Chapter 57

The day Yan An was brought back to the Yan family home, the weather was especially good, with a clear blue sky.

Tang Minrou had asked the gardener to tidy up the garden in advance and replant roses.

She also instructed Uncle Zheng to set up tables and chairs in the yard and had Wu Aunt prepare ingredients for an outdoor family gathering.

Tang Minrou personally ordered a large five-layer cake since Yan An had loved sweets before she got sick.

During the years she had been in the hospital, she rarely got to eat them. This was mainly because her health had been unstable, sometimes, food would make her vomit immediately, so they stopped giving her sweets.

To make up for it, Tang Minrou had made many preparations.

That day happened to be a Saturday. Yan Ning sat by the window on the second floor, looking downstairs.

Tang Minrou was directing the servants as they busied themselves in and out. Occasionally, she would personally adjust the decorative potted plants that weren’t placed properly.

Tang Minrou actually felt somewhat strange about Yan An’s miraculous recovery. Doctor An had also said it was strange. He had checked several times, and indeed, Yan An’s health was rapidly improving.

In just a week, her face, which had been so thin it seemed almost deformed, had regained some flesh, looking much rounder.

Of course, this “roundness” was relative to how she looked in the hospital. For a normal 14-year-old girl, Yan An was so thin she looked like an elementary school student.

As the yard was nearly ready, a few cars were driving into the courtyard through the main gate at the outermost part of the Yan family home.

Yan Ning heard the noise and stood up, preparing to go downstairs. As she passed by Yan Wan’s room, she paused for a moment before directly heading downstairs.

During this time, Yan Wan had been forced to go to school and had become much quieter.

But 007 had said that Yan Wan seemed to have gotten used to it, and her psychological defenses had lowered. Although she occasionally felt upset about her diminished status and influence, she no longer resisted it as much as before.

Every day after returning home, she hid in her room, frantically making small figurines of herself and Yan An, hoping to bring bad luck to them. She even planned to wait until Yan Ning lowered her guard and secretly go to the hospital to strangle Yan An.

Yan Ning deeply felt that Yan Wan’s character truly had malicious potential.

It hadn’t been long, yet she had already adjusted her mentality and was still plotting.

In the end, it seemed that Yan Wan hadn’t been harmed enough at her core. Tang Minrou and Yan Zhengjun were both busy with their own affairs, not paying attention to what she was doing at home.

As long as she still lived in the Yan family, and as long as Yan Zhengjun and Tang Minrou still considered her their daughter, Yan Wan’s dream of being a wealthy young lady would not shatter.

But what she didn’t know was that Yan An’s health had already recovered, and today she would be coming back.

Yan Ning had a bit of a morbid curiosity and wanted to see what Yan Wan’s reaction would be when she saw the healthy Yan An later.

As Yan Ning went downstairs and changed her shoes to head outside, several cars were parked in front of the gate.

The first to get out of the car were an elderly couple, both with kind, gentle expressions. Although their hair was silver and their faces were wrinkled like old tree bark, they wore warm and friendly smiles. Their clothing and demeanor were impeccable.

These were Yan An’s grandparents, and this was the first time Yan Ning had met them.

Yan Ning stepped forward and politely greeted them, then stepped aside.

Because today, the main focus was not on her.

The elderly couple didn’t even know who she was. When they heard her call them “Grandpa” and “Grandma,” they were momentarily stunned.

Yan An got out of the car behind them, and immediately, the attention of the elderly couple shifted to her. Tang Minrou quickly walked over to support Yan An.

Yan Zhengjun also got out of the car, and together with Tang Minrou, they supported Yan An from either side, creating a very warm scene.

At the back, there was another white car. A woman with a graceful demeanor stepped out of the car and bent down to carry out a plump little bundle from inside.

It was Yan Zhengjun’s sister, Yan Zhengya, with her precious son.

They had gone together to the hospital to pick up Yan An and were now bringing her home.

Tang Minrou helped Yan An take a few steps forward before walking ahead to lead everyone into the yard. “The weather is nice today, so I had some food prepared. Let’s go out to the yard and enjoy the sun for a bit. Later, I’ll have Auntie help roast something to celebrate An’an’s discharge.”

After walking a couple of steps, she turned around and called out to Yan Ning, “Ningning, go and call Xiao Yu and Wanwan to come down.”

Yan An released Yan Zhengjun’s hand, took Yan Ning’s arm, and said to Tang Minrou, “I’ll go with my sister. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Brother and Yan Wan.”

Yan Zhengya looked at Yan Ning, her eyes filled with surprise. “Hey, who is that little girl?”

Yan Grandpa and Yan Grandma also showed surprise. Yan Grandma said, “That little girl just called me ‘Grandma.’ I must be getting old, I can’t remember which family she’s from.”

Yan Zhengjun stepped forward to support the elderly lady and explained to them, “That’s Yan Ning, the child who was swapped with Yan Wan. We brought her back a while ago, but we didn’t mention it to you.”

“She’s the one? How long has she been back? Why didn’t you say anything?” Yan Zhengya’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

Logically, when the swapped child was finally found, the family should have been informed immediately so that relatives could recognize her.

Also, she remembered that Yan Ning was the girl who had saved her when she had a car accident.

