Tan Weixin was the son of a distant cousin of Tan Linyuan. In terms of family hierarchy, their relationship was quite remote.
However, he was still a descendant of the Tan family. Coupled with Tan Linyuan's great reputation, every family in the clan could benefit a little.
Tan Linyuan had always been known for his dispassionate and desire - less demeanor.
Because of this personality, in the eyes of the younger generation, he was no different from a monk who had devoted his life to vegetarianism and religious practice in a temple.
The kids didn't know his status as the family head, nor did they understand the business world. All they knew was that they would see him on the way to the temple.
On some important occasions, they would see him wearing a long robe, mostly presiding over ceremonies.
As time went by, the children had classified him as an unremarkable figure in the family.
In the children's world, there were no complex social niceties, and they couldn't understand the delicate emotions among adults.
Even though everyone respected Tan Linyuan, the children just regarded it as a superficial courtesy that had to be paid.
Since "Tan Linyuan was an unremarkable figure", the woman he brought, naturally, was also "unremarkable".
Tan Weixin was still a child. He had never seen an adult getting angry at him before, so he immediately felt aggrieved. "Second uncle, Mom and Dad said so..."
"Call your parents over. I'll ask them if you're a child without proper upbringing!"
Tan Linyuan's aura was so intimidating. His eyes were calm yet cold. Tan Weixin was frightened and immediately turned around and ran to find his parents.
Tan Linyuan then turned to Nan Yu and Nian Nian. "The kid is ill - bred. Nian Nian, stop crying."
Nian Nian had already stopped crying, but her eyes were still red. She said aggrievedly, "Uncle, he bullied Nan Yu."
There was a tone of protection in her words, and she had completely forgotten that she had been scolded just now.
Nan Yu couldn't help laughing. "Nian Nian, you don't need to protect me."
Nian Nian shook her head. "Mom said that Nan Yu is the one who needs protection most now."
After this commotion, Wen Ruoyi quickly came over and led Nian Nian away.
Tan Linyuan originally intended to ask Tan Weixin's parents for an explanation, but Nan Yu reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Yuyu, don't try to persuade me on this matter. I must..."
"I'm not trying to stop you." Nan Yu bit her lips. Her expression was complicated. "That kid pushed me just now, and I hit my stomach."
Tan Linyuan immediately looked down at her stomach.
His nerves were on edge. "Do you feel uncomfortable?"
"I felt a bit of pain just now, but I'm okay now." Nan Yu said in a low voice. "It was just a light bump. Fortunately, I blocked it with my hand."
Nan Yu always tried to hide her troubles.
Regardless of the fact that the Tan family gathering hadn't ended yet, he took Nan Yu and left.
The top priority was to take Nan Yu to the hospital for a check - up.
She was about to reach her due date, and any mistake was unacceptable.
As soon as they walked out, they happened to meet Tan Weixin wailing at the door, along with his parents trying to console him.
Seeing Tan Linyuan and Nan Yu coming out, the parents immediately stepped forward menacingly.
"Linyuan, as soon as Weixin came out of that room, he's been crying so hard. Who bullied him?"
They sounded like they were coming to demand an explanation.
At this moment, Tan Linyuan had no mood to argue with them. He cast a cold glance at the still - crying Tan Weixin. "Ask him."
"Linyuan!" The elder was trembling with anger. "Weixin is one of our own. He's been wronged in his own home. You should at least say something fair!"
"Or are you, our pure - hearted 'living Buddha', now so biased that you only care about outsiders and ignore your own family?"
Tan Linyuan stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned around. Tall and slender, he looked at the couple with a calm gaze.
His eyes were cold, but there was a hint of extreme coldness in them.
"Lin..." The mother wanted to say something more, but was too frightened to continue under his gaze.
"Before you two elders blame others, reflect on what you've said and done in front of your child."
His hands were in his pockets, and his eyes were cold. "If anyone dares to say that my child is a devil again, it's time to clean up the family."
The couple was immediately speechless.
After saying this, he pulled Nan Yu and left the Tan family.
As soon as Tan Linyuan and Nan Yu left, the couple ran to Tan Jinxian to complain.
"You must give us justice. Tan Linyuan wants to clean up the family for a newly - married woman. What should we do!"
Tan Jinxian was not in a hurry. He just sipped his tea. "I'll talk to him properly some other day."
...
All the way, Tan Linyuan tried his best to control the speed of the car.
He wanted to drive faster, but was worried about Nan Yu's safety in the car. So he just frowned and drove the car extremely steadily.
Nan Yu comforted him. "It's nothing serious. I don't feel any pain now. It's okay."
Tan Linyuan still didn't say a word.
"Tan Linyuan..."
"I won't believe these words until the check - up results come out." His tone was as calm as possible. "Yuyu, I can't afford to make any mistakes. Neither you nor the child can have any problems."
Nan Yu was stunned.
When they arrived at the hospital, a full - body check - up was immediately arranged.
After the check - up results came out, the doctor said that there was nothing wrong. The fetus was very active, and all the indicators were within the normal range.
"Can you relax now?" Nan Yu lay on the bed and asked Tan Linyuan with a smile.
Tan Linyuan glanced at her. "Well, I guess so."
Nan Yu couldn't help laughing.
She joked that she was like a piece of candy now. Tan Linyuan was afraid that it would melt in his mouth and break in his hands.
Tan Linyuan didn't deny this metaphor.
He held Nan Yu's hand and buried his face in her palm. He said in a low voice, "Yuyu, I admit I'm a bit over - reactive, but I really..."
"I really can't lose you and the child."
Nan Yu felt a heavy feeling in her heart, an indescribable emotion.
She touched his face with her finger and felt the cold and wet touch. Only then did she realize that he had shed a tear.
He was more afraid than she was.
In this world, there was someone who cherished and protected her life more than she did.
She was shocked by this tear and couldn't say a word for a long time. She just stood there, stunned.
When Tan Linyuan looked up, his expression had returned to his usual calm and natural state. "What are you daydreaming about?"
Nan Yu blinked her eyes. She didn't want the atmosphere to be too gloomy, so she said, "I'm thinking, which is more important, the child or me?"
Tan Linyuan thought her question was rather strange. "Of course you are more important."
If one day he had to choose between the mother and the child, he would choose her without hesitation.
He was a cold - natured person. His longing for family affection had long been worn away by his relatives. He wouldn't have any feelings for a child he had never seen.
Now his concern for the child was just because the child's mother was her.
He used to scoff at the saying "love me, love my dog", but now he had to admit that he was also an ordinary person.
"What about the baby? The baby will be sad when it hears this." Nan Yu deliberately tried to make him feel guilty.
But someone didn't seem to have that emotion at all.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "In all choices, the answer is you."