Chapter 208

Huang Meiling felt a sharp pain in her heart whenever she thought about her daughter's situation.

How could she do something so foolish?

The child was right under her nose, yet someone managed to switch them. She had been raising someone else's child for so many years without her noticing.

Her own child was struggling to get enough to eat in the mountains, forced into marriage, and living a miserable life. But her child should not have to suffer like this.

Xie Wenyuan was filled with self-reproach. If he had discovered their conspiracy from the beginning, his family would not have been separated for so many years.

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been such an incompetent mother, my child wouldn’t have been switched. We’ve been so busy with work, but in the end, we couldn’t even protect our own daughter. Wenyuan, did we really do something wrong?”

Xie Zhiyan is excellent in every way, but he lacked companionship during his childhood, so much so that he still doesn't know how to express love.

Xie Wanying always complained that they didn't have time. They originally thought it was worth it, that someone always had to sacrifice their small family for the greater good, but who would treat their children well?

Xie Wenyuan pulled her into his arms with one hand, his expression more forlorn. "This is not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is me for being too careless back then, bringing such a ruthless person into the family, causing our family to be separated for so many years. It's all my fault for misjudging people and for acting too impulsively."

Back then, I was deceived by others and thought they had it tough, never imagining that there was something hateful about those who were pitiful.

“Their daughter was pampered and spoiled in my care, while my daughter suffered such inhuman torture. How could they be so cruel? They also have children. We gave them a way out, so why did they treat me like this?”

For over twenty years, the couple had been kept in the dark. They did everything they could to give their child the best of everything in the world. They didn't even know why Xie Wanying was so disobedient. It turned out that the blood flowing in the child's veins wasn't theirs at all.

“Meiling, you can’t let your emotions fluctuate too much right now. The truth will eventually come out. Right now, the best news is that the child is alright. We will bring those people to justice sooner or later.”

As the child's father, he was naturally heartbroken, but wallowing in self-pity wouldn't solve anything. Since Xie Zhiyan had made this call, he must already have a plan for what to do next.

Huang Meiling shook her head with a heavy heart, her heart yearning to return to Song Zhaodi's side and see what her daughter, whom she hadn't seen for many years, looked like.

“Wenyuan, we have to go back as soon as possible. This concerns our biological daughter. We must find time to do a paternity test with Zhaodi. If she really is our child, then we absolutely cannot let He Caixia’s family get away with it.”

The crimes of secretly exchanging children and child trafficking are different, but the determination of these crimes will depend on their actual actions.

Xie Wenyuan understands Huang Meiling's current feelings.

He patted her shoulder gently. "Meiling, I am the child's father. You have to believe that I feel the same way you do. But right now, the work is at a critical juncture, and everyone is working day and night to catch up. If the two of us go back now, the overall progress will be delayed."

He was naturally anxious, but he couldn't put his work aside either. Their jobs were special, and from the moment they decided to do this job, they had to sacrifice all their personal time. Even after becoming parents, they didn't have much time to accompany their children as they grew up.

Huang Meiling wiped away her tears with one hand, her eyes filled with even more determination. She turned to look at Xie Wenyuan, "Then let's finish the work we need for tomorrow tonight. No matter how busy we are right now, we must set aside a day to go back. I haven't seen my biological daughter for over 20 years. She's in Beijing right now. How can you expect me to just ignore her?"

Her work was her life's work, but her child was also a source of great worry for her.

Seeing that Huang Meiling's complexion was not good, Yu Guangyao comforted her, "You've already worked hard these past few days, and things at home are in complete chaos. Go back and rest tonight, and taking a day off tomorrow is the same. Don't rush to catch up on the schedule; it doesn't matter if you're a day earlier or later."

The health of researchers also needs to be taken seriously. The recent hot and humid weather has caused many people to collapse. Huang Meiling and Xie Wenyuan are key members. If they can't hold on, it's uncertain when the progress will be caught up.

Tears welled up in Huang Meiling's eyes again, her voice trembling slightly, "No, our bodies can handle it, it's just hard not to be angry about this. My daughter, whom I miss so much, they..."

As she spoke, she choked up and couldn't continue.

No one can truly understand a mother's heart.

She has already sacrificed too much, but she can't lose her daughter too.

"I can't let this matter go in my mind, and I can't forgive those despicable people. They're like rats in the gutter. I won't be able to sleep tonight. I might as well get the project done."

If they went back at this time, the hospital would be closed, and they would have to catch the bus early the next morning. Since it was someone else's family matter, Yu Guangyao didn't say anything more, only expressing concern for the two of them to take care of their health.

Xie Zhiyan had been gone for half an hour, and the child was already asleep. Seeing that there was still no movement outside, Shu Ying took a clean set of pajamas and prepared to take a bath in the spiritual spring water.

She has a habit of taking baths, which has never changed over the years. However, there are only shower heads in the family compound, so taking a bath is not easy. Fortunately, Shuying still has space.

Before Xie Zhiyan returned, she closed her eyes and entered the spatial dimension.

Inside, a misty atmosphere filled the air, and the spiritual spring water gurgled gently. She filled a wooden tub with the spring water, and the temperature inside remained constant throughout the year. She soaked herself in the tub, her whole body immersed in the warm water. A warm feeling rose from the soles of her feet and went straight to her heart. She splashed some hot water on her body, feeling warm and cozy all over, as if all the fatigue of the day had been washed away.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Having a decent place to take a bath really makes me feel so much more comfortable."

I was exhausted these past few days, but thanks to the nourishment of the spiritual spring water, not only did my wounds hurt less, but I also felt much more energetic.

She raised her arm to look at the wound. Although it might be inconvenient for her to move around for a while, it wasn't a very serious injury, and she estimated that it would heal in a few days.