Sun Gang took the DNA results in his hands, the paper feeling heavy with the weight of revelation. His eyes darted between the document and the figures standing before him—Sun Lixia and Li Chen. The glint in his eyes betrayed a storm of conflicting emotions, an internal struggle between the hatred he harbored and the undeniable truth staring back at him.

Grandpa Sun, sensing the turmoil in his grandson, urged, "Gang, what do the results say?"

Sun Gang’s jaw tightened as he read the words written in bold, confirming the familial bond that had been lost for decades. The lines on the paper echoed a truth he couldn’t deny, a truth that clashed with the resentment he had carried for so long.

Grandpa Sun’s eyes, filled with anticipation, locked onto Sun Gang’s face, searching for a reaction. The room seemed suspended in time, the air thick with tension.

Finally, Sun Gang looked up, his gaze meeting Sun Lixia’s and Li Chen’s. The glint in his eyes softened, replaced by a flicker of recognition. The family resemblance, the echoes of their shared bloodline, resonated in the room.

With a sigh, Sun Gang muttered, "It’s true."

A heaviness settled over the room, an acknowledgment of both the joy of rediscovery and the sorrow of the time lost. Sun Lixia’s eyes welled up with tears, emotions bubbling to the surface as she looked at the family she had longed to know.

Grandpa Sun, overcome with a flood of emotions, approached Sun Lixia, his hands reaching out to touch her face. "My daughter," he whispered, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks.

Sun Weilong, unable to contain his emotions, joined the embrace, creating a momentary haven where the pain of separation seemed to dissipate.

However, Sun Gang’s internal struggle was far from over. The dark cloud that veiled him lingered, a potent reminder of the spells that bound him. His gaze, still holding a hint of resentment, lingered on Li Chen.

As the emotional currents swirled in the room, the undeniable truth of Sun Lixia’s return had been laid bare. Yet, the complexities of family dynamics and the shadows of a brewing storm hinted at challenges that awaited the Sun family.

Sun Lixia shared her life story with Grandpa Sun. She spoke of Grandma Wang’s kindness, the love she received growing up, and the warmth of a family that embraced her when she needed it the most. Her words painted a picture of resilience, gratitude, and the unwavering bond she had formed with her adopted family.

Grandpa Sun listened intently, his eyes reflecting a mixture of joy and sorrow. The joy came from the realization that his daughter had found happiness, but the sorrow emanated from the absence of his beloved wife, who had missed witnessing this miraculous reunion.

As Sun Lixia recounted her journey, Sun Weilong couldn’t help but be moved by the emotional weight of the tale. He understood the significance of this moment and the impact it would have on the Sun family.

Sun Gang, on the other hand, struggled to mask his resentment. The contrast between Sun Lixia’s genuine warmth and Sun Gang’s concealed hostility created an undercurrent of tension in the room. His clenched fists betrayed the turmoil within, a storm of conflicting emotions.

When Sun Lixia finished narrating her story, there was a poignant silence. Grandpa Sun wiped away a tear and smiled at his daughter, "Lixia, my dear, you’ve been through so much. I’m grateful you found happiness. Your mother would have been overjoyed to see you now."

Sun Lixia smiled back, appreciating her father’s sentiment. The room was enveloped in a complex atmosphere, emotions swirling like leaves caught in an autumn breeze.

The butler’s timely interruption announcing dinner served as a welcomed distraction. "Dinner is ready, sir," he said.

Grandpa Sun nodded, his eyes lingering on Sun Lixia. "Let’s have dinner together and discuss everything further. As for you," he turned to Li Chen, "I want to hear everything about you. Can’t believe my grandson was right under my nose for so long."

Li Chen merely nodded, maintaining his quiet composure. The impending dinner seemed like a respite, a temporary pause before the storm that might follow.

Sun Weilong turned to Sun Gang, his previously warm smile replaced by a more serious expression. "Where is your brother? He’s late," Sun Weilong inquired, the concern evident in his voice.

Grandpa Sun, who had initially been jubilant about Sun Lixia’s return, now furrowed his brows as he noticed Sun Fang’s absence. "Where is that little brat?" he questioned, a mix of frustration and curiosity in his tone.

