An ZhiAng hurriedly said, "Didn't I go to the newspaper office yesterday afternoon to announce the severing of ties? Why wasn't today's newspaper delivered?"
An JingZhi ran to the door without saying a word to fetch the newspaper. Their family had subscribed to the newspaper for years, but today had been so busy that the newspaper delivered this morning was still sitting in the mailbox.
An JingZhi took out the newspaper and immediately saw the biggest headline on the front page, very eye-catching.
Also, after all, extra money had been spent to make it bigger than the usual headlines.
First it gave a detailed account of the Gao family’s baby swap, then explained that the An family’s benevolence and righteousness had prevailed, and they would only sever ties with Gao MeiYun until she got married, in consideration of their years of raising her.
That’s right, she would be Gao MeiYun from now on, and have nothing more to do with the An family.
An JingZhi heaved a long sigh, newspaper in hand, and walked into the yard, feeling a bit calmer. "ZhiAng, come with me to see your grandfather."
This time, he truly admitted that he was no match for his father, nor for his own father, and in the future, he might even be no match for his son.
The more he thought about it, the older gentleman and his sons had all advised him to let go of what he should let go. It was just him and his wife who kept trying to have it both ways.
After everyone had left, ZhiXi went to her room.
Old Madam Zhou pinched Zhou Nan’s arm in frustration, "Didn't you hear what ZhiAng said? ZhiXi was wronged today. You're her mother, shouldn't you go comfort her?"
Zhou Nan sighed, "Mom, I know."
She got up and walked inside, but her mind kept replaying ZhiXi's expression just now.
It made her feel empty inside.
To be honest, she had never known how to face this biological daughter.
After all, ZhiXi had already been this old when she came back, seldom talked, and never made any demands even when she lacked something.
She didn't dare ask about her previous life either, afraid to hurt her again.
She wanted to get close to her, but always failed to find a way.
On top of that, there was MeiYun's involvement, and their mother-daughter relationship now seemed less intimate than when ZhiXi first came back.
This time ZhiXi hadn't locked the door, but Zhou Nan still knocked before entering.
As soon as she entered, she saw ZhiXi tidying up her clothes.
Her heart skipped a beat. "ZhiXi, your father has decided to sever ties with MeiYun, you heard it too, right?"
ZhiXi nodded with a smile. "I'm starting work tomorrow, and I still need to go to the literacy class. After walking so much today, my ankles are a little sore again, so I want to stay with Grandpa and Grandma for a few days. It's closer there, convenient for me, and I can keep them company too."
Zhou Nan's face looked a little better then. "Alright, go wherever you want. Things have been uneasy at home recently, take care of yourself."
Zhou Nan thought ZhiXi was only going to stay with her grandparents for a couple of days. After all, it was highly unlikely that MeiYun would be coming back now that ZhiXi had achieved her goal, so there was no need for her to throw more tantrums.
But she didn't know ZhiXi wouldn't be coming back.
She never returned to compete with Gao MeiYun for parental love.
She only wanted to prevent the An family from collapsing again.
Perhaps when she first came back, she did harbor fantasies about her parents' love, but repeated disappointments had long worn those fantasies away.
Adrift for 100 years, she had seen far too much. Other than her obsession with Gao MeiYun, she didn't seem to have anything else worth clinging to.
On careful thought, she and An MeiYun were probably the ones who understood each other best.
The difference was that An MeiYun understood her as she used to be, long gone, which was why she had missed the mark and ruined everything.
In her previous life, she too had known nothing, only to be murdered and mutilated.
ZhiXi walked out the door, not lugging the large suitcase as it felt cumbersome.
The winter clothes were all in her space, and the bundle on her back was just token packing of a couple items.
By the time she arrived, the front gate of the house was shut tight.
She called for Madam Zhou to open the door, but out came Old Madam instead.
"Your grandpa is discussing things with them, and just gave Xiaozhou time off to go back first. Why did you come too?" Old Madam opened the door and saw the bundle ZhiXi was holding. "Did your mom get muddled again?"
ZhiXi burst out laughing, "No, I just missed Granny so I came to see you, and want to stay with you for a couple days. Granny wouldn't chase me away, would she?"
"Listen to you, Granny wishes you would live here all the time!" Old Madam glared at her, then said worriedly, "They're all talking in the study, things I can't make heads or tails of either. Us womenfolk won't go bother them. You must be tired running around half the day, no?"
"I know, I'll go put my stuff away." ZhiXi headed inside.
An JingZhi and An ZhiAng didn't stay long, because after settling everything, they still had other arrangements to make.
On their way out, they learned from Old Madam that ZhiXi had come over. An ZhiAng said, "ZhiXi had some wine at lunch. Please keep an eye on her, Granny. I'll come by after I finish up."
Old Madam thought back and felt ZhiXi had seemed perfectly normal when she left, unlike someone who'd been drinking. But An ZhiAng was already gone, so she had no chance to ask more.
Turning around, she asked Old Master, "Old man, what do you make of it?"
"This matter, hmmm, half good half bad. Just happened to provide an opportunity for JingZhi and his wife to give up their fondness for the girl." Old Master said, "Don't you worry either. Our family has weathered winds and rains over the years, this little thing is nothing. The airplane donation voucher is still on the living room display for all to see. Anyone looking to make trouble will get their comeuppance."
"I'm not worried at all. I've lived a full life at my age. If worse comes to worst, I'll just go all in."
Old Madam had barely finished speaking when they were visited by some people.
Since Old Master was a meritorious veteran, the visitors were relatively courteous, only saying they wanted them to review some matters, and even sent a car.
Before leaving, Old Madam was still reassuring ZhiXi, "ZhiXi, don't be scared, they just want to ask some questions. We'll be back before long. Go find your Grandpa Pei and tell him what's happening. He'll understand."
ZhiXi scrambled in a panic all the way to the Pei residence. She worried the whole way whether she had been too reckless.
Old Master and Old Madam were so advanced in years. If anything went wrong because of her, she would never forgive herself even in death.
ZhiXi had run so quickly that when she got to the door, she bumped right into Pei Jing.
Gasping for breath, she was steadied by him before standing firm again. She immediately said, "I've come to find Grandpa Pei. My grandparents have been taken away."
