Chapter 657: An Unnoticed Habit
Both Zhan Lians were dressed identically. Earlier, the second Zhan Lian had fought the wood-type zombie outside using blades, which meant An Ran could now be certain—Chen Chaofa’s ability didn’t just copy appearances. He could replicate clothing and even abilities.
An Ran’s thoughts raced, analyzing every detail in seconds.
At the doorway, the first Zhan Lian’s expression darkened when he saw An Ran’s hand resting on the second Zhan Lian’s chest. Jealousy flared in his eyes, and he stepped forward to enter the room.
The second Zhan Lian immediately raised his blade, pointing it at the doorway. “Stop right there!”
“Yeah, stop!” Liu Shasha shouted, pulling Zhao Ru closer to An Ran’s side. Then she turned to question the first Zhan Lian. “You knocked earlier, then ran off with the others—were you scared of that wood-type zombie outside? You ran because you couldn’t beat it, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about?” the first Zhan Lian snapped irritably, standing just outside the doorway, careful not to provoke the one inside who was holding An Ran. “There was a wood-type zombie in front of me! I went to deal with it! Chen Chaofa, let go of my wife!”
An Ran’s gaze shifted subtly. She motioned for Little Mint to pick up Doll.
Little Mint immediately lifted the child from the bed and stepped back, keeping a safe distance from both Zhan Lians.
Doll, however, looked between the two men—one standing by the door, the other near the bed—eyes wide with confusion. Two papas?
“Anxin, come to Daddy!”
The second Zhan Lian, the one beside An Ran, still holding her hand, extended his arm toward the child. His tone was soft, full of concern and warmth.
The first Zhan Lian at the door looked like he was about to explode. “Bring Zhan Anxin to me!” he barked at Little Mint, his voice sharp and commanding. “Don’t go over there!”
At that, Doll tilted her little head, studying both men for a second. Then she reached her small hands toward the one at the door—the first Zhan Lian—asking to be held.
In that moment, clarity struck An Ran.
She turned to the man beside her and said calmly, “Zhan Lian, let go of me.”
Her body was weak, yes, but not so frail that she needed his support. The only reason the two Zhan Lians hadn’t started fighting yet was because she was caught between them. Once she pulled free, they’d have no reason to hold back—and a real fight would settle everything.
Besides, in her heart, she already had a strong suspicion. The man beside her—the second Zhan Lian—was almost certainly fake.
It wasn’t because of the missing leaf. It was because of something far simpler—a small, almost invisible habit.
Zhan Lian, rough as he was, had a particular quirk when calling his wife and daughter. He always used their full names.
He never called An Ran “Ranran” or “Ran’er.” It was always either “An Ran” or simply “wife.”
And from the moment he reunited with his daughter, he had only ever called her “Zhan Anxin”—never just “Anxin” or “Xin Xin.”
It was something he did naturally, without even realizing it himself—a small, steady way of showing how serious he was about the people he cared for.
So when the second Zhan Lian called out “Anxin,” Doll didn’t respond. To her, that name wasn’t hers.
But when the first Zhan Lian at the door said “Zhan Anxin,” she reached for him without hesitation.
To a child, such things were simple and instinctive.
And in that simplicity was absolute certainty—because to her, the one who called her Zhan Anxin was her real daddy