On the day of the divorce, I became Qin Shao's darling.

"I didn't do it on purpose," Lin Xiwei retorted coldly and confidently. "You're so old, and you still perm your hair like this. It's so easy for your clothes to snag in winter."

Zhao Xingfen became even angrier upon hearing this: "Can't I love beauty at my age? Let me tell you, it's because you don't like to dress up and make yourself look like a haggard old woman that Su Yunfan was seduced by that vixen."

Upon hearing this bizarre remark, Lin Xiwei gave a cold laugh in anger.

"It's clearly the man's fault, why blame me? I'd love for someone to take care of trash like Su Yunfan."

"Keep being stubborn! Let's see what kind of woman you can find for your second marriage."

"Why do I have to remarry? Can't I just be a free and independent single rich woman?"

"You—" Zhao Xingfen stared at her daughter, her chest heaving with anger.

"Xiwei, you've changed. You never used to talk to me like this." Zhao Xingfen was silent for a while before suddenly throwing out these words.

Lin Xiwei said expressionlessly, "You all beat me so badly that I fractured my lumbar vertebra and was hospitalized. How can I treat you the same way as before? I'm already being very filial by the fact that I can still see you."

"Are you filial?"

Zhao Xingfen was about to scold her again, but Lin Xiwei reached out and closed the door, saying, "Get out, I need to use the restroom."

She had no choice but to shut up and leave.

But after taking a couple of steps away, Zhao Xingfen became increasingly angry.

She genuinely didn't want to come to the hospital to take care of Lin Xiwei, but the thought of her husband and son still being held at the police station and about to be sent to the detention center today made her extremely anxious.

In the bathroom, Lin Xiwei sat on the toilet, looking at the strand of hair twirling between her fingers.

The hair follicles are intact, which is good.

She wrapped her hair in a tissue and carefully put it in her pocket.

After she finished using the restroom, Zhao Xingfen didn't come over to help her, and she didn't insist. She simply supported her waist and slowly moved back to the hospital bed.

Zhao Xingfen sat to the side, sulking.

Seeing her daughter come out and get into bed on her own, she snorted coldly, "You can walk now, can't you? I think you're just pretending, trying to get your dad and your brother to come in too."

Having achieved her goal, Lin Xiwei didn't want her to be in the way, so she casually remarked, "Whether it's an act or not, a forensic examination will prove it. If you really don't want to take care of me, I won't force you."

Zhao Xingfen abruptly stood up, eager to leave immediately, "You said it yourself!"

But she stood up, paused for a second, then clenched her fists and held back.

No, she had to endure it for her husband and son!

Zhao Xingfen softened her tone, "Weiwei, those are your father and brother after all! Are you really going to be so heartless as to send them to jail? If word gets out, people will gossip about you behind your back!"

Lin Xiwei remained unmoved. "I don't care."

"Weiwei..." Zhao Xingfen took two more steps towards the bedside, her voice pleading, "Please, just take pity on your mother, okay? Have your father and Yanzhou apologize to you properly, and you'll drop the case with the police, alright?"

Lin Xiwei turned her face away, feeling distressed.

From the moment her mother appeared until now, she hasn't shown a single word of concern for her injury.

Her face was bruised and swollen, but her mother acted as if she didn't see it.

Is this how you treat your daughter?

But for the sake of her husband and son, she could lower herself and feel immense heartache.

With that thought in mind, Lin Xiwei hardened her heart again and refused directly: "No, if I forgive you this time, you will only become worse in the future."

"No, we promise we'll never lay a hand on you again." Zhao Xingfen's face was serious; she was practically swearing an oath to the heavens.

Lin Xiwei turned to look at her: "You're not asking me for money anymore?"

"..." Zhao Xingfen suddenly stopped, her face showing great difficulty. After hesitating for a moment, she stammered, "Weiwei, you have so much... tens of millions in your hands. You could never spend it all in your lifetime. Yanzhou isn't very capable. As the older sister, you should help him—"

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Xiwei turned around, leaving only her back view: "Fine, you can go."

Seeing her daughter's resolute attitude, Zhao Xingfen's face suddenly hardened. "Lin Xiwei! I'm begging you, don't go too far! You'll be punished for being so heartless!"

"..." Lin Xiwei remained silent.

Zhao Xingfen was so angry that she was panting heavily, her eyes fixed on her daughter's back, her gaze sharper than a knife.

Seeing that her daughter's mind was made up and there was no room for negotiation, she stomped her foot angrily, cursing under her breath, and stormed off.

Lin Xiwei remained lying on her side, motionless.

Her expression was calm.

But a tear slid down her cheek and quietly soaked into the pillow.

But she quickly calmed down, and there was no longer any pain in her eyes.

Such a family member is not worth her tears.

After calming down, Lin Xiwei took out her phone and sent a message to Chu Qing.

Chu Qing called soon after.

"What do you mean? You really suspect they aren't your biological parents?" Chu Qing asked in surprise.

"Yes, what you said yesterday woke me up. I'm thinking of getting a paternity test. If they are my biological parents, then I can only accept my bad luck. If not..."

Lin Xiwei paused, unsure of what to do if things didn't go as planned.

She's already twenty-six years old. If her biological parents are someone else, why haven't they looked for her all these years?

