The two of them slowly made their way down the stairs step by step. Not until they entered the first-floor living room did Yan Xianjue realize that the whole family was already seated on the sofas, clearly waiting for them.
Yan Xianjue was not surprised that so many family members were home today. After all, tomorrow was New Year's Eve. Even a workaholic like Yan Yi'an was forbidden from bringing up work at home during the holiday.
But the overly solemn atmosphere, especially when everyone's gaze fell on Yan Xianjue after he and Yan Shan approached, made him inexplicably want to retreat.
That emotion came swiftly and vanished in an instant. Yan Xianjue released his second sister's hand and sat down on the sofa that had clearly been reserved for him.
Yet the moment he sat down, the scene suddenly felt familiar. Other than his eldest and second sisters, who had not been home at the time, everyone else was seated exactly as they had been during the farce involving Yan Ci's adopted son.
Yan Xianjue pressed his lips together. Just as he was about to say something, Mother Yan spoke.
"Xianjue."
Yan Xianjue nodded, indicating that he was listening.
Mother Yan's voice was gentle and soft, as though she hoped to lessen the impact of what she was about to say.
"Xianjue, we know that you came from another world."
The instant those words entered his ears, Yan Xianjue's brain crashed.
His mind went blank. He seemed unable to process the meaning behind Mother Yan's words.
Father Yan poked Mother Yan's arm. Hadn't they agreed beforehand to put it more tactfully? Why had she opened with a bombshell?
Mother Yan ignored him, her focused, accepting gaze remaining on Yan Xianjue.
A minute later, Yan Xianjue's lips moved, but he