CHAPTER 700: CHAPTER 695: THE OVERHEARD SECRET

Zhou Yunmei’s eyes darted around, knowing that such matters were not yet suitable for too many people to know. If too many people knew, she would lose her only leverage to blackmail Luo Dashan for money.

Therefore, she hastily waved her hands at Luo Cuilan, denying, "No, no, it’s not like that, don’t speculate recklessly."

"But you clearly said it just now." Zhou Yunmei looked panicked, making Luo Cuilan even more suspicious. Her probing became more severe, and she began to wildly guess, "Is it possible that my eldest brother is adopted, or fostered, and not actually a member of the Luo family at all?"

"It’s not..." Zhou Yunmei knew the temperament of her eldest daughter; if she genuinely wanted to know something, she wouldn’t let it go until she got answers. Internally, Zhou Yunmei was trying to think of a lie to get through this.

Seeing through her thoughts, Luo Cuilan purposefully picked up Zhuzhu, who was playing on the bed, and started to hustle Zhou Yunmei, saying, "If you refuse to tell, then forget it. I’ll just ask Dad."

Hearing Luo Cuilan say this, Zhou Yunmei had no other choice and immediately grabbed Luo Cuilan, "Don’t go, don’t go, I’ll tell you everything."

Thus, Zhou Yunmei told Luo Cuilan the whole truth about Luo Zhiyong’s origins. After finishing, she still muttered, planning to later ask Luo Dashan to bring Haohao over, or else she would spread the news about Luo Zhiyong’s origins everywhere.

Luo Cuilan was extremely shocked after hearing it. She had been raised in her maternal home for so many years, and she had never felt that Luo Zhiyong was any different from her other siblings; she had never even considered such a possibility.

Moreover, just like Luo Honglan, she had never thought that their seemingly honest father had been involved with two women in his lifetime and even had an illegitimate child.

However, after fully digesting this information, she didn’t feel it was too wrong. After all, they were still born from the same father, and they were blood-related siblings. Moreover, since Luo Zhiyong had grown up with them and had done so much for the family, there wasn’t much difference between him and their biological siblings.

Thus, after hearing this, Luo Cuilan didn’t speak out against Zhou Yunmei about Luo Zhiyong but instead advised Zhou Yunmei, "Mom, since you’ve kept this secret for so many years, just keep on holding it. As long as you keep it, Elder Brother will always be your dear son. If you really struggle later on, he won’t let you suffer. If you really spread this, don’t blame him for being heartless towards you. Once he finds out you’re not his birth mother, he won’t show mercy or give you any face and can rightfully ignore you."

Although Luo Cuilan’s words were harsh, Zhou Yunmei knew there was some truth in them, and she didn’t want Luo Cuilan to talk too much about it, fearing that others might overhear and increase the risk if more people knew about it.

Therefore, she hastily agreed with Luo Cuilan, "I know, I know. I don’t know what’s gotten into you recently; you’ve become like a different person. Every time we talk about your dad and your elder brother, you always side with them."

Understanding Zhou Yunmei, and seeing her attitude, Luo Cuilan felt somewhat helpless and said, "Mom, trust me, I’m not wrong. While there’s still a chance, mend your relationship with Dad. Don’t wait until the end when there’s no one to take care of you."

"I know, you’re being naggy." Zhou Yunmei replied before suddenly remembering what Luo Cuilan had mentioned about Xu He’s child earlier, and she began to press for further information, "Right, about that child of Xu He you mentioned earlier..."

This time, before Zhou Yunmei could finish speaking, the door suddenly opened and then Xu He, belly visibly swollen, walked in, "Mom, what happened to you, why is your hand wrapped up like that, what happened?"

"You’re back," Zhou Yunmei began, "My hand was injured by..."

Before she could finish, Luo Cuilan suddenly interrupted, "It’s nothing, she accidentally hurt herself. I’ve wrapped it up, it’s not serious."

Hearing this, Zhou Yunmei frowned and looked at Luo Cuilan, who shook her head at her, signaling her not to say anything more. Although Zhou Yunmei didn’t know why Luo Cuilan wanted to deceive Xu He, she still trusted her own daughter more and thus remained silent.

After listening, Xu He glanced at Luo Cuilan and then took another look at Zhou Yunmei’s hand, her expression full of suspicion, but she said, "Really? Maybe we should go to the hospital to have it checked?"

"Going to the hospital can be quite expensive, will you pay for it?" Luo Cuilan said, her tone slightly sarcastic as she glanced at Xu He, purposely added, "But then again, you seem to have a lot of money in your purse lately, just like a big boss, always ready to go to the hospital, never were you so caring towards my mother."

Luo Cuilan’s words were full of venom, leaving Xu He speechless for a while, or perhaps, she didn’t dare to speak. After a long pause, her face finally managed a forced smile, and she said to Zhou Yunmei, "Mom, I just went out to buy some groceries, I’m a bit tired now, you prepare lunch today and come over to my place."

Just as Zhou Yunmei was about to get up, Luo Cuilan grabbed her, waved her hand at Xu He, "Alright, go ahead, mom will come back later."

Hearing that, Xu He’s eyes flickered, then she suddenly said to Zhuzhu who has been playing on the bed, "Zhuzhu, I bought some biscuits for you at home, would you like some?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuzhu immediately climbed up from the bed and shouted to Luo Cuilan, "Mom, I want biscuits, biscuits."

Seeing her son making a fuss, Luo Cuilan could only laugh and picked him up, "Alright, let’s go, let’s go together."

Xu He, seeing Luo Cuilan and Zhou Yunmei getting ready to leave, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, Xu He was already at the door the first time Zhou Yunmei and Luo Cuilan mentioned her suspicion about the child in her womb. She was so nervous her whole body was almost cramping, fearing Luo Cuilan would spill the beans. She was about to push the door open, but then she overheard about Luo Zhiyong’s origins and stopped to listen.

When she heard about Luo Zhiyong’s background, she was shocked for quite a while. She and the Luo family had lived in the same village for many years and had never heard even a whisper about this. Amazed at how well the Luo family kept secrets, she also felt a touch of schadenfreude.

She used to think Luo Zhiyong was such a noble man, good-looking and with a good job, a cadre at that—as none in Luojia Village could surpass him temporarily. More so, marrying a wife who could earn money, turns out he’s a shameful illegitimate child, one who doesn’t even want his biological mother, abandoned, if this news spreads, Luo Zhiyong’s stance might even be worse off than Luo Zhiming’s.