Or perhaps you were abandoned by your biological parents back then, so they never even thought of looking for you?

Lin Xiwei was momentarily dazed, her thoughts in disarray.

Chu Qing said angrily, "Even if the paternity test results show that they are your biological parents, you can't be soft-hearted! With their bottomless greed, even if you're worth over a hundred million, it wouldn't be enough for them to squander."

Lin Xiwei knew exactly what kind of people her family was, and she had no doubt about her best friend's words.

"Could you take it for testing first? We'll talk about it after the results come out."

"Okay, I happen to be free right now."

After hanging up the phone, Chu Qing arrived quickly.

She took Zhao Xingfen's hair sample, and her words revealed that she was even more anxious for the result than Lin Xiwei.

The room quieted down, and Lin Xiwei sighed softly, feeling utterly exhausted, so she simply closed her eyes to rest.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

upstairs.

In Madam Qin's hospital room, the elderly couple were keeping Junjun company, their relationship harmonious and joyful.

Director Yan came over to deliver the examination report and couldn't help but tease Junjun a few times when he saw him.

"This child is really lovable. Outsiders who don't know the situation would really think he's your Qin family's grandson," Director Yan said casually with a smile.

Mr. Qin paused upon hearing this.

He stood up and moved closer to Director Yan, looked at Junjun in deep thought for a while, nodded and said, "I've always felt that he's my own grandson."

Director Yan lowered his voice and asked, "Old Qin, didn't you have any doubts?"

The old man raised an eyebrow slightly: "Suspicion of what?"

"This child looks so much like the Second Young Master when he was a child, and the child is naturally close to you all, including the Eldest Young Master, who is exceptionally patient and loving towards him—I really wonder if this might be the Second Young Master in his past life..."

Director Yan's expression became somewhat subtle as he said this, and he quickly explained, "Of course, I'm not trying to discredit the Second Young Master's character. I just think, what if, for example, the Second Young Master had a relationship with that Miss Lin? Or for some other reason? In short, I think it's too much of a coincidence."

These days, the Qin family elders have been grumbling about this matter quite a bit.

But despite the doubts, they didn't translate into action.

Now that Director Yan had brought it up, Mr. Qin frowned and whispered, "How about... we do a paternity test?"

Director Yan said, "Since the Second Young Master is no longer here, a paternity test cannot be done, but the child can be tested for kinship with you."

Old Qin was surprised: "You can do this? This can also prove the child's identity as well as ours?"

Director Yan nodded: "Of course, although it's a bit complicated, it can prove blood relations."

Mr. Qin was intrigued.

Just then, Junjun suddenly started having a nosebleed again.

Mrs. Qin was startled and immediately called out. Upon seeing this, Director Yan stepped forward and skillfully stopped the child's bleeding.

Junjun was used to such unexpected situations and calmly let the doctor handle it.

After the child's nosebleed stopped, there were many blood-stained tissues in the trash can on the ground.

"Director Yan, I'm entrusting this matter to you." As he saw Director Yan out, Old Qin stuffed a wad of wrapped tissues into his hand and whispered his instructions.

Director Yan agreed, but then added with some concern, "Shouldn't we discuss this with the young master?"

"No need," Old Qin waved his hand and said in a low voice, "If he finds out, he'll definitely scold us for being senile and say we're obsessed with having a grandson. Just do it quietly. I reckon that's unlikely; Yue Lang is completely focused on his work and has never had a girlfriend."

Old Qin felt it was impossible, but because of his doubts, he still wanted to see written evidence so that he could give up.

Director Yan nodded: "Okay, it won't hurt to do it. We'll have the results in two or three days."

"Um."

After seeing Director Yan off, Mr. Qin returned, and Mrs. Qin looked at him worriedly and said, "Isn't it wrong of us to do this behind Weiwei's back..."

Mr. Qin hesitated for a moment, looked at Junjun playing with Lego, and reassured himself, "We didn't hurt the child, it's okay, don't overthink it, but remember—don't let Jiamo know, or we'll both get scolded."

"Don't worry, I won't tell." Old Mrs. Qin was also afraid of being scolded by her eldest son, but after a slight pause, she asked her husband, "What if the test results are true? What then?"

Mr. Qin looked at the earnest and focused little boy again and sighed softly, "If it is true, then it is the will of Heaven. In any case, the child must be recognized as a member of the family."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At noon, when the Qin family's servants brought lunch, they also went downstairs to deliver a portion to Lin Xiwei.

She was originally supposed to be able to move back to the luxury ward upstairs after dealing with Zhao Xingfen.

But Feng Zheqian called and said he would come to visit her during his lunch break.

She thought she might as well deal with Feng Zheqian in this ordinary ward.

My phone beeped during the meal.

She looked closely and was quite surprised.

It was actually sent by Qin Jiamo.

This guy had previously said that he didn't like sending WeChat messages and always called when he needed something—yet today he actually had the time to chat with her on WeChat.

Qin Jiamo asked her if she had obtained a DNA sample.

Lin Xiwei felt a warm feeling in her heart after reading it.

He still remembers his own affairs.

[I got the hair sample and gave it to my best friend immediately. She helped me find a doctor to do the analysis.]

At this moment, Attorney Qin, who had just stepped out of the mediation court, saw these words and his expression suddenly turned several degrees cold.