The DNA test results were out!
On Saturday, Wen Ying went to Xie Qian’s house for tutoring as usual.
Eager to congratulate Xie Qian, she was the first member of the tutoring squad to arrive at his home. Li Mengjiao and Peng Guoqing were still on the road.
No sooner had she stepped through the door than Xie Qian hit her with an explosive piece of news. Before entering, Wen Ying’s mind had been full of the premiere ratings for Alleyway Folks and Xu Mei’s improved acting in her debut episode in the eighth instalment. In an instant, the revelation blew half her wits away:
It is out? Which of those two siblings is not related to your father, or are neither…
Xie Qian’s face was grave.
Over the past six months, Xie Qian had grown increasingly mature. The demolition in the Magic City had gone smoothly, the logistics company had developed well, and even the film company he had taken over midway had successfully launched a well-received project like Alleyway Folks. With so many successes under his belt, Xie Qian himself had become more confident and composed.
At this moment, the young man’s face showed not only gravity but also bewilderment. Clearly, the test results did not match his expectations, and Wen Ying’s heart sank.
Both are his biological children.
Xie Qian replied.
Wen Ying could scarcely believe it, Both have no blood relation to your father?!
In Wen Ying’s mind, at least one of the siblings abroad was not Xie Jinghu’s child, or perhaps neither was.
She had never imagined they both actually were?
Xie Qian nodded slowly, and Wen Ying’s inner anxiety flared, Could the testing agency have made a mistake?
The chance of an error is slim. The agency I chose is highly authoritative.
This result shocked not only Wen Ying but was also beyond Xie Qian’s expectations.
Ever since Tai Jing had told him those old stories, Xie Qian had felt he held a trump card to deal with his scumbag father and his mistress.
From obtaining the DNA samples to awaiting the results, Xie Qian had proceeded with utmost caution at every step. After waiting over a month, he had received such an outcome. No wonder Wen Ying could not accept it; even Xie Qian rarely found himself harbouring self-doubt.
Which link had gone wrong exactly?
Was it that the DNA sample of the scumbag father provided by Assistant Qi that was incorrect, or had Inspector Luo, whom he had sent abroad on the errand, been bought off? Or could Tai Jing herself have been lying all along?!
Even someone as meticulous as Xie Qian could not deduce where the fault lay for the moment.
He had learned of the DNA results the night before but had held off until this morning to tell Wen Ying.
Apart from her, Xie Qian had not told anyone else.
Wen Ying suppressed her inner turmoil, So what do you plan to do now?
Xie Qian thought for a moment before replying slowly, Find an opportunity for a second test, switch agencies, and use fresh DNA samples.
Unsure which step had failed, Xie Qian intended to scrap and restart every single one.
Abroad, he would no longer have Inspector Luo collect the samples.
Domestically, he would no longer ask Assistant Qi to act.
He would change the testing agency and the personnel involved, then run the test again!
Because no matter how I rack my brains, I cannot think of a reason why Aunt Tai Jing would lie. Without testing again, I will not be at peace.
Was it possible Tai Jing had lied?
Of course it was.
However, Xie Qian could not pinpoint a motive for her deception. For now, he assumed she had not lied, which meant this test result had to be wrong. Had Inspector Luo been exposed? Or had someone already noticed the sleight of hand between him and Assistant Qi? Recalling that Zhang Zhijun had gone abroad again before the Spring Festival had even ended, Xie Qian could not help but harbour some suspicions.
Wen Ying was deeply worried, Even if Tai Jing did not lie, it is possible those two siblings really are your father’s children.
It was unlikely, but not impossible, that the mistress had been involved with several men at once. Wen Ying would never overestimate her character, but pregnancy was a matter of chance. What if, despite her dalliances, she had simply been that unlucky, conceiving Xie Jinghu’s child both times?
Wen Ying was not trying to douse Xie Qian’s hopes; she feared he might fixate on disproving the siblings’ paternity to his father and end up in a dead end!
How could Xie Qian fail to understand Wen Ying’s concern? He smiled at once, That does not matter. I was prepared for a long battle on this front from the start. If there is a shortcut, I will take it. If not, I can accept that too.
That was more like it!
Wen Ying immediately felt much reassured and wanted to analyse the matter further with Xie Qian when Li Mengjiao, that daft girl, arrived.
Humming the ending theme from Alleyway Folks, Li Mengjiao entered with light steps.
Wen Ying, you are early today… Eh, what are you two talking about?
Li Mengjiao keenly sensed the off atmosphere.
Wen Ying and Xie Qian exchanged a glance and said in near unison, Talking about the ratings for Alleyway Folks!
Li Mengjiao’s humming stopped dead, What is wrong? Are the ratings data bad? That cannot be, the drama is so well made, my whole family is hooked!
Because they watched it religiously every day, Li Mengjiao could now sing both the opening and ending themes. Last night, she had caught up to the episode where Xu Mei appeared, and though her character debuted late, she had left quite a strong impression on Li Mengjiao.
Li Mengjiao had planned to gossip with Wen Ying about Xu Mei’s acting progress during a break in tutoring, but upon suddenly hearing the ratings for Alleyway Folks were poor, she felt utterly deflated!
It was like a bolt from the blue!
This was Xie God’s company drama, scripted by Zhang Guangzhen, airing on Oriental Channel. The ratings should not be low!
Seeing Li Mengjiao’s face crumple, Wen Ying rubbed her forehead, We were talking about the ratings, but we never said they were low. Can you let us finish speaking?
Ah? Not low?!
Li Mengjiao made no effort to hide her shock, But you two looked unhappy…
The girl was daft, yes, but she had an uncanny sensitivity to the moods of those around her.
Wen Ying lied with a straight face, We are a bit unhappy because if Alleyway Folks had been produced by another company, these premiere ratings would count as high. But since it is Xie Qian’s company, I think it could go higher! Before you arrived, I was analysing the reasons with Xie Qian to see if we could boost its influence through better promotion channels.
Was that so?
Li Mengjiao looked from Wen Ying to the solemn-faced Xie Qian and immediately bought her explanation.
Xie God was brilliant at everything he did, so a new drama from his company naturally ought to outperform others.
So it was not low ratings, but Xie God demanding perfection. Li Mengjiao bowed her head and chuckled to herself; she had not realised Xie God had such a strong idol image to uphold!
One glance at Li Mengjiao’s expression told Xie Qian she was not thinking anything good. Oh well, he would not bother arguing with the fool.
Xie Qian decided to assign her two extra sets of practice papers today.
Peng Guoqing was late too, not as diligent as last week, so two extra sets for him as well!
Having suffered a sudden bout of diarrhoea that morning and delayed by the ordeal, Peng Guoqing finally rushed to Xie Qian’s house. Upon entering, he overheard this dire news and was left utterly baffled: ???
Wen Ying knew the real reason best, but she dared not say a word.
Li Mengjiao and Peng Guoqing had walked right into Xie Qian’s line of fire, and Wen Ying was not about to draw attention to herself.
