’This is my chance to get away from the Xie Family parents, I have to take it!’

’So I don’t get dragged down by those fools!’

When Yue Yihan returned, he saw his wife holding a piece of paper, lost in thought.

As he got closer, he saw the top of the paper, where a few large words were written—Adoption Certificate.

Yue Yihan: "!!!"

A shadow fell over her, and Xie Changning finally snapped back to reality. "Yihan, when did you get back?"

"Just now. What’s... this?"

Yue Yihan pointed at the paper in her hand, asking with a slight stammer.

A hint of sorrow clouded Xie Changning’s features. She handed the adoption certificate to Yue Yihan and said in a dejected tone, "I was never the favorite at home growing up. I used to think it was my fault."

"Because I was a girl, my parents didn’t like me... I just never imagined this was the real reason they didn’t like me."

Yue Yihan looked at the information on the adoption certificate; it matched Xie Changning’s.

He looked at Xie Changning in astonishment.

He never would have thought that the answer they couldn’t find while discussing it with the two commanding officers at the base just now would appear right here.

’It seems we’ll have to investigate the background of the Xie Family parents.’

"Changning, what are your plans?" Yue Yihan asked, carefully choosing his tone and words.

Xie Changning looked up at Yue Yihan, and seeing his cautious expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

"I’m not that fragile. Part of the reason I came here was that my relationship with them had already hit rock bottom. Since they aren’t my parents, I think I need your help finding my biological ones."

Yue Yihan was in the military and had some pull.

Investigating the Xie Family’s previous generation should be much easier for him than for her.

Yue Yihan didn’t refuse. "Okay." His reply was colored not only by a pang of sympathy for her but also by a thrill at being relied on by Xie Changning.

’My wife is relying on me! Does that mean she thinks I’m dependable? That I’m a man she can entrust her life to?’

The more he thought about it, the wider his smile became.

He couldn’t suppress it.

Xie Changning didn’t understand why Yue Yihan was suddenly so happy. She just found him to be a strange person, capable of getting lost in thought in the middle of a conversation.

Sensing Xie Changning’s gaze, Yue Yihan tucked the adoption certificate away. "I’ll go make dinner. You wait here for me." With that, he went to cook.

Xie Changning glanced around, taking in the red-decorated areas of the house.

Just as Xie Changning was about to look away, she saw a large item in the corner—a White Orchid brand washing machine!

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

She really hadn’t expected Yue Yihan to buy her a washing machine.

Amid her surprise, Xie Changning suddenly recalled how Yue Yihan had been chattering away with her a couple of days ago while she was busy.

He had asked for some ideas on what the house needed.

She had casually remarked, "It would be nice to have a washing machine." Washing machines cost five or six hundred yuan in this era—very expensive!

If she hadn’t thought a television was too expensive for her to afford right now, she would have suggested buying one of those.

Xie Changning hadn’t realized that her casual remark would be taken to heart.

"Yue Yihan, how much was this washing machine?"

"Not much at all!"

Yue Yihan’s voice came from a short distance away; he clearly didn’t want to tell Xie Changning the price.

Since he wouldn’t say, Xie Changning didn’t ask again.

She hadn’t asked for a bride price, but Yue Yihan had taken the initiative to prepare the "four big items" for her. She didn’t refuse them; this was his way of showing his commitment.

She wouldn’t refuse.

Since he bought it, Xie Changning accepted it. "Well, look at you, Yihan, so observant! You know how to dote on me, worried I’ll get tired from washing clothes~"

Xie Changning peeked her head out and called towards the kitchen.

Yue Yihan, who was chopping vegetables, heard Xie Changning’s praise, and his grin instantly stretched from ear to ear. "I’m... I’m not as good as you say."

’My wife praised me!’

’ROAR! My wife praised me! Does this mean I’m starting to win my wife’s heart?’

(Monkey jumping) (Monkey swinging on a vine) (Monkey wants to pick nits for his mate!)

Yue Yihan grinned goofily as he chopped vegetables, cooked the meal, and ate.

For a long time after, he remained in a state of dopey bliss.

It made Xie Changning, who was eating, want to stand her chopsticks up in her bowl to perform an exorcism on him.

"Yue Yihan, are you okay?" Xie Changning asked tentatively.

’Something seems off about Yue Yihan right now. Could he be possessed?’

"I’m fine! Honey, you go ahead and eat. Just leave the dishes when you’re done, I’ll wash them when I get back!" With that, he rode his bicycle to the base.

When he arrived at the base, the Brigade Commander saw Yue Yihan grinning like a fool as he handed him an adoption certificate.

Seeing Yue Yihan’s dopey grin, the Brigade Commander frowned. "What’s with that ghoulish look on your face? I don’t care who you are, get out of Yue Yihan’s body right now! I’m telling you, the soldiers in our unit have all seen real combat!"

After speaking, he smacked Yue Yihan on the back of the head.

The slap wiped the smile right off Yue Yihan’s face.

"Tsk, Sir, what did you hit me for? Are you just jealous my wife praised me?"

"..."

The Brigade Commander was speechless. The Brigade Commander wanted to curse!

Yue Yihan was completely wasting his concern!

"You’re saying Xie Changning was adopted by her parents?" Not wanting to look at Yue Yihan’s stupid expression any longer, the Brigade Commander immediately changed the subject to Xie Changning.

He figured that only a topic involving Xie Changning could snap Yue Yihan out of his goofy daze.

In fact, the Brigade Commander’s decision was the right one. Yue Yihan did sober up and nodded very seriously. "That’s right. I think we can start with the social circle of the Xie Family parents."

Yue Yihan wasn’t very familiar with the circle of people around the Xie Family parents.

In his view, people as bizarre as them probably didn’t have many friends.

"You might not know this, but the Xie Family’s ancestors were a family of scholars. It was only with the parents’ generation that they went into business. However..." The Brigade Commander knew a little about the Xie Family’s affairs.

After all, he had to vet the family of one of his men.

"Xie Changning’s adoptive father has an older brother. He disappeared over twenty years ago, and his wife vanished along with him."

At this, the Brigade Commander’s eyes narrowed sharply.

He calculated the timeline. It did indeed overlap with the period when Xie Changning was adopted. It was possible that Xie Changning was the child of her adoptive father’s brother!

Yue Yihan had clearly thought of this possibility as well.

"If that’s really the case, then... where did my wife’s biological parents go?" How could two adults just vanish into thin air? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Did they go abroad, or...?

"Their information is classified as a top national secret. I don’t have the authority to look it up." By the time he said this, the Brigade Commander was basically certain where Xie Changning’s biological parents had gone.

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I’ll contact Shanghai. We must keep a close watch on the person Vice Factory Director Lin is in contact with."