The old lady on the bed moved her eyelids. Everyone stared at her, holding their breath.
The old lady slowly opened her eyes and scanned the hospital room blankly. "What happened to me?"
The Xiao family members immediately rushed to the bedside. Xiao Wenyao took the old lady's hand. "Mom, you were in a car accident and are now in the hospital."
Xiao Wenqi turned and grabbed the doctor. "Examine my mother."
After a thorough examination, the doctor's admiration for Shen Qingqing grew.
"The old lady is fine. She just needs rest. Thanks to Miss Shen."
The old lady looked at Shen Qingqing, and a name slipped out, "Xiao Qing?"
Everyone was stunned.
This was a nickname the old lady used to say all the time years ago. After Xiao Qing passed away, the old lady was so heartbroken that she gradually stopped mentioning the name.
Xiao Wenyao's attention had been entirely on his mother. He had found Shen Qingqing somewhat familiar but hadn't paid much attention. Now, looking again, she did bear a five-part resemblance to Xiao Qing's features.
Shen Qingqing said softly, "My father's surname is Shen."
The old lady's expression was complex. "Shen Zhizhong."
"Mm."
The old lady slowly closed her eyes. Her feelings towards this son-in-law, whom she disliked immensely, were complicated. When she opened her eyes again, only tenderness remained.
"Come here, let Grandma have a look."
Shen Qingqing obediently walked to her, and a pair of aged hands touched her cheeks. The hand was weak, so she took the initiative to hold it against her face.
"What a good child, so beautiful, just like your mother."
The old lady became emotional, tears rolling down her eyes and into the pillow.
Shen Qingqing half-knelt by the bed, wiping away the old lady's tears, her own heart feeling a pang of sadness. "Grandma, don't cry. From now on, I will take care of you in my mother's stead."
The old lady smiled, tears in her eyes. "Good child, good child..."
She stroked her granddaughter's face, feeling full of love. She also worried that Shen Zhizhong wouldn't treat her well, and couldn't rest easy. Although her body screamed with fatigue, she still insisted on asking.
"Have you been well all these years? Has anyone bullied you?"
"No, I've been doing very well."
The grandmother and granddaughter talked, completely ignoring the Xiao family.
The younger generation of the Xiao family felt a sense of rejection and dislike towards their sudden cousin.
Xiao Wenyao exchanged a glance with Zheng Nanrong.
Zheng Nanrong took the old lady's other hand and said gently, "Since she's Xiao Qing's child, let's hold a welcome banquet for her after you're discharged from the hospital. We can also openly announce to the world that our Xiao family's little princess has returned."
Shen Qingqing glanced at her.
This woman was a strategist. With one sentence, she had managed to garner enough animosity from the younger generation of the Xiao family for her.
The old lady didn't think much of it and agreed enthusiastically. "Yes, Xiao Qing was my darling, and Qingqing is my little princess. You all must protect her, do you hear me?"
Regardless of how resentful the Xiao family members felt in their hearts, they presented a harmonious front.
"Don't worry, Grandma!"
"We will definitely 'take good care' of our cousin."
After that, whenever Shen Qingqing had free time, she would visit the old lady in the hospital. The old lady truly doted on her, carefully inquiring about the details of her life over the years.
Shen Qingqing didn't want the old lady to worry, so she only reported the good news and downplayed any difficulties, describing everything in a light manner.
Two days later, the day the old lady was to be discharged, Shen Qingqing came to pick her up.
Upon arriving at the Xiao family villa, the old lady personally inspected the room the housekeeper had prepared for her granddaughter, and was grudgingly satisfied.
Zheng Nanrong brought Shen Qingqing a dress. "There will be a welcome banquet this afternoon. Your second uncle wants to announce your identity quickly."
Shen Qingqing accepted the dress. "Thank you."
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the banquet officially began.
Shen Qingqing changed into the ice-blue gown. Her face was exquisitely made up, and a blue floral decal was placed between her brows. She looked like a siren emerging from the sea.
Bewitching and alluring.
Xiao Wenyao walked up to her proactively. "I'll take you to meet the family."
Shen Qingqing cooperated.
Xiao Wenyao led her to the steps and slowly began, "Today's banquet is to welcome the return of my little sister's daughter. Her name is Shen Qingqing."
