Chapter 56: Paternity Test

Xi Ruofen was also aware of Qin Miaoyu’s wedding. After learning that the two families had switched children by mistake, they reached out to the Qin family for clarification.

Qin Miaoyu was already married, and her husband, they’d heard, was just an ordinary office worker.

But seeing him in person, and relying on years of experience, Xi Ruofen felt this man was hardly ordinary. In fact, he bore a striking resemblance to the young master of the Lu family in Jing City.

Yet, the Lu family wouldn’t give the Qin family the time of day, let alone someone as insignificant as the Qin family itself. Besides, there’d been no word that the young master had married.

Still, Xi Ruofen allowed a small smile to appear on her lips. “He truly is a man of outstanding character.”

With that, she stopped looking at Lu Qi’an and turned her attention to Qin Miaoyu instead.

They’d barely interacted before, and Xi Ruofen had never really looked at Qin Miaoyu directly. Now, as she studied her carefully, she realized that Qin Miaoyu actually resembled her own younger self quite a bit—though most of all, she looked like her grandmother.

Qin Miaoyu didn’t care for Xi Ruofen’s scrutinizing gaze and spoke up directly, “Let’s just get the paternity test over with.”

Gu Jing and Ji Xuan stood by, finding the scene unusually strange.

A mother and a child who’d been switched at birth, meeting for the first time after learning the truth—yet there was no excitement, no tears, none of the drama one might expect. Had they not known the situation, they would have thought these two women were mere strangers.

Xi Ruofen, hearing Qin Miaoyu’s words, glanced at her twice before turning away.

After leaving the testing facility, Xi Ruofen invited Qin Miaoyu and her friends to the Liang family home.

“No need,” Qin Miaoyu replied, “the test results aren’t out yet. For all we know, I might not be a child of the Liang family at all. Let’s wait until we know for sure.”

“Very well, I’ll be off then.”

Xi Ruofen got into the Liang family’s car and returned home.

Liang Sixuan was restless at home.

She knew her mother had gone to do the paternity test with Qin Miaoyu. Though her parents and brothers insisted she would always be their daughter, even if not by blood, she still felt uneasy.

Blood, after all, was thicker than water. What if Qin Miaoyu returned and stole the affection that had always been hers?

For the first time, Liang Sixuan felt a real sense of panic.

When her plagiarism scandal came to light, she was simply worried, but now the fear was deeper.

With the Liang family backing her, with loving parents and brothers, she’d never doubted her place. But if Qin Miaoyu came back—one the biological daughter, the other raised for years—would they still side with her?

She was jolted from her thoughts by the sound of the door opening. She rushed out, only to see her mother walking calmly inside.

Looking around, she didn’t see Qin Miaoyu and quickly asked, “Mom, where’s Qin Miaoyu?”

Xi Ruofen didn’t answer immediately, but frowned at her daughter’s bare feet. “Why are you running out here without shoes? What if you hurt yourself?”

Liang Sixuan glanced down, realizing she’d come out so hastily she’d forgotten her shoes. Still, her mother’s words eased her anxiety considerably.

Her mother had met Qin Miaoyu, yet her concern for her was unchanged.

She pouted playfully, “I was just in a hurry. How did things go today? Why didn’t Qin Miaoyu come back with you?”

While she was happy Qin Miaoyu hadn’t returned, she also felt a flicker of disappointment.

She’d wanted to show Qin Miaoyu just how much her parents and brothers cherished her, to make it clear that even if Qin Miaoyu came home to the Liang family, she would still be the favored one.

Xi Ruofen’s expression was unreadable. “She said the paternity test results aren’t out yet, so she might not be a Liang after all, and refused to come.”

Liang Sixuan instantly grew indignant. “Whether she is or not, we invited her to our home! Why act as if our family isn’t good enough for her?”

A faint smile finally touched Xi Ruofen’s lips. Sixuan took pride in the Liang family and thought of its interests—that was the attitude a true daughter of the Liang family should have. As for Qin Miaoyu, her indifferent gaze said it all: the Liang family meant nothing to her. Someone like that was not suited to be a daughter of the Liang family.

“All right, don’t be upset. We’ll wait for the results, and then invite her again. Now hurry back inside. The weather’s not hot yet—you’ll catch a cold running around barefoot.”

Meanwhile, as Qin Miaoyu and her group left the testing facility, they ran into Su Yaqing and Qin Lianzhu, who had rushed over after hearing from Liang Sixuan that Qin Miaoyu had returned to Nancheng.

“Miaoyu, where’s Mrs. Liang?”

Qin Miaoyu pointed in the direction the car had left. “She’s gone.”

“Gone? Did you do the test?” Su Yaqing’s voice was sharp.

Realizing she’d lost her composure, she softened her tone. “What did Mrs. Liang say?”

Qin Miaoyu looked up at her. “You want to know how Mrs. Liang plans to arrange things between me and Liang Sixuan? Whether Liang Sixuan will be sent back to the Qin family?”

Su Yaqing was embarrassed. “Of course not. It’s just—you’ve both lived in the Liang and Qin families for so long. I just thought it would be better to take things slowly, so everyone can adjust, right?”

A trace of mockery appeared on Qin Miaoyu’s face.

Knowing the Qin family as she did, she understood their real thoughts: the daughter they raised was the Liang family’s by birth, and their own blood was raised by the Liangs. If things stayed as they were, the Qin family had much to gain.

But she had no interest in pointless arguments. To her, neither the Qin nor the Liang family was any place worth returning to.

“All right, let’s wait for the results. We have other matters to attend to for now.”

As Qin Miaoyu’s group walked away, Su Yaqing also turned to leave, only to realize after a few steps that Qin Lianzhu hadn’t followed.

She went back to fetch her younger daughter, only to hear her mutter, “If only I had been the one switched into the Liang family!”

Su Yaqing gave her a light smack on the head. “What nonsense!”

She was still fuming inside—the daughter she’d raised wasn’t close to them, and their own flesh and blood didn’t care either. What had she done to deserve this in a past life?

Since there wasn’t enough space at Ji Xuan’s place for all three of them, they booked a hotel room instead.

Lu Qi’an and the newly arrived Gu Xunan excused themselves, saying they had matters to discuss, leaving the room to the three women.

Gu Jing was a little worried. “Miaoyu, what do you plan to do?”

The Qin family couldn’t be relied on, and Mrs. Liang hadn’t made a good impression either. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have acted so distant.

How pitiful, their dear Miaoyu!

Ji Xuan was also anxious. “If you really go back to the Liang family, there may be all sorts of trouble.”

The Liang family had always doted on Liang Sixuan, and Mrs. Liang hadn’t warmed to Miaoyu either. It seemed clear they didn’t intend to send Liang Sixuan back to the Qin family. If Miaoyu returned to the Liang family, given her history with Liang Sixuan, there would surely be conflict.

Qin Miaoyu laughed. “The two of you look so worried, but I never said I’d return to the Qin family.”

Gu Jing was puzzled. “Then why were you so eager to come back for the paternity test if you don’t plan to return?”