CHAPTER 716: CHAPTER 711: SUSPICION

(I had something come up yesterday, so I didn’t update the story. I got home late and didn’t come online to ask for leave, but I did ask for it in the group, sorry about that, guys.)

Luo Zhiyong, seeing that Fang Pingying was serious, stopped messing around and sat up properly, revealing another reason for his visit, "Don’t, don’t, wife, actually I came in here because there’s something I need to tell you."

Fang Pingying, noting that his expression had become serious, signaled for him to continue.

Luo Zhiyong hesitated a moment and, frowning, asked Fang Pingying, "Don’t you think that what Cuilan was saying today was a bit odd?"

"What aspect are you referring to?" Fang Pingying hadn’t paid much attention to their conversation because she had been cooking in the kitchen and didn’t know what they had talked about.

Luo Zhiyong repeated to Fang Pingying what Luo Cuilan had said to him, then expressed his confusion, "She mentioned something about my origins, then she said I’m her biological older brother. I am her biological older brother, but what exactly does she mean by saying that?"

Now that Luo Zhiyong had brought it up, Fang Pingying also recalled many things.

For instance, Luo Cuilan had indeed mentioned something related to this to her, although she had spoken about Haohao. Initially, Fang Pingying hadn’t thought much of it, but now that Luo Zhiyong mentioned it, she felt increasingly that something was off.

Then, she also remembered the time when Zhou Yunmei had talked about Haohao being her only grandson, completely ignoring Ruirui in the process.

Fang Pingying thought back on many things, then tentatively formulated a bold conjecture that she found somewhat implausible.

She looked at Luo Zhiyong and, with considerable hesitation, asked, "Luo Zhiyong, when you were a child, did your family ever mention anything about you?"

Luo Zhiyong, not as attentive as Fang Pingying and unaware of her extensive thoughts, blurted out, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by that?"

After staring at him for a while, Fang Pingying half-jokingly said, "Like you were adopted, and not actually born to your parents."

At Fang Pingying’s words, Luo Zhiyong burst out laughing, taking it not seriously at all, "Are you crazy? Why would you even think that? My parents are perfectly capable of having children, why would they adopt?"

Thinking further, Luo Zhiyong brought up another point, "Besides, you’ve known me since childhood in the same village. Have you ever heard such a thing? If I really wasn’t my parents’ child, it definitely would have been gossip around the village. Aren’t village people the best at spreading that kind of rumor?"

"That’s true as well." Fang Pingying felt there was sense in what Luo Zhiyong said. She truly had never heard even the slightest hint of such gossip in the village. It was unlikely that Luo Zhiyong was adopted or anything of the sort. But if that wasn’t the possibility, she couldn’t think what else it could be. So, shaking her head and frowning, she said, "Then I don’t know what it could be. I really want to find out, maybe go ask your dad someday."

If he really went and asked Luo Dashan, Luo Zhiyong felt it would be quite abrupt—without any evidence, what kind of grown son suddenly questions his father about whether he is his biological child? It might even lead to more trouble.

Forget it, unable to make sense of it, Luo Zhiyong wasn’t going to think about it anymore. He shook his head and presumed he was overthinking, "Never mind, maybe Cuilan was just stressed out and spouting nonsense, she’s always like that."

Fang Pingying nodded, for now, that was the only conclusion they could come to.

Having finished discussing the serious matters, Fang Pingying glanced towards the door, signaling that it was time for someone to leave.

Luo Zhiyong pretended not to see her signal and instead flopped down on the bed, yawning ostentatiously as he said, "Alright, we’ve finished talking. Time to sleep."

Seeing this, Fang Pingying reached out irritably and tugged at him, "Sleep where?"

"My wife, the bed in the study is honestly too hard. Could I borrow yours for a bit? I..." Luo Zhiyong looked around, planning to settle for second best as he pointed at the small bed that Ruirui and Yaoyao usually slept on, "I could sleep on that little bed."

"So you find our bed too hard? Why don’t you go back to the barracks then? Their beds are soft enough." Fang Pingying finished speaking and after giving him a glare, she kicked him, "Get out, I have to go to the supermarket for work tomorrow. Stop messing around."

Although Luo Zhiyong was disappointed, he had respect for Fang Pingying, and moreover, in matters between husband and wife, both must be wholeheartedly involved for it to be enjoyable. Since Fang Pingying felt the timing wasn’t right, he would abide by her wishes.

However, Luo Zhiyong did indeed need to think about the matter Fang Pingying had accused him of being untrustworthy about. Perhaps if he understood that matter, his wife would return to his arms on her own accord.

Meanwhile, Luo Cuilan and Luo Honglan left Fang Pingying’s house together. By the time the two returned home, it was already past seven in the evening. Originally, Luo Zhiyong had said he would take Luo Cuilan back to Luo Zhiming’s place, but Luo Honglan said Luo Cuilan was too tired to travel back and forth with Zhuzhu. Moreover, Luo Cuilan said she wanted to see Dashan, so she took Zhuzhu and went over to Dashan’s place, planning to spend the night there.

Walking on the road, both of them were thinking about Luo Zhiyong’s situation, and finally Luo Honglan couldn’t hold it in any longer. She glanced at Luo Cuilan and asked softly, "Big sister, do you know something?"

"What are you referring to?" Luo Cuilan looked at Luo Honglan, thinking that if Luo Honglan didn’t know, she wouldn’t say anything, to keep the secret better protected from becoming widely known.

Luo Honglan didn’t have as many thoughts as Luo Cuilan, and said directly, "About big brother’s matters, did mum tell you something recently?"

"It looks like you know too." Seeing that Luo Honglan had mentioned it directly, Luo Cuilan knew she must be aware as well and decided not to hide it. However, thinking about Luo Zhiyong’s situation made her sigh, "I really never thought big brother would have such a background. I always believed he was the same as us."

Luo Honglan also felt it was incredibly surreal and sighed, "Yeah, I’ve known about this for a while now. I’ve been hesitating whether or not to talk to big brother about it."

After pausing, Luo Honglan seemed to discuss with Luo Cuilan, "I was actually thinking of telling him because it seems that more and more people are becoming aware of it, and it’s bound to come out sooner or later. Rather than having someone abruptly reveal it one day, it’s better we tell him so he can be mentally prepared."

"That makes sense." Actually, such a big matter was too much for Luo Cuilan to decide on her own. In the end, she just gave a suggestion, "Let’s go back and discuss it with dad."

Luo Honglan nodded, feeling that if it had to be said, Dashan should be the one to tell Luo Zhiyong personally. But now she was even more worried about another matter, "However, big sister, big brother’s issue can wait a bit, I think Zhiyong’s matter is more urgent. When you go back tomorrow, you should clear things up with Zhiyong and mum about Xu He’s child. Although I haven’t been close with them in these past years, they are still my family, and I don’t want them to get hurt."

"Okay." Luo Cuilan agreed verbally, but inside she was still hesitant about revealing it so soon. After all, if she spoke too quickly, on the one hand, she would lose some things, and on the other, she was worried about whether Luo Zhiming would be able to accept it or not.