The two children had the Lin surname?
Whose surname did they take?
“What’s going on?” Wen Qing’s tone grew serious.
It was a long-lasting tradition for children to take their father’s surname. For the older generation, they placed a lot of importance on it.
This time, Lin Xinyan walked over with the soup. Before she could place it on the table, Wen Qing urgently asked, “The children have followed your surname?”
He had a brief understanding of Zong Jinghao’s marriage. As Zong Jinghao was initially reluctant to share, he never told Wen Qing anything about Lin Xinyan. Wen Qing was busy too, so he did not really find out much about Lin Xinyan’s identity and background.
Lin Xinyan was stunned for a moment as Wen Qing’s question arrived too abruptly.
“That’s a long story. In short, it’s because I had disappointed them greatly. With regards to whose surname the kids take, I think that it’s only appropriate for them to take her surname. After all, she’s the one who has raised them.” Naturally, Zong Jinghao could tell that Wen Qing was very bothered and upset about this.
Directly before Wen Qing, he grabbed Lin Xinyan’s hand and pulled her to his side.
“When I got a divorce, I didn’t know that she was pregnant. I only knew afterward…” He did not elaborate on what had happened. However, he made it clear that everything was his fault. Hence, he would not change the children’s surname.
If a child were to take his surname, they could just have another one. In any case, Lin Xinyan agreed with him.
As for Zong Jinghao, he knew that they had divorced for a short while after getting married.
The children’s age seemed to correspond to the series of events.
“The most unfilial act is to not continue your family’s bloodline. Although Xichen is your son, he doesn’t take your surname. What will his identity be in the future? Will he belong to the Zongs or the Lins?” Wen Qing was still insistent that the two children should have to change their surnames.
Nothing would convince him to accept the fact that the children took their mother’s surname.
Zong Jinghao tightened his grip on Lin Xinyan’s hand and stroked the back of her palm. She turned around to look at him.
However, he did not meet her gaze. All Lin Xinyan could see was his chiseled side profile. From this angle, she could even see his eyelashes clearly.
With a soft, yet determined voice, he asserted, “We’re a married couple. We’re one.”
Wen Qing stuttered in fury, “Y-You…”
“What did your Dad say?” he asked, thinking that Zong Qifeng should have had a say in this.
However, Zong Qifeng had a clearer understanding than Wen Qing about what had happened. Hence, he did not oppose the children’s surname.
After all, Lin Xinyan had personally raised the kids for so many years. If she were willing to change their surnames, he would naturally be overjoyed. However, if she were unwilling, he would not force her to do so either.
“He’s gone old and he’s confused. He’s so enchanted by that woman that he can’t even discern between right and wrong.” Wen Qing’s fury rose, upon the mention of Zong Qifeng. He still could not get over how quickly Zong Qifeng had married Cheng Yuxiu after Wen Xian had passed away.
Lin Xinyan’s body stiffened, knowing clearly who Wen Qing was referring to.
Noticing her slight reaction, Zong Jinghao had a vague understanding of why she would feel that way.
Is she so close to Yuxiu that she’d become nervous every time someone would mention her name?
“That happened a long time ago, so I don’t want to dwell on it further. I know that you’re repulsed by it, but I must tell you something.” A serious expression crossed Wen Qing’s face. “Back then, your father could marry her because he had agreed on one condition. However, I realized recently that she might have broken the agreement…”
“Eat first. Let’s continue chatting after the meal. Anyways, there’s no point in digging up the past, right?” Li Jing placed the alcohol in front of Wen Qing.
He thought for a while. After all, Zong Jinghao did not visit that often. If he told him now, he might not even have the appetite to eat anymore. Hence, he uttered to Li Jing, “I’ll listen to you. Help me pour some alcohol.”
Smiling, Li Jing poured a glass each, for him and Zong Jinghao.
“It’s a joyous occasion today. Drink more with your Uncle, okay?” suggested Li Jing with a grin.
