Chapter 11: The Truth Steps Forward
The hallway felt unbearably quiet.
Liang Zhiwei stood still, phone lowered at his side, the message from the lab echoing in his mind over and over again. Ninety-nine point nine nine percent. Numbers had never meant much to him before, but now they carried a weight that pressed straight into his chest.
His gaze shifted back to Lin Xiao Yan.
She was holding Hua Yichen's hand, her small fingers wrapped tightly around her mother's. She looked nothing like him at first glance—so small, so delicate—but the more he watched her, the more he noticed it. The set of her eyes. The calm steadiness when she looked at people. The way she stood, straight-backed even at five years old.
It felt painfully familiar.
Hua Yichen sensed his stare and slowly looked up. Their eyes met across the corridor, and time seemed to fold in on itself. Years of misunderstanding, silence, and buried resentment hovered between them.
Neither spoke.
Xiao Yan broke the silence first.
"Uncle," she said softly, tugging Hua Yichen a little closer to Liang Zhiwei, "you look like you have something important to say."
Liang Zhiwei swallowed.
He knelt down, lowering himself until they were at the same height. His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed him. "Xiao Yan… if I say something, will you listen?"
She nodded seriously. "I'm very good at listening."
A corner of his lips twitched despite himself.
"I think," he said slowly, choosing every word with care, "that I might be your father."
Hua Yichen's breath hitched.
The world did not explode. There was no dramatic music, no shouting. Just a quiet, fragile moment hanging between them.
Xiao Yan studied his face for a long second, then turned to Hua Yichen. "Mommy, is he the one you told me about?"
Hua Yichen's eyes filled with tears. She nodded once, unable to speak.
Xiao Yan looked back at Liang Zhiwei. "Then you're late."
The words were simple, not accusing, not angry—but they struck harder than any blame could have.
"I know," Liang Zhiwei said hoarsely. "And I'm sorry."
From inside the office, raised voices could be heard. Chen Zehao was arguing, his tone sharp and desperate. Security stood firm outside the door.
Xiao Yan glanced toward the sound, her expression unreadable.
"He won't bother us anymore," she said calmly. "Bad people get tired when they're caught."
Liang Zhiwei felt a chill run down his spine. This child… she wasn't just smart. She was frighteningly composed.
Later that evening, filming was officially suspended. The production team buzzed with rumors, but no one dared approach Hua Yichen directly. She sat in the lounge, Xiao Yan leaning against her side, exhaustion finally catching up to her.
Liang Zhiwei stood nearby, unsure where he belonged.
After a long silence, Hua Yichen spoke. "I never planned to bring this up again."
"I know," he replied quietly. "That was my fault."
She didn't argue.
Xiao Yan yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy… I'm sleepy."
Hua Yichen lifted her immediately, holding her close. Xiao Yan rested her head on her mother's shoulder, eyes half-closed, but her mind remained clear.
The two souls within her were finally at peace.
As she drifted toward sleep, she murmured, "Families shouldn't miss each other anymore."
Liang Zhiwei watched them, something warm and aching settling deep in his chest.
He had lost five years.
But he had found them again.
And this time, he wasn't going to let go.