“Mama, Mama!” Luo Siqian threw herself onto Su Qianqian, shouting excitedly!
Although Su Qianqian had mentally prepared herself, she still seemed at a loss for what to do in that moment.
Hesitantly, she reached out and patted Luo Siqian on the head, while Luo Siqian enjoyed nuzzling up to her.
After holding on for a short while, Luo Siqian suddenly remembered something, quickly let go of Su Qianqian, and then took out an exquisitely wrapped gift from her own Storage Bag.
“I prepared this gift together with Mother, and it’s all delicious! Some of it is what I like to eat, and some of it is what Mother thinks Mama would like!”
Luo Siqian held up the big gift, nervously watching Su Qianqian’s expression—would Mama like this gift…?
Su Qianqian hadn’t expected that this daughter she had never even met would actually prepare a gift for her.
Looking at this little child, holding up the big gift with anticipation, longing for her approval, Su Qianqian gently accepted the gift that was filled with so much care.
As she took the gift and placed it into her Storage Ring, Su Qianqian squatted down so her eyes were level with Luo Siqian’s, her lips curved in a gentle, gratified smile.
“I really like this gift. Thank you, little Siqian.”
Seeing Mama’s smiling face, all of Luo Siqian’s hesitation vanished.
Now that her fear of being disliked was gone, her longing and grievances surged up, and tears began streaming down Siqian’s face.
She tried to wipe them away with her sleeve, not wanting Mama to think she was a crybaby, but no matter how hard she tried, the tears wouldn’t stop…
“I’m sorry, Mama, I—I’m just so happy to see you, I can’t stop crying, I’m sorry…” Luo Siqian was so cautious about everything right now, afraid that her crying would make Mama unhappy.
She kept apologizing, her body trembling with fear.
Luo Siqian’s appearance at this moment was truly heartbreaking.
Even someone with a heart of stone would be moved by this scene… let alone Su Qianqian, who was by no means someone with a heart of stone.
Su Qianqian couldn’t bear to see Luo Siqian cry like this. Instinctively, she pulled the weeping child into her arms and gently patted her back in comfort:
“It’s all right, let it out… Mama—Mama won’t dislike you because of this.” Su Qianqian still felt awkward referring to herself as Mama, but facing the one who shared her blood, she said it naturally.
Feeling Mama’s comfort and embrace, Luo Siqian could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs!
In these cries were grievances, confusion, joy, and all the bottled-up sorrow of an understanding child…
Lin Muxue watched the child crying in Su Qianqian’s arms, her feelings complicated.
She should have hated this child, and yet, faced with such an innocent soul, she simply couldn’t summon such emotions.
In the end, all her feelings turned into a sigh.
Meanwhile, Su Lingling placed her hand over her chest, eyebrows knitted, looking at her niece.
As an Aunt, something in her heart awakened. Let alone feeling dislike—she just wanted to rush over and comfort the loudly crying child.
Chu Youtong wore a thoughtful look, clearly plotting something again…
Shun and Ying quietly left the waiting crowd and came to Luo Wuhen’s side, watching the scene ahead with equally complex expressions…
“Maybe… we should’ve brought Siqian here sooner…” Luo Wuhen listened to the grievance in Siqian’s crying voice. She never showed it, but she really did miss the “father” she’d always imagined.
After crying for a while and pouring out years of grievances, Siqian’s sobs gradually died down. Su Qianqian gently wiped the tear-stained face.
In an instant, Luo Siqian, still bearing tear streaks, beamed with happiness.
Wonderful, Mama was so gentle and didn’t dislike her at all…
Luo Siqian was overflowing with happiness. Now, it was time to do what she’d always wanted!
She ran over to Luo Wuhen, grabbed her hand, and tried to pull her over to Su Qianqian.
She didn’t know why Mama had been alive all this time but never came home. Had they argued? She didn’t know, but since both her Mother and Mama were so gentle, surely they could make up now that they’d met again!
But usually, just a gentle tug would get Mother to come with her—so why couldn’t she pull her along this time?!
“Mother?” Luo Siqian looked up at her mother in confusion. Mother had her head down.
Did Mother not want to make up with Mama?
She tried again, pulling harder, but still, her mother didn’t budge at all…
A wave of panic rose in her heart, and she quickly ran to Su Qianqian’s side, tugging lightly on her sleeve, but Su Qianqian also stood motionless, head lowered…
Luo Siqian didn’t know why, but she felt awful. Why was this happening…? Why did her gentle Mama and Mother refuse to make up, or even come closer to each other?
She stumbled back in a daze, accidentally bumping into a stranger. This person also had golden eyes, giving her a sense of closeness…
“I’m sorry…” Luo Siqian apologized instinctively.
Su Lingling crouched down, gently comforting the lost little one. “Little one, I’m your Aunt. Things are a little complicated here. Would you like to go play with Aunt for a bit? You have a little Aunt your age—she’d definitely love to play with you.”
“Aunt… I’m sorry, but I want to stay here…”
Luo Siqian could sense the heavy atmosphere now, but she didn’t know why…
She sat down and hugged her knees, staring blankly at her Mama and Mother, who seemed unwilling or unable to meet each other’s eyes…
Su Lingling had no choice but to sit next to Luo Siqian, watching the two silent figures together…
……
In the midst of the silence, Luo Wuhen took two steps forward and stretched out a hand, as if to say something, but as Su Qianqian sensed her approach, she instinctively retreated several steps.
Luo Wuhen’s outstretched hand fell weakly, and she fell completely silent.
