. The facilities were well-equipped, seemingly designed for elderly people's recuperation.
Entering the room, Grandma Gu was half leaning against the bed, looking a bit pale. Grandpa Gu had prepared water and was picking out honey fruit to help eliminate the bitterness left after nebulization.
But despite the nebulization, grandma Gu's spirits were still high, not affected at all. She held Bo Xiyun's hand and asked Ms. Song, "Any news about the investigation with Xingchao?"
Gu Xingchao was Gu Sheng's father's name.
Ms. Song hesitated for a moment and replied, "There have been some developments."
She didn't elaborate further, but Gu Grandfather intervened, "Just tell us. We can handle whatever it is."
He could see through the reason for Ms. Song's hesitation and didn't mince words.
The information had already been found, and Ms. Song didn't want to share it yet because she feared that Grandma Gu's emotions might fluctuate, affecting her health.
Grandpa Gu glanced at Bo Xiyun and said, "If you don't want to hear it, you can go out with your friend first."
Bo Xiyun had already guessed what Ms. Song wanted to say and chose to stay, replying, "It's alright."
He wasn't afraid of the news affecting him.
As expected, Ms. Song spoke up and said, "Xingchao found out the process of how Yunyun went missing all those years ago."
This incident had been weighing on the minds of the Gu family for sixteen years. Back then, the opposing forces wanted to steal sensitive information and not only sent people to chase after Gu Kongqin and her husband but also had a spy kidnap the young Bo Xiyun, who was in an orphanage.
After their plan was exposed, the spy, who had taken Bo Xiyun, planned to escape and left the child behind before entering a deserted area. The spy knew that if he took the child with him, the pursuers would be more relentless in chasing him.
The spy not only abandoned the child but also set up a trap using the child's tracks to mislead the pursuers in the wrong direction.
If things had continued this way, the child could have eventually been rescued and brought back.
However, no one expected that right after the spy left, someone saw the abandoned child.
It was a herbal medicine vendor collecting insect herbs nearby. He had two granddaughters but no grandson, so he couldn't resist the temptation and took the abandoned boy home, intending to raise him as his own and continue his family's lineage.
The herbal medicine vendor was not a local resident, and the place where he collected insect herbs was not fixed. After leaving the Gobi Desert, he returned to his hometown in the north, carrying the child back home with excitement.
However, when the herbal medicine vendor brought the child home, he faced strong opposition from his family. His daughter-in-law couldn't bear the situation and even threatened to divorce on the spot. His usually obedient son also expressed his unwillingness to raise someone else's child and asked the herbal medicine vendor to return the child.
The herbal medicine vendor was furious and stubbornly said, "If you don't raise him, then I'll raise him." But he had no experience in raising a child and lacked patience. Within a day, he became fed up and secretly abandoned the child on the outskirts.
There were quite a few residents living in the vicinity, and someone found the poor child early in the morning. Kind-hearted people wanted to take the child home, but before they could do so, another passerby claimed that the child belonged to their family and took the child away.
However, this person who took the child was actually a human trafficker with ill intentions.
Later, the human trafficker arrived in Q city and sold the child to a flower seller. Eventually, Bo Xiyun was bought by the Liu family as a substitute.
(Tn: I think it means a child trafficker but I didn't want to change the word, in case I am wrong.)
Ms. Song finished recounting the entire process, and there was a moment of silence in the hospital room.
Bo Xiyun's arm was still held by Granny Gu, and he could feel her trembling. He didn't know how to comfort her and could only gently pat her arm.
Ms. Song let out a long sigh.
The experience from all those years ago was indeed filled with twists and turns. The herbal medicine vendor's chance encounter in the Gobi Desert and the sudden appearance of the human trafficker made the situation extremely unpredictable.
In those few instances of changing hands and the uncertainty of whether the child was still alive, the Gu family couldn't find any definite answers about the child's whereabouts back then. Only recently, when they learned about Bo Xiyun's presence in Q city, did they shift their investigation focus to Q city and gradually uncover the truth about what happened back then.
However, it was too late, as the events had occurred many years ago. Granny Gu suddenly spoke up, her voice somewhat hoarse, likely affected by the inhalation therapy.
While she spoke, Bo Xiyun could still feel her hand trembling.
"I remember the herbal medicine vendor. When he left, he suddenly bought an extra snakeskin bag, but later, we found no news of any child with him."
Granny Gu took a slow breath, and a low, raspy sigh escaped her throat.
"Now thinking about it, he must have used that snakeskin bag to carry the abducted child..."
Grandpa Gu, on the other side of the bed, reached out and held his wife's arm.
Ms. Song added, "In the subsequent searches, we did find him a few times, but the herbal medicine vendor told his family that he was just joking while drunk and that the child was back at their friend's house. His family never disclosed the truth to others, and that's why the investigation couldn't continue back then."
It was a fault of the Gu family not being thorough in their investigation, but it was also difficult for some people to accept this outcome.
"If, back then, just one step earlier..." Granny Gu struggled to say, "perhaps there would be a different..."
"Enough," Grandpa Gu gently interrupted her, gently guiding her back to the bed.
He skillfully took the oxygen mask from the bedside and helped his breathless wife put it on, whispering, "Take a rest, take a rest, we'll let the child rest too."
The room fell silent except for the heavy sound of the oxygen mask working. Ms. Song's eyes also turned red, but she remained silent.
Grandpa Gu turned around and waved his hand to the others, and Ms. Song led the children out first.
Before leaving, Grandpa Gu patted Bo Xiyun's arm, which he had just taken back.
"Take a good rest," grandpa Gu said in a warm tone, "come back when you feel better."
Bo Xiyun nodded and walked out of the room.
Outside the room, Ms. Song still looked a bit distraught, and Gu Sheng was comforting her in a hushed voice, occasionally glancing worriedly at Bo Xiyun.
Later, Gu Sheng accompanied Ms. Song to the restroom, leaving Bo Xiyun in the care of Yi Zhongshen.
"Zhongshen, help look after Xiyun," Gu Sheng entrusted.
Bo Xiyun stood still, feeling a bit lost and confused.
More than once, he felt that mixed feeling of confusion when people cherished him so much.
Because Bo Xiyun realized that, in this moment when everyone was immersed in immense grief, he couldn't empathize.
The Gu family treated him so well, yet he couldn't fully understand their sorrow.
A warm presence covered his nape, and the familiar touch and scent made Bo Xiyun accustomed to it, no longer instinctively avoiding it.
(Tn: remember how he was sensitive?)
But it was precisely this familiarity that exposed his hidden emotions.
"Senior..."
Bo Xiyun called out softly.
He couldn't say those things to the Gu family, couldn't betray their sincere feelings.
It seemed like he could only pour his heart out to his senior.
But Bo Xiyun also knew that for senior, those scars were equally difficult to erase.
"...I'm sorry."
The hand on his nape didn't move away; instead, it continued to gently comfort the slender teenager.
Yi Zhongshen asked in a low voice, "Why do you say that?"
The teenager's voice became even softer, "Because I realized..."
He finally discovered his own peculiarity, how he was different from others.
This applied not only to the Gu family but also to Yi Zhongshen.
As a seventeen-year-old boy who had grown up alone, he had become excessively composed.
To the extent that he couldn't reciprocate the same level of feelings to the overflowing kindness he received.
"It's like I can't."
Bo Xiyun kept his head low and murmured, "To respond to you like you do... I'm not capable of being as affectionate as others."
Compared to normal people, he couldn't muster enough affection.
Unable to reciprocate the intense feelings entrusted to him.
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Tn: i am getting increasingly lazy orz
<3