Zong Jinghao nodded.
Lin Xinyan sat beside him distractedly. Wen Qing’s interrupted speech must have had something to do with what Cheng Yuxiu had told her over the phone.
So many years have passed already. Why is he refusing to move on?
In addition to that, everything was planned by Wen Xian. Now, she’s making Cheng Yuxiu bear the consequences.
This is so unfair.
Cheng Yuxiu has sacrificed so much.
“If you’re free, bring your kids over to play.” Li Jing poured some soup for Lin Xinyan. While the men drank, they ate instead. “I wasn’t aware of what you would have liked to eat, so I’m not sure if the dishes today will suit your liking.”
Li Jing’s voice interrupted Lin Xinyan’s train of thoughts. Quickly returning to her senses, she responded with a reassuring smile, “I’m not a picky eater. This is good enough!”
“Alright then, make yourself at home!”
“Okay.”
Li Jing was very thoughtful and she kept placing food into the children’s bowls.
Wen Qing no longer mentioned anything about Cheng Yuxiu at the dining table. Instead, he chatted with Zong Jinghao about current affairs, politics, and the nation’s development.
“We don’t understand what they’re talking about, anyway.” Li Jing placed some vegetables into Lin Xinyan’s bowl. “They can chat while we eat.”
Lin Xinyan flashed her a smile and nodded politely. Nevertheless, she still felt extremely anxious as she did not know how Zong Jinghao would react if he discovered that the Tea Silk belonged to the Cheng family.
He clearly knew that she had mastered the skill of weaving Tea Silk.
With his intellect, he would definitely associate this with what happened at Baicheng.
She was afraid that this matter could no longer be concealed.
Nonetheless, she felt extremely conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to let Zong Jinghao know of this matter. After all, she did not want to leave him with any regrets. How sad would it be if he had to remain oblivious to his biological mother’s identity?
Yet, on the other hand, she wanted to keep him in the dark. She did not want to let Cheng Yuxiu’s years of bitterness and tolerance go to waste.
After the meal, Wen Qing summoned Zong Jinghao to the study room, leaving both her and the children in the living room. Li Jing turned the television on for the kids, worried that they would soon grow bored.
She placed the sliced fruits onto the table and called out to the children, “Come and eat some fruits.”
Pouting, Lin Ruixi uttered sweetly, “I’m already full.”
As she spoke, she even rubbed her stomach. Chuckling, Li Jing offered, “Let me touch your stomach and see if it’s protruding.”
The little girl giggled as she was tickled.
Lin Xinyan kept shooting glances at the study room, feeling extremely anxious. However, she did not dare to reveal her nervousness to Li Jing.
“What was Uncle going to say just now?” Lin Xinyan tried to elicit some information from Li Jing.
“It’s probably about Yuxiu. After all, he was extremely close with his sister. When Wen Xian passed away, he’d locked himself up for three days, refusing to even eat or drink. The first time I’d ever seen him cry was when Wen Xian had passed away. There’s actually a tender side to such a masculine man like him. He’s always been bothered about Zong Qifeng’s remarriage, so he’s harbored ill feelings towards Yuxiu.”
Li Jing had married Wen Qing just a while before Wen Xian had passed away. Furthermore, as Wen Xian had never really told her about it, she was not very clear about what had happened that year.
Li Jing sighed. “Even till now, he still hasn’t gotten over it. I kept telling him that it was all in the past. Now that we’re getting older, we should just let bygones be bygones. Yet, he’s so stubborn that even I can’t convince him.”
Li Xinyan agreed, “Yeah, everything has happened so long ago. It’s time to get over it. Worrying too much is not good for one’s health too.”
“That’s right. Unfortunately, he just refuses to listen. In my opinion, Yuxiu is quite a good woman. Sometimes, I even think that she’s quite pitiful to not have any children. How can a woman be considered a woman, if she never had a child? It’s going to be a lifelong pity,” lamented Li Jing emotionally.
