Chapter 38 The Granddaughter Who Died Early After the Plot Was Changed

Ruan Yaoyao’s eyes widened as she stared at her precious granddaughter being carried over by the nanny, her voice trembling in shock.

Xu Lianghan and Yu Xiangqiao followed her gaze and were equally startled.

No way—wasn’t Xiao Lingxuan’s fate already altered?

【Could it be… because I changed her original fate, it backfired, and she ended up even worse off?!】

Ruan Yaoyao’s heart raced in panic. Unsure what to do next, Xu Lianghan’s phone rang.

He felt irritated. Who would call at such a time? Really couldn’t have come at a worse moment.

Taking out his phone, it wasn’t anyone else but the third brother, Ru Anzhi—the biological son of Ruan Yaoyao who had been swapped with the second brother, Xu Chengyan, and had been taken away and abandoned.

Fortunately, he had decent luck. After being abandoned, he ended up in the care of a military wife. Growing up, he joined the army and now worked in a confidential military role. The details weren’t entirely clear to them—they only knew he was very busy, with only a few days off each year.

Even then, besides allocating some time for them, he had to leave time for his adoptive parents. Opportunities to meet were even rarer.

Sometimes, it was only long enough for a single meal together.

Under these circumstances, closeness was almost impossible.

“Third brother, you’re on leave?”

“Yeah, three days.”

“When will you come over? Your sister-in-law even had a cute little niece for you—Mom loves her so much! She holds her every day, I even have to compete with Mom just to hold her for a bit.”

“This afternoon.”

“Alright then, I’ll get off work early this afternoon.”

Ru Anzhi didn’t say much and quickly ended the call.

Xu Lianghan noticed Ruan Yaoyao growing silent. Eventually, her silence turned into a faint sigh: “Sigh…”

Seeing her like this, Xu Lianghan and Yu Xiangqiao could only put Xiao Lingxuan’s situation aside for the moment and deal with it later.

Later, Xu Lianghan informed Xu Chengyan that Ru Anzhi would be back in the afternoon.

Xu Chengyan had no objections. Upon hearing the news, he could only react with: “Did you tell him about Mom?”

“Uh… I forgot.”

“How could you forget something so important? What if Ru Anzhi doesn’t know anything and lets something slip?”

“He’s tighter-lipped than you.”

“That depends on what the matter is, right? This isn’t about being tight-lipped.”

“I think you’re just jealous of Ru Anzhi.”

“Jealous? So what? I am jealous! I’ve called her Mom for so many years—why should I just let him take over?” Xu Chengyan said angrily.

Xu Lianghan rubbed his temples. “Are you three years old? Still fighting over Mom?”

“If you have the ability, don’t fight me over her.”

Xu Lianghan: “…I don’t have the ability.”

His Mom—why should he let go? He’s been calling her Mom for so many years.

Xu Chengyan rolled his eyes sarcastically: “Impressive!”

“I’m not impressive. You’re the impressive one. If you’re so impressive, don’t run away from home! Yet you’re still trying to irritate Mom, deliberately oppose her, pick fights with her—if you’ve got the ability, go ahead. Mom raised you for so many years, raised the child of her enemy no less, and now even her own biological child wants closeness, you get jealous? Did she raise a thankless brat?”

“You…”

“Don’t argue with me. I’m far more filial than you. I never deliberately make Mom angry, never abandon her. I’ve always stayed home, obediently being filial.”

“Yes, you never deliberately upset Mom—but you almost lost Xiao Lingxuan, almost caused trouble for your wife. Why don’t you mention that? You think staying home makes you filial? You’re just thinking about the family’s property…”

“Xu Chengyan, don’t go too far!”

“Who’s going too far?”

…

Even across a phone call, the two brothers could argue. Yun Jinxian could only shake her head.

Hadn’t Xu Chengyan said he had a good relationship with his eldest brother?

He clarified: Good relationship or not, doesn’t stop us from being jealous and arguing.

“So… does Mom know?”

Xu Chengyan replied silently: “Yes.”

But she didn’t know why they were fighting, only assuming it was because the brothers didn’t get along.

Not born from the same mother—it was normal to quarrel.

“Then… how is your relationship with Ru Anzhi?” Yun Jinxian had already given up hope. If he could fight with his steady eldest brother Xu Lianghan, then with the brother whose identity he had taken, the relationship could only be worse.

To her surprise, Xu Chengyan answered: “Not clear. We’ve only exchanged a few words.”

“You’ve barely spoken? Isn’t that a bad relationship? Aren’t you just deceiving yourself?”

“No. His work is special. He comes home only a few times a year. Even when he does, he has to care for his adoptive parents. We barely see each other, maybe only enough time for a meal. How much can we talk? Besides, during that time, I was busy sulking with Mom, who had the energy for him?”

In short, his envy came from the fact that the other brother had a military identity.

He believed Mom would definitely favor a son in a career that brought honor to the family.

Yun Jinxian: “…I feel like there’s a bit of jealousy in what you just said.”

“I am jealous, of course.”

“I thought you wouldn’t admit it.”

Xu Chengyan rolled his eyes: “Why not admit it? He’s naturally better than me. He inherited Mom’s genes. Me? I got the trashy, rotten genes—born bad.”

Of course, he was only saying this to Yun Jinxian. Outside, he wouldn’t admit it.

He explained Ru Anzhi’s situation to her so that she wouldn’t be “shocked” if she came home.

Even if it was a pretend relationship, he would take responsibility where needed—he wasn’t like his father.

Yun Jinxian smiled softly, realizing Xu Chengyan was more interesting than she had thought. Previously, she’d only seen him at work—talented, capable, nearly flawless except for being born a child of an affair.

Now, having more exposure to him, she realized he had many sides.

With friends and family, he was childish like a kid. In front of a partner like her, he maintained his principles in a subtle, hard-to-describe way.

This made him feel alive, full, and three-dimensional.

Yun Jinxian thought after he said those things, he’d just go home on time for a meal. But unexpectedly, he showed up at the front of the house early, apparently intending to intercept on the way.

“You said your relationship with him isn’t bad or good. What are you planning? You’re not trying to tie him up in a sack, right?”

Xu Chengyan was speechless: “He’s a soldier. How could I take on a soldier? You overestimate me.”

“Then what are you doing…”

Xu Chengyan noticed a taxi stopped by the roadside. Someone stepped out, and he immediately drove over.

Indeed, if anyone capable was coming to this area, other than Ru Anzhi, he couldn’t think of anyone else.

Ru Anzhi wore a low-profile black civilian outfit, neatly cut hair, a baseball cap pulled low. His 1.9-meter height was tall and straight, his posture instinctively military, every movement radiating discipline.

“Ru Anzhi!”

Ru Anzhi didn’t immediately turn around but tensed his muscles, extremely alert.

It wasn’t until Xu Chengyan parked next to him and leaned out that he confirmed the visitor’s identity and relaxed completely.

“Xu Chengyan.”

“It’s me. Get in, I have something to tell you.”