The mind-reading fake heiress changes her fate by eating melons.

"What?" Pei Yuning was somewhat surprised.

“Could we not meet?” Qiu Nian looked up at Pei Yuning. “Maybe An Ling thinks the same way. Our family isn’t as rich and powerful as the An family. She might not want to switch places with me. I think my life is good right now. I don’t want to disrupt all of this. I’d rather… I’d rather I didn’t know about this.”

“Xiao Nian,” Pei Yuning’s eyes were still full of self-blame, “but when I found out you were my daughter, I never had the thought that ‘I would rather I didn’t know this.’ I was just worried and regretful. I was worried that you hadn’t had a good life these past few years, worried that you were being bullied, and regretted that I was so irresponsible that I didn’t even notice that my biological daughter had been switched at birth.”

Pei Yuning's eyes gradually reddened, but she still looked at Qiu Nian gently.

"I think Madam Qiu would feel the same way if she knew the truth."

Upon hearing Pei Yuning's words, Qiu Nian finally couldn't hold back her tears and burst into tears.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed incessantly. Pei Yuning, feeling sorry for her, got up and walked to the opposite seat to hug Qiu Nian.

Qiu Nian sobbed uncontrollably, only able to repeat intermittently, "Yes, I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry..."

Pei Yuning is also her mother. What's the difference between hearing her own daughter say "I would rather I didn't know about this" and "I am not your daughter"?

How heartbroken she must be.

Pei Yuning put one arm around Qiu Nian's shoulder and gently stroked the back of her head with the other to comfort her.

"Xiao Nian, there's no need to apologize. You did nothing wrong, none of you did anything wrong. It's me who's sorry."

After crying her heart out, Qiu Nian finally calmed down. She knew that keeping it from the Qiu family was neither realistic nor right.

Just as Pei Yuning said, if her own mother knew that An Ling was her biological daughter, she would definitely have the same thoughts as Pei Yuning. How could she do something that kept her in the dark?

"Aunt Pei, I'm sorry, it seems like this is the only way I can call you 'Mom' now." Qiu Nian's eyes were full of apology, but she really couldn't bring herself to call someone she had only met twice 'Mom' after calling one person 'Mom' for over twenty years.

“It’s alright,” Pei Yuning smiled happily instead. “I understand. I’m already very satisfied that you’re willing to acknowledge me.”

She was absent from Qiu Nian's life before, so how could we expect her to fully accept us right away?

“Aunt An,” Qiu Nian asked, “could you give me two more days? I want to tell them myself first, so they can be mentally prepared. I’ll contact you again in two days to decide on a time for the two families to meet, is that alright?”

"Of course." Pei Yuning breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

After hesitating for a moment, Qiu Nian finally asked about her biggest worry.

"Now that you know about An Ling and me, how do you plan to treat us from now on?"

To be honest, Qiu Nian had no desire to leave the Qiu family and live with the An family.

First of all, she doesn't know anything about the An family. If there were no blood relation, they wouldn't have much interaction. At most, she might have some collaboration with An Ling after she graduates and enters the entertainment industry.

Secondly, she knew that the An family was a wealthy family, and she had heard that wealthy families had many rules, which was how it was portrayed in TV shows and movies.

Her upbringing and lifestyle are definitely completely different from those of the An family. Even if they live together, they may not get along. If she were to live with the An family, it would be a one-sided process of her integrating into the family, just like throwing someone into a completely unfamiliar environment. Ultimately, it is that person who adapts to the environment, not the other way around.

Finally, and most importantly, Qiu Nian couldn't bear to leave her parents, the Qiu family where she grew up, and she couldn't bear to be separated from her family.

So Qiu Nian was really worried. What if the An family was really the kind of domineering wealthy family that felt that their own daughter being left out in the outside world would make them lose face, and even if they disregarded her wishes, they would force her to return to the An family?

Pei Yuning had no idea that Qiu Nian's thoughts had wandered so far; she simply told Qiu Nian the result that she had already discussed with An Chong's father.

"We will respect your choice."

"Huh?" Qiu Nian didn't expect such a simple answer. "Respect our choice? Me and An Ling?"

“Yes,” Pei Yuning nodded solemnly, “You’ve all grown up and have your own thoughts and choices now. Whether you want to come back to the An family or not, as long as it’s your true feeling, I will respect your choice.”

“Anling is the same. If she wants to go back to her biological parents, I won’t stop her,” Pei Yuning paused for a moment, then said, “But I don’t want to hide it from you. If I were to act selfishly, I would definitely want you all to be by my side, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks the same way.”

"So the final decision is in your hands, and I will never force you to make a choice you don't want to make."

Pei Yuning's expression and tone were very serious, and Qiu Nian knew she wasn't lying to her, so she also said seriously, "Thank you."

……

After returning home, Pei Yuning told the rest of the An family about her meeting with Qiu Nian, and also told An Ling what she had said to Qiu Nian, saying that they were willing to respect An Ling's choice.

An Ling almost burst out laughing when she saw these three people who claimed to respect her choice but were actually staring at her expectantly, their left eyes saying "Choose!" and their right eyes saying "Me!"

Seeing their reaction, it would be impossible for An Ling not to be moved. She could feel it clearly; even without blood ties, the An family had already treated her as true family.

In fact, An Ling and Qiu Nian had the same idea. If she were to suddenly return to the Qiu family, she would definitely not be used to it, and she could not possibly give up her feelings for the An family.

But as Pei Yuning said, An Ling has grown up and has the right and ability to choose, so she had already thought about this issue from the beginning. She originally planned to move out on her own.

But facing three pairs of bright, piercing eyes, An Ling simply couldn't bring herself to say it.

So she chose to continue making tea, "Of course I'm reluctant to part with you all, but no matter what, everything I have now originally belonged to Qiu Nian... It's better to let Qiu Nian come back."

The light in all three pairs of eyes dimmed a little, so did An Ling mean that she didn't plan to stay in the An family and was going back to the Qiu family instead?

[How could Qiu Nian possibly come back? She'll definitely choose to stay with the Qiu family.]

As for me, I'm already 22, and I don't necessarily have to live with my parents. I can just move out myself; it's not like I don't have other places to live.

[My main concern is that things might really turn out like in the novel, where I become the troublemaker sowing discord between the An family and Qiu Nian. What if the An family really does turn against Qiu Nian because of my meddling, just like in the original story? It's better to stay away from trouble first and see how things go. We can always move back later if things are alright.]

An family members: !!!

So Qiu Nian has no intention of coming back, and An Ling has decided to move out on her own. Not only did they not bring back their other daughter, but they are also leaving this daughter?

And why did Anling call herself a troublemaker? If she is a troublemaker, then what are they? Shit?