Chapter 169

Chapter 169

At the family reunion banquet, the Xiao and Ye families formally announced to the public that Ye Jinmeng's name would be changed to Xiao Jinmeng, and Xu Wanwan's name would be changed to Ye Wanwan.

The name change was agreed upon by everyone in both families. Xiao Jinmeng and Ye Wanwan were like sisters, and Xiao Yongze and Song Jiaxi took the opportunity to accept Ye Wanwan as their goddaughter.

All the guests at the banquet envied the close relationship between the two families. Even a red-eyed woman murmured wistfully, "Ah, if only I had given birth on the same day back then, maybe I would have accidentally switched my baby with the Xiao family's baby, then I would have a connection with the Xiao family now."

This remark caused everyone around her to roll their eyes. Someone couldn't help but remind her, "What's wrong with raising your own daughter? Didn't you see that the other family even regrets not being part of the child's growth?"

"Exactly, you really don't know what's good for you!"

"Besides, I remember that the child the Xiao family adopted didn't even make it to a month old, right? You should be grateful it wasn't you who switched babies with them, otherwise your own daughter would have died long ago!"

"That's right! It's a good thing it wasn't you, otherwise their child would have been mistreated by you and wouldn't be as adorable and sensible as Xiao Jinmeng!"

The woman's face flushed red. Her own child was indeed unaccomplished, only knowing how to spend money on food, drinks, and dating, though she had never minded before. But to be called out in front of so many people, she felt ashamed.

She couldn't help but shout, "What's wrong with my daughter? Even if she's unaccomplished, she's still living just fine. The Xiao family let someone else's child die, yet they're here as one big happy family, enjoying family bliss. How dare they show their faces!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the banquet hall fell silent. The woman finally realized what she had said and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Although the others felt pity for the deceased child, they also knew not to offend the Xiao and Ye families. They quickly distanced themselves from the woman, even her husband glaring at her with blame.

The woman had never experienced such universal disdain before. Suddenly feeling panicked, her eyes welled up with tears, and her trembling body tried to explain.

"I... I didn't mean it that way..."

But her husband glared at her sternly. "Just shut up!"

Xiao Jinmeng looked at her parents with concern, but Song Jiaxi patted her hand, signaling her not to worry.

Xiao Yongze narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them. He cleared his throat into the microphone, his voice calm and emotionless.

Before the banquet, Policeman Shi had sent Xiao Yongze a message saying the identification results were out, confirming the deceased child's relationship to the nanny.

The nanny, who had been recuperating in the hospital, probably felt her days were numbered. She had been constantly requesting the police officer guarding her to help find her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, wanting to see them one last time.

The officer could only helplessly inform Policeman Shi.

Policeman Shi came to the hospital and sighed as he looked at the emaciated, skeletal old woman on the hospital bed.

Actually, he didn't want to tell her the whole truth, but since she was on her deathbed, rather than letting her struggle in vain hope and leave with regrets, he might as well steel his heart and let her face reality.

But to his surprise, when the nanny learned that her son and daughter-in-law had already passed away, and that she had killed her own grandchild with her own hands, she didn't have the breakdown Policeman Shi had imagined.

Instead, she seemed to feel a sense of liberation.

The nanny rasped, "Ah, it was all fate."

"If Huiying hadn't done something foolish back then, I would have stayed home to take care of my little granddaughter and never gone to work for the Xiao family, never been blinded by 800,000 yuan, never committed murder and buried the body.

Huiying also wouldn't have had to quit her hospital job to do odd jobs at home, and the two of them wouldn't have died falling into a ravine on their way to work. Our family would have lived a happy life like everyone else's."

"But alas, there are no regrets in this world, and life can't be relived. Everything that's happened is because of our greed, we brought it upon ourselves!"

The nanny suddenly laughed.

"But now, I suddenly feel that the sense of guilt that has weighed on me for over a decade has lightened considerably. It's a relief that Lord Xiao Yongze's child is still alive.

As for my granddaughter, when I pass on, I will personally find her and seek atonement."

Huiying said, her clouded eyes turning towards Policeman Shi, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Thank you, Policeman Shi, for allowing me to depart with a clear conscience."

Policeman Shi did not expect her to say such words and simply shook his head silently.

Huiying turned her gaze toward the window, where a sparrow had alighted on a branch, chirping incessantly before flying away, disappearing from sight.

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