At that time, she had been lying on the roadside with her big belly, a pool of blood underneath her. No one dared to come near because of the blood, and she couldn’t cry out for help due to the pain and her weight. She was close to despairing and nearly died.

The girl passed through the crowd, glanced at her, then carefully picked her up and took her to the hospital.

She remembered it very clearly. She had been looking for someone in the crowd to ask for help. Unable to speak due to the pain, she could only seek help with her eyes.

There was a circle of people around her, and she only glanced at the girl. The girl turned her head, and her cat-like eyes, emotionless, fixed on her face.

She thought the girl wouldn’t come over. A small and frail girl like that couldn’t possibly do anything for her, and she had already given up in her heart.

But then, the girl walked out from the crowd, easily picked her up, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.”

She felt enveloped in warmth, and her heart instantly calmed, though sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as expected.

After being safely sent to the hospital, she called her family, waiting for childbirth.

During labor, she suffered excessive bleeding. Unfortunately, she had a rare blood type, and the hospital didn’t have any blood stock.

At that moment, she realized that sometimes, even money can’t buy certain things.

She thought she might not make it through and, in her groggy state, heard that someone with the same blood type had been found and was willing to donate blood to her.

It was still the same girl who had brought her to the hospital.

She thought to herself that once she successfully delivered the baby, she would be sure to thank her properly.

After giving birth, she was so exhausted that she slept for a long time.

When she woke up, however, the girl had already left the hospital.

She felt regretful for a long time, but now, looking back, she felt that fate was truly amazing. After all the twists and turns, the girl turned out to be her niece.

Yan Zhengya recalled this and told the story again in front of Grandpa and Grandma Yan, and the two elderly people suddenly understood.

Grandpa Yan said, “So she’s the eldest granddaughter. You two, really— the child was found, why didn’t you tell the family?”

Grandma Yan also glanced at Yan Zhengjun and Tang Minrou with a slightly displeased tone, “Don’t tell me you forgot because you were busy. It would have been enough just to let us know. We wouldn’t have minded. After all, she’s part of the Yan family. She’s been suffering outside all these years, and you didn’t even say a word.”

Yan Zhengjun and Tang Minrou looked awkward, not daring to argue. They stood there like wooden figures, forcing an embarrassed smile.

Tang Minrou, with a stiff face, explained, “She’s only been back for a couple of days, and just when An’an’s health started improving, we thought it’d be better to tell you all at once today. It’s not really a big deal.”

At the Yan household.

Yan An stood in front of the staircase leading to the second floor, her gaze filled with nostalgia. “I never thought I’d be able to come back here alive.”

Yan Ning gave her a light pat. “Since it’s all in the past, just look ahead.”

Yan An turned her head to look at her. As her health improved, some flesh had returned to her face, and her grape-like eyes seemed even more spirited. She slightly curved her lips, her eyes carrying a hint of coldness. “But some people still have to pay for what they’ve done. Sister, where is she?”

Yan Ning’s gaze was calm. “She should be in her room.”

Yan An stepped forward and began climbing the stairs. Yan Ning reached out, ready to assist her.

Yan An waved her hand gently, smiling faintly. “You wait here, Sister. I’ll go call her down.”

“Also, call Yan Yu while you’re at it.” Yan Ning knew that Yan An probably wanted to have a private conversation with Yan Wan, so she didn’t want to interrupt them. She simply reminded her.

It was Saturday, so Yan Yu was also at home.

He hadn’t come downstairs yet. That kid really had no sense of urgency.

Yan An walked up the stairs one step at a time, her movements gentle and graceful. Yan Ning, however, felt that she was trying hard to suppress her emotions.

When Yan An reached the door of Yan Wan’s room, she raised her hand and gently knocked three times. Inside, Yan Wan’s slightly impatient voice came through. “Who is it?”

“Sister Wan, do you still remember me?” Yan An raised the corner of her lips and casually said this, her eyes filled with malicious amusement.

Yan Wan, sitting on the bed and putting on her shoes, was about to get up and open the door. But when she heard this voice, her eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t speak for a moment, only feeling cold sweat forming on her back.

When there was no response from inside, Yan An knocked twice more, knowing that she was too scared to come out. She stood at the door and spoke directly, “Sister Wan, I’ve been discharged today. Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and my aunt are all here, and we’re having a gathering in the yard. Aren’t you always the one who loves to be the center of attention? I’m waiting for you downstairs.”

“If you don’t come down, I don’t mind talking more to Dad and Mom about you.” There was still no sound from inside, and no one came to open the door, so Yan An added.

Not waiting for a response, she turned around and went to call Yan Yu from the other room.

Yan Wan, lying by the door, listened as the footsteps gradually faded away. Her heart felt like thunder had struck—Yan An had really returned!

It must be Yan Ning again!

Her heart was filled with dread. Yan An had been deeply loved by Yan Zhengjun and Tang Minrou since she was young, unlike Yan Ning, who was brought back from the countryside.

If they found out that Yan An had gotten sick because of her, she would definitely face a miserable end.

Today, with the elders and family around, it would indeed seem unnatural if she didn’t go down.

Besides, it had been so long, and there was no evidence against her. Even if she tried to report it, as long as she denied everything, there was nothing they could do to her.

Yan Wan calculated in her mind, then gently opened the door.