Father Han shook his head and didn’t say anything more.

...

The night was deep; in the Han Family’s little Western-style house.

"You’re really going to go handle Qianqian’s transfer procedures tomorrow?"

She knew the transfer was already decided, but Feng Lu still couldn’t help confirming it with Han Bin.

"If she doesn’t transfer, the school will have to advise her to withdraw."

Han Bin lay on his back, one hand pillowed under his head, his brows tightly knitted. His mood had been depressed by the trouble his daughter Han Qian had stirred up. He said, "Tell me, why does Qianqian have such a big problem with you? Ever since you moved into this house, she just hasn’t been able to get along with you. These past two years, you two have given me such a headache."

"Why don’t you say your daughter overthinks everything." Feng Lu’s tone was soft, but with grievance in it: "Being a Stepmother is hard, I understand that. From the moment I moved in, I’ve tried my best to take your daughter’s feelings into account, but has she ever appreciated it? In her heart, she probably thinks I stole you away, but is that the truth?

I only joined this family; I only became a Stepmother because of you. Yet that little girl insists on being prejudiced against me, refuses to get along with me. What am I supposed to do about that?"

Han Bin remained silent.

"Later, when I brought Vivi over to live with us, I was thinking that since Qianqian and Vivi are classmates, the two little girls would have common topics to talk about. Maybe they could change the atmosphere at home, make it warmer. But instead, Qianqian went looking for trouble, latching onto the fact that Ming Han looks like you... stirring up gossip at school, smearing me, and smearing you along with me. What on earth is going through her head? I really, really want to know."

Her voice carried a faint sob as Feng Lu said, "Brother Bin, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do so that Qianqian will accept me from the bottom of her heart... Back then, just because she didn’t want the child in my belly to be born,

she actually used such a terrifying method to send me into the hospital, which caused us to lose our son and left me unable to ever be a mother again. Over this, I feel terrible inside, but all this time, have I ever done anything to Qianqian?

I swallowed all the pain and bitterness by myself, afraid that Qianqian would develop psychological shadows because of the consequences of what she did. I tried my best to smile at home, to help her relax her mood,

and I told Auntie Li at every meal to cook whatever Qianqian likes to eat... I’ve been focused on taking care of her emotions. Who’d have thought that she... she’s still clinging to the way Ming Han looks. Brother Bin, tell me, what should I do? Whatever you say, I’ll listen. The only wish I have in this life is for our family to be filled with warmth and happiness!"

Han Bin’s heart ached. He pulled Feng Lu into his arms. "Qianqian’s been spoiled. I know you’ve suffered a lot of grievances. From now on... from now on you don’t have to accommodate Qianqian. In our home you can do whatever you like. But..."

Silence. Han Bin was silent for quite a while before continuing, "But you have to remember, you mustn’t bring up those two children at home, especially in front of Qianqian. I... I’m not going to acknowledge them. You know that."

With her head buried against Han Bin’s chest, a shadow flickered across Feng Lu’s eyes, but what she said was soft and compliant: "I’ll listen to you, Brother Bin."

"Not acknowledging those two children is good for me, for you, and even for them."

Han Bin gently stroked Feng Lu’s back and said in a low voice, "Once those two children carry the label of illegitimate kids, even putting aside whether it will affect their studies and future prospects, just their future marriages will become a huge problem. I don’t mean they won’t be able to find a partner, I mean that if they want to secure a good match, it’ll definitely be difficult.

But if they have nothing to do with us, then none of that will be a worry. After all, Comrade Luo’s status is there for all to see, and Comrade Luo’s current wife is also an extraordinary person. Most importantly, the couple treats those two children very well. If we suddenly ripped open the truth of the children’s identity, is that something humans can do?"

To this day, Feng Lu had never told Han Bin that she had exposed Ming Han and Ming Wei’s background in front of Luo Yanqing. So in Han Bin’s mind, he still believed Luo Yanqing knew nothing.

"Lu Lu, you and I owe those two children too much. If you truly want what’s best for them, then keep firmly in mind what I just said."

As Han Bin’s words fell, Feng Lu answered with a soft "mm."

But what she really thought in her heart, only she knew.

The next day.

After breakfast, the driver came to take Luo Yanqing back to the research institute. Kang Li happened to be heading out to send Ming Han and Ming Wei to school, but Luo Yanqing directly called the two Ming Han siblings into his car and told the driver to drop them off at the school gate on the way.