Chapter 10: A Truth Unveiled and a New Path

Bai Mengqi sat by the bed, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. She let out a soft sigh, then slowly admitted, “Ah! Alright then, I was naive. I truly thought you hadn’t noticed, but it turns out you were testing me all along.”

Another long sigh escaped her lips after she finished speaking.

For Bai Mengqi, this entire situation felt utterly surreal, far exceeding anything she could have anticipated.

She simply couldn’t comprehend how she had suddenly become a father. Reflecting on the past, it felt like a bizarre dream, yet somehow, within this dream, she had undergone such an incredible and inexplicable identity shift.

Zi Yanran stood quietly to the side, her intelligent eyes fixed on Bai Mengqi. It was clear to her that Bai Mengqi was deeply conflicted at this moment.

However, another matter weighed more heavily on her mind: whether Bai Mengqi was truly male or female.

This question had lingered in her heart for a long time, bothering her ever since she first noticed something unusual about Bai Mengqi.

“Stop agonizing,” Zi Yanran asked with a serious expression. “I don’t mind telling you, I’ve been looking for you for four years, and I never imagined we’d meet like this. By the way, are you male or female? What exactly happened back then?”

A hint of eagerness shone in her eyes, as these questions pertained to so many things she had long sought to understand.

Hearing Zi Yanran’s words, Bai Mengqi instinctively glanced at her daughter and son.

The two little ones were watching them, their round eyes wide with curiosity.

Bai Mengqi was instantly torn. Frowning, she replied with some difficulty, “Could you please not ask me such questions in front of the children? How do you expect me to answer?”

Seeing Bai Mengqi’s reaction, Zi Yanran’s expression suddenly turned stern.

She subtly lifted her chin, her gaze firm as she declared, “Just be honest. Tell it like it is. It’s already come to this; lying or misleading serves no purpose.”

She felt it was imperative to uncover the truth at this moment, unwilling to let any more doubts persist.

Bai Mengqi let out another long sigh after hearing Zi Yanran’s words.

She knew that some things simply couldn’t be hidden forever, and having reached this point, perhaps honesty was indeed the best course of action.

So, gritting her teeth, she slowly admitted, “All I can say is, this was a complete and utter accident. However, I was indeed a man back then. As for why you became pregnant, I can only say it’s metaphysics, inexplicable by science.”

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s answer, Zi Yanran’s eyes widened, her face filled with an expression of utter disbelief.

She found it impossible to imagine that the other party had been a man back then, yet in her memories, they seemed like a girl. And the issue of her pregnancy was actually related to an ability.

****

The atmosphere instantly became stiff once more.

The two little ones watched their mother and this kind ‘big sister’ converse. Although they could sense that the atmosphere between the adults was somewhat off, they were still too young to truly understand the meaning of their words.

They simply felt that this beautiful ‘big sister’ and their mother were discussing something very important and very strange.

What the two little ones hadn’t realized yet was that this beautiful ‘big sister’ was, in fact, their father.

After another stretch of silence, Zi Yanran spoke again.

“Ah! Forget it. Let’s not dwell on it too much for now,” she said. “From today onwards, you’ll stay by my side as my personal secretary. As for whether you’re male or female, I honestly don’t really care. My lifelong dream was to find my children’s father and for the four of us to live a good life. Even with some imperfections now, I’m content. It’s better than living a muddled life, isn’t it?”

Zi Yanran was the first to break the awkward silence.

Her tone carried a sense of magnanimity, as if, after the initial shock and confusion, she had come to terms with many things.

This statement caught Bai Mengqi completely by surprise.

She had expected Zi Yanran to be disgusted or find it difficult to accept her current situation, never imagining she would utter such words.

Indeed, people’s ways of thinking differed greatly. For Zi Yanran, Bai Mengqi had already left an indelible mark on her heart and mind.

In her heart, being with Bai Mengqi was naturally the best possible outcome.

If that wasn’t possible, she had intended to raise her two children alone into old age, never once considering finding another man to start a family with.

“You truly don’t mind my current identity?” Bai Mengqi asked again, seeking confirmation.