Sun Gang’s heart skipped a beat; he was acutely aware of what he had done. Despite receiving confirmation from Deng Chenglong that Sun Fang was dead, Sun Gang attempted to maintain composure. "I am not my brother’s keeper. He’s old enough to manage his time," Sun Gang replied, his voice strained.

Sun Weilong’s expression tightened as he considered Sun Gang’s response. "He never misses family dinners, and he knew we had an announcement to make tonight," Sun Weilong remarked, the concern deepening in his eyes.

Sun Gang, attempting to divert attention from the unsettling truth, added, "Maybe he thought the announcement wasn’t too important. I don’t know." The weight of his words hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of unease as the family grappled with the mystery surrounding Sun Fang’s absence.

Grandpa Sun, eager to have dinner with his daughter, said, "Maybe he is still on the way. Let’s eat before the food gets cold." The whole family walked to the dining room. Sun Lixia had a mischievous smile on her face as she looked at Sun Gang’s flushed expression. Li Chen sensed something amiss, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

The family gathered around the dining table, and Sun Weilong took out his phone to call Sun Fang. However, after several unsuccessful attempts, Sun Weilong grew visibly concerned. He asked Sun Gang, "When was the last time you spoke to Sun Fang?"

Sun Gang’s irritation was palpable as he responded, "He didn’t contact me. I just told you he’s a grown man and can manage his own affairs."

Grandpa Sun, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, let’s not ruin this special evening. We’ll find him after dinner," he suggested, though a hint of concern lingered in his eyes.

Sun Weilong reluctantly agreed, and the family began to eat. However, the absence of Sun Fang cast a shadow over the dinner table, and Sun Weilong continued to make unsuccessful attempts to reach him.

After the meal, Sun Weilong announced, "I’ll go check on Sun Fang. Maybe he’s caught up with work or something."

Suddenly, they heard footsteps, and Sun Fang walked in with a cast on his arm, sporting a smile. Sun Gang stood up, his eyes wide open, and he shouted, "How? What?"

Sun Fang, seemingly oblivious to the tension, responded, "What’s wrong, brother? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Sun Gang, still in shock, stammered, "What are you doing here?"

Sun Fang, maintaining his composure, said casually, "Why can’t I be here? It’s a family dinner."

Sun Gang, his suspicions escalating, insisted, "No, you shouldn’t be here."

Grandpa Sun, sensing the gravity of the situation, demanded, "Gang, what did you—why do you think your brother shouldn’t be here?"

Sun Gang, taking a deep breath to compose himself, sat back down and mumbled, "Sorry, Grandpa. I overreacted. I meant to ask him why he was late."

Sun Weilong, still suspicious, chose not to press further, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere of the special dinner. The family, although seated together, felt a lingering tension in the air as they continued their meal, and Sun Lixia’s enigmatic smile persisted.

Sun Weilong, concerned about Sun Fang’s arm, inquired, "What happened to your arm, Fang?"

Sun Fang, downplaying the situation, responded, "Oh, this? Just a little accident. I’m fine, though."

Grandpa Sun, showing his worry, asked, "Why didn’t you inform us that you had an accident?"

Sun Fang reassured, "It’s nothing, Grandpa, don’t worry."

Turning to Li Chen, Sun Fang greeted, "Cousin Chen."

Li Chen reciprocated, "Cousin Fang."

As they exchanged looks, Sun Fang then turned to Sun Lixia and greeted, "Evening, Aunt Lixia."

Sun Lixia smiled warmly and said, "Glad you’re okay."

Sun Fang added, "Well, it wasn’t a big accident. Only my arm was injured."

The family continued with their meal, but Sun Gang remained in shock, unable to even lift his chopsticks. The atmosphere around the dinner table was thick with unspoken tension and hidden secrets.

As the family continued their meal, the tension lingered, and Sun Gang’s inner turmoil escalated. Sun Lixia observed the strained atmosphere, her mischievous smile revealing that she sensed more than she let on. Li Chen, perceptive as ever, noticed the discomfort but couldn’t decipher the cause. Grandpa Sun, still joyful at the reunion, remained unaware of the undercurrents.