Chapter Ten: So-called Blood Relations

  Just as she was hesitating about what excuse to use to refuse, the internal line phone suddenly rang, and Xue Xiao Yao subconsciously picked it up first.

  "Tonight at 7:30, Haiyue has a banquet and requires bringing a female companion. You accompany me, we'll go together later!"

  The voice of Director Cheng Luo came from the other end of the phone, cold and clear.

  "I'm late..."

  Staring at the receiver that had just gone "beep... beep", Zuo Xiao Yao thought of asking him to find another employee to accompany her, but before she could say it out loud, the other end had already hung up. Apparently, as her boss, he had made up his mind and didn't even think of giving her the right to refuse.

  After hanging up the phone in frustration, she picked up her now-still mobile phone. "Hello Jerry, sorry about that, I was just on another call. What's up?"

  "It's okay, are you free tonight? I have something to ask for your help!"

  "I don't know what time you're talking about tonight, just now the boss called and asked me to accompany him to a banquet tonight!"

  "Cheng Luo doesn't usually go out for social events, does he? What's gotten into him this time? Is it because of the celebration banquet hosted by Haiyue at Zuo's place?"

  "What kind of party it is, the boss didn't say."

  "Alas, it seems I'm a step too late this time. I was also thinking of asking you to be my partner and attend the banquet together, but it looks like you already have plans!"

  "Hmm, it seems like this time is really unlucky!"

  "No big deal, as long as you promise that next time we're in a similar situation, you'll consider me first, it'll make up for this missed opportunity, how about it?" Jerry suggested over the phone with some expectation.

  "It's not certain when the next time will be, let's talk about it next time, there's not much time left, you'd better hurry up and find your evening companion!" Zuo Xiaoyao said with a smile, feeling no regret at all.

  After finishing the phone call, he had just packed up his things when he saw Cheng Luo walk out of the office and close the door behind him, saying "You go downstairs and wait for me for a while, I'll go get the car!"

  "Alright!"

  Zuo Xiaoyao, who had stood up, smiled and replied. Although she was not happy about it, as the assistant to the general manager, accompanying her superior to social events was also a tacit part of her job. After all, in the workplace, there were many things that were beyond one's control.

  Sitting in the passenger seat, Cheng Luo already had a plan in mind, while she was now dressed in formal attire, which seemed out of place for attending a banquet. Just as Zuo Xiao Yao was about to ask him where they were going first, she heard Cheng Luo, who usually spoke little, say "After passing by Zhen Yan, we'll head directly to Hai Yue."

  Zhen Yan? This name seems familiar, Zuo Xiao Yao furrowed her brow and thought for a moment before remembering that it was a well-known styling design studio, the first choice of some fashion program producers, offering a one-stop service from clothing matching, hairstyle design to makeup, an absolutely high-end place!

  Thinking of the meager amount in her bank account, Zuo Xiaoyao immediately and firmly refused, "Director Cheng, no need to go to Zhēn Yán, my home is not far from here, I'll just go back and change clothes, by the way, I can do makeup too!"

  "Don't worry about the money, this time I'll treat you to help me out, all expenses will be borne by me! Besides, it's already off-work hours, you should call my name!" Immediately understanding her concern, Cheng Luo smiled slightly and replied, not only with a warm face but also unusually speaking more words.

  "Thank you, really no need, these things I can handle myself. At the next intersection, turn left and my home is in the small district on the right side, very convenient!"

  Let others spend money to dress themselves up, this is something that Zuo Xiao Yao absolutely will not do. Although she has been poor since childhood, under the careful guidance of her grandmother from a scholarly family, self-respect and self-love have been deeply ingrained in her bones just like self-reliance. No matter what reason, Zuo Xiao Yao would never put down the principles she has always insisted on.

  It can be heard that Xue Xiao's tone is slightly cold, but determined. Cheng Luo's eyes flashed with a hint of regret, secretly blaming himself for being too rash.

  When she arrived at the entrance of her residential unit, Zuo Xiao Yao, who had no intention of inviting Cheng Luo upstairs, asked him to wait downstairs for a moment. Just as she was about to enter the unit, a middle-aged woman suddenly rushed out from the left side, wailing loudly: "Oh dear! My poor daughter! Mom has finally found you! Waaah... Waaah..."

  After the initial shock, surprise and helplessness, Zuo Xiaoyao, who quickly recovered her emotions, simply shook off the hand that was pulling her arm and replied faintly, "I think this aunt has mistaken me for someone else! Sorry, I'm in a hurry, so I'll take my leave first!"

  "What a mistake! We are your biological parents, do you want to deny it?!" The middle-aged man who appeared beside the middle-aged woman at some point shouted in a stern and severe tone.

  And with a young woman who looked 50% like Xue Xiao Yao standing next to him, she said sternly and righteously "You are clearly my sister, Dad and Mom have been missing you all these years, how can you not recognize them? You've seen them before in school."

