Chapter 546: What

In the office, Lu Ying poured a glass of water, but Chen Xianglan had no mood to drink, set it aside, and took a photo out of her satchel.

Lu Ying took it, glanced at it, and immediately smiled.

"Mom, where did you dig up this photo? Isn't this our childhood Family Photo? I used to look like this, and you never bothered to tidy my hair, all messy..."

Chen Xianglan pointed at the photo: "I wasn't showing you the hair; take another good look."

Lu Ying first glanced at her mother, roughly guessing something.

"Then I get it, you're probably thinking of big brother! Since the New Year isn't coming soon, I'll write a letter in two days to have him return to Capital City, and have the sister‑in‑law bring the two kids over together."

"What are you thinking about, big brother? Didn't you see anything in this photo?"

Lu Ying shook her head, both puzzled and perplexed.

Chen Xianglan couldn't help but wonder if she was overthinking, why everyone else missed it but she alone could see it!

"Don't you think those two kids look a lot like Lu Cheng when he was a child?"

Hearing her mother's words, Lu Ying was momentarily stunned, then placed her gaze back on the photo.

Perhaps because of her mother's hint, a second look revealed a few genuine resemblances in their overall appearance.

Lu Ying gasped coldly: "What do you mean, Mom? You don't actually think those two kids have anything to do with Lu Cheng, do you?"

Chen Xianglan patted the photo: "Then how do you explain it? He said the two kids hopped onto a train illegally; I now seriously suspect he might have lied to me out of fear."

Lu Ying scratched her hair, unable to accept her mother's explanation for a moment.

"Impossible. How could it be? This is absurd."

Chen Xianglan spread her hands: "Your brother's temperament—he'd even dare to poke a hole in the sky—so it wouldn't be surprising if he did something absurd."

Lu Ying fell silent, because her mother's words did make sense.

So now it's… brother got involved with some girl out there, got her pregnant, didn't want to take responsibility, and when she got angry she threw the child onto his hands.

Thinking that way, Lu Ying realized the seriousness: her brother had essentially committed a rogue crime!

He'd not only go to prison, but also lose whatever sheriff title and Fu Chu Da Yu he currently holds.

At that thought, Lu Ying's head hurt more and more, and she grew increasingly fearful.

She feared her mother thought the same, otherwise she wouldn't have spent the night sleepless, skipped work, and rushed over early this morning.

"No, no, Mom, I still think Lu Cheng, though a bit wild‑tempered, couldn't have pulled something like this off."

Lu Ying felt she was scaring herself; she knew nothing, merely analyzing blindly from a single photo.

Chen Xianglan suggested: "Then go ask about the two kids' family situation; children never lie."

Lu Ying nodded, then quickly shook her head: "The two kids are too young; even if you ask, you won't get anything."

"That's because you don't know how to ask. Bring the two kids over; I'll ask them myself."

Seeing Lu Ying not move, Chen Xianglan urged: "Hurry up, you want your brother to go to prison!"

At the mention of prison, Lu Ying rushed outside to call the children.

Chen Xianglan sighed; she felt they needed to get clear answers, and only by understanding the specifics could they decide the next step.

If it's really as imagined, then let Lu Cheng marry the woman, no matter how much bride price is given; as long as the woman is satisfied and doesn't pursue Lu Cheng for responsibility out of anger, everyone will be happy.

Since it involved her brother's future, Lu Ying was anxious and quickly called the two kids over; they had been eating roasted peanuts by the coal stove, their lips blackened around the edges.

At the doorway, Lu Ying crouched, wiping the kids' mouths while giving instructions.

"Look at what you've been eating; if Grandma asks you anything later, tell the truth. If you don't know, don't make stuff up…"

Seeing the two kids nod, Lu Ying then led them inside.

Seeing the two kids again, Chen Xianglan's mouth couldn't stop smiling.

"Come, come, come, come over so Grandma can see you. Hey, Grandma still remembers there's a candy in this pocket, but there's only one left; you two share it first."

"Later Grandma will buy you a pack, the kind of White Rabbit milk candy. And if you still want braised pork, Grandma will buy you a whole pig…"

Seeing her mother dote on the two kids as if they were her own grandchildren, Lu Ying reminded her.

"Mom, is it still not certain? If you look back, you'll just lose money again."

Chen Xianglan glared; she was deliberately coaxing, since the two kids were clearly a bit nervous, and they needed to be happy before she could question them.

"Come, don't be scared. Grandma asks: do you feel happy living with Grandma?"

"Happy…"

"As long as you're happy, then Grandma will ask: what's your father's name?"

"He flies planes."

"No, he's a pilot."

Listening to the two kids argue, Chen Xianglan was momentarily stunned; she had asked for a name.

Lu Ying explained beside them: "Their dad is a pilot, probably never met him, so they don't know his name, and that alone doesn't prove any relation to Lu Cheng."

The kids' dad is a pilot, while Lu Cheng is a Train Police on a train; one flies in the sky, the other runs on the ground, truly unrelated.

But looking at the photo on the table, Chen Xianglan, a bit unwilling, kept asking.

"How many people are in your family?"

This time the two kids clearly didn't understand, so Chen Xianglan changed her approach.

"Hmm? Who all are in your household, like Mom…"

Chen Xianglan guided them little by little, and the two kids finally spoke.

"Grandma…"

"Right, who else?"

"Grandpa, Li Mama…"

"Li Mama?"

Lu Ying said: "Probably the family's nanny."

Chen Xianglan finally nodded; having a nanny at home shows she is truly a child of a wealthy family.

Immediately Chen Xianglan became even more puzzled: does a son that age have such abilities? Can a girl from a wealthy family be won over?

"Then what's your mother's name?"

Chen Xianglan said, gesturing to her daughter, and asked Lu Ying to listen carefully.

Because of some of Lu Cheng's usual friends, Lu Ying doesn't know them all, but she knows far more than her mother does.

Hearing her mother's question, Lu Ying also became curious; previously, when the two children came looking for their father, she had casually asked about the father's matters but never about the mother's.

Since the two children, being seldom with their father, didn't know the situation, living daily with their mother they certainly wouldn't remain clueless.

The little boy scratched his head and muttered "Hmm..." for a while, which made Lu Ying somewhat disappointed; how could he not even know his mother's name—perhaps the child is just too young.

Fortunately, at that moment the little girl said, "Guoguo, you're so silly, Mom's name is Lin... Lin..."

"Lin?" Lu Ying muttered unconsciously; although the little girl thought for a long time and couldn't figure it out, she at least managed to say a surname.

Chen Xianglan guided again and asked, "Then how does Grandma usually call Mom?"

Chen Xianglan's prompting worked; the two children, eager to show alike, exclaimed in unison, "Yan Yan..."