“Really?” Jiang Baiyuan’s eyes lit up at her words, but then he hesitated, “Even though I’m so useless, you still like me?” Xu Xiangying nodded with a smile, “Of course. You’re wise in your simplicity.” This answer somewhat comforted him. Jiang Baiyuan smiled and asked, “Will you leave again?” “No.” “Really?” “I’m not lying.” She reached out, gently touching his brow, leaned in, and kissed his forehead, whispering, “Baiyuan, our family is reunited.” This was truly the sweetest kiss in the world! This was truly the sweetest phrase in the world! Jiang Baiyuan blushed, a man in his twenties laughing like a child, scratching his head, at a loss for words. Seeing she had cheered him up, Xu Xiangying thought of someone: “Where’s Ruyi?” Jiang Baiyuan: “…” Oh no! He had forgotten his daughter! Noticing his expression, Xu Xiangying’s face changed, she pushed him aside, got out of bed without shoes, and called out, “Ruyi, Ruyi—” Her urgent calls reached the next room—Jiang Ruyi dropped her phone, her body reacting faster than her mind, and she ran out on her little legs. Seeing her beautiful mother, she grinned widely, “Mom, Mom—” Xu Xiangying opened her arms, picked her up, and kissed her cheek: “Little sweetheart, did you miss Mommy?” Her voice was sweet. She was serene by nature but lively around her daughter. Jiang Ruyi felt her mother was soft and fragrant, cool like water even in the hot weather, giving off an air of ethereal beauty, like a fairy in her light-colored gauze dress, now understanding her charm. She was truly too beautiful, looking like an 18-year-old at 28. Such youthful beauty! Fairy-like mom, I love you! “Yes, I missed you. Where did you go?” She snapped back to reality, her arms around her mother’s neck, feeling incredibly comfortable. Xu Xiangying, unaware of her thoughts, glanced at Jiang Qiuyue and her daughter, smiled at them, then carried Ruyi back to the bedroom. She didn’t answer Ruyi’s question, instead, she placed her on the bed and examined her closely, making Ruyi nervous. Could she see something? She was overthinking. Xu Xiangying was just checking if she had lost weight, if she was in good spirits, or if she was injured. After inspecting her, she hugged her again, “Looks like even when Mommy was away, my little sweetheart ate well and took good care of herself.” Jiang Ruyi: “…” That scared me. She nestled into her mother’s embrace, returning to the original topic: “Where did you go, Mommy? Daddy was so worried about you. I was worried too.” Xu Xiangying, of course, wouldn’t tell the truth, so she made up a story: “Mommy went on a trip. I forgot to tell your dad. When I saw the missing person poster, I came back.” A lie. Ninety percent chance something happened. But as a child, she couldn’t ask much, so she secretly asked Zhou Linchuan. She was too curious. Unfortunately, Zhou Linchuan also lied: “I don’t know. You can ask your mom.” Jiang Ruyi: “…” If she told me, would I have to ask you? Humph, adults are not cute at all.
Author’s Note: Thank you for your support. The troubling plotline is finally over. Next, I’ll clarify a few points of confusion from before entering the book.
Chapter 25 (With a slight side story, optional reading):
Several hundred years ago, Xu Xiangying was the third daughter of the Xu family, owners of a tea plantation in Shenzhen. Born frail and sickly, she was predicted by a fortune-teller to not live past eighteen.
