649 Mother

Xiu's slight pause was neither because of the words spoken nor because of the person who said those words. Instead, her eyes had fallen on the man behind Zhao Huan before she looked back at Zhao Huan. But that momentary shift of hers was noticed by Zhao Huan easily.

Meanwhile, Xiao Li was actually happy to hear his aunt's words as he said, "We do look like siblings, right?"

Zhao Haun took a step towards them saying, "Indeed, you guys do."

Xiu also waved her hand at her, "Hi, doctor!"

Zhao Huan smiled at Xiu brightly as she greeted back before even pulling Xiu in for a hug. Xiu's brows quirked up in surprise but she relaxed when Zhao Huan whispered, "Let me hug my daughter."

"Should I start calling you mother?" retorted Xiu in a voice that only these two could hear.

Zhao Huan straightened up as she said, "I don't mind. Not at all."

Xiu was speechless at her response. She had already learned that Zhao Huan knew about her identity as Destiny Novell and also about the relationship between Destiny and her husband. But here she was casually greeting her step-mother. Xiu had to give it to this family. No matter what they'd always react in a calm way.

Xiu looked at this supposed step-mother and shook her head. 

"What secrets are you discussing?" wondered Xiao Li.

"You didn't tell me your secrets, I won't tell you mine," replied Xiu. "Isn't that right, doctor?"

Zhao Haun agreed with Xiu, "Yes, that sounds fair."

Seeing his wife talking animatedly with Xiu, Xin Zemin also stepped up and joined them. And seeing her husband, Zhao Huan introduced, "Min, meet Bai Xiu."

Xin Zemin gave a nod saying, "We've met."

Xiu looked confused, "Have we?"

Xin Zemin gaped at her in disbelief, "We literally met just a day ago at Xiao Zi's place."

Xiu's brows knitted up close as she said, "Did we? I don't remember. Sorry, I have a fish memory."

Xiao Li chuckled at her response, "It's not that she has fish memory, this little sister has a selective memory."

Xiu nodded agreeably, "Or you can say it like that."

Honestly, Xiu did remember seeing him at Ah-Xin's place. But that's it. She had barely talked to him so she didn't think it was important to remember that short meeting. At that time, she had only looked at Xin Zemin and thought that he looked similar to Ah-Xin. That was the only thing that clicked in her brain. 

But now, her brain was completely clear about the fact that he was also Destiny's father. She couldn't deny it. Even if she wanted to, facts couldn't be changed.

"But you have a good memory," started Xiu. "You even remember me after just that short hello. How surprising."

"Zemin!"

Xin Zemin turned around and was surprised to see his parents. He hurriedly walked up to them and Xiao Li also followed him. Only Zhao Huan was left behind with Xiu.

"Won't you say hi to your in-laws?" asked Xiu.

Zhao Huan looked at her husband smiling and hugging his parents as she replied, "Do you know why Xiao Zi doesn't like his parents?" Xiu shook her head and she continued, "Seeing their eldest son, my in-laws forget the whole world. Their world literally revolves around their son."

Xiu found this really odd as she asked, "But Ah-Xin is also their son."

Zhao Haun snorted, "Of course, he is." She looked at Xiu as she went on, "But his only fault is that he was exceptionally smart and was born as the second son." She sighed out, "His exceptional talent was only a threat to his elder brother. How could the parents whose whole world was their elder son could love the second son?"

"It doesn't make sense," replied Xiu. "As I said, they both are their sons. Why does it even matter?"

"It's the absurdly feudal mindset." She took a pause before adding, "And a daughter-in-law who couldn't give their son an heir is also as extraneous as their second son."

Xiu still couldn't get her mind around this whole thing. She didn't believe it was that simple but she didn't want to discuss it with her. Instead, she asked what she had been curious about, "Doctor, you know that technically speaking, I'm your step-daughter, right?"

"I'm very well aware," answered Zhao Huan. "I've finally made peace with your existence as my step-daughter."

Xiu chuckled softly, "That means you also have made peace with the fact that your husband cheated on you?"

Zhao Huan's face stiffened. She played with her fingers as if trying to stop her hands from shaking before she said bitterly, "You really know where it hurts."

"I have no intention of hurting you. I was merely stating a fact," replied Xiu.

Zhao Huan took Xiu's hand and took her to another side. She tried to look calm as she said, "Xiu, I thought you'd want to confront your father. I mean don't you want the answer for why he abandoned you? Or why your mother was not in his life?"

Xiu shook her head, "Even if I want some answers, I want them on my conditions. The confrontation is inevitable but I need time for that. I need to clear a lot of things before taking that step."

Zhao Huan's lips curved up slightly, "You're just like Xiao Zi bragged about you." Xiu looked at her inquisitively as she answered, "You're just like a sea. Calm but dangerous."

"I didn't know Ah-Xin thinks so highly of me," said Xiu quite pleased with herself.

Zhao Huan patted her shoulder and said, "Take better care of yourself from now."

Xiu frowned, "Where did this come from? So suddenly? Out of nowhere?"

"You went to the hospital yesterday." Xiu's lips parted. "I heard it's very good news. And that's why I want you to take care of yourself." Then she looked around and carefully repeated, "I'm again telling you, take care of yourself. Don't take this lightly. In fact, don't tell anyone about this."

Xiu narrowed her eyes, "Why do you look scared?"

Zhao Huan's eyes softened as she said, "Xiu, I once thought the world is a simple place. But later, people made me realize that I was too naive. I don't want you to go through that as well."

"Ah-Xin said I should be attentive and take care of myself. You're repeating his words. But none of you is telling me who am I taking these precautions for? Who exactly is the villain?"

"Whoever it is, that person is hiding in shadows. That's what makes that person more dangerous."

Xiu took a moment before asking, "Did that person in the shadows hurt you?"

Zhao Huan gave her a sad smile, "Hurt me? No... That person killed a part of me."

"Xiu!" 

Xiu looked over at Nora before turning back to Zhao Huan, "It seems like my mysteries are even more dangerous than I thought they were."

Zhao Huan gave her a reassuring smile, "Although dangers are lurking everywhere, I promise you that Xiao Zi will not let you get hurt."

"For some reason, my heart also says so." Xiu's smile was not only confident, it was bright and lively. Genuinely from her heart, she knew that she could trust her Ah-Xin. Around him, she'd always feel protected. Around him, she'd be herself. 

Did it matter who was going to hurt her? Did it matter who had been trying to kill Destiny? It had to be the same person but Xiu wasn't scared. Neither was she scared of dying nor was she scared of getting hurt. She had been through it all. But more than that, she now believed that she could get through this all.

Xiu turned to walk over to Nora who was looking for her before she paused and tilted her head saying, "Hey, doctor! I think if I have a step-mother like you, I won't mind having one."

Zhao Huan looked at her in shock as she smiled again and added, "The word mother holds quite a strange meaning to me. But you... You make me want to explore this relationship all over again."