In the study, Jing Zeyou listened as the grandmother from the orphanage spoke about the couple, his expression gradually darkening.


    "Do you think they have ulterior motives?"


    In the video call, the grandmother hesitated for a moment. They might be Jing Yi''s biological parents, and she shouldn''t specte like this, but their behavior left her no choice.


    If they had been more discreet, she wouldn''t havee to Jing Zeyou for help.


    "They only said they wanted to see Jing Yi, but they also asked for your address. I thought it couldn''t be that simple, so I brushed them off and came to ask you."


    She hoped the couple was just trying to deceive them. If they were truly Jing Yi''s parents, what would happen to the child?


    Over the years, she had seen many parentse to reim their children. If their intentions were genuine, she didn''t mind them taking the child back after leaving them at the orphanage.


    After all, giving those children a home was a good thing. But this couple didn''t seem to be here for Jing Yi.


    They hardly asked about Jing Yi, instead focusing on the family who had adopted her. Combined with the recent rumors in town about the Jing Family, she couldn''t help but think deeper.


    Jing Zeyou had never met Jing Yi''s biological parents before, so after bringing Jing Yi home, he hadn''t expected anyone toe looking for her.


    Was it because their identity had been exposed?


    He narrowed his eyes, thinking for a moment. "It''s fine. Give them the address. I''ll handle it." First, he needed to figure out what they wanted.


    As for Jing Yi, he wouldn''t let them involve her.


    A sharp glint shed in Jing Zeyou''s deep eyes.


    The grandmother sighed, her tone heavy. "This is troublesome." Jing Zeyou quickly shifted his gaze back, his voice respectful. "You''re too kind. This is what the Jing Family should do. I promised to protect Jing Yi."


    The elderly woman''s expression finally rxed a little. She wasn''t afraid of anything except the adoptive family growing tired of Jing Yi because of this matter.


    ...


    In a small house in the town near the orphanage, a woman stood in the kitchen, snapping beans. Beside her was a middle-aged woman.


    "Third Aunt, are you sure the one who was adopted is my daughter?"


    The middle-aged woman added some water to the pot, her voice loud. "Of course! Why else would I have youe all this way?"


    She even sounded a bit proud. "Don''t underestimate your Third Aunt. The girl is the same age as your daughter, and that orphanage is so run-down. There haven''t been many children there over the years—it has to be her! I haven''t seen her, but I''m almost certain!"


    She nced out the window, then leaned closer to the woman, lowering her voice. "Besides, you''re not losing out. You have no idea about the family that adopted her. Their demeanor is extraordinary—even the school principal is wary of them. If it really is your daughter, you''ve hit the jackpot!"


    "And did you hear? The family that bullied her was kicked out of school and even got a formal warning. Just imagine how powerful that family must be!"


    Even though she spoke softly, the excitement in her voice was undeniable.


    She never imagined that her rtive''s child could have such a bright future. If she had known, she would have taken the girl in herself. A little girl wouldn''t have eaten much.


    But raising her in her own home probably wouldn''t have led to such luck. It was better to leave her at the orphanage—no cost to them, and now they could benefit from her sess!


    The woman still hesitated, ncing at the man lying outside. He was lounging on the bed, humming a tune, seemingly in a good mood and not paying attention to them.


    The woman lowered her voice further. "But when I left her there, it was the middle of winter. I thought she wouldn''t survive."


    Back then, she and the man outside weren''t married yet. They had no money for the hospital, and her family wouldn''t help raise the child. She had to hide at the man''s rtive''s house to give birth.


    It was winter, and she had just given birth, unable to rest properly. Because it was a girl, the man disliked her even more, telling her to get rid of the child.


    They had nned to leave for another province to work right after the birth, so she didn''t have much time. She quickly bundled the child up and went out.


    Luckily, there was an orphanage nearby. She didn''t dare get too close, fearing someone might see her, so she left the child in a corner.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "It''s just fate. If you had been a boy, he might have taken you with him."


    She tucked the thin nket around the baby, then turned and ran off. It was almost time to catch the bus.


    The middle-aged woman washed vegetables, water sshing from the faucet and soaking her clothes. Her mood remained cheerful.


    "Why worry about that? The girl was destined to survive. Besides, if she had died, wouldn''t the orphanage have told you? Just rx and wait for your fortune. And don''t forget your Third Aunt when the timees!"


    "Of course! If it weren''t for you, we wouldn''t have known about this from out of town."


    The woman smiled, feeling a surge of joy. After all these years, she might finally be a wealthydy. Ten years ago, she had left the child at the orphanage because they couldn''t afford to feed her.


    It was a pity for the child, but perhaps this was her destiny.


    The adoptive family must be willing to give them some money, right? Everyone in town said they were very wealthy.


    With that money, she could buy a bigger house, send Little Baby to a better school, and stop working so hard!


    The woman handed the prepared beans to the middle-aged woman, then turned to her son, who had just bitten into an apple and thrown it on the ground.


    She called out softly, her voice gentle, "Little Baby, don''t make a mess." The boy ignored her, continuing to rummage through the fruit bowl.


    Not finding what he wanted, he pouted and tossed the rest of the fruit onto the floor.


    The man outside opened his eyeszily, nced over, and then went back to humming and lying down.


    "Third Aunt, when will Third Uncle be back?"


    The middle-aged woman looked out the kitchen window, her brow furrowing briefly in displeasure.


    This child really has no manners, does he?


    She quickly smiled again. "It''s fine, it''s fine. He''s just a child! Let him y!" Then she turned back to answer the woman. "He''s probably ying cards at Old Zhang''s ce. I called him earlier—he should be on his way back."


    Seeing that the middle-aged woman didn''t mind, the woman ignored her son.


    Her thin face was filled with barely contained joy. "I wonder how big the girl is now."


    "I heard she''s grown into a graceful youngdy. Why else would that family take her in?"


    "That''s good. It''s a life of luxury."


    "Exactly. When she''s wealthy, you won''t have to work so hard anymore."


    "We don''t matter much. It''s mainly for her younger brother—he''s still so young."


    "Don''t worry. He''s her brother—she''ll definitely help him out."