Everyone subconsciously looked at the beautiful young woman by his side.
Then, in the next moment, Xiao Wenyao added, "However, the Xiao family bloodline must not be mixed. Therefore, I've decided to conduct a DNA test for Qingqing. The results will be available within two hours."
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes and looked at him.
"Qingqing, you're so sensible, you'll understand me, won't you?" he said with a gentle smile.
The old lady frowned slightly. Before she could speak, Shen Qingqing linked her arm. "Grandma, it's alright. If the test is done, it will make my status even more legitimate."
The old lady had no choice but to nod. "Alright, if you want to do it, then do it."
Xiao Wenyao smiled slightly, a hint of coldness hidden within. "It's best that Qingqing can think this way."
Something was wrong.
Why did he look so confident?
Shen Qingqing's eyes flickered. "For fairness and justice, let's wait for the results at the hospital. What do you say, Second Uncle?"
Xiao Wenyao glanced at her with a half-smile. "Certainly."
The old lady silently held Shen Qingqing's hand, as if offering her a sense of security. Shen Qingqing gently squeezed her hand back.
Xiao Wenyao apologized to the guests and then led the Xiao family to the hospital.
He had made prior arrangements. As soon as they arrived at the hospital, a doctor came and took hair samples from the old lady and Shen Qingqing for testing.
The Xiao family waited nearby, watching the instrument perform the test.
An hour later, the test results came out.
Upon seeing the results, Xiao Wenyao directly lunged at Shen Qingqing, roaring, "You are not a member of the Xiao family at all!"
Everyone crowded around to look at the test results. They showed that the blood relation between the two was zero.
The younger generation erupted upon seeing this.
So, the grandmother's affection for these past two days had been lavished on an imposter!
"You liar!"
"Who are you, impersonating our Xiao family? What is your purpose?"
"What else? To climb higher, of course. To become a phoenix from a sparrow. People nowadays will do anything for money. How shameless!"
"Grandma, call the police quickly! This is a con artist!"
"We even held a welcome banquet for her, how could she have the nerve to come?"
Their eyes were filled with disgust, as if they wanted to execute Shen Qingqing on the spot.
The old lady murmured, "This, this is impossible. She looks so much like Xiao Qing..."
Zheng Nanrong stepped forward to support the old lady and glared at Shen Qingqing with disgust. "Mom, don't be sad. We'll just kick her out."
The younger generation immediately started to act, intending to throw Shen Qingqing out.
But she spoke coldly, "There's something wrong with the machine."
Xiao He, Xiao Wenyao's son, scoffed. "Your lies have been exposed, and you still won't give up."
Shen Qingqing slowly walked towards the machine. Xiao Wenyao subtly signaled the doctor, who immediately stepped forward to block her.
"Miss Shen, you..."
Before he could finish, Shen Qingqing gracefully sidestepped him.
She crouched before the instrument and examined it carefully.
Xiao He said with disdain, "Just pretending. I don't believe she can find anything. The instrument is complex. Besides doctors and nurses, no one understands it."
Only Xiao Wenyao had a bad premonition.
"The instrument has a problem. There's a slot in the hair-holding area that exchanges the hair during detection."
Shen Qingqing's fingertips toyed with a strand of hair.
Upon closer inspection, the hair was brownish. She and the old lady had black hair and white hair, respectively.
Everyone was shocked and instinctively looked at the doctor.
The doctor explained nervously, "This was left by the previous person tested..."
This method had been used many times for testing, and no one had ever discovered it. How had she noticed?
Shen Qingqing stared at him sternly. "I will report this matter truthfully. As a doctor, you are so careless. You don't need to work anymore. I believe no hospital would want to hire a doctor like you."
"No, it has nothing to do with me. Second Master Xiao, please say something for me!" The doctor, fearing unemployment, desperately appealed to Xiao Wenyao.
You idiot!
Xiao Wenyao's face turned ashen. "You made your own mistake. I can't help you."
The doctor blurted out, "But you told me to do it!"
Xiao Wenyao shuddered and roared, "Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Unfortunately, it was too late. The old lady understood everything and snorted, "Xiao Wenyao, you are truly my good son!"