Reborn as a Weak Beauty Pampered by All Chapter 1293 - 1205:

"The compensation you provided her wound up returning to your pockets, and you donated it to the welfare home nearby—are you still upset about that now?"

Jiang Hongfa barely remembered the Ah Mei in question, who was really Fang Su; he just knew she had run off with Jiang Boya, her reputation was poor, not someone to show off.

"How could I not be angry? If Lili hadn’t been taken in by her adoptive parents, would you have met your precious granddaughter two decades later?" Jiang Boya’s voice carried a sour edge: "In hindsight, I was such an idiot when young, blind to Fang Sumei’s real colors."

"Fine, that’s all history now, no need to linger on it."

"Hmph! Had you been firmer back then and booted out that woman’s whole family, would any of this mess have followed?"

"Your mother handled all the inner household matters—how was a man like me supposed to meddle? Plus, if I’d actually thrown Ah Mei’s family out then, Lili wouldn’t even exist."

"It’s not as if she was the sole woman capable of bearing children."

Muttering to himself, Jiang Boya rose and headed for the study door: "We’ll discuss this when Lili naps in the afternoon."

"Sure."

Jiang Hongfa raised no issues.

"What’s the matter?"

Over in the nursery, the three little ones were under the watch of Cai Xiufen, Song Sa, and Captain Kang. Kang Li lounged idly in her bedroom until Luo Yanqing entered after pushing the door open. Noticing his sour look, she asked without thinking.

Luo Yanqing shook his head softly, his face softening with tenderness: "Nothing at all."

"Are you fibbing to me?"

Kang Li doubted it.

"...No." Luo Yanqing denied it with a head shake, yet Kang Li’s brows furrowed a touch: "Doesn’t seem like it—you’re definitely keeping something from me." Under her unblinking stare, Luo Yanqing grew uneasy and averted his eyes: "Honestly, nothing."

"Has Professor Luo forgotten those words you shared with me right here that day?"

Kang Li’s eyes narrowed.

At those words, Luo Yanqing parted his lips but shook his head once more: "Truly nothing." Pausing briefly and seeing her skepticism linger, he offered a smile: "What trouble could I possibly run into here?"

Kang Li pondered it: "You’re right. Old Mr. Jiang and Mr. Jiang are kind souls; they wouldn’t speak ill to you. My parents? Even less so. Guess this postpartum phase has me acting foolish, conjuring up nonsense."

"You’re far from foolish." Luo Yanqing settled beside the bed, took her hand, and a warm smile lit his features as he added, "Mr. Jiang was quarreling with me in the laundry over diaper washing, claiming I wouldn’t let him because I doubted his cleaning skills."

"Who knew diaper washing could spark a rivalry."

Laughter bubbled from Kang Li: "If Mr. Jiang wants to wash them, just hand them over!"

"Without a word from me, Mr. Jiang snatched a bunch of diapers and scrubbed away beside me, sneaking peeks my way—I swear he was challenging me."

Luo Yanqing’s account drew more chuckles from Kang Li: "Mr. Jiang can be a tad childish at times; I hope Professor Luo will bear with him."

Instead of replying straight, Luo Yanqing inquired, "Do you wish to acknowledge Mr. Jiang?"

Kang Li froze for a beat, then pressed her lips together and shook her head: "I’m unsure. Genetically speaking, Mr. Jiang is my biological father—no doubt there, since I resemble his birth mother so closely...

Moreover, setting aside what Grandma Yu shared, Mr. Jiang has a fine character on his own, and let’s not forget, over those months I spent abroad,

Luo Yanqing fell silent: "..." His beloved would never go short on affection, surrounded by parents, siblings and their spouses, nephews doting on her, plus him and Luo Mingrui, not to mention the three infants swaddled and ready to cherish her—she’d never lack that warmth.

Catching Kang Li’s teasing look, Luo Yanqing coughed lightly and shifted topics: "Has Mr. Jiang really chosen not to recognize your brother Allen?"

"Didn’t realize Professor Luo was such a gossip fan."

Luo Yanqing’s knowledge of Allen’s situation came solely from Kang Li herself.

"Just curious, that’s all."

Far from a gossip lover, Luo Yanqing merely sought a distraction from his wife’s playful scrutiny.

"If it were you, wouldn’t doubts linger in your mind?"

Noting Luo Yanqing’s confusion, Kang Li prompted: "Think about how Allen even came to be?"

Hearing those words, Luo Yanqing instantly comprehended: "It wounds a man's pride, but... what's the sin of the child? Anyway, isn't it merely a..."

"Enough, no more talk on the elders' issues, since ultimately it's Mr. Jiang's personal matter." Yet Kang Li was fully aware of something: privately, Jiang Boya harbored no resentment toward Allen.

To be precise, in his heart of hearts, he truly viewed Allen as his own son.

In a flash, two days passed, reaching noon in Jiang Hongfa’s study.

"If Lili finds out, she might lash out at you."

Voicing his concern, Jiang Hongfa sighed deeply: "I believe we should be straightforward before Lili’s adoptive parents, stating we have no desire to snatch Lili away,

merely wish to recognize the girl, adding more loved ones in her life. Should her adoptive parents raise no objections, I'll suggest one of Lili’s children adopt our surname, provided Lili and her spouse agree, of course."

"I feel exactly the same."

With a wry smile, Jiang Boya responded: "They've nurtured Lili like their flesh and blood, while we true kin have offered nothing, so we can't shamelessly harvest their efforts. Dad, staying low-key is key, lest we spark their backlash."

Jiang Boya knit his brows: "Why mention her? Without my involvement, would Lili have grown in her womb? Had she truly valued me then, birthing Lili and caring for her properly, I'd reward her generously now. But her deeds?

After delivering Lili, she discarded her, fabricated documents to pose as another, and years on schemed to extract gains from me via deceit—she's bold indeed."

"The payout you offered her returned to you and got donated by you to that local orphanage; are you still fuming over it?"

Jiang Hongfa recalled little of that Ah Mei—really Fang Su—he referenced; he merely knew she'd fled with Jiang Boya, her morals rotten and unfit for decent company.

"How could I not rage? Without Lili’s adoptive parents rescuing her, would you meet your precious granddaughter after two decades?" Jiang Boya’s voice turned sharp: "In hindsight, youth blinded me utterly to Fang Sumei’s wicked essence."

"Fine, it's ancient history—drop it."

"Hmph! Had you shown spine then and banished that woman's whole clan, none of this mess would follow!"

"Your mother oversaw all household affairs; how could I, the family head, meddle? Plus, expelling Ah Mei’s kin back then means no Lili at all."

"Plenty of women can bear children."

Muttering to himself, Jiang Boya stood and strode to the study door: "We'll hash this out when Lili naps this afternoon."

"Fine."