Half of Tang Hong’en’s body was hidden in the shadows.

Knowing his stomach problems, Xia Xiaolan quickly moved to support him.

Tang Hong’en’s entire body was indeed trembling slightly, and Xia Xiaolan could feel it as she supported him.

Xia Xiaolan was extremely worried. Was it from eating too late, or was something wrong with the food? Tang Hong’en’s stomach condition was quite serious!

“Xia Xiaolan, is your uncle alright?”

Ji Jiangyuan dropped his basketball, and Xiong Baiyan and the others stopped fooling around, all gathering to offer help.

Tang Hong’en stepped back, shrinking completely into the shadows. His stomach was truly in pain, with a moment of intense cramping, but he was the type of person with tremendous willpower. As he stepped back, struggling to keep his arms from shaking, his voice remained steady:

“I’m fine, I just suddenly remembered an urgent matter I haven’t attended to. Getting anxious made me tense. Thank you all for your concern.”

Though he stood against the light, his voice was rich and proper, immediately convincing. Xia Xiaolan’s uncle was no ordinary person—though his face wasn’t visible, his bearing was impressive!

Xia Xiaolan indeed had many mysteries about her.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Ji Jiangyuan felt that Xia Xiaolan’s uncle’s gaze lingered on his face for quite a while.

Well, it was natural to look at him a bit longer, considering he had just joked with Xia Xiaolan. Chinese elders tended to be quite serious, and Ji Jiangyuan felt rather regretful.

Xia Xiaolan sensed something was off.

Was Tang Hong’en the type to forget important matters?

But she couldn’t say anything in front of so many people. Since Tang Hong’en didn’t want Ji Jiangyuan and Xiong Baiyan’s help, Xia Xiaolan could only support him as they walked off campus. She wondered why Tang Hong’en suddenly had stomach pains, but fortunately, he had medicine with him. Xia Xiaolan borrowed some water to help him take it.

Now she couldn’t let Tang Hong’en return alone, so she called Xiao Wang to pick him up.

In less than half an hour, Xiao Wang arrived by car.

Hadn’t he been fine when he arrived?

How did he suddenly fall ill?

Xiao Wang suspected Xia Xiaolan had given Tang Hong’en inappropriate food, but Tang Hong’en waved it off. As the medicine slowly took effect, his discomfort subsided. It was more that his emotional turmoil had lessened, naturally restoring him to mostly normal.

“It’s not Xiaolan’s fault, dinner was fine. Xiao Wang, wait in the car first. I need to say a few words to Xiaolan.”

Xiao Wang obediently walked away, and Xia Xiaolan listened attentively.

She thought Tang Hong’en would give her some more advice and wanted to suggest he speak less right now, but unexpectedly, he asked something completely different.

“That classmate who spoke to you earlier, are you close?”

What kind of question was this?

Was Tang Hong’en going to advise her to focus on studying and not date?

Xia Xiaolan felt embarrassed, though she vaguely sensed it wasn’t about that.

“You mean the boy with the basketball? We’re okay, I guess. His name is Ji Jiangyuan. I only know he returned from America, he’s a new student in the Economics and Management School this year, his hobby is shooting, and he’s outgoing.”

Tang Hong’en listened very intently, though Xia Xiaolan’s knowledge was limited.

“If you want to know more about him, I can ask Ning Xue. Ji Jiangyuan’s family and the Ning family are old friends… but why are you asking about Ji Jiangyuan?”

Surname Ji, and old friends with the Ning family—that confirmed he hadn’t made a mistake.

Tang Hong’en showed a bitter smile: “No need to ask Ning Xue. He’s the person I was looking for. You see, I came to Huaqing University today first to see you, and second to try my luck, hoping to catch a glimpse of this classmate Ji Jiangyuan.”

Who knew luck would be so good—just walking around campus, they’d encounter Ji Jiangyuan.

It wasn’t surprising that Xia Xiaolan knew Ji Jiangyuan, after all, they were in the same honor guard formation and must have exchanged words during training.

Tang Hong’en hadn’t planned to say anything, but Liu Fen was too simple-minded and might overthink things.

Xia Xiaolan was too clever and would overthink!

Rather than let Xia Xiaolan guess wildly, Tang Hong’en decided to explain:

“I saw you and Ji Jiangyuan in Xiao Wang’s recording of the Tiananmen celebration. He looks exactly like his mother. The moment I saw him, I suspected his identity. I came to Beijing to confirm, and after seeing him in person just now, I’m eighty percent certain.”

It was that blood connection feeling, plus his surname Ji and the connection to the Ning family—now Tang Hong’en was one hundred percent sure!

Halfway through Tang Hong’en’s explanation, Xia Xiaolan sensed a dramatic revelation coming.

“So, he is your…”

“He’s my son. After his mother and I divorced, he was taken away from me. In twelve years, this is the first time I’ve seen him.”

The drama unfolded like a bucket of cold water!

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know what to say.

All the mysteries were solved—why a high-ranking official seemed so alone, with no one to care for him when sick. His wife had left him and taken their child, so of course he was alone in his position in Pengcheng! Xia Xiaolan figured Tang Hong’en hadn’t remarried, as his residence in Pengcheng showed no signs of a female presence.

Not seeing his son for twelve years, yet recognizing him from a fleeting television shot—Tang Hong’en must miss Ji Jiangyuan terribly.

Perhaps he missed him so much that he wouldn’t let go of any chance to verify someone who looked similar!

Whatever the reason, Xia Xiaolan didn’t understand: “Then why didn’t you reveal yourself to him just now?”

Tang Hong’en sat on a roadside bench, bathed in the dim yellow streetlight. He was a powerful figure whom even Hong Kong tycoons couldn’t easily meet, yet in this situation, he was powerless:

“He probably doesn’t want to see me. I’ve been absent from his life for too long. You saw it yourself—we were practically face to face, and he couldn’t recognize me. To him, I’m an unqualified father. We haven’t seen each other for twelve whole years, and now I can’t take that step.”

He had prepared himself never to see Ji Jiangyuan again in his lifetime.

His ex-wife had resolutely taken their child abroad, wanting to keep far away from him, preventing any contact.

Why had she now allowed Ji Jiangyuan to return to China?

Tang Hong’en hadn’t figured out this question yet.

However, Ji Jiangyuan studying at Huaqing meant he didn’t plan to leave anytime soon, which was what gave Tang Hong’en the most peace and joy.

Xia Xiaolan held the heavy bag of dried shrimp, feeling its weight. She didn’t want to get involved in such complicated family conflicts at all. Why the divorce, why his ex-wife took their child—these were questions for Tang Hong’en’s future wife to ask!

Xia Xiaolan would only do what she could:

“…Do you need me to be your spy?”