Chapter 548: The Family's Judgment

Lu Cheng dragged his bicycle into the courtyard; he had intended to park it under the car shed, but because it snowed last night, the area beneath the shed was piled with other junk.

He simply left the bike wherever in the yard, since he was heading to the Siheyuan anyway.

"Mom, I've already eaten at the Research Institute, you can eat; what about those two kids? I'll take them and let them sleep, I'm exhausted today…"

After securing the bike, Lu Cheng brushed the snow off his clothes and headed toward the main hall.

He saw that there was no food on the table, and three people were staring straight at him.

Lu Cheng, puzzled, glanced inside the house but saw no sign of the two children.

"What's going on? Why are you all looking at me? Where are those two kids? Let them out quickly; I need to go back and sleep, I have things tomorrow."

Lu Cheng plans to see Professor Yang tomorrow, using his contacts to see if he can introduce more talent to help solve a calculation problem concerning internal‑combustion‑engine data.

"The kids are missing," Chen Xianglan said suddenly for no reason.

Lu Cheng blinked, not understanding at first.

"Missing? What do you mean?"

Chen Xianglan spread her hands: "It means exactly that—too mischievous, like you, not watched, so they got lost."

"I'm not Mom; mischievous is mischievous, don't pin it on me."

Lu Cheng realized his mother was joking, assumed the kids were playing hide‑and‑seek, and started searching the rooms, checking cabinets and under beds, but found nothing.

"Mom, where are they hiding? Let them out quickly, I'm exhausted."

Chen Xianglan stayed silent, Lu Ying also lowered her head, and Lu Cheng, a bit anxious, tentatively asked.

"What, really missing? Sis, they were with you, right? Where did they get lost? Didn't you call the police to look?"

Lu Cheng thought, "It's over, over. If they were lost at the train station, it'd be a nightmare; the station is so crowded, and if someone snatched them onto a train, they'd be even harder to find."

Before Lu Ying could speak, Chen Xianglan slapped the table: "Look, he's getting anxious!"

Lu Cheng was stunned: "What? I'm anxious? No, I'm definitely anxious—kids are missing, aren't you?"

The three shook their heads in unison: "We're not anxious."

"You're not anxious?" Lu Cheng looked at their expressions and felt something was off.

Even if they weren't his own children, a neighbor's missing child would still cause worry; at least it wouldn't be this calm.

Moreover, the family knew these were the kids he had brought home, so he was responsible.

"What on earth is wrong with you?"

Chen Xianglan kept that tone: "We didn't do anything; we just want to ask why you get anxious when you hear the kids are missing."

Lu Cheng inhaled: "Of course I'm anxious—the kids snuck onto a train from the Northeast and came here; I'm a Train Police…"

"Lying, still lying!" Chen Xianglan said, not wanting to hear her son argue further.

"I'll give you a chance today; tell the truth—what have you been hiding? If you don't speak up, and your dad beats you later, I won't stop him."

He saw his father Lu Beitang stand up, start unbuckling his belt, intending to treat him to belt‑fried meat, and Lu Cheng became even more anxious.

"No, no, no, let's speak calmly… What exactly do you want me to explain? I've been especially honest lately, definitely haven't caused any trouble."

Lu Cheng raised his hand and said, "I swear to Chairman Mao."

A son's oath, if it were a brick, could be stacked to build a building; Chen Xianglan didn't believe a word.

Giving a signal, Lu Beitang drew a watch strap and snapped it like a whip, producing a "pop" sound.

"I see you won't shed a tear even when you see a coffin!"

Lu Cheng involuntarily stepped back: "Dad, dad, calm down… What on earth is wrong with you? Even if you want me dead, at least make it clear."

"You still won't admit it, huh!"

Lu Beitang was about to step forward when Chen Xianglan grabbed him.

"Then let me remind you, what relationship do those two kids have with you?"

Kids? So all this fuss was actually about the kids.

"What kind of relationship? I haven't even asked you yet—where exactly are the kids?"

Chen Xianglan and Lu Beitang exchanged glances: "It seems he's very attached to those two kids; if we don't tell him where they are, he'll probably resist all day."

Lu Beitang nodded: "Makes sense; they're at Yan Hong's House playing with Er Ya."

Hearing this, Lu Cheng finally exhaled: "Then why did you say they were missing? You almost scared me to death."

Chen Xianglan placed the belt on the table: "We've told you the kids' whereabouts; can you now give a proper explanation? Let me advise you—don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty drink; I'm giving you a chance now."

"Now speak quickly—what exactly is your relationship with those two kids?"

Watching his mother sit upright, Lu Cheng couldn't help but smile; she was acting like a judge trying a criminal.

"What relationship?" Lu Cheng thought seriously: "Nothing, really."

Chen Xianglan tapped her finger: "Stubborn mouth, yours is really stubborn! So I ask you, who is the kids' mother?"

Lu Cheng, already exhausted, was so worn out by his mother that he lost his temper entirely.

"How would I know who their mother is?"

"Stubborn, still stubborn!" Chen Xianglan shot another dismissive glance.

"Ying Ying, tell him! You think keeping it from us will hide it from me as a mother? You stick up your butt, I know exactly what crap you're pulling!"

Lu Cheng simply sat on the bench and fell silent; after all, he saw the family's stance—whatever they said would be wrong.

Sister Lu Ying finally spoke: "Lu Cheng, those two kids belong to Qing Yan…"

Lu Cheng sprang up, while the whole family watched his reaction.

The surprise on Lu Cheng's face was clearly genuine, puzzling Chen Xianglan.

"San'er, you can't be telling Mom you really don't know, can you?"

"Lu Cheng…"

Only when his sister shouted did Lu Cheng snap back to reality.

Sister, what did you just say? These two kids are Qing Yan's? Impossible?

Lu Cheng's counter-question made Lu Ying also start to doubt; the younger brother really seemed not to know.

You're not pretending, are you? Today Mom specifically asked, and the two kids said, their mother's surname is Lin, the family calls her Yan Yan, and their home is in Ha City; if it's not Qing Yan, that's too much of a coincidence.

Lu Cheng also recalled something; it really didn't seem like a coincidence.

He Juzhang, chief of the Hasi Sub-bureau, had said at the time that it was the child of a senior leader, working in the Metallurgical Department.

Adding what the two kids said, it's definitely Lin Qingyan's child without a doubt.

It turns out she had already been married and even had a child; Lu Cheng's feelings were a bit complicated for a moment, but ultimately he felt more blessed.

This is quite good; it shows that Lin Qingyan has started a new life and gained a new existence.

However, his attitude toward the child these past few days has been a bit off, and Lu Cheng still feels somewhat ashamed.

So it's Qing Yan's child...

Watching Lu Cheng mutter to himself, his brows would furrow, then relax, then he'd smile while touching his nose, and the family looked at each other.

This kid isn't stupid, is he?