She still found Zi Yanran’s words hard to believe; after all, this matter was simply too extraordinary.

Hearing Bai Mengqi’s words, Zi Yanran couldn’t help but roll her eyes, saying with a hint of helplessness, “How will you know if I mind or not if we don’t try? You can’t just deny you’re the children’s biological father because of your current gender, can you?”

Bai Mengqi was rendered speechless. She opened her mouth, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

After a while, she slowly replied, “I’ll try. But let me warn you, I have absolutely no experience in this area. Because of my own physical condition, I’ve never even dated. If I upset you in any way, you’ll have to be more understanding.”

She was indeed a complete straight man, or rather, now a woman with the mindset of a straight man.

After all, she had lived as a male her entire life, an only child, single for over twenty years. A woman suddenly entering her life was something she definitely wouldn’t get used to quickly.

Zi Yanran’s eyes twinkled upon hearing this, and a smile immediately bloomed on her face. Holding her daughter, she edged closer to Bai Mengqi, grinning as she said, “Don’t mind that I’m 28 this year; I’ve never dated either. We’re perfectly even.”

As Zi Yanran drew near, Bai Mengqi inexplicably felt a surge of fear, unconsciously shifting sideways.

“Why are you dodging? Are you afraid I’ll eat you?” Zi Yanran was displeased by Bai Mengqi’s evasive movement.

She had thought that by being more proactive, Bai Mengqi might not be so tense, and she hoped her initiative would foster a more harmonious relationship between them.

In reality, Bai Mengqi’s mind replayed the image of Zi Yanran forcefully taking her that night.

People said that the union of a man and woman was a joyous thing, yet she had felt no joy at all. On the contrary, afterwards, she felt as if she had almost been ruined.

“I, let’s take things slowly,” Bai Mengqi said weakly. “You, please don’t be so direct. Give me some time to accept this.”

The children in their arms were utterly bewildered at this point. At their age, they certainly couldn’t comprehend the complex emotions and words exchanged between these adults.

They simply thought it was very strange how their mother and this ‘big sister’ were sometimes serious and then suddenly laughing.

Zi Yanran looked at Bai Mengqi’s expression and immediately drew closer again.

“Why do I feel like you’re afraid of me?” Zi Yanran asked with a playful smile. “Are you, a dignified ability user, afraid of a small woman like me?”

Bai Mengqi’s face instantly flushed crimson, and she stammered, unable to speak.

“Oh, blushing too? What an innocent little brother—oh no, little sister,” Zi Yanran teased.

Though she had never been in a relationship either, her age and life experience surpassed Bai Mengqi’s. Thus, she felt she should take the initiative at this moment to lighten the atmosphere.

“Mama, what are you saying to this big sister? I don’t understand at all! What’s a dad? Where is Dad?” Ziyi asked innocently.

She blinked her big eyes, staring curiously at her mother and Bai Mengqi.

“Yeah, it feels weird,” Zixuan echoed, scratching his head with a puzzled expression.

Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi both felt a simultaneous flush of embarrassment.

Indeed, discussing such matters in front of the children was quite inappropriate.

“Children shouldn’t ask so many questions,” Zi Yanran instructed. “Both of you remember, she’s not just any big sister. She’s the most important person to you besides Mama. Don’t call her ‘sister’; you must call her Aunt Mengqi.”

She felt that since Bai Mengqi had returned to their lives, the children should know Bai Mengqi’s identity. Although the situation was peculiar, they couldn’t keep the children in the dark indefinitely.

But Bai Mengqi was displeased. “Aunt? What aunt? I’m still young! Don’t listen to her, just call me ‘sister’.”

She felt she was still young, and being called ‘aunt’ by the children made her feel much older all at once. She was quite unwilling to accept such a title.

She was still ignoring the fact that these two children were her own.

Zi Yanran rolled her eyes. “Is that appropriate? If the children call you ‘sister,’ then what does that make me?”

She felt that Bai Mengqi was truly childish at times, yet she also understood that Bai Mengqi’s mental and cognitive shift would genuinely require time.