She turned her head toward her bewildered daughter and managed a strained smile as she explained, “Siqian, I have to go on a long trip and can’t take you with me. Will you stay here with Mama for a while? Shun and Ying will stay here with you, too. They know how to contact me, so if you miss me, you can have them reach out.”
“Mother, where are you going… Don’t leave me!” The moment Luo Siqian heard her mother’s instructions, she anxiously ran over and clung to Luo Wuhen. She had never been separated from her mother for long before; unease and anxiety rushed in!
“Be good, Siqian. Don’t you want to spend more time with Mama? Once I’ve taken care of things, I’ll come pick you up. Mother promises, all right?”
Luo Siqian looked up at her mother’s earnest face. She knew her mother didn’t want to be separated from her, either—this must really be something important…
Thinking this, Luo Siqian reluctantly let go, and Luo Wuhen, equally reluctant, rubbed her daughter’s head and slowly retreated.
Just before leaving, she managed a wry smile and left one last message for Luo Siqian: “Siqian, it was Mother who did wrong. Your Mama will never forgive me, but you are innocent. I’m sorry.”
Luo Siqian didn’t know what that meant, but she could feel how sad Mother was when she said it…
“Luo Wuhen!”
Hearing the shout from behind, Luo Wuhen snapped her head around, but… Su Qianqian still wouldn’t look her in the eye…
“I really like Siqian. She can come over to play anytime in the future. As for you… take care of yourself…”
“I see…” Luo Wuhen muttered as she turned away. Maybe this was already the best outcome… At least Siqian was still loved by everyone.
No one knew how Luo Wuhen felt at that moment. Soon, she vanished into the distant sky, her figure lonely and powerless.
Luo Siqian stared for a long time in the direction her mother had left. Mother’s last words still echoed in her ears…
“Did Mother do something wrong…”
Luo Siqian didn’t know what had happened, but she did know—she really wanted a complete “family”!
She had to behave well, to make both Mother and Mama proud!
She’d apologize for Mother’s sake.
They were both so gentle—they were sure to make up! Luo Siqian still firmly believed this!
She patted her cheeks and set herself a goal, cheering herself on in her heart. Before long, she perked up again, with even a hint of… a sense of mission?
At this moment, everyone present was watching Luo Siqian’s state. Now that she had rallied her spirits again, everyone breathed a sigh of relief…
Su Qianqian reached her hand out to Luo Siqian and asked, “Do you want to meet your Grandfather and Grandmother? They don’t know about you yet, but I promise they’ll be absolutely thrilled to have such a cute granddaughter.”
“Grandfather and Grandmother?! Yes, yes!” Luo Siqian was elated. Suddenly, she had a Mama, an Aunt, a Grandfather, and a Grandmother. There were so many surprises—it was like a dream!
Seeing the little Siqian so excited, Su Qianqian suddenly remembered that Luo Wuhen’s immediate family was all gone, and that Luo Siqian had always been alone with just her.
“Then hold Mama’s hand. I’ll take you to give your Grandfather and Grandmother a big surprise!” Su Qianqian took little Siqian’s hand, stepped onto her Flying Sword, waved to Su Lingling, and together they flew down the mountain!
Liu Qingyao and Su Changfeng’s greatest wish these days was to see their grandchildren at least once in their lives.
They could never have guessed that, all of a sudden, they would have a granddaughter almost as big as their third daughter.
Su Lingling and Su Qianqian were both looking forward to seeing their reactions!
As Chu Youtong and Lin Muxue watched the three leave, they soon went off to mind their own affairs, leaving only Shun and Ying staring at each other, not sure what to do next…
……
Bang, bang, bang—
“Father, Mother, there’s a surprise for you!” Su Lingling called out as she knocked on the door.
“Coming, coming, what kind of gift—eh?” Liu Qingyao opened the door, wondering what kind of present it could be.
At first glance, she saw a well-behaved girl holding Su Qianqian’s hand—most notably, the golden eyes and that sense of familiarity…
Liu Qingyao froze in place, the comb in her hand falling to the ground.
Seeing her dazed in the doorway, Su Changfeng came over in confusion, and at the sight of Luo Siqian, he too stared in shock, eyes wide!
Seeing the stunned faces, Luo Siqian grew a little timid and looked at Mama. After Su Qianqian gave her an encouraging nod, Luo Siqian summoned her courage and called out:
“Hello, Grandfather, Grandmother.”
Liu Qingyao was the first to snap out of it. She crouched down and gently pinched Luo Siqian’s cheeks. No matter how she looked, this child was just so adorable!
“This, this, this—who’s this cutie?!”
“She’s my daughter, isn’t she adorable?” Su Qianqian replied with a smile.
Liu Qingyao still felt like Su Qianqian must be joking, but looking at the child…
She pinched Su Changfeng’s arm hard, and only after dragging him back from his daze did she ask, “Does that hurt?”
“Ow, it hurts, this isn’t a dream—she’s… our granddaughter?!”
The two didn’t bother wondering why they suddenly had a granddaughter about as old as their third daughter.
A huge smile spread across Liu Qingyao’s face as she scooped Luo Siqian up!
“Come on, Grandmother will take you inside. What do you want to eat? Are you cold? Did your Mama bully you? Sweetie, you’re just too adorable!”
“I’m your Grandfather, sweetie! What’s your name? So cute, just like your Mama when she was little—but even more well-behaved! Qingyao, let me hold her for a bit…”
The two doted on Luo Siqian as they carried her inside, leaving Su Qianqian and Su Lingling standing at the door, glancing at each other before heading in themselves…
……