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

and there are some slight changes in your first names. Your name becomes Zong Yanxi, while

you still called us by our original names. You

be ignorant and knew nothing other than

 sometimes, she’s much

get influenced by the company they keep? Is that why she became like him after having spent so much time

names for five years, so it has become a habit. But I’ll try my

milk to wash down the 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 previous name,

will sound better after some time. There are even people who are named Ergouzi,

looked at Lin Xinyan in

raise them,” Lin Xinyan patiently explained to her daughter to let her know that all parents loved their children. The only difference was the way

with the two children. As she had no luggage, she didn’t need to pack anything. She only came with a coat and a handbag that contained some money and her card, which were essential,

the elevator, she went to the front desk to check out. Seeing her two children, the receptionist couldn’t

out of the hotel with her kids and stood by the road to flag down a taxi. Fortunately, the hotel was located

going?” The taxi driver

children to sit properly

sped off in the direction

were in an unfamiliar city, the children fought over the window seat to have a better view

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

It was truly a hard habit to break. “I’ll bear it in mind from now on. I’ll call you Yanchen

rare for him to be so sentimental

arm around his son’s head and kissed him on the forehead. “Alright, Chen

driver in front looked at them through the rearview mirror. “This is your first time

“Yes,” replied Lin Xinyan.