  At the time of rush hour, with a mindset that doesn't mind the height of the stage, people nearby who heard the commotion all gathered around to watch. From just these few words, various versions of speculation had already appeared in everyone's minds. Unbeknownst to her, Cheng Luo had already stood beside Xiao Xiang and calmly said, "Xiao Xiang, don't bother with this kind of person. These days, the tricks of scammers are endless!"

  "Who are you? What right do you have to talk about us like that? She's my own daughter, heaven and earth can be my witness. If anyone doesn't believe it, we can go take a paternity test, how about that? Now that she's grown up and has her own wings, does she dare not recognize her own parents and siblings?"

  "Yes, wu...wu... Xiaoyao, you are my own daughter born after I suffered for ten months, if you don't recognize me as your mother, I'd rather die..."

  "What's your purpose in coming here and making such a scene today?" Zuo Xiao Yao asked calmly.

  "What's the point of having a daughter if we can't even take care of you? No matter what, you're our biological daughter. How can we let you live alone outside? Your mom and I are getting old, it's time for us to enjoy the happiness of being with our children. Your sister and younger sister are also working in the city, we should move together, a family reunion is the most important thing!"

  "Yes, your brother should also go to university in the city this year. Let's head back home and talk about it later. From now on, we'll live together, and I can take good care of you, making sure you have a better life. My poor daughter, you've suffered so much over these years!"

  The middle-aged man finished speaking, and the middle-aged woman immediately followed, holding hands with Zuo Xiaoyao again as they walked towards the corridor, as if it was a matter of course.

  "As far as I know, Xiaoyao has been dependent on her grandmother since she was a child. I don't know where this uncle and aunt came from. Are you Wang Zhaonan? Your parents' behavior is improper, running to someone's doorstep to cause trouble for no reason. As their children, shouldn't you advise them?" After glancing at the young woman who had been keeping her head down since he appeared, Cheng Luo spoke again in a light tone.

  "Cheng Shixiong, oh no! Cheng Zong, it's not like that, she really is my own sister. Because we've been separated for many years, my parents miss her so much, that's why they came here to find her." Wang Zhaonan explained hastily with a slightly tense tone, and even had tears welling up in his eyes.

  "Are you sure it's just a coincidence? As far as I know, shouldn't it be that you abandoned me for 17 years and then sold me off for 5 more? No, to put it correctly, shouldn't it be that later on, you all sold out the entire life of this daughter of yours?

  Long accustomed to the coldness and warmth of human relationships, Zuo Xiao Yao's heart had already been wounded a thousand times over. She had long given up hope for the parental love that she would never have in this lifetime. Looking at the people before her, their eyes flashing with what seemed like hopeful emotions, she knew better than anyone else that it was just greed!"

  "How...how did you know about the contract?"

  The middle-aged man's eyes widened in shock, and the originally straight and majestic momentum on his body also dissipated by more than half unintentionally.

  "Why can't I know that back then, in order to give birth to a son, you intentionally abandoned me on the desolate coast, and later, since you could do such a thing as to tell grandma to abduct children and force my elderly and frail grandma to buy peace with money, why can't I know? If I don't know, how can I clearly tell you that I have the right to investigate your intentional murder of infants, extortion, and illegal human trafficking?"

  Zuo Xiaoyao's emotions remained calm as she finished speaking, and the surrounding residents suddenly let out a disbelieving cry of surprise.

  In this world, the event of abandoning one's wife and children without emotion or conscience is rare, but it can also be said to be frequently seen. However, this middle-aged couple is extremely ruthless and unscrupulous, and their behavior as parents is absolutely despicable.

  The middle-aged woman momentarily forgot to cry and make a scene, while the middle-aged man was left with a thoroughly embarrassed expression. The couple were quickly pulled away by their eldest daughter, fleeing through the crowd in disarray. Not far from the scene, they didn't forget to turn back and grab the gifts placed beside the residential building.

  After being slightly shocked by Zuo Xiao's frank revelation of her own abandonment and sale by her biological parents, Cheng Luo, who had fully recovered, glanced at the surrounding crowd that had already dispersed and said, "You can go back and rest first, you don't have to attend tonight's banquet!"

  Loosening the hand that had been tightly grasped, Zuo Xiao Yao smiled calmly and said "No need, you just wait in the car for a bit, I'll be fine soon. It's just me at home, so I won't invite you up!"

  Xiao Yao had already turned and gone upstairs after speaking, so Cheng Luo could only swallow the comforting words he had originally wanted to say. He knew her - he had known five years ago, when she was a freshman and he was a graduate student about to graduate. Her unintentional attention had left a deep impression on him. He knew where she liked to paint, where she sold her paintings, and that although she rarely interacted deeply with others, her warm and polite personality made her quite popular among her classmates. And none of this did she know!

  PS: New article participating in PK, supporting and giving power, there will be a second chapter update, enough to give power, three updates are also possible!