Chapter 303: Self-deprecation
Chapter 303: Self-deprecation
There is wind outside the window, bringing a hint of coolness as it pours in through the open window. After days of high temperatures, there is finally a bit of coolness, making people feel inexplicably comfortable.
An Ran comes back to her senses from this comfortable state and looks at Zhan Lian, who is sitting in front of her. His long hair shakes slightly. He lowers his head and rubs her wrist very seriously. She opens her mouth and is about to say something.
"Has Zhan Anxin fallen asleep?" Zhan Lian suddenly speaks up, lifting his gaze to hold her hand, his deep eyes locking onto hers.
An Ran hasn’t fully processed who Zhan Lian means by Zhan Anxin. She blinks, stunned for a moment, her face filled with confusion.
Then it seems like something clicks in her mind, and she tilts her head in realization. "Zhan Anxin? Is that my daughter's full name? She has a name, you know—it's ‘Doll’."
After that, she adds proudly, "I picked it."
"It doesn't sound good." Zhan Lian makes his own evaluation very impolitely. Seeing An Ran's face quickly fall, he can’t help but smile. He raises his hand, pats An Ran's forehead, and comforts her, "Zhan Anxin is her real name, and Doll is her nickname. Is that ok?"
"But why does she have your surname? It’s not even your daughter—why not call her Anxin?" An Ran pushes Zhan Lian’s hand away, feeling a bit petulant. She has thought about it for a while and probably understands where the name "Zhan Anxin" comes from. It’s just a combination of their surnames, plus the character "xin" (meaning "heart"), forming their daughter’s full name. Zhan Lian has even engraved it on a little bracelet for her.
Such a big decision, and he never even consults her about it! Was naming their child the same as buying a house or a car?
"This isn’t even my child. Did you give birth to a son and daughter on your own? We've only been divorced for a few months. How old is Zhan Anxin? You can figure out whose child it is." Zhan Lian mocks her, likely harboring some grievances of his own. After all, such a big thing as pregnancy and childbirth has happened, and An Ran never lets him in on any of it. He feels like he could’ve bled to death over it. Yet, here he is, sitting calmly, gently massaging her wrist. Not even a saint would have his patience.
An Ran stiffens and tries to make a joke, feeling a bit defensive. "So, am I not allowed to cheat on you while we’re married?"
"The person you cheated with during your marriage must be my twin brother." Zhan Lian grabs An Ran's hand with cold eyes, smears some bruise oil on her wrist, and continues to rub it. His mouth isn’t idle, and he continues to taunt, "Otherwise, how could Zhan Anxin look exactly like me? There is no need to even mix blood to identify the relationship."
"Ha!" An Ran can’t help but laugh. "Can’t you speak normally? What’s with this mixing blood talk? We’re not ancient people."
"People these days are living worse than the ancients," Zhan Lian mutters, finishing with the massage. He releases her wrist, turns away, and starts putting away the bruise ointment on the table.
An Ran, still sitting on the bedframe, notices the atmosphere between them has improved, so she bites her lip and, seeing that Zhan Lian is in a better mood, decides to ask, "Zhan Lian, I have an urgent matter—really urgent. I need to find Brother Yun Tao tomorrow. Can you take me to see him?"
Zhan Lian, while putting the bruise ointment away in the box, presses his lips together without answering. After securing the ointment, he turns his head to look at An Ran and asks seriously, "What’s going on? Tell me, I’ll help you with it."
"You—"
He just doesn't want her to see Yun Tao!