I Have Decided to Go Look for My Father

Chen Zhiyang’s eyes widened when he saw Gu Shao sunk into deep thoughts. He seemed to have figured something out: Perhaps, much like Xu Fei had said, the professor really had some “romantic past”.

“Professor, would you like to arrange for paternity test?” Chen Zhiyang, doing this best to suppress the shock that he was experiencing, asked tentatively as he tried to maintain a normal look.

Gu Shao didn’t say a word but his look became more solemn.

Ignoring Chen Zhiyang, Gu Shao pulled out his phone and placed a call.

The other end picked up the call quickly.

“Sir.” The deep male voice from the other end of the phone was very respectful.

“Go look into a Gu Xi.” Noticing that he had misspoke, Gu Shao paused and corrected himself. “A girl around 13-14 years old by the name of Lin Xi.

“In addition.” Gu Nian looked down and added, “Look into what happened in Imperial Court Hotel 15 years ago.”

The man on the other end of the call did not ask too many questions. “Yes, Sir. I will arrange for that right away.”

Gu Shao sunk into deep thoughts once again after hanging up on the call.

This time, however, he wasn’t trying to sort out his vague memory from 10+ years ago. Instead, he was thinking about the girl covered in dust whom he had just met 20 minutes ago.

***

The Lin’s residence on the other end.

Zhang Cui, after dropping Lin Xi off at Zhang Qiang’s place, used visiting relatives as an excuse and had the chauffeur took her back.

She stayed over at the Lin’s place for another night and finally started packing to return to her own place after she had lunch.

Before she took off and noticing that concerned look on her daughter, Zhang Cui spoke to her, “Kexin, are you still worried about it?”

Song Kexin nodded, then shook her head. “Mom, I just have a bad feeling about it. What did you tell Lin Xi when you left? Would she notice that something is off and run away from Zhang Qiang’s place?”

Zhang Cui patted Song Kexin on her hand and said, “You worry too much. Lin Xi had no money with her and she is not familiar with the area. I even stole her cellphone. Where do you think she can go?

“Besides, I’ve specifically asked Zhang Daitian’s wife to go take a look over at Zhang Qiang’s place this morning.”

“How did that go?” Song Kexin was nervous.

“Don’t worry. She is still there. She made a fuss and Zhang Qiang locked her up.”

Song Kexin let out a sigh of relief but still frowned from feeling worried. “I worry she would continue to fuss. Would negative words get out?”

If the media got hold of this, it would negatively impact the Lin family’s reputation for sure.

“Don’t worry. News won’t get out from there. Besides, she is just a child. It’s only normal that she would fuss in a brand-new environment. She will get over it in a few days.”

Song Kexin felt better after hearing that from Zhang Cui. She nodded and said, “When push comes to shove, we can always offer more money to Zhang Qiang and have him keep a closer eye out on Lin Xi.”

Zhang Cui agreed with her. Her eyes rolled and something else had occurred to her. She pulled over Song Kexin’s hand and said to her, “I have an idea if you worry that Yize and your mother-in-law are bothered by that child.”

“What are you thinking?” asked Song Kexin.

“We have already sent the child away. We might as well move her household register over to your second grandfather’s family. That way she will have nothing else to do with the Lin family. Besides, your second grandfather’s family has a lot of children. Nobody could tell when they gain or lose a child.”

The regulations on household register had been tightened as of late, unless 10+ years ago. It would be hard press to add a child under Zhang Qiang’s name when he was a single man. Second uncle was a relative of hers and it would not be difficult to move Lin Xi’s household register over.

Song Kexin frowned a little. “How would we explain it away on our end?”

“I have thought of that as well. What I am thinking is that you can pick another child from second grandfather’s place that is around the same age and raise her instead.” Zhang Cui paused for a little and carried on talking, “Nobody knew what First Miss Lin looks like anyway. She would still be your older child after the swap.

“But you can raise her as though she is a niece of yours. That way she wouldn’t feel such envy.

“Besides, children from the villages are simple and honest. They won’t be manipulative like Lin Xi and we won’t need to worry about our Xin-er being bullied.”

Song Kexin understood where Zhang Cui was coming from but bringing over another child was a big deal. “Let me talk to Yize and my mother-in-law about this first.”

Zhang Cui nodded and got ready to take off.

Song Kexin stopped her again. Looking anxious, she asked, “Mom, do you think Lin Xi will hate us?”

Zhang Cui waved her hand, “She’s just a child. She wouldn’t think that much. She’ll get used to living in Village Zhang in a few days.”

Song Kexin nodded and saw Zhang Cui out.