Seeing that Yan Xi did not answer, Elder Yao anxiously explained, "Xi Xi, your maternal grandfather truly wishes to compensate you. Once your identity is revealed, if Fu Yan Ting dares to bully you, the Yao family will not let him off."
Yan Xi did not actually care if Fu Yan Ting would bully her. She merely wanted to return to the Yao family to retrieve the voice recorder, and that was all.
After a moment of silence, Yan Xi decided to return to the Yao family with Elder Yao to hold this birthday banquet.
However, finding the voice recorder might be difficult. She would need to cooperate with Xiang Jing Chen, from the inside and out. She wondered if Xiang Jing Chen would cooperate with her.
Without dwelling on it further, Yan Xi decided to go home with Elder Yao and make plans then.
Seeing that Yan Xi had agreed, Elder Yao's lips curved into a slight smile.
He knew Yan Xi would definitely agree to his proposal.
After all, no girl could resist the bait of the Yao family.
It was the capital city, and the opportunity to be a young lady of the Yao family was something many people dreamed of.
Now, with the opportunity before her and Elder Yao showing her such respect, he couldn't believe Yan Xi would refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.
Yan Xi's birthday banquet had invited many guests. Yao Wan Qi wore a long white dress, her long hair cascading freely. Although she was not entirely well, she did not attract too many strange glances. Her attire was enough to stun the entire hall and make every man present seethe with admiration.
Yan Xi couldn't help but sigh, thinking that Yao Wan Qi must have been a great beauty in her youth.
While Yan Xi was lost in thought, Yao Wan Qi appeared before her, taking Yan Xi's hand and saying with a warm smile, "Sister, you are so beautiful today, like a fairy."
Yan Xi had only known that Yao Wan Qi was not well, but she had always felt sympathetic towards her. Yet now, realizing that this woman might be her biological mother, Yan Xi didn't know how to face Yao Wan Qi. She wondered what Yao Wan Qi had endured to become this way.
Yan Xi looked at Yao Wan Qi, feeling a lump in her throat.
Yao Wan Qi, however, unaware of Yan Xi's inner turmoil, continued to smile and flit around Yan Xi.
Xiang Jing Chen walked up to Yan Xi and, seeing her maintaining a distance from Yao Wan Qi, couldn't help but ask, "Aunt, do you think Yan Xi looks good today?"
"She looks good, Sister always looks good. But, who are you? Why do you call me aunt?"
Yan Xi glanced at Xiang Jing Chen, unsure how he would explain.
Xiang Jing Chen chuckled and explained, "Aunt, don't you remember? I'm your nephew. My mother and you are sisters. It's just that my mother died in an accident back then, and you raised me. Later, when you had your accident, Grandpa sent me abroad to study. I only returned a few days ago."
"Wan Ruo's death was not an accident, it was deliberate."
Yao Wan Qi looked at Xiang Jing Chen and murmured.
Xiang Jing Chen was taken aback by Yao Wan Qi's words. He was shocked and pulled Yao Wan Qi, asking, "Aunt, what did you just say? Can you repeat it?"
Yao Wan Qi, frightened by Xiang Jing Chen's sudden demeanor and recalling past events, suddenly began to have a headache. She cried out, clutching her head and crouching on the ground, appearing to be in great pain.
Seeing this, Yan Xi didn't know how to comfort Yao Wan Qi.
Yao Wan Qi's commotion attracted the attention of those around. Elder Yao was the first to hear the disturbance and walked over. He didn't want to appear too obvious in front of Yan Xi, fearing she would become suspicious, so he asked indifferently, "What is going on here? Where are the servants? Why haven't they taken care of Miss?"
The servant, receiving Elder Yao's signal, quickly helped Yao Wan Qi back to her room, administered a sedative, and Yao Wan Qi fell asleep.
Xiang Jing Chen and Yan Xi had been following closely and witnessed the entire scene.
Regardless of whether Yan Xi wanted to return to the Yao family or acknowledge her lineage, the scene before her was something Yan Xi did not wish to see. Yan Xi felt very uneasy.
Xiang Jing Chen suddenly spoke with a serious expression, explaining, "Cousin, you might not believe it, but Aunt's condition is actually because of you."
Because of her?
Yan Xi was bewildered.
Xiang Jing Chen explained with a bitter smile, "Years ago, Aunt was pregnant before marriage. Grandpa thought it was shameful and confined her to the house. Later, after Aunt gave birth to you, you were stolen by human traffickers. Aunt wept every day, wanting to go out and search for your whereabouts, but Grandpa kept her confined. She couldn't leave. Over time, she developed hallucinations, thinking you had returned to her side. Then, it worsened, and eventually, she became like this."
Xiang Jing Chen did not mention his mother's situation because he knew Yan Xi would not listen, or if she did, she wouldn't care. Although Xiang Jing Chen was shocked by Yao Wan Qi's words, he did not reveal it to Yan Xi.
It seemed he needed to thoroughly investigate the accident his mother had years ago.
"No one has ever told me this. I had no idea she suffered so much for me."
More accurately, it was for her and Yan Yi. Perhaps Yao Wan Qi herself didn't know that she had given birth to twins.
Yan Xi silently vowed that this time, when she returned to the Yao family, she would not only find the voice recorder but also protect Yao Wan Qi. No matter what kind of person Elder Yao was, Yao Wan Qi was a good person, the one who gave birth to her and Yi Yi.
She was already so pitiful; Yan Xi couldn't abandon her.
Yan Xi was fortunate that despite Yan Jiapeng and Kong Yalan's constant suppression over the years, she had persisted in saving Yan Yi's life.
Now, Yan Yi was like a normal person, no longer requiring constant hospitalization, able to study and pursue his interests.
If Yao Wan Qi knew of Yan Yi's existence, perhaps it would be of some help.
Xiang Jing Chen remained silent as well. Both harbored secrets but did not confess to each other.
Yan Xi had to accelerate her pace to find that voice recorder.
She looked at Xiang Jing Chen and tentatively asked, "You mentioned earlier that you lived with the Yao family for a while, and my mother raised you. Is that true?"
Xiang Jing Chen nodded and said, "It's true. During that time, my life was also very dark. But I was young. I even thought of committing suicide. It was Aunt who protected me. She told me I still had her, and she would love and care for me like my own mother."
Recalling that past now, Xiang Jing Chen was still filled with gratitude.
If it weren't for Yao Wan Qi back then, Xiang Jing Chen would likely have taken his own life long ago.