Qi Assistant obtained Xie Jinghu’s DNA sample, and Xie Qian did not delay at all. He immediately sent it abroad.
First, identify Xie Jinghu’s relation to that pair of illegitimate children, then find an opportunity to obtain Uncle Zhi Jun’s DNA sample. This was Xie Qian’s plan. He intended to complete the latter before the winter holiday ended.
As for how to obtain Zhi Jun’s DNA sample without arousing suspicion, Xie Qian had his own ideas.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, it was the day Peng Zong was hosting a banquet in Rong City.
That morning, Xie Qian took the initiative to call Uncle Zhi Jun.
“Uncle Zhi Jun, I asked someone to bring back some tea from the south. I want to give you some. Are you free to meet today?”
Zhi Jun was very pleased with Xie Qian’s closeness, but it was quite unfortunate. “If you had said yesterday, it would have been perfect. I have some business trouble, and I need to fly over right now to handle it. How about this? Your aunt is still at home. Can you give it to her? Once I finish the business, I can come back and enjoy your good tea.”
Zhi Jun said he was already at the airport, and Xie Qian could not find a reason to follow him there.
Besides, there was little meaning in personally handing the tea to Zhi Jun. What mattered was the process of drinking it.
Xie Qian did not even frown and simply said “good”. On the other end of the phone, Uncle Zhi Jun gave a few more instructions before hanging up.
The Xie family lived separately, as Old Madam Xie did not like having too many people around her.
Zhi Jun’s family was different. The elders at home liked liveliness and wished their children and grandchildren could surround them every day.
Moreover, Zhi Jun spent most of the year doing business abroad. When he returned to the country, he naturally wanted to spend more time with the elders. Although he had his own place in the capital, he rarely stayed there. Instead, he usually brought his wife, children, and elders to live together, and the elders were very happy about it.
Xie Qian arrived at the door with gifts, and it was Zhi Jun’s wife who received him.
Zhi Jun’s wife looked a bit unwell, her face pale, and her red lips lacked much colour.
Even with the fatigue, it did not diminish her beauty or elegance.
Xie Qian learned upon asking that Zhi Jun’s wife had been feeling unwell for several days.
In response to Xie Qian’s concern, Zhi Jun’s wife complained a little. “Your uncle is truly obsessed with money. I cannot stand all this back and forth travel. He, on the other hand, as soon as he hears of business trouble, immediately goes abroad to deal with it. Tell me, does he not think about it? He is already so old. Can money ever be earned completely?”
Zhi Jun not only flew abroad himself but also took his son with him, saying it was to let the son gain experience.
Zhi Jun’s wife seemed to be complaining, but there was an unconscious sweetness in it. Anyone could tell the couple had a very good relationship.
So Xie Qian naturally followed her mood and praised, “Uncle Zhi Jun is very responsible. He wants the family to have a better life.”
Only then did Zhi Jun’s wife come back to her senses. She seemed to have said the wrong thing.
Everyone in the circle knew about Xie Qian’s family situation. It was said that Xie Qian and Xie Jinghu had a very tense relationship. Her saying that Zhi Jun took his son abroad sounded like she was showing off in front of Xie Qian.
“Is your mother still well? Our two families have had a long relationship. If there is anything we can help with, you and your mother must not hesitate to let us know.”
“My mother has been in good spirits lately. Thank you for your concern, aunt.”
“Good, good, good. That is how it should be. Tell your mother to take good care of herself.”
When a man changes his heart, there is no turning back. With a special family situation that prevents divorce, a betrayed woman can only get by by being a little kinder to herself.
If one really needs an emotional outlet, placing it on the child is still better than on a man.
The pity in Zhi Jun’s wife’s eyes could not be hidden.
She was genuinely feeling sorry for Xie Qian and his mother’s plight.
Zhi Jun was praised by everyone in the circle, and his wife’s character was truly good.
Xie Qian was about to speak when the door became lively. Zhi Jun’s wife stood up. “Oh, Grandfather and the others are back. There was an ice sculpture exhibition in the nearby park. Grandfather took Xiao Nan to see it.”
Xie Qian also heard a familiar voice and stood up along with her.
Zhang Nan was holding her grandfather’s arm as they walked into the house, chattering away. When she looked up and saw Xie Qian standing in her living room, Zhang Nan’s mouth opened slightly, and she nearly tripped. It was Grandfather Zhang who reacted quickly and pulled his granddaughter back.
“Xie, Xie Qian.”
The little girl could hardly speak properly.
Grandfather Zhang sighed inwardly. Xiao Nan was too hopeless. The Xie boy was handsome, sure, but not to the point where she could not even speak clearly.
Grandfather Zhang patted Zhang Nan’s arm. Zhang Nan barely maintained her composure, her little face red, whether from shyness or from the cold outside.
“Hello, Grandfather Zhang.”
Xie Qian’s expression was particularly steady.
Uncle Zhi Jun was not born from a crack in a rock, of course. Zhang Zhi Jun, Zhang Nan’s own uncle.
Without this connection, Zhang Nan would not have had many chances to play with Xie Qian before, nor would she have felt bold enough to get close to Xie Jinghu. The Xie and Zhang families had a friendship of many years.
Grandfather Zhang nodded. “Are you here to see Zhi Jun?”
“I brought some tea and wanted to chat with Uncle Zhi Jun. I also wanted to pay a visit to you.”
Xie Qian spoke without a flaw. Grandfather Zhang was noncommittal. “It has been two or three years since you last came to the house.”
Before Xie Qian could speak, Zhang Nan became anxious. “Grandpa, do not say it like that. Xie Qian is not even in the capital, so how could he come to play at home?”
Grandfather Zhang was exasperated.
The little girl was hopeless. The other person did not like her, so why was she trying so hard to please him?
Because Zhang Nan and the others returned home early, Xie Qian stayed a bit longer at the Zhang house. Grandfather Zhang invited Xie Qian to stay for dinner, but Xie Qian declined. Grandfather Zhang waved his hand. “Go on, then. You young people have nothing much to chat about with an old man like me.”
Seeing his granddaughter looking eagerly from the side, Grandfather Zhang still softened. “Xiao Nan, you go and see Xie Qian off.”
Zhang Nan agreed immediately.
She saw Xie Qian out the door. Along the way, she wanted to say something but hesitated. Xie Qian did not know what to chat about with Zhang Nan, so the two could only remain in awkward silence.
Xie Qian understood in his heart that to obtain Zhang Zhi Jun’s DNA sample, asking Zhang Nan would be the least likely to raise suspicion, and he was confident she would agree.
But from beginning to end, Xie Qian never mentioned it.
It was not that he did not trust Zhang Nan. He just did not want to use her.
If one does not like someone, that is that. It is enough to make it clear. If one does not like them and still uses them, what difference would that make from his scumbag father?
“You go back. It is cold outside.”
At the moment of parting, Xie Qian said it casually, and Zhang Nan’s little heart pounded wildly.
Even after returning home, she was still giggling foolishly. No matter what the Zhang family said, Zhang Nan could not hear it. She giggled all the way back to her room to call Tai Wu.
“Xie Qian came to my house today.”
“What did he come to my house for?”
“I do not know. What if it is…”
What if it was to see her?
Zhang Nan knew this was not true, but her girlish heart could not help overflowing.
Xie Qian had grown taller.
He had become more steady.
And even more handsome.
Zhang Nan praised him wildly to Tai Wu. Tai Wu listened with aching teeth. “He does not like you anyway. What are you so excited about.”
