novelraw Chapter 198
Chapter 198
A seed of doubt, once planted, will eventually sprout and grow.
Shen Nanchu couldn't wait for that day to come naturally.
She had to take the initiative.
She quietly contacted the system.
"Help me check Lei Mingyuan's schedule for tomorrow."
The system quickly found the information.
"Well, Host, Lei Mingyuan is accompanying General Su's granddaughter, Su Yanran, to the department store tomorrow morning."
The department store?
A perfect opportunity.
Shen Nanchu looked at Pei's Mother.
"Mom, let's go to the department store again tomorrow morning! I'm worried we won't have enough diapers for the baby when winter comes."
"That's true."
Whenever Shen Nanchu's unborn child was mentioned, the gloom on Pei's Mother's face would vanish.
...
The next morning,
As soon as Shen Nanchu and Pei's Mother arrived at the department store, they saw Lei Mingyuan standing at the entrance.
It seemed he was waiting for Su Yanran.
It had to be said, Lei Mingyuan was indeed an anomaly in the Lei family—a tall, fair-skinned, and handsome man with fine features, especially his eyes, which bore quite a resemblance to Pei's Mother's.
Shen Nanchu hadn't noticed it much before, but now the more she looked, the more Lei Mingyuan seemed to resemble Pei's Mother.
Hmm, he looked like Pei's Father too.
In any case, if Lei Mingyuan and Pei Zhengwei stood side by side for comparison, Lei Mingyuan would undoubtedly look more like a member of the Pei family.
Seeing Shen Nanchu, a flicker of surprise passed through Lei Mingyuan's eyes.
After all, they had met once before.
"Long time no see!"
"Long time no see!"
Shen Nanchu smiled slightly.
Pei's Mother, standing to the side, looked at Lei Mingyuan with a puzzled expression in her eyes.
"Mom, this is the Lei family's eldest son, Lei Mingyuan. He shares the same birth year, month, and day as our eldest brother."
Shen Nanchu explained to Pei's Mother, deliberately emphasizing that point.
"Auntie, hello."
"Hello."
Beijing was quite large, and this was the first time Pei's Mother had met Lei Mingyuan.
Yet, strangely, both Pei's Mother and Lei Mingyuan felt a peculiar sense of familiarity rise in their hearts simultaneously.
"Comrade Shen, are you here to shop with your mother-in-law?"
"Yes, we need to buy some things."
Watching Shen Nanchu and Pei's Mother's figures disappear into the department store, Lei Mingyuan finally withdrew his gaze.
Pei's Mother couldn't help but ask Shen Nanchu,
"Is that man Lei Zhenhua's eldest son?"
"Yes, Mom."
Shen Nanchu had been waiting for Pei's Mother to ask.
"It's actually quite strange. This Lei Mingyuan is the odd one out in the Lei family, perfectly avoiding all of Lei Zhenhua and his wife's shortcomings, growing up tall and handsome."
Shen Nanchu observed Pei's Mother's expression and continued,
"Just like our eldest brother, this Lei Mingyuan doesn't look like a Lei family member at all."
"Indeed..."
Pei's Mother was distracted.
Sometimes, intuition is a mysterious thing.
For some reason?
Upon first meeting Lei Mingyuan, Pei's Mother felt a strange sense of closeness.
Thinking about Lei Mingyuan sharing the same birth date as Pei Zhengnian made Pei's Mother's heart race.
If she remembered correctly, Lei Zhenhua's wife gave birth in the same hospital as she did that year.
Was it possible that...
The thought had barely surfaced before Pei's Mother forcefully suppressed it.
No, it's impossible.
How could I even think such a thing!
But the idea, once it had sprouted, had already taken root silently in Pei's mother's mind.
Especially with Shen Nanchu's casual remarks here and there.
All morning, Pei's Mother had no heart for shopping, her eyes filled with preoccupation.
Shen Nanchu saw it all.
It was a pity. In these times, a single strand of hair couldn't be used for a paternity test.
The seed of doubt was planted, but it still needed time to take root, sprout, and bear fruit.
For now, they could only wait.
Shen Nanchu was willing to wait.
But the more Pei's Mother thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. She was unwilling to wait.
"Nanchu, you look around first. I'm going to make a phone call and will be right back."
"Okay, Mom."
Pei's Mother left in a hurry.
The more she thought, the more uneasy she felt in her heart.
Gritting her teeth, she went outside and dialed a phone number.
"Hello, who is this?"
"It's me."
The person on the other end of the line was greatly startled to receive Pei's Mother's call.
"Come over for lunch at home if you're free at noon."
"Alright."
Only after hanging up did Pei's Mother feel a bit more at ease.
Soon,
Pei's Mother returned to the department store.
Shen Nanchu had already picked out the items and paid for them.
"All done shopping?"
"All done. Good, then let's go home. Your uncle will be coming over for lunch later."
Uncle?
Shen Nanchu didn't believe this uncle would just suddenly show up.
The system had become a clever and mature system.
"Host, this uncle of yours is the director of Beijing City Hospital."
It proactively explained to Shen Nanchu.
Shen Nanchu immediately understood Pei's Mother's intention somewhat.
Inviting someone for a meal so suddenly, not earlier or later.
It must be because of today's events.
Sure enough,
Not long after Shen Nanchu and Pei's Mother arrived home, a steady knock sounded at the courtyard gate.
As soon as the door opened, an elegant middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses stood there, looking excited.
"Eldest Sister, you're finally back."
"Yes."
Pei's Mother was also very happy to see her younger brother.
"Nanchu, this is your eldest uncle."
"Hello, Eldest Uncle."
Pei's Mother's maiden name was Jiang Li. She was the eldest of the Jiang family, and Jiang Jie was the second child.
"Hello, hello."
Jiang Jie sat down excitedly. Seeing Shen Nanchu's prominent belly, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
But he didn't ask about it.
He had been present the day Pei Zhengnian welcomed Shen Nanchu into the household on behalf of Pei Zhengwei.
Pei's Mother didn't send Shen Nanchu away either. She directly discussed the matter with Jiang Jie in front of Shen Nanchu.
"Second Brother, I need you to do me a favor."
"What favor? Just say it, Eldest Sister."
Back when the Pei family had their troubles, Jiang Jie had wanted to help but was stopped by Jiang Li.
The Pei family's affairs were a muddy mess; anyone who got involved would be tainted.
Jiang Jie had been troubled by his inability to help back then.
Now, with Jiang Li saying she needed his help, he agreed without even asking what it was.
"Is the unit preparing to arrange physical examinations soon?"
"Yes."
Jiang Li had once been a doctor at Beijing City Hospital. She only resigned after giving birth to twins, as her health required proper recuperation.
"When you draw blood, please save a sample of Lei Mingyuan's for me and help me run a paternity test with him."
Pei's Mother stated her request in one breath.
Jiang Jie was surprised.
Shen Nanchu was pleasantly surprised.
Pei's Mother was a decisive person.
Since there were doubts, she would clarify them.
Once things were clear, there would be no more wild speculation.
Jiang Jie immediately thought of many possibilities.
"Eldest Sister, do you suspect someone switched the eldest child?"
"Yes."
Pei's Mother nodded.
Shen Nanchu looked at Pei's Mother, then at Jiang Jie.
"Mom, isn't there a saying that nephews resemble their uncles?"
"From the side, Lei Mingyuan really does look about fifty percent like Eldest Uncle."
Shen Nanchu wasn't just saying this randomly.
Lei Mingyuan's profile did somewhat resemble Jiang Jie's—both had a rather scholarly, refined appearance.
...