Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After taking two sips of her drink to suppress her nerves, Qiao Nan suddenly said, “Zhai Yi, Zhai Xin. Do you still remember that you have an aunt?”
Zhai Yi frowned and his face turned dark. “Mom, why did you suddenly mention this person out of the blue?” How could he not have remembered? He had a deep impression of her. A woman who was particularly sick no longer wanted to live and chose to die under his mother’s car wheels. That was already ten years ago. Because of that scene, Zhai Xin and Zhai Yu had nightmares for a long time.
However, this was their Zhai family’s matter. Zhou Xing was just Zhai Xin’s girlfriend and wasn’t considered part of their Zhai family. Why did their mother mention this aunt in front of Zhou Xing?
Zhai Yi didn’t understand. However, Zhou Xing couldn’t help but clench her hands. The fingertips that were holding the glass cup turned white due to excessive force. Zhou Xing couldn’t help but lower her head. She was afraid that the three from the Zhai family would notice the emotions that were brewing strongly in her eyes. No, the Zhai family must not know her relationship with her mother yet.
Even if she really got married to Zhai Xin, she must not let him know that she was Qiao Zijin’s daughter.
“I don’t want to mention this at first. However, I have no choice but to mention it now as this woman is quite important. You have to listen, especially Zhai Xin. Promise me that when you listen, you have to remain calm. Zhai Yi, if Zhai Xin can’t do that, help me manage him. Understand?” Qiao Nan kept her gaze firmly on Zhou Xing.
Zhai Yi nodded and changed his position to sit next to Zhai Xin. Zhai Xin felt dismayed. He remembered that aunt as well. However, she had passed away for ten years now and he had treated that woman as if she had never existed. Why was it that upon the mention of that woman, his mother had asked Da Bao to look out for him? She even specifically called him out and asked him to remain calm.
What a joke. How would he not remain calm because of that aunt? She wasn’t part of their family. Even if he was angry, that was in the past. How would he not be able to remain calm?
“…” Zhou Xing couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. She had a faint feeling in her heart. However, she felt that it was impossible. It was impossible for Qiao Nan to know about her background.
“You’re Zhou Xing, right? Zhou Ying is a pretty name. Why did you change your name to Zhou Xing? Your decision to change your name should have nothing to do with our Zhai family, right?” She couldn’t have changed her name just so that she could seduce the men from the Zhai family. “I heard that you’re a military performer in the army and like the arts and teaching dancing? Actually, your mother liked these a lot when she was still around. The both of you are similar, and you share the same hobbies.”
In her and Qiao Zijin’s generation, studies were valued the most. Only by learning well and getting into a good high school and university would one be successful in the future. It was unlike now, where every profession produced its own leading authority. Even people who wanted to be celebrities could be found everywhere.
Zhou Xing’s hand shivered and nearly spilled the drink in the cup. “Auntie, what are you talking about? Why do I not understand?” Perhaps Zhou Xing’s words would have been more convincing if her face wasn’t that pale or if her voice was calmer and not trembling.
“Auntie?” Qiao Nan smiled. “Although today is the second time we have met, you should call me ‘aunt’ and not ‘auntie’. Ten years ago, you were still a little girl holding a doll. In the blink of an eye, you have become a slim and graceful girl who is at the age of finding a boyfriend.”
Zhai Yi and Zhai Xin didn’t expect that they would hear such a big secret. The brothers were tongue-tied at Zhou Xing’s identity. If Zhai Yi was surprised, then it would have been considered a big blow to Zhai Xin.
He had treated Zhou Xing like his sister, but in name, Zhou Xing was still his girlfriend. However, when his mother told him that he was dating his cousin, Zhai Xin felt that matter was both mysterious and ridiculous. “Mom, are you for real, or are you joking with me? You know my temper. I only treat Zhou Xing as my sister and I don’t have that kind of feelings for her. On account that Zhou Xing is still young, I initially planned for her to meet a boy that she really likes in the future…”
Thus, it was really unnecessary for his mother to say such terrible lies to scare him just so that he would break up with Zhou Xing.
1
Zhai Yi looked at Zhai Xin. Would their mom joke about such matters? If she really wanted Zhai Xin to break up, she could just say that she didn’t like Zhou Xing. This might not have worked for a lot of times, but Zhai Xin did listen to their mother and break up for the past three times.
As such, Zhou Xing was really their cousin and she was even that aunt’s daughter!
“Don’t rush to deny your relationship with Qiao Zijin. You wouldn’t have thought that just because you changed your name, I wouldn’t be able to check your background, right? According to what I know, Zhou Zheng is still alive. Your stepmother could similarly prove if you are Qiao Zijin’s daughter, Zhou Ying, or not.”
“I don’t know what your grandmother had said to you when you were growing up. I don’t want to know as well. What’s your motive for coming to the army to be a military performer and making such a bad joke with Zhai Xin? I want to let you know that a lot of things will not become reality just because you wish for it. The people from our Zhai family would always use our brains when doing things.”
Cousins dating? Did Zhou Xing really think that this was the ancient times?
In modern times, such marriages between close relatives are not allowed by the law! Er Bao wasn’t the type who would become carried away because of love. Furthermore, their feelings for each other hadn’t reached that stage yet. No matter what Zhou Xing was up to, it was destined that she would not be able to continue this act anymore.
“Hehe…” Zhou Xing laughed coldly. “That’s right as well. You’re one of the top ministers in the central government now. If this was the ancient times, you would only have one above you and millions under you, right? I’m just an ordinary citizen. How could I fight against you? How could I hide whatever you want to know? In your profession, you could casually find a person to check on my ancestors for the past eighteen generations. Who knows? In the end, you might even be clearer than me about our Zhou family’s history.”
“It’s good that you admit to this.” As to Zhou Xing’s unpleasant words, Qiao Nan had automatically blocked them.
“…” Zhai Xin’s face darkened and looked unkindly at Zhou Xing. His previous explanation that this was all just an overboard joke was no longer valid. Zhou Xing herself had admitted that she was indeed Qiao Zijin’s daughter.