Chapter 8: Cracks in the Past
The studio did not return to its usual rhythm after that brief encounter.
Liang Zhiwei stood rooted in place long after Xiao Yan had been led away, his gaze fixed on the small figure disappearing behind the set wall. His hand unconsciously closed around the jade at his chest. The warmth lingering against his skin felt real—too real to dismiss as coincidence.
Identical jade pendants did not simply appear on strangers.
Especially not on a child.
Hua Yichen's hands trembled as she followed Xiao Yan into the resting area. Her mind was in chaos. She had recognized him the moment their eyes met, though time had changed his appearance. That calm, distant man from years ago—someone she had forced herself to forget—was standing right there.
And her daughter had spoken to him so naturally.
"Xiao Yan," Hua Yichen whispered once they were alone, crouching down. "Why did you say that?"
Xiao Yan tilted her head, eyes clear and innocent. "Say what, Mommy?"
"About the jade…"
Xiao Yan hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Because it's true. Mommy, isn't it strange? Three identical jades. Don't you want to know why?"
Hua Yichen's lips parted, but no words came out.
Outside, Chen Zehao watched the scene unfold from a monitor, his face darkening with every passing second. He recognized Liang Zhiwei immediately—and the moment he saw the jade, his heart dropped.
Things were spiraling out of control.
He had always believed the past was buried cleanly. He had never imagined a five-year-old child would be the one to dig it up.
Filming resumed awkwardly. The director chose not to cut the footage, sensing instinctively that something dramatic was unfolding. Online viewers were already speculating wildly.
"Is that man her real father?" "This feels too real to be scripted." "That jade has to mean something!"
Liang Zhiwei remained on set, no longer pretending to be just a sponsor. His eyes followed Xiao Yan constantly. Every small movement, every expression tugged at something deep in his chest.
During a break, Xiao Yan wandered near him again, holding a juice box with both hands.
She looked up. "Uncle, do you like kids?"
Liang Zhiwei paused. "I… don't know."
Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully. "Then maybe you just haven't met the right one yet."
The words were simple, spoken in a childish tone, but they struck him like a blow.
That night, Liang Zhiwei requested access to old records—contracts, sponsorship documents, anything connected to Hua Yichen from five years ago. He also asked, quietly, for a DNA comparison under the excuse of a medical sponsorship project.
For the first time in years, he couldn't sleep.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan lay curled up in bed, the jade pendant warm against her chest. The twin soul within her was calm, almost satisfied.
The first crack had appeared.
Truth did not need to be shouted. It only needed time.
And time, Xiao Yan knew, was finally on her side.