“Senior, it’s Ming Can,” Ming Can said, her voice slightly trembling despite her efforts to stay calm. “Miaomiao just fell, and I think his arm might be dislocated. I can’t take him to the hospital alone…”

“Ten minutes,” Chi Xiao said. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Ming Can replied, not even realizing she’d said it three times. “I’m in unit 1701. Come straight up when you get here.”

“Got it. Don’t panic.”

“I’m not panicking,” Ming Can instinctively retorted. Her right hand was holding a cotton swab, cleaning Miaomiao’s wound, when a tear from Miaomiao landed on the back of her hand, burning like fire. Her heart clenched, and her voice choked up unexpectedly. “I’m sorry.”

She hadn’t taken good care of Miaomiao.

The study was right across from Miaomiao’s room. Why hadn’t she heard him leave? Why hadn’t she sternly warned him not to go out on the balcony alone? Why had she made him feel like bothering his mom was a bad thing…

Chi Xiao hadn’t expected Ming Can to apologize. He didn’t know who she was apologizing to, but he could tell she was emotionally shaken. So, he tried to reassure her in a calm, steady voice, “A dislocated arm isn’t a big deal for a kid, and it’s not your fault he fell. Kids this age are naturally mischievous. No matter how much adults try to keep an eye on them, they’ll still find ways to get into trouble. When I was Miaomiao’s age, I had two or three nannies and a housekeeper watching me, and I still managed to fall into a pond right under their noses.”

“…” Ming Can pursed her lips, imagining the scene in her mind. For a moment, she almost laughed but managed to hold it back.

She realized that Chi Xiao wasn’t incapable of speaking—he just didn’t like to talk much. When he wanted to, he could say a lot, and his words were actually quite… comforting.

Before hanging up, Ming Can heard the sound of wind on Chi Xiao’s end, indicating he was already on his way.

True to his word, he arrived in ten minutes. Ming Can helped Miaomiao into his coat and opened the door to let Chi Xiao in.

He brought a chill with him as he stepped into the foyer. The moment Miaomiao turned and saw him, the tears that had just stopped started flowing again.

“Wah…”

“Don’t cry,” Chi Xiao said, bending down. His long, strong arms effortlessly picked Miaomiao up, one hand gently supporting his injured leg to avoid bumping it. Ming Can stood beside them, carefully lifting Miaomiao’s immobile arm and draping it over his father’s shoulder.

Chi Xiao was so tall that Ming Can had to stand on her tiptoes to help Miaomiao wrap his arms around his dad’s neck.

In the living room, the chandelier and spotlights cast a bright, warm glow. The luxurious apartment, spanning at least 200 square meters, seemed to house only Ming Can and Miaomiao.

There were no other family members.

Had she been taking care of this child all by herself?

There was no time to dwell on it. Chi Xiao quickly carried Miaomiao out of the house, drove them to the nearest children’s hospital, and arrived at the emergency department.

The emergency room was crowded, even late at night, with many children suffering from fevers. The hallway was packed.

Chi Xiao settled Ming Can and Miaomiao in the seats outside the orthopedic emergency room and went off alone to register.

Miaomiao, in pain and exhausted, whimpered and leaned against Ming Can. She couldn’t help but pull him onto her lap, comforting him while gently patting his back.

Emergency registration was quick, and soon Chi Xiao returned, telling them there were only two kids ahead of them in line for orthopedics. They should be seen within ten minutes.

Ming Can hugged Miaomiao tightly, adjusted his heavy coat, and made room for Chi Xiao to sit beside her.

“Thank you,” Chi Xiao said, sitting down.

The seats were narrow, and with people constantly passing by, Chi Xiao’s tall frame and long legs were awkwardly folded, with nowhere to stretch out.

For a moment, silence fell between them.

Above the hallway, a series of cold, bright LED panel lights formed a dazzling path, illuminating the space as brightly as daylight.

Ming Can and Chi Xiao, with their youthful faces, stood out starkly among the crowd of parents in their thirties and forties.

Not to mention, their striking looks made them even more conspicuous sitting side by side. If someone had said they were filming a youth idol drama at the hospital, it might have been believable.

But which youth idol drama would have a male and female lead holding such a large child?

Miaomiao gradually got used to the discomfort in his arm. Plus, his mom’s embrace was soft and comforting, so his eyelids began to droop. Half-asleep, he called out to Ming Can, “Mom, mom…”

“Yeah,” Ming Can responded. “What is it?”

“Mom, I’m going to sleep for a bit. Wake me up when it’s my turn to see the doctor.”

Ming Can: “Okay, go ahead and sleep.”

A couple of passersby in the hallway overheard their conversation and, finding it odd, couldn’t help but cast curious glances their way.

“Let me hold him,” Chi Xiao suddenly said.

Without waiting for Ming Can or Miaomiao to respond, he reached under Miaomiao’s arms and lifted him onto his own lap, holding him securely.

Dad’s scent was also quite pleasant.

Miaomiao found a comfortable position to lean against, his mind foggy and his cheeks still damp with tears. He looked utterly pitiful as he mumbled sleepily to Chi Xiao, “Dad, I’m going to sleep now.”

Chi Xiao: “…”

Ming Can: “…”

Ming Can stayed silent, quietly observing Chi Xiao’s expression.

If, before today, she had been planning to come clean with Chi Xiao but still harbored a sliver of hesitation—hence why she hadn’t set a specific time to tell him—then after tonight, she was absolutely certain. There was no more hesitation.

People often make decisions in an instant.

And in that one moment just now, it had outweighed all the research and consideration she had done before.

So, when Miaomiao called her and Chi Xiao “Mom” and “Dad,” Ming Can didn’t explain.

Let him wonder. Let him rack his brain. Maybe he’d figure it out on his own without her having to say anything?

Out of the corner of her eye, Ming Can noticed that after Miaomiao called him “Dad,” Chi Xiao’s brow furrowed slightly. He tightened his hold on Miaomiao and, inexplicably, shifted further away from Ming Can.

Miaomiao stirred awake at the movement, opening his eyes. “Dad… Brother?”

“You’re awake?” Chi Xiao asked. “Were you missing your mom and dad?”

Miaomiao glanced furtively at Ming Can beside him. “…Kind of.”

Chi Xiao: “I just heard you call your sister ‘Mom.'”

Miaomiao: “…”

“She’s only 19 and still in school,” Chi Xiao said, not scolding him but speaking in a low, reasoning tone. “There are so many people here. If you call her ‘Mom,’ others will look at her strangely. You don’t want your sister to be gossiped about, do you?”

In this society, women are already at a disadvantage. People are quick to judge and endlessly amplify even the slightest negative labels attached to them, easily dragging them into the whirlpool of public opinion and making them the subject of street gossip.

Especially someone as strikingly beautiful as Ming Can.

Hearing Chi Xiao’s words, Ming Can finally understood why he had suddenly taken Miaomiao from her arms and moved further away.

Miaomiao had also called him “Dad,” and people would give him strange looks too. But he chose to bear it himself, weighing the lesser of two evils.

This society is inherently unfair. Negative labels on men aren’t amplified as much. Even if people gossip about Chi Xiao, as a man, he naturally has a stronger ability to withstand risks. A 20-year-old male college student having a 5-year-old child might spark some gossip, but it would quickly blow over without much backlash.

So, this was what Chi Xiao had been thinking when he heard Miaomiao call them “Mom” and “Dad.”

Ming Can couldn’t help but curse Chi Xiao in her mind for being so dense and stubborn. She really wanted to throw a hundred time-travel dramas in front of him and make him study them carefully.

On the other hand, deep down, she felt a warm, glowing ember gently soothing her heart. It was unexpectedly comforting to experience such thoughtfulness from a guy.

Just then, the announcement system called Miaomiao’s name. Chi Xiao immediately stood up, carrying Miaomiao into the examination room.

As soon as Miaomiao saw the doctor, the tears he had been holding back started falling like a string of pearls. He shrank into Chi Xiao’s arms, clearly scared.

“Don’t be nervous, little one,” the doctor said kindly, his expression gentle. “Come here and let Uncle take a look… Does it hurt here? Can’t use your strength? Stretch your arm out a bit… Relax…”

The doctor was experienced. After feeling along Miaomiao’s arm, he quickly identified the problem. While distracting Miaomiao with conversation, he manipulated the arm, holding Miaomiao’s elbow and rotating his forearm outward, then bending it upward and rotating it again. By the time he finished speaking, Miaomiao’s dislocated joint was back in place.

“Done?” Ming Can asked, surprised. “That fast?”

The doctor smiled. “Yes, it’s that quick. Kids this age are prone to dislocations. Your brother’s bones and muscles are in good shape, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Hearing this, the stone in Ming Can’s heart finally settled.

The wound on Miaomiao’s leg had been well-treated by Ming Can, so the doctor simply bandaged it and reminded them to keep it clean. With that, their visit to the hospital came to an end.

As they left the examination room, Miaomiao, though physically fine, was too sleepy to walk and clung to Chi Xiao like a sticky plaster.

Chi Xiao, with his ample strength, didn’t mind and carried him without complaint.

Ming Can walked behind them, the three of them weaving through the crowded emergency hallway.

Ming Can stared at Chi Xiao’s tall, handsome figure, her mind already planning the next step.

Time waits for no one. Now was the perfect moment to move forward.

She had always been meticulous in her actions. Even though she was 99% certain that Chi Xiao was Miaomiao’s father, that remaining 1% had to be filled with scientific evidence. This way, when she stood before Chi Xiao to reveal this unbelievable truth, she would have solid ground to stand on.

The day the paternity test results came out would be the day she confronted Chi Xiao.

As she thought this, her peripheral vision caught the door of a nearby examination room opening. A family of three walked out—both parents were quite large, and it was easy for “accidental bumps” to happen in such a crowded space.

Chi Xiao, holding Miaomiao, turned slightly and smoothly squeezed past the family.

When it was Ming Can’s turn to pass by them—

“Ouch!” Ming Can let out a low cry, pretending to be bumped into. She lost her balance and stumbled forward, colliding with Chi Xiao’s broad back.

“Ack—” Chi Xiao suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, feeling a stinging pain at the back of his head, as if someone had yanked his hair hard.

He turned around to see Ming Can, who had just bumped into him, now standing straight. One hand was tucked into her down jacket pocket, and her stunning face was full of apology. “Sorry, Senior. I lost my balance just now. I was trying to touch Miaomiao’s face but accidentally hit your head.”

Chi Xiao, unable to check the back of his head with his hands full, simply nodded and said calmly, “It’s fine.”

The incident was quickly brushed aside.

Ming Can, her hand still in her pocket, contentedly rubbed the small clump of hair she had yanked from Chi Xiao’s head.

Of the three of them, only Miaomiao was still caught up in what had just happened. His grape-like eyes were wide open, his expression a mix of shock and confusion.

The hospital was too noisy for him to sleep, so he had been half-awake, resting on his dad’s shoulder, and had seen everything.

Mom hadn’t been bumped into at all, nor had she been trying to touch his face.

She had done it on purpose—she had deliberately walked over and punched Dad in the back of the head! He had seen it clearly!