The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

190 He’s Not Our Father. He Is Our Uncle

“It’s alright,” he said to the children and gently nudged them forward.

Li Zexuan’s felt dizzy. ‘But… father passed away!’

Li Zexin and Li Zekai looked at the listless person in fear. The man’s eyes were closed, and his face was pale. At a glance, he looked very much like their father.

“Daddy, who is this person?” Li Zekai tightly clutched at his brother’s clothes.

Li Yanchen squatted down beside the children. “Jiejie, Xinxin and Xuanxuan. This is your father.”

Li Zexin was stunned. Li Zekai’s eyes widened. They couldn’t understand what their father meant.

Li Zexuan kept shaking his head. “No, no, no… that’s impossible! You told me he passed away! How?”

Lin Wan locked the door of the ward and leaned against it. Her heart ached as she watched Li Yanchen trying to explain things to the three children.

“If dad is still alive, why didn’t you let us see him?” shouted Li Zexuan. He had been terrified but he had accepted the fact that Li Yanchen had to tell his brothers the truth. “Why did you pretend to be our father?!”

Li Zexuan had never thought that his biological father might be still alive. ‘Why did Uncle keep pretending?’

“Our father was alive! For seven years! It is no wonder you came to country H every chance you got. Were you afraid he would wake up one day and take the company back?!” Li Zexuan was furious. Tears streamed down his face. “We really loved you. How could you do this for money? I always thought my parents were dead.”

Li Yanchen’s face darkened, and his heart ached as he listened to his son shouting. He listened to him patiently.

After a long time, Li Zexin finally came to his senses. “Big brother, what are you saying?”

“Xinxin, the one lying on the bed is our father. Our real father. He’s not dead. Mr. Li standing here is our father’s brother. Our uncle. Our father didn’t die in the accident seven years ago. He lied to us!”

“I don’t understand. What accident?” Li Zekai hid behind Li Yanchen. “My father is right here.”

“Jiejie, he’s not our father. He is our uncle. Ask him if you don’t believe me.” Li Zexuan pointed at Li Yanchen.

“He has never cared for us since we were young. He doesn’t love us because we aren’t his children. He took away everything from dad. He is just like a villain from TV.” Li Zexuan cried and laid his head down gently on his father’s chest on the bed.

“He is still breathing,” Li Zexuan said. “Dad! Please, wake up! Wake up and look at what this evil person has done!”

Li Yanchen’s heart went out to the children. He couldn’t blame them for being emotional. The news was shocking. He did feel a little sad because they thought he had taken everything from them for money.

“Mr. Li, please explain,” said Li Zexin. He still couldn’t believe it. He had always thought that their father didn’t care about them much because he was always busy.

“Your father is indeed still alive, but he has been like this for the past seven years. He is breathing, but he is unconscious. The accident seven years ago turned him into a vegetable.” Li Yanchen’s lips trembled, and his voice faltered.

“At that time, I was in country H. I was a lawyer. If not for that accident, I would be doing what I loved, today. You… survive the accident. Xuanxuan was ten years old so he remembers a little but Xinxin and Jiejie, you were very small so you don’t remember anything.”

“When I reached the scene with Auntie Lin’s father, I only managed to save you three. Your mother, my sister-in-law, passed away a day after that. Auntie Lin’s father also passed away. He saved you. You always asked me why I was so nice to Auntie Lin. It was because her father gave his life to save you three. It wasn’t my intention to pretend to be my brother and take over the company. I didn’t do it for money. It was your mother’s last request. I have a written agreement in my bag to prove it. Xuanxuan, read it.” He handed Li Zexuan the agreement.

“There is also a voice recording talking about the same thing. In my heart, you are my own children. I love you. If you three, after knowing the truth, are willing, I will always be your father.”

Lin Wan wanted to cry again. Li Yanchen reminded her of the Director’s mother who had taken her in and raised her with love.

Li Zexuan read the agreement. He felt a little better.

“There’s also a recording. If you still don’t believe me, the nurse can prove it.” Li Yanchen showed them all the evidence to clear his name. He didn’t want the children to feel that he didn’t love them and that he had done everything just for the money.

“Then why did you bring us here today?” asked Li Zexuan. “Why not just let it be and have us believe you are our father? Why destroy the little bit of faith and hope in my brothers’ hearts? I already assumed my parents were dead and accepted it. Why ruin everything today? Why are you letting them know that they are going to be an orphan soon?”

“I… I hoped my brother would wake up, but the doctor said his condition is worsening. He might not live past this autumn. I felt that you children had a right to know the truth.”

“If one day, I stopped you from seeing your father, do you think this excuse would be enough?”

“Xuanxuan, I know you are scared that your brothers might feel the pain of losing their father, but they deserve to know the truth. They have a right to know who gave birth to them. I promise I will always be with you, and not only because of my promise to my sister-in-law but because I love you. We are a family.”

…

Li Zexin finally understood. He had no recollection of the person lying on the hospital bed. In his eyes, he had only known one person as his father since he was a child.

“Brother, I once saw a news like this. A child was given away by his biological parents to someone else. One day, when the child grew up, his biological parents wanted to find him, but the child was unwilling. He loved his parents who were there for him in his life,” said Li Zexin. “I am the same.” He hugged his father’s arm.

“Dad, you should have told me earlier. That way, I wouldn’t have made things difficult for Auntie Lin. You have always been my father and you will always be my father. Mom is quite selfish too. How could she just dump us on you? What if you couldn’t get a wife? Fortunately, Auntie Lin is quite stupid. Otherwise, you would have been lonely in your old age,” Li Zexin joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Lin Wan couldn’t hold it in any longer. She laughed and she cried. “You brat! You are the stupid one. You don’t see the good in Mr. Li at all.”

“Did you know the truth, Ms. Lin?” asked Li Zexin. “You knew he saved us and you still let us treat you like that?”

Lin Wan wiped the tears from her eyes. “I didn’t know it in the beginning. Just found out recently. You must be regretting everything now,” she teased.

Li Yanchen hugged his wife and Li Zexin. “So, are you still willing to be our children?”

Li Zekai didn’t quite understand. But he was sure that having two fathers was better than having one. “I don’t mind having two fathers.”