Stealing Your Heart

Lin Xinyan found it necessary to inform them that their names had been changed.

After rehearsing in her mind, she said to the children in a soft voice, “Our country has a long history of five thousand years. Since ancient times, there has been a tradition whereby the children follow their father’s last name. I didn’t have time to tell you before, but your daddy and I have changed your last names.”

Glancing up at her, Lin Xichen chewed his food carefully and swallowed it before saying, “So this is what you wanted to tell us?”

Lin Xinyan nodded. Noticing that he did not seem surprised at all, Lin Xinyan asked, “You knew it already?”

No one’s supposed to know about this.

How did he find out?

Lin Xichen took another piece of steamed cake and put it into his mouth. “No, I didn’t, but I know that it is just a matter of time before we change our last names. I’ve also found out that everyone is using their fathers’ last names. Only Ruixi and I are the special ones. But now we’re not special anymore, and no one will think that Daddy is in a matrilocal marriage.”

Lin Xinyan was rendered speechless.

How is he so well-informed that he even knows about matrilocal marriage?

Hearing Lin Xichen’s words, Lin Ruixi, who had been eating, blinked her eyes and asked curiously, “What does a matrilocal marriage mean?”

Without the need to think, Lin Xichen answered in a serious manner, “Usually, it’s a woman who marries into a man’s family, as in it’ll only be normal for Mommy to marry into Daddy’s family. But in a matrilocal marriage, it’s the other way around. For example, Daddy married into Mommy’s family, so Daddy is in a matrilocal marriage.”

Lin Ruixi was confused. What man and woman? Who marries whom? Shaking her head, she did not bother to make sense of it but just asked, “Does that mean we no longer have ‘Lin’ as our last name now?”

“Of course.” Lin Xichen raised his chin and continued, “You can ask Mommy.”

Lin Xinyan stared at her son in amusement. Where did he hear all this from?

Daddy’s last name from now on, right?” The little girl

there are some slight changes in your first names. Your name becomes Zong Yanxi, while Xichen’s is now Zong Yanchen. In the future, you will

us by our original names. You didn’t use the new ones,”

past, she used to be ignorant and knew nothing other than eating. Yet now, she has become

she’s much more expressive

Xinyan stared at her son, she wondered, Is it true that people get influenced by the company they keep? Is that why she became

of you by those names for five years, so it has become a habit. But I’ll try my best to adapt to your new names

food in her mouth. “What would you call me from now on? Yanxi? Or Xi?” She blinked her eyes and remarked earnestly, “It doesn’t sound as nice as my

even people who are named Ergouzi, but

the milk in her mouth as she looked at Lin Xinyan

had traditional beliefs in which they thought that giving their children a lowly name would make it easier to raise them,” Lin Xinyan patiently explained to her daughter to let her know that all parents loved their children. The only difference was

only came with a coat and a handbag that contained some money and her card, which were

to the front desk to check out. Seeing her

the refunded deposit and gave the receptionist a smile. Then, she walked out of the hotel with her kids and stood by the road to flag down a taxi. Fortunately, the hotel

are you going?” The taxi driver glanced

Xinyan got her children to sit properly before

off in the direction of

have a better view of the city. Lin Xinyan tugged at her son and

changed? Why did you still call me Xichen?” Lin Xichen moved to sit in the middle so that his sister

she had really forgotten about it. It was truly a hard habit to break. “I’ll bear it in mind

Chen. It sounds more affectionate.” It was rare for him to

wrapped her arm around his son’s head and

in front looked at them through the

“Yes,” replied Lin Xinyan.