Pampered by My Ex's Cousin

Chapter 405 - 399 Unacceptable Truth (Part 4)

The night was deep, and the long corridor was silent. Ji Anning gently turned the lock and pushed the door open.

Inside the room, an old woman, hunched over, was tucking the blanket around her sleeping husband.

Seeing that scene, her eyes welled up. She quickly covered her mouth, turned, and leaned against the wall to compose herself before she pushed the door open again and entered.

"Mom,"

Ji Anning called out, her voice slightly trembling.

Upon hearing her call, her mother paused, then slowly straightened up and turned around.

Seeing Ji Anning, she asked in surprise, "Jiajia, how come you’re back?"

"Dad is sleeping," Ji Anning said, pointing towards the couple on the bed, signaling her mother to keep her voice down.

Only then did her mother realize, and she lowered her voice as she walked towards Ji Anning, saying, "How come you’re back? You didn’t even call me."

As she reached Ji Anning’s side, she took her hand and led her to a small sofa in the corner where they sat down.

Only a small lamp was on in the room, casting dim light. Ji Anning looked at her mother’s aged face, and her eyes reddened again.

Seeing her state, her mother anxiously asked, "Why are you crying?"

"Mom, I’m your daughter, right?" Ji Anning reached out, hugged her mother tightly, and held on very tight.

She buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, sobbing silently.

"Jiajia, what’s wrong?" her mother pushed her back slightly, anxiously and worriedly asking, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Ji Anning, with teary eyes, looked into her mother’s eyes and repeated, "I’m your biological daughter, your own, right?"

Her mother’s expression changed abruptly, "Jiajia, did someone say something to you?"

Her mother’s reaction made Ji Anning’s heart sink suddenly, like plunging into an abyss.

"No." She tried hard to control her emotions, responding to her mother, then she stood up, clasping her chest, and quickly ran out of the room.

Ignoring her mother’s calls from behind.

The temperature in City C was lower than in Hai City, and frost had already begun to fall at this time, with temperatures below zero.

Ji Anning sat in the deserted park area, the cold wind funneling into her body as she hugged her knees, curled up on the stone bench.

Confused, hesitant, helpless.

Her tears never dried.

"Anning."

When Xiang Yiqing saw her curled up there, his heart tightened, and he quickened his pace toward her, but slowed down as he neared.

Ji Anning gave no reaction, staring blankly at some point.

Xiang Yiqing watched, pursed his lips, and withdrew the words he was about to say. He took off his white coat and gently covered her with it.

Then he bent down and sat next to her, just sitting with her in silence, not saying or asking anything.

It was a long, long time, so long that Xiang Yiqing shivered from the cold.

Finally, Ji Anning moved slightly; she slowly turned her head to look at Xiang Yiqing, her eyes shimmering with tears,

heartbreakingly beautiful under the moonlight.

Xiang Yiqing’s eyes flickered slightly; he lifted his frozen, trembling hand, reached towards Ji Anning’s face, and with the pad of his thumb, wiped away the tear on her eyelash.

He said, "Let’s go inside. Whatever it is, it’s always better to face it together than crying alone."

Hearing this, Ji Anning’s eyes filled up even more, but she sniffled and kept the tears from falling again